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Friday Wrap-Up for July 21, 2023 – News from North, Change is Brewing, Iron Rock, Big Spruce, Timber Ship, Propeller, Breton, Candid, Big Axe, Banished, Port Rexton, Trailway and more!

Posted by acbbchris on 2023-07-21
Posted in: Friday Wrap-Up. Tagged: Banished Brewing, Big Axe Brewery, Big Spruce Brewing, Blood Brothers Brewing, Breton Brewing, Candid Brewing, Change Is Brewing Collective, Dildo Brewing, Half Cocked Brewing, Halifax Seaport Beerfest, Hammond River Brewing, Iron Rock Brewing Co., North Brewing, Off Grid Ales, Port Rexton Brewing Co., Propeller Brewing, Route 19 Brewing, Seasoned Plate, Timber Ship Brewing, TrailWay Brewing. 1 comment

How do you like this heat and humidity folks?! Are you sticky and icky and sweaty gross? You’ll forgive us for being predictable if we suggest that the best treatment (‘cause there’s no antidote) for weather like this is beer and cider. Luckily there are plenty of new releases and re-releases on the go at our region’s breweries to keep your tastebuds interested and your weather-induced discomfort minimized. We encourage you to check out your favourite brewery’s facilities this weekend, whether that be in air-conditioned comfort, enjoying sunshine on a patio (your results may vary depending on your location), or commiserating regarding the lack thereof. Hey, at least you’ll have beer!

Starting with the week off, we start with some cultural news out of Halifax as the 40th Africville reunion kicks off on Friday July 21st and lasts for a week. While you can check out all the events here (it’s for everyone!), North Brewing and the Change is Brewing Collective is re-releasing Deep Rooted, a brown ale in celebration of Africville. The ale itself is inspired by the molasses and brown sugar used by black elders in the brewing process back in the day. This one is 5.7% and will be available at the reunion tonight, and at North Brewing now. Every can sold will contribute to the Africville Museum and Change is Brewing. Stay tuned for more CiBC news, as they are going to be busy in August, too!

As part of the Come Home to Wabush celebrations this weekend, Iron Rock Brewing has released a special beer to commemorate the town’s history and future. 1967 Inc Blackberry and Blueberry Sour marks the year the Town of Wabush was incorporated, and features the abundant local fruit growing around town. At 4.5% ABV, it’s light and refreshing and a beautiful shade of pink, and shares the story of the town to all who will see it. Come Home has a special place for Brian and Dave Hurley of Iron Rock, commemorated on the can, “In loving memory of our Aunt Roma Hawco and each dedicated resident who built our community. – Come Home to Wabush 2023. From the earth, we prosper.” Grab it at the brewery on tap and in cans, as well as at many of the events happening during the week’s festivities.

There is no question one of the very interesting recent style trends in North American Craft Beer is the Light Lager. Whether you think they’re a sad acknowledgement that craft beer has to compete on macro beer’s terms, whether you cite them as a craft victory for showing that “light lager” doesn’t have to mean ‘insipid’, or whether you just know that a light lager is the perfect, “Can we just drink some fuckin’ beer,” beer, Big Spruce is the latest brewery to have you covered. Camp Spruce will happily accompany you from your après lawnmowing sluice at the garden hose, through grilling up dinner at the BBQ, all the way to dousing the campfire and crawling into your tent. At an even 4%, it’s going to be crisp and clean and go down with a smoothness. Packaged in 473ml cans, you can grab a few (or a flat!) from the brewery or order for delivery.

Returning out of Miramichi’s Timber Ship Brewing, Scruples SMaSH is a limited-time can release named after an old Opera House in Miramichi. The 3rd floor of the Opera House had a bar named “Scruples” and this beer is in honour of that. Brewed with Maris Otter malt and Azacca hops, this is meant to mimic the pineapple flavour of it’s house cocktail, the Grog. This is 5.6% and 40 IBU. Grab this one from the brewery today. 

