Brews News: Red Baron may fly again at reopened Formosa brewery
Is Red Baron set to fly again? Beer fans will soon find out as the brewery is set to reopen after lying fallow in Ontario's farm country for four years.
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Is Red Baron set to fly again? Beer fans will soon find out as the brewery is set to reopen after lying fallow in Ontario’s farm country for four years.
Formosa Springs Brewery announced on its Facebook page it’s coming back in May, this time under local ownership and, we expect, with its marquee Red Baron blond lager.
In its heyday, the brewer was the big employer in Formosa and, along with a huge hilltop church and a park, the community’s big claim to fame.
Brewing started in 1870 and the non-unionized Formosa with its Diamond Lager and Club Ale became popular during strikes at the major brewers. Molson saw the opportunity to retire a small competitor, bought the place and then closed it in favour of a more efficient brewery in Barrie.
In the 50 years since Molson shuttered it, the plant bottled water, farmed fish and enjoyed a renaissance when an early craft brewery, Algonquin, took the keys and hired Bobby Hull as pitchman. Formosa hit sales gold with the Red Baron recipe developed under Brick Brewing (now Waterloo Brewing).
Formosa’s most recent owners continued to brew Red Baron and its lime and light spins and sell it through retail channels where, in reply to a fan on Facebook, Formosa promises to return eventually.
Craft beer aficionados will argue the world has moved on from a beer like Red Baron. But its brand recognition and broad appeal should get the cash flow rolling and, I hope, get Formosa moving on to more interesting beers brewed by a skilled brew team.
NEW AND NOTED
Neustadt Springs Brewery, a 20-minute drive from Formosa, offers a variety of rotating brews, including Neustadt Weiss and Neustadt Schwarzbier, as well as their classic Marvin the Marzen and The Bruce, which is a light German lager with 4 per cent alcohol. At Neustadt Springs Brewery, craft beer isn’t just about hoppy IPAs, although they do brew one if that’s what you’re into.
What’s the polar opposite of a fine German beer? How about a pizza beer – not a beer and pizza, but literally pizza flavour in a beer. New Belgium in Fort Collins, Colorado, has done with I(Pizza)A, It’s a Voodoo Ranger IPA infused with herbs, spices and flavours of crust and tomato sauce, according to the website Delish. Steam Whistle brews Voodoo Ranger for the Canadian market.
Like your beer big and bold? Forked River in London has Starless, a 9.5 per cent shareable beast. Starless begins as an imperial stout, then ages in Canadian whisky barrels to produce flavours of vanilla and oak. Starless is sold in 473 ml cans priced at $6.45.
It was released in time for St. Patrick’s Day and is sticking around for red beer fans at Powerhouse Brewing at 100 Kellogg Lane in London. Powerhouse Irish Red has aromas of brown sugar and brown bread. It’s 4.5 per cent alcohol.
London’s 4EST Brewery launched an online merchandise store. The brewery’s beer, a delicious helles lager, is sold at all LCBO stores in London, five Beer Store locations and two barber shops.
The Woodstock Navy Vets junior C hockey team, will join the local hockey-beer trend as Upper Thames Brewing launches a special beer for the playoffs. Other team-brewery collaborations include the London Nationals and London Brewing, Sarnia Sting and Imperial City and Kitchener Rangers-Four Fathers.
Beer Babes is a Canada-U.S. charitable organization that collaborates on making beers with craft brewers. The latest in Canada is a lemon-blueberry wheat beer from Something in the Water. It’s at the brewery in Toronto but sold out at the brewery’s Kingston location.
Wayne Newton is a freelance journalist based in London.
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