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Friday Wrap-Up for June 16, 2023 – News from Bay de Verde, Tatamagouche, Bannerman, Banished, Bootleg, Tusket, CAVOK, Seasoned Plate, Truro, BrewHQ, Lunn’s Mill, and more!

Posted by acbbchris on 2023-06-16
Posted in: Friday Wrap-Up. Tagged: Arcade Brewing, Banished Brewing, Bannerman Brewing, BarNone Brewing, Bay de Verde Brewing, Big Spruce Brewing, Bootleg Brew Company, Brew York, BrewHQ, CAVOK Brewing, CBANS, Craft Brewers Association of Nova Scotia, Good Robot Brewing, Good Robot Commons, Lone Oak Beer Garden, Lone Oak Brewing, Lunn's Mill Beer Company, Propeller Brewing, Seasoned Plate, Tatamagouche Brewing, Truro Brewing Company, Tusket Falls Brewing, Upstreet Craft Brewing. Leave a Comment

Happy Friday and hello Summer! The wildfires in Nova Scotia seem to be under control and our prayers for rain were answered. With a little more mental and emotional capacity, we can focus on lots of beer news as we ramp into the busy season for your favourite beer-y locations.

The beer landscape in Newfoundland is getting a little busier, as a new brewery opens on the Northern tip of the Avalon. Bay de Verde is a community of 400 people located at the mouth of Conception Bay, about 2 hours from downtown St. John’s. And on Noonan’s Lane in BdV is the Bay de Verde Brewing Company, who are opening their doors today! Launching with a handful of beer, named in honour of the area they call home: Backside Blonde (4.5% ABV) is named after one of two harbours encompassing the town of Bay de Verde (the other being the eponymous Bay de Verde); Barter House Red (5.5%), named in honour of the building that the brewery calls home. Also available is Trail Time, an Apricot Sour. These first three will be available on draught in their taproom, as well as in cans to go. Joining them on draught only is Speckle Trout Stout, for those looking for something a little darker. And launching next week is Island Pond Ale, an IPA. The brewery is open today from 3 PM, and again tomorrow 12 – 10 PM, and Sunday 2 – 8 PM. In addition to cans and growler fills to take away, you will be able to enjoy their beer in the taproom! Much more with Kim and Co of Bay de Verde soon! We\ve updated the Good Beer Map with all of the details you need to plan your weekend adventure!

This weekend the gang at Tatamagouche Brewing is celebrating nine wonderful years of providing some of our favorite barley-based liquids (and other liquids as well!), and of course that means some celebratory releases! First up is this year’s iteration of Saltwater Cowboy, their tequila barrel-aged gose. Expect perhaps a bit less acidity this year than in previous batches, but that same touch of salinity and hint of lemon to go along with the tequila character from the barrel. Next up is a pair of dark beers with a common starting point, a big, rich porter. Beginning with a grist of Horton Ridge pale malt, Munich, and Vienna, the brew team added some caramel malts for sweetness and body, and chocolate wheat and Carafa Special III for balancing roastiness. It was bittered with Magnum to the tune of about 30 IBU and dosed later in the boil with unsung hop variety Celeia before heading to the fermenter where, rather than the lager yeast used in their multi-award-winning Two Rivers Baltic Porter, it was inoculated with good ol’ US-05, but fermented cooler than usual for a still clean, but quicker result. Half the batch then went into Knob Creek Bourbon barrels while the other half was destined for Foursquare Rum barrels where they slept soundly for a year or so, picking up hints of their respective spirits and their wooden sarcophagi. After packaging, they were laid down again for a few months to take the slightly boozy edges off. At 10.1% and 9.8%, respectively, Lilith (Bourbon) and Lila (rum) are big beers, but you can still expect plenty of subtlety in their depths. Expect a smooth integration of the Bourbon in Lilith and some fruit and baking spice character in Lila, whilst both exhibit oak tannins and vanilla from the barrels. Our recommendation is to get a couple (or more!) of each, sharing and contemplating the complexity of one with friends now, and coming back again in a year or two to see how they’ve evolved. Lastly, fans of Tata’s ongoing Intertidal IPA series can rejoice, as there’s a new one hitting the shelves. Using one of the hottest new hops on the market (so new it hasn’t been given its proper name yet), this one is called Intertidal HBC 1019. While that may not quite roll off the tongue, the beer itself will likely roll smoothly down your gullet. Built off a pretty standard NEIPA grist, with pale malt and Vienna, but also haze-friendly malted oats, wheat, and rolled barley, it was mash hopped with Cascade, whirpooled with HBC 1019 along with another newer variety, Nectaron and old school Chinook, before being fermented with a yeast blend (S-33 and K-97) and then hammered in the dry hop with more HBC 1019. Expect a luscious mouthfeel, medium bitterness, and a smack in the mouth of oranges that give way to peach, melon, and hints of vanilla and coconut. All of these beers are available now at the brewery in cans or for online ordering. Even better, if you spend $95 or more within the Maritimes, or $150 or more elsewhere in Canada (except the Territories and Manitoba), you’re eligible for free birthday shipping! And if you happen to be in the environs of the brewery this weekend, definitely plan to head down and check out their on-site celebrations all weekend long.

