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Friday Wrap-Up for April 21, 2023 – News from Propeller, Garrison, Landwash, Good Robot, Dildo, Horton Ridge, Baccalieu Trail, Timber Ship, Chain Yard, Long Bay, and lots more!

Posted by acbbchris on 2023-04-21
Posted in: Friday Wrap-Up. Tagged: Baccalieu Trail Brewing, Banished Brewing, Bar Brewdock, Chain Yard Cider, CODA Ramen, Dildo Brewing, Garrison Brewing, Godspeed Brewery, Good Robot Brewing, Hell Bay Brewing, Heritage Brewing, Horton Ridge Malt & Grain, Landwash Brewery, Long Bay Brewery, Propeller Brewing, Saltscapes Expo, Sober Island Brewing, Tatamagouche Brewing, The Stillwell Freehouse, Timber Ship Brewing, TrailWay Brewing. Leave a Comment

Hello Beer, Cider, and Mead fans! We hope you’ve had a great week and are able to look forward to a restful weekend. For those in Nova Scotia, may we give you some insider information that this weekend’s Saltscapes Expo may be the least expensive booze-fest going, as your ticket inside will allow you access to dozens of Maritime producers pouring samples of their wares. Just watch out, you may end up buying a hot tub or booking a ticket to Saint-Pierre et Miquelon while there!

One of the attendees at Saltscapes will be Propeller Brewing, who will no doubt be featuring their brand new fruited lagered ale. Tango is a tropical twist on the Kölsch style from Cologne, fermented as an ale, but conditioned cool, a.k.a. lagered, to ensure a crisp finish. Dialing up this beer even further is the addition of tangerine and pineapple extract, along with even more tangerine goodness via concentrate. The result is a juicy and citrus fruit-forward 4.8% beer that remains light-bodied and thirst quenching. Available in cans and on tap at Propeller’s three locations. And soon to be Four locations, as construction at their new taproom and retail spot on the Bedford Highway continues at breakneck speed!

Fellow “Class of ‘97” brewery Garrison Brewing has brought back a super-popular fruited sour in the hopes of ushering summer in just a little bit early. Mango Dragon Fruit Sour pretty much lays it out in the name, but let’s get you a bit more info…starting from a light base of Pilsner and wheat malts, after the souring and fermentation, mango and dragonfruit flavours were added, along with hibiscus, for a vibrant colour, to give you a fruit-salad-worthy experience of both light acidity and a sweeter finish. Cans of this 5.0% creation are available at their shops, the private stores in town and at the airport, and coming soon to the NSLC.

A pair of new releases from Mount Pearl’s Landwash this week, starting with the release of their International Women’s Day beer, Aunt Nance. Brewed on March 8th with the many women of Landwash, this 6.0% sour IPA was hopped with Cashmere, Monroe, and Barbe Rouge. Named after Nancy Riche, a social activist and labour organizer from Newfoundland, who was recognized as an Officer of the Order of Canada, and an all-around fighter for the under-heard and -represented. Proceeds from the beer are going towards local organizations that help women and marginalized people fight barriers to success, as Aunt Nance would want. Cans and draught available now!

A two-fer from Landwash as they have another new release named after another famous Newfoundland resident, Titus the Bear. Currently residing in the Durrell Museum in Twilingate, where Head Brewer Alex hails from, who also designed the beer recipe. This Pale Ale is chock-full of Citra and Columbus for major pine, citrus, and even a bit of dank character (4/20 was yesterday!) from terpenes. Again, grab cans and draught from the brewery, and at better beer shops in the area.

Miramichi’s Timber Ship Brewing has plenty of news for us today, so let’s get right to it! First up is a brand new beer release, Sister Marie Raspberry Sour. This 4.3% sour is bright red and filled to the brim with flavour from the eponymous fruit, all on a lively tart and refreshing base. Named after Sister Marie Inconnue, who arrived at French Fort Cove to help those displaced during the Acadian Expulsion. Caring for those ill and wounded, Sister Marie was also trusted with families’ valuables, hiding them from the British. While she was ultimately caught and interrogated to give up the details, she never did, and was unfortunately murdered by beheading. It is thought that she still roams French Fort Cove in search of her head. Wherever the truth of that lies, we can tell you that her beer is available at Timber Ship’s location at 2374 King George Highway, Unit 2 (around back, aka Below Deck) now!