Veering away from the seasonable summer crushers that dominate the scene at this time of year, Halifax’s Propeller has something completely different on the go this week. Wild Ale is, well, a wild ale, fermented with a less cultivated, and thus less predictable, strain of yeast. Presenting a base crisp and bready malt character, you’ll find layers of flavor in the form of ripe orchard fruits, a decided tartness, and some funky and earthy notes. As it was barrel aged, you’ll no doubt detect some tannins and maybe a hint of sweetness as well. Reasonably light, at 4.7% ABV, this will be one to savor and consider. Bottled in 500ml bottles, you can grab one at any of the four Prop Shops (including the newly opened Bedford location, which is now open for sitdown pints!) or at Bishop’s Cellar.

Nova Scotia has some badass tourist destinations and one of them is Fortress Louisbourg National Historic Site. But the magic of its restoration would be incomplete without the life that is breathed in by the historical recreators and the other folks of the Fortress of Louisbourg Association. Sydney’s Breton Brewing knows this well and has teamed up once again with the Association to produce another batch of Île Royale Saison. Based on a grist of wheat, oats, and rye, and an additional fermentable contribution of molasses, it was fermented with the Ardennes yeast strain for a classic dry French saison character, with notes of spice and hints of fruit. Fairly light, at 4.8% ABV, it’s available in cans from the taproom and home delivery in CBRM (home delivery in HRM next week), you can also find it pouring on draught at the La Taverne Storehouse at the historic site itself.

Chef Stephen Barrett, aka Seasoned Plate, is the chef friend to breweries and cideries across the region, has teamed up with Antigonish’s Candid Brewing to bring us Sun Kissed Strawberry Saison. Available now on tap and in cans at the brewery, this 5.5% ABV beer started life as a spicy and fruity saison, thanks to the Belle Saison yeast from Lallemand, before a healthy dose of Strawberry purée was added. Be sure to check out SP’s continuing Pints & Plates series, where each week he pairs a unique recipe with a Nova Scotian beer and brewery. This week’s feature is Spiced Chicken and Hummus with Off Track’s Universal Soldier Kolsch.

Hot off the heels of last weekend’s Big Axe Craft Beer Festival, Big Axe Brewery has still managed to pump out a new release. Brewed, “in honor of our Troops who serve and have served,” Green Eyed Pale balances malty character with hop-derived elements of candied orange aromas and fresh fruit and citrus pith flavors. When sweet malt meets citrus and a firm bitterness it sounds like a classic American Pale Ale to us! This 4.8% ABV beauty is pouring on draught or available in cans to go at the BAB taproom, and you’ll also be able to find it on tap at various local restaurants.

Straight out of Rothesay (that’s in New Brunswick), Hammond River Brewing has a few returning beers with a couple of lagers. Seeng Light is a 4% lager featuring Basmati rice and Seeng Strong is a 7.2% lager with more malty notes. Pick these up from the brewery now.

Heading up to Newfoundland, to Paradise, no less, we find Banished Brewing has a new batch of Out the Gate pouring, the first since last year, and one of the brewery’s first recipes. An Abbey Ale, sans abbey or monks, it manages to carry on the stylistic tradition of malt flavors paired with candy and bubblegum notes. Falling neatly into the “Singel” category, at 5.3%, don’t be fooled into thinking it’s a simple beer; in fact at that ABV we figure there’s an opportunity to contemplate the complexity that happens when malt, hops, and especially Belgian yeast strains get together and make magic. This one’s on tap at the brewery and packaged in cans for both the Banished retail shop and wider distribution in the area.

Staying on the Rock, we have plenty of news from Port Rexton Brewing Company who are celebrating seven years in operation this weekend! With their Birthday Bash happening tomorrow, they are releasing 7 Cherry IPA. The 5.8% ABV IPA has a medium bitterness and clean character, that doesn’t get in the way of the cherry flavour and aroma. Available on tap and in cans at the brewery Saturday, and across the island starting next week. We’ve got the full rundown on the Bash in last week’s post (hourly rotating tap all day!), with even more details on the Lawnya Vawnya Concert, Screen Printing, and plenty of food options, on their Insta page. The fun kicks off at noon and goes all day/night!

