2 Crows Brewing

All posts tagged 2 Crows Brewing

Friday Wrap-Up for September 15, 2023 – News from 2 Crows, North, Mauzy, Shipwright, Maybee, Annapolis Brewing, Tusket Falls, Schoolhouse, Landwash, Hopyard, Tapestry, Tire Shack, Smokehouse, Garrison, and more!

Posted by acbbaaron on 2023-09-15
Posted in: Friday Wrap-Up. Tagged: 2 Crows Brewing, Annapolis Brewing Company, Bannerman Brewing, Dildo Brewing, Garrison Brewing, Godspeed Brewery, HopYard, Landwash Brewery, Mauzy Cidery, Maybee Brewing, North Brewing, Oktoberfest, Port Rexton Brewing Co., Schoolhouse Brewery, Shipwright Brewing, Smokehouse Nano Brewery, Tapestry Beer Bar, Tire Shack Brewing, Tusket Falls Brewing. Leave a Comment

Another week, another grind, more beer for all of our times. Read below for our weekly update, a share with your friends, we would appreciate. A hurricane is coming, Lee is on the move, buy some beers for the weekend, for you it will behoove. There’s lots of news, so let’s start from the top, beer and events, they never stop!

Up first this week is a beer that we almost told you about last week, but we were advised at the eleventh hour that it could have been a premature…declaration, as a label snafu prevented a timely release. That, however, was sorted and thus the gang at 2 Crows in Halifax has a brand new beer available in their series of consonantly-named juicy hazy IPAs. Perfect Revelation features the same grist that they’ve perfected over the various iterations, namely Golden Promise, flaked oats, wheat malt, and dextrin malt, and it’s also fermented with the same juice-forward yeast. As always, however, they’ve switched up the hops (and the label and the name, natch) and this batch saw massive amounts of Citra, Centennial, and Sultana. It’s safe to expect plenty of citrus, in the form of mandarin orange character, along with some pineapple and melon notes, and even some resinous pininess. You can grab this 6.1% beaut in cans from the brewery.

The team at North Brewing and their friends at Battery Park Beer Bar collaborated on a brew last year that was extremely well-received, at least by the hazy IPA loving portion of the public. Named after BP regular Dave Wilcox, whose own homebrew recipe was scaled up, brewed, and packaged, this one is packed with hops, namely Columbus, Amarillo, Simcoe, Citra, and Mosaic. Hazy and definitely as juicy as you’d expect given the name, it’s 6.2% ABV and features the lovely (and/or creepy) mascot of Battery Park on the label. While only available for a limited time, and we believe only at BP and North locations, to celebrate this re-release, the North kitchens in Cole Harbour and Timberlea are putting Soft Pretzel Bites with Hazy Dave’s IPA Cheese Sauce on the menu all weekend.

Nestled in the back of Banished Brewing’s space in Paradise, NL, Mauzy Cidery continues to put out limited edition fun things for local folks to sip on. This week’s offering is the cheekily-named Kissy Kissy Juice, their first foray into the world of grapes. Comprised of a blend of whole cluster De Chaunac grapes from Jenning’s Homestead and Nova Mac and Honeycrisp juices from Mt. Scio Orchard, the resulting wine-cider hybrid was bottle conditioned, as usual, with Baccalieu Trail Honey. Arriving at 5.5% ABV and packaged in 750ml bottles (only 13 cases produced!), you can only find this beautifully pink product at Banished.

Lunenburg’s own Shipwright Brewing has a new release that is something we would like to be drinking as we type this up right now. Litekeeper is a Belgian Grisette (like a lighter version of a Saison) that manages to bring lots of complex flavour and aroma in a lower ABV form. The malt bill for this was Pilsner, wheat, munich and oats and the hops in the boil were Loral and Hallertau Blanc, with a Belgian yeast from Escarpment Labs to bring it together. Finished with a dry-hopping of more Hallertau Blanc, all of it came together to become something very refreshing and fruity with a bit of pepper for interest and a dry finish. The finished product is 3.7% and 28 IBU and can be had today from the brewery for pints on site or to-go in crowlers or growlers. 

