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Friday Wrap-Up for Jan 20, 2023 – News from Trailway, Spindrift, Bannerman, Landwash, Lone Oak, Propeller, Port Rexton , Annapolis Cider and more!

Posted by acbbdamian on 2023-01-20
Posted in: Friday Wrap-Up. Tagged: Annapolis Cider Company, Bannerman Brewing, Chain Yard Cider, Lake City Cider, Landwash Brewery, PEI Beer Festival, Port Rexton Brewing Co., Propeller Brewing, Sourwood Cidery, Spindrift Brewing, Tatamagouche Brewing, The Church Brewing Company, TrailWay Brewing. Leave a Comment

We’ve made it to another Friday, and for those of us in Nova Scotia, winter is making its first real appearance. Despite half the province jumping at the opportunity to pre-emptively call the first snow day of the year, your favourite breweries, taprooms, bars, cideries and bottle shops across the region remain open with plenty of new releases and old classics on tap and packaged for your enjoyment. So sit back, crack a cold one and wait for your neighbour to fire up their snow blower as you get caught up on this week’s news. 

Some big news from Fredericton’s Trailway Brewing this week that speaks to the way our beer can compete beyond our region’s borders. Some may know of the friendship between Trailway and Lagabière of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, which has been manifest in a couple of home-and-home collaborations over the past couple years. Some may also be aware that Trailway has long hoped to share their beer in the Quebec beer market, which is notoriously competitive and complex for out-of-province breweries, especially smallish craft breweries, to break into. If you put those two things together, it makes perfect sense for Trailway to have entered into a new partnership with Lagabière to have some of Trailway’s recipes brewed at Lagabière’s state-of-the-art brewing facility on a contract basis for distribution within Quebec. This means Quebecers will be able to enjoy Trailway the way it’s best enjoyed, fresh. Congratulations to the Trailway crew on this next step in their growth!

In other big Trailway news is a big beer: Action Phil is a triple IPA tipping the scales at 10% ABV. Named for the action figure that hangs out on the bar at Peppers Pub, who is in turn named after Pepps owner Philip Croft, it’s a Trailway joint and an TIPA so you’ve got to figure there’s some hop action going on in there. Taking a page out of the Dogfish Head manual, this one was continuously hopped during the boil and then dry-hopped “generously” with Columbus, Amarillo, Chinook, and Simcoe, which could easily be referred to as the four horsemen of the dankocalypse. Expect plenty of pine, resin, and citrus oil notes, with some dried stone fruit to boot. On the malt side, rich and toasty is the order of the day, giving much more of a West Coast impression than Trailway’s typically juicy and hazy oeuvre. Look for it on tap at Peppers Pub, of course, but also at the brewery, where you might also grab a can or two of the latest batch of Sabro-loaded double IPA, Ooz.

Speaking of IPAs, head over to Burnside this week and you’ll find a new one pouring at Spindrift. Dubbed Fusion Hazy IPA, it gets its name from the melding of New World IPA techniques with Old World hops. Never fear, however, they didn’t make a noble hazebomb with Hallertauer Mittelfrüh, Tettnanger, and Saaz, they used “Old World, New School” varieties Callista, Arianna, and Hallertau Blanc. Built on a base of Pilsner, malted wheat, malted oats, and chit malt, this one came out at 6.9%, with a fairly gentle, but balancing bitterness at 30 IBU. Expect plenty of citrus and tropical fruit, alongside some berry, spice, and white wine notes to complement. It’s available at the brewery, of course, but also at Spindrift’s Oak Manor location in Antigonish and very likely the private stores in the HRM in the coming week or two.

Not to be outdone, Newfoundland gets into this week’s IPA game with the return of a collaboration between Bannerman and Landwash. Originally brewed in 2019, it is conceptually the meeting of two double IPAs: Bannerman’s Island Time and Landwash’s Dream Island. Taking those two recipes into a dark alley with a tube sock ¼ full of dinky cars yielded Dream Time. Fluffy and light, but packing a DIPA-appropriate punch at 7% ABV, it features Galaxy, Eclipse, and BRU-1 hops and a soupçon of lactose to smooth it all out. Both breweries have this one on tap now and cans are available at Landwash’s retail. Wider distribution won’t happen until January turns into February, so you’ll have to head to the source(s) until then!

We couldn’t resist trying to complete the superfecta of an IPA release from each of the four provinces and sure enough, Borden-Carleton’s Lone Oak came through for us. Phancy is a re-release of the brewery’s most popular seasonal to date. A hazy IPA, it was brewed with Phantasm, which you may remember from other ACBeerBlog posts as a powdered product derived from New Zealand Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc grapes that contains copious quantities of thiol precursors. Those thiol precursors, unlocked by brewing and fermentation techniques can lead to amazing tropical fruit flavors and aromas in the beer. What more could you ask for in a juicy IPA? This one comes in at 7%, is full-bodied, but low in bitterness, and is bursting with passion fruit, tangerine, and grape aromas. You’ll find it at the Lone Oak taproom as well as their Milky Way Brewpub and Cold Beer Store. Note that supply is limited so you’ll want to move quickly!