You won’t have to wait, however, for a returning summer favourite this week in the form of Port Rexton’s fruited ale, Flight of the Mango. Packed with mango purée and sweetened with lactose, this one is bright orange and hazy with a full mouthfeel, and plenty of mango aroma and flavor. Weighing in at just 5% ABV, despite the sweetness you can expect it to be quite crushable. Grab some cans or a growler fill to go from the PR taproom, or sit and contemplate a pint (or maybe pints). It will also see wider distribution to the usual Port Rexton retailers in the coming weeks.

OG Ales, of Magaguadavic, NB, is continuing to bring new beers to pair with their dome experience on Magaguadavic Lake. Out this week is Overcast, a session IPA at 4.4%, that brings a light and refreshing mouthfeel paired with luscious tropical hop flavors of pineapple, mango, and passionfruit all of which are balanced by a firm bitterness courtesy of some Chinook hops from nearby Lakeview Hops. Although that one is only pouring in the taproom, their Solstice red IPA, 5.5% ABV and with a west coast vibe, sounds like it’s been reworked a little and is not only available on-site but is also packaged in cans and headed to the ANBL.

A new one out of Fredericton’s Trailway is a collaboration release with Toronto’s Blood Brothers Brewing. This one actually came out with its first release two years ago, but they’re back with another iteration. Whales All Day is an 8.5% Double IPA packed with Riwaka, Mosaic and Sabro hops. It’s got huge notes of pineapple, stone fruit and grapefruit. This is available at the Fredericton and Saint John’s tap rooms. And check their job listings for your chance to become part of the Trailway family, whether it’s in the brewhouse, selling their beer, or helping to tell people all about it! More info here, and send in your resumes to info@trailwaysbrewing.com.

Dildo Brewing has teamed up with Piatto Pizzeria to craft an Italian Pilsner, which has hit their taps and shelves today! Brewed to complement the pizza and cuisine available at Piatto, the herbal and citrus hop notes shine come through for a balance to the acidity from the tomato sauce on the pies. This beer is rolling out to NLCs and C-stores over the weekend, and will make a great evening in as part of a takeaway bundle coming soon to Maries stores too!

We’ve already told you about the events happening this weekend at Port Rexton, 2 Crows, and the Stillwell Freehouse & Beergarden this weekend, so be sure to check out last week’s post for the full scoop. 

Half Cocked Brewing is celebrating their Sixth Anniversary in North Grant tomorrow, July 22nd, with a good old-fashioned Hootenanny! Opening at noon, they’ll have plenty of great food options from The Crafty Cooks, including fish tacos, cheddar sausages, and pulled pork sandwiches. And of course, you need great music at any party, so from 3 PM, their stage will be full with The Ceilidhmen, The J-Walkers, and Shane Arsenault. Plus a dozen beer options a-flowing, including a couple of new beers to wet your whistle. If you’re not able to be there, we feel bad for you! Congratulations to the Half Cocked Team!

We’re getting you ready for the return of the largest festival of next month, Halifax’s Seaport Beer and Fizz Festival. Plus we’re going to give you a chance to win your way in!!

