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Friday Wrap-Up for March 18, 2022 – News from Port Rexton, Bannerman, Tatamagouche, Unfiltered, Garrison, Half Cocked, 2 Crows, and Maritime Spirits

Posted by acbbdamian on 2022-03-18
Posted in: Friday Wrap-Up. Tagged: 2 Crows Brewing, Bannerman Brewing, Beerocracy, Garrison Brewing, Half Cocked Brewing, Maritime Spirits TV Show, Port Rexton Brewing Co., Tatamagouche Brewing, Unfiltered Brewing. 1 comment

Hey folks, it’s the morning after Paddy’s Day and we’re not sure about other places, but in Halifax that means it’s time for everyone’s favourite once-a-year-sport, “dodge the green puddles on your morning walk downtown.” We trust that those young and…er…enthusiastic about St. Patrick and his synonymous day had a good time and nobody was (permanently) injured. We have to admit that despite not partaking of the partying ourselves, between day jobs (that for some of us were night jobs too), travel (business for one, pleasure for another), and small humans in the house, we are a little shy on content this week. That said, it is March break in two provinces and we didn’t see a tonne of new releases out there. So enjoy what we’ve found and trust that, as always, we’ll try to do a little better next week!

Let’s start off in beautiful Port Rexton, where we have a release from last week to update you on and a fresh new collab rolling out this week. Up first is Wild Ale, brewed using Brettanomyces from Escarpment Labs. Along with loads of hops, this one also saw the addition of Sea Buckthorn puree and a hint of lactose, leading to aromas of stone fruit and a hint of Brett funk. The 5% ABV Wild Ale is currently available in cans at the taproom and the St. John’s retail location. Up next is Level Up, a collaboration with the fine folks at Bannerman Brewing. This one features some exciting new ingredients, including Escarpment’s Thiol Libre yeast and Phantasm powder, made from Sauvignon Blanc grape skins. The powder contains something called Thiol precursors, which when added during active fermentation can lead to enhanced aromas of tropical fruit. Combine that with a yeast specifically designed to also amp up the tropical notes from hops and malt, and you can expect a beer that seriously delivers on fruit aromas and flavour. Late hop additions keep the bitterness down in this hazy IPA, which comes in at 5% ABV. Cans are available now at Port Rexton’s St. John’s retail location, and on tap and in cans at Bannerman’s taproom on Duckworth Street as well as in Port Rexton proper.

Tatamagouche Brewing has a new Coffee Porter out this week with the release of Warm Winds. The beer is named after the warm winds that nurture the highland coffee growing region of Guatemala, where the coffee for this beer was grown. The Huehuetenango beans from Aroma Maya Coffee Roasters were selected for their low acidity and flavours of almond, chocolate and caramel, which complement the flavour profile of the base beer. The beer, drawing inspiration from Tata’s Baltic Porter, uses a combo of pale, German Munich, Vienna, caramel and chocolate malts. A small addition of Celeia hops was also added, prior to the beer conditioning directly on the whole beans. The final product is a smooth drinking experience, with a rich malt profile and tons of coffee flavour. Cans are available now at the brewery and for delivery/shipping via their online store. 

We previously blogged about Halifax’s Unfiltered Brewing releasing a barrel-aged DIPAto benefit Ukraine relief through the Red Cross. We are happy to report that the release was a massive success, selling out within hours and raising $1345 (supplemented by breaking their “no musical requests” stance to collect donations for the cause). Unfiltered is back at it this week, this time offering a big discount on the stock of 2018 Mise en Garde Barleywine that they’ve been carefully cellaring. Normally retailing for $16/bottle, the brewery has discounted the price down to $10, with half of what you pay going directly to the Red Cross’ efforts in Ukraine. Grab one for your cellar, one for your glass this weekend and contribute to a great cause while you’re at it. Win, win, win. 

