Friday Wrap-Up

Friday Wrap-Up for August 20, 2021 – News from Unfiltered, Split Rock, O’Creek, Tatamagouche, Tusket Falls, Half Cocked, Grimross, Annapolis Cider, 2 Crows, Lone Oak, Serpent, and much more!

Posted by acbbaaron on 2021-08-20
Posted in: Friday Wrap-Up. Tagged: 2 Crows Brewing, Annapolis Cider Company, Battery Park, Big Spruce Brewing, Bishop's Cellar, Grimross Brewing, Half Cocked Brewing, Le Barbu, Lone Oak Brewing, Mary Brown's Chicken, Mountain Meadworks, O'Creek Brewing, Serpent Brewing, Split Rock Brewing, Stillwell Beergarden, Tanner & Co Brewing, Tatamagouche Brewing, The Stillwell Freehouse, Tide & Boar Brewing, Tusket Falls Brewing, Unfiltered Brewing. Leave a Comment

It’s well past the midpoint of August now and we’re sitting here melting into puddles and wondering when the soothing cool nights we’re usually enjoying by this point in the year are. Thankfully, our region’s breweries are stepping up to ensure we’ve got plenty of beer to keep us refreshed and to help us forget that our planet is on fire. Wheeee! While we’re still a ways away from our target vaccination numbers for the “new normal” Phase 5 / Green / Alert Level 1, we’re definitely hearing and seeing evidence that there are more folks visiting from out of the region and more people trying to get out and enjoy themselves. We’d like to remind everyone to be smart and be kind when it comes to their interactions over the coming weeks. If you’re seeing lots of people, try to be outside about it, continue to take advantage of the free testing facilities that are still available, and try not to put vulnerable folks at risk. Most of all, be good to each other, and especially to those folks who are working in restaurants that are just opening up or just expanding service. People are adjusting to being back at work after long layoffs, restaurants are adjusting to higher demand and a different balance of takeout/delivery and in-person dining, and everyone is learning how to be out in public again. We’re still all in this together!!

We’ll start off this week with a Halifax brewery that doesn’t constantly pump out new releases, but instead focuses on consistency and quality delivered with attitude: Unfiltered Brewing. Of course, you probably figure that if we are talking about them, it’s because they do have something new, and you’d be right about that. Featuring a name you have to be old enough to appreciate, Gazoo is a 4.5% ABV key lime sour. Bright, tart and a fairly low ABV, it’ll be an excellent refresher for the awfully humid weather the HRM has been enduring. Although it won’t magically fix everything, it’s got some awfully cute little antennae on the label to boot; if you’re wondering why, you need to get more Flintstones into your life. Grab some at the brewery before it disappears back to Zetox. While you’re at it, you can also grab some Hellevator, their 7% “juicy malt bomb” with all German ingredients (save water) that has returned for another run, and also some ultra fresh DOA, the most Citra beer that ever Citra’d.

Despite being on Canada’s east coast, Newfoundland’s Split Rock Brewing Co.’s location on North Twillingate Island affords it an unobstructed westward ocean view, which means beautiful sunsets filling the summer sky. In a nod to this, Split Rock is releasing Golden Hour, a 6.5% juicy IPA. Expect big tropical, stone fruit and citrusy notes from additions of El Dorado, Galaxy and Amarillo hops, with mostly late additions keeping the bitterness low. Grab a pint now at the taproom (may we suggest around sunset time). 

Dieppe’s O’Creek Brewing may be best known for their juicy and flavourful New England IPAs (Route 117 and Citra in a Galaxy come to mind), but this week they’re bringing something completely different. Has Been is a Grisette, a lighter-bodied and more delicate French/Belgian Farmhouse Saison. While low in alcohol, at just 4.3% ABV, it features plenty of lovely notes from the Lemondrop and Motueka hops used, complemented by the use of Jotünn kveik yeast from Escarpment Labs, for a dry and spritzy beer with a fruity and herbal finish. On draught only, so put Le Barbu and CAVOK in Dieppe, as well as Tide & Boar Brewing on your shortlist to visit this weekend. And if your looking for something a little different, Caffé Latte is coming to Le Barbu in the next day or two. This is a Milk Stout (a touch of lactose sugar used for body and residual sweetness) with cold-brewed coffee added to the secondary. Keep an eye on IG to see that tapping announcement!