Switching to a more “seasonal” style, for those who are into tired old rubrics, is Propeller, who have a new pilot batch on tap. Superstition is an imperial spiced stout with cardamom (both black and green by the looks of the insta post). Brewed on Friday the 13th, we suspect this one has been aging since May of last year rather than being served a week after brewing. Expect a complex and full-bodied brew, with a big head, flavours of dark chocolate, and aromas of anise and smoke. Being a pilot batch, supply is limited, and it’s only available on tap. Find it at both the Gottingen and Quinpool taprooms.

Also going dark this week is Port Rexton Brewing, who have brought back their Shoreline salted stout. Featuring salt from the Newfoundland Salt Company, this one carries roasted malt and dark chocolate characters, with some subtle dark cherry and fig notes coming through. Fairly low in ABV at 5.4%, and with the salt providing a minerality that lightens the body a touch, it’s sessionable enough that you can justify having a second one to really appreciate the complexity. It’s available on tap for pints and fills at the tap room and the St. John’s retail shop. Although it’s available in cans as well, we note that PR is filling jugs at a discount this weekend at both locations, with 32oz grunters/squealers being filled for $4.14 + tax and 64oz growlers for $8.24 + tax. That’s a great deal on some fine beer, especially with this new release and also a fresh batch of their OG IPA, Horse Chops available as well!

Switching gears to cider now we’ve got a trio of releases this week, each with something interesting going on beyond plain fermented apple juice. Up first is Annapolis Cider who have something new that’s made from something old: old school apples, that is! Heirloom features a blend of juice from heirloom apple varieties Golden Russet, Spartan, Ribston, and Cox’s Orange Pippin, and fermented in oak, this one brings aromas of the orchard along with a sweetness that masks what a dry cider it is. Finished with a curated blend of juice from some more obscure traditional varieties, the result has a golden hue. Plenty of tannins, from both the apples and the oak, provide some structure and it’s got a refreshing carbonation. Find it by the bottle at the cidery in Wolfville.

Next we have Sourwood Cider, who bring us Ginger, a Northern Spy-based cider with plenty of other things going on. This one leverages malolactic fermentation: the use of Lactobacillus to ferment malic acid (tart) present in the juice into lactic acid (smooth/milky). This type of fermentation is commonly used in winemaking, specifically with Chardonnay; if you’ve ever tasted or heard of a “buttery” Chard, that’s almost certainly due to malolactic fermentation. But that’s not all that’s going on in Ginger, there’s, well, ginger in there, and just like the apples, the ginger is Nova Scotia-grown. Lastly, the cider was barrel aged, no doubt to add some tannins, again, consistent with (oaked) Chardonnay. Finished with a low carbonation for a smooth and soft mouthfeel, you’ll find this one at Sourwood Cider Bar in North End Halifax.

Finishing up on the fun and funky cider tip is Chainyard who bring us the return of King’s Saison. This one started with two heritage apple varieties, King of Tompkins County (also known simply as “King”), a once very popular apple from New York State, and Ribston Pippin, the most famous variety from Yorkshire, UK, and almost certainly the parent of Cox’s Orange Pippin (although it is suspected to ultimately have a French origin). This blend of juices was then fermented with saison yeast, a type of yeast known much more for use in beer than cider, and which provides flavor components in the estery and phenolic (spicy) ranges, but more importantly for cider, also tends to ferment out extremely dry. Intrigued? We sure are. Grab this one in cans to go from the cidery on Agricola Street or stay and have a pint from the taps. This one was on tap at Stillwell last May, so keep your eyes peeled for this 6.6% saison take on the cider. 

Not to be outdone by Halifax, Lake City Cider in The Part of HRM Formerly Known as Dartmouth has a return engagement back on the shelves. Feisty is a collaboration with local chef Renée Lavallée of The Canteen. Made from 100% crab apples, it “celebrates small things that pack a big punch”. Expect plenty of acidity and tannins, with aromas of honeysuckle and apple blossom and flavors of pear and lychee on the finish. This one should pair very nicely with seafood, pork dishes, and roasted root vegetables.

Just one major event to tell you about, but it’s a big’un for folks on the Island.

Fans of good beer in Prince Edward Island can recommence with the rejoicing, as the PEI Beer Festival is back! After the originally scheduled event was cancelled due to Hurricane Fiona’s impending landfall, new dates have been locked in for February 10th and 11th at the Delta Prince Edward in Charlottetown. There will be three sessions in total, one Friday evening from 6:30 to 9:30pm and two on Saturday: afternoon from 2:00 to 4:30pm and evening from 6:30 to 9:30pm. VIP tickets will cost you a little more for any given session, but grant you a 30-minute earlier entry (i.e., 1:30pm on Saturday afternoon or 6:00pm for either evening session) along with a souvenir glass. Designated driver tickets (complimentary non-alcoholic drinks and access to the DD lounge) are also available for all three sessions, which we heartily applaud. All told, including fees and taxes, VIP will cost you $80.67, regular admission $60.94, and DD $13.55. If you purchased tickets back in September your tickets are still good! Otherwise, head over to the Eventbrite page and grab some and plan to experience all kinds of Island and non-Island beers and other drinks, with live entertainment for a convivial atmosphere during the dregs of Winter!

