Welp, we’ve done it folks! Made it though another week. And a short one at that, though for us, the weekdays and weekends all kind of melt together now. Plenty of new and returning beer details below, and we’ve been updating the openings and changes in our Delivery/curbside pickup options page. As always, and you’d be correct if you guess we just copy/paste this part over week-to-week, if we’ve missed something important there, or just want to chat, get in touch via email or social media (Ig and Tw preferred). Take care of yourselves and each other! ❤️
Looks like Dieppe’s O’Creek Brewing has a new entry in their DUOH series (that’s “Duo Hops” for those of you not in the know), where they brew a NEIPA focusing on two different hop varieties. Their latest – DUOH Citra/Sabro – features two wonderful and maybe-not-so-easy-to-always-attain hops (Citra and Sabro, of course!), both of which provide one heck of a punch of tropical, fruity goodness, with “citrus, mango, and guava” coming through in spades. You can currently find this 6% ABV hop bomb on tap at CAVOK Brewing, and don’t forget that they fill crowlers of guest taps to go there! Woohoo!
Speaking of CAVOK Brewing, they’ve got a new beer of their own currently pouring. Expérience Croisée 2 continues the series of the same name, where they blend existing beer styles to come up with something that is even better than the sum of its parts. In the case of this second beer of the series, it’s a blend of a Hefeweizen and a NEIPA, so you can probably use your imagination to come up with at least a general idea of what this beer will taste like. Wheat and banana from the Weizen end, with juicy, fruity flavours from the NEIPA side, it weighs in at 6.5% ABV. If you can’t make it into the taproom, they’re still doing deliveries in the area, and shipping Canada-wide, so make sure you check out the details for that option.
Now that the weather is FINALLY getting warmer, some of you are no doubt craving something both sour, and hoppy. Well, North Brewing has you covered with their latest, Plush. After the beer’s wort was boiled without hops, and partially cooled on its way to the fermenter, it was soured with Lactobacillus Blend 2.0 from Escarpment Labs. This blend is active at warm, but not hot temps (30 – 40ºC), so doing that step in the fermenter is possible (many of the rapid sours out there are done in the kettle so that the temperature can be elevated to 50ºC or higher). After an acidic base has been achieved, the wort was chilled to normal fermentation temperature (under 20ºC) and the yeast was added. This same technique is used in their Breakwater series of fruited sours, for those curious. Once fermented, the beer saw its first hops, being heavily dry-hopped with Vic Secret, Amarillo, and cryo Cascade. We think we’ll just let them describe the final product: “the first sip is like tumbling into a pillowy cloud of peachy, citrusy, tart luxury”. See, we’re not near that eloquent! It’s refreshing and easy-drinking at 4.5%, and is available in cans this weekend; better grab some while the drinkin’ is good!
Ooo, speaking of low-ABV, bright drinking beers, Tatamagouche Brewing just released their newest hoppy American Pale Ale, Bengy (pronounced ben-GEE, like that dog!). Very-heavily dry-hopped with Mosaic and Citra (two hop varieties you know will bring you to flavour town), this 4.9% ABV brew is tasting super-juicy and tropical, with no doubt some dank aromas and flavours in there as well. Bengy is available in cans on their website for delivery orders, both locally and across Canada, and for locals, at the Brew Shop, open 10 – 5 PM daily (12 – 5 PM Sundays), just tag your order with code BREWERYPICKUP to let them know you’ll be coming by for a no contact click and grab.
The new beers just keep pumping out of Nova Scotia, with Roof Hound Brewing throwing their hat in the ring with Blunderbuss, an American Pale Ale. Blunderbuss is defined as “a short-barreled large-bored gun with a flared muzzle, used at short range” (a la the movie Looper!), and also “an action or way of doing something regarded as lacking in subtlety and precision”. We’re pretty sure their beer is named after the LATTER definition! Regarding the actual beer, they added some Honey malt to the grist to give it a touch of sweetness, and then hammered the wort with large whirlpool additions of Azacca. After fermentation was complete, a large dry-hop of Citra finished it off, giving big notes of citrus throughout. There’s some bitterness in this 6% ABV brew as well, for those of you who do prefer some to go with your hop experience!
Let’s head back to New Brunswick for a draught-only release from Hanwell’s Niche Brewing. Delving into lager territory for just the second or third time (who can keep track?), Lanai is a German Pilsner, leveraging Bohemian Pilsner malt, along with Hallertau Mittelfruh hops added both early and late in the boil, and fermented with the Isar Lager yeast from Escarpment Labs. This 5.0% beer was brewed back in January, and has been lagered for more than 3 months. Well, the wait is over, as the beer has been released in kegs, with the first of those going to Downtown Fredericton’s Graystone Brewing, for safe in-person enjoyment, as well as to-go in growler and crowler fills, we believe. While you’re there, you may have a chance to try one of the last pours of Niche’s Empty Garden, their Kveik-fermented American Pale Ale, released recently.
