Annapolis Cider Company

All posts tagged Annapolis Cider Company

Happy Friday everyone! We hope you’ve had a great week and are ready to celebrate another weekend with a variety of beer, cider, and mead from your local producers. We’ve got plenty of news on big changes from two breweries in Nova Scotia, new beer and Pride in Port Rexton, some great events later in the month for those in HRM, and of course a few things to sip and savour at home or in your favourite watering hole before then. And a reminder that this weekend’s Seaport Beerfest is happening rain or shine, so be sure to coordinate the colour of your umbrella with that of your drinking boots! With 300+ products from across the region and beyond, there will be more than enough to satisfy your cravings. Cheers!

This weekend is Port Rexton Pride, with a full gamut of events happening in town, with crafting fun and the kick-off BBQ this afternoon at the arena, and of course Port Rexton Brewery will be hosting plenty of events all weekend. To celebrate the event, they have once again teamed up with Queer Beer NL, a group of queer homebrewers in St. John’s, to bring you Experimental Phase. This is truly a hybrid of two styles, with the hop aroma and flavour of a New England IPA with the malty profile of a Red Ale. Citrus and stone fruit on the nose, followed by a touch of caramel or even gingerbread, in a low bitterness, 5.5% ABV, package. It’s pouring at the brewery now, and will be available everywhere you grab Port Rexton in the coming weeks, so be sure to check it out and support PR Pride!

Windsor’s Schoolhouse Brewery has released their Summer Break Wheat, just in time to finish out the hottest part of the summer, and give teachers one last moment of respite before the bells start ringing for another year. This 5.3% ABV beer uses a Kolsch-style yeast for a clean fermentation with a touch of subtle banana fruitiness to the bright orange peel finish. Perle hops lend a touch of mint, pine, and spice to the overall effect, and is available on tap and in cans at the brewery and at Bishop’s Cellar.

Down in Lunenburg, Shipwright is releasing Sea Legs, a Belgian influenced take on a Brut IPA. This one starts with a grain bill of Pale, Munich, CaraBelge and Abbey malts, before seeing additions of Citra and Lemondrop hops. The team then pitched Escarpment’s Ardenne Belgian yeast, which fermented the beer to be quite dry with an ABV of 9.5%. Despite the high ABV, the dryness and low bitterness (16 IBUs), this one is sneakily easy drinking. The combo of the hops and Belgian yeast give floral aromas and fruity esters. Grab it today in Downtown Lunenburg.

Across the way in Wolfville, Annapolis Cider is releasing the latest in their Something Different series with Bouquet Rosé. This one saw 4(!) separate ferments come together, including a lilac co-ferment, a cyser (mead/cider hybrid) that uses magnolias and dandelions, and a blueberry wine. The result is a spring bloom in a glass, with notes of lilac, flowers, blueberries and nectarines. Refillable bottles are available at the cidery now, with $0.50 of every sale supporting The Mudley Fund, which helps to remove financial barriers for children and youth in the Town of Wolfville who are seeking to engage with their community. 

Two big events to tell you about coming at the end of the month.

Our friends at Change is Brewing Collective are partnering with Elevate & Explore Black Nova Scotia to bring you a Summer Beer Bus Tour on Sunday August 27. Teaming up with Taste Halifax Food & Beer Tours, this tour begins at the Africville Park with a walking tour of the area, before continuing on to North Brewing (CIB’s collaborators on Deep Rooted), Propeller Brewing (Wabanaki Soda), and on to Garrison Brewing (future plans, perhaps?). There will be charcuterie boxes from a local Black-owned business, plus prizes too! Tickets are on sale now, with early bird pricing available. Don’t miss out on this great learning and drinking opportunity. Learn more here.

