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Friday Wrap-Up for August 5th, 2022 – News from Propeller, Big Spruce, Landwash, Lone Oak, Tire Shack, and More!!

Posted by acbbchris on 2022-08-05
Posted in: Friday Wrap-Up. Tagged: Annapolis Cider Company, Banished Brewing, Bannerman Brewing, Big Spruce Brewing, Bishop's Cellar, Black is Beautiful, Feed Nova Scotia, Good Robot Brewing, Grimross Brewing, Halifax Seaport Beerfest, Landwash Brewery, Lone Oak Brewing, Lunn's Mill Beer Company, Picaroons, Propeller Brewing, Shipwright Brewing, Stillwell Beer Bar, Tatamagouche Brewing, The Stillwell Freehouse, Tire Shack Brewing, Tusket Falls Brewing, Volo. Leave a Comment

Hello loyal beer news fans! Apologies for the lack of news last week, we decided that with 4 of us travelling, it was a bit too much to get a post together that day. But we’ve more than made up for it this week, with news from every Atlantic province and surely a beer, cider, or event that everybody will enjoy, although we were obviously challenged in getting it put together in a timely fashion. So let’s get right to it!

The summer of Propeller Brewing’s 25th Anniversary celebration continues this week as they took the opportunity on yesterday’s IPA Day to release 25K IPA. This 6.1% Double Dry-Hopped IPA leverages Amarillo and Cryo Citra for an intense melon and citrus hit on the nose, with a solid West Coast character in the glass. Available on draught at Propeller’s three locations, as well as at licensees around the province (if you don’t see it, ask!). Also available in cans locally through Propeller and the Harvest Wine group, as well as local delivery and nation-wide shipping. Enticing us even more is what the “25K” name represents: teaming up with industry partners, they will be donating 100% of the proceeds of the beer to Feed Nova Scotia, which will exceed $25,000! More than just a food bank, Feed Nova Scotia’s goal is to increase food security through food distribution, education and collaboration throughout the province. We can certainly get behind that! Check out Jenell and Pat on Global with more on the beer and charitable component.

Let’s keep the charitable beers rolling this week, with Big Spruce in Nyanza releasing their 2022 Black is Beautiful beer, Toasted Coconut Jamaican Rum Barrel-Aged Foreign Extra Stout. Wow, quite a mouthful! And the beer is too, with this Foreign Extra Stout (think full-body and bold) seeing toasted coconut in the boil, and then hanging out in Jamaican Rum barrels for more than 6 months, picking up both wood character as well as plenty of rum booziness from its previous tenant. 100% of the proceeds of Black is Beautiful are going to African Nova Scotian Decade for People of African Descent, a coalition building strength and health across African Nova Scotian communities and working to forge a renewed working relationship with government that creates conditions for all African-descended people in Nova Scotia to thrive. And you can learn more about Black is Beautiful, the international charitable collaboration entering its third year, in this short documentary. Only available through Big Spruce, pop by their taproom and retail shop overlooking the Bras D’Or lakes, or for home delivery (nationwide shipping too) on their website.

While you’re there, also check out their other new release, Ykpaïha. Styled after a classic European Pilsner, Ykpaïha features Zlato Polissya hops throughout, grown in Zhytomyr Oblast, Ukraine. Those hops lend fresh herb and light floral notes with a slight earthy undertone, reminiscent of Noble hops grown elsewhere in Europe. Available now in cans and on draught. 

Mount Pearl’s Landwash Brewery released a funky beer, months in the making, in late July, and we want to be sure we told you about it ASAP so you don’t miss out… Funk Island 2022 began life as a pale wheat ale back in the winter, which then had a second round of fermentation in wine barrels with Brettanomyces, a familiar yeast to those into traditional Belgian or French beers. With the light base beer giving the yeast a lovely stage upon which to shine, it features notes of hay, orange blossoms, and strawberries. And as the 4.9% beer was packaged with a bit of yeast and fermentable sugar present, it has developed a lively and tight carbonation in the bottle, and will be perfect for storing to see how it further develops. Currently only available at the brewery on Commonwealth Avenue, it should be available at a few other retail shops in the region in the coming weeks.

And just released this week in celebration of Regatta Day (sorry to those who may have lost at Roulette Tuesday night/Wednesday morning!), is Pearl Swirl, their new Milkshake IPA series. The first release is Pearl Swirl: Lemon and Apricot, which is chock full of lemon, drinking like a lemon meringue pie! Named after the Mount Pearl Curl hairstyle, look for this on tap at Landwash now, with cans coming next week. 

From one island to another, Lone Oak Brewing, based in Borden-Carleton (and now Charlottetown with their Brewpub location), has released a charitable and collaborative beer in Monarch Kolsch. The 4.7% ABV lagered ale is light and refreshing for these warmer months, with a touch of fruity esters with a hint of spicy character. Every can sold will see $1 donated to the Island Nature Trust, whose mission is to protect natural beauty and habitat on the Island, including the land and flora that the Monarch Butterfly loves. Pop by the Brewery or Brewpub (the only places Monarch is available) this weekend to grab a four-pack, drinking for a great purpose!