Back in Newfoundland, Bannerman has a new tap-only release. Picture This is a cream ale that started with a base of Pilsner malt, flaked corn, caramel malt and a touch of ground coffee from Cape Broyle’s Cape Coffee roasters.  It was then dry-hopped with a blend of British and French hops before being conditioned on more coffee, this time using cracked beans. Using coffee in a lighter beer allowed more subtle coffee notes like fruit and honey to come forward, without being overpowered by the roastiness. The 4.8% ABV Picture This is on tap on Duckworth Street now for pints and growler fills, with cans coming next week.

Staying with the lovely B breweries on the Rock, Banished Brewing has released Little Jim, a Session IPA, a 4% version of their Jim Time DIPA which was dedicated to their friend that helped get the brewery up and running. This smaller version keeps the same flavours of notes of citrus, melon, and mango. It is available now in cans and on draught at the brewery and will likely be available at the shops across Newfoundland as well. But we suggest getting it at the source and trying the newly opened Best Friend Burger food truck located at the brewery to feed both your mind and soul!

Hitting the treble for the Newfoundland B breweries, Bootleg Brew Co has a new brew celebrating 20 years of Cycle Solutions serving the cycling community of Corner Brook. 20 Years Sippin’ Beers is a Hazy IPA brewed for Pete and the Cycle Solutions crews. The name comes from the anniversary shirt from the store that is a play on ”20 Years Changing Gears” shirt and the beer is a New England style IPA that is very juicy and packed with Mosaic, Citra and Amarillo hops. This is canned and available on tap from the brewery. 

The Tusket Falls crew has a new iteration of Next Phaze available now. A Hazy IPA release where they continually iterate, this is the second batch (can stamp is 06/05/23) and still focuses on the Phantasm additions. For this release there is no mash hop addition, but Citra and Riwaka are otherwise featured throughout. Using a base of a thiolized Cosmic Punch yeast to unlock that Phantasm, this should bring some big aromas of citrus and tropical fruit in a 6.4%  This is canned and available at both locations (North End Halifax and Tusket). 

We’ve got a new one from New Brunswick’s CAVOK Brewing, as they’re bringing the light and refreshing drinks for the coming season. La Coast is a light lager with lime additions at 4.3%. Perfect for the summer! This is a light lager with fresh lime puree added for secondary fermentation. This is available directly from the brewery on tap for growlers and pints and also in 473ml cans!

Chef Stephen Barrett at Seasoned Plate is kicking off the second season of Pints & Plates this week, as they release recipes for food that can be made at home, showcasing a Nova Scotian brewery and beer to pair. This week is a feature with Truro Brewing Company, using their Willow St Wheat in a cucumber salad, and pairing it with their Trackside American Pale Ale. The full recipe and story behind the brewery is out now, and check out the documentary of Pints & Plates, featuring several of this season’s breweries (plus a unique beverage with history from the other side of the world, brewed in Nova Scotia!). 

Speaking of TBC, they will be moving from their current location just down the street to 72 Inglis Place in downtown Truro. Today is their last day in their current location, so help drink them dry, so they have fewer kegs to move! The new location will be opening July 8th, and therefore some events that were planned for late June have been postponed. We’ll have lots more on their new spot in early July.

For those looking to dip their toes into homebrewing, or take a breather from the tough job of making wort and stick to straightforward fermentation, BrewHQ has the answer for you! This week, they used the system at their Burnside location, which also serves as the brewhouse for Arcade Brewing in the same space, to brew up a bright and bitter wort for you to take home. Packaged in aseptic bladders, you’ll want a milk crate or other appropriate container to handle it safely for the trip back to your fermentation vessel. With an OG of 1.062, and expected FG of 1.013 (yeast and temp dependent, of course), you’ll have yourself a 6.5% ABV, 50 IBU IPA hopped with Citra, Mosaic, and Simcoe, for tropical and stone fruit characteristics. They are also brewing up a wort for a Blonde Ale today, so you may be able to feed two birds with one seed with a visit to 80 Thornhill Drive this afternoon! And if you prefer to visit your local homebrew shop, you should be able grab the IPA now, and Blonde later this weekend, at Noble Grape locations in Bayers Lake, Coldbrook, and Cole Harbour.

In addition to Tata’s birthday bash this weekend there’s something afoot in NS for next weekend too.

Just one event to tell you about today, but we want to be sure you grab tickets before they sell out! Lunn’s Mill is hosting a Drag Trivia Night next Friday, June 23rd. With performances from Queera Bangs and Hellebore Mandrake in between rounds of trivia about Drag, Pride, and LGBTQ+ history and culture, it is sure to be a super fun evening. And of course, Lunn’s Mill is releasing a new beer to celebrate, Peachy Queen! Based on their Charming Molly Blonde, PQ was aged on peach puree for a vibrant colour and loads of stone fruit character. You’ll have to wait until next Friday for the beer to launch at trivia, so be sure to grab your tickets today to avoid missing out!