And just a couple of days later, on August 29, Change is Brewing is hosting a screening of One Pint at a Time, an award-winning documentary highlighting the stories of Black-owned breweries and brewers as they make their mark in the US beer market. Co-hosted by Boxing Rock (of Back to Birchtown Stock Ale), the screening will be held at Hopyard Halifax on Gottingen Street, featuring food pairing and the launch of a Triple Collaborative Beer between the three groups. Tickets are pay what you can to support Change is Brewing’s initiatives around the local industry. More information here.

A few more things before we let you go…

Coming back just in time for the Dragon Boat festivities at Octagon Pond in Paradise next weekend is Banished Brewing’s Paddles Up! Sour. Inspired by and brewed with the Avalon Dragons, a group of Breast Cancer Survivors who race in the Paradise SunSplash Paddle every year, this Raspberry and Hibiscus Fruited Sour is brimming with flavour and sports a lovely pink hue. Fifty cents from each can goes towards the team, so drink up!

In returning beer news, Big Spruce has a couple of releases this week, with the Blursday 6.6% Hazy IPA hitting the draught lines and shelves this week. Think tropical fruit, with mango, papaya, and lychee. Joining it is Kolsch Encounters, their 5.6% Lagered Ale hybrid beer, with a delicate malt character and a crisp and dry finish. Look for it on tap and in cans as well.

The King of Citra is back from UnfilteredDouble Orange Ale, aka DOA, is their 7.5% ABV Double IPA, brimming to the edge with Citra hops throughout, for serious citrus vibes and solid bitterness. Pints and cans to go from Charm School and the brewery next door on North Street!

Let’s finish off this week with news from two Nova Scotia breweries where there have been some big changes recently!

On Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore, fans of Sober Island Brewing will be seeing some new faces working the taps these days, as owner and founder Rebecca Atkinson has passed the reins over to new owners Nancy and Steve Giles. Since opening the brewery in 2016, Atkinson has helped to make Sheet Harbour a destination for beer lovers from across the country, and is now turning her focus to other endeavours. The Giles’ will continue the great work, keeping the brewery taproom and Musquodoboit Harbour Beer Garden bustling and busy with events, and Brewer Tim MacLeod will continue brewing the same beers that he has for years, including the recently released Eastern Shore Barley Wine, an 11.7% ABV beast of a beer. Congratulations to Rebecca and the Gileses on the transition!

Residents of Lower Sackville will soon see big changes at their local brewery at 111 Cobequid Road, Ol’ Biddy’s is undergoing a name change. Since the sale of the brewery in April, there have been major renovations in the taproom and improved patio front and centre to the building. There is another big transition happening now, as they are changing their name to a locally inspired one, Great Roads Brewing. The website and social media pages are still in flux, but the Great Roads name is inspired by the nearby Fultz House Museum, with the Fultz House sitting at the intersection of the important roads leading from Halifax and Dartmouth to Windsor and Truro. Visitors to the brewery can get a sneak peak of the new branding by grabbing their newly canned Blueberry Wheat Ale. Many of the same folks who have been at the brewery for years continue on, including Brewer Rob, who has been making the beer for 3 years, learning under founder and former owner Keith Forbes. We’re excited to hear of the new and upcoming changes, and will continue to share the latest news from Lower Sackville’s brewery!

Happy Friday, and what we hope is the start of a long weekend for you all! For whatever reason you may be celebrating, or not, we’ve got plenty of new beers, and locations to enjoy them, for you this week. Remember to enjoy responsibly and look out for each other!

We’re happy to share news of another new brewery opening its doors in rural Newfoundland, this time in Baie Verte. Little North Brewhouse has been in development for many years, and unfortunately was delayed in part due to ACOA funding for breweries drying up in 2019, when there was thought to be too many breweries in Newfoundland. Ha! There have been five breweries open since then, and Little North makes brewery #22! Thankfully, the folks behind Little North have persevered, and while their taproom plans in Baie Verte are on hold for the time being, their first beer has hit the shelves of Central NLCs today. Short Straw is a 6.7% ABV New England IPA, bursting with notes of citrus and mango, in a hazy body. Look for it at the NLCs in Corner Brook, Grand-Falls Windsor, and Gander, and will be on the shelves at 410 Grocery in Baie Verte any minute now! We’ll have plenty more with the crew behind Little North in the coming weeks.

