Hello thirsty readers and happy Friday! After a big May 2-4 weekend of releases and events, the breweries and cideries of Atlantic Canada seem to be resting up in anticipation of the coming summer wave, which means a quieter week in beer news. Fear not though, we still have a handful of new releases and a great event to keep you posted about as you roll into the weekend.
Out in Lower Sackville, Ol’ Biddy’s Brewhouse is planning a big party to celebrate the nice weather and support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, and how better to do that than with a big party with live music and beer? Tomorrow, that’s Saturday, May 28th, if you head down you’ll find a lineup of 7 musical acts on the patio, each playing an hour-long set starting at 1PM and finishing at 9PM. Meanwhile, you’ll be able to sit and enjoy the tunes while you sip the brewery’s finest, including a new release specifically for the event: Frau Ribbentrop. Part of the #BrewForUkraine campaign, it’s one of the recipes published by Pravda Brewery. A Belgian-style Witbier, with orange peel and coriander, it’s a 4.5% ABV beer with a lovely citrus aroma and subtle bitterness; perfect for sipping in the sun. A portion of sales of this beer from the taps as well as sales from the 2,800 bottles that were packaged will be donated to humanitarian organisations through #BrewForUkraine. So come on down and have a pint and enjoy some tunes; based on a quick peek at the forecast, though, we recommend checking OB socials (Fb, Ig, Tw) for any news of rain plans!!
Chester’s Tanner & Co Brewing released a new Czech-inspired Pilsner last week, and it is available now on tap and in cans. Most is named after the newly-released Czech hop variety of the same name, which is Czech for “bridge”, it is seen as a bridge between the UK and European Union, given the UK’s recent departure from that organization. Developed in the UK but grown in the Czech Republic, it features a rather potent aroma of strawberry and bubblegum, with tropical and citrus undertones, and given its higher acid content, it can be used for both bittering or later in the process, which Tanner took to heart by using it throughout the brewing and conditioning of the beer. The end result is a 5.7% ABV beer, with a healthy 40 IBU of bitterness. Pop down to their brewery or taproom in the Chester area to grab a pint or fill, or you can order cans for delivery anywhere between Bridgewater and Halifax too!
Looking to continue your brewing career and/or looking for an excuse to join the thousands of Canadians who have recently moved to Moncton? Now’s your chance! Tide & Boar Brewing, the hugely popular accompaniment to the Tide & Boar Gastropub in the heart of downtown, is hiring! They are looking for an experienced person to jump right in as Head Brewer, so experience is necessary. You’ll be supporting the local thirst for their year-round faves like Robot Food IPA and Millions of Peaches, and have the chance to develop your own recipes too! Fire an email over to Chad at admin@tideandboar.com with your resume to learn more! If there’s a staff discount on pizza, we may have to apply ourselves!
This spring has seen the return of many beer related events that went on a temporary hiatus due to the pandemic. We are thrilled to see more opportunities popping up for people to get together and safely enjoy some fermented beverages, while supporting our great local producers. If you’re near Western Cape Breton on June 4th, you’ll have such an opportunity with the Brook Village Beerfest and Square Dance. Square dances at the Brook Village hall are a legendary pilgrimage unto themselves, and this event will see the addition of beer, cider and food to sweeten the deal. A ticket gives you access to samples from Boxing Rock, Breton Brewing, Bulwark Cider, Candid Brewing, Half Cocked, Island Folk Cider, Route 19, Tatamagouche, along with the chance to dance some sets to performers Kenneth MacKenzie, Mac Morin, and Pat Gillis. The Stand and Stuff Your Face food truck will also be onsite to make sure you have a sufficient base for all of that beer and dancing. Tickets are available online now or across the road at the Brook Village Grocery, with a portion of the proceeds supporting Atlantic Coastal Action Program of Cape Breton, a non-profit dedicated to protecting and restoring coastal ecosystems on the island.