Moncton’s Tire Shack Brewery is releasing a new beer they’ve been tweaking behind the scenes since January.  Strawberry Vanilla Shake IPA is a 100% vegan take on a milkshake IPA. Milkshake IPAs typically use lactose sugar to add sweetness and a creamy mouthfeel. Tire Shack has replicated that with a secret ingredient that opens the beer to a wider audience of drinkers. Dry-hopped with Enigma, expect big notes of strawberry jam and vanilla ice cream, but without having to worry about popping a couple of Lacteeze first! Available now at the brewery on tap and in growler fills and cans to go!

Back to Newfoundland and the Avalon Peninsula, Bannerman Brewing is releasing Future-Proof, the brewery’s first cream ale. This one started with a grain bill of Pilsner malt, flaked barley and corn before a light hopping with several European hops. Cream ales combine the fruity esters from an ale yeast fermentation, with the crisp drinking experience of a lager. Future Proof, coming in at 4.8% ABV, is available now at the brewery on Duckworth. While you’re there, you’ll also find Eclipse, their Sabro/Eclipse hopped IPA, back in stock. And finally, don’t forget to bring your Newfoundland and Labrador Craft Brewery Passport for a stamp. Bannerman is participating in the promotion this summer, along 18 other breweries and 1 cidery and 1 distillery, as part of the province’s Come Home 2022 Summer.

Halifax’s, and now Elmsdale’s, Good Robot Brewing has a new beer on their Drinkubator line, a Milk Stout. Leveraging their taproom visitors’ opinions and enthusiasm, the Drinkubator program lets folks vote and decide which beers will get a bump up from a small pilot batch to a more wide release. Notes of coffee, chocolate, and vanilla abound in this beer, maybe great for enjoying around a summer evening fire (when allowed, burn safely, folks!). On tap on Robie Street only, for now…

And while you cannot (yet) grab this one at their Elmsdale Beer Garden location, a reminder that it is open and ready to serve its thirsty neighbours. Located at 14 Industrial Way, the Beer Garden is open Friday to Sunday, noon to 11 PM (noon to 10 PM Sunday). Their retail shop out there is set to open soon, operating Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 8 PM (opening at 10 AM Friday and Sunday).

Heading west to the “other Lawrencetown”, Lunn’s Mill has two new releases to share with you. First up is It’s A Session IPA, which as you may have guessed, is a session IPA. Coming in at 4.3%, it is the first release in their new Lazy Brewer series. Up next is Not Your Bock, their take on a German Maibock. Expect some grainy sweetness and a hint of spice, along with an ample 7% ABV. Both beers are being released next Wednesday, August 10, at the brewery’s Lawrencetown and Bridgetown locations. These two will also be on tap for pints and growler fills.

Lunenburg’s Shipwright Brewing has released Bell Ringer Red, in support of the campaign to save the bell from the iconic Lunenburg Academy. This one was designed by Shipwright owner Adam Bowers, who also happens to be a former student of the academy. Look for a malt-forward drinking experience that includes notes of caramel and toffee. Bell Ringer is available now at the brewery on Montague Street.

Back to the Avalon one more time, where in Paradise, NL, new brewery Banished has a brand new DIPA pouring from the taps. Jim Time is an ode to the man who was responsible for keeping their opening as close to on-schedule as it could be given the pandemic circumstances. Described as a, “tractor driving, F1-watching, Adirondack-sitting, BBQ-loving legend,” Jim was also known for only drinking DIPAs, which made it an easy decision as to how to honour him. At 8% ABV, it’s got some serious kick, and no doubt a pretty significant hop kick as well. Packaged in cans, you can grab it from the brewery and other places where you find Banished beers.

Some beery things happening in the big city this weekend and next:

As things continue to return to something like the normal we knew before the pandemic, we’re starting to see the return of such novelties as big beerfests. First out of the gate in that regard, at least in the HRM, is the Seaport Beerfest, back for the 12th iteration of the event, 14 years after the first one in 2007. This year taking place entirely out of doors in front of Garrison Brewing’s Seaport location, 25 Maritime breweries are represented (19 from NS, 3 from NB, and 3 from PEI) along with some treats from Ontario, Quebec, Europe, and Maine. There are also cideries and meaderies represented, and this year sees the advent of FizzFest, which means you’ll find a wide selection of Ready-to-Drink hard seltzers, sodas, and cocktails as well: plenty of options for the non-beer drinkers in your social circle as well. The first of four sessions was held last night and was attended by our own Aaron and Chris, who can attest to it being a great time. If you’re looking for a way to beat the heat and taste some beers (or other beverages), tickets are still available for the three remaining sessions, tonight, 7 – 10 PM, Saturday afternoon 2 – 5 PM, and Saturday evening, 7 – 10 PM. Lots more information, including a link to a list of everything that will be pouring, is available in the FAQ section of the event website.