A welcome release out of Annapolis Brewing this weekend sees a style perfect for the changing of the seasons (which we’ve been advised is still very much going to happen, eventually). Munich Dunkel is what the beer is named and exactly what it is! A classic Bavarian-style dark lager that boasts flavours of bready malt with a bit of chocolate and caramel, all complemented by a bit of noble hop bitterness, this is an extremely balanced and drinkable style that is perfectly suited for outdoor German beer gardens or your own dwelling. It’s 5% ABV and 23 IBU and is available now in cans and on tap from the brewery in Annapolis Royal. 

Tusket Falls Brewing keeps things busy with their two locations and they’re also keeping it fresh with a brand new release that you can pick up today. Long Way Around is a triple berry sour ale that isn’t your standard kettle sour. They’ve put a lot into this beer (literally), as it’s something that’s been under development for awhile, but has been helped out with a new Lactobacillus blend from the good folks at Escarpment Labs. The bacteria was the souring agent but also provided some guava and lemon aroma and flavour. Smooth mouthfeel and a bit of balancing sweetness was introduced by a lactose addition, and it was all brought together with a hazy IPA yeast strain, as this sour also featured a dry hopping of Strata and Citra, which brought orange citrus and strawberry aromas. And we haven’t even got to the berries yet! Bringing this one home was infusions of real blueberry, raspberry, and blackberry, AND a bit of vanilla bean AND ALSO sea salt! Definitely a brew from the “But Wait, There’s MORE!” category. Arriving in your glass at 6.5% it’s definitely worth grabbing a can or pint at their Halifax or Tusket locations to see how all of those elements meld into a tasty beverage.

Don’t forget it’s Pumpkin SZN, as the kids say, or used to say? Don’t forget, we’re old. In addition to our guardian roundup last week, Schoolhouse Brewing has brought back a seasonal beer with Pumpkin Paddler, their annual pumpkin ale. First released back in 2017, this beer was first introduced to celebrate the annual Pumpkin Regatta in Windsor, Nova Scotia, an event where people hollow out giant pumpkins and race them in the water. When Lake Pisquid was no longer able to provide a home for the race, some enterprising folks up and moved the whole durn thing to the South Shore, where it is now part of the Shelburne County Giant Pumpkin Festival. This year will be the second year on the Shelburne waterfront and if you’re interested in guiding a gourd to glory on Thanksgiving weekend, you can find out more information here. But meanwhile, back to the beer! Schoolhouse had been known to put an entry of their own in the regatta, so the Pumpkin Paddler Pumpkin Ale is a perfect release to remind folks in Windsor of an event that meant a lot to the brewery and community. The beer is 6.0% and featured additions of pumpkin puree, cinnamon, clove, ginger and nutmeg. A mix of noble hops provided the bitterness and balance to this dry and drinkable fall ale. Expect it to show up soon in private stores in Halifax, but rest assured it’s available in cans and on draught at the brewery. 

Over the summer, Landwash’s Czech-style Lager got a bit of a makeover, with a light name change to Landwash Cold Lager. To celebrate the new name and branding, they are holding a launch event tomorrow, Sept 16 in the taproom. All day, they will be offering $5 mugs of Cold Lager in three distinct pour styles straight from Plzeň. Hladinka is a full mug with a full head of dense foam, Snyt is a 50/50 mug with half foam and half beer, and Mliko is also known as a Milk Pour, and is almost entirely foam. DIfferent pours for different situations, we say! They are also taking the opportunity to invite their Friends in Lager on tap for the day, with Bannerman, Dildo, and Port Rexton all pouring lagers too. And from noon until 11 PM, they are giving away a 12-pack of LCL to one lucky attendee every hour, on the hour! And for those unable to attend, look for the new branding of 12 packs of Cold Lager for your very own Beer is Nice crested coaster, which will win you a full flat of Landwash beer of your choosing. Look for those packs at NLCs, and your favourite small retailer.