From one opening to another, the long-anticipated Bedford location of Propeller Brewing is opening tomorrow, July 1st! Located at 1225 Bedford Highway (at the base of Fourth Street), this purpose-built building is their first to sport a drive-thru window! While the taproom (with both indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a kitchen) is set to open in another few weeks, the Prop Shop is open for retail and drive-thru 12 PM – 12 AM Saturday, 12 – 10 PM Sunday, and retail 12 – 10 PM & drive-thru 4 – 10 PM Monday. (BTW, all of the PropShops are open from noon until 8 or later all weekend long, so you don’t have to worry about running out of great local beer to fuel your long weekend celebrations) And if Bedford is your home base, or you don’t mind commuting, they are hiring for the retail and kitchen now, email noah@drinkpropeller.ca today to apply/learn more! Of course, we’ll keep you in the loop when the taproom and kitchen are set to open.

There’s lots happening on the North Shore this week with a few new beers from Tatamagouche Brewing. A few weeks ago we told you about their Twin Shores Collaboration Pale Ale with Propeller, but what we didn’t tell you is that they’ve also been letting some Brettanomyces work away on another pale ale, which is out now. Kudos Brett Pale Ale features the New Zealand hop Nectaron, with the fermentation and hop additions ledding to notes of grapefruit and stone fruit. Cans of the 4.6% ABV pale ale are available now through both breweries. In other Tata news, keep an eye out for a barrel aged version of their Irish Stout, Hierlihy. This version was aged for 10 months in third-use cognac barrels that saw the introduction of a Brett Lambicus strain during their prior use. The aging process has allowed the beer’s malt character to come through the forefront, which combined with the subtle brett character, is giving some fruity and vinous notes. This one won’t be packaged, so keep an eye out for kegs and casks at the brewery and better beer bars in the province. 

Across the Northumberland, Upstreet is releasing the 8th version of their annual De Novo series, which coincides with their anniversary. De Novo 8 is a big one, a 10% Triple IPA coming in at 40 IBUs. Starting with a grain bill of 2-row, flaked and crystal wheat, flaked oats, and Golden Naked Oats, it then saw big additions of Trident, Sabro, Samba and NHZ-107 hops. Expect a creamy and luscious drinking experience, with notes of stone fruit, pineapple, citrus and lightly toasted marshmallow. Canning is happening today (Friday) and as of publication time, they’re on track to release cans at the taproom and the downtown Craft Beer Corner later today. Happy 8 years to Upstreet from your friends at ACBB!

Is there anything that screams Atlantic Canada summer more than a lobster boil and beer? Well, maybe high gas prices, but we digress. In their tribute to New Brunswick summers, Moncton’s Tire Shack Brewery has released Lobster Boil Gose. 50 kg of lobsters were added to the boil on brewday, to go along with malt and hops that were all grown within the province. The resulting salty and sour wheat beer is available now in cans and on tap at the brewery. 

For something different, let’s head to Wolfville where Annapolis Cider is releasing Imperial Gimlet, the latest in their Something Different series. The inspiration for this one comes from one of the cidery’s favourite cocktails, the French Gimlet, a stiff cocktail featuring gin, elderflower liquor and lime juice. The cider featuring two fermentations, additions of lime juice, hops and elderflower, leading to a floral aroma, notes of berry and a bit of acidity. It also packs a punch at 9.1%, but decidedly less punch than an actual gimlet. And because the folks at Annapolis Cider are mighty swell people, $0.50 from each purchase will be donated to the Canadian Red Cross fund supporting Nova Scotia’s recovery from the recent wildfires. 