Seems to be a bunch of breweries looking for staff this week; looking ahead to a big summer, we expect!

Wolfville’s Church Brewing is looking for a full-time Brewer to join their congregation. This is a unique opportunity to work in one of the most unique spaces in the region. Experience isn’t necessary for this position (though it would certainly be considered an asset), but a passion for brewing definitely is. Get your résumé in by Monday, January 22nd to be considered for the role! If you’re interested, you can email the head brewer, Steve Crane. 

Over in Burnside, Spindrift is on the lookout for a Tap Room and Retail Associate. If slinging high quality lagers to the thirsty beer drinkers of Dartmouth sounds like your thing, send a resume to kj.dugas@spindriftbrewing.ca

Along the North Shore of Nova Scotia, Tatamagouche is hiring a full-time and permanent position at the brewery. They’re looking for a Store Manager and someone to lead a team, learn about beer, work events and spread that Tatamagoodness. And, it comes with health plan! If this interests you, email Christiane Jost to apply. They’ll be accepting applications until January 31st, and this is a very cool opportunity if you’re nearby Tatamagouche or looking to make a move. 

IPAs and Quebec aren’t the only Trailway news this week. If you remember, they’ve been working on a second location in Saint John, and with Union House nearing completion in early March, they’re excited to be close enough to opening to start hiring. Positions are now available for serving and kitchen roles, on both a full-time and part-time basis. If you’re interested in craft beer and getting in on the ground floor of what’s sure to be a go-to spot in Saint John, send a resume to unionhousebytw@gmail.com. 

You’ve made it to the end! Stay alert, stay safe and cheers from us to you and yours.

Friday Wrap-Up for June 10, 2022 – News from Good Robot, Village Green, Delta Force, Propeller, Shipwright, Unfiltered, Port Rexton, plus much more, including job postings!

Posted by acbbdamian on 2022-06-10
Posted in: Friday Wrap-Up. Tagged: 2 Crows Brewing, 902 BrewCast, Baccalieu Trail Brewing, Bannerman Brewing, Bishop's Cellar, Boxing Rock Brewing, Chain Yard Cider, Cicerone Certification Program, Copper Bottom Brewing, Delta Force Brewing, Good Robot Brewing, Half Cut Brewing, Landwash Brewery, Maritime Express Cider, North Brewing, Port Rexton Brewing Co., Propeller Brewing, Quidi Vidi Wharf, Shipwright Brewing, Unfiltered Brewing, Village Green by Modern Brewer. 1 comment

Happy Friday and welcome to what looks like the first decent stretch of weekend weather this summer (at least for us crazy cats in HRM). We’ve got a bunch of new releases, a handful of events, and what seems like a record number of job postings heading your way. Sit back, relax and crack open your favourite local beverage as we bring you up to speed on all things beer/cider related in Atlantic Canada. 

In case you missed the news, big changes have been happening during the last twelve months for Good Robot Brewing, and we wanted to give you an update. We’ve previously mentioned their plans to open a production facility in Elmsdale, and as they celebrated their Seventh Anniversary in May, they were also packaging their last cans at their original Robie Street location (more on that in a second). Having now moved their brewing equipment off Robie Street and out to Industrial Way, the new facility has offered the capability of new equipment and capacity. One of those new pieces of equipment is a mash filter. Taking the place of a lauter tun (or the combo mash/lauter tun most often seen in local craft breweries), it allows quicker separation of wort from the grain, and more efficient recovery. Neat! They have also added an upgraded canning line, including a tunnel pasteurizer to help keep product shelf stable These additions, as well as more and larger fermenters, will allow them to brew up to 10 times their current capacity, allowing them to expand their reach further outside of Nova Scotia. And while specifics are still under wraps for now, they are interested in partnering with other breweries or drink manufacturers to allow them an opportunity to co-package/brew when capacity allows, giving the opportunity for others to create or scale up production on Good Robot’s facilities. More on that as we learn!

As mentioned above, with the move of the main production facility to Elmsdale, they have also moved their canning line. To mark the end of an era on Robie Street, they set aside the last can of Creature Feature IPA to come off the line, and are auctioning it off for charity. You can bid on the can here (the auction closes June 24th), and all of the proceeds will go to Blk Women in Excellence, their most recent Goodwill Beer partner. Bid early and bid often! Learn more about it here.

And finally, with the expansion to Elmsdale, they will be opening both a retail space and Beer Garden in the coming months, and are adding to their team of misfits. Check the Job Posting info below to learn more, and you may even have a chance to join our pal Kellye Robertson, who has joined GRBC’s Brewing Crew. Congratulations, Kellye!