A few events to tell you about this weekend and the near future! For those in areas affected by Hurricane Lee, be sure to check the conditions, and confirm your spots are opening, before heading out!

Hopyard is hosting Godspeed Brewery Tap Takeover this weekend, with seven beers from the Toronto-based brewery pouring right now. Sklepnik Pilsner (fermented in pitch-lined foedres), Tmavý Ležák 12º Dark Czech Lager, Fukami Munich Dunkel, Arbeit Hefeweizen, Yuzu Saison, Kekkon Raspberry Sour, and Ochame Green Tea IPA. This also marks the return of their original chef Jane Crawford, who is back in the kitchen again, and who has prepared a Japanese-inspired Ekiben meal to fit with the Montreal-to Japan-to Toronto story of Godpseed’s history. The beer and menu will be on until they sell out, so be sure to pop in today to avoid disappointment!

The Lower Sackville beer bar Tapestry Beer Bar kicks off our Oktoberfest news as the official Oktoberfest in Munich is September 16th to October 3rd. Tapestry will be featuring 12 German style beers from 12 different Nova Scotia breweries. If you’re reading this and itching to try some of them before Hurricane Lee hits, you can order a Mystery Flight of the beers. You’ll have to keep track of them manually though, as the full tap list won’t be revealed until later this weekend. The plan is for the event to start on Saturday, but keep an eye on their socials. It’s not looking good for Saturday, and you don’t know what kind of damage could happen with the hurricane, so check out the venue online before heading out this weekend.

Hopping over to Moncton, the wonderful folks at Tire Shack are next on the Oktoberfest lineup. Every Saturday and Sunday this month they’ll have food from Euston Park, special branded 1 litre maß mugs and they’ll be filling them with their delicious Helles Yeah! Munich style Helles lager. They also have a re-release of their award-winning The Wickerman, which is a Pumpkin Vienna Lager that is out today.  Again, this is planned to start Friday, September 15th, to beat the hurricane, but keep an eye out for the rest of the weekend if you plan to head over. 

New to the block but staying true to the tradition, Smokehouse’s new Agricola street location will be doing Oktoberfest beers from September 16th to October 3rd (again, check the weather and their socials for any delays!). They’ve brewed 5 traditional beers for the celebration and will also be planning to serve Brothers sausages on the BBQ. They’ll have special steins for serving the following special pours: Munich Dunkel, Märzen, Bavarian Wheat, Kölsch and a Festbier. 

Next up we’ve got a familiar pairing from the last few years, as The BG (formerly the home of the original Stillwell Beergarden and previously named the Stubborn Goat Beer Garden on the Halifax Waterfront) and Garrison Brewing are teaming up for their annual Oktoberfest! Just like previous years they’ve got a full menu of German platters (Knackwurst & Schnitzel), snacks and beer. This will be lasting for 10 days and will start on Monday September 18th. On Friday Sept 22nd there will be a big rocking party with Rankin MacInnis too. Stay tuned to their socials for any details or changes.

A few last quick mentions to send you into a (hopefully uneventful) weekend!

Out of Fredericton, Maybee Brewing has a new Double IPA just in time for the weekend. Retrograde is a DIPA that is big on citrus and fruit aromas. Lots of orange and ripe tangerine flavour for a dry finished and drinkable DIPA. At 8.3% you can grab this in cans or on tap from their taproom.

If you’re near Quidi Vidi and have been keeping up with the brewery’s Arts & IPA series, we can tease that the 10th iteration in the series will be available next week. Featuring new can art and featured artists for each release, new hop and flavour combinations are also explored. This Arts & IPAs 10 will feature Idaho 7 hops and will be a 7.5% IPA. Keep an eye out for it next week, featuring artwork from Molly Margaret!

After its launch at the end of last month, the non-alcoholic Nomad Pilsner sold out within days. Good news for those thirsty for more, as it is now back in stock! Brewed by Tatamagouche Brewing, the Pilsner is just the tip of the iceberg in the NA space. Look for several more styles to come through the taps in the next few months. Check their taproom and retail shop on Main Street Tatamagouche, or their online shop for local delivery or nationwide shipping.