Speaking of breweries and support for the Ukraine, Halifax’s Garrison Brewing has stepped up to the Brew For Ukraine initiative in collaboration with Pravda Brewery & Beer Theatre out of Lviv. Growing from the brewing community’s desire to help the embattled country through the illegal invasion by the Russian military, and inspired by Pravda’s pivot from producing beer to producing Molotov Cocktails, over 100 breweries worldwide have signed up for the initiative. Garrison’s participation will see them releasing a limited run of their version of Pravda’s own Putin Huylo Strong Golden Ale, a 7% ABV beer (the name translates roughly to, “Putin is a dickhead,” a sentiment we’re quite firmly behind). Brewed with European and North American malts and hops, it has a medium body and a balanced hop flavour. With a label adapted from Pravda’s own Ukrainian version to fit Garrison’s 600mL bottles, this one will appear at the end of the month at the Seaport and Oxford Taproom location. Only 2,000 bottles will be packaged, and they’ll cost $10 a pop, with all profits going directly to supporting humanitarian efforts in the Ukraine through recognized charities.

Up in Antigonish, NS, or, more specifically North Grant (we can’t pick on Hanwell, NB, anymore so…), Half Cocked Brewing has a brand new beer pouring. Big Hug is both the name of the beer and a lovely sentiment as some of our provinces approach a return to almost zero COVID-related restrictions. We know lots of people who are very much looking forward to being with family in a way that they haven’t been able to in two years. The beer itself is an NEIPA boasting big juicy fruit notes on the nose, with sharp citrus leading on the palate, followed by orange and tangerine. Like many NEIPAs, this one has a slight sweetness on the finish and a smooth, silky mouthfeel. At 7% you might want to be a touch careful because we’re willing to bet it goes down like a beer with a much lower ABV. Look for it at the brewery, but on-tap only as it hasn’t been packaged! We’ll ping you if we see it in the wild across the province!

Our friends (and yours!) at 2 Crows in Halifax don’t have any new beers this week, but they’ve got a new flavour of their refreshing non-alcoholic Hop Water, Cucumber + Mint. Obviously containing cucumber and mint, but also a touch of lemon, the hop in this one is the modern German variety Hüll Melon (also known as Huell Melon) which is known for aromas of honeydew melon and strawberry. Sounds like a lovely pairing to us! And although this is a non-alcoholic beverage and that’s awesome, we can’t help but suspect it might make a nice mixer for a bit of gin. Grab some next time you’re stocking up at 2 Crows and find out!

If you’re looking to travel the Maritime provinces for beer, wine, cider, or booze this spring, and looking for a way to get a head start, be sure to check out Maritime Spirits, which aired on Bell TV1. Brought to you by the same fine folks who brought you Beerocracy, the story of craft alcohol makers in New Brunswick. And those same generous producers have recently uploaded all 10 episodes of Maritime Spirits to YouTube, so we can all check them out, regardless of home TV provider. Visiting Brasseurs du Petit-Sault, New Scotland, Red Rover Cider, Upstreet, and many more from the comfort of your couch, it’s never been easier! Let’s hope we are seeing more episodes in the future! Ask your TV provider to include more local programming…

 

Friday Wrap-Up for February 18, 2022 – News from Lone Oak, Gridiron, Landwash, Truro, Baccalieu Trail, Propeller, Tanner, RagnaRock, and more!

Posted by acbbdamian on 2022-02-18
Posted in: Friday Wrap-Up. Tagged: Baccalieu Trail Brewing, Gridiron Brewing, Grimross Brewing, Landwash Brewery, Lone Oak Brewing, Propeller Brewing, RagnaRock Northern Brewing Company, Tanner & Co Brewing, Truro Brewing Company. Leave a Comment

Sorry we’re late this week folks, sometimes work and life have a way of interrupting the truly important things like blogging about beer. We’re happy to say that we’ve once again got news from all four Atlantic Provinces this week, including an entertaining slate of new beers that show that our brewers are definitely already looking forward to warmer weather. Now that we think about it, it’s brilliant: a way to enjoy the taste of a warm-weather style without the oppressive heat and intense production schedules of the summer months. So grab one (or more!) of those summery beers this weekend, close your eyes, and let yourself dream a little.

