Just a quick intro a mostly-newsbite edition (Chris’ loquaciousness cannot be contained!) as your three faithful authors are traveling across the region soaking up the sun and beers before real life sets back in (aka school and work).
Let’s kick off the week with the brand newest beer to go on tap at Port Rexton Brewing, the latest of their Continuum IPA series. Continuum – Down Under features boatloads of Aussie and New Zealand hops, by the name of Enigma, Galaxy, Vic Secret, and Wakatu. The latter features a lovely lime zest nose and palate, with mango and pineapple coming through from the other additions. Hazy, juicy, and just a touch bitter, this 6.2% ABV brew is on tap for pints and growlers at the brewery, and is/was also available along with a handful more at their St. John’s Retail Shop. While you’re in the area for Trinity Days, pop by for some great beer, grilled cheese from Oh My Cheeses!, and a lovely night out.
Wolfville’s Annapolis Cider has released the latest in their Something Different line this week, Raspberry & Russet. This 6.8% ABV blend features a base of crisp and dry Golden Russet cider (with a touch of Bosc pear juice to lend some weight) with fresh-pressed raspberry juice to accent. The tart juice adds its own complexity and lovely pink hue. As with all of their Something DIfferent releases, $0.50 from each fill goes to a local charity, this time around Children’s Wish Foundation, Nova Scotia Chapter.
Speaking of continuing beer or cider series, Halifax’s Garrison Brewing is continuing their Hop Trip exploration of IPAs with Hop Trip: Mosaic & Citra IPA. At 6.2% ABV, this is solidly in the middle of the ABV range for the style, with the hazy golden colour hinting at the mounds of hops inside. The two hall-of-fame hops shine through with citrus, tropical and stone fruit notes, underlied by a light 30 IBUs bitterness. Oat and Wheat malts help to keep it hazy and a smooth mouthfeel. Available now at the brewery in a 355 mL 4-pack, these will also be launching at the NSLC at the end of the month.
The Church Brewing Company has passed another milestone this week as they have opened their retail shop at 329 Main Street in Wolfville. Cans of all of their releases are available to take away, as well as a full line of shirts, hats, and other breweriana. They’ll be open from 11 AM until 11 PM every day except Sunday when they close at 9 PM. And, giving you even more options to enjoy onsite or take away, they have released 3 new beers over the past 7 days, with their Silver Lining Witbier (5.1% ABV), Congregation Pilsner (4.7% ABV), and Married to the Sea German Porter (5.6% ABV) all available to go, joining their Mayflower White IPA, Sanctuary Enkel, and Eight Bells Belgo Pale Ale.
Halifax’s 2 Crows has a pair of special beers coming out tomorrow, both of which have been a long time coming… The first is Saddle Up, a foedre-aged Farmhouse Ale, featuring rye malt and with hay (yes, hay!) added to the mash. That addition was supposed to act as a filter in the tun (similar to the husks and other malt pieces), but instead the hay and rye (known already to gum up the works) led to the brew day from hell, clocking in at 15 hours, more than double a usual brew day length. Hopping in the boil with East Kent Golding, Azacca, and Huell Melon, it was transferred to foedre to receive a dosing of their house cultures, before being canned still (flat) and allowed to carbonate naturally in that package. Pick up the 5.4% ABV Saddle Up and drink to their epic brewday beginning tomorrow!
Also out tomorrow is the 4.5% ABV Sunrise, another beer with quite the story. Beginning life as a golden sour beer brewed 18 months ago, it was aged in tequila barrels, and conditioned with pomegranate arils (the fleshy bits incorporating the seeds), juice, and pom molasses, as well as the zest and juice of a box of oranges. Despite the multiple fruit additions, they complement rather than overshadow the base sour, raising the bar of the bevvie overall. Grab the bottles at the brewery tomorrow from noon.
Stillwell Brewing is releasing their first new beer in a little while with one that’s been nearly two years in the making. Rieslinger is a blend of Pineau des Charentes barrel-aged saison and white wine barrel-aged saison that was then re-fermented on some 2018 harvest Riesling skins from Blomidon Estate Winery before the whole works was bottle conditioned for “a good, long while.” You’ll find it for sale at Stillwell from opening today.