And big news for fans of Timber Ship is that they have recently upscaled from their original brewkit to a larger 3.5 BBL (400 litre) Blichmann Engineering system, allowing them to more than double their capacity. Look to their social media as they post updates on their first brew session (maybe even today!), as well as the build-out of a patio to soak up the sun this summer. They will be extending their hours of operation too, of course, with those coming together in May!

Continuing their Category line of IPAs, Good Robot has released Category 6 IPA this week. Think traditional American IPA, slightly hazy, and full of citrus, melon, and peach. Leaning on Idaho 7, Amarillo, and Topaz hops to do the heavy lifting in this 6.0% ABV beer, the bitterness helps to cleanse the palate, so try pairing it with spicy food or the BBQ. Keep your eyes peeled here for the details on Category 7 coming next week, completing the Perfect Storm 4-Pack!

Back to Newfoundland for a pair of Dildo releases. First up is Tropical Smoothie Sour, a 4.3% sour beer absolutely crammed full of mango, pineapple, and passion fruit purees. It also saw the addition of homemade marshmallow fluff to give it a bit of sweetness and body. Closer to drinking a fruit smoothie than beer, but we’re here for it! Grab it on tap at their spot on Front Rd in Dildo, as their St. John’s location is closed for a bit of renovation. And keep your eyes open for their new Hoppy Mixed Pack, which includes the Tie One On WC IPA, 1933 New England IPA, as well as a couple more!

Horton Ridge is known for their Malt house, and their own beers reflect that… Except when Al is out of town, then Connor and Steve can brew whatever the heck they want! Hence the birth of Al’s Away IPA. The latest version of this IPA is out now, and you can even keep tabs on Al and Jan as they enjoy Barcelona, on the Al’s Away IG page. Cheers to still having fun in the brewhouse (and away from it)!

Baccalieu Trail Brewing in Bay Roberts has a new low ABV beer on the taps and in cans today, perfect for refueling at the end of a morning of surfing or hitting the trails. Hang Tight is a 3.5% ABV hazy Session Pale Ale, inspired by the local surfing community. Featuring Mosaic, Idaho 7, Simcoe, and Sultana hops used late in the kettle, pineapple and citrus are the name of the game as you grab the next wave before the sunset. Available in cans at Marie’s and the other private shops on the Avalon.

Halifax’s Chain Yard Urban Cidery has a new cider on tap and in cans this week. Using a blend of cider apples from the Annapolis Valley, blended with a separately-fermented Dolgo crabapple, and allowed to condition for twelve months before packaging. Plenty of ripe apple aromatics meld with some floral notes, on a medium tannin base. Cans of this 6.3% cider can be purchased directly from their Agricola Street taproom today!

Finally, in Rothesay, Long Bay is releasing a hybrid beer, using a lager yeast, fermented at warmer temperatures traditionally used for ale yeasts. This beer then went back to the lager route with an extended cold conditioning, before seeing a generous dry-hop of a new experimental hop from Washington State’s Yakima Valley. The best part of all of this is that the final beer comes in a tiny 3% ABV package, meaning you can easily enjoy more than one, and all of the mango, guava and citrus notes from that dry-hop. Mild Sedation is available now at ANBL stores in the Saint John area, and should see distribution across the province later next week. 

Get out for a hike or bike ride this weekend, and bring some local craft beer along. If you’re looking for events, here are a few for ya!

Sober Island in Sheet Harbour is celebrating their 7th Anniversary tomorrow, April 22nd, with live music, a pizza truck, and plenty of great beer a-flowing! Located right on Highway 7, their taproom will be hopping from noon onward, and they are welcoming Dominic’s Cucina to set up in their lot to sling some freshly-made pies from 1:30 until 6:30 (or until sold out). Also at the brewery is Andre Pettipas, who will be playing 2 – 5 PM. Congratulations to Becky and the whole SIBC crew!

A reminder about the Godpseed & CODA Ramen takeover at the Stilly Freehouse event this Sunday, April 23rd. While the Ramen Reservations from 5PM are sold out (sorry!), those who are looking primarily for beer satisfaction can rejoice that the Freehouse will still be opening at noon and pouring draught and cans from Godspeed. And before the kitchen transforms into a boiling ramen factory, you can enjoy your faves from their regular menu too. Also, it’s Cellar Sunday, with 25% off bottles from the cellar. Gather a group to try a few of the cool lambics or stouts from away, or do your own vertical of some local beers. We may even see you there!