Friday Wrap-Up for July 14, 2023 – News from North, Bishops, Rackhouse, Serpent, Tatamagouche, Unfiltered, Big Spruce, Propeller, Stillwell and more!

Posted by acbbaaron on 2023-07-14
Posted in: Friday Wrap-Up. Tagged: 2 Crows Brewing, Big Spruce Brewing, Bishop's Cellar, Mauzy Cidery, North Brewing, Port Rexton Brewing Co., Propeller Brewing, Quidi Vidi Brewery, Rackhouse Brewing Co, Serpent Brewing, Stillwell Beer Bar, Tanner & Co Brewing, Tatamagouche Brewing, The Stillwell Freehouse, TrailWay Brewing, Unfiltered Brewing, Willibald Farm Brewery. 1 comment

The heart of summer continues across the region, with time at the beach, lake, or local brewery patio being maximized while the weather cooperates. However you’re able to enjoy, we hope you do it with a local beer! Lots of new beers and a few events to tell you about this week, let’s get right to it!

If you’ve been following along at home, Bishop’s Cellar has been celebrating their 20th anniversary and now we’ve got their final beer collaboration to round out the trio. The first two were Cellar Slammer (with Tatamagouche) and Cellarbier (with Propeller) and this new release, Cellarbration is a dry-hopped Saison with a common thread from the previous releases. This collaboration with North Brewing, takes the primary dry-hop from each of the previous collars (Hallertau Blanc and Saphir) to dry-hop in equal parts complementing the aroma of the Saison. The grain bill features Pilsner malt from PEI and classic French Saison yeast grown in Guelph by Escarpment Labs. This one is 6% and is available today from Bishops, North, their online shops in cans. 

Newcomer Rackhouse Brewing Company has released their first lager to the Saint John River Valley area. Aptly named Lager #1, this 4.8% lager features 75% locally-grown and -malted Pilsner malt, and is also hopped with locally-grown Saaz for a bit of bite, complementing a citrus undertone. Future plans include barrel-aging a similar recipe, but it’s always great to compare before and after a barrel treatment. As with many of Rackhouse’s offerings, they can be found at their host Big Axe Brewery, as well as nearby Moonshine Creek and Picaroons Roundhouse.

Serpent Brewing in Spryfield has a trio of new beers out this week. Drama Llama is a 7.6% Double IPA, with notes of citrus, berry, and pine, thanks to the Citra and Simcoe used throughout. Think “New World” DIPA, as this is not super-bitter, and features a sweeter character. Cans are available out the door, as well as a small supply to enjoy on draught while checking out their new menu. Out yesterday at Serpent is Mango Mónica, a 6.2% Saison with mango, named in celebration of a dedicated partner to the brewery and family. Starting from a Saison base, hopped with Citra, and with mango added, it shows DNA from both sides of the family. Big on flavour, but not sweet, it does show some tropical and light esters and phenols from both the hops and fruit addition. Cans and draught of both are available now. And finally is today’s Father O’Keefe, a 9.0% Belgian Tripel with cherry. Showing its higher ABV with a touch of warming alcohol, it finished dry, and the cherries help to enhance the overall experience.

Up the North Shore, Tatamagouche Brewing continues to roll out new releases in its Intertidal IPA series, but is also sneaking in re-releases of previously popular editions. In that vein, returning today is Intertidal Sabro Session IPA, featuring a lower ABV of 3.5%. Per the name, this one uses Sabro hops, leading to its signature coconut notes, along with peach and other tropical fruit. It also uses the Hydra yeast strain from Escarpment Labs, known for leaving plenty of body in a small beer and creating the juicy character that has taken the IPA world by storm. Fresh off the canning line, check out the brewery and Tata’s online store to get your hands on some now. 