In Halifax, Propeller Brewing is still celebrating the opening of their Quinpool location at The Keep condo/retail mixed use building, but that hasn’t slowed down the new beer releases at all! This week sees the return of two much-loved and oft-demanded favourites, both perfect for the warmer weather that the region has been teased with this week. First up is their Dark Berry Sour, which we’ve been assured will be available all summer, though we imagine that thirsty fans will do their best to drain the cans and fermenters in record time! Much like last year, the kettle-soured 5.0% beer features loads of blackberries, black currants, and black raspberries, but the new fruit addition of red raspberries brings a bright refreshing character, and lightens the final beer ever-so-much. Taking advantage of its tropical feels, Mosaic is used as a dry-hopping addition. DBS is available now at Prop’s three locations for contact-free pickup, delivery in HRM through their webstore, and will be found on shelves/for delivery through the Harvest, RockHead, and WestSide private shops.
The other new brew on the fridge shelves (physically and virtually) at Propeller today is Azacca Session IPA. At 4.5% ABV, this light-bodied hazy beer may be on the lower end of the IPA style, but certainly packs plenty of tropical character. In addition to the eponymous Azacca, El Dorado and Citra hops are added for a full-on experience of mango pineapple, tangerine, melon, and stone fruit, all in a small package. And speaking of… in addition to tall cans of the beer available at the brewery (and private stores), this beer will be found at NSLC locations in the 6 x 355 ml canned format in the near future (these are also at the brewery, fret not!). And great news, just like Dark Berry Sour, Azacca wil be around all summer!
Changing gears from hop- to malt-focus, a one-hour drive up the 101 will bring you to Horton Ridge Road, where Horton Ridge Malt & Grain find their home. They’ve released two beers this week, so let’s get you up to speed pronto! Simpler Summer Lager is a 5.0% ABV Amber Lager, featuring Light Munich malt as the base, with a touch of their special Honey Malt for light toast character with a touch of honey flavour (but light in the sweetness). Malt-forward, as you’d expect, but plenty drinkable and perfect for patios, beaches, and bonfires, when it’s safe to enjoy those.
What’s that saying, “When the cat’s away, the mice will play?” Well, that situation has definitely happened at Horton Ridge, as when Head Maltster Al wasn’t looking, Stephen and Connor decided to flip the script and brew up a Big Bad Double IPA. Al’s Away is a 7.7% Double IPA, leveraging both a load malts (you need a lot to get up to 7.7%!) as well as hops, to the tune of 60 IBU thanks to generous additions of Citra and Mosaic. Tropical fruit flavours, grapefruit play on top of the malty backbone for an all-out assault on your senses. Both the Simpler Summer and Al’s Away are now available at the Malt House for pickup in 355 mL cans.
TrailWay Brewing is celebrating the re-opening of their tasting room this week, have welcomed Milda’s Pizza back onsite, and as if that wasn’t enough, have a brand new beer available! Sultana’s of Swing is a 7.5% ABV Double IPA, brewed solely with Sultana. You may recognize that hop by its previous name, Denali, but it recently received a moniker change. Bright, ripe pineapple, fresh tangerine, with a light pine finish. Sounds lovely! You can drop by the taproom to grab cans or growler fills (TW ones only), or stick around for a pint at a responsible distance from your neighbours. No bursting bubbles in there, folks!
On Nova Scotia’s South Shore, Tanner & Co Brewing have released a small batch of Sparkling Mead. Original is 7.2% ABV, using local honey and was fermented for over two months, conditioned for a couple of weeks, and then carbed up. This dry and fizzy mead is just available in limited amounts in bottles at their Duke Street, Chester location (and maybe for delivery if you’re quick!), and features label design by Hammerlock Design Co, a local graphic designer who is a big beer fan himself (hey Andy!).
Finally this week, Breton Brewing in Sydney has a new Session IPA hitting their shelves, and ready for delivery in CBRM and in early next week in HRM. Pink Boots Session IPA uses the hop blend by the same name put together by Yakima Chief, in celebration and support of Pink Boot Society, encouraging and supporting women brewery workers. Crisp and light at 4.5% ABV, it features floral and tangerine notes, and finished with a light bitterness. Refreshing, tasty, and for a great cause; we’ll cheers to that! Enjoy your weekend, everyone, and stay safe!
