BC Craft Beer Review – Central City Red Racer ISA

Central City Brewing – Red Racer ISA: Is a Session IPA brewed in Surrey, BC at a sessionable strength of 4.0% abv with 40 IBU’s and was poured from a 12 oz can into a beer glass at home with lunch.  Aroma and Appearance: It pours a clear golden copper with lots of bubbles and an inch of foam. The aroma…

BC Craft Beer Review – Old Yale Brewing Sergeants IPA

Old Yale Brewing – Sergeants IPA: Brewed in Chilliwack, BC and recent winner of Canadian Beer of the Year (for their Sasquatch Stout), this beer comes in at a strength of 5.5% abv and was poured from a can into a Sam Adams perfect beer glass which works well for IPA’s. Aroma and Appearance: It pours a mildly…

BC Craft Beer Review – Four Winds Juxtapose Brett IPA

Four Winds – Juxtapose Brett IPA: Is an unfiltered IPA fermented with Brettanomyces yeast and silver medal winner at the 2014 World Beer Cup that is brewed at a strength of 6.5% with 50 IBU’s in Delta, BC by my favourite local brewer. Aroma and Appearance: It pours a hazy and bubbly copper with three fingers of foam and…

Craft Beer Review – Dogfish Head Aprihop

Dogfish Head – Aprihop: This is a seasonal Delaware brewed fruit India Pale Ale which comes in at a strength of 7% abv with 50 IBU’s and was poured from a 12 oz bottle into a nonic glass in a hotel. I have had a sample of this on tap and was interested in trying the bottle version. Aroma and…

Craft Beer Review – Evil Twin Bikini Beer

  Evil Twin – Bikini Beer:  Brewed somewhere by Evil Twin Brewing, this light IPA beer comes in a a measly 2.7% alcohol and was poured into a nonic glass while visiting Portland. Aroma and Appearance: Pours a golden yellow with some sporadic bubble action and a quickly dissipating  2 fingers worth of foam. The aroma is muted lemon and grapefruit…

Craft Beer Review – Deschutes Fresh Squeezed IPA

Deschutes – Fresh Squeezed IPA:  Brewed in Bend, OR at strength of 6.4% abv with 60 IBU’s, this IPA was poured into a 16 oz nonic glass while vacationing in Portland. Aroma and Appearance: It pours a hazy copper with 1 finger of foam and some sporadic bubbles making their way to the top of the glass. As soon as I…

Craft Beer Review – Tap It Brewing IPA

Tap It Brewing – IPA: This is a California brewed India Pale Ale which comes in at a strength of 7% and was poured from a 12 oz bottle into a glass at home. I was excited to see 6 packs of this beer at Central City Liquor Store as I remember it being pretty good from the 2013…

Import Craft Beers – Anderson Valley Hop Ottin IPA

From a solar powered brewery in Boonville, CA comes Anderson Valleys Brewing’s Hop Ottin IPA (7.0%, poured from a 22oz bottle at home) Aroma and Appearance: Pours a darker cloudy amber with an inch of foam, nice and bubbly and contains a very, very mild floral and citrus hop aroma with malty toffee. Flavour: Very, very malt forward with heavy toffee,…

Import Craft Beers – Bridgeport Hop Czar

From Portland, OR comes Bridgeport’s Hop Czar Imperial IPA (7.5% alc imperial IPA, poured at home from a 12 oz bottle).  Aroma and Appearance: Pours a cloudy amber, with nice lacy foam and the aroma consists of tropical floral notes, a bit of citrus and mango. Flavour: First of all there is a real bitterness to this one that hits you…

Import Craft Beers – Caldera IPA

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…

Import Craft Beers – Oskar Blues Imperial IPA

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…

Import Craft Beers – AleSmith IPA

From San Diego, CA comes AleSmith IPA (a 7.25% IPA, poured from a bottle while visiting Seattle).  Aroma and Appearance: Pours a nice copper colour, very clear with some good foam and a mix of tangerine, grapefruit and piney aroma. Flavour: Smooth, piney and malty sweet citrus upfront with a bitter IPA finish and a grapefruit aftertaste. Well balanced,…

BC Craft Beer – Four Winds IPA

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…

Local Craft Beer – Bowen Island Artisan IPA

Bowen Island Artisan IPA (5.5% alc, poured at home from a can) ‎Aroma and Appearance: golden with small bubbles, very mild floral and grapefruit aroma and a nice foamy head that fades away Flavour: grapefruit hops, crisp with a bitter and dry finish, but not at all comparable to IPA kick from North Western IPA’s. In…