On the other end of the IPA spectrum, Unfiltered is releasing a new DIPA today, featuring the Bergamot hop. This 7.5% ABV single-hop DIPA shows notes of tropical fruit, pine, lemongrass and citrus, with a touch of dankness. The hops were grown and sourced from Quebec’s Duke 25 Hops.  In other Unfiltered news, you might want to circle Saturday, July 29 on your calendar, when the brewery will be celebrating its 8th anniversary with special releases, deals on pints, and the eminent Greg Nash on the grill outside their pub, Charm School. Keep an eye on their socials for more details and how to purchase advanced tickets for food. 

Out in Cape Breton, it has finally stopped raining and Big Spruce has two new releases ready for what is shaping up to be a stellar weekend. First up is A-Game a 4% session IPA. This one was developed in collaboration with the fine folks at A for Adventure, just in time for the party they’ll be hosting at next week’s Stan Rogers Folk Festival in Canso. Cans are available in Nyanza this weekend, with the official launch happening next week at the festival.  Also out this weekend is the returning Luft Schloss, a 5.5% ABV Helles Lager. The German-style lager features a trio of noble hops with Hallertau Perle, Hallertau Traditional, and Hallertau Callista. Look for floral and herbal notes from the hops, and a dry finish on the palette. Cans of Luft Schloss are available now at the brewery and through Big Spruce’s online store. 

Jumping over to Newfoundland, Quidi Vidi Brewery has a new release in its longstanding Sofa Sour series. Blackberry Rosemary Sofa Sour pours a vibrant purple colour with a pink creamy head. Expect notes of berries and rosemary to be balanced by a subtle tartness and a slightly sweet finish. Cans of this 5% ABV sour are available now at the Hop Shop in the Gut, with a drop of cans on its way to the NLC and corner stores. 

Last week, we distinctly remember saying “I could really go for a[n] Allagash White right now,” and look at what the local craft beer lords have delivered: Propeller White! Propeller’s White is a Belgian-style witbier brewed with wheat malt, oranges, and coriander and is smooth, refreshing and just what you’d expect in a full flavoured and smooth wit. At 4.8% and 30 IBU, this year’s release features wider distribution to our New Brunswick friends, as it should be in select ANBL locations over the coming weeks. This will also be at the private stores in Halifax, all of the Prop shops, select NSLCs, and online for Canada-wide shipping. 

Newfoundland’s Mauzy Cider has another new release this week, the latest from their 2022 season. Playing once again in the piquette space, Take Me Away saw orchard and feral pomace rehydrated and undergoing a week-long maceration process. After primary fermentation, a dosing of honey from Baccalieu Trail allowed it to naturally carbonate in the clear stubby bottles. At just 4%, this one is light and easy drinking, plenty of delicate notes of fresh apples and a touch of funk. Available at the usual Mauzy haunts, including Toslow, Banished (online and in-store), and better retailers on the Avalon. 

A couple of fun events coming up in NL and NS:

Big birthday and anniversary happiness to our Newfoundland friends as next weekend (July 22nd and 23rd) Port Rexton Brewing will be celebrating their 7th anniversary. They’re going to feature a special rotating tap that changes 7 times to feature 7 new beers for their anniversary. We’re highlighting this now to get it into your calendars and they will have more news on their special fruited IPA anniversary release in the coming days.  Check out the full lineup here and if you’re in the area, it is a must-visit event!

On the same weekend, but in Halifax, we’ve got a returning collaboration as the fine folks at Stillwell will be hosting Willibald again, a Farm Distillery and Brewery out of Ayr, Ontario (near Cambridge, just outside Kitchener-Waterloo). This is a two day event (A Weekend with Willibald!) with the first day being a full takeover at the Freehouse with Korean Fried Chicken. The second day will be hosted by the Beergarden on Spring Garden Road and willl feature seltzers with BBQ food pairings. The first day will feature 10 taps of beer, seltzer and cocktails and Stillwell HQ will also feature cans to drink and takeaway. Check the Instagram post here for the full details and drinks!