Next Friday, August 12th, a reunion of sorts will take place in Halifax, as Stillwell will welcome their old friends from legendary Toronto beer destination Volo. As many know, some of Stillwell’s leadership learned the ins and outs of the industry at Volo, laying the groundwork for the creation of the Stillwell Empire. Since that time Volo has begun making their own beer and wine and they’ll be bringing a bunch of it for us to try and enjoy. The event will run from open to close at both The Freehouse and HQ, with slightly different taplists at each spot. You can find a full list of what’s available in this Ig post.

As is often the case at this time of year, lots of our region’s purveyors are looking to supplement their staff during the busiest season for suds.

Up first is Tusket Falls, who are looking to add a combination role of Server and Social Media Manager to the team. If this combination sounds like it would be a fit for you, you can send in your resume via email. Next up, one of the region’s oldest breweries, Picaroons, is looking for a Production Brewer for their Roundhouse location in Fredericton; full details are available here. Tatamagouche Brewing is hiring both Cellar and Store positions, part-time and full-time, year round and seasonal. No experience is required, just a great attitude; you can learn more by emailing for full info or just go ahead and submit a resume. Landwash is hiring multiple folks on a part-time basis for their taproom and events; they’re hoping to people who have availability during afternoons and weekends. Full details are available at this link. And lastly, but not leastly, Bishop’s Cellar is looking for both full and part time staff to join their warehouse team. Benefits include a staff discount on wine, beer, and spirits; find out more or send in your resume using this address.

Being off meant we missed a couple of things last week; here’s a couple that should still be around:

Grimross Brewing in Fredericton has a beer made from in-province ingredients. Spring Runnings has malt from Maison Fils du Roy, and Mt Hood hops from Lakeview hops. Packing a bit more punch than usual for a blonde ale, this one comes in at 6.5% ABV.

In Wolfville, Annapolis Cider has a new one, aptly named Blueberry Crabapple. A sparkling, off-dry cider coming in at 7.4% ABV it’s features fresh-pressed local blueberries and a splash of tart hyslop crabapple juice to balance the sweetness. Even better, $0.50 from every refillable bottle sold will go to the Nova Scotia Nature Trust.

Friday Wrap-Up for July 31, 2020 – News from 2 Crows, Timber Ship, Tidehouse, Lunn’s Mill, Baccalieu Trail, Bogside, Good Robot, Two Islands, Propeller and more!

Posted by acbbchris on 2020-07-31
Posted in: Friday Wrap-Up. Tagged: 2 Crows Brewing, 902 BrewCast, Apero Lounge, Baccalieu Trail Brewing, Bistro on Prince, BlackRock Restaurant, Bogside Brewing, Briny Bay Cafe, Escarpment Laboratories, Famous Peppers, Feed Nova Scotia, Four Rivers Brewing Co., Garrison Brewing, Good Robot Brewing, Lunn's Mill Beer Company, Mikes Bar & Grill, New Maritime Beer Company, Niche Brewing, Peppers Pub, Propeller Brewing, Shoreline Malting, The Joyce, Tide & Boar Gastropub, Tidehouse Brewing, Timber Ship Brewing, Two Islands Brewing, Uncle Leo's Brewery, Unfiltered Brewing, Upstreet Craft Brewing, Vera Kitchen, Wheelhouse in Georgetown. 1 comment

We hope this week’s post finds you well, as we start the holiday weekend. Plenty of new beers to have delivered to your home this weekend, or if you’re able to venture out safely (masked up!), this is a grand time to visit a few breweries in our region. If you’re so inclined, remember that we’ve got a map listing the breweries and cideries in the region, as well as the craft-centered bars and shops. Check it out here! And remember to keep your designated driver happy at all times, to maximize your imbibing enjoyment. 🙂

Ok, we know for a fact that some of you beer geeks out there have been clamoring for an authentic Mexican Lager to be brewed in Atlantic Canada. Well, here we are smack-dab in the middle of summer (roughly), and 2 Crows has got what we need with their take on a Mexican Lager, Dos Cuervos (vetoed names include Crow-na and Crowdelo). Featuring a low oxygen mash of Pilsner and Chit malt from Shoreline Malting, plus a bit of Vienna and lots of flaked corn, they mash-hopped with Sterling, threw in some more at first wort, and finally went with a late boil addition of Motueka. Fermented nice and cool with a Mexican Lager yeast strain, they actually brewed another half batch and krausened with that one (adding some actively fermenting beer to restart the process and generate carbonation naturally). Finally adding a light dry-hop of more Motueka, they capped the tank, and eventually lowered the temperature slowly, allowing the beer to lager for 8 weeks. The final beer is tasting clean and crisp, with a little lime character thanks to the Motueka. It weighs in at a delightfully sessionable 4% ABV and 17 IBUs; you can find it on tap and in cans at the brewery, starting today.