Atlantic Canada’s largest celebration of Beer, Cider, Soda, RTD, and Seltzer is back again in three short weeks! Halifax Seaport Cider & Beerfest is returning to the Halifax Waterfront for its fifteenth year Thursday August 10 through Saturday the 12th. Fingers crossed for great weather, as it will be outside, but we can tell you the most excellent news that they have been able to return to an all-inclusive ticket price, thanks to some fierce negotiations with NS Alcohol and Gaming. While the finalized list hasn’t yet been finalized, we know there will be more than eighty producers and hundreds of different beers, ciders, seltzers, sodas, and everything in between, representing Atlantic producers (yes, four breweries from Newfoundland will be pouring: Bannerman, Ninepenny, Port Rexton, and Quidi Vidi), as well as those from across the country and our neighbours to the South in Maine (Baxter Brewing, Lone Pine, Mason’s, Portland Zoo, and Sebago). Now spanning three days, with the Thursday evening session being perfect for those who’d like to start their weekend *just a little bit earlier*. We’re happy to provide a note to your employer, should you need it!

Ticket pricing for the sessions are quite reasonable, with advance tickets for Thursday night being only $35 (+ fees & taxes), and Friday evening and Saturday afternoon and evening only $45+. If you’re the kind of person who likes a bit of extra time on the floor to chat with the brewers, or maybe hit the special brews that may run out a bit early, VIP tickets are available for every session for only $20 more, allowing you entry an hour early and a special glass to keep! Find all of the details at the Seaport Beerfest website.

We want to help get you in the door, so we will be running a contest on Instagram to win your way into the VIP Session on Thursday! All we ask is that you put up a post, reel, or story of a beer or cider you’ve enjoyed recently, and tag us (@ACBeerBlog), Seaport Beerfest (@SeaportBeerfest). We’ll have more info on our IG page, plus plenty of ideas to get you started! The contest will be open until 11:59 PM July 27, and we’ll announce the winner of the pair of VIP tickets to Thursday’s session in next week’s blog post.

We end this week with tragic news from Inverness that Dallas Lewis, Brewmaster of Route 19 Brewing, passed away. An employee since the beginning, and publicly credited by Route 19 with brewing, “every single batch of beer we ever made,” he was a valued teammate and community member. Brewing is a tough job and it is a special person who can turn it into a fulfilling career. Though we didn’t know him personally, he was a part of the greater Atlantic Canada beer community and we’ll be raising a glass to Dallas; we humbly suggest you consider doing the same. We also note that there is a GoFundMe that has been set up in Dallas’ name to benefit his family.

 

Friday Wrap-Up for February 4, 2022 – News from Good Robot, Annapolis Cider, Flying Boats, Tire Shack, Tanner & Co, Topside, Tusket Falls, Tatamagouche, and more!

Posted by acbbaaron on 2022-02-04
Posted in: Friday Wrap-Up. Tagged: Annapolis Cider Company, BLK Women in Excellence, Flying Boats Brewing, Good Robot Brewing, Hammond River Brewing, Millstone Harvest Brewhouse, O'Creek Brewing, Sea Level Brewing, Tanner & Co Brewing, Tatamagouche Brewing, Tire Shack Brewing, Topside Brewing, TrailWay Brewing, Tusket Falls Brewing, Unfiltered Brewing. Leave a Comment

Happy First Friday, Beer fans! We’ve made it through January, and have been welcomed into February with yet another blast of weather. As they shovel out, or contend with icy conditions, be sure to check your favourite brewery, cidery, or good beer resto’s social media to ensure they’re open before heading out. And even if they are, take your time out there! 

Good Robot Brewing has teamed up with BLK Women in Excellence to release their latest Goodwill Partnership beer. Tia Upshaw is empowering and educating Black Women in business in Nova Scotia and across Canada, through her non-profit’s courses and mentoring partnerships. The Goodwill Beer Cherry Vanilla Porter is a vehicle to spread the word of Upshaw’s efforts, it also brings in $0.50 per can for BWiE’s programs. And the folks at GRBC got in on helping directly in the community in December, as they delivered turkeys and holiday care packages to residents in Mulgrave Park, helping Upshaw in her endeavours. Working with Upshaw on the recipe formulation, the Cherry Vanilla Porter builds on a hefty 7.0% chocolatey and toasty Porter base, with light notes of vanilla and cherry completing the full package.Goodwill Beer is available online and at their retail shop in cans right now, including in their Valentine’s Day Box, and on tap as Good Robot is celebrating the re-opening of their taproom today (check their IG for any weather-related changes), we can all do our part to elevate, amplify, and make room for more voices in the beer community.