Another one for July 22 and staying in Halifax again, as 2 Crows Brewing and Studio East are teaming up with a food pop up in the 2 Crows taproom. A Beer and Bao event, Studio East will be bringing the sweet, purple milk buns and 2 Crows will be bringing the beer, with a special on-tap only brew for the event. This small batch sour will feature Ube (purple yam), ginger and sea salt, so you can double up your ube pleasure. This starts at noon on Saturday, July 22 and runs until the food is sold out!

Are you looking to begin or change up your craft brewing career? Want to help keep New Brunswick shelves stocked and taps flowing with the good stuff? If so, then TrailWay Brewing in Fredericton has a job opening just for you! They are hiring a Sales Manager to serve the province of New Brunswick, with ANBL locations,  licensees, and everywhere in between being the intended audience. Sales experience is a big plus, and check out this post for more information and how to apply.

Friday Wrap-Up for June 30th, 2023 – News from Little North, Propeller, Tatamagouche, Upstreet, Tire Shack, Annapolis Cider, Trailway, and More!!

Posted by acbbaaron on 2023-06-30
Posted in: Friday Wrap-Up. Tagged: 2 Crows Brewing, Annapolis Brewing Company, Annapolis Cider Company, Baccalieu Trail Brewing, Banished Brewing, Breton Brewing, Half Cut Brewing, Landwash Brewery, Little North Brewhouse, Microbrasserie Ateepic, Off Track Brewing, Propeller Brewing, Rough Waters Brewing, Serpent Brewing, Tatamagouche Brewing, Tire Shack Brewing, TrailWay Brewing, Unfiltered Brewing, Upstreet Craft Brewing. Leave a Comment

Happy Friday, and what we hope is the start of a long weekend for you all! For whatever reason you may be celebrating, or not, we’ve got plenty of new beers, and locations to enjoy them, for you this week. Remember to enjoy responsibly and look out for each other!

We’re happy to share news of another new brewery opening its doors in rural Newfoundland, this time in Baie Verte. Little North Brewhouse has been in development for many years, and unfortunately was delayed in part due to ACOA funding for breweries drying up in 2019, when there was thought to be too many breweries in Newfoundland. Ha! There have been five breweries open since then, and Little North makes brewery #22! Thankfully, the folks behind Little North have persevered, and while their taproom plans in Baie Verte are on hold for the time being, their first beer has hit the shelves of Central NLCs today. Short Straw is a 6.7% ABV New England IPA, bursting with notes of citrus and mango, in a hazy body. Look for it at the NLCs in Corner Brook, Grand-Falls Windsor, and Gander, and will be on the shelves at 410 Grocery in Baie Verte any minute now! We’ll have plenty more with the crew behind Little North in the coming weeks.

From one opening to another, the long-anticipated Bedford location of Propeller Brewing is opening tomorrow, July 1st! Located at 1225 Bedford Highway (at the base of Fourth Street), this purpose-built building is their first to sport a drive-thru window! While the taproom (with both indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a kitchen) is set to open in another few weeks, the Prop Shop is open for retail and drive-thru 12 PM – 12 AM Saturday, 12 – 10 PM Sunday, and retail 12 – 10 PM & drive-thru 4 – 10 PM Monday. (BTW, all of the PropShops are open from noon until 8 or later all weekend long, so you don’t have to worry about running out of great local beer to fuel your long weekend celebrations) And if Bedford is your home base, or you don’t mind commuting, they are hiring for the retail and kitchen now, email noah@drinkpropeller.ca today to apply/learn more! Of course, we’ll keep you in the loop when the taproom and kitchen are set to open.

There’s lots happening on the North Shore this week with a few new beers from Tatamagouche Brewing. A few weeks ago we told you about their Twin Shores Collaboration Pale Ale with Propeller, but what we didn’t tell you is that they’ve also been letting some Brettanomyces work away on another pale ale, which is out now. Kudos Brett Pale Ale features the New Zealand hop Nectaron, with the fermentation and hop additions ledding to notes of grapefruit and stone fruit. Cans of the 4.6% ABV pale ale are available now through both breweries. In other Tata news, keep an eye out for a barrel aged version of their Irish Stout, Hierlihy. This version was aged for 10 months in third-use cognac barrels that saw the introduction of a Brett Lambicus strain during their prior use. The aging process has allowed the beer’s malt character to come through the forefront, which combined with the subtle brett character, is giving some fruity and vinous notes. This one won’t be packaged, so keep an eye out for kegs and casks at the brewery and better beer bars in the province. 