A couple breweries in the region are looking for staff; maybe you’re the one?

The PEI folks at Barnone are hiring a Bartender and Manager, so if you’re handy to that area of the Island and love beer, shoot them a resume here. They also appear to have a new Coffee Blonde on tap, and are open Friday night (5-10 PM) and Saturday afternoon (1-5 PM) this week.

Staying with the PEI hiring news, Upstreet Brewing is hiring in Charlottetown. They’re looking for a Brewery Assistant in a full time position, welcoming people new to the industry as well as those already having worked in beer. The job is described as having the opportunity to grow with the company and experience with brewing industry jobs. Check out the listing and full details here. 

And here are your last beery bits before you go forth and stock up for the weekend:

The robots have been busy in Halifax, as their third location is ready to roll! Good Robot Commons is opening this evening directly across from the Halifax Commons specifically on North Park and Nora Bernard (formerly Cornwallis). The new, dog friendly, inclusive, outdoor, food-offering, beer-offering space opens up at 6 PM today (Friday, June 16). You can follow the fun at their location’s brand new IG handle.

Lone Oak continues their expansion across the Island on Monday, as they open their Lone Oak Beer Garden at Avonlea Village in Cavendish. The location features seating for more than 100, with most of it being outside on their partially-covered patio. All of the beer you’ve grown to love in Borden-Carleton, Charlottetown, and Fox Meadow in Stratford, is now close to the beach at Cavendish! Keep an eye on things through the Beer Garden account. 

We’ve got a few needles of news dropping out of Nyanza’s Big Spruce Brewing this week. Guava Get Me Some is a returning favourite IPA that doesn’t shy away from the guava flavour and aroma, as it uses real guava puree along with El Dorado & Mosaic hops . This is zesty, bold and refreshing. Get this one (and it’s always lovely can design) from the brewery or online. It’s 6.4% and 62 IBU. and available now.

In other news, we’ve got the first non-alcoholic beer coming out from them with Kitchen Partly. Yes, you read that right, Kitchen Partly, not Party! This is absolutely trying to match Kitchen Party note-for-note, but in a 0.5% version. This could be pretty huge for the non-alc drinkers who struggle to find their go-to NA offering, especially on the hoppier side. Look for itonline and at the brewery now, but it will also be rolled out to restaurants and other shops across the province. 

Propeller has a new pilot beer on draught at their Gottingen and Quinpool taprooms today. Brewed on the small system on Quinpool Road, Propeller Gose stays true to the German style, incorporating lots of wheat in the grain bill, light acidity from Lacto, and salt to keep the beer refreshing. Low in alcohol and bitterness, this could be a summer sipper, however it won’t last that long, so pop by either/both locations this weekend!

Chris from Brew York visited our neck of the woods last weekend, as he made a tour of a half-dozen breweries in the St. John’s area. He has highlighted them on his Instagram, as well as included a cheeky ranking of the five macro-brewed-Newfoundland-exclusive beers in this week’s Substack. Read more there!

Friday Wrap-Up for May 26, 2023 – News from Serpent, 2 Crows, Party Time, Bogside, Lone Oak, Banished, Secret Cove, Sea Level, Big Spruce, Tire Shack and much more!

Posted by acbbdamian on 2023-05-26
Posted in: Friday Wrap-Up. Tagged: 2 Crows Brewing, Banished Brewing, BarNone Brewing, Big Spruce Brewing, Bishop's Cellar, Bogside Brewing, Canadian Brewing Awards, Canadian Brewing Awards Conference, Escarpment Laboratories, Hops Connect Canada, Lone Oak Beer Garden, Lone Oak Brewing, North Brewing, O'Creek Brewing, Party Time Brewing, PEI Brewing Co., Sea Level Brewing, Secret Cove Brewery, Serpent Brewing, Shoreline Malting, Stillwell Beer Bar, Stillwell Beergarden, Stillwell Brewing, Tatamagouche Brewing, The Links at Brunello, The Post Taphouse, Tire Shack Brewing, TrailWay Brewing. Leave a Comment

Happy Friday y’all! We’re as excited to start the weekend as you are, so let’s get you out the door and drinking the good stuff quickly! We have a reminder of what’s coming to our region next weekend in the Events section, so be sure to read closely!

Spryfield’s Serpent Brewing has a very special collaboration available now on tap and in cans. Born from a familial connection to Mexico, Serpent invited the crew from Cerveceria Itañeñe into the brewhouse a few months ago. And of course, Rodrigo and Lucia of Itañeñe brought gifts, in the form of their favourite coffee from roasters Ilustre. Pairing that with some locally-harvested Maple Syrup from MacRae’s, and a base English Brown Ale, they thus gave birth to Here Comes Trouble. This 5.9% beer will wake you up and keep you going all day, with the strong malt, coffee, and maple character coming through! Pop by the brewery for a taste and four-pack, and while there, you’ll be able to sample the food new menu put together by Chef Barry Samways. Having worked in kitchens at Hermitage, Elliot & Vine, and most recently at Quinn’s Arms, Chef Samways is focusing on local producers for as many ingredients as possible to ensure quality and freshness. As with any brewery menu, complementing the beer is important, so look for both share-able sizing for when your whole crew is with you, or snacking sizes for solo pop-bys to the space. Homemade pasta, tacos, microgreen salads, and several gluten-free and vegan options are also available!