Back in New Brunswick, Trailway is releasing the latest in its Land Series, with Marsh Land Tripel. Per the style, this is a bigger beer, coming in at 9% ABV. Expect some biscuity malt notes, with aromatics of apricot and banana from the Belgian yeast, and a grassy bitterness from the hops. Cans are out now at the Fredericton and Saint John taprooms. 

2 Crows Brewing has 2 Beers Releasing today, in decidedly distinct styles. Brewed during this month’s CBAC, the Crows invited folks from Calgary’s The Establishment to play around in the brewery. Fashionable People is a fuzzy and hazy IPA, brewed with flaked oats and wheat on top of the base of pilsner malt, along with some chit malt too. The hopping began in the mash with Cascade, and continued in the boil with Columbus, before post-boil hopping with the quartet of classic and new hops Idaho 7, Centennial, Solero, and HBC 1019. Fermenting with Verdant yeast also assisted in keeping the beer hazy and juicy. Mango, citrus, passion fruit will dance on your tongue, and you could even grab a couple to enjoy at Ashtray Rock! Watch out, this was a small batch, so act quickly to avoid disappointment.

Also from 2 Crows is the latest in their Jamboree sour series: Watermelon + Kiwi. Sticking to a base of pilsner and wheat malts, along with help from flaked wheat and flaked oats, JW+K was soured with Lactobacillus plantarum before fermentation with Escarpment Labs’ Ebbegarden Kveik yeast. After that was complete, tons (well, kilos) of kiwi and watermelon purees were added to the beer during conditioning, and it was allowed to finish carbonating naturally. You can find Jamboree: Watermelon + Kiwi on tap and in cans at the brewery now, with cans hitting the shelves of the provincial liquor corporation later in July.

Sydney’s Breton Brewing is celebrating eight years of beer with a new seasonal release, Mango IPA. A hazy beer packed with plenty of Citra and Amarillo hops for a big citrus punch, it also features (duh) mango to kick the juiciness up a big notch. Coming in at 6.5% ABV, you’ll find it pouring in the taproom for pints and fills as well as in cans to go (and do remember, they ship province-wide). If you’re in the area, definitely consider stopping by tomorrow for a combination Canada Day and Breton Birthday celebration with live music, deals on Island Time Lager, and Scots Dogs on site with food.

In Bay Roberts, NL, Baccalieu Trail Brewing also has a fruited beer out this week, one they put together with Rough Waters Brewing way across the island in Deer Lake. PLURNT is listed as a “late-hopped imperial pineapple sour” which certainly has some connotations. Though not an IPA, this one saw some late additions of El Dorado, which are known for providing a tropical punch, plus some other hop varieties they’re electing to keep under wraps for now, but which provide flavors and aromas that marry well with the pineapple purée that the beer was conditioned on for four days before packaging. On the bigger side for a sour, hence the “imperial” category, it landed at 6.8% ABV. Look for this one already on tap in the Baccalieu Trail taproom for pints and fills, and the cans will hit the shelves tomorrow at BT’s regular retailers just in time for your Canada Day celebrations. As for the name, don’t ask us, we have no idea either!

Continuing their Make/shift series of collaborations with local businesses, this week Landwash Brewery has released Verafin Session IPA. Taking cues and inspiration from the group from Verafin who came into the brewery earlier this month, this 4.5% ABV hoppy little thing features Cascade in the mash and early fermentation, with two New Zealand hops, Motueka and Rakau, after that. Cans and draught are available at the brewery in Mount Pearl now, with cans at their regular retailers shortly too!

Microbrasserie Ateepic, located at the Edmundston Golf Course, has a new beer on tap today, promising to be a refreshing drink for after (or before/instead of) your round of golf. Coup Sûr is a 4.5% Gose, that salty and sour style from Germany that has migrated to North America in the last decade. Ateepic’s take on it features both cucumber and lime, to enhance the refreshment and satisfying character. Find it on tap at the brewery this weekend!