This week’s cider news of note comes from Annapolis Cider Company where they’ve released a new entry in their long-running Something Different series. Cranberry Mule is ACC’s answer to the Moscow Mule cocktail, but with a twist. All the classic components are there: a cool-fermented cider provides the booze and the bubbly base, some ginger juice and a squeeze of lime the spicy and tart notes. The departure from the norm is the addition of fresh-pressed local cranberries that provide a little more tartness and some cranberry flavour along with a lovely scarlett hue. If you want to be completist about it, floating a mint leaf or two on top wouldn’t be a bad idea, but we’re sure this 6.1% ABV light-bodied, clean-finishing cider will be plenty pleasing on its own. As with all Something Different entries, $0.50 of each growler fill will go towards a charity; this time it’s B for Kai, an organization encouraging education around Meningitis B and raising vaccination rates against it.

Dieppe’s Flying Boats has released their latest seasonal beer, British Bulldog Best Bitter. Despite the name, this is not an overly bitter beer, but rather a New World interpretation of the classic English style. At 4.6% ABV, the style is a favourite of pub goers out for a session, with a moderate malt character and a balancing hop presence (Flying Boats has opted for local- and US-grown hops for a bit of a twist). Taking the opportunity to give back to their community, sales of British Bulldog will go towards Youth Impact Jeunesse, a Moncton-based charity supporting young adults with social, emotional, and behavioural challenges. Merchandise featuring Leroy Brown, the bulldog featured on the label, will also be available to collect even more for programming at YIT. Available in cans, pints, and for growler fills at the brewery, the ANBL will be stocking cans as well.

Starting an almost unnerving run of news from breweries whose names begin with the letter ‘T’, Moncton’s Tire Shack Brewing has two new ones for us this week, both of which look well-suited to a winter weekend when you’re not going much of anywhere. Up first is Banana Bread Brown Ale, which is, as you’d expect from the name, an homage to the not-quite-a-dessert-but-not-supper-either foodstuff that has saved a million bananas from the compost heap. With some spicy elements in the grain bill and some rum for good measure, it was conditioned on 35kg of puréed bananas. Expect this one to lead with maltiness, with some sweetness from the banana and a bit of zip from the specialty grains. Coming in at 6.0% it’ll probably have just a little bit of a warming kick to boot. Available from the brewery for pints as well as fills and cans to go.

Moving from a very traditional beer with a bit of a twist to a very modern beer but also with a bit of a twist we have Chocolate-Lavender White Stout. This is the second time they’ve made this beer, the first being a small batch on their pilot system last fall that led to rave reviews and justified a full production run. A basic white stout (if such a thing exists), where the light colour belies the gentle roasty character it exhibits on the palate, it was sweetened and smoothed by additions of lactose and vanilla before conditioning on 30kg of cacao nibs and lavender. How much lavender? Literally ALL the lavender that was available in the Moncton region (seriously, hope you’re not looking for lavender in Moncton right now). Not too light, but not too heavy at 6% ABV, you can rightly expect this one to provide comfort and warmth in the middle of this weekend’s weather (assuming you can get some in time). Grab some cans or a fill to go or sit and reflect on a pint in the taproom. And, having just looked at the weather, you’re probably waiting until next week on this one. But there’ll probably be another storm then? 

Things tend to slow down a bit during Atlantic Canada winters, giving some breweries a chance to experiment with new styles or to fill their tanks with something that might take a bit longer to see a glass. Chester’s Tanner & Co. Brewing is doing just that with the release of Brut IPL. This cold-fermented lager uses a special enzyme to give the carbonation a champagne quality. Expect tropical and berry hop aromas and flavours from whirlpool and dry-hop additions of Motueka & Nelson Sauvin. Tanner has packaged this one in bottles, coming in at 6.3% ABV and 20 IBUs. It’s available now at their two retail locations and for delivery via their online store. 

