Dead Frog Super Fearless IPA Batch #1: This was one of those bottles you had to pick up pretty quickly as it didn’t stay on the shelves very long for the first release. Brewed in Aldergrove, BC at a strength of 9% abv with 93 IBUs and described as hop forward, I poured this bottle into…
Brassneck X CAMRA BC Brewery BBQ – was a CAMRA members only event that ran from 12-4 on Sunday, July 27th 2014 at Brassneck Brewery. At this craft beer event there were 12 taps and 2 casks available to chose from and your ticket included a plate of BBQ food from Railtown Cafe. You would have…
New Belgium – Shapshot Wheat Beer: Is a wheat craft beer brewed at a strength of 5% abv with 13 IBUs that has Lacto added to some of the wort which is blended into another fermented regular wort in order to give this wheat beer a sour tang flavour (as per their website). Needless to say, the description…
The Spud Shack Fry Company – Located in New Westminster in the mall attached to the New Westminster Skytrain Station is this small, trendy little counter service restaurant that specializes in fries, poutine, burgers, sandwiches and a decent selection of Craft Beer bottles (go to http://www.spudshack.ca for their menu and other information). They also do catering,…
Phillips Brewing – Amnesiac Double IPA: Hailing from Victoria, this craft beer is brewed at a strength of 8.5% abv and was enjoyed at home from a 22 oz bottle with a freaky elephant on it. Aroma and Appearance: The colour is clear golden honey with two fingers of white foam and very bubble interior. The aroma…
Alaskan – Hopothermia Double IPA: Brewed in Juneau, Alaska at a strength of 8.5% abv and 70 IBUs (5 hop varieties in here) this was poured from a 12 oz bottle into a beer glass and enjoyed at home. Aroma and Appearance: This craft beer pours a clear copper with a small finger of foam and a…
Alameda – My Bloody Valentine Blood Orange Saison: Is an Oregon fruit saison brewed at a strength of 5.5% abv with 21 IBUs that was sealed with blood red wax. Funny enough I bought this after Valentines Day, but didn’t feel like saving ti for another 6 months. Aroma and Appearance: Pours a clear amber with 2…
Pike Brewing – Old Bawdy Barleywine 2009 Vintage: For my 200th post here, I decided to pull out a special bottle of almost 5 year old Barleywine and review it. Believe it or not I found this bottle (plus a few more) about a year ago at an Albertson’s in Snohomish, WA. If you are ever…
Vancouver weather went from hot to normal this past week, with a bit of rain in a few spots here and there as well as some forest fire relief in northern BC. We had a fun week which started with a local Vancouver Canadians game with work people and ended with a camping trip to…
AleSmith Brewing – Nut Brown: Brewed in San Diego, CA this nut brown ale comes in at a strength of 5% abv and according to the bottle is brewed as a tribute to the British nut brown style. Aroma and Appearance: It’s a dark reddish brown and pours with one finger of foam and some small visible…
Lighthouse Brewery – Numbskull Imperial IPA: This is yet another Victoria brewed Imperial IPA, this one comes in at a strength of 9.1% and was enjoyed at home from a 22 oz bottle. Aroma and Appearance: The colour is cloudy copper with three fingers of foam and some little bubbles that slowly make their way to the…
Epic Ales – Forest Ale: Brewed in Washington at a strength of 8% abv, this beer was wax sealed and was a real foam gusher once it was opened (see video at bottom, it did this for over 5 minutes). Finally, it slowed enough to pour into a glass, where sadly one third of the bottle…
Mikkeller – Funky e Star: Brewed in Denmark, this wild/sour are comes in at a strength of 9.39% abv and was poured into a snifter glass from a 12 oz bottle. Aroma and Appearance: This craft beer pours a muddy brown water colour with minimal foam and lots of bubbles. The aroma was some bread, tart and…
Lighthouse 15 Year Anniversary Ale: Aged for about a year, this limited release ale was hard to find and was brewed at a strength of 8% abv to celebrate their 15th year anniversary in August 2013. Aroma and Appearance: Pours a dark and reasonably clear amber, bubbly with an inch of foam. The aroma is dark fruits…
Caldera Brewing – Hop Hash: Brewed in Oregon at a strength of 6.5% with 95 IBUs, this IPA use pure Hop Lupulin extracted from a pelletizing line according to the description on the bottle. It’s part of their Kettle Series, aka small batch releases. I’m always up for trying a more experimental beer, so here we…
Wow a week went by really fast and it was sweltering here in Vancouver (and still is), we actually dragged out the portable AC, but hey its not raining so I am happy. We had some fun attending Family Movie Night in Queens Park, New Westminster and saw Frozen for what seems like the ten thousandth…
One of the things I learned more about in my Prud’homme Level 1 Beer Enthusiast Certification was how to better pair craft beers with food. I’ve done some experimentation since and thought I would start sharing some of the best ones. Craft Beer – Lindemans Framboise Lambic, which is a Belgian Lambic Beer that is first…