We’ve got one brewery doing some hiring this week:

Up in Fredericton, NB, Half Cut Brewing is hiring for a couple of available slots, one in the brewery, the other in the taproom. On the production side, they’re looking for a Production Assistant to help with all aspects of the brewing process, from brewing, to packaging, to general labour, to cleaning (especially the cleaning, we expect). And in the taproom, they’re looking for a FT or PT bartender. Both positions are for ages 19+. To apply, you can lob a resume at info@halfcut.ca or drop by the brewery during business hours for a chat.

Lastly, a few quick hits before you get on with your Canada Day weekend!

Annapolis Brewing has brought back their Duck Slayer Czech Amber Lager this week. Giving you a bit of a maltier option for the summer while still being crisp and refreshing, it features classic Saaz hops for a bit of balancing spiciness. Super crushable at 4.7% and 27 IBU, it’s available now at the brewery.

Bedford’s Off Track Brewing set out to make perfect summer brew and landed on Basinview Lager, a 4.2% ABV American Lager. Pale yellow, crisp, and ultra crushable, it’ll pair well with post-softball aches and pains.

Halifax’s Unfiltered has their classic summer sour, Sour Motherfucker back today for those folks who aren’t into hops. Not a little beer by any means, it’s 6.5% with plenty of fruity and refreshing tart cherry character and, as a bonus for those whose dietary needs warrant it, this year’s version is also gluten reduced!

A sneaky surprise release from Serpent Brewing on the weekend is still around, but definitely won’t last til Monday. Summer Fling is a 6.6% ABV Saison, to which they have added citron, ginger, and honey, for a citrus and lightly spicy saison fit for some summer days and nights. As there is only a single keg available, we suggest heading your way there today, and while you’re at it, sample their new food menu too!

Banished Brewing in Paradise has brought back their Makes Sense Hazy IPA this week, absolutely chock-full of hops, giving a OJ vibes thanks to the Citra, Nelson, and Solero added throughout the process. Look for it on tap and in cans at the brewery, hitting local retail shelves in the next few days.

Happy Friday y’all! Warmer weather, buds breaking through the snow, patios being shoveled off, it really is beginning to feel like spring! Of course, we’ll have to keep our snowblowers and scrapers close at hand, but let’s hope the worst of winter is behind us. And let us now turn to beer, because that’s why you tune in every week! Oh, and as next week is Good Friday, we’ll be giving you an All Killer, No Filler post next Thursday to set your (hopefully) long weekend up for beer and cider success! (Note to breweries, please hit us up early next week to be included, in case we check out even earlier than usual)

Never ones to do something half-assed, the Fine Family of Big Spruce is celebrating their Tenth Anniversary in a big way this weekend! April 1, 2013 is when the little farm brewery on a hill in Nyanza, Cape Breton first opened their doors, and they’ve been pumping out the good stuff and raising a little heck, ever since! At a time when there were fewer than 20 breweries in the province, and none in Cape Breton, Jeremy White and family purchased a home, planted some hops, and got to work to bring Organic beer to Nova Scotia. Check this interview from 2012 and update in 2013 for a bit of nostalgia on the brewing scene back then… Over the ten years since, they have released well over 200 different beers, fought back against outdated and backwards rules from the province and the NSLC, all while having a heck of a lot of fun. 

They are celebrating in a massive way this weekend with the release of a Birthday Box mixed case of new brews and returning favourites, just in time to kick off Nova Scotia Craft Beer Month. Giving full details on all twelve would be a full hour-read on its own, so we will tease you with the names and info to at least get you ready.