On Brunswick Street in downtown Halifax, 2 Crows has a pair of new releases out this week. Let’s start hoppy, with Green World DIPA out on draught and in cans now. West Coast-inspired, this was brewed in collaboration with PEI’s Shoreline Malting, who provided the base Pale Malt, which was amped up with a touch of Crystal. This was hopped aggressively with classic American hops from Lakeview Hops throughout, including in the mash, again as the wort enters the kettle (first wort), of course throughout the boil, and again as the beer is cooled on its way to the fermenter. At that point, Escarpment Labs’ House Ale strain took over, fermenting it clean and providing natural carbonation to the finished product. It’s available today at the brewery as well as for online ordering and delivery. If you pop by the brewery, you’ll also be able to enjoy their latest tiny batch release, Multiflora. This beer/wine hybrid is the love child of a 3-year-old Wild Ale blended with fresh rosé piquette, itself made up of pomace from Riesling grapes, plus a small amount of Pinot Noir and Kekfrankos, with some quince from Head Brewer Jeremy Taylor’s backyard. This bright and funky hybrid is available on draught only, and in short supply, so if it sounds as tasty to you as it does to us…don’t delay in visiting!

HRM’s newest source of suds, Party Time Brewing in Mount Uniacke, who we profiled earlier this month, has a couple new beers and a new delivery channel for us this week. Party Time Pilsner is an American Pilsner at 30 IBU and 5% ABV that’s sure to sate your craving for a light and crispy new world crusher and Raft Up is “a beery beer” hopped with Hallertauer Mittelfrüh coming in at 4.5% ABV. Both of these are available for online ordering (althought the Party Time Pils is already in short supply!) for delivery in the general environs of Mount Uniacke, but if you’re from further afield you now have an option for pickup in the parking lot of Uniacke Pizza. You can also try the Raft Up at the Mount Uniacke Pub & Eatery.

Over on the Island, Summerside’s Bogside Brewing has a couple of new offerings this week, one of which won’t get you loaded no matter how much you drink. Bogside Zero is their first foray into the non-alcoholic beer market and they’re happy to report that it, “tastes like a real beer!” Based on their Local Legend blonde ale recipe, they’ve invested in a de-alcoholizer to take the finished beer remove the alcohol. Tasting similar enough to the original that many folks are hard-pressed to tell the difference, it’ll be a welcome option for those who want to taste a beer without having a beer. Also new on the go is a second entry in Bogside’s single hop series, this time using Belma, a bit of an unsung hop that’s been around for a decade or so, but hasn’t gained the mindshare of some of the heavy hitters. Known for providing tasting notes of strawberry and pear in particular, it also has a bit of a citrus kick on the palate and aromas of berries and melon, giving this iteration a little more of a West Coast IPA feel than the previous El Dorado version. Coming in at 6% ABV and 35 IBU, you’ll find this limited edition along with Bogside Zero available in the taproom and for online ordering.

Staying in PEI we land at Lone Oak, who, as mentioned last week, are celebrating their birthday this month. To celebrate they’ve got a brand new beer available, but so far only at Milky Way Brewpub in Charlottetown and in cans to go from their Cold Beer Store. Lone Oak Light does what it says on the tin, a North American light lager at 4% ABV that’s sure to please the beery beer drinkers out there. Simple, crisp and refreshing, it’s sure to pair well with summertime. Keep an eye on the social media for their latest location, the Lone Oak Beer Garden at Cavendish Beach, as it is set to open in the next few weeks.

From the little island we head up to the big one where, in Paradise, Banished Brewing has a brand new beer that they’re calling Baked Ziti. Why the reference to tasty noodletubes, tomato, and cheese? Because it’s an Italian Pilsner, of course! A style that’s been coming on in North America the last few years, the Italian take on a more northern European style features a light, but still malty body, with a firm bitterness and a pungent hop note, always continental and often leaning towards the floral part of the hop spectrum. Unfiltered, as is de rigueur (d’obbligo?) for the style, you’ll find this 5% delight on tap at the brewery and appearing at local retailers as well.

My, b’y, but there’s a lot of new lagers in the region this week and Port au Port’s Secret Cove Brewing has one too. A 4% American Lager they’re calling Cove Lager, it leverages rice as an adjunct to keep the body light and lagered cool to keep it crisp, it’s designed to be super easy drinking through the warmer summer months. Packaged in 355ml cans (with a super classy label) for maximum portability, it’s available now at the brewery and will see retail distribution real soon now.

We haven’t had any news out of Sheffield Mills in a few weeks, but that stops today with Sea Level’s release of Barn Yard IPA. Their take on a hazy session IPA is TRIPLE dry-hopped with Mosaic, Apollo and Comet, giving lots of topical fruit notes. The grain bill features Sea Level’s standard base malt, with an addition of Vienna for a hint of sweetness, with all of the malt coming from nearby Horton Ridge Malt House. Coming in at a sessionable 4.6% ABV, you can find Barn Yard on tap and in cans at both Sea Level locations now. 