Delta Force Brewing is back with a third contribution to the Make Peace Not War beer project. Joining the Dry-Hopped Farmshed Sour, Valley Lager and Farmshed Tripel are two more releases, a Farmshed Kvass and a Goose-Shake IPA. The Kvass is a lager beer/kvass hybrid with obvious bready notes due to the Kvass element. This beer is 6.0% and 25 IBU and available in 500ml bottles.

Goose-Shake is an IPA packed with gooseberries, with additions of lactose and vanilla to up the sweetness. This one is also 6.0% and is 17 IBU, also in 500ml bottles. 40% of all proceeds are being donated to Red Cross efforts in Ukraine for this series of beer. Learn more about the beer and project, and order yours today from their website! They’ve also got two beers back in stock, the Operation Sommar Dry Stout and Operation Barrow English IPA. 

Back with a new release out of Cornwall, Village Green has a new IPA out. Delightful! Is an IPA with a blend of classic American “C” hops (Chinook, Centennial, Columbus, Cascade and maybe even some Citra?) and a lovely British yeast to play on all the malt and hop flavours. This 6% IPA is available now from the brewery in cans and on tap.

One of the benefits of being located so close to our ‘Murican neighbours is the opportunity to make a quick trip across the border to sample the vast selection of beers that are available. Up until recently, the pandemic had put a kibosh on this, leaving fans of New England classics like Allagash White high and dry. If you count yourself in that category, you’ll be pleased to hear that Atlantic Canada is getting a new take on the Belgian Witbier with Propeller’s release of White. Available starting today, Prop’s take on the style comes in at 4.8% ABV and 30 IBUs. Expect the hallmark style notes of orange and coriander in what is sure to be a patio favourite. Cans are available now at Prop’s three retail locations, via their online store and at a handful of private stores across HRM.

Lunenburg’s own Shipwright Brewing proudly presents Day Sailor! This new release is a 4.5% easy drinking, crisp, clean Golden Ale, named after a relaxing pleasure-craft. It’s available now in cans and on tap for pints and growler fills from the brewery. 

Be sure to keep an eye on what they’re putting together next door (the old Big Red’s Restaurant), an addition to their existing taproom and brewery. They’re going to expand production, food offering and also a private booking space on the top floor. Stay tuned to their social media for updates. 

The crew at Unfiltered Brewing brings back a fan favourite this week with a banger. Here It Comes is a Double IPA (classic Unfiltered!) featuring Chinook hops. Chinook brings a wonderfully delicious citrusy flavour and aroma to this 7.5% DIPA. All of the hops in the batch are from Duke25, a Nova Scotia- and Quebec-based hop producer. This is available today in 473ml cans, growler fills and pints from Charm School. 

Next up, another returning beer, but this time out of Port Rexton Brewing. Last available in 2018, Flight of the Mango is back! This is a fruited ale made with mangue purée and lactose added. The beer is big on mango for aroma, taste and some nice sweetness throughout. This beer is 4.5% and available from the taproom for pints and also in cans from the brewery and St. John’s retail shop on Saturday. It will also be widely available across Newfoundland next week.  

In cider news, Kentville’s Maritime Express has joined a few other producers in our region in marrying up gin and cider for a refreshing herbal kick. Going the route of ageing the cider for six months in French oak that had previously held Compass Distillers’ gin, you should find this one smooth and crisp, with aromas of fresh apple and juniper. On the palate you might sense some cotton candy and pine as well. This one packs a bit of a punch at 8.3% and has been bottled in 750ml bottles; we suspect this is a limited batch, so if you’re interested it’s best you get to grabbing some.

Up in Bay Roberts, NL, Baccalieu Trail Brewing Co has been busily working away on a top secret project for months, but with the first delivery hitting store shelves, they’re ready to blow the covers off the thing. Inspired by the importance of tourism to the NL economy, BTB partnered up with four unique restaurants in four unique tourism regions in the province to create four sessionable beers that celebrate the beauty and history of Newfoundland. This isn’t just about brewing up some beers and naming them, the label artwork is designed to highlight the attractions of each region, and there’s a QR code on every can that you can scan to be taken to a portal where you can explore those attractions and see food menus for the partner restaurants. The four beers are available as a four-pack, with a very reasonable asking price of $21.50, taxes in. It should be available Island-wide in the next week or so, from many of your favourite craft beer sources. We don’t have information about the beers, but that will be part of the fun for those who grab themselves a set. We can, however, tell you that the partner restaurants are The Old Store Café in Norris Point, Ragged Rocks GastroPub in Bonavista, The Quay Restaurant in Brigus, and The Hub of the North Restaurant and Suites in Greenspond. Whether you’re a Newfoundlander who would like to explore your home province a little more or a visitor looking for beautiful and historic places to go, we suggest grabbing yourself a pack and doing some virtual exploration while you sit and sip!