  • Kitchen Party Pale Ale – This is a throwback to the original recipe that they launched in 2013, that has undergone some tweaks over the years. 5.6% ABV
  • Cereal Killer Glenora Whiskey Barrel Aged – Taking their Stout and aging it in whiskey barrels will lend tons of vanilla, wood, and spirit character, without a ton of booziness. 5.8% ABV
  • Canadian Tuxedo – An ode to the denim on denim look, local Organic haskap berries punch up this Brettanomyces-fermented sour beer. 6.0% ABV
  • Bolt From The Blue – Another fruited sour, this time using locally-grown Organic blueberries. 4.5% ABV
  • Snailblazer – Just because it’s low ABV doesn’t mean it’s not full of flavour! A 4.5% ABV Session IPA with experimental HBC 843 hops.
  • Put Me In Kölsch – A dry-hopped pale lagered ale, refreshing and thirst quenching for those days in beer league softball. 4.9% ABV
  • Hug Bunny – A returning favourite Gose, the light salt character keeps you wanting more. 4.0% ABV
  • Blursday – A new release, a 6.6% ABV hazy IPA.
  • Brew Rodeo – Another new IPA, this one uses a cryogenic extraction of fresh, not dried, Citra hops, to capture the just-picked character of the hop harvest, stabilizing it for any-time-of-the-year enjoyment. 7.0% ABV
  • The Cat’s Pyjamas – Another experimental hop IPA, weighing in at 7.2% ABV
  • What Could Possibly Go Wrong – A Double IPA featuring the tropical and citrus New Zealand-grown Nectaron hop. 8.0% ABV
  • Under The Mountain – A Cascadian Dark Ale, aka Black IPA, the winner from this year’s Homebrew Championship, brewed by Alex Hunt. Chinook, Simcoe, and Centennial, for tons of pine and resin on a smooth dark malt base. 6.2% ABV

Wow! What a line-up! The great news is that there are a few hundred of these Birthday Boxes available at Big Spruce, or online for delivery across the province or Canada-wide, going on-sale today at 6 PM (delivery tomorrow), so set your alarms now!

Joining the new releases from Big Spruce is the return of their annual American IPA release, Cerberus. Celebrating the best of Organic ingredients, especially hops, it is hopped throughout the process, including in the kettle and later in the tanks post-fermentation, to give you both flavour and aroma bursting from the can. As always, this is a once a year treat, so don’t delay in picking it up from the brewery, their shop, or better retailers around the province.

If you manage to finish your case of new beer on the weekend, congratulations! But the good news is if you do, or happen to miss out, then you can enjoy any and all of these new and returning releases on draught at Battery Park next Thursday, April 6, as they host Big Spruce for a massive Tap Takeover. From 11:30 until late, Nyanza is taking over the taps to showcase it all to the public. And great news, as Friday is a holiday for most, hopefully you needn’t worry about having to head to work the next morning! Birthday Cake is served at 7 PM, and the Big Spruce Crew will be onsite celebrating along with everyone!

From one island to another, Sober Island Brewing has a brand new release coming out today. A light, dry-hopped Saison, Saison du Sheet Rock is a fun, light twist on a delicious style. We’re happy to bring you the details on this one, as this one brings a malt bill of Pilsen, Vienna and light Munich to bring lightly toasted and soft bready flavours. The hops in this one are all American, which isn’t traditional, but works well with the recipe. Citra, El Dorado and Centennial play up the citrus, stone fruit and a bit of spruciness. The Belgian yeast adds the peppery contrast and brings the dry finish you’d expect from the style. Overall, this comes in at 4.0% and 26 IBU and should be a great take on the style. This debuts at their beer release party tonight (Friday, March 31st) at 7 PM at the brewery, and a cask version will be available at the Together We Brew Beerfest tomorrow. Cans are available at the taproom as well. 

Staying in Nova Scotia, Tatamagouche Brewing has a brand new beer that stays in the Saison family. Peppy is a pink peppercorn and rosehip Saison. This brew was inspired by a family kombucha recipe that has botanical and grapefruit aromas with a tart citrus flavour.  Along with classic Belgian yeast, the pink peppercorn and rosehips were used as a dry “hop” to bring very bright floral, sweet, and berry notes with a peppery aroma. The finish of this 5.9% beer is dry and herbaceous and it is available today in 355ml cans from the brewery and online and may pop up around some private stores as well in Halifax. 