Across the Northumberland, Upstreet is releasing the 8th version of their annual De Novo series, which coincides with their anniversary. De Novo 8 is a big one, a 10% Triple IPA coming in at 40 IBUs. Starting with a grain bill of 2-row, flaked and crystal wheat, flaked oats, and Golden Naked Oats, it then saw big additions of Trident, Sabro, Samba and NHZ-107 hops. Expect a creamy and luscious drinking experience, with notes of stone fruit, pineapple, citrus and lightly toasted marshmallow. Canning is happening today (Friday) and as of publication time, they’re on track to release cans at the taproom and the downtown Craft Beer Corner later today. Happy 8 years to Upstreet from your friends at ACBB!

Is there anything that screams Atlantic Canada summer more than a lobster boil and beer? Well, maybe high gas prices, but we digress. In their tribute to New Brunswick summers, Moncton’s Tire Shack Brewery has released Lobster Boil Gose. 50 kg of lobsters were added to the boil on brewday, to go along with malt and hops that were all grown within the province. The resulting salty and sour wheat beer is available now in cans and on tap at the brewery. 

For something different, let’s head to Wolfville where Annapolis Cider is releasing Imperial Gimlet, the latest in their Something Different series. The inspiration for this one comes from one of the cidery’s favourite cocktails, the French Gimlet, a stiff cocktail featuring gin, elderflower liquor and lime juice. The cider featuring two fermentations, additions of lime juice, hops and elderflower, leading to a floral aroma, notes of berry and a bit of acidity. It also packs a punch at 9.1%, but decidedly less punch than an actual gimlet. And because the folks at Annapolis Cider are mighty swell people, $0.50 from each purchase will be donated to the Canadian Red Cross fund supporting Nova Scotia’s recovery from the recent wildfires. 

Back in New Brunswick, Trailway is releasing the latest in its Land Series, with Marsh Land Tripel. Per the style, this is a bigger beer, coming in at 9% ABV. Expect some biscuity malt notes, with aromatics of apricot and banana from the Belgian yeast, and a grassy bitterness from the hops. Cans are out now at the Fredericton and Saint John taprooms. 

2 Crows Brewing has 2 Beers Releasing today, in decidedly distinct styles. Brewed during this month’s CBAC, the Crows invited folks from Calgary’s The Establishment to play around in the brewery. Fashionable People is a fuzzy and hazy IPA, brewed with flaked oats and wheat on top of the base of pilsner malt, along with some chit malt too. The hopping began in the mash with Cascade, and continued in the boil with Columbus, before post-boil hopping with the quartet of classic and new hops Idaho 7, Centennial, Solero, and HBC 1019. Fermenting with Verdant yeast also assisted in keeping the beer hazy and juicy. Mango, citrus, passion fruit will dance on your tongue, and you could even grab a couple to enjoy at Ashtray Rock! Watch out, this was a small batch, so act quickly to avoid disappointment.

Also from 2 Crows is the latest in their Jamboree sour series: Watermelon + Kiwi. Sticking to a base of pilsner and wheat malts, along with help from flaked wheat and flaked oats, JW+K was soured with Lactobacillus plantarum before fermentation with Escarpment Labs’ Ebbegarden Kveik yeast. After that was complete, tons (well, kilos) of kiwi and watermelon purees were added to the beer during conditioning, and it was allowed to finish carbonating naturally. You can find Jamboree: Watermelon + Kiwi on tap and in cans at the brewery now, with cans hitting the shelves of the provincial liquor corporation later in July.