Dead Frog Brewery Rocket Man Interstellar ESB: After my last personal Dead Frog disaster, I decided to give them another chance right away with this 22 oz bottle release that was recommended. They are getting a bit funny with their names, but at the same time it beats just plastering the words “India Style” on there…
Dead Frog Brewery – Obsidian Dagger IPA Noire: Is a dark IPA brewed in Aldergrove, BC and is part of Dead Frog’s 22 oz bottle release lineup. I promptly poured this into a beer glass, sat on the patio and started to take notes ans I drank it. Aroma and Appearance: It pours a dark reddish brown with two…
21st Amendment Brewery – Lower De Boom Barleywine: I found a 4 pack of these 11.5% abv and 92 IBU cans hidden on a bottle shelf at a huge store (with a few others) just sitting there not looking like a typical barleywine. Needless to say I always try new barleywines, so split a 4 pack…
Brooklyn Brewing – Sorachi Ace: Is a New York brewed ale made with a rarer hop variety called Sorachi, is bottle conditioned with champagne yeast and has an abv strength of 7.6%. This Saison or Farmhouse Ale was promptly chilled, poured into a snifter and enjoyed at home. Aroma and Appearance: As with many ales of this…
Steel & Oak – Royal City Pale Ale: Is a craft beer brewed in New Westminster, BC just past the Quay at a strength of 5% abv and a lower 20 IBU rating. I had sampled this, like it a lot so naturally a Boston Growler of it came home with me. Aroma and Appearance: It pours a golden yellow with 1 finger…
So I finally had a chance to head down to another brewery that has recently opened in Greater Vancouver (actually New Westminster to be exact) which, based on all the feedback so far is totally worth the trek out there. I understand they have been making beer for a bit, but only recently opened up…
Steamworks / Brassneck Firewalker Smokey Porter: Is a collaboration craft beer brewed in Vancouver, BC at a strength of 6.5% with 40 IBUs in a Steamworks labelled bottle that was originally bagged up with the name and breweries. I proceeded to pour this into a snifter, let it warm to cask temperature and enjoyed it at home. Aroma and Appearance: It pours a…
Lagunitas – Little Sumpin Sumpin Ale: This California brewed filtered summer pale wheat ale was created at a strength of 7.5% abv with 64 IBU’s and was enjoyed from a bottle that I poured into a beer glass. Aroma and Appearance: As shown in the photo, the colour is golden yellow with 2 fingers of foam on…
Phillips Brewing – Trainwreck Barleywine 2013: Another cellar tester, this one was brewed in Victoria, BC at a strength of 10% and was poured into a snifter at home Aroma and Appearance: When held up to light it reveals a dark mahogany colour with a finger of foam and a bit if bubble action. The aroma was…
Firehall Brewery – Stoked Ember Ale: Is a craft beer brewed in Oliver, BC (aka wineville) at a strength of 4.8% abv and 35 IBU’s. I was happy to see this brand in a store, so I chose this bottle and hoped for the best. Aroma and Appearance: It pours a dark amber with just a bit of foam and some sporadic…
I had this past week off and managed to go back to Porteau Cove when the weather was nice (yay!) and lazed around relaxing and doing lots of fun family stuff for the rainy days. I survived a trip to Build-a Bear, physically not financially, but at least the kids love their new $75 stuffed…
Speakeasy Old Godfather Barleywine: Contributing to my barleywine research, this one hails from San Fransico, CA and is brewed at a strength of 9.5% with a high 85 IBU rating and was enjoyed at home in a snifter glass. Aroma and Appearance: The colour is mahogany and it pours with one finger of foam that disappears quickly…
Four Winds – Phaedra Belgian Rye IPA: From what I believe to by their second Zephyrus series release beer, this Delta, BC brewed beer comes in at a strength of 7.2% abv with 65 IBUs. I had a lot of excitement built up for months over this one, finally it came out and I had to…
Moylan’s Brewery Old Blarney Barleywine: Brewed in Novato, CA at strength of 10% abv with 62 IBUs, this barleywine and was poured from a 22 oz bottle into a snifter glass at home. Aroma and Appearance: This one poured a dark amber with some small bubbles on the side of the glass that lead to just a…
Propeller Brewing – ESB: Is brewed in Halifax, Nova Scotia at a strength of 5% with 30 IBUs and was enjoyed at home in a 16 oz pub glass. Aroma and Appearance: It pours a dark brown with some bubble action in the middle of the glass and 1 finger of foam. The aroma has some plum, toffee and…
Alaskan Brewing Barleywine (2013 Vintage): Brewed in Juneau, Alaska at a monster strength of 10.7%, this barleywine has 50 IBUs and was poured from a 22 oz bottle into a snifter glass at home. Aroma and Appearance: The colour is dark mahogany and it pours with minimal foam accompanied by some small bubbles near the sides of…