Another brand new beer out of Nova Scotia comes to us courtesy of Tusket Falls Brewing. Something to Say is a Hazy Session IPA that continues with the brewers’ current fascination with New Zealand hops. This 4.6% tropically flavoured beer features Pacific Sunrise along with a bit of Citra. The Pacific Sunrise has hints of lemon and orange flavour with some melon and mango notes as well. This one is available in cans and on tap at the Tusket brewery and will be available in their Halifax Beer Project location soon. 

We’re starting our Newfoundland-themed section now, sharing news from seven breweries from the Rock. Starting out with Banished Brewing, they’ve got a new beer and a fresh release of an old favourite. Private Line is a 4.7% Kölsch that embodies the cool, crisp style with a touch of sweetness from European malts. This is available at the brewery now and will be going to Newfoundland retailers through next week. The Banished crew also has a fresh batch of their Double New England IPA, Intergalactic Puffin, which is the 8% offering of their Puffin line. 

Other news from the brewery is that they’re hiring part-time and full-time positions for retail and bartending positions. To apply please submit a resume & a cover letter to kris@banishedbrewing.ca

The second stop on our Newfoundland swing is Landwash Brewery and they’re bringing us Garden Party, a Session IPA. This release coincided with Blue Jays opening day and brings the hope of Spring, Summer and fun, social days ahead. This is 4.2% and available in cans today. 

Bringing in a friend, Landwash has a new collaboration with Baccalieu Trail Brewing. Freeze & Thaw is a Northern German Pilsner to commemorate this time of the year and frosty mornings in Newfoundland.  Staying true to the style, this lager went through a double decoction mash and brings that nice bitter bite and floral aroma from German Spalter Select and Saphir hops. The result is a 5% canned beer available from the regular locations of Marie’s and NLC on the Avalon peninsula, and will be coming to the rest of the island next week. 

Staying in the province, but jumping over to Lab City, Iron Rock Brewing is releasing the second of its cellar series with Le Fer Du Monde. This Belgian-style tripel, a clever play on the name of the ever popular (although now macro-owned) tripel out of Quebec, translates to the Iron of the World. Their take on the style was oak-aged and then bottle conditioned. Expect notes of dark fruit, vanilla, and oak, with a touch of warming alcohol character. This one can be aged for up to three years, or enjoyed fresh (“why not both?” is our suggestion).  Bottles will be available today at the taproom with wider retail distribution next week. 

Dildo Brewing is getting you in the mood for spring with its newest release, Maibock. Their take on the German Helles Bock comes in at 6.5%, featuring Pilsner, Vienna and Munich malt, with the malt sweetness complimented by the spicy notes derived from the exclusive use of Spalter Select hops. Cans are available today around the bay in Dildo and at the downtown St. John’s retail store, with wider distribution via the NLC next week. 

Over on the west coast, Secret Cove Brewing is releasing Ocean Dust, a 4.6% ABV German gose-style ale. Their version includes the traditional additions of coriander and orange peel, with the salt harvested from Newfoundland sea water. Expect a slight tartness, along with orange pith, marmalade and a hint of ocean water. Find it on tap at the brewery now with cans next week at the brewery, and wider distribution to follow.

We’ll finish off the streak of Newfoundland and Labrador releases with this year’s version of Wild Ale from Port Rexton Brewing. This one is co-fermented with two ale yeasts, a cleaner American yeast, and a Belgian Saison yeast, before a secondary fermentation with Escarpment Labs’ Brett D strain. The resulting 6% wild ale is packed with esters and phenols, including banana, spice and floral notes. A small addition of pineapple puree rounds out the fruity fermentation-derived flavours. You can find it on-tap at the brewery now, with cans at the brewery and the St. John’s retail shop. It will see wider distribution in cans across the Province next week. 