In future brewery news, we’ve got a big one for our fans on Prince Edward Island! Lone Oak Brewing, the darlings of Borden-Carleton, are expanding their reach in a big way, as they look to open a brewpub location at 15 Milky Way in Charlottetown. Set to open late Spring next to Receiver Coffee’s spot, the new location will feature all of the great beer that visitors and locals have enjoyed in Borden, along with great food, live music, and a cozy atmosphere in the 70-seat taproom, as well as extensive cobblestone patio overlooking the North River. Residents will now be able to enjoy a pint or two without making their way to the bridge! Stay up to speed with their progress by checking out their Instagram and Facebook for the new location. And hey, while we have you… their Otis Foeder-Aged Grisette is back on tap and in cans this week. Light and spritzy, a little tart and a lot of refreshment in just 3.5% ABV, it is available in cans and on tap at the brewery, and will be available further afield in better beer bars soon!

In New Brunswick’s Kennebecasis Valley, Gridiron Brewing is putting out a really hopeful-sounding beer for the middle of February, but we’ve got to say we like their optimism. T-Shirt Weather is billed as a “Hefeweizen-style Dampfbier,” which brings a bit of obscurity to the fore, as Dampfbier is a very traditional, but little-known, style from Bavaria. Pairing an all-barley malt bill with a Weißbier yeast and fermented warm to encourage some phenols, this one was also hit with some bitter orange peel as well as some Mandarina Bavaria hops to promote even more of a citrus presence. At 3.9% ABV you’ll be able to sip several of them and consider that combination without worrying about being able to walk afterwards. Look for it on tap at the brewery in Hampton.

Mount Pearl’s Landwash Brewery has a new sour on tap and in cans this week. Ruby Line is a Raspberry and Lime Sour, bursting with flavour from both fruits, on top of a super-tart 4.5% base beer. Who knows, maybe you even took Ruby Line to get to the brewery that day! You can enjoy it on draught in samples and pints, grab a growler to go, or snag a single or four-pack of cans from their retail side. Also hitting the shelves at Marie’s (where you’ll get a free glass if you’re one of the first 24 to grab a four-pack), NLCs, and other retailers as we speak! And hey, if you’re up for it, drop by the taproom tonight where Robert Russell will be playing live, from 7:30 PM.

In the hub of Nova Scotia, Truro Brewing has a new one out with a name that might help you hearken back to the 90s (y’know, if you’re old and into great tunes). Under the Pink is a sour wheat ale with a lovely hue provided by a generous addition of local haskap berries. Is this another beer this week that’s dreaming ahead to summer? You bet your life it is! Light and tart, 4.0%, this one’s only available at the taproom, where we suspect you just might hear some Tori Amos on the sound system as you sip away.

In Bay Roberts, NL, Baccalieu Trail Brewing continues the apparent trend of this week’s post, as they have a brand new gose on the go. And nothing says, “the depths of winter,” like a gose, right? Right?! Well perhaps they took inspiration from the state of Atlantic Canada’s roads right now (salty and everybody’s sour about them) in coming up with Sea Spray. Or maybe they just wanted to make a tasty sour beer with notes of sea salt and coriander, in this case tarted up by the addition of tangerine, key lime, and grapefruit for a real citrus kick. Unfortunately you won’t be able to enjoy this one on tap at the source, as they’re still working on an HVAC issue in the taproom that’s keeping them closed, but you can grab some to go or look for cans already on the shelves at Marie’s and select NLC locations as well as Needs on the Avalon.

