Bellwoods • Toronto

Motley Cru (2026)

$17.70 + tax

Motley Cru exists as our annual exercise in blending: every release must be a blend, must include oak-aged beer, and that beer must be at least a year old.
Now 14 years in, this year’s iteration is a confident expression of that intent, bringing together one- and three-year-old spontaneous beer with a lighter, younger saison, dry-hopped with Loral and Citra, and conditioned on haskap berries.
Motley Cru has been part of our story since the early days, when our oak program was just getting off the ground and we began setting aside barrels with the hope of creating something greater than the sum of their parts. The name reflects both the eclectic nature of the blend itself, a “motley” mix of barrels,  and the “cru” (crew) of wild microflora that give personality to the beer.
As our barrel master Rocky put it this year, “Don’t count your Motleys until they’re hatched.” Motley 2026 took the scenic route. The initial blend of spontaneous beers felt a little quiet, but with the addition of fresh saison, a complementary dry hop, and the intensity of haskap, it came into focus. The result is layered and expressive, where jammy fruit depth meets a subtle, wine-like tannic structure.
On the nose, expect bright aromatics reminiscent of Swedish berry candies and an elderflower meadow. The palate leans into jammy dark berries, currants, and blackberry, with an undercurrent of something earthy and autumnal, like a forest floor in the fall. It finishes lightly tannic and drying, with a soft body that carries plenty of flavour.
Each Motley is a reflection of where we are and what we’ve learned. Fourteen years in, and this one feels assured, expressive, and right at home in our anniversary beer line up.

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