And good news from 2C in the bakeapple world – they’ve got a brand new batch of Cloud 9 that should be ready in time for the weekend! This 5.2% ABV brew is slightly different from last year’s release, but no doubt equally as delicious. One part light hoppy base beer aged for 18 months in Sauvignon Blanc barrels with a bunch of Brett, Sacch, Lacto and Pedio cultures, another part golden sour base aged for a year in neutral ex-wine barrels, the whole blend was conditioned on the elusive bakeapple (picked by their hardworking friend Paul Smith of Conception Bay South, NL). They’re describing this batch as more wine-like than last year’s, “with smooth apricot and honey notes”. Maybe some of you even held onto a bottle or two from 2019 to compare? If not, it’s still worthwhile grabbing some, of course (try to show a little restraint this time, would ya, and hang onto some?)!

Miramichi’s Timber Ship Brewing did their best to take advantage of the slower sales period during the worst of the pandemic (well, for now, anyway), taking the opportunity to brew a beer style that requires more patience than most of your typical styles. The beer we’re talking about – Looshtauk Helles Lager – is now available on tap around town. Named after a 19th century Tall Ship that carried Irish emigrants to New Brunswick (check out the brewery’s Instagram page for more details on the history of that vessel), the beer was brewed with German-style malts, and hopped with Hallertau Mittelfruh to 18 IBUs. Fermented nice and cool, and lagered for six weeks, it’s 5% ABV and tasting clean and refreshing. You can find it on tap around Miramichi at Vera Kitchen and Bar, Apero Lounge, and possibly still at Mikes Bar and Grill. 

Looks like Tidehouse Brewing is back open for retail sales this week, (Thursday to Saturday) with several brand new beers available in cans for you to take home for the weekend. We may not have extreme details on these ones, but we definitely have enough to whet your thirst:

  • Turtles All the Way Up – Not to be confused with a previous Tidehouse release, Turtles All the Way Down, this is a 6.6% ABV Saison that was heavily-hopped with Saaz late in the boil, and conditioned on lychee.
  • Yankee Hotel Zulu – Billed by the brewery as a “simple and balanced” 6.3% ABV IPA hopped with Chinook.
  • Drive to the Sun –  Not 100% sure on the style of this one, they’re calling it a “5.2% ABV crusher” that they hopped with Tettnang.

In addition, they still have some cans of Two Can Win, a 7.5% ABV “India Saison” hopped with Loral and Saaz. They’re open 2 – 8 PM, head on over to stock up!

There’s a whole whack of news coming from Lunn’s Mill this week, if you’re looking for a Lawrencetown beer et al. fix. Let’s start with the beer portion of their news, shall we? They’ve got two new ones available in cans at the brewery, starting with a Berliner Weisse named Girl, Hold My Earrings. This one was actually originally brewing for the Brewster Fest in April of 2019, to celebrate women in the beer industry. Brewed with fresh rhubarb and raspberries, it’s a pinkish-red colour and comes in at just 4.3% ABV. Next up is Bang A Uey NEIPA, back again after a brief appearance last summer. This juicy 6.8% ABV NEIPA features “great tropical notes of melon and tangerine”, thanks to fermenting hot with Årset Kveik Blend from Escarpment Labs, and the heavy hop additions throughout the brew process (Bravo early in the boil; Mosaic, Huell Melon, and Mandarina Bavaria in the whirlpool; and dry-hopped with the same trio before packaging). Lovingly named after the driving technique oft-used outside of the brewery due to it being missed by visitors the first time popping in, they tell us proceeds will be going into their “sign fund”. Both beers are also available on tap for pints at the brewery, and we’re hearing reports of them both being available in HRM. In addition to these two beers, Lunn’s Mill has also created their own entry in the growing trend of hop-infused water with Hoppy Water, a non-alcoholic beverage made of carbonated water infused with freshly-squeezed lemon and Mosaic hops. Gluten-free, cans of this one are also available, if you’d like to round out your beer purchase (perfect for your fabulous Designated Driver to sip!).

If you happen to be traveling around Newfoundland this weekend, keep your eyes open for Baccalieu Trail Brewing on the Conception Bay Highway, as they’ve just released their first Double IPA, Loud Crowd. Brewed with late boil additions of Centennial and Chinook, and then dry-hopped with massive amounts of Citra and Mosaic, it’s big on bitterness, as well as juiciness, with “some floral and piney notes” to complement. Available in 500 mL bottles and on tap at the brewery, it’s on the lower end of the scale for a DIPA at 7.5% ABV, but should still be consumed responsibly!⁣

Or maybe you’re driving around beautiful PEI, and plan on traveling through Montague to check out the two craft breweries located there? If so, Bogside Brewing has cans and pints of their latest, Open Saison. With a grist made up of a large percentage of malted wheat, the wort was fermented with a Belgian Saison strain. Dry-hopped with Hersbrucker, expect the classic floral/fruity Saison characteristics, along with “some subtle herbal/orange aromas from the dry-hop”. Slightly tart, with a very dry finish (yet significant body, surprisingly), it’s quite drinkable at just 5% ABV. You can make a trip for the whole family out of it, thanks to the two food providers slinging great food onsite: Famous Peppers has moved from down the street to set up their pizza oven and provide some banging pies, and Thatcher’s Eatery, run by the folks at the Wheelhouse in Georgetown, with killer fried chicken sandwiches and lobster rolls. Open daily from noon, pop by this weekend for a pint and a scoff!