Green Flash Brewing – West Coast IPA: Hailing from San Diego, CA this IPA is brewed at a strength of 7.3% with 95 IBUs and was enjoyed at home from a 12 oz bottle. Aroma and Appearance: This craft beer pours a cloudy copper colour with lots of tiny bubbles that lead to one finger of lacy foam.…
Bomber Brewing – Pilsner: Is a craft beer brewed in Vancouver, Canada (it’s a Canadian thing) brewed at a strength of 4.8% and was poured from a can into a beer glass at home. I had bought a mixer 12 pack of these for Canada Day and reserved one of each for review at a later time. Aroma and Appearance: It pours…
Bomber Brewing – ESB: Is a craft beer brewed in Vancouver, Canada (it’s a Canadian thing) brewed at a strength of 5.2% and was poured from a can into a beer glass at home. I had bought a mixer 12 pack of these for Canada Day and reserved one of each for review at a later time. Aroma and Appearance: It pours…
Bomber Brewing – IPA: Is a craft beer brewed in Vancouver, Canada (it’s a Canadian thing) brewed at a strength of 6.3% and was poured from a can into a beer glass at home. I had bought a mixer 12 pack of these for Canada Day and reserved one of each for review at a later time. Aroma and Appearance: It pours…
Driftwood Brewery – Pale Ale: Is a craft beer brewed in Victoria, BC at a strength of 5% abv and was poured out of a 22 oz bottle at home. It also goes by Driftwood Ale. Aroma and Appearance: It pours a cloudy gold colour with 2 fingers of foam with some minuscule bubbles and lacy foam. The aroma is tangerine, citrus and…
Speakeasy – Double Daddy Imperial IPA: Is a San Francisco, CA brewed Imperial IPA that comes in at a strength of 8.5% abv and was poured into a 22oz beer glass at home. Aroma and Appearance: It has a slightly cloudy copper appearance and pours with at least 3 fingers of foam (so pour carefully) with surprisingly very…
This past week marked the end of pretty much all the kids registered activities (yay free weekends!), however it also means I won’t be coaching my daughter’s U7 girls soccer team until the Fall, which although I enjoy the break it is still bitter sweet as we had a wonderful team of kids and supportive…
Elysian – Savant IPA: A part of Elysian’s Manic IPA Series, this IPA features Nelson Sauvin hops and is brewed at a strength of 6.3% abv with 66 IBU’s and was enjoyed at home from a 22 oz bottle as pictured above. Aroma and Appearance: It pours a dark copper with 2 fingers of foam and some tiny…
White Rock Beach Beer Company – Fruit Pale Ale: Is pale ale from a nano-nano brewer in White Rock, BC that opened up recently and I just haven’t gotten down there to pick up a growler yet. I finally did grab a 1L growler from them after sampling their beer and once I got home I had…
Brouwerij De Ranke – Hop Harvest 2012: Is a Belgian Ale brewed in Belgium at a strength of 6% abv which was poured into my Chimay goblet. Apparently this aged craft beer is their Pere Noel Christmas Ale with the Bitter XX hops, it was dated 2012 with a best before date of 2017 printed on…
Ninkasi – Maiden the Shade IPA: Is a summer crowd IPA that is brewed in Oregon at a strength of 6.8% abv and 72 IBU’s (from 7 different hop varieties), ti was poured it into a 22 oz beer glass from a 22 oz bottle. Aroma and Appearance: This beer pours a clear golden honey with two fingers…
Great Divide – Hercules Double IPA: Perhaps as strong as Hercules, this Imperial IPA brewed in Denver, CO was brewed at a strength of 10.0% abv and 85 IBU’s. I poured it into my usual IPA glass, hoping for yet another gem of a beer Aroma and Appearance: It pours a dark cloudy copper with 1 finger…
Firestone Walker – Double Jack Double IPA: Is a very popular and highly rated Imperial IPA brewed in Paso Robles, CA at a strength of 9.5% abv and 85 IBUs. I poured this into my IPA beer glass in anticipation of another great uber IPA. It is part of their Proprietors Reserve Series, can it sound…
Mikkeller – Simcoe Single Hop IPA: Is a single hopped IPA (hop head series) brewed in Belgium at a strength of 6.9% with 100 IBU’s. Now this beer I purchased out of curiosity and to help train my palate to recognize the distinctive hop flavours so this was the perfect beer to spend some time with and…
Ever since I can remember, my family has been a camping family who primarily camped all over the western half of North America. Odds are if there is a major camping area on the West Coast I’ve been there, been near there, or I will get there at some point in my life. Whether it’s instinct, built…
Midnight Sun Brewing – Treat : Is an Imperial Chocolate Pumpkin Porter with a cool label from Alaska that was brewed at a strength of 7.8% with 30 IBU’s and was enjoyed at home from a 22 oz bottle I discovered in a recent cellar sort (so close to 1 year old) and I poured it into…
Dageraad – Blonde : Is genuine Belgian Blonde Ale that is brewed in Burnaby, BC at a strength of 7.5% and was enjoyed at home from a re-fermented bottle that was poured into a traditional Belgium Beer glass. Aroma and Appearance: It pours a cloudy gold (or blonde) with a thin layer of foam with some bubbly carbonation in the…
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