Just in time for another sunny Cape Breton weekend, Big Spruce has a new release and the return of one of their all-time crowd pleasers. First up is It Takes Two to Mango, a 5% ABV fruited sour. Look for a pleasing tangy tartness to complement the sweetness of the ripe mangos, with the mangos also imparting their colour to the final beverage. You can find this one on tap in Nyanza. And while we’re at it, the ultimate pairing for Cape Breton summer weather is making its return. Silver Tart, the sour raspberry wheat ale originally brewed in 2015, is back for another season, with its refreshing tartness, berry flavour and deep pink hue. Cans and pints are available now, with the cans already making their way to Big Spruce’s online store for shipping and delivery. 

Did we mention the profusion of lagers this week? Of course we did, and there’s another one to mention from Tire Shack Brewing, the return of their Cerveza Mexican lager. Possibly the most crushable beer they’ve released to date, it’s back on tap and in cans to go as well. Meanwhile, on the “new release” side of things, Tire Shack also has a brand new “AI-designed” beer available. After prompting with the question “What will future beer trends be?” and receiving the response, “Alternative fermentables and herbs,” they further asked for a recipe, which was dutifully provided and dubbed “Garden Party.” They even got it to design a label. Regardless of how you feel about what’s being commonly referred to as “AI” these days, the gang at Tire Shack has dutifully made the 6.0% ABV honey lavender saison from the generated recipe and claim it’s a tasty beer. You’ll have to grab some at their spot in Moncton to find out for yourself!

Still in New Brunswick, but up in Fredericton this time, we see a brand new thang from Trailway. Hoppy? Sure. But this one, from their Main Land series of Belgian-inspired beers, pairs Belgian yeast character with lemony citrus and a grassy bitterness from the noble hops that were used. With a finish that features pear and apple sauce, this hoppy session ale comes in at 4.5% ABV. In returning engagement news at Trailway, their classic summer raspberry wheat, Beyond Reality is available again. At 4% ABV you can plan to enjoy a couple of these fruity delights that boast a touch of balancing tartness. Look for both of these ones, along with the rest of the Trailway oeuvre at a Trailway location near you!

Lots of beery things going on in our region these days, including a lot of summer openings!

Lots of news for you from the Stillwell Family this week, so let’s get you up to speed: The Stillwell Beer Garden at Spring Garden and South Park is open and operating daily from noon til “cold”, with a dozen taps and another dozen different cans from across the region and beyond. The grill is fired up and on the go too, with sausages and dogs, and yummy accompaniments to boot, with ice cream to cap the meal!

One of the beers you’ll find on tap there, as well as Stilly HQ, The Freehouse, and Battery Park, is Stillwell Brewing’s brand new Cream Ale. Eschewing the modern trend towards adjuncts, this is all Pils malt, with a decoction (!), and fermented cool to keep the fruity esters down, it uses a dose of Cascade and Willamette to add a firm bitterness as well as a bit of earth and citrus to the final product. Eminently crushable, you can sense the relationship to Kompact while appreciating the new world hop component. Cans will be coming to the brewery in a few weeks.

Before then, however, Stillwell Brewing is celebrating the opening of their taproom June 3rd. While having been open for retail sales since last year, they have completed the taproom and music system, so it’s time to party! Open from 11 AM to 11 PM next Saturday, Beverly Taco Service (from 4 PM) will be onsite slinging their wares, and there will be live spun records by DJ Douvet and Swee (also from 4 PM) to keep you happy.

Although most folks in the industry have known this for a while, we at ACBB have perhaps been a touch remiss in mentioning that the Canadian Brewing Awards Conference will be in town next weekend, June 1st to 3rd at the Nova Centre in Halifax. A presentation of Taps Media, the CBAC is both a brewing conference and the announcement vehicle for the Canadian Brewing Awards. Judged each spring in Toronto, the CBAs aim to celebrate the best in beer from coast to coast. What does this mean for the humble beer drinker? Mostly that there will be brewery folks from across the country descending on Halifax, sampling our local fare and especially our local beer, and making and rekindling friendships. So don’t be surprised if you find yourself at Stillwell Beer Garden or Hop Yard or any of our brewery tap rooms talking to a brewery owner from Saskatoon or Kelowna or Caledon or St-Jean-sur-Richelieu and feel free to let them know what your favorite locals are! 

Meanwhile, if you’re a hard core beer nerd like us and you’re interested in taking in the conference itself, there will be plenty of sessions of both practical brewing nature and more social responsibility-focused content as well as a conference floor where equipment, ingredient, and service providers ply their wares. Limited (<15!) tickets are still available, with a full ride (conference + gala) going for $400 or separate conference ($200) and gala ($200) options on tap, so to speak. Maybe we’ll see you there!