And speaking of Bogside, they were visited recently by both acbbaaron and acbbchris, but before that (possibly even before it was cool) by the motley crew of miscreants known as the 902 BrewCast, who sat down with Bogside’s Dave McGuire and Mark Patriquin for a chat during their (Prince Edward) Island getaway. Listen to it here at their podcast homesite or find it on your favorite podcast platform listed as Episode 82. And look for Episode 83 to drop in the next week or two; we believe they’ve still got some more PEI fun on tap/in the can.

If West Coast IPAs are more your thang, good news from Good Robot – they’ve brought back their Blanket Fort IPA, a classic West Coast IPA that they originally released on tap several months ago. Remember Blanket Fort? Well, it’s back… in can form*. That’s right, they’ve brewed up a fresh batch, with lots of Falconer’s Flight, Cascade, Citra, and Mandarina Bavaria hops, and they canned it just so you can enjoy it at home. Wasn’t that sweet (hoppy?) of them? This 6.9% ABV brew has “an erratic mix of bright citrus and West Coast dank”, with some malt backbone to balance (thanks to a grist of Pale Ale, Vienna, and Cara 120 malt). Cans are, of course, available directly at the source… you know, the brewery.

*If you have to click on this, shame.

Parrsboro’s Two Islands Brewing has a new beer on tap this week, calling you to make the visit to their lovely location. Named simply Blueberry Weisse Ale, this 5.3% ABV beer showcases a whole lot of locally-grown and -processed blueberries, on top of a classic wheat beer base. Rich in colour and flavour, it joins a handful of other beers available on tap and in cans at their 169 Main Street location, with the sister Rising Tides Bakery right next door. The brewery is open Friday and Saturday, 1 – 9 PM, and Sunday and Monday, 1 – 6 PM. Look for the beer on tap at Bistro on Prince in Truro, Briny Bay Cafe in Five Islands, and BlackRock Restaurant in Parrsboro.

Halifax’s Propeller Brewing has a new one out, but just because it’s new doesn’t mean it’s not old too! Spooky Saison has been in development for a year now (who do they think they are? 2 Crows? Stillwell Brewing?!) but it’s finally ready to meet you. Soured in the kettle before being fermented on apricots using a blend of Saison and Brettanomyces yeasts, it was then aged in white wine barrels for a full 12 months before packaging. Sour and funky, there’s also plenty of oak presence from the barrels, spicy yeast notes, a stone fruit presence from the apricots, and some white wine character. Despite this complexity and a 6.8% ABV, it still sounds to us like a lovely tipple for a hot summer’s day! And since those kinds of days seem to be in good supply lately, it should provide plenty of opportunity to put that theory to the test. Available today in 750 mL bottles from all three Prop shops as well as for home delivery.

Have you heard? Pilsners are all the rage in the Atlantic Canada beer scene this year after years of being somewhat of an underappreciated style in these parts. On a grander scale, our region is a little ahead of the game in that regard, which is why you may not have actually “heard” anything, but you definitely may have noticed a bunch of crisp and refreshing lagers on the shelves at your favorite brewery or other source of local independent beer. Hopefully you’ve been enjoying them too; we truly believe the overall quality has been stellar! The latest brewery to bring out a Pils is Uncle Leo’s up in Lyon’s Brook, NS. Now if you know Uncle Leo’s you no doubt know that one of their great strengths is traditional German ales like their award-winning Vohs Weizenbier and Altbier and their Ceilidh Kölsch. So you might expect their first entry into the Pilsner market to be in the German style. Well you’d be wrong about that, as they’ve decided to start with a Bohemian Pilsner they’re calling, aptly, Czech Mate. Very traditional, featuring Saaz hops and coming in at 5% ABV, you’ll find it at the brewery now in cans for takeaway or growler swaps or for home delivery via their online store!

Up in Bathurst, Four Rivers Brewing has debuted a new beer, perfect for those hitting the links, or maybe fibbing their score after the fact… Mulligan is a 5.0% ABV Golden Ale, clean, crisp,with a nice malt character and medium mouthfeel. Look for it on tap at the golf course, naturally, and of course at the brewery for pints and growler fills. If you pop into the latter, you’ll be rewarded with the opportunity to pick up their two newly released barrel-aged beers, as there are a few bottles still available (but they won’t last long!). Their first foray into barrel aging, they opted for a stout beer as the base, and chose two very different approaches to the barrels. La Grande Hermine is the stout aged in a Shiraz barrel, allowing the bold character from the wine to give the stout bold grape and lightly tannic character. Eau de Vie saw the stout aged in a Cognac barrel, with notes of vanilla and spirits enhancing the base beer. We suggest picking up a couple of bottles of each and sharing amongst your bubble! 