Let’s give you a few reasons (and ways!) to celebrate this weekend…

After months of planning and preparation, Boxing Rock’s new Test Kitchen and Retail Shop is opening today! Located at 2790 Windsor Street in Halifax, the Test Kitchen shares space with Local Source Market, and will feature a retail space for bottles, cans, and merchandise, as well as growler fills (remember those?). They will also be doing small batch brewing here, testing out new recipes and collaborating with the community to keep bringing you the good stuff. Drop by today after 11 AM to check out the new space, fill up your lifetime-discount orange growler, and if you sign up for their loyalty program, you will be entered into a draw to win one of your own! Plus you’ll have the chance to vote on what you’d like to see brewed on their 100 litre system.

Folks close to the QV Gut can rejoice, as the Quidi Vidi Wharf is opening today for the season. Open 12 – 9 PM daily, from now until Labour Day, visitors can grab beer from Landwash’s slick beer trailer, and pair it with food from Johnny & Mae’s, Quidi Vidi Fish & Chips, and QV Sweet Spot too! And for those not in the gut, there is a shuttle to/from the wharf all day, every day, with hourly runs from the Pedestrian Mall/Alt Hotel, right to the Sugarloaf parking lot (and every 20 minutes to the Dominion on QV Lake).

There’s a fun little tap takeover this Saturday if you’re around St. John’s. The sweet folks from Chain Yard Cider are visiting Bannerman Brewing and bringing 4 of their favourite ciders to share on the rock. They’ll have four ciders on tap (Pink Tartan, Hazy Fraisy, Hopped Up and Foundation) and also some packaged products for sale (King’s Saison, Espionage and more!) at the brewery, as well. 

We mentioned 2 Crows’ The Agenda Grapefruit and Basil Radler last week, but wanted to remind you of the Rhinestone Cowboy-themed release party happening Saturday. From 1 PM, Cafe Aroma Latino will be popping up in the taproom Latin-inspired dishes, with DJ EFFA keeping the party going spinning Honky Tonk tunes from 7 PM until close. Dress up in your favourite outfit and get on down to party!

All this reading making you thirsty to get into the beer biz? We’ve got a bunch of options for you to look at this week.

Montague’s Copper Bottom Brewing is hiring a Production and Operations Manager to join their team. They will be responsible for overseeing the planning, brewing, storage, and shipment of beer across the province (and beyond). While not directly brewing, this person will be helping with planning, forecasting, and making sure everything is running smoothly! Check the link to learn more and apply!

In Cornwall PEI, Village Green is hiring folks to help out in both front and back of house. If you are interested in slinging beer to thirsty patrons, and/or helping to can up beers for folks to take home, this is the right job for you! Especially if you love beer, and are looking to learn more and get your foot in the door. Fire them an email to learn more and apply!

Half Cut Brewing is opening their own taproom on the North Side of Fredericton this summer, and they are looking for folks to sling some beer! Opening in July at 67 Main Street, the taproom will have seating both inside and out, a dozen taps, and also share space with 11th Mile’s Coast Line Pizza, providing Detroit-style pizza and salads. Interested folks should get in contact to apply!

With their big move to Elmsdale, Good Robot is hiring folks to work both in retail and the beer garden. There are about ten openings between the two positions, and you should check out their Indeed postings to learn more and apply!

With school winding down, it is scholarship season for many folks and North Brewing is accepting applications for their 2022 Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship. Always advocating and working to be an ally for their community and the wider brewing and craft beer community, this scholarship is wide ranging for any students entering programs related to the brewing industry. The scholarship includes the monetary reward but also guaranteed summer employment at North for the duration of their education. Applications are open until the end of July, so check out the link here and share with any friends and families with students that can apply!

If you’re in Bay Roberts (or know someone who is nearby!) Baccalieu Trail Brewing Co. is seeking a responsible and friendly individual to be a Beertender for the summer. If serving beer to friendly folks is up your alley, you have until June 14th to apply. 

The successful applicant will enjoy serving craft beer to thirsty customers while receiving competitive tips/pay, and working at an awesome brewery in Bay Roberts!

If interested, send a resume via email and a short sentence or two detailing why you’d be the perfect fit for Baccalieu Trail Brewing Co. Or, just drop off a resume in person at the Taproom. 

And a couple last quick mentions afore ye go:

The 902 BrewCast fellas sat down with Michelle Tham, a Certified Cicerone, while she was in Halifax recently, to learn about her lightbulb moment beer, why she hates describing beer as “hoppy”, and how she is using her beer education to travel across the country (and beyond). Grab the latest episode on the 902BC website or in your favourite podcatcher.