Up on the North side of Nova Scotia, Tatamagouche Brewing has one new beer hitting the shelves this week and a couple of returning favorites as well. Up first is the newbie with a name, Herlihy, that, if you’re old and decrepit like us, you might think you recognize from early 90s Saturday Night Live (“Let the boy water your plants!”), but which is actually a reference to a road in Tabusintac, NB, and is pronounced Her-Lee-High rather than Her-Li-Hee. An Irish Stout with a fairly low ABV at 4.5%, the grist consists largely of pale malt with some crackery biscuit malt and chocolate malt to bring roasty chocolatey flavors and a deep dark color. UK hop variety Fuggle provides its classic spicy, herbal, and resiny profile, and the London ESB yeast strain ensures plenty of body and a smooth mouthfeel. Look for this one in cans at the brewery for now.

If, however, you’re looking for something at the lighter end of the spectrum, the latest batch of Pausa Pranzo Italian Pilsner is available now, this time with a little heavier hand with the Ariana on the dry hop but with the same malt side and 5.0% ABV. Lastly, if what you’re really craving is something nice and hoppy, but not too high on the ABV spectrum, we can confirm that the Cellar Slammer we mentioned last week is available once again direct from the brewery or at Bishop’s Cellar (who are also scheduled to be carrying the Pausa Pranzo) in Halifax.

Tusket Falls Brewing is bringin’ the hops this week with the release of a new DIPA, Details are Cloudy. This 8% ABV take on the style gets its cloudy mouthfeel by adding oats to a malt bill featuring German barley. Big dry hops of Citra and Amarillo give this one lots of fruit notes, including tangerine, lemon and peach. Cans are available at the taproom now and online through TFB’s webstore. HRM fans of Tusket should also keep an eye on the brewery’s social channels as they’ve teased that the opening date of their Gottingen Street taproom will be announced soon. Check below if you’re interested in becoming part of their team…

Let’s stick with cloudy and pillowy IPAs, this time at North Grant’s Half Cocked Brewery. Pillow Fort is a juicy, 7.4% NEIPA that features huge additions of Idaho 7, Eukanot and Mosaic. The photos of this one on Half Cocked’s social channels show a beautiful golden colour, with the telltale NEIPA haze. Expect lots of tropical fruit aromas and flavours, including papaya and mango, as well as some vanilla notes. Pillow Fort is available now for pints and growler fills, keep your eyes peeled for kegs in the wild in HRM next week! And those who make the visit to North Grant are well-advised to check out The Crafty Cooks, the food truck operating onsite this summer. They even open early for Brunch!

First across the post with Oktoberfest/Marzen beers this year, Grimross in Fredericton has released their eponymous beer in this style. Oktoberfest, a 5.6% ABV malt-forward beer, featuring bread and toast characters, as well as light brown sugar and toffee notes. Available on tap and in cans now. Also returning is their Grimdonk Belgian Golden Ale, 6.5% ABV, with notes of banana, clove, and coriander, also on draught and cans. These returning faves join the latest entries in their Scratch Series, Hopped Saison and Irish Red. The latter is a farmhouse ale fermented using their own house-isolated yeast, and then dry-hopped with Hallertau Blanc. The Irish Red features malt-derived notes of caramel and coffee, with a dry finish, weighing in at 4.5% ABV.

And as right… now… you can grab a pint of Grimross’ British Mild, pouring direct from a cask, where it was naturally carbonated in the traditional manner, leading to a softer mouthfeel and less bite. This is the absolute last of the Mild in-house, though ANBL still has cans for those die hard anglophiles.

If cider is more your thing this weekend, head down to Wolfville for the latest release from Annapolis Cider Company’s Something Different line. Strawberry Lime starts with the cidery’s cold fermented cider and some fresh apple juice, and sees additions of fresh-pressed local strawberries and pure lime juice. The result is a 6% ABV rose gold colored cider, with subtle berry flavours and a crisp finish. The good people at Annapolis Cider Co. are also donating $0.50 from each refill of Strawberry Line to Shelter Moves Nova Scotia, a charity that provides free moving and storage service to women and children fleeing abuse. Cheers to that.