Miramichi’s New Maritime Beer Company has a couple of new beers pouring in their taproom this weekend, which will also be alive with music and comedy this weekend. First, the beers! Beaubears Chocolate Brown is named after nearby Beaubears Island, and features pleasant chocolate notes enhancing the base Brown Ale. New Maritime was also part of Isolation Nation, a nationwide effort by BSG Canada, Rahr Malting, and Hops Connect, to brew a beer to help out during these difficult times. Using Canadian-grown 2-row and Sasquatch hops, this 5.0% ABV SMaSH will be popping up at a few more breweries in our region over the next little bit, too. The New Maritime taproom will be hopping all weekend long, with DJ L’Arkadien spinning live on the patio tonight 5 – 9 PM, an acoustic set by Dillon Ryan tomorrow 6- 9 PM, and a double-header comedy show Sunday evening at 7 PM with Jimmy MacKinley and Matt Richardson (tickets needed for that one). And we’ve got a Profile with New Maritime coming next week, after our visit earlier this week, so stay tuned to learn more about them!

With COVID-19 ruining all the things, we are sad to report that Halifax’s Unfiltered Brewing will not be holding their annual birthday party at Charm School Pub this year. But that doesn’t mean that they’re not going to celebrate. And because they love us (or at least some of us), part of that celebration is giving us a break on beer this weekend. Tomorrow at the brewery you’ll find $1 off cans, $2 off snarls, and $4 off growlers (glassware is trade-in of Unfiltered-branded jugs only), and they’ve got a full slate of beers on offer including the return of their Mosaic-laden RSMA (Ridiculously Superior Mosaic Ale because to hell with the Provincial liquor “authority” and their stealth taxes). Smooth, tropical, and 7.5% ABV, same as it ever was, which is a good thing.

A few more beers to get you excited for the weekend (is it 5 o’clock yet??)

For those who’ve been missing their fix from Hanwell, NB’s Niche Brewing, the beers are definitely starting to flow again. Up this week is the return of In Limbo, their light and refreshing 3.8% ABV mixed-ferm Grisette. An excellent showcase of their house culture and a wonderful beer to crush in the sun. Find it in Fredericton at The Joyce, in Saint John at Peppers pub, and in Moncton at the Tide & Boar.

Charlottetown’s Upstreet Brewing is celebrating Pride PEI with an in-person and online Trivia going down this evening. Kicking off at 7 PM, you can play along online, or reserve your table and move your bubble onto their extended patio. Check out the FB page for more info,and here’s the direct link to reserve a spot. We highly recommend making the trip in, that way you can enjoy the Rainbrew Strawberry Lavender Farmhouse Saison, coloured with the vibrant butterfly pea flower, or the latest batch of their Commons Pilsner, tasting great if we do say so ourselves!

And finally this week, back in Halifax, Garrison Brewing has brought back the modern version of one of their longest-running brews, Razzberry Wheat. Still 4.6% ABV and 12 IBU, still refreshing, and still tasting of raspberries, it’s on tap at Seaport and Oxford Taprooms, in cans, and as part of their “Summer Fun Pack” of four beers (only at their retail locations). And in other Garrison news, sales of their Stay the Blazes Home beer and glassware have managed to raise $28,158 for Feed Nova Scotia!!

Friday Wrap-Up for April 17, 2020 – News from Delta Force Brewing, Chain Yard, North Brewing, Tidehouse, Tanner & Co., Holy Whale, and More!

Posted by acbbaaron on 2020-04-17
Posted in: Friday Wrap-Up. Tagged: Battery Park, Chain Yard Cider, Delta Force Brewing, Escarpment Laboratories, Feed Nova Scotia, Holy Whale Brewing, Island Hop Company, Jym Line Glassware, Meander River Farm and Brewery, North Brewing, Other Half Brewing, Quidi Vidi Brewery, Shipwright Brewing, Shoreline Malting, Spindrift Brewing, Tanner & Co Brewing, Tidehouse Brewing, TrailWay Brewing, Tusket Falls Brewing. Leave a Comment

Hi again. At least the weather is getting better? Y’know, as if we were allowed to go out and really enjoy it? Welcome to week 5 (or is it 6?) of COVID-19-related isolation and social distancing. At this point we figure most people are either totally fed up with being alone or totally fed up with the people they’re living with. And everybody’s fed up with the rules. That all said, we’re pretty sure that beats the hell out of getting sick and our sympathies go out to anyone who’s directly dealing with COVID-19 in their lives, whether it be themselves or a friend or a family member. And a huge thanks to all of those front line personnel who are keeping things going in these difficult days.

On that happy note, please find below all the new news we could find for you this week. Plus, we’ve done a total update across the entire region on our delivery/curbside pickup options for breweries and cideries. We think we’ve hit every producer out there who has changed their practices since last time! So spread a little love to them, if you’re able, and we’d appreciate a quick nudge via email or social media (Ig and Tw preferred) if anything is out of date.