Let’s head to Fredericton to start a little Nouveau-Brunswick swing, where Trailway’s newest release is honouring one of beer’s crown jewels, Allagash White, from Portland, Maine. Trailway’s take on the Belgian-style wheat beer, or wit, features bready malt notes, hints of orange peel and coriander (from additions of both items) and a light grassy note from the hops. Main Land is available in cans at the brewery now, with cans hitting the Saint John taproom soon.

Heading way up to Bathurst we find Four Rivers Brewery releasing a special beer brewed on international Women’s Day. Hitting the taps today at the brewery is The Women Brew Too, an IPA brewed, as you might expect, by one of the brew team, Megan Kinsman, along with a group of community-driven women in Bathurst. All proceeds from this one will be donated to Maison de Passage House in Bathurst.

Nanobrewery Twin Harbour, in Saint Anthony/Saint-Antoine on the Eastern shore of New Brunswick, has a couple offerings to talk about this week. First up, fans of their Cap Enragé 6.0% West Coast-style American IPA will be happy to hear that it’s back on tap after a long hiatus. No word on packaging for now, but you’ll at least be able to grab a fill at the brewery. Along with that they’ve also got a new beer they’re calling P’tit Prince, which is a variation on their popular blonde ale, Côte d’Or. Featuring the same grain bill but a different hop combination, it’s a very quaffable beer that should be perfect for the nicer weather that’s sure to come along any time now. Locals know this, but visitors to the area should be aware, Twin Harbour has limited hours (usually Thursday evenings from 6-8pm) and you’ll need to check social media (Fb, Ig) to be sure to know when they’re open!

Barrel-aging specialty brewery Rackhouse out of Nackawic, NB, has a new treat out this week, and, as is de rigueur for this brewery, one that’s been some time in the making. A classic witbier was aged in a former apple brandy barrel for six months, where it both mellowed and took on some tropical flavors of primarily pineapple and passion fruit that should be perfect for the coming patio season. A limited-edition run of 375ml bottles is also expected, so keep your eyes out for that. For now, however, your best bet to try this 8.5% beer is at the Big Axe or Moonshine Creek taprooms and hopefully the Joyce and the Uncorked Tours taproom in Saint John.

Our contractually* obligated** cider content this week comes from Annapolis Cider in Wolfville, where they’ve got a new entry in their Something Different series. Cranberry Mimosa is a play on the classic breakfast cocktail, with a twist, of course. Citrusy, thanks to fresh tangelos and navel oranges which were soaked in AC’s base cider for a few weeks, it’s got a sweetness that is balanced by a crisp finish of grapefruit and orange peel notes. Fresh-pressed cranberry juice complements the citrus backbone and also provides a hint of ruby red color to this 5.3% ABV cider. As with all entries in the Something Different series, this one is only available for pints and fills at the cidery and $0.50 of every fill goes to a charitable cause, in this case, Elderdog Canada.

* Hahaha. We have no contracts.
** Hahahahaha. We have no obligations either.

No new events on the docket to mention, but we trust that if you’re in the HRM area (or willing to travel for beer events) you’ve already got your ticket(s) to tomorrow’s Together We Brew.

Brewery hiring season is kicking into gear as breweries prepare for the hectic summer season.

North Brewing in Halifax is looking to staff up, with several positions available in both the “seasonal front-of-house” and “line cook/prep cook” categories at both their Timberlea and Portland Street locations. Prospective applicants are encouraged to check out all the job details on North’s website under the “Job Postings” link and then follow the instructions to apply.

A couple of quick hits to take you home (country rooooooads):

Fredericton’s Grimross has two beers from different ends of the spectrum back on tap. Hop Blonde is pale, clear, crisp, and refreshing at 6.0% ABV, and Maritime Black IPA is dark, roasty, and dank, with plenty of bitterness in a 6.2% package. Find them both at the brewery packaged in cans to go.

Fans of beer in Lower Sackville can check out their local Ol’ Biddy’s for a new beer this weekend. Their second-ever lager will go on tap on Saturday. They’re being coy with the details at this point so you’ll just have to head down tomorrow and see what it’s all about!