Speaking of 902 Brewcast, one of our favourite sources for beers of all kinds is Bishop’s Cellar on the Halifax Waterfront (if you don’t understand the connection there, you should definitely listen to the podcast!). Of course they stock all kinds of tasty beers, ciders, and meads from around Nova Scotia and the rest of the Atlantic Provinces, but they are also a source for beverages from the rest of Canada and beyond, providing us with a chance to sample quality products here at home. This week they’ve got some treats from Germany, largely lagers, in the form of AyingerJahrhundert, an Export Helles, Pinkus Müller Altbier, a “pale” (and slightly tart) Altbier, Pinkus Müller Ur-Pils, an unfiltered German Pils, SchanzenbräuHelles, and Schanzenbräu Rotbier, a red lager. Grab yourself a mixed pack of those and some brats ‘n buns and you can have yourself a proper Deutsch treat!! We’d also be remiss if we didn’t mention they’ve got Serpent Brewing’s Mexican Mole Porter in stock!!

Friday Wrap-Up for December 4, 2020 – News from Change is Brewing Collective and Lake City Cider, CAVOK, Landwash, Good Robot, Copper Bottom, Tatamagouche, North, Flying Boats, ChainYard and more!

Posted by acbbchris on 2020-12-04
Posted in: Friday Wrap-Up. Tagged: 2 Crows Brewing, Benjamin Bridge, Breton Brewing, CAVOK Brewing, Chain Yard Cider, Change Is Brewing Collective, Copper Bottom Brewing, Flying Boats Brewing, Garrison Brewing, Good Robot Brewing, Grimross Brewing, Lake City Cider, Landwash Brewery, Maybee Brewing, North Brewing, Propeller Brewing, Quidi Vidi Brewery, Tatamagouche Brewing, Unfiltered Brewing. Leave a Comment

Let us be the last to welcome you to December, folks. In a year that feels a decade long, we’re rounding the corner to what wild and wonderful things 2021 has in store for us. No matter what, there will be great beer and cider, so at least we’ve got that going for us! A full complement of new and returning options for you to seek out this weekend, and remember that many places are on reduced operations due to COVID restriction, so you’ll want to do a double-check before hopping in your car to visit. Better yet, when possible choose contact-less delivery from those breweries and restaurants offer it, and tip generously. Be kind and drink well, friends!

The Change is Brewing Collective is back with their latest collaborative release, this time with Dartmouth’s Lake City Cider. Forest Glory is a 6.8% ABV blend of many different fruits and herbs all grown or foraged in Nova Scotia and featuring contributions from Stirling Fruit Farms, Terra Beata, East Coast Wild Foods, and Riverview Herbs. Starting with a blend of apple and cranberry juices fermented dry, it was infused with a tincture of juniper, thyme, and rosemary — we hear that the blending and herb selection day was a feast for the senses, as evidenced by the social media posts. Not only does the cider taste great, but it looks great too! Collective member Amber Zaza created a festive and meaningful design featuring the ingredients in a repeating wreath pattern, inclusive of the season, and for whatever reason you choose to celebrate. Proceeds of sales are going to a local non-profit supporting BIPOC youth and community-building.

From Change is Brewing, they “are more motivated than ever to continue promoting diversity & inclusion in the craft beverage industry, and exploring the different opportunities available to BIPOC folks in this province,” so keep your eyes peeled here and on their Social Media (Fb/Ig) for their next Brewing 101 and other events and releases. Grab Forest Glory at Lake City’s retail location, and/or for delivery in HRM, right now! Their in-person event planned for this Sunday is on hold due to COVID restrictions, but they’ll be doing a virtual event later in the month.

Like several areas of New Brunswick, the Moncton region remains in the Orange zone, but that isn’t stopping some of the local breweries from helping you get your beer fix! CAVOK Brewing, still open for pints with your bubble members, as well as takeaway beers, has a brand new New England IPA for the weekend. Got Wings? was brewed with a grist of 2-row and CaraRed malts, along with some oats, and was hopped with a wide variety of hops, including Chinook, Magnum, Citra, Mosaic, and Amarillo. Conditioned on tangerine and pineapple purée “for a sharp, upfront taste of bitter oranges and some fruit sweetness”, you can naturally expect even more citrus, fruity, dank aromas and flavours from the hop additions. With a fairly-low-for-an-IPA ABV of 5.8% ABV, you can find this medium-bodied hop bomb right now at CAVOK on tap and in cans.

Mount Pearl, Newfoundland’s Landwash Brewery is celebrating their Second Anniversary this weekend, and are releasing two new beers to mark the occasion. Awesome! Fresh off the canning line just this morning is the latest in their exploration of the American IPA style, Anchor Rode. This 7.2% IPA features a heavy dose of Strata hops, a newer variety related to Perle, and features a dank character along with plenty of juicy tropical notes of passion fruit, grapefruit, and strawberry. Cans, pints, and fills are available now!