The Delta Force is an elite and elusive group, composed of only the top members of their chosen field, who use whatever means necessary to fulfill their mission. For some, that may be military in nature, extracting key targets and keeping the world safe. In today’s world, having great beer flowing could perhaps be considered a critical need, hence the upcoming launch of Delta Force Brewing. Comprising a small yet capable team, Delta Force will soon be launching their first beers to the public, brewed at a classified location in the Annapolis Valley. To maintain that Top Secret information, they will however be able to bring their beer to you. For those in the Wolfville and Halifax regions, and along the 101, they will be doing deliveries once the beer is available, in the coming weeks. We will also be revealing what we can about the beers, the team, and their plans for world domination (currently on hold) sooner to launch, but you can keep an eye on their website and social media to see if any more can be deciphered. Dismissed!

Those of you who participated in donating some of your homegrown (whether intentionally or not!) apples to Chain Yard Urban Cidery last fall for a special cider… your waiting for the final product is over! After many generous donations from a variety of orchards and yards, The Backyard Project – a 6.4% ABV wild-fermented cider – is ready. Chock-full of “ripe orchard fruit and a crisp, dry finish, plus lingering herbaceous and earthy notes,” it’s a great expression of the many varieties of apples that Nova Scotia has to offer. And aside from being able to drink it, you’ll also be supporting Feed Nova Scotia, which will be receiving a portion of the proceeds. Check out their online store to order your 750 mL bottle(s).

The folks at North Brewing have been keeping busy in order to keep the beer flowing and our mouths/livers happy, re-brewing favourites such as Malternate Reality, Lawrencetown Surf Session, and others. While you can expect to see these canned and released again in the near future (MR hits the shelves yesterday), they DO have a brand new Double IPA available as of this week, HiFi. More of a West Coast take on the style as opposed to the super-hazy, less-bitter New England versions, HiFi was brewed with a large amount of Maris Otter base malt. Dry-hopped with El Dorado and Chinook, the total IBUs come in at around 65-70. Full of citrus and pine character, with a “balanced bitterness”, it weighs in at a hefty 8.5% ABV. Available at the brewery for ordering online now, it should also be at close to forty NSLC stores throughout next week. And a quick note that North’s sister bar and resto Battery Park is now open for curbside take-away. The details are on their site, but the Coles Notes are you submit your burger and side and beer and wine order via email before 11AM, for pickup that evening, Wed – Sat, 3 – 8 PM.

As we mentioned on social media earlier this week, Tidehouse has a couple of new beers canned and out for delivery today (yes, they’ve hopped onboard the home delivery train, to make sure you can get your TH fix even easier than before). The first beer is TV Party, a 7% ABV American IPA hopped with Idaho 7, Galaxy and Mosaic. With a firm bitterness in the finish, expect lots of orange notes, some juiciness, and a little bit o’ pine. Next is Shrug Emoji (you know, this thing ->  ¯\_ (ツ)_/¯), an American Pale Ale moderately-hopped with Czech Saaz. Meant to be a crushable beer to enjoy while you wait this all out (you may want to buy a few, then), it comes in at 5.6% ABV. This post is a little late to get you beer today, as you’re meant to call in your order on Thursday for Friday delivery (free for orders of 4+ cans), but … Great news, as there’s just enough leftover to run their curbside pickup tomorrow! Starting at noon at their spot on Salter, call (902-407-2550) and then pop your trunk to accept the beer!

Chester Basin’s Tanner & Co brewing are continuing to put out new beers and make them available despite current challenges. They also continue to leverage the oenological knowledge of head brewer Dan Tanner and take inspiration from wine styles around the world. This time up, the inspiration came from the Torrontés wines of Argentina and they’ve elected to express it in the Brut IPA style. TM Brut weighs in at 6.9% ABV and features notes of lime, pineapple, grapefruit and lychee thanks to plenty of Topaz and Motueka hops. No hops were added in the kettle until the very end of the boil, ensuring low bitterness (15 IBU) but plenty of flavour! More of the same hops were also added in not one, but two dry hop additions. This one is now available for pickup, delivery, and growler fills; check their online shop for more information on grabbing this one for consumption.

Alma, New Brunswick’s Holy Whale Brewery and Buddha Bear Cafe have been taking the opportunity to experiment in the brewery a little more these days, and have a quartet of sour beers available this week. Playing in the Cocktail realm, they took inspiration from four popular drinks, all starting from a Berliner Weisse base. Their Bellini Sour features loads of peach, thanks to the addition of white peach puree, and some Prosecco for a little extra zip. Not surprisingly, the Blue Lagoon Sour owes its colour to some Blue Curacao, and is extra citrusy thanks to orange zest added to the batch. Pina Colada Sour saw the addition of pineapple puree to this iteration, as well as coconut for the full “down South” drink, and finally Guava Sour, which showcases the puree of the eponymous fruit. All of these are 4.0% ABV, and are in short supply, so we suggest grabbing the one based on your favourite cocktail(s), or better yet, get a couple of each for a full Tiki Bar night in! Their Alma location is open for pre-order and pick up Friday to Sunday, and they are also running deliveries Thursday to the Greater Moncton Area, or pick up at their Riverview bar, via pre-order, with the details on their FB event page.