And next weekend, you’re going to want to be on East Duck to celebrate the Second (or is it Third?) Anniversary of Bar Brewdock. They are pulling out all of the stops for this April 29 event, as they have brought in great beer, wine, and cider from across the province and Canada, as well as lambics from Belgium, for an evening of great cheer. This is a one-price, drinks included, ticketed event, so be sure to grab yours before they are sold out!

We’ve got a few job postings today, both on the mainland and Newfoundland, so if you’re looking, hopefully something tickles your fancy!

Banished Brewing is looking to hire an Assistant Brewer to help out Head Brewer Duncan. You’ll be involved in all aspects of the beer production, including cleaning, packaging, cleaning, transferring, cleaning, brewing, and cleaning. Sounds like a great gig! You could even become a famous Instagram Star! Reach out to Banished via the interwebs, or better yet, pop by the brewery/taproom on Maverick Place this weekend to learn more and submit your resume.

Hell Bay Brewing in Liverpool has recently celebrated their 12th Anniversary (Congratulations!), and they are looking for someone to join their ranks for the summer. If you’re interested in both the Front- and Back-of-House life in a brewery, this may be just the job for you: the successful candidate will be working as a Server and working retail, assisting on packaging days during the canning, labeling, as well as filling and cleaning kegs. Reach out via email to learn more!

Just down the road in Yarmouth, Heritage Brewing is also looking to add to their team, with two positions currently open. They are looking for a versatile person to work in the brewery, as well as a delivery driver and to attend events around the province. They are also looking to add to their taproom/retail crew, to take on those responsibilities. Drop by the brewery at 250 Main Street to submit your resume.

A few more quick hits before we dismiss you for the week!

Speaking of Banished above, they have released a fresh and ever-so-slightly tweaked Space Puffling this week. Part of their Puffin New England IPA branding, this is just 4.0% ABV, but punches well above its weight in flavour and aroma, this one is on tap and in cans at their shop and at better spots around the city. Banished has also decided to release one of their brewhouse projects to the rest of us… Sparkling Water is something the folks have been enjoying for a while whilst working, taking their local Paradise water, double-filtering it, and adding some salts and a touch of acid, before carbing it up. Think of it as Newfoundland mineral water! No extra flavouring added to the current batch, but they are definitely considering that in the future.

Tatamagouche has brought back the Kitty Clyde Double IPA. At 7.8% ABV, this Double IPA is light on bitterness, but full of citrus, peach, and passion fruit from Vic Secret and Galaxy. Draught and cans from Tata’s taproom, online shop, and private stores soon.

Fredericton’s Trailway has brought back their Urban Sabrero, a 6.0% Double Dry Hopped IPA. As the name implies, this is made exclusively with Sabro hops, so think pina colada in a can! On draught and in cans at your usual haunts.

We’ve kept you long enough, Dear Reader, so please go out and enjoy your beer!

Friday Wrap-Up for March 24, 2023 – News from New Scotland, Bannerman, Banished, Backstage, Propeller, 2 Crows, Rough Waters, Village Green, Tusket Falls, and much more!

Posted by acbbchris on 2023-03-24
Posted in: Friday Wrap-Up. Tagged: 2 Crows Brewing, Baccalieu Trail Brewing, Backstage Brewing, Banished Brewing, Bannerman Brewing, Craft Brewers Association of Nova Scotia, Gahan Atlantic Home Brew Challenge, Iron Rock Brewing Co., Modern Brewer's Village Green, New Scotland Brewing, North Brewing, Propeller Brewing, Rough Waters Brewing, Tanner & Co Brewing, Tatamagouche Brewing, TrailWay Brewing, Tusket Falls Brewing. Leave a Comment

Another big week for beer releases, with more than a dozen from all four Atlantic provinces gracing our pages; it’s always nice when we can share a little bit of beer love for all of our readers. And remember, for our out-of-region folks, many breweries are still offering Canada-wide shipping, so don’t be shy about clicking through on brewery links to see what they’re offering! Now that we’ve exited the season of deep freezes (fingers crossed), breweries are more inclined to send beer out.

Let’s kick off the week with an overwhelming number of stouts hitting the taps in Downtown Dartmouth. New Scotland Brewing’s Brew Crew has been working overtime the last few months to put together a six-pack of new beers to celebrate “Darkside Days”. On tap tomorrow, you’ll see the return of McCoy’s Contraband, their 8.5% Foreign Export/Tropical Stout. Plenty of malt in here to enhance flavour and body, as was traditional to survive the long voyage from the UK to the Caribbean (just as pertinent now to survive the Halifax-Dartmouth crossings), think molasses and fruitcake, with a hint of sweetness too. While it is on tap now, you’ll be able to enjoy it in cans from the brewery in early April.