In Halifax, Propeller Brewing has a new beer out and would you believe it’s a dry-hopped sour that should have you thinking of warmer, brighter days ahead? Arcane hit the shelves today at all Prop shops as well as most of the private stores in Halifax. Tart and juicy, it was hit with what they’re describing as an “elusive” hop blend which is probably brewer code for either, “we don’t remember,” or, “you’ll never get me Lucky Charms.” You’ll just have to try to suss it out as you savour this 4.8% ABV sour and the citrus and tropical hop notes it features.

If we told you that Tanner & Co. Brewing in Chester, NS, had a new saison out this week, you might think that we’re finally getting away from the “summer style beers in winter” trend, and if that’s the case, allow us to tell you a little bit about Belgian Saison… Originally brewed by farmers in winter and spring, then cellared until they were provided to workers in the summer, they’re known for rustic grist, yeast driven character notes, and a thirst-quenching dry finish. Tanner’s new Belgian Saison utilizes two Belgian yeast strains, first one known for peppery/spicy phenols, then a second, added at roughly 50% fermentation, that tends to favour a more citrus-forward character. Sounds like a tasty combination to us; look for this 7.2% ABV strong beer in bottles at both Tanner locations or order online for delivery.

We started with news of a new taproom opening in our region, and let’s finish the news section in the same vein. After closing their taproom for a couple of months, St. Anthony’s RagnaRock Northern Brewing is opening back up next Wednesday, February 23rd! You should know that masks and vaccine passes are still the order of the day (Provincial rules, of course) and capacity will be limited to 50% for now, expecting to be back to full houses when restrictions lift on March 14th. For now, they’ll be open Wednesdays to Saturdays, 4 PM to 10 PM (occasionally later). So head on down and grab a pint of freshly kegged beer and something off their new Pub Grub menu and welcome truly local craft beer back to St. Anthony!!

And we’ll finish with a trio of hop-forward quick-hits to take you into your weekend.

Starting on the small side, Candid Brewing in Antigonish, NS, has an aromatic and citrusy classic American Pale Ale that they’re calling Dr. Strangelove. Balanced and dependable, it’s a 5.0% ABV easy drinker that will help you learn to stop worrying and love the hops. 

Stepping up the hops, and the ABV, we have Fredericton’s Grimross Brewing with the latest in their Scratch series of IPAs. This is Scratch 26, with a bit of a west coast vibe at 6.5% ABV and 55 IBU, featuring aromas of grapefruit and sweet citrus, with some lighter tropical, pine, and floral notes completing the picture. 

We wind up the week with not just a big’un, but a sweet, smooth, fruity, and boozy big’un. Tusket Falls Brewing has released Blueberry Milkshake IPA, a bit of a crazy one that saw lemon rind, cinnamon, vanilla bean, blueberries, and graham crackers in the mix along with, we’ll warrant, a whole bunch of hops! Look for aromas of grape gummies and flavours of blueberry pie in this 7.5% conflagration.

Friday Wrap-Up for January 21, 2022 – News from Rough Waters, Truro, Good Robot, North, Trailway, Landwash, Boomstick, Tanner and much more!

Posted by acbbdamian on 2022-01-21
Posted in: Friday Wrap-Up. Tagged: 2 Crows Brewing, Bogside Brewing, Boomstick Brewing, Good Robot Brewing, Landwash Brewery, North Brewing, Ol' Biddy's Brew House, Rough Waters Brewing, Saltbox Brewing, Stillwell Brewing, Tanner & Co Brewing, TrailWay Brewing, Truro Brewing Company. Leave a Comment

We’re back with our weekly trip across the region and if you’re like us, you can’t wait to get back out and visit what the great breweries have to offer. In the meantime, check your local restrictions, support your breweries and before you know it, we’ll be springing forward. Wait, it’s still January? Holy Hannah, better have another beer! Onto the news from our friends, and as always, please check their websites and socials to check on in-person, delivery and pick-up options. 

