One of the Junction's two craft breweries, Indie Alehouse, has built a reputation for brewing boundary-pushing, experimental beer. At the core of their lineup they also have salt-of-the-earth selections like the Instigator Pale Ale.
To suit market demands and to help their beer survive the long voyage to India, mid-nineteenth century English brewers added more hops to their pale ales. The modern recreation of this style is known as India Pale Ales and Instigator sets out to pay homage to the original.
Instigator pours a hazy, orange-copper colour with an off-white cap. It coats the sides of a tulip glass (a good choice for this beer) with a pleasant amount of lacing.
The aroma is signature IPA: citrus, tropical fruit, grapefruit peel, and a bit of grassiness in the background. Flavours of pine resin, more citrus, and a moderate dash of bitterness continue the theme.
The easy-drinking mouth feel and controlled hop flavour firmly establish Instigator as an entry-level IPA.
Indie Alehouse is gradually starting to release their beers in bottles, but for now most of their sales are growlers from their on-site retail store. Each of these traditional beer jugs holds roughly 2L which is about half a bottle shy of a six-pack. Growlers are not meant to be stored, should be kept cool and the beer consumed within four to five days of purchase. The brewery collects a four-dollar deposit on growlers.
Instigator is also available on tap in the brewery and occasionally at bars like barVolo and WVRST.
Indie Alehouse's Instigator IPA, $24 for a 2L growler from the brewery retail store at 2876 Dundas St. West
In addition to covering beer, new restaurants and food trucks for Post City, David Ort writes about food and drink for several Toronto publications including his own site, Food With Legs. He is also the author of the upcoming Canadian Craft Beer Cookbook. For more of his thoughts on food, beer and life in general, follow him on Twitter or get in touch at info@foodwithlegs.com.