Joining McCoy’s are mixed-six of other stouts, in a wide array of flavour alcohol levels. Let’s start with Darkside Sunrise, a 5.2% stout brewed with whole bean coffee (of the “Breakfast Blend” variety), giving major coldbrew vibes with a hint of sweetness complementing the roast from the beans. Continuing the theme is Spread the News, a 5.5% Peanut Butter Stout, the perfect pairing to your morning toast and jam. Hints of dark fruit with a smooth head, and, of course, a nutty finish. It’s time for dessert with Darkside Forest Cake! A 5.5% chocolate cherry stout, blending the best of the base chocolatey stout with a bright fruit character from the cherry addition, it boasts a touch of sweetness and then finishes with tart cherries. 

Continuing your day in this overwrought analogy, let’s gather ‘round the fire for the Gimme Gimme s’more stout. Notes of honey and graham cracker, plus marshmallow vibes, on top of the chocolate and dark fruit from the base beer and a slightly warming 6.5% ABV from this beauty. And finally, coming in from the fire and lounging around the sitting room, it’s time to enjoy a pair of boozier offerings. O Sailor is just 5.5% ABV, but features notes of spiced rum with a touch of vanilla, herbs and spices, plus some black currant too, although this is most apparent on the aroma, rather than any harshness on the palate. Rounding out the group is Anastasia Bluegrass, a Bourbon Wood-aged Russian Imperial Stout. Again shining through in the aroma with vanilla and whiskey being the prominent notes, but not overwhelming the hefty base Imperial Stout, this one is definitely a “sipper” at 9.5% ABV. All six of the brews will debut Saturday at open, and we do not expect them to last the whole weekend, so make trails to New Scotland to avoid disappointment!

St. John’s Bannerman Brewing has a new beer on tap, teasing us with the warmer weather that’s just around the corner (right??). Four-Way Tie is a 5.5% pale ale, dry-hopped with plenty of El Dorado for big notes of pineapple and citrus on the nose and tongue. The grain bill contains a fair amount of both malted and flaked Oats, giving the beer a full body and mouthfeel without significant residual sweetness. Find it, and everything here, on tap and to go in cans at their East Duck location, and coming to local beer stores soon.

Nearby in Paradise, Banished Brewing has a new release that’s all about that feeling at the end of a long workday… Clockin’ Out is a 5.2% Red Ale, perfect for grabbing as you get back home after a day in the mill or on the front lines of retail. Their top-requested style since they opened, they are delivering what the people have demanded! With a touch of roasted barley in the grist to complement the other specialty malts, the German and UK hops provide some light floral and herbal notes on the nose. As always, the cans feature great artwork by Paul George Hammond, with some familiar and new cartoon animals to keep you company as you drown your Sunday Scaries. Available now on Maverick Place, and at the usual retailer spots real soon!

Hey all you Fortunate Sons and Daughters, Look Out Your Back Door, and ask yourself, “Have You Ever Seen The Rain” worse than last night? Well, Backstage Brewing in Stellarton is sure to cancel out any Bad Moon Rising, and make you feel like a Proud Mary (or Marty) with their latest release, the Creedence Coconut Revival IPA. This 5.9% ABV IPA features a bale-full of Azacca, Citra, and Mosaic, with a late addition of coconut right in the boil. Run Through the Jungle, drive through Cotton Fields, and head Down on the Corner to Backstage to grab this beer on tap and in growlers (Hey) Tonight.

Propeller Brewing has been embracing new styles, ingredients, and techniques since their inception in 1996, and their latest release embraces all three! Tundra is a 6.1% ABV Cold IPA, the newish style that was borne out of a bit of a rejection of the super-hazy presentation and full mouthfeel of NEIPA. Using a light grain bill, and fermenting cooler (but not at lager temp), the body is crisp and refreshing. Being an IPA, hops have to be the star of the show and they certainly are here, with the new HBC 1019 hop being used. Notes of Valencia oranges, candied peaches, and honeydew are first and foremost on the nose and palate.On tap and in cans at all Prop Shops now, this beer will also be at some of the private stores soon.