And for those digging a big bold barreled beer, enter Landwash’s The Barrelman. Locals will recognize who this is referring to, but for the rest of us, The Barrelman was the name adopted by Joey Smallwood during his history and culture radio show broadcast in the 1930s and 40s. The beer stands as tall as the man, an American Barley Wine that spent 8 months in Bourbon barrels (American Oak, natch), taking on plenty of vanilla and a touch of booze, along with plenty of toffee and dried fruit character from the base beer. At 10% ABV, it’s perfect for nights huddled around the radio. Cans are also available in their retail shop now, and it’ll also be on draught when the taproom opens at 3 PM. Congratulations on your first two years, Landwash Crew, you have lots to celebrate, and more great things coming! Check their Social Media for details of events they’re holding over the next few weeks, including Slay Belles Drag Brunch next Sunday, as well as plenty of live music.

Tonight you will be visited by three spirits … ok, maybe it’s too early to start reciting Christmas Carol lines, but if you’re in the mood for a spooky beer, check out Good Robot’s release of Uncle Giggle’s Hazy APA. This 5.1% juicy pale ale is an homage to Disney’s Haunted Mansion which inspired the many of the design aspects of GR’s upstairs bar, the MouseTrap. Expect citrusy aromas with floral and grapefruit flavours from the Magnum, Citra and Equinox hops, which were paired with a grist bill featuring pale malt and flaked wheat. Grab some today from the Robots at their retail store on Robie Street or stay home and order delivery through their webstore. 

Over in PEI, Montague’s Copper Bottom is happy to announce the latest entry in their Field Trip series, consisting of kettle-soured, fruited beers. Field Trip: Tangerine was brewed with a very simple recipe of Shoreline Malting 2-row, soured with Lactobacillus, and fermented with a clean ale yeast strain. Conditioned on loads of tangerine puree, the resulting 5% ABV brew is tart and sessionable, with “a moderate tangerine and tangerine pith character”. You can find it in the brewery’s taproom, online for pickup and delivery options, and in this year’s Advent Calendar from Harvest Wines. And if you were a fan of CB’s NorthPaw Rye IPA (6.5% ABV) when they first launched it, good news, as a fresh batch is now available! Hopped with Amarillo and Cascade to 40 IBUs, this time around it’ll be available at select PEILCC locations, as well as at the brewery and online.

If you’re feeling more in a Lager-ish kinda mood, Tatamagouche Brewing has you covered with their latest, Arvo, a Helles Lager. A style brewed to be clean, easy-drinking, and a showcase for good malt and noble hops, Tata’s take on the style features a grist of mostly Pilsner malt, with a little bit of Honey malt and Carapils thrown in for good measure. Mash-hopped with Czech Saaz, more Saaz and some Hallertau Mittlefruh were added in the boil, for a total calculated IBUs of 26. Fermented with the Isar Lager strain from Escarpment Labs, the final beer is right where you’d want it at 4.6% ABV, and is just what you’re looking for when you need a beer that is approachable, sessionable, and flavourful… without smacking you in the face too hard with, well, anything! Available at the brewery store for growlers and cans, and of course you can order it online (lots of great shipping options for all around the country!).

TataBrew also has a couple of other favourites returning: Elixir, their Pale Ale fermented with the Krispy Kveik yeast and hopped with Elixir and Mistral, two French varieties, is currently available on tap and in cans; and Giantess, their award-winning Barley Wine, a big (11% ABV!!), bold, delicious beer, can be found in store/online in 650 mL bottles. Two completely-different beers, yet both tasty as all get out!

Cole Harbour’s North Brewing has had a big couple of weeks, what with the release of Stack o’ Pancakes and their new and vintage collaboration beers with Benjamin Bridge, all of which we’ve mentioned over the past couple of weeks. This week saw the release of another beer we mentioned two weeks ago as on-the-way, SoP’s “sister” beer, Cinnamon Bun Stout. But they haven’t stopped there! Out today is a very special version of their original pastry stout, Twinkle Pony. For those who remember, this was a stout brewed with Tiramisu components, including ladyfinger cookies, vanilla, and coffee, as well as plenty of chocolate malt. As a special treat for all those folks who continue to ask for it, they not only made more, they made it MORE. Two barrels worth of a previous batch of this beer were socked into whiskey barrels for a solid 10 months before being blended with some newer stout then conditioned further on toasted coconut, cocoa nibs from Rousseau Chocolatier, and more vanilla. The result is a 9% ABV beer that will no doubt twinkle your pony. They’re calling it Coco Pony and if you’re into it, you should act quickly: only 900 cans have been produced! Grab it through on-line ordering for curbside pickup or delivery, or responsible socially distanced retail!

This is the time of year when some of you start craving certain Christmas candies, which inevitably means that similarly-themed beers will follow. With Dieppe’s Flying Boats, they’ve added a new beer to their Small Batch Brewing series, Midnight Express, a “Double Chocolate Orange Porter” which most likely is inspired by the popular stocking stuffer, Terry’s Chocolate Orange. The beer is brewed in the English Porter style, with a grist that contains two different Chocolate malt varieties. East Kent Goldings hops were added in the boil, along with additions of bitter orange peel. More orange was added to the beer in the form of orange puree during the conditioning phase, with the end product showing off a “full-bodied dark chocolate flavour, hints of orange zest, and a nice, creamy finish”. It’s 6.2% and 28 IBUs, and was packaged in 750 mL bottles for purchase at the brewery, as well as select ANBL stores. 