Big news out of Spryfield, Nova Scotia this week, where the much-anticipated Mary Brown’s Chicken opened their doors yesterday. But before we go completely off-topic, we’ve got to remind you that the best spot to enjoy your Big Mary is next door at Serpent Brewing, where they’ve got a new British Dark Mild pouring these days, their 4.0% Some Mild. Notes of toast, nut, and caramel shine through, with a touch of fruity sweetness from the English yeast. On draught and in crowlers and growlers to go. And if you’re in downtown Dartmouth, you can grab it at Battery Park, where their Eden Belgian IPA is also pouring. On the Halifax side, White Mountain Witbier is at the Stillwell Freehouse. For those who are more into enjoying their beer at home or at the beach, cans of Eden and Patey’s Bier Belgian Single are both being released at Bishop’s Cellar tomorrow.

Most people know that Halifax’s Bishop’s Cellar is the place to go when it comes to finding a well-curated selection of local, regional, domestic, and imported tipples of all kinds. In addition to beers mentioned above, some new things you’ll find on the shelves there in the next week or two include Tanner & Co. Wheat, Mountain Meadworks Strawberry Arboreal, and Big Spruce Hour of Sour. Though they’ve always had Province-wide delivery available, the pandemic has certainly altered their business model and they’re now finding themselves looking for more help on the warehousing and delivery front. Folks who have a Class 5 drivers license, a desire to work in a fast-paced and friendly environment, and who are interested in getting into the bevvy industry on the distribution side are welcome to send a resume to ian@bishopscellar.com. Perks of the job include a staff discount on beer, wine, and spirits!

We teased earlier that Tusket Falls’ Halifax taproom is inching towards a grand opening. As they grow their operations, Tusket is looking to hire for both its HRM and Yarmouth County locations. They are currently on the hunt for serving and kitchen staff. If you’re interested, send a resume to info@tusketfallsbrewing.com or stop by the taproom in Tusket.

Trying to figure out what to do this weekend? Those in HRM have a couple of great options!

Last week’s post mentioned the Island Release of the Lone Oak and 2 Crows Together and Apart beers, and the time has come to let the rest of the world enjoy them as well. We’ll skip the details on the beer, and let you know that 2C’s webstore has both in stock for local delivery as well as Canada-wide shipping. And to celebrate, the fine folks at Lone Oak are making the trek off-island and will be doing a tap feature on Brunswick Street tomorrow from noon. Fixed Link German Pils, Modest Tiny Pale Ale, Yankee Gale APA, Delight Golden Sour with Peaches, and Rouge Farmhouse with Lucie Kuhlmann Grapes will be pouring alongside a handful of house-brewed beer. And to make this truly an event not to be missed, the fine folks from Tako Loko will be popping up from noon as well, providing some much-needed sustenance to keep you drinking all afternoon.

For those looking for a cider-based events (but still love tacos!), great news! Thanks to some special relationships with world-class cider makers to both the East and South, Stillwell Beergarden will be hosting a “Side by Side” tap feature of three sought after and super great ciders on draught. From Spain, Isastegi is located in the Basque region, renowned for their natural cider, and Stilly was able to finagle some of their Sagardo Naturala to pour alongside Oliver’s Cider from Herefordshire in England, and ANXO Cider from Washington, DC. Whether you are a hard-core apple-head, or new to cider, we suggest making a stop on Monday and/or Tuesday to check out the offerings on the go!

 

Friday Wrap-Up for August 13, 2021 – News from Rough Waters, Bannerman, Quidi Vidi, Big Spruce, Truro, Gridiron, Good Robot, Lone Oak, Brewdock, North, Village Green, and Propeller

Posted by acbbdevon on 2021-08-13
Posted in: Friday Wrap-Up. Tagged: Bannerman Brewing, Bar Brewdock, Big Spruce Brewing, Good Robot Brewing, Gridiron Brewing, Lone Oak Brewing, Modern Brewer's Village Green, North Brewing, Propeller Brewing, Quidi Vidi Brewery, Rough Waters Brewing, Truro Brewing Company. 2 comments

It’s Pride Week around the region with Halifax and Fredericton kicking off their celebrations and Cape Breton just wrapping up theirs. While we featured some Pride themed releases in last week’s post, keep an eye out for other ways you can celebrate! Meanwhile, the beer news doesn’t stop and we’ve got updates from all around the region. Also, it’s Friday the 13th, so kick back this weekend, beat the heat and make sure to check our Instagram stories to see if anyone of us is watching Friday the 13th Part 8: Jason Takes Manhattan. Meanwhile, read below for ACBeerBlog takes beer news! 