Let’s kick off this week’s news with one of the smaller breweries, Rough Waters in Deer Lake, Newfoundland. Since their opening a couple of years ago, locals and visitors alike have been asking for a Red Ale. As time went on, they’ve had the chance to brew a few smaller pilot batches while they hone in on a perfect recipe, and they are now ready to share with the world! Good Intentions is a 5.0% Irish Red Ale, showcasing the malt-forward and slight roast barley character that is indicative of the style. Light body with a dry finish makes this brew perfect for enjoying one or two (or three) during a session with friends. And with cans of Good Intentions adorned with a Claddagh, the symbol of friendship, love, and loyalty, there’s no excuse not to partake! Available at the brewery for retail sales, as well as local delivery (just message them through Fb or Ig to get the full details!).

The Hub of Nova Scotia, connecting travellers, residents and all comers to the province, Truro Brewing Company looks to take inspiration from the French Heroine with their latest beer release. Joan of d’Ark is an Oatmeal Stout perfect for the season. Rich, robust and full-bodied, expect a nutty, earthy, well balanced sweetness with just a bit of added vanilla at 5.8%. This is available at the brewery in their classic stubby bottles or on tap. 

On theme with the latest storms to hit Halifax, Good Robot is back with their second release in their lineup of single hop New England IPAs. Tropical Storm: El Dorado showcases El Dorado hops that bring flavours of pear, pineapple and watermelon. It’s hazy, juicy and 7.0%. This is available now from the brewery in 473ml cans and true to form for the GR folks, it is gluten-reduced. 

Beer drinkers of Dartmouth/Woodlawn/Cole Harbour (and let’s be honest, your favourite beer bloggers have driven here from much further afield) rejoice! The North Brewing taproom on Portland Street has officially reopened. North is now operating the kitchen and after teasing some individual items over the last few weeks on social media, have released all of the details. You can expect classic pub/dinner food, but with an East Indian twist and also lots of vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options to accommodate hungry beer drinkers of all dietary needs and preferences. This is just the first step in North expanding its operations further into the hospitality realm; their Timberlea taproom/kitchen is also under construction with plans to open in the coming months.

Fredericton’s own Trailway has a returning favourite this week, let’s roll the dice and see which delicious IPA will it be?! Oh hey, South Island is back! An IPA starring Nelson Sauvin hops, this IPA is bitter, soft, very fruity with grape, gooseberry and grapefruit flavours. Looking to showcase one of the most complex hops, this is a 6% single hop release available today in 473ml cans from the brewery. There is also a $9.99 shipping special from Trailway on until Monday, perfect for our readers in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland & Labrador, and Ontario.

If you could somehow pair a Newfoundland brewery with Trailway (by name only, like us), you’ll think of Landwash! “Trail” pairs with “Land” and “Way” pairs with “Wash”, right? They’re also both great breweries! Okay, onto the new beer. Branch is a Session IPA named after the “small community on the Cape Shore which is home to the beach we call the Landwash.” A 4.5% easy drinking beer, this is packed with hop flavour, aroma and bitterness and a very drinkable ABV. Using a blend of Cashmere and Citra as the main hops, Cali Ale yeast from Escarpment Labs brings this all home. It’s available now from the brewery and heading out across to their usual outlets over the weekend in 473ml cans. 

Sticking on the rock, it’s wintertime and people love to head to Marble Mountain, so Boomstick Brewing made a beer with them! Yard Sale is a West Coast Pale Ale aimed to make a 5% sessionable, flavourful and bright pale ale perfect for aprés ski.  Giving a bit of pine, citrus and fruit on the nose and in the mouth, a dry hop of Ekuanot and Simcoe helps bring the flavour forward. Look for this in cans at the brewery, at the hill, and, soon, across the island!

Returning to Nova Scotia, we head down the South Shore to Tanner Brewing. Bringing back a favourite from last Spring, Blueberry Brown is back! Originally released as a small batch, this time it’s canned (!) and available in wider release. Inspired by a blueberry crisp dessert, Tanner used the base of their malt-forward brown ale recipe and added blueberry puree, cinnamon, and vanilla after fermentation. Resulting in a 5.2% and 30 IBU balanced delicious treat, this is in 473ml cans and is available at both Tanner locations and for delivery.  