Sydney’s Breton Brewing is celebrating eight years of beer with a new seasonal release, Mango IPA. A hazy beer packed with plenty of Citra and Amarillo hops for a big citrus punch, it also features (duh) mango to kick the juiciness up a big notch. Coming in at 6.5% ABV, you’ll find it pouring in the taproom for pints and fills as well as in cans to go (and do remember, they ship province-wide). If you’re in the area, definitely consider stopping by tomorrow for a combination Canada Day and Breton Birthday celebration with live music, deals on Island Time Lager, and Scots Dogs on site with food.

In Bay Roberts, NL, Baccalieu Trail Brewing also has a fruited beer out this week, one they put together with Rough Waters Brewing way across the island in Deer Lake. PLURNT is listed as a “late-hopped imperial pineapple sour” which certainly has some connotations. Though not an IPA, this one saw some late additions of El Dorado, which are known for providing a tropical punch, plus some other hop varieties they’re electing to keep under wraps for now, but which provide flavors and aromas that marry well with the pineapple purée that the beer was conditioned on for four days before packaging. On the bigger side for a sour, hence the “imperial” category, it landed at 6.8% ABV. Look for this one already on tap in the Baccalieu Trail taproom for pints and fills, and the cans will hit the shelves tomorrow at BT’s regular retailers just in time for your Canada Day celebrations. As for the name, don’t ask us, we have no idea either!

Continuing their Make/shift series of collaborations with local businesses, this week Landwash Brewery has released Verafin Session IPA. Taking cues and inspiration from the group from Verafin who came into the brewery earlier this month, this 4.5% ABV hoppy little thing features Cascade in the mash and early fermentation, with two New Zealand hops, Motueka and Rakau, after that. Cans and draught are available at the brewery in Mount Pearl now, with cans at their regular retailers shortly too!

Microbrasserie Ateepic, located at the Edmundston Golf Course, has a new beer on tap today, promising to be a refreshing drink for after (or before/instead of) your round of golf. Coup Sûr is a 4.5% Gose, that salty and sour style from Germany that has migrated to North America in the last decade. Ateepic’s take on it features both cucumber and lime, to enhance the refreshment and satisfying character. Find it on tap at the brewery this weekend!

We’ve got one brewery doing some hiring this week:

Up in Fredericton, NB, Half Cut Brewing is hiring for a couple of available slots, one in the brewery, the other in the taproom. On the production side, they’re looking for a Production Assistant to help with all aspects of the brewing process, from brewing, to packaging, to general labour, to cleaning (especially the cleaning, we expect). And in the taproom, they’re looking for a FT or PT bartender. Both positions are for ages 19+. To apply, you can lob a resume at info@halfcut.ca or drop by the brewery during business hours for a chat.

Lastly, a few quick hits before you get on with your Canada Day weekend!

Annapolis Brewing has brought back their Duck Slayer Czech Amber Lager this week. Giving you a bit of a maltier option for the summer while still being crisp and refreshing, it features classic Saaz hops for a bit of balancing spiciness. Super crushable at 4.7% and 27 IBU, it’s available now at the brewery.

Bedford’s Off Track Brewing set out to make perfect summer brew and landed on Basinview Lager, a 4.2% ABV American Lager. Pale yellow, crisp, and ultra crushable, it’ll pair well with post-softball aches and pains.

Halifax’s Unfiltered has their classic summer sour, Sour Motherfucker back today for those folks who aren’t into hops. Not a little beer by any means, it’s 6.5% with plenty of fruity and refreshing tart cherry character and, as a bonus for those whose dietary needs warrant it, this year’s version is also gluten reduced!

A sneaky surprise release from Serpent Brewing on the weekend is still around, but definitely won’t last til Monday. Summer Fling is a 6.6% ABV Saison, to which they have added citron, ginger, and honey, for a citrus and lightly spicy saison fit for some summer days and nights. As there is only a single keg available, we suggest heading your way there today, and while you’re at it, sample their new food menu too!

Banished Brewing in Paradise has brought back their Makes Sense Hazy IPA this week, absolutely chock-full of hops, giving a OJ vibes thanks to the Citra, Nelson, and Solero added throughout the process. Look for it on tap and in cans at the brewery, hitting local retail shelves in the next few days.