Let’s start today’s new beer news on the West Coast of our Easternmost province. Rough Waters Brewing, in Deer Lake, has a new beer on tap and in cans this week, a low alcohol beer punching well above its weight in hops. Total Eclipse is a 3.4% India Session Ale/Session IPA showcasing the Australian Eclipse hop. TE uses a grain bill with plenty of Wheat and Oats to enhance the mouthfeel despite its lower ABV, and using a lower attenuating yeast (Fermentis SafAle S-33) helps in that department as well, keeping it from drying out too much. But the star of the show are the Aussie hops: while a small addition of Chinook was added for light bittering, the rest is Eclipse, both during the whirlpool (post-boil before complete cooling), as well as dry-hopping in the fermenter. The resulting beer is light and juicy, and full of tangerine and grapefruit flavour. It’s available on tap and in cans at their taproom at 83 Wights Rd in Deer Lake, with cans at Ultramars in town and West Street Corner Brook, as well as Urban Market 1919 and a whole buncha Marie’s Mini Marts in St. John’s!

Bannerman has a new beer out this week that is sure to entice Tobias Fünke and other fans of blue beer from around the Avalon. Surf’s Up is a 6.5% ABV fruited sour that gets its deep blue color the all-natural way, from a blue-green algae called spirulina. Hopped with Vic Secret, and also featuring an addition of lactose, expect bright tropical flavours of passion fruit, lychee, and coconut. This one hit the shelves and taps at the taproom yesterday, but was so popular that cans and growler fills quickly sold out. Swing by Duckworth St. this weekend to try a pint before it’s gone.

Let’s head down the Gut from Bannerman, where Quidi Vidi Brewery has two new releases. First up is Oceanside Session IPA. Brewed in partnership with the Avalon Mountain Bike Association (AMBA), this 4.5% take on the style features notes of citrus and stone fruit, with a hint of vanilla and pine. A portion of the sales of each can will help AMBA improve local trail infrastructure on the Avalon. Oceanside is available now at the hop shop in Quidi Vidi and will be available at NLC locations beginning on Monday. And if you’re making your way to the taproom, you’ll also find a new fruited sour, released exclusively for draft pours: Strawberry Rhubarb Sour combines a jammy strawberry profile with tart rhubarb notes for a drinking experience that the brewery describes as ‘nan’s homemade pie’ in your glass.

Back in Cape Breton, Big Spruce is featuring a new release this week and the return of an interesting seasonal. First up is The Wanderers, a brand new 4.1% ABV golden ale. This sessionable sipper was brewed to provide a crisp and dry drinking experience, with notes of lemon, pear and cracker. A Citra dry-hop also adds some tropical aromatics. The name Wanderers is an homage to the eponymous HRM hiking group (as opposed to the local football club or the classic 1979 film). 

If you’re in the mood for something a bit more complex to consider, check out Hour of Sour, a 6.2% Raspberry Wild Ale. For fans of the ever popular Silver Tart, think of this one as its slightly wilder and funkier cousin. The mixed fermentation provides this one with some subtle funky notes, leading to a beer that drinks like a sparkling rose, with big notes of raspberry. Cans are available now at the Sprucetique and for delivery through their online store.

In Truro, we have some exciting news on two releases after a small hiatus from Truro Brewing Company. After high demand and being out of beer for a few days, they are open now and have a Sabro SMASH IPA on tap. This single malt and single hop IPA features the lovely Sabro hop loaded with stone fruit and melon aroma. It is 5.8% and available only on tap

Second up is a bottle release coming from their Hubtown Homebrew Competition Winner Derek “Woody” Wood, Waynze Grodziskie. A Grodziskie is a traditional Polish wheat beer that is low ABV and crispy but with a definite smoky presence. Imagine a beer that pairs beautifully with a cheese board on a patio on a hot summer day. It may sound odd, but we can assure you it’s delightful, and using 100% oak smoked malt and a low-alpha hop variety the Truro offering is true to style, coming in at 3.8%. Both of these new releases are available today only from the brewery, with the Grodziskie in bottles and the IPA only on tap for pints and fills. Pick them up while supplies last!