Lots of news from Brunswick Street’s 2 Crows Brewing this week. First up is a remix on the much-loved Jamboree fruited sour, with this version featuring mango, coconut, and vanilla. Starting from the same base of local Pils and wheat malts, in addition to flaked wheat and oats, the beer was first soured with Lacto Plantarum, and then fermented with Escarpment’s Ebbegarden Kveik yeast strain. Post-ferm, a load of mango purée (to the tune of 100 grams per litre!), toasted coconut, and whole vanilla beans were added while it finished conditioning and carbonating. The result is tart, fruity, tropical, and ready for you today! In cans and on tap now, and will be on their slushie machine tomorrow for the full fruit smoothie experience! Sandos will be popping up at noon, with live music in the brewery space starting at 7 PM. More info here.

And in a whole new line for the Dual Corvids is SANS, a line of non-alcoholic beers. They’re dialling in their no-ABV process with two releases this week: the first is Raspberry Sour, which leverages their souring and fruiting experience while producing Jamboree, but on a non-alcoholic base. Lots of raspberry in the glass, for a jammy and tart bevvy. Also now gracing the shelves is Hoppy, a light, fresh, and tropical IPA-kinda non-beer, with lots of Galaxy hops added late in the process to shine through. These are both small test batches, available on tap only, so be sure to pop by soon to test them out and report back to 2 Crows on what you think!

Rough Waters Brewing in Deer Lake has a new beer, named in honour of their Red Heeler Ella, who of course graces the beer’s label. Rascal is a 7.8% Double IPA, packed to the brim with Eclipse and Lotus hops, lending major citrus and pine to the flavour and aroma. Cans are available on the West coast, as well as at their regular distro spots on the Avalon, so head out on an adventure to grab them!

Cornwall, PEI’s Village Green has a new beer on tap this weekend for pints and growler fills, in the perfect “I can drink a couple, yet it has plenty of flavour” category. Polite Pale is a 4.8% pale ale brewed with a blend of English, German, and American hops for a truly complex aroma and flavour. Added to that was a warm ferment of English yeast to express some fruity esters on the nose as well. Pop by tomorrow evening at 7 PM, and you can even try your hand at The Simpsons trivia!

Tusket Falls Brewing has a new beer on tap and in cans this week, available at both their brewery in Tusket and their Halifax Beer Project spot on Gottingen. Differently Wired is a 6.5% Raspberry Sour, fermented using their house sour blend of bacteria, before a hefty dose of Citra and Amarillo was added to complement the vanilla beans, lactose, and the eponymous fruit brought this beauty to fruition (ha!). It features a smooth mouthfeel with a bit of sweetness to balance the acidity from the bacteria and fruit. Head out and grab some today!

Another fruited sour is out in the wild this week, albeit 1,500 km from Tusket, Nova Scotia… Baccalieu Trail Brewing in Bay Roberts, NL is embracing the American Southwest with the release of Cactus Crush. Using Prickly Pear puree, you can enjoy all the flavour of that fruit, without having to pull small needles out of your lips (ask us how we know!). The fruit imparts a lovely pink hue to the beer, and shines through flavour-wise with notes of kiwi, melon, and watermelon, all in a tidy 4.2% ABV package. Available on tap at the brewery now, with cans to go as well at NLC, Urban Market, and Maries in St. John’s today!

Not to be outdone by Backstage and 2 Crows, North Brewing also has a beer this week that features coconut (seems to us some brewers may have been visiting, or at least dreaming of, warmer climes over March break). But there’s more to it than that! Member of the North brewteam Alex Wong was inspired during a trip to Singapore to make Shiok Cream Ale, a cream ale made with coconut and pandan. Pronounced “she-oak” the term is slang for “very tasty” or “delicious” which is what Alex hopes you’ll say about this beer. A tribute to the Singaporean/Malaysian breakfast treat kaya, which is an egg-based custard spread that also features coconut and pandan, this beer aims to be a little sweet but still crushable. Look for a prominent coconut aroma which follows through to the palate along with lemon, nuttiness, and an earthy citrus. Somewhat hazy in appearance, with a slightly-creamy medium body, there’s a light acid balance and a higher-than-usual carbonation as well. This was a pilot batch so it’s limited in quantity and only available on tap at the North taprooms in Cole Harbour and Timberlea.

Fredericton’s Trailway is reminding everyone that they’re not just all about the hops this week with a new batch of Ramifications, their Helles lager. Intended as an all-day easy drinker, you can safely expect a clean flavor profile, round and soft, with some malt sweetness and minimal bitterness in a crushable 5% ABV package. You’ll find this one available at the brewery in Fredericton and in Saint John at the recently opened Union House, as well as in cans to go.