Our friends at Canadian hop supplier Hops Connect have some news for the local industry this week, as they’re opening up a cold storage warehouse in Montréal next month. If you’re a brewer in Atlantic Canada, this means your orders will get to you that much more quickly and efficiently, and especially when you’re dealing in Southern Hemisphere hops, as Hops Connect does in volume, that can make a big difference. Homebrewers in the region who take advantage of The Brewnosers annual group buys will likely benefit as well. If you’re attending the CBAC next weekend, definitely stop by the Hops Connect booth and find out the finer details (rumor has it there will be a very sensory component to their booth this year as well!!)

Looking for work in the craft beer industry in Moncton? Check this posting out:

After a very successful launch earlier this month, O’Creek Brewing in Moncton is looking to add a Full-Time Taproom Manager to their crew, concentrating on those busy evenings and weekends! If you have experience in that sort of thing, fire Greg an email to let him know you can be the right woman or man for the job! Oh, and while we have you, their on-site kitchen is operating at full speed these days, sending out nachos, quesadillas, pulled pork sandwiches, popcorns, and even serving ice cream from nearby Lost & Found.

Here’s our quick hits this week to finish things off:

The PEI Brewing Company has a new American Pale Ale out. Gahan Longshore is a 5.5% ABV take on the style, featuring notes of citrus, pine and tropical fruit. You’ll find it at the PEIBC Taproom, Gahan Beer Store, and Gahan House locations, and look for it to appear at PEI Liquor and ANBL locations this week.

After taking the winter off, Rose Valley’s Barnone Brewery is open again for the summer. No word yet on their exact opening days/hours, but we can assure you that they are open for at least a few hours today from 5 PM. Pop by their location at 4248 Route 225, Rose Valley/Breadalbane, and let them know ACBB sent ya!

Speaking of openings, The Post Taphouse in Torbay, Newfoundland, opened their doors last weekend. Located at 1412 Torbay Road, they are just a few steps from the East Coast Trail, and offer a lovely view from their patio. Serving local beer from breweries all across Newfoundland and Labrador, they also have a full food menu. They are open 12 – 11 PM daily, rain or shine!

It’s that time of year for the Cellar Slammer to return! This annual collaboration between Tatamagouche Brewing and Bishop’s Cellar is out at both retailers now. This is the 7th year of its release, and this Session IPA / India Session Ale is bigger and better than ever! Clean, bright, citrus, with a touch of white wine grapes, the low alcohol and lighter mouthfeel means this beer can be slammed back all summer long! Just be aware that the can looks a little different this year!

And finishing up with the second in the “new collaborative Session Ale” category is a brand new release from North Brewing. Celebrating their neighbours to their new Timberlea location comes Brunello, brewed with The Links at Brunello. At just 4.5% ABV, it’s lively and bright, refreshing and fun, and perfect to enjoy on your first, ninth, and eighteenth tee-off! On tap and in cans at North’s locations, and of course at the Nineteenth hole at Brunello.

Friday Wrap-Up for May 5, 2023 – News from Shipwright, Lone Oak Fox Meadow, Burnside Brewing, Breton, Tire Shack, Pump House, Maybee, Mauzy, Sourwood, Good Robot, Timber Ship, and much more!

Posted by acbbdevon on 2023-05-05
Posted in: Friday Wrap-Up. Tagged: Big Spruce Brewing, Breton Brewing, Burnside Brewing Company, Craft Brewers Association of Nova Scotia, Discovery Centre, Garrison Brewing, Good Robot Brewing, Grimross Brewing, Lone Oak Brewing, Lone Oak Fox Meadow, Long Bay Brewery, Mauzy Cidery, Maybee Brewing, Ninepenny Brewing, Off Grid Ales, Port Rexton Brewing Co., Propeller Brewing, Pump House Brewery, Shipwright Brewing, Sourwood Cidery, Spindrift Brewing, Stillwell Beer Bar, Tatamagouche Brewing, Tide & Boar Brewing, Timber Ship Brewing, Tire Shack Brewing. Leave a Comment

Happy May, everyone! Flowers are pushing through the dirt and winter debris, migrating birds are returning (hello cardinals!), and patios are opening! As we shed the winter coats (and work towards shedding the winter pounds), there are plenty of new beers and events to encourage us out from hibernation! Let’s get you up to speed with what you could be imbibing this weekend…

Congratulations to the Shipwright Brewing team, as they celebrate the opening of their brand new Taproom + Pizza location at 80 Montague Street in Lunenburg. Located right next door to their original brewery and bar, the Taproom features 25 beers on tap, and a full menu with appetizers, bao buns, and both Detroit and New York style pizzas. For visitors to the OG taproom spot, they will be impressed with the 10-fold increase in the seating, so no more waiting for a spot at the bar or patio during busy summer evenings. The retail fridge is full of beer options to take away, during their 11 AM – 10 PM (or later), seven days a week, opening hours. Just a note that they are only doing dine-in during the first week of operation, and great news for those looking for a more intimate Shipwright experience, the original taproom in the brewery at 82 Montague remains open and ready to serve all visitors!