Happy news for those in the Hampton, New Brunswick, neck of the woods (or looking for an excuse to head there), Gridiron Brewing has opened their taproom! Located at 1051 Main Street, they’re open from noon daily, and closing at 6ish Sun/Mon/Tues, with later times Wed through Sat (8 or 9). You can check out their current taplist to see what’s available to enjoy onsite or to take away. No better place to enjoy their Beach Road Rhubarb, a hefeweizen infused with loads of locally-grown rhubarb for a fruity and lightly tart summer wheat beer. Congratulations on the opening, and we’ll have details of their Grand Opening in the coming weeks!

Always pushing the envelope of what’s allowable (remember those condoms seized at the border a few years back?), Good Robot Brewing is at it again! Forget paying big influencers to spend a day in the taproom and drinking their beer, and then blowing up their social media, they want to pay YOU to do it! In a world where nearly all of us have a social media presence of some sort, apparently GRBC thinks we can all be microinfluencers… And instead of being paid in 1 Exposure (equivalent to 17 Schrute Bucks or 34 Stanley Nickels), they’ll give you cold, hard, Canadian cash (or EMT equivalent). There is plenty of Fine Print, and Even Finer Print, but the gist is all you have to do is buy one of the beer/seltzers they are looking to promote, post about it, and wait for the cash to roll* in!
* In the name of keeping expectations in line with reality, we note that Loonies are round and thus roll quite well.

As we’ve alluded to a couple of times in the last few weeks, there’s starting to be some actual in-person events going on in the beer scene in our region thanks to the relaxation of restrictions that good behavior and vaccination numbers have been able to afford us. It seems fitting that one upcoming event is one borne out of a collaboration that was significantly affected by the pandemic.

In early 2020, Lone Oak in Borden-Carleton, PE, and 2 Crows in Halifax, NS, decided they wanted to brew a “fun beer” together. Unfortunately, lockdowns hit and their dream of an in-person brewday were scuttled. But ever the creative bunch, they decided to come up with a way to do a remote collaboration that would still give people the chance to taste both of their efforts. Settling on a Wild Ale brewed with rice, each brewery brewed a batch using the same recipe and then fermented in oak with their respective house yeast cultures. When travel restrictions were initially relieved in Summer 2020, 2 Crows sent a tote of their batch to the Island where it was blended with the Lone Oak batch and packaged in 500 mL bottles. Now, a year later, they’re ready to celebrate the release of that blend, Together, along with their own unblended version, Apart.

Today at 4 PM at the Lone Oak taproom you can try both of these beers along with your LO faves and five guest taps from 2C: Fantacity, Matinee, Terry, Dos Cuervos, and Jamboree. There will be live music from 7 – 10 PM, an oyster bar, and some special dishes out of the kitchen from Chef Acorn. There’s no cover, but reservations are recommended due to reduced capacity (call the taproom at 902.729.2228). So if you’re in the area, come on down and have a fun Friday evening trying the new collab beers and some treats from the mainland, or just grab some bottles to go. And for those in Halifax, we’re sure we’ll also see Together at 2 Crows’ Halifax taproom soon along with their own version of Apart soon enough.

And speaking of 2 Crows and Island Tap Takeovers, those in St. John’s should clear their schedule for September 17th, as the birds are flying over to East Duck for the day, with 2 Crows teaming up with the crew at Bannerman Brewing for an in-person collaboration brewday, and then taking over the taps with plenty of faves and even some special brews put together specifically for an evening on the taps at Brewdock across the street. We’ll give you more details as they come into focus, but until then, pencil pen it in the calendar!

A couple more new/returning beer to share before we sign off this week!

Just in time for this ridiculously humid weather, North Brewing is re-releasing Raspberry Plush, part of its Plush series of fruited sours. This one comes in at 4.5% ABV and features big raspberry flavours and a lively tartness. Grab some cans today at North’s two retail locations or through their online store. Raspberry Plush is released once a year, so if you miss out on this batch, you’re out of luck until 2022.

Modern Brewer’s Village Green in Cornwall, PEI, has a new beer on tap and in cans today, Three Oat Stout. At 5.8% ABV, it features Maris Otter as a base, with three different oat variants (malted, flaked, and Golden Naked), plus the necessary dark and roasted malts. Dark chocolate and coffee notes abound with a great mouthfeel. Pop by this weekend to grab a pint and/or can!