Bucking the recent trend away from mixed fermentation beers are our pals at Tatamagouche Brewing. Trusting their customers will appreciate a well-made example, they’ve brought a second iteration of Glad Alchemy, a mixed ferm pale ale. Described as, “vibrant and bursting with funky flavors,” it is a showcase of the fruity and funky character that can be derived from hops when driven by fermentation with wild yeasts and bacteria. Expect a light and sparkly mouthfeel, a big pop of pink grapefruit, passion fruit, and pineapple, and a bit of vanilla on the finish. This one was conditioned for eight months in neutral oak barrels which no doubt has added a touch of tannins to the mix as well. You can get your hands on this 5.5% beauty in cans at the brewery, and we expect maybe a couple of kegs will make it around the region, but you can also order it online. And to make that even more attractive, Tata is doing free Canada-wide shipping this weekend (March 24 – 26th)!! Just use the code MARCHFREESHIP at checkout.

Rounding out the release news this week we travel to possibly the most remote brewery in our region, Iron Rock in Labrador City. A revised version of the beer they made for Iron Fest 2022, it’s a 3.7% ABV golden-hued ale, a crushable brew that can be enjoyed all afternoon long and into the evening. It’s currently only on tap at the brewery right now, but they’re planning a bigger batch so they’ve got more to share. This one will also be the beer of record at Iron Fest 2023 in August, when Luce Ends, who won the Battle of the Bands event where this beer was released last week, kick off the concert portion of the proceedings.

There’s a big NS beer event on the horizon along with news of a region-wide event that finished up last weekend:

Big congratulations to the winners of last weekend’s 4th Annual Atlantic Home Brew Challenge, by Gahan House. With more than two dozen entries from across the four Atlantic provinces, Al MacLeod reigned supreme with his Herr Dustig German Pils. Al will be brewing a stepped-up version of his brew with Matt at the Saint John Gahan Pub location later this year. Taking First Place in the Altbier category was Ben Hussey with his Atlantic Alt, who also scored some cash for his homebrew. Other successful breweries taking home some dough are Andre Reichel, Robert Schnarr, and Patrick Hogan. Congratulations to Al and everyone who took place, we hear the judging was tight, as the quality of homebrewing continues to elevate across the region!

We’ve got the first beer show of Spring coming up next weekend, with the Craft Brewers Association of Nova Scotia kicking off NS Craft Beer Month with the Together We Brew Festival April 1. Taking place at Pavilion 22 on Halifax’s waterfront, it will see 40 breweries from across the province together again in one place. This is your best chance to do a “tour de province” under one roof, before you plan your beery travels this summer! There are two sessions happening next Saturday, either 2 – 4:30 PM (VIP can enter at 1 PM) session to kick off your evening, or 7 – 9:30 PM (VIP @ 6 PM) to set your night into high gear. Tickets are available here and your ticket price now includes all samples (no individual drink tickets needed anymore!), and for those interested in volunteering before, during, or after the festival, check out the options and sign up here. More details are available here, should you like to review their safety protocols.

Looking to get into the beer business? Breweries are expanding their workforce as they prepare for fast-approaching busy season!
Chester Basin’s Tanner & Co is preparing for a busy summer by hiring for a seasonal full-time Brewery Production and Cellar Assistant. While no previous brewery experience is necessary, an interest in the field and hard working ethic are going to be key to your success. Could be the perfect job for someone looking to get in the Beer Biz on the South Shore! Check out the full job listing and how to apply here!

Friday Wrap-Up for February 17, 2023 – News from Lone Oak, Propeller, North, Banished, Baccalieu Trail, Big Spruce, Tusket Falls, Half Cut, Village Green, and much more!

Posted by acbbdamian on 2023-02-17
Posted in: Friday Wrap-Up. Tagged: Baccalieu Trail Brewing, Banished Brewing, Bannerman Brewing, Big Spruce Brewing, Bishop's Cellar, Dieu du Ciel, Half Cut Brewing, Lone Oak Brewing, Modern Brewer's Village Green, North Brewing, Péché Day, Propeller Brewing, Serpent Brewing, Stillwell Beer Bar, Tide & Boar Gastropub, Tusket Falls Brewing. Leave a Comment

Happy mid-February! Not surprisingly, we’re in the midst of some wild weather swings, with dumps of snow followed by double-digit sunny days, leading into some nasty freezing rain type of thing. Don’t let the weather get you down, we’ll soon be free of the frozen stuff and carrying an umbrella full time (no thanks, says this writer!). Enough pitter patter, let’s get to it!