News from our PEI friends Lone Oak brings the announcement of their new restaurant, Lone Oak Fox Meadow! Opening today (Friday May 5th), this is a full-service, year-round restaurant and events centre at the Fox Meadow Golf Course in Stratford, PEI. They’ll be open 7 days a week for lunch, dinner and drinks and will offer a brunch on the weekends. The full website will launch next week, so for now, keep an eye on Lone Oak’s main socials for any updates, or just go check it out from 11am-10pm any day of the week (open for brunch at 9 AM on the weekends)! Congratulations to the LO Crew!

And in the spirit of new beginnings, we have news on changes to a brewery who has been around since 2015… Same brewery, new name! Spindrift Brewing is no more and now Burnside Brewing Company rises from its ashes. Keeping all of the same lineup of beers like Toller and Killick, some of you may be familiar with Spindrift in the US and their beverage products. Our local Spindrift took an enquiry from the unaffiliated RTD brand as a chance to ground where they are and go through a rebranding process. They’re trying to make beer in Burnside that isn’t fancy, is about the beer first, and celebrates working hard, having fun, and making great beer; hence they chose the name of the area in which they feel most at home. Both the Antigonish and Dartmouth locations will remain unchanged and things will continue as normal, except for the new branding and packaging. Their new website is expected to go live shortly, and their socials have changed over to the new moniker.

The Cabot Trail Relay’s newest beer sponsor, Breton Brewing, has lots on the go this week, with a few new releases and a lot of calls for hiring. Let’s start with the beer. First up, Grapefruit IPA is an American IPA with big grapefruit flavours of pine and citrus but also with real grapefruit juice added. It’s bitter, as you’d expect, with a nice punch of that grapefruit kick; it is 6% ABV and 45 IBU. 

Next up is a new member of the Let’s Jam series of sours; Let’s Jam: Raspberry Lemon Sour was brewed with big batches of real raspberry and lemon to mix up the sweet and sour flavours. A nice pink hue captures the eye and the refreshing 4% ABV will leave you wanting more. Both of these are available now at the brewery on tap and in cans, along with their website online. They will also be hitting the shelves of certain NSLC locations across the province. On the HR side of things, Breton has multiple positions for students and full-time work in Halifax and Cape Breton, so head over to their careers page if you’re interested. 

Let’s head to Moncton, where Tire Shack Brewing has a few new releases and fun events they’re hyped about. This week, they have a new experimental sour release on draught, based around the Soursop fruit, also known as guanábana or Brazilian paw paw. Imparting citrus, banana, coconut, and mango to the base sour beer, given the difficulty in sourcing the fruit in our region, there are only a few kegs, and no cans, of this one. And coming later this weekend is another sour beer, this one showcasing Pink Guava, bringing a total of 5 sours on tap, including the recent return of Sun-Kissed Mimosa Sour. 

Rounding out the recent Tire Shack releases is the return of their Gold medal winning Killed By Death, a 10.0% Triple IPA, chock-full of Citra, Mosaic, and Vic Secret late in the process for tons of great aromatics. Pop by the brewery today, or better yet, in celebration of Moncton Taco Week, Tire Shack is welcoming back Birria Dave’s in the taproom both Saturday and Sunday from noon until sell-out, as he is featuring The 3D Birria Taco. Best not to hesitate, as these always go quick!

It’s been a long time since we’ve had one of NB’s oldest craft breweries, Moncton’s own Pump House, on the blog and we’ve been hoping for some fresh drops from them to share with everyone. Uncommon Kölsch is a low-carb and low-calorie release that is crisp and refreshing. It is 4% and available in 355ml 8 packs at the ANBL, on tap at PH accounts and directly from the brewery. Sort through the dark and light stuff and pick out something clean and new to enjoy from this brewery, as this is available now!

Heading west to Fredericton, Maybee Brew has a new beer to celebrate a big milestone at the brewery. Batch 500 is a brand new IPA celebrating exactly what you think! A New England IPA, this milestone brew is big on tropical, mango, citrus, and grapefruit flavours and is juicy and enjoyable. It’s 6.2% ABV and 30 IBU and available today on tap and in cans from the brewery. Grab one of those cans as the design is gorgeous and true to the milestone celebration! 

Mauzy, the cidery operating adjacent to Banished Brewing in Paradise, NL, has their first release of 2022 fermentations this week with Point Towards Heaven, a spontaneously fermented blend of feral Mcintosh and feral crab apple juices. Transparent yellow, with no finings, filtering, or added sulphites, this one represents their first Pet Nat-style cider. Only 20 cases have been produced, so you’ll want to act quickly to get yourself a bottle. Look for this 5.6% ABV delight only at Banished.

In other cider news, Sourwood may not be slinging cider at their old spot on Cornwallis St. in Halifax but they’re still putting out tasty treats. And wouldn’t you know it, they’ve got a Pet Nat on the go as well! Starting with a base of handpicked L’Acadie Blanc grapes, they bolstered it with Russet apple juice from their secret sheep orchard. Capping the fermentation to preserve the natural carbonation, they have not disgorged the bottles, so you can expect some sediment. You can also expect flavors of elderflower, geranium, and pithy grapefruit. Marked with a vintage of 2021, this one has been sitting and improving for quite some time. Look for L’Acadie + Russet in their online shop for delivery or pickup (note that pickup is now at 115 Chain Lake Drive, Unit 12C), at Ramblers (formerly Sourwood’s own in-town location), and potentially at other fine watering holes.

