Parallel 49 Hopnotist: Is a local Vancouver brewed Single Hop Imperial IPA featuring 86 IBUs of the famous Mosiac Hop strain and is brewed at a strength of 8.5% abv. I honestly thought I had missed this one, couldn’t find it anywhere until recently I had a craft calling while walking by the Paddlewheeler Pub Liquor store…
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…
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…
Surlie Brewing Solitaire: Brewed in Abbotsford, BC so far this local nano brewing has released only one beer in bottles which happens to be the one called Solitaire, which is brewed at a strength of 6.5% abv and is available in private liquor stores here. Aroma and Appearance: It pours a dark brown with lots of side…
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 #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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.…
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…
Granville Island Brewing – Shipload of Hops Imperial IPA: Is a craft beer brewed on Granville Island in Vancouver, BC at a strength of 8.7% abv with 100 IBU’s and was enjoyed at home from a bottle that was poured into my favourite beer glass for IPA’s. Aroma and Appearance: It pours a cloudy copper with 1 finger of foam and some…
Old Yale Brewing Sasquatch Stout: This 2014 Canadian Brewing Beer of the Year is brewed in Chilliwack, BC and is an oatmeal stout brewed at a strength of 5.0% which was enjoyed at home in a snifter glass from a 22 oz bottle. I have been searching for a really good, basic BC stout and have…
Ayinger – Altbairisch Dunkel: Is a Munich Dunkel Lager brewed in Germany at a strength of 5 abv%, this dark lager was poured into a 22 oz beer glass from a bottle at home. Aroma and Appearance: It pours a perfectly dark mahogany with 2 fingers of thick foam and some small bubbles in the middle of the glass. The aroma…
Spinnakers – Blue Bridge Double Pale Ale: Is a double pale ale made in Victoria, BC at a strength of 8.2% abv and was enjoyed at home poured from a can into a pub style glass. Apparently they used to call this a double IPA, but have correctly chosen to rename it closer to its true style…
Central City Brewing – Red Racer IPA: Is an IPA brewed in Surrey, BC at a strength of 6.5% with 80 IBU’s. The can in the picture is a special charity release of this beer, which is the same beer as their regular IPA, just in a different can with a promise of a $2 donation per 6…
Dieu Du Ciel – Aphrodisiaque: Is a vanilla and coffee stout brewed in Quebec at a strength of 6.5% which was poured from a bottle into a snifter glass at home. Aroma and Appearance: It pours a dark, dark brown with a touch of tan foam and some sporadic bubbles. The aroma is complex with vanilla beans, cocoa, dark…
Pyramid – Strawberry Saison: Is a fruit saison brewed on the West Coast, in either Washington or Oregon, at a strength of 5.8% and was enjoyed in a snifter glass at home while the sun went down. Aroma and Appearance: It pours cloudy rose colour, with a massive foam monster head and some small bubble action underneath. The aroma…
Central City Brewing – Red Racer Maple Bacon Breakfast Ale: Is a Jeff O’Niel Show Bacon Ale brewed in Surrey, BC at a strength of 5% and was enjoyed at the Central City brewpub on tap. Aroma and Appearance: It pours a clear copper with an inch of foam, and has an aroma of smoke, tangerine, meat and bread. Flavour: The…
Sierra Nevada Northern Hemisphere Harvest 2012: Brewed in California at strength of 6.7%, this wet hopped Ale or IPA with 67 IBU’s and was enjoyed at home in a 22 oz Sam Adams perfect beer glass. Aroma and Appearance: It pours a dark cloudy copper with a good 3 fingers of foam and lots of bubbles in the middle…
Parallel 49 – Hoparazzi: Is a local Vancouver brewed India Pale Lager (aka lager with hops) that comes in at 6% abv and 50 IBU’s which was enjoyed at home in a Sam Adams perfect beer glass. Aroma and Appearance: It pours a clear amber colour with lots of bubbles in the middle and a bit of foam that…
Stone – Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale: Brewed in California at strength of 7.2% this Pale Ale was enjoyed in a nonic 16 oz glass while vacationing in Portland. Stone is hilarious in their descriptions and “Your Not Worthy” marketing, it works well and is always a hoot to read. Aroma and Appearance: It pours a dark amber colour…