Bedford’s Topside Brewing has news of their latest draught release, coming to better beer bars (or possibly your home fridge!) very soon. The Old Buffer is a 5.5% English Strong Ale, named after Topside’s owner Blair Tobin’s Chief Boatswain Mate during his time in the RCN. And much like its namesake, it is strong and tough, featuring big malt notes of dried fruit, toffee, and a touch of Noble hop grassiness. In addition to kegs, we hear that a cask of The Old Buffer will be pouring at The Henry House before too long, and may even be bottled for at-home enjoyment. Reach out to Tobin to learn more about keg options for both home and restaurant!

Tusket Falls Brewing has the latest in their Experimental series this week with a 6.0% Coffee Porter now pouring both at the brewery and at their Gottingen Street Beer Project locations. Featuring plenty of Counter Culture “Fast Forward” beans in the beer, taking on a distinct flavours of roast, nutty, and even a touch of biscuit on the palate. As with all of these small batch releases, you’ll have to make your way to the source as these are draught-only and in very limited supply!

And we’ll finish spilling the ‘T’ this week with Tatamagouche Brewing, who have a super special treat for us this week, a beer in the classic Belgian Oud Bruin style they’re calling Reverie. The base for this one was brewed a couple of years ago, starting with Pilsner and Munich malts, but with plenty of specialty malts to provide deep notes of caramel, chocolate and dark fruit, a touch of Saaz hops provided the finishing touch. It was co-fermented with the clean Arset Kveik strain alongside Escarpment Labs’ Belgian Sour Blend, a mixed culture of Brettanomyces, Lactobacillus, and Pediococcus. Left to develop for over two years in red wine barrels, it was packaged and bottle conditioned for an additional six months. Tasting notes from the brewery suggest it’s developed a pleasant acidity, with deep notes of fruit, including cherries and plums, and plenty of rich malt character. Available from the brewery in 500ml bottles; we recommend getting a couple or three, as Oud Bruin is a style that tends to continue to develop in the bottle!

KV’s Hammond River Brewing is celebrating the return to Level 2 with a new beer this week. The Same One is described as a “New England Session IPA”, as it takes the best bits of the New England Style, but in a sub-5% package. Hopped exclusively with the Aussie Eclipse hop, the 4.9% ABV beer is full of citrus and fruit notes, with a lighter mouthfeel to keep you coming back for another (you know, the same one). Available on tap for pints and growlers at the brewery now, with kegs heading out across the province to their licensees shortly. If cans are more your style, they’ve got those too!

A few returning favourites to close out today…

Dieppe’s O’Creek Brewing has another big, bold release in their line of pastry stouts, namely the Mascaret. Featuring cacao nibs, vanilla beans, and coconut, this 11.0% beer is a bottled-exclusive, available in limited supply at Dieppe’s CAVOK Brewing, Grimross and Picaroons in Fredericton, and Sussex Ale Works.

A new drop of fresh hoppy goodness is becoming the norm for Friday’s at Unfiltered Brewing. Cans of their Fist of God DIPA are back in stock today and it’s also pouring next door at Charm School. You know the drill: 8.0% ABV, face-punching hop character, cans, pints, fills, etc.

Not to be outdone, New Brunswick’s own hop hawkers, Trailway Brewing, are also re-releasing a well-loved IPA today in the form of the latest batch of Urban Sabrero. This time leveraging a Lupomax™ version of tropical and coconutty Sabro for maximal juicy hop character, this 6% low-bitterness beer is bursting with sweet tangerine and piña colada flavour and aroma.

Sea Level Brewing has a couple of return engagements this week: longtime brew El Rojo Diablo, a red ale at 7.666% and newer school Light in the Dark Kölsch-style session ale at 4%. Both are available at their Millstone Harvest Brewhouse location packaged in cans or available for fills to go, as well as for pints to sit and sip.