Big news from Prince Edward Island to lead off this week. As the province kicks off hosting duties for the 2023 Canada Games (running tomorrow until March 5), there’s lots of recent and coming-soon news from The Official Beer Sponsor of the Games, Lone Oak! Let’s get you caught up with two new special beer releases first… Homestead is the first beer made on PEI from all Island ingredients. Starting with a mash full of Pilsner and Oats from Island Malt House, the wort was then hopped with plenty of Ultra hops grown by Island Hop Company of Mount Albion. Once chilled, the fermentation took place using a wild yeast isolated from wild Blackberries on co-owner and Head Brewer Spencer Gallant’s family’s farm. Definitely a first for the province! Homestead is 5.0%, dry, floral, and features a moderate bitterness in the 355mL can. Available only at their Brewery, and Milky Way Brewpub and Cold Beer Store locations.

Also brand new is Biere D’Amis, the Beer of Friends! Brewed in collaboration with their pals at Tatamagouche and 2 Crows, this French Pilsner features a base of French-grown Pils malt, and hopped with Noble-like Aramis and Strisselspalt (aussi de France), lending a solid bitterness and floral character to the beer. At 4.9% ABV and 35 IBU, these short cans are a nice light beer when you’re looking for a bit “more” from a Pils. Better act fast, as Biere D’Amis, like Homestead, was a small batch, and only available at their locations on tap and in cans.

And in important coming soon news, Lone Oak has announced the second of two new locations opening in 2023. We already shared news of Lone Oak Beer Garden, set to open in June in Avonlea Village in Cavendish. A massive beer garden and patio location, complemented by some bar seating inside. A full kitchen will serve those who stay a while, with a retail spot available to those who are just passing through. And opening ahead of it in May is Lone Oak Fox Meadow. As the name implies, it will be at the Fox Meadow Golf Course in Stratford, and will feature a full-service restaurant, as well as an Event Centre. And even better, it will be open year-round! Congrats to Spencer, Jared, and Dillon, and the whole Lone Oak team on the upcoming expansion!

Halifax’s Propeller Brewing opened their Quinpool location in July 2020, which features a full retail location, taproom with seating for 40, as well as a small brewhouse that is used occasionally for experimental brews. The latest release from that kit is Smoked Wheat Ale, based on the Polish Grodziskie style (or Gratzer in German parlance). Using oak-smoked wheat as the only grain, one would think you’d be burping up clouds of smoke after imbibing, but there’s something about the refined smoke level and light kilning that offers a seriously refreshing character in a highly carbonated 3.6% beer. In fact, it is commonly referred to as “Polish Champagne”! Due to limited volume at their pilot brewery, Propeller’s SMA is available on tap only at their Gottingen and Quinpool locations for pints and growler fills.

Staying in the Halifax region, North Brewing has been bringing the flavour in their latest Timberlea location kitchen and their takeover of their Portland street kitchen. Keeping up with their ingredients and Indian inspiration, they’ve released Chalo Chalo, a brand new brown ale available now. For the naming of this beer, we can’t say it any better than North themselves “The word “Chalo” (ch-AH–low) means “let’s go” in several languages spoken on the Indian subcontinent including Urdu/Hindi/Gujarati/Punjabi.” For the beer itself, the key to this beer is additions of Jaggery (an unrefined sugar product made in Asia and Africa with big molasses and brown sugar flavor) and a big 25 litre splash of fresh pressed ginger juice. The sweet from the Jaggery and the warming spice of Ginger works perfectly in the winter and the brown ale is a perfect vessel for these flavours. This beer is 6% and available from the three North shops and online for home delivery. 

Paradise Newfoundland’s Banished Brewing has a new release this week, a throwback to the many years of homebrewing co-owner Craig Farewell spent before scaling up to commercial size. Makes Sense is a hazy-as-heck 6% IPA, in the New England IPA category. Taking inspiration from the many hazy breweries in the US Northeast, this beer looks like OJ and smells like it too! Using Solero, Nelson Sauvin, and Citra hops late and often, they come out more on the nose and palate than a bitter hop bomb. Makes Sense is available at their retail shop now, and heading to local retailers in the next few days.

After some setbacks earlier in the year, Baccalieu Trail has been able to re-open their taproom recently, and has a new beer to celebrate! Helles or High Water is a Munich Helles, natch. Light in colour, and with a clean malt and restrained hop flavour, it is the perfect post-shoveling beer! Available at the brewery and at Marie’s and other retailers now.

