Casa London Magazine #4 // The Beermanac Vol.1 // June-July 2017 | Page 147

medals for selected beers, at the 6th Annual NYIBC (New York International Beer Competition). These awards are a true testament to how hard Robin Ridesic, founder & CEO, and her team have worked over the past 18 months. It is particularly inspiring for me to see a female owner and staff at a brewery, even though the site is becoming increasingly common, because (as you may know) women were the original beer brewers!

Robin previously lived in Toronto where she was a homebrewer and, surrounded by the great beer that the city has to offer, she became a huge fan of hoppy IPA’s and Sours. The Exchange features a number of American styles, along with a growing focus on funky Belgian-style beers, Sours, and barrel aged beers. This may be why it is such a great fit for their brewer Sam, who hails from Michigan and spent some time brewing at Jolly Pumpkin, Michigan - a well known Sour-focused brewery. At The Exchange they focus on making exceptional craft beers using only the highest quality ingredients, this includes making use of their surroundings by using local Niagara fruits and yeasts cultivated from local orchards. Their brewery houses a 10 barrel system that is on display behind the glass on the main level with 5 large fermenters and 8 brite tanks in the basement running straight to their draft lines and taps of their two bars.

The flights of beer are served on trays that look like old rotary dial phones, so pick a beer and start dialing your way through!  I always love to discover a unique twist breweries can put on how they present their flights of beer.  I grew up with one of those phones in my home, so it brings back fond memories of talking away on it for hours with my friends in high-school.  There is also a modest menu offered to go with your beers.

The Amber Ale, AKA 2, is as delicious, malty ale with a subtle hop presence that makes it very approachable. It’s no wonder it is their current top seller!  The Session IPA (5) is exactly that, session-able, this lower alcohol brew has a nice hop profile and the addition of Saaz brings a nice spicy tang to the hop experience. The rest of their collection vary from Saisons, Witbiers and Pale Ales, to Double IPA’s, Porters, Stouts.  All their beers are bottled in beautiful 750ml champagne bottles, which gives every drink that classy feel.

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