Townsite Brewing Perfect Storm Oatmeal Stout: This is a stout brewed in Powell River, BC at a strength of 5.5% with 30 IBUs featuring Columbus, Cascade and Golding hops per their website. I haven’t had a lot of great BC stouts so I like to try different one’s to see where the gems are. Aroma and Appearance: This pours…
Howe Sound Cloudburst Lemongrass White IPA: This IPA was release in Feb 2014 I believe as a spring seasonal beer and was discovered in a recent cellar clean out effort where I grabbed bottles that were in the now or never stage, mostly IPAs at this point. It is brewed at a strength of 6% abv with…
Deep Cove Brewers University Brew Off IPA: This IPA was the winning beer in a brew off between two local University home brewing clubs SFBrew (SFU) and BrUbc (UBC) competing in the Hops Connect Cup University Home Brewing Competition (as reported on Canadian Beer News). It was originally dubbed Hop-A-Rella, released in April of this year ant…
Deep Cove Brewers Sun Kissed Tea Saison: I have been doing a bit of a cellar clean out and found this beer sitting there just begging to be opened on the last day of August (aka the last true day of summer in Vancouver, BC). This beer is brewed in North Vancouver, BC on the way…
Rogue Brewery – Farms 7 Hop IPA: Brewed in Newport, Oregon right near the jetty (go there, it’s fun) this IPA comes in at a strength of 8% with 90 IBUs. Interesting enough, Rogue starting a significant hop growing program in 2008 during one of the many hop shortages the craft beer world has encountered…
Dead Frog Big Stump Spruce Golden Ale: A new release with the new head brewer, this craft beer is brewed just in Algergrove, BC at a strength of 6.5% with 26 IBUs and of course spruce tips. This one has made local headlines, won a recent cask off at Tap Convention with some stiff competition so…
Firestone Walker – Wookey Jack Black Rye IPA: If you search this beer on the internet, you will notice that ratebeer has it on the top 10 Black IPA’s of the world which is always exciting to find a beer that higly regarded, however sometimes can cause you to over anticipate the beverage and therefore feel…
Unibroue Éphémère Cherry : From a Unibroue mixer 12 pack, because that’s the type of beer quality I serve when hosting larger groups (and always a few local mixers), I was a little hesitant for this on as well I don’t really love cherry flavoured things. This emphemeral ale (aka lasting for a short time) is brewed…
MOA Brewing Company – Imperial Stout: Continuing with more New Zealand craft beer which has gained some serious distribution into BC thankfully, I opened this 10.2% abv Imperial Stout which is aged in Oak Pinot Noir barrels, is hopped significantly (over 100 IBUs) and comes in a 375 mL bottle that is corked. As you can see…
Driftwood Brewery Naughty Hildegard “ESB”: Is a craft beer brewed in Victoria, BC at a strength of 6.5% with a whopping 73 IBUs hence why I put the ESB in quotations, basically if you are a style nut it’s pretty obvious this by no means a traditional ESB so don’t expect it to taste like a traditional Extra Special Bitter…
Steel & Oak – Dark Lager: Is another great craft beer brewed in New Westminster, BC at a strength of 5% abv with 27 IBU’s. I went by the brewery the other day to pick up some more growlers and of course another sampler because they had three new beers I hadn’t tried yet. Aroma and Appearance: It does pour with…
Lagunitas – Night Time Ale: This California Black IPA is brewed at a strength of 8.2%% abv and was enjoyed on the patio a couple weeks ago during a bit of a dark beer marathon to get through some darker times. Aroma and Appearance: It pours with two fingers of foam with a dark mahogany like colour and…
Phillips Brewing – Puzzler Belgian Black IPA: Brewed in Victoria, BC at a strength of 7.3% this Belgian Black IPA poured with some massive amounts of foam and took about 5 minutes to calm down before I could fill the glass. That always irks me a bit, but it wasn’t to the point where it was…
Full Sail Brewing – Session Premium Lager: Brewed in Hood River, OR this so called “session” beer is really just beer as it is brewed at a strength of 5.1% although it does come in an 11 oz stubby bottle so perhaps that is the session part, who knows? Either way, it is a multiple medal winner (15…
Granville Island Brewing & JOEY Restaurants – Urban Legend IPA: Brewed locally in collaboration with, or specifically for JOEY restaurant. This IPA is comes in at a strength of 7.5% abv with 75 IBU’s and is labelled as a #BitterAllies beer label. I like the label, the picture here doesn’t depict the embossing very well but it is…
Deschutes Twilight Summer Ale: Brewed in Bend, OR at strength of 5% this summer golden ale is one of the few summer ales I actually look forward to. Sadly seeing the words “summer ale” on beer often means that it will be watered down tasting with very little malt flavour. This trend is changing slowly however I…
Coronado Brewing – Idiot Imperial IPA: Brewed in Coronado, CA at a strength of 8.5%.with 90 IBUs I was excited to try my very first beer by this brewery which I picked up at Haggen in Bellingham, WA. Aroma and Appearance: This craft beer pours a clear coppery orange colour with 2 fingers of foam and lots…
Hair of the Dog Blue Dot Double IPA: Brewed by one of my absolute favourite breweries of all time, this not so double IPA is brewed at a strength of 7% abv with 80 IBUs and was purchased in Oregon on a recent trip. Needless to say I was pretty excited to crack this one open. Aroma…
Brouwerji De Block – Satan Gold: This is a Belgian Strong Ale from Belgium brewed at a strength of 8% that I managed to find a single of at my local LRS simply because it was intriguing. Aroma and Appearance: This craft beer pours with a thin layer of foam with a lot of carbonation and a…
The week itself was very work focused for me so not a lot of travel or adventuring beyond my laptop, however I did manage to get out twice to sample food and beer. First I manged to get to Spud Shack and reviewed their poutine and had some craft beer, needless to say it was…
Tuatara Brewing – Double Trouble Imperial IPA: Another New Zealand craft beer, this Imperial IPA is brewed at a strength of 9% abv and whopping 167 IBUs (yikes!). I had no idea what to expect here, but I was intrigued enough to give it a go. Aroma and Appearance: This is pretty foamy with about 2.5 fingers…
Dead Frog Super Fearless IPA Batch #3: The third release of this Imperial IPA still brewed at a strength of 9% abv with 93 IBUs however, only this one was brewed with a different base malt due to a shipment issue so no Maris Otter here. Aroma and Appearance: Not as foamy as batch #1, just one finger of foam…
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…
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…
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…
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