With their turn to the Dark Side almost complete now, North Brewing is hitting their stride with frequent releases once again. This week is another iteration of their Breakwater series of sours, but with a slightly tweaked recipe from last year. Breakwater Mango-Lime Sour, the 4% ABV tropical thirst quencher with tons of mango and lime character, will be available at both North cold beer stores as of today. And stay tuned for it to hit the shelves at the NSLC at the end of the month.
Fredericton’s TrailWay Brewing has a new version of their Milkshake IPA, Velvet Fog, out today, this time with some very summery additions. Blackberry purée, Key Lime juice and Lime zest were added to the usual vanilla, lactose, and hop doses yielding berry fruitiness and bright lime tartness from this 6.5% ABV brew available today at the brewery on tap and in cans.
Down on the South Shore of NS in Lunenburg, Shipwright Brewing has another new beer on tap. Eclipse Dark Saison is what it says on the tin (well, the crowler, anyway), a yeast-driven beer in the saison style, but with a darker and toastier body. Add to that a dose of cranberry from an addition of berries from local producer Terra Beata and you have a lot of interesting things going on in your glass.
Let’s heads back to the Rock to finish off the news today. Ninepenny Brewing in Conception Bay South has released their first sour this week, Route 60. This 3.9% ABV sour is based on the granddaddy of many of the recent sours, the German Berliner Weisse. Named after the road that connects Cupids and St. John’s, along the Bay, the best place to grab a pint of growler fill of the beer is at the brewery itself.
And while you’re in CBS, keep going out to Dildo, where there’s been plenty of news this week about their new mayor! And what better place to toast the appointment than with the Jimmy Kim-ale, only available at the Dildo Brewing Company!
Big congratulations to Natalie Dignam, an avid member of The Brewnettes and Queer Beer, who has launched the Newfoundland Beer Podcast this week. The inaugural episode gives an overview of the current beer scene in the province, and more about Dignam, and plans for future episodes. Join us in subscribing to keep up with all of the news and events happening in the province!
Here’s what’s going on this weekend!
Downtown Dartmouth’s Brightwood Brewery is celebrating the first anniversary of their Brightwood Market on Portland Street. Pop by any time, but from 5 PM they will have cake, snacks, prizes, and live music beginning at 6 PM. Congratulations to Ian, Matt, and the entire Brightwood family!
And speaking of birthday parties, Charlottetown’s Upstreet Brewing is celebrating their anniversary with an all-weekend extravaganza. Their 4th Annual Bike Rave is happening tonight, kicking off at 7:30 PM at Confederation Landing, and winding its way through downtown. And tomorrow is their Block Party, which kicks off at noon at their Allen Street brewery, with live music, a beer garden, food vendors, a petting zoo featuring goats, and much more! This event is free and open to all ages. And Sunday is Do Good Day PEI, with an aim to celebrate the loveliest of Islands with 300 random acts of good. Stop by the tent at the brewery to pick up your envelope and spread a little love, joy, and good. And pop by their newest location at Founders’ Food Hall and Market on Prince Street for a beer. Check out their Facebook page for more details on this big weekend!
If, like us, you were disappointed by last Saturday’s unfortunate postponement of the Orono & Austin Street tap takeover at Stillwell, your day has arrived. The kegs have now cleared customs and the stage is set for the event to go down tomorrow from noon to close. Sweet, sweet State of Maine beers and plenty of goodies (including some new jams) out of the kitchen. We would also be remiss not to note the excellent substitute takeover Stillwell put together on a wing and a prayer last weekend, with North, 2 Crows, and Stillwell Brewing putting on a local all-star game.
What a great blog! I really enjoy keeping up with craft brewing news, reading events and positive growth is very enjoyable and from what I see you certainly enjoy writing! I look forward to more post from you in the future.
https://www.quadrel.com
Hi, I was wondering if you might be able to put a plug in for the Hampton Hops Festival.Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Hampton, NB – will be held Sat.Sept. 14th at the Resource Center 5-8pm
$45.00 ticket.
Hammond River, Long Bay, Foghorn, Hampton Brewery, Gridiron, Loyalist, Sussex Ale Works, Yip Cider will all be there! Pat Hanratty, pnphanratty@hotmail.com or facebook page for tickets.