Looking to get into the beer biz? This might just be the job for you…

You’ve got big shoes to fill, but if marketing for breweries is your thing, Propeller Brewing in Halifax/Dartmouth is hiring a Marketing Manager to help spread the word of their beer and mixed drinks near and far. Answering to the big cheeses of the company, you’ll have your hands in everything from online, print, radio marketing, handling the Socials, take part in Prop tables and booths at beer fests and other events, and plenty more. If that sounds like your cup of tea, check that link for all of the details, and apply today! Just beware we’ll probably bug you for all the nerdy beer info when it’s time. 😉

Friday Wrap-Up for August 6, 2021 – News from Garrison, Good Robot, Bogside, Brightwood, PEI Beer Fest and More!!

Posted by acbbdamian on 2021-08-06
Posted in: Friday Wrap-Up. Tagged: 2 Crows Brewing, Big Spruce Brewing, Bogside Brewing, Breton Brewing, Brightwood Brewery, Flying Boats Brewing, Garrison Brewing, Good Robot Brewing, Grand Falls Brewing, Modern Brewer's Village Green, PEI BeerFest, Tatamagouche Brewing, Upstreet Craft Brewing. 1 comment

We’ve made it to the first week of August, and while July’s weather may not have been anything to write home about, there is still lots of summertime left to get outside, safely meet up with pals, and grab a cold beer or cider from your favourite local producer. And though the days may be already be getting a bit shorter, if any brewery emails us about a pending pumpkin ale release, so help us god, we will turn this car around! (Although truly, we welcome any and all emails from breweries although we understand it’s the height of the busy summer season and most breweries don’t have a moment to spare right now) Now let’s get to some news you can use for planning your sudsy adventures this weekend. 

With the Halifax Pride Festival 2021 just around the corner (August 12 – 22), it seems like a great time for some Pride-themed beers and two of our local breweries have stepped up to lead that charge. First up is Garrison Brewing Co., the official craft beer sponsor of Halifax Pride, with their Queer Summer Brew. A hazy beer coming in at a fairly light 5% ABV, it features “light and bright” flavors along with a touch of citrus. Aimed at being a summer refresher for what will hopefully be a sunny August festival, you’ll find the bright and distinctive 473 mL can at all Garrison retail locations (and available for online ordering from their web shop), at participating private liquor stores in the city, and for purchase on the grounds of the festival as well. Even better, a portion from every can sold will be donated to Halifax Pride!

It should be no surprise to beer fans in the city that the other brewery bringing a Pride-themed beer to Halifax this week is Good Robot, but it might surprise many that this is the first time they’ve done such a thing. Long known for running a very inclusive taproom and for bringing awareness to many causes, GR has not, until now, explicitly released a Pride-related beer. But here we are and now they have and it’s out now: THEMBOT is named as a friendly reminder to be aware of (and respect) people’s pronouns. Tasting “like a lively tropical parade float,” this 5.5% ABV guava and blackberry sour features a peachy color and is available from the brewery in 355 mL cans. And though it’s not officially connected to Halifax Pride, while you sip it you might consider the history of Pride in this city, throughout our region, and around the world, and the continued fight for the right to exist without fear of harassment, violence, and discrimination.

If you’re feeling the Island summer vibes on Prince Edward Island, swing by Bogside in Montague for some fresh releases this week. First is a returning beer, Sun of a Beach, a hopped Berliner-Weisse style beer with a bit of tartness and featuring lemon, grapefruit, and topical notes. Packaged in 473ml cans at 4.0% and 0 IBU it’s available now from the brewery. Second up this week is a new one, Cranberry Wheat, a german style Weißbier with a splash of flavor from local PEI cranberries. It’s balanced, slightly tart, very fruit forward and refreshing at 15 IBU and 5.5% and available now in 473ml cans. 

Sydney’s Breton Brewing is releasing the latest in its summer sour series, a blackberry lemon version of its Let’s Jam sour. Like previous iterations of Let’s Jam, you can expect a combo of sweet fruit character and some tartness from the souring bacteria. This one comes in at a sessionable 4% ABV, allowing you to comfortably get multiple servings of fruit in one sitting (please consult Canada’s Food Guide for official conversion rate of fruited sours to fruit servings). Pints and cans are available now at the taproom and through Breton’s webstore.