 

Friday Wrap-Up for October 30, 2020 – News from Topside, Hardisty, CAVOK, Propeller & Propeller Arcade, Tidehouse, and More!!

Posted by acbbshawn on 2020-10-30
Posted in: Friday Wrap-Up. Tagged: Atlantic Canadian Craft Brew Fest, Big Spruce Brewing, Big Spruce Home Brew Challenge, Britt's Uptown, CAVOK Brewing, Escarpment Laboratories, Finbar's Irish Pub, Fire Fly Recreational Campground, Grass Roots Grill, Gridiron Brewing, Hammond River Brewing, Hampton Brewing Company, Hardisty Brewing, Little Shemogue Oyster Company, Loyalist City Brewing Co, Magnetic Hill Winery, Maritime Home Brew Challenge by Gahan, Monk10 Taproom, New Scotland Brewing, North Brewing, Old Road BBQ, Peddlers Creek, Peppers Pub, Propeller Arcade, Propeller Brewing, Spindrift Brewing, Spindrift Oak Manor, Station 33 Cafe, Stillwell Beergarden, The Joyce, Tidehouse Brewing, Topside Brewing, TrailWay Brewing. Leave a Comment

Happy day-before-Halloween! Just kidding; you’re not really into that stuff, are you? Look, if you’re old enough to drink beer, you’re old enough to not get excited about a “holiday” where you’re encouraged to dress up and hand out free candy to a bunch of kids you don’t even know and… wait, where were we going with this? Oh right, this is a blog about beer in Atlantic Canada so here’s some more beer news for you. And you might need some beer to survive this weekend, and/or this coming Tuesday (and the goat rodeo that will very possibly ensue). Enjoy!

Bedford’s Topside Brewing kicked off a new series of beers last week, dubbed Around the World in 30 Beers. This ambitious project sees them highlighting indigenous and historic beer styles from across the world, showcasing the many flavours available in the malt, hops, yeast, and water profiles found universally, as well as native plants or ingredients special to those regions. The first in the series is Outlaw, a 5.4% Kottbusser, an historic German style. From Topside, “As the Reinheitsgebot spread from Bavaria through the rest of the region in the late 1800s, the style was outlawed because it was brewed with Oats, Honey and Molasses. We chose this as the first beer of the series because to set a tone for the various styles that people may not have tried or may never have heard of and it’s a lot of fun.” So, now that you know about it, how can you get your hands on it? As this is a small batch from this nano-brewery, it is only available as part of their Grab a Growler program. Head to the website for the full details, but the short version is, if you live in the Bedford area, you can sign up for growler delivery weekend afternoons, meaning you don’t even have to leave home to drink around the world!

And in Coming Soon news from Topside, they will be featuring their Rollin’ the Dice IPA on tap at Finbar’s Irish Pub in Bedford for a special event on Remembrance Day, November 11th. Named after the team motto of EOD3, roto 1-10 in Afghanistan, who suffered a catastrophic attack on May 3rd, 2010, when they were targeted after disposing of an IED, with Craig Blake killed and Chris Downey wounded that day. Rollin’ the Dice features a blend of unconventional malts, continuous hopping throughout, and a yeast strain not typical of the style. The event at Finbars on the 11th will be a way for the community to come together to enjoy great food, beer, and the company of others to reflect and remember sacrifice in times of war.

