M-m-m-my Fiona. Welcome to the AC Hurricane Blog where we’ll give you all the details about Hurricane Fiona! In all seriousness, we wish nothing but safety for all beer drinkers and even the non-beer drinkers in PEI, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia this coming weekend as we’ve seen lots of events and plans changed this coming weekend due to the upcoming weather impacts. Stay safe, get some beer, check on your friends and family and why not share this blog with a friend or two? There’s a bit of news this week, so we’ll get on with it. Stay alert, stay safe and like North Brewing says, Cheers Your Neighbour!
New Brewery Alert! While The Brewery by Quinns has been open at 6273 Quinpool Road for a couple of months now, they have just begun serving their own beer in the past week. Brewed on their 400 litre system located adjacent to the large taproom, there are three TBbQ beers on tap right now, thanks to Brewer Adam Campbell. Harvard St is a 4.3% Session Ale, featuring lots of ripe tropical fruit, including passion fruit, while remaining light on the palate, thanks in part to its dry finish. Tommy’s Tipple is a 5.0% Blonde Ale, with a bready malt character supporting the light ester fruitiness from the yeast, on a med-light body with a nice finish. The biggest of the bunch is the Armdale 8 IPA, a 6.0% IPA, with plenty of citrus and pine character from the hops used throughout the brew, sustained by a medium body and dry finish. Available on draught for onsite consumption only, for now. We’ll have plenty more with Adam in a profile of The Brewery by Quinns on the blog early next week, so keep your eyes peeled to this page!
Fresh off a new brewery and retail opening, Stillwell Brewing has Kompakt available now! You may recognize the name of this from its delicious 355ml Kölsch-inspired brew from 2 years ago (and the lovely branded stange glasses). Now with an even more traditional recipe and a fancy new can, Kompakt is a 4.8% lagered ale. Previously 5%, this classically cellared ale with 2 months of lagering uses German-grown and -processed Pilsner malt, complete with decoction mash now it’s possible on their new kit, is deliciously hopped with Hallertau Mittelfrüh, and Kölsch yeast that behaves just as expected in this hybrid fermentation schedule (including natural carbonation for max old school vibes). Pick this one up in 473ml cans directly from the Stillwell Brewing retail spot at 3670 Kempt Road, or order it for delivery or shipping. They’ve got 4 beers cold in the fridge, so check their hours online and swing by when you can!
New from Propeller (in a super secret limited release pilot batch) is Secret IPA. This IPA only uses late addition hops, using Vic Secret, Galaxy and Nelson Sauvin with a crispy base of Pilsner malt. These punchy hops bring the citrus, peach and passionfruit in flavour and aroma. This is 6% and 60 IBU and look for this at the brewery and there may be a few other kegs floating around some other establishments.
There’s a new brew from the Antigonish-based Candid Brewing, as we’re in full swing with the harvest season and Oktoberfest, the brewery is releasing Tilt-a-Whirl, an Oktoberfest-inspired Amber Lager. This is 5.8% and should bring those copper, malt flavours with a very clean finish. Highly drinkable and perfectly paired with a pretzel! Tilt your glass and give this beer a whirl!
Sticking with the Bavarian inspiration, Quidi Vidi Brewing is releasing their own Oktoberfest beer. This is a Marzen and this lovely amber German lager has a touch of bitterness to join that nice toasty, sweet malt profile. This 5.5% lager is canned and available at their hops shop, NLCs and convenience stores across the lovely province of Newfoundland.
Delta Force Brewing has some sneaky Marzen of their own out this week, available in a mixed trio: their OG Baurenhofschuppen Marzen, previously only available on draught, is now in bottles. It is joined by the returning crowd pleasing Baurenhofschuppen mit Brett, the same beer but undergoing a secondary fermentation with Brettanomyces for some funky and fruity notes (this one is available on its own, btw). These are joined by the all-new, and possibly blasphemous, Brett version with Apples, thanks to aging on apple pomace (what remains after juicing). Check out their website for ways to buy these today.
It can’t all be beer today, so let’s insert more apple content thanks to the Annapolis Cider Company. They are launching the latest in their Something Different series today, Starberry. Bright red in colour, it features plenty of fresh raspberry character, plus spicing from infusions of star anise and fennel seed. Offering a character that works perfectly for the changing of the seasons, we’re wondering if trying it warm may take it to the next level? As with all of their Something Different releases, this has a charitable component, with $0.50 of each refill will support the Micmac Benevolent Society, whose goal is to “assist Mi’kmaq/Aboriginal Peoples of Nova Scotia to flourish, prosper and live decent lives as enjoyed by the majority of non-Aboriginal Nova Scotian society, having regard to their social, cultural and economic differences”.
We’re starting a little trio of Harvest-themed beers, and we’re starting the trio with Copper Bottom Brewing and their release of Tanglewood. Brewed for the Harvest Home Festival, Hurricane Fiona has ruined the festival plans, but have no fear, the beer is still coming out! This is a 4% sessionable Harvest ale, which is really a hazy session beer, using fresh Azacca hops, a malt bill of 2-row, wheat and oats and S-04 yeast to bring it all together. This is 25 IBU and bringing those lovely Azacca flavours of pineapple, mango and citrus. Proceeds from this beer’s sales will go to support Atlantic Canadian artists through the Tanglewood Rising Tides program from the brewery. Find this beer in 473ml cans directly from the brewery.
