Here is a statement you don’t hear everyday. Thank goodness for the COMDB translation department. They took on “Ubhiya!” and were back in no time, telling me it is Zulu for “beer”. Apparently Zulu is one of 11 official languages of South Africa.* Just imagine the tax forms, the choices when you phone a government agency, the road signs! We have enough challenges in Canada with two official languages. I am assuming this brew is made with South African hops since they have become popular with craft brewers of late.
This New Ontario ubhiya pours a full orangish golden, with a bright white head as true at first light** as it is this evening. A kind of a hoppy malt funky aroma which threw me off a bit, I had to take a second whiff of jiff to confirm. It tastes of fruit and bitters combined, rather than in sequence. An old school IPA with the slightly pine bitters there during and crispy at the finish too. It is a nice balanced mix tropical fruit and hoppy pine bitters. Not slap in the face with a pine bough bitters, more like a pinecone dipped in your juicy IPA bitters. Tasty and balanced, and quite enjoyable. This beer unambitheka kakhulu.***
Bajabule! – From the New Ontario Team