Howe Sound – Anvil Island Dark Lager: This is a Schwarzbier style lager that is brewed in Squamish, BC at a strength of 5.5% and 21 IBU’s, which is named after my favourite island to gaze at while the sun sets in Porteau Cove, was poured (twice) from a massive 1L bottle into a 22oz glass at home.…
Oskar Blues G’Knight Imperial Red IPA: Brewed in Colorado at strength of 8.7% with 60 IBU’s, this Red Imperial IPA came from a can and was enjoyed in a nonic 16 oz glass. The name of this beer has a lot of meaning as it is a tribute to a brewer named Gordon Knight and it is worth…
Oskar Blues Deviant Dale’s IPA: Brewed in Colorado at strength of 8.0% with 85 IBU’s, this India Pale Ale came from a can and was enjoyed in a nonic 16 oz glass on the road that I specifically picked up so I didn’t have to use a hotel glass (beer geek alert, getting ready to level up…
Oskar Blues Dale’s Pale Ale: Brewed in Colorado at strength of 6.5% with 65 IBU’s, this Pale Ale (really at 65 IBU I don’t know that it can claim to be a Pale Ale) came from a can and was enjoyed in a nonic 16oz glass at home. Aroma and Appearance: It pours a slightly hazy copper with an…
8 Wired – Mighty Imperial Ale: This is New Zealand strong ale is smoked and aged in oak and is brewed at a mighty strength of 11% alcohol level. I poured it into a snifter glass in anticipation and enjoyed it at home. Aroma and Appearance: Pours a dark hazy ruby bronze colour with a touch of foam and a…
Central City Red Racer Belgian Wheat Ale: This wheat beer is brewed in Surrey, BC at a strength of 5% alcohol with 16 IBU’s and was enjoyed in a new 22oz beer glass (almost enough to hold a 650mL beer) Aroma and Appearance: Pours a hazy golden colour with 2 fingers of foam and I observed some tiny…
Petrus Aged Pale Ale: Brewed in Belguim by Bavik-De Brabandere, this wild sour ale comes in at a strength of 7.3% alcohol, is aged in oak barrels for 20 months and somewhat deceivingly is not identified as a sour beer on the bottle so I can see at least a few people being in for a surprise with this one.…
Evil Twin Disco Beer: Brewed in Holland by this gypsy brewer, this Imperial IPA comes in at a strength of 10.5% and was aged in white wine Chardonnay barrels according to the label and was enjoyed at home last night. Aroma and Appearance: It has a monster head (that stays forever, so pour carefully) and is loaded with lots…
Dead Frog Brewery – Winter Beeracle: I was craving this one again and I managed to find only one of them a couple weeks ago, so rather inspired by the crappy weather on the weekend it felt wintery enough to down a winter beer that was brewed in Aldergrove, BC and was enjoyed at home in a…
Vancouver Island Brewery -Thirty Years Imperial Red Ale: Recently celebration 30 years in the business, this Vancouver Island Brewery is known for making pretty good beer so I was excited to pick up their 30th anniversary release which was an Imperial Red Ale brewed at a strength of 8.5% and was poured from a 22oz bottle…
Four Winds – Saison: Brewed in Delta, BC and part of their standard lineup, this unfiltered Saison comes in at a strength of 6.5%, with 30 IBU’s and was enjoyed at home moments ago. Aroma and Appearance: Pours a hazy copper with three fingers of foam and random rising bubbles with an aroma of pepper, coriander, lemon and…
Deschutes Red Chair Pale Ale (NWPA): Dubbed a North West Pale Ale, this beer is brewed in Oregon at a strength of 6.2% abv and 60 IBUs featuring Cascade and Centennial hops. I found such a good deal 12 pack of this beer that I couldn’t resist buying it as my go-to fridge beer. Interesting enough this…
Vancouver Island Brewery – Hermann’s Dark Lager: This local craft beer is a Bavarian Dark Lager that is brewed in Victoria, BC at a strength of 5.5% alcohol level and was poured from a 22 oz bottle into a pint glass at home. Aroma and Appearance: It has a dark brown almost amber look to it, pouring with…
Whistler Brewing’s Valley Trail Chestnut Brown Ale: Brewed in Whistler, BC with 5.0% alcohol level and poured at home from a bottle. This is a fall release and is generally only available for half the year, which is too bad as it would make a great camping beer. This brewery makes all round decent beer, nothing super risky but…