If you’re in St. John’s, you should check out Quidi Vidi’s online store to order up cans of their latest New England IPA, Unlucky #13. While we can’t provide details on where the name came from (something tells us there’s a story there), we can tell you that it was brewed with a grist of 2-row, Maris Otter, Flaked Oats, Wheat malt, Honey malt, and Acidulated malt. Hopped with a wide variety of… varieties, including Cascade, Cluster, Amarillo, Citra, Mosaic, and Simcoe, we don’t have official tasting notes on the beer, but can assume it’s a hazy one with tropical and citrus notes, as well as some pine and dank character. It weighs in at 6% ABV and 28 IBUs, keeping the bitterness on the lower end, as is typical for the style. 

Ashdale Nova Scotia’s Meander River Brewing has a new beer out this week, and another set to launch next week, so we figured we’d give you a double dose today. First up is the return of Sour Mood, their dry-hopped sour. This 4.2% ABV golden beer was soured with Lactobacillus before completing fermentation with a traditional yeast, and then was dry-hopped with Citra hops (their previous version had used Mosaic). Thanks to both the souring and the hops, there’s plenty of great notes of tropical fruit like passion fruit, mango, and lemon, with a refreshing kick. And coming out soon, is Ploughman’s Pilsner, MR’s entree to a light and easy drinking lager, perfect for those looking for an accompaniment to a simple lunch enjoyed in the field, taking a break between working the rows of vegetables or grain. Another 4.2% ABV brew, the pale brew was hopped with New Zealand-grown Pacific Gem hop, a higher alpha acid (higher potential bitterness) relative of the classic Cluster and Fuggle hops. This one will hit the virtual shelves soon, but the Sour Mood, as well as a half-dozen more beer and cider, are available for ordering now on their online shop, and could be part of their Saturday delivery in HRM, Truro, Wolfville, and most parts in between, as well as for safe pickup.

We all suspected it was only a matter of time before Shipwright Brewing released their first Lager, being that their head brewer, Kellye Robertson, was originally with Spindrift back in their Lager-only days. Kellye was finally able to delve into that realm again when she brewed Peninsula Pilsner, a German-inspired Pils brewed with Pilsner and Chit malt from Shoreline Malting. Hopped to 32 IBUs with Magnum and Tradition from Island Hop Company, the beer was fermented with the Autobahn Lager strain from Escarpment Labs, and lagered for 7 weeks. At 5.2% ABV and 32 IBUs, the Pilsner has a “distinctive grain profile” with some floral notes from the hop additions, as well as a moderate bitterness in the finish. They’re offering this one in crowlers at the brewery to-go, or for delivery within Lunenburg (with options for Chester to Bridgewater likely coming next week). Rest assured there’ll be more Lagers from Shipwright in the future, but don’t miss out on your chance to try their first! 

Tusket Falls Brewing is continuing to release new canned beers (such as their Strawberry Milkshake IPA, which unfortunately – or not, depending on where you’re standing! – sold out in less than 24 hours), but they’ve also added a growler fill option. They’re selling pre-filled growlers from the taproom, and if you have a TF growler already, you can exchange yours for a full one for a cheaper price than buying a new one. They’ve got a brand new Session IPA – hopped with Nelson Sauvin and Motueka – available right now for you to test out; at just 4.6% ABV, and with flavours of lemon and white grape, sounds like a good way to creep into your weekend, no?

Fredericton’s TrailWay Brewing has taken part in a worldwide collaboration kicked off by Brooklyn’s Other Half Brewing, where all breweries taking part brew the same American IPA recipe to raise funds for local hospitality professionals. Appropriately-named, All Together is a 6.5% ABV brew hopped with Mosaic, Citra, Simcoe and Cascade. Cans of this juicy, fruity beer will be available next Wednesday, with 30% of the proceeds of TW’s version going to the Fredericton Resilience Fund. The FRF will be allocating this donation specifically to those in need within the hospitality industry (of which there is no doubt many). You can do your part next week by grabbing some cans; remember that TW is doing deliveries within Fredericton at certain days of the week, so check out their website for more details.

Lots of folks are getting into the swing of trying to bring a little levity to this lonely hellscape difficult time that we’re living in and we especially like to see it when it benefits a good cause as well. Enter Elmsdale’s Jym Line Glassware, who are stepping up with both. As we’ve mentioned in the past, Jymline are one of the businesses that helps make our regional industry what it is: even if you’ve never heard of them directly, chances are you’ve drank from a glass or poured from a growler that was branded in their facility. They’ve got a new glass they’re making available with a somewhat NSFW image and the now-ubiquitous slogan, “Stay the Bl?zes Home!” And lest you think this is merely a cynical cash-in, they’re donating $5 from every glass sold (that’s half the proceeds) to various charities around Elmsdale. The first batch of glasses sold out in a day, which means $535 is going to Caring & Sharing/Angel Tree Foodbank. They’re doing another run, though, that they’re hoping to have ready for next Thursday. No shipping is available, just contactless pickup at the shop in Elmsdale. Glasses are $10 and you can order yours by emailing dale@jymline.com; payment is by e-transfer to that address.