Need a break from beer? Well, don’t forget that there’s lots of great, local cideries around Atlantic Canada now, with Halifax’s ChainYard being an excellent option. And hey, they’ve got a brand new cider currently available in cans, Cran’d Ole Hopry. This one is a cider made with Northern Spy apples that was dry-hopped with Cascade and Mosaic, and then aged on the cidery’s house-made cranberry wine. Lots of hop aromatics with this beauty, as well as a tart, refreshing finish of cranberry. It weighs in at 6.4% ABV; grab your 4-packs at CY right now!

Quidi Vidi has a few new beers in their Hop Shop and hitting NLCs and convenience stores this week. First up is Infinity Skull IPA, a juicy Idaho 7-heavy American IPA, featuring notes of apricot, lime, and pineapple. This collaboration was done with local tattoo artist Murray Brokenshire from Trouble Bound Studio, and of course features a pretty sick can design. Their Sofa Sours Series continues with the return of Strawberry Guava Creamsicle. Bright ripe strawberry and guava, with a touch of lactose to balance the acidity, makes for a refreshing, light, and fruity extension of the beer line. And finally, Imperial Black Forest Stout! As the name implies, lots of chocolate in the can, along with cherry and vanilla that will have you thinking of this heavenly dessert. Check their website for availability for pickup and delivery, in addition to those sent to the other retail locations.

As the holidays draw nearer, Atlantic Canadian beer drinkers collectively seek out a beer that is socially acceptable to crack open before noon (or is that just us?). Look no further, as Propeller is rereleasing its Mocha Oatmeal Stout. Brewed with chocolate and locally roasted coffee, expect flavors of espresso, milk chocolate and brown sugar in a 5.5% ABV package. As an added bonus, this year’s cans are of the nitro variety, leading to a creamier, smooth mouthfeel and the classic cascading head caused by the nitrogen. The kegged version was carbed using CO2, so grab a growler while you’re at it to compare and contrast the two styles. Available today at Prop’s three HRM locations are via home delivery through their webstore.

Not to be outdone by all the other breweries doing some kinda boxy bundley thingy for the holidays (just a little late to the party 😘), 2 Crows Brewing in Halifax is stepping up the local content with theirs, calling it the Local Crate. Of course you’re going to get some lovely liquids from Brunswick Street, including 8 beers, 2 cans each of Refresh and Fantacity, 1 Laurel, 1 I Love You, and a bottle of Terry (the last two are exclusive early releases!) as well as 4 cans of Hop Water and a lovely limited release 2 Crows Arome beer glass to enjoy them all with. But you’ll also get a loaf of sourdough bread, a bag of granola, and an enamel pin from Birdies Bread Co., and Milosh Mustard (yep, mustard made with 2 Crows Milosh Helles-style lager) and Apple-Shallot Chutney from Good Luck Café & Pantry. Check out the pretty pictures at their web store, but don’t spend too long fawning, if you want one of these you need to place your order by December 10th; they’ll be ready for pickup or delivery on December 12th. 

Nothin’ doin’ this week in terms of beer-related events, but let’s be honest, that’s very much the way it should be. As we adapt to increased restrictions, though hopefully not for too long, we’ll likely see some virtual beer events pop up again, which we’ll be happy to tell you about. And with that, here’s the traditional batch of shorter items to send you on your way to plan your weekend beer(s)!

Breton Brewing’s latest seasonal is a NEIPA named Into the Haze (6.6% ABV) that was brewed with Wheat malt from Shoreline Malting and plenty of delicious hops to give “notes of pineapple on the nose, and flavours of grapefruit, lemon, mango, and cantaloupe.” Available for pickup at the brewery, and online for delivery/shipping across Nova Scotia. 

If you’re interested in trying some cellared beers, particularly those of the higher ABV variety, check out Garrison’s Cellar Celebration.  Featuring releases going as far back as 2015, you’ll find long-time favorites like Spruce Beer, Ol’Fog Burner Barleywine, Wintervention and Baltic Porter. Check out Garrison’s webstore for all of the details.   

Grimross Brewing has brought back their Abbey Dubbel (pronounced “double”, not “doobel”!), but this time, the Belgian Dubbel is available in cans. At 7.2% ABV, and with “notes of dark fruit, banana, and allspice with toasty malt and a drying finish”, it’s just what you need for sipping on a cold (or, lukewarm?) late-fall night. 

Maybee Brewing has their own returning Belgian staple, Stone House Tripel. This pale-coloured, 8.4% ABV Belgian Tripel was originally one of the brewery’s flagship beers; if you’ve been missing it, you can grab it on tap and in cans at the brewery.

Halifax hop heads rejoice! Double Orange Ale is back at Unfiltered Brewing. The 7.5% DIPA you know and love is available now in cans and growler fills (Unfiltered glass only) on North Street, or via home delivery.