We’ve got a new one from Big Spruce Brewing this week, as Belgian Strong is coming in hot (and strong). This is a Belgian style Strong Ale with some classic flavours for the style. At 8.8%, this brings out the fruity esters and some spice, along with some nice sweetness and boozy warmth. Used with West Abbey yeast (which fits big, bold and dark Belgian beers very well) and additions of Light and Dark Belgian Candi sugar (also traditionally used in higher ABV belgian beers to keep high alcohol content without adding a lot of sweetness), this is a well balanced, big drinker. This comes out this weekend from the brewery in cans and will be available online as well. 

Continuing their phase change (any fellow chemistry or physics nerds out there?) Tusket Falls Brewing has released the latest in their evolving series of hazy IPAs. Next Phaze v2 (look for the Feb canning date) sees a switch in hops, dropping the Mosaic and Phantasm, and adding Citra and Idaho 7 to complement the Riwaka. Keep your eyes peeled for the March release, which will see the return of Phantasm, but in an even more generous amount!

Fredericton’s Half Cut Brewing has new beer for folks looking to imbibe, but are still not exactly sure about all of this craft beer stuff. Cold Lite is a 3.6% American Light Lager, brewed with a grist of German Pilsner with rice for a bit more oomph without much body. The hops are light in bitterness, but present, with an earthy and floral aroma, with a touch of spicy finish. Grab a Cold Lite at their taproom on Main Street, and while you’re there, grab a slice or three from taproom-mates Coastline Pizza.

Cornwall’s Village Green has a new release and just as the weather turns colder and we get some weather, they’re bringing you a perfect release for the weekend. Oatmeal Stout is available now and is true to style in a smooth, drinkable stout with notes of dark roast coffee and cocoa. With a malt bill featuring Maris Otter and 2-row, with some helping hands from English Crystal, Roast Barley and Black Malt. That’s a big backbone for a smooth 5.2% stout. This is available now in pints and cans from the brewery. 

Serpent Brewing is back with another new release this week, and if you hear Spryfield and Bitter, you may have a few thoughts (or beers) come to mind, but the Spryfield Brewery is releasing Spryfield’s Best Bitter this weekend. This beer will be on a little stronger end of the bitter scale, as it is more dark and rich than an Extra Special  Bitter, this is balanced and has those toasty caramel flavours. A malt bill of British Pale Ale malt, Crystal and Grist Rye balance with a blend of UK hops but also some CTZ hops (Columbus, Tomahawk and Zeus) thrown in for some bittering. The final result is a 6.5% and 50 IBU, medium to full bodied, drinkable beer on the lower end of carbonation with a dry finish. Pick this up directly from the brewery on Sunday before the holiday Monday! (And make sure you check their hours if you want to get some on Monday).

This week’s final release comes in the form of a 3% ABV Berliner Weisse from Bannerman. Late Sunset is a light wheat ale with a hint of tartness from the souring bacteria. This one is unfruited, representing a great opportunity to experiment with adding your own fruit syrups (no judgement if you go the Purity syrup route), which is how this style is commonly served in Northern Germany. 

Just one event reminder for you today!

A reminder that Bar Stillwell and Tide & Boar Gastropub are both hosting the Dieu Du Ciel! Péché Mortel Day this Saturday. In addition to the original Imperial Coffee Stout, they will be pouring Péché Latte, an Imperial Milk Stout; Péché Mexican, the original with spices & chilies, Péché Bourbon, a Bourbon barrel-aged version of the OG, and Péché Special Edition, brewed using Colombian Sierra Nevada coffee beans in place of the original. Good thing both bars will be pouring flights of these 9.5% brews! The fun kicks off at noon at both locations, and Stillwell is firing on all cylinders, as they will be featuring a Montreal Smoked Meat poutine feature that day. We suspect T&B will be pulling out all the stops for fun pairing too!

Before we let you go…

While our main purpose for existing is to keep informed about what’s happening in Atlantic Canada, we are occasionally compelled to spread the word about interesting beer and cider from outside the region when it hits local taps and shelves. That’s what’s happening today at Bishop’s Cellar where five beers from Scotland’s Tempest Brewing Co. are dropping. Swing by the store on Lower Water Street in Halifax or check out their online store to check out the five different styles from one of RateBeer’s top 100 best breweries in the world. While you’re there be sure to check out their other new imports including Samuel Smith’s Imperial Stout, Ayinger Celebrator and a nice selection from Bellwoods and Dieu du Ciel.