Brewed in craft central Vancouver, BC comes Parallel 49’s Lost Souls Chocolate Pumpkin Porter (6.5% alc, poured at home from a 22oz bottle aged for 6 months). Aroma and Appearance: Pours a dark brown colour with a half inch or so of foam and has an aroma of Chocolate, Coffee and of course pumpkin Flavour: Not surprising it…
To celebrate National Beer Day yesterday, I had a collaboration brew from Portland, OR called Salted Caramel Stout by Breakside Brewery (6.7% alc, collaboration brew with Salt & Straw, poured at home from a 22oz bottle). If you have ever been to Portland and walked by the Salt and Straw Ice Cream locations, they always have line…
From Surrey, BC comes Central City’ Red Racer Imperial IPA 2014 (a serious 9% alc double IPA for charity, poured at home from a 22oz bottle). This is a 2000 case special release in 2014, they also did one last year. Aroma and Appearance: Pours a nice copper colour with two fingers of foam and has lots of grapefruity tangerine-like…
From Ashland, OR comes Caldera Brewing’s IPA (6.1% alc poured at home from a can). Aroma and Appearance: This beer has a really pleasant tangerine, caramel and tropical aroma that makes you want to smell it all the time. It pours a medium honey colour with a bit of haze, lots of foam and quick rising bubbles. Flavour: Lots of…
From Denver, CO comes Oskar Blues Imperial IPA (a serious 10% alc double IPA, poured in Seattle from a can). Aroma and Appearance: Pours a clear copper honey like colour, with medium foam and some tiny bubbles that make their way up the glass. The aroma is dominated by grapefruit, floral, tangerine like hops. Flavour: Lots of sweet bready…
From San Franciso, CA comes Anchor Brewing’s Old Foghorn Barleywine (8.8% alc poured from a bottle while visiting Seattle). Aroma and Appearance: Pours a dark amber with some foam, lots of toffee and raisin aroma and some good bubbles rising from the bottom. Flavour: this one hits you nicely with loads of sweet toffee, malt with some nice fruitiness and floral hop notes…
From Hood River, OR comes Double Mountain Fa La La La La Winter Ale (7.5% alc, from a 500 mL bottle and poured at home). Aroma & Appearance – aroma of sweet malt, huge floral and citrus hops, pours a amber colour with a think head of foam that leaves a nice lacing as it disappears. Flavour – Starts…
Old Yale Brewing Screaming Banshee Irish Cream Stout: Formerly know as Larry’s Irish Cream Stout, this 7.5% abv beer is brewed in Chilliwack, BC and is infused with Irish cream to give it some extra flavour and flair. Aroma and Appearance: Pours dark red with some decent lacing foam and carries an aroma of sweet dark coffee,…
From Quebec, comes Brasserie Dieu du Ciel’s Derniere Volonte (7% alc, from a re-fermented bottle and poured at home) Aroma and Appearance: pours a hazy honey colour, with very little foam and aggressive small bubbles rising from the bottom of the glass. Aroma is dominated by clovey spice and banana with a side of tropical hops. Flavour: heavy…
Four Winds IPA: Brewed locally in Delta, BC at a strength of 7% abv and 70 IBUs, this is one of my favourite local IPA’s because it has a good balance of malts and hoppy bitterness, while still managing to highlight both quite nicely. Aroma and Appearance: Pours a hazy pale amber with a thick lacy three…
My first Sour Beer review is “Noel de Calabaza” by Jolly Pumpkin (a whopping 9.0% alc, from a 75 cL re-fermented bottle and poured at home) Aroma and Appearance: This pours a very dark brown with a touch of foam and the aroma is dominated by tartness, grapefruit and a touch of funk. Flavour: Well, it’s a sour…
All the way from France comes “La Goudale de Noel” by Les Brasseurs De Gayant (7.7% alc, from a 75 cL re-fermented bottle and poured at home) Aroma and Appearance: Pours a dark copper with a small 1/2 inch head of foam, almost no bubble action in the glass. I get notes of plum, dark fruit, raisin…
Brewed in Delta, BC comes Four Winds Pale Ale (5.2% alc, poured at home from a bottle) in my opinion the breakout brewery of the year last year. These are available in four packs. Aroma and Appearance: fresh floral, citrus and a bit of a tropical aroma, pours copper coloured with minimal foam and not a lot of…
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