Sackville’s finest, Ol’ Biddy’s Brewhouse has an on-tap only release available in their taproom. Triple Chocolate Stout is pouring now and should be a tasty, malty, sweet, and not-too-roasty chocolate treat. We’re not sure what the titular three sources of chocolate were, but we’d bet one of them was chocolate malt. You’ll just have to head down to the brewery to grab a pint and see if your tastebuds can figure out what the other two are! Expect a smooth and delicious offering available only on tape in Lower Sackville at 7.2% and 26 IBU. 

Just a quick hitter here for those that love the crispy stuff, Stillwell Brewing has their latest release of Stilly Pils coming out soon. Be sure to follow their socials for the latest on their brewery, but in the meantime, you can grab fresh cans of this classic German-style Pilsner from Stillwell HQ, the Stillwell Freehouse, Chainyard, Cafe Good Luck, Bishops Cellar, Harvest, Rockhead and Westside!

A reminder that the month-long celebration of 2 Crows Brewing’s 5th Anniversary continues, with this week’s release of the super-limited Big Turk and Nanaimo Imperial Pastry Stouts, as well as the wider release of two other dark beers. Mountain Shadow is a 10.3% Baltic Porter that was brewed last year, and allowed to lager and develop over several months, before seeing the addition of Marquette pomace from the 2021 harvest of Lightfoot & Wolfville winery. Notes of cherry, blackcurrant, and blackberry shine through, complementing the coffee, roast, and chocolate notes (which were further enhanced by the addition of cacao nibs). Would you believe Black Forest cake vibes? because we would, and we’re salivating. Thankfully canned in the 355ml small format, it debuted on their shelves and site yesterday. 

And debuting today at noon is Dark Cuts, a collaboration with the fine folks at New Westminster BC’s Steel and Oak. This 5.1% Czech Dark Lager is an ode to this uncommon style, which started life with a decoction mash of floor-malted barley from Europe, the addition of traditional Czech-grown Saaz hops, and a loooong lagering process. Look for more nerdy details on 2C’s instagram page, if you’re like us and want to fully immerse yourselves. Online and on Brunswick Street from opening today!

These two, as well as the full complement of their celebratory beers, including two more to come next week, are also available as a bundle for taproom pickup, free local delivery, or Canada-wide shipping, next Friday. And for those who sign up for their newsletter before then, you’ll be able to join in on a live virtual tasting on the 28th, or Feb 11, as you are guided through the story of each release by the 2C crew.

As Lobster fishing is such an important part of the region’s economy, it’s no surprise there’s a month dedicated to celebrating the fact. The 2022 Lobster Crawl is being held during the month of February, highlighting those fishers, producers, and restaurants on Nova Scotia’s South Shore. And what’s a Crawl without a beer? Nothing, says we! Returning next month is Saltbox’s Crustacean Elation, a 5.5% beer that saw the addition of whole lobsters and fire-roasted lobster shells directly to the boil, imparting just a soupçon of arthropod essence to the beer, complemented by hints of citrus and a touch of salinity. While those with allergies will need to steer clear, others with a taste for crustacean will have to give it a try to wash down their lobster roll or seafood chowder!

Let’s sign off today with a pair of barrel-aged beers from Montague PEI’s Bogside Brewing. Bourbon Street is a velvety rich Porter that was aged in Kentucky Bourbon barrels (from a distillery featuring a close relative of the bison). At 10% ABV, be sure to sip slowly if you manage to find yourself atop one of these beasts! Nellie J is an ode to the Nellie J. Banks, the last rum running schooner seized in 1938, which attempted to keep those on Prince Edward Island well stocked during the province’s dark days of Prohibition, which did not end until 1948. Also 10%, this Porter has taken on notes of molasses, vanilla, dark chocolate, as well as that of the rum from the first use barrel. Both are available for retail sale in their taproom, as well as for delivery.