The first Thursday of August is National IPA day, which means that if you didn’t have an IPA yesterday, you missed it (but honestly, who cares, because any day is a great day for an IPA). To celebrate the occasion, Upstreet Brewing has brought back its take on a NEIPA with Island Hospitality. This year’s version features a malt bill of 2-row, oats and wheat. The hops are a few Southern Hemisphere gems in the form of Eclipse, Nectar and Waimea. Look for flavours of mandrin orange, passionfruit and some fresh pine at Upstreet’s two Charlottetown locations and at the Upstreet BBQ Brewhouse in Burnside next week. 

Halifax’s Brunswick street brewers are back with a returning favourite today, as 2 Crows has Zap back on the taps and to go this week. Originally released last year, Zap is a gin barrel-aged Berliner Weisse, with a load of raspberry flavour and a hint of gin botanicals, combining for a slightly tart and nicely effervescent warm weather crusher. Packaged in 375 mL bottles at 3.2% and 0 IBU, it is available now from the brewery and online from their webstore.

Yay! Events are a thing again! Here’s a couple you might be happy to learn about:

We know you’re all big fans of drinking beer, but have you ever wanted a peek behind the scenes to learn more about how all of those tasty ales and lagers are actually made? If so, you’ll want to head to the Brightwood Beergarden, located at Alderney Landing, this upcoming Monday, August 9th, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM where the team from Brightwood will be putting on a demo of how you can get started brewing at home. As many fans will know, Brightwood is one of several regional breweries started by folks who got their start by homebrewing and we’re sure they haven’t forgotten their beginnings! No registration is required for the event – just show up, grab a pint, and settle in. If you can’t make it on Monday, keep an eye out for future events in Brightwood’s Learn to Brew series. 

In a return to pre-pandemic normalcy, the Prince Edward Island Beer Festival will be held in Delta Prince Edward Hotel in downtown Charlottetown September 24 & 25th. All-in-one ticket pricing for your drinks (both breweries and cideries will be in attendance), with live music on the go, too. Designated Driver tickets, as well as VIP tickets are also available, depending on which way you and your crew want to roll. Friday and Saturday evening sessions run 6:30 – 9:30, with a Saturday afternoon session 2 – 4:30 PM. The full list of breweries is not yet available, but look for many of the Island breweries to be in attendance, joined by plenty of off-Island visitors as well, perfect for locals and those looking for an accelerated course on PEI beer. 

For those AtlCan Breweries and Cider Producers reading, the PEIBeerFest is still adding to their roster, so if a weekend in downtown C’town late September sounds like a blast for you and your crew, be sure to reach out via email to get the scoop and secure your spot!

And a few last quick mentions to inform your weekend beer-buying on a Friday afternoon:

No strangers to pumping out new releases, Village Green in Cornwall, PEI, is releasing their fourth iteration of Weird Clouds. This IPA series highlights different hops with this one featuring El Dorado, Motueka and Mosaic. Bringing fruity, orange rind, grassy notes, it is 6.4% and available on tap at the brewery.  

A quick hitter out of Grand Falls Brewing (don’t add “-Windsor” and end up in Newfoundland!) is Razz, a fruity and hoppy sour beer. After a kettle sour and fermentation, raspberry puree was added and before it was dry-hopped with Citra. The result is a tart, fruity and delicious citrus flavour in a refreshing beer. This is available now only on tap at the brewery. 

We haven’t seen an official announcement yet, but word on the street is that Tatamagouche Brewing’s annual release of their Cellar Slammer Indian Session Ale is imminent. Check out Tata’s social channels for more updates and look for this one to also be released through the collab brew’s partner, Bishops Cellar. 

Another beer making its return this week is Big Spruce’s Heffalump Hefeweizen. This 5.2% take on the Bavarian style was originally released back in 2018 after Halifax homebrewing legend Ian Wheatley used it to grab 1st place in Big Spruce’s annual homebrew challenge. Expect this one to hit those classic hefe notes of banana and bubblegum. Look for it now on site at the Sprucetique and through Big Spruce’s online store. 

There’s a new kettle sour available in Dieppe this weekend. Flying Boats Brewing Co. is releasing Relaxo Sour, a strawberry rhubarb take on the style. Cans of this 4.4% ABV tart ale are available now at the taproom.