Those jolly androids from Good Robot are back with their latest Goodwill beer and this one is partnered with the Ecology Action Centre. Dark Saison is the style for this release and it features an addition of cranberries to bring a bit of sweetness and tart flavour to the beer, balancing spice and cocoa notes from the malt and yeast. Each can of Goodwill Saison sold from the brewery or online will contribute 50 cents directly to the environmental charity. This beer comes in at 5.3% and is for an excellent cause, supporting climate change, biodiversity and environmental justice. 

Miramichi’s Timber Ship is back with a new release this week, one in the “perfect for enjoying with a group of buds” vein, aka, crushable. They looked to Germany for inspiration, and honed in on the Kölsch style from Cologne. Light in body, clean Pils malt backbone with Hallertauer Mittelfrüh hops, with a crisp and clean finish. Named in celebration of Harley & Hank, find this 4.5% beer on tap at Three Dog Distilling at 279 Newcastle Blvd, or in cans to go from Timber Ship’s Below Deck location on the King George Highway.

Up on The Rock, Port Rexton Brewing has a new collab brew out, this one done with the folks from Ninepenny Brewing in Conception Bay South (you may have heard of this place recently, as it’s iceberg season…). Small Game is a “Tiny” IPA coming in at a paltry 2.6% ABV, but still boasting plenty of aroma and flavor, with gummy candy and tropical fruit on the nose and more fruit and melon undertones on the palate. Perfect for games night, when you want to let loose a little, but still keep your wits about you, you’ll find this one at the taproom, at the PR St. John’s retail shop, and at Ninepenny’s taproom as well.

For those in Halifax, and wanting to delve a bit deeper into what goes into designing and crafting the beer they enjoy, The Discovery Centre is hosting Science of Beer next Saturday, May 13. From 7 – 10:30 PM, ten breweries from the Craft Brewers Association of Nova Scotia will chat up style characteristics, ingredients, processes and more, along with science demonstrations from the DC team, with live music from The Fine Tuners, all while sipping on beer. This 19+ event requires tickets, find out more and grab yours here! 

Let’s do some quick hits for some craft beer jobs around the region!

Stillwell Beer Bar is looking for a full-time server for the summer with a very likely chance for part-time work in the fall. Email here if interested.

Garrison Brewing is looking for a Head Brewer and this could be a dream job at a big craft brewery for a lot of people. Permanent, full-time, big job! Check out the link here for all the details. 

In other Head Brewer news, Long Bay Brewing in Fredericton is looking for a Head Brewer (with professional experience) or an Assistant Brewer (with all-grain homebrewing experience). With a 15bbl brewhouse and 3.5bbl test batch system, there is room to grow and learn. Send your resume here if you’re interested!

Off Grid (or OG Ales) is hiring a bunch of positions for taproom, grounds keeping and housekeeping. Part-time and full-time positions are available, for summer students as well, with pay around $15/hr. Application deadline is May 19th. Please send your resume here

Plenty more beer to let you know about, let’s get some newsbites in front of you.

Halifax’s own Propeller Brewing has a fun 12 pack featuring some summer crushers all at 5% ABV or less in a 355ml format. The Propeller Patio Pack Craft Beer Mixer is this year’s latest mix of 4 beers to grab and go for the summer. Featuring 3 each of: Tango Lagered Ale (4.8%), Tropic Haze Summer Ale (5.0%), Yutopia Summer Ale (5.0%) and Lime Lite Lager (4.5%), you can get this starting today from the 3 Propeller shops (4 if you include the online store!) and the private stores in Halifax. This will be coming to certain NSLCs as well. And a reminder that the patio at their Gottingen Street taproom is now open, so get out and enjoy some beer!

In Tatamagouche they’re getting all ready for summer sipping with the release of this season’s fruited Dekorum variations. Lime, Mandarin, and Blood Orange are all available in 355ml cans as of today, all coming in at a very sessionable 2.9% ABV. Grab them in any combination (potentially including the non-fruited OG version) from their web shop, with delivery available to all Canadian Provinces!

Moncton’s Tide & Boar Brewing has a new IPA in the fridge and on tap these days. Dinosaur Food is a big 7.0% Hazy IPA, hopped heavily with Motueka and Sabro, resulting in massive notes of ripe mango, fruit cocktail, and a coconutty pina colada vibe. Grab it from either of their Brewery or Gastropub locations on tap or in cans to enjoy outdoors.

It’s that time of year again when Big Spruce brings out their She’s Maibock, a German lager on the heavier side at 6.5% ABV. Brewed with modern Continental hop variety Huëll Melon, look for aromas of strawberries, honeydew melon, and stone fruit that complement malty notes of bread crust and candied orange. May a little reminiscent of toast and jam!

And finally this week, Grimross has brought back their Juicy IPA, and this 6.5% ABV can is available now from them and coming to ANBL and other shops shortly.