Next up on the harvest train is Maybee Brewing with a straight up Harvest Ale. A 6% showcase featuring local New Brunswick ingredients, this ale features 2-row malt from Monquart Maltouse and fresh, whole-cone Cascade hops from Lakeview Hops. These hops are as fresh as they come as they were picked and brought to the brewery on the same day. These hops bring this ale to 45 IBU and well balanced. Harvest Ale is canned and available from the brewery now!
Bringing up the rear of the triple-Harvest club is Big Spruce Brewing, with a 2022 update of Major Hop Lips. After a huge hop harvest day, the Nyanza folks picked a massive load of Cascade, Mt Hood, Chinook and Challenger hops and went into this IPA minutes later with some of that wet hop, fresh picked, whole cone magic. This Fresh hopped Harvest Pale ale comes in at 5.7% and is available on tap now and in cans. You’ll want to get this and drink it to make it as fresh as possible, may we suggest checking their online shop for shipping and local delivery? MHL joins Don’t Make Me Tap The Sign, the Hazy IPA collaboration with Beer. Diversity.’s Ren Navarro, now out in cans as well. And check below for details on their Tap Takeover at Battery Park scheduled for October 1st (postponed from tomorrow)!
Halifax’s Garrison Brewing has been busy preparing a trio of fall-themed releases, just in time for its Oktoberfest event that we’ll tell you about in a second. First up is Dunkel Breakin My Heart, a dark German-style lager that comes in at 5.2% ABV. Look for clean malt flavours that include notes of chocolate and coffee. Next up is their take on the Marzen style, SchitzenGiggles, a copper-hued lager that has a light hop bitterness and comes in at 5.7% ABV. Both of these German-style lagers will be available exclusively on-tap at the Seaport and Quinpool taprooms, in addition to the Oktoberfest event. Lastly, is the annual release of their HefeWeizen. This take on the Bavarian wheat ale features the traditional notes of banannance and clove, and pours with a fluffy white head. The 5% ABV hefe has been canned for those looking to bring something Oktoberfest vibes home.
Despite the poor weather during the next 24-36 hours, there are still some events we encourage folks to keep in mind if they find themselves with some extra time post-cleanup. While this weekend’s PEI Beer Festival has been re-scheduled to February 2023 (click through before Sept 30 for more details on getting your money back, if necessary), perhaps you’re close enough to check the second weekend of TAPestry Beer Bar’s Oktoberfest, or one of these other events…
More on the Garrison Oktoberfest event, taking place at The BG aka Halifax Beer Garden at Summit Place on the Halifax waterfront. Starting Sunday at 12 PM (or as soon as they can open, should there be more cleanup time needed), and running all week until next Sunday, October 2nd, there will be a full complement of Garrison German-inspired beers on the taps, joined by German food features, live music from The Roving Steins and The Swell Guys, games, and much more. We suggest showing up in time to enjoy the kickoff party and cask-tapping at 2:30 PM Sunday, a great way to shake off the Fiona Blues!
Dartmouth’s Battery Park will be kicking off their Fall with the first in the monthly Tap Takeovers October 1st, with Big Spruce taking over the space for the day. With some current favourites, cellared choices, as well as a sneak peek at a couple of “Coming Soon” offerings, there is something for everyone on the go. DJ Douvet will be on the Ones and Twos from 7 PM for some great curated tunes. Amongst the 19 taps and casks are The Inhaled Affirmative Bohemian Pilsner, Lilliputian Nano IPA, Altruism Awaits Altbier, Black is Beautiful Toasted Coconut and Jamaican Rum Barrel-Aged Stout, with the yet-to-be-released Cosecha Spiced Ale in the mix.
Exact tap details are a bit light on this one, but mark your calendars that Stillwell Beer Garden is holding their annual Oktoberfest celebration Sunday, October 2nd. From previous years, we can attest that it’s always a blast with roving musicians encouraging thirsty attendees, plenty of games on the go, and of course some great German-style beer and food on offer, starting a noon. Peep their social media in the link above to learn more next week!
Just one job posting to tell you about this week, and it’s in the Front of House at Good Robot’s Robie Street Retail and Taproom location. They are looking for a General Manager, working with both Retail and Taproom teams, to keep everything running smoothly and everyone on both sides of the counter/bar are happy. Learn more, and apply, through their Indeed posting.
And if you’re looking to listen to something in the dark this weekend, be sure to grab the latest release from the 902 BrewCast, as Tony sat down with Richard and Joseph of Escarpment Labs during their recent trip to Halifax, to learn more about what the company has to offer its customers, and what Richard and Joseph are brewing up themselves these days. Special appearance by the disembodied voice of Kyle, too! Grab the episode here, or better yet, subscribe in your favourite podcast app.