Hardisty Brewing is another nano-brewery in the region, located in the Colby Village area of the HRM. Delivery of their canned product is available in that community, as well as the occasional draught taps in Dartmouth. The latest beer delivered to Battery Park is their brand-new Stoked Pilsner. The 5.8% ABV beer has a healthy 31 IBU, but certainly deviates from the traditional, featuring the addition of crushed Juniper Berries and Coriander during the conditioning phase, inspired by their love of the botanicals found in gin. Also making an appearance at Battery Park now/soon is their Block Party Pale Ale, a 4.5% ABV SMaSH beer named after the parties in the Hardisty area so often fueled by beer brewed right on the street. For those fortunate enough to live nearby, be sure to reach out to them to place your order for any/all of their six beers currently available in cans: Heritage Rye IPA, Dark Confessions Smoked Porter, Island Gold APA, and Homestead Imperial IPA join the Stoked and Block Party.

The fine folks in Dieppe are hot off a sell-out of their latest beer, so CAVOK Brewing is back with another new release. Côte Magnétique is a wild ale that was fermented on grape skins and tailings from Magnetic Hill Winery. Pitched with a blend of Saison yeast and Brettanomyces, expect this 4.6% beer with an IBU of 8 to be easy drinking with a great flavour profile. This is currently available at the brewery and while you’re there, they will be doing an Oyster pop-up from 5-7pm on Friday October 30th with Little Shemogue Oyster Company. 

Halifax’s Propeller Brewing is bringing back a small batch favourite on a bigger scale today, to avoid anyone missing out. Earl Grey Pale Ale is a 5.5% ABV English Pale Ale, featuring Idaho 7 and Citra hops, to complement the citrus and floral aromatics of black tea and bergamot orange that arose from generous additions of Earl Grey tea. Choosing Cookie and Red malts in the grist helped to provide some complexity there, too, giving a “tea and biscuits” feel. Available now at the 3 Propeller retail locations (Gottingen, Quinpool, and WIndmill) in cans, and on tap at the two Halifax taprooms.

And for those of us who have been enjoying the Propeller Arcade as a way to have a Prop pint in an awesome space, you’ll love what comes next! In addition to the 8 pinball machines, and the same number of cabinet games in their current space, a full complement of carnival-style and ball games are now installed in an expanded area just a few steps away. And these games actually dispense tickets, which can be redeemed for prizes like erasers, Popeye Candy Sticks (aka Cigarettes for those of old enough to remember those), and even retro gaming systems if you save up enough tickets! By taking over more room in the space below the Gottingen Street retail and taproom location, more seating has been added to the brewing floor, with a half-dozen picnic tables now available for solo or bubble seating, so you can safely sip in between rounds of Medusa Pinball, Area 51 or Skee Ball. As always, masks on when you’re playing (beer is best enjoyed in the sitdown area), wash/sanitize your hands often, wipe the games down before/after use, and have fun! The Prop Arcade is open from 4 until 10 PM or later, Thursday through Sunday.

Speaking of returning favourites…we’ll go down the street to Tidehouse for their latest release. After a very long sabbatical, Hey Abbot! is available and ready for purchase. The folks on Salter Street are gearing up for their 4 year anniversary in December, and this re-release is the 2nd beer in their “best of” series. Hey Abbot! is a Belgian Tripel that comes in at 9.0% but like most proper Tripels, does not taste strongly of alcohol. The beer gives hints of banana and clove, followed by some light spicy notes and a bit of white pepper if you dig deep enough. Look for this new release to drop today at 2 PM, available exclusively in cans at the brewery.

We’ve got a bit of info on the not one, not two, but *three* new beers hitting New Scotland Brewing’s taps tomorrow. The first one is this year’s iteration of Heads Will Roll, a Halloween-themed Red IPA. Featuring late-addition hops (to the tune of 55 IBUs), this 6.6% ABV beer is slightly more malt-centric on the palate, but with definite pine and citrus notes coming through as well. Next up is an “American Rye Ale” named Kitsch & Sync, a “mellow and drinkable” 4.7% ABV, 22 IBUs brew. Hopped with Willamette and Centennial, it has a balance of sweet and earthy flavours. Finally, they also have a small batch of C’est Bon, a 5.3% ABV, 25 IBUs Saison that is “fruity, spicy, and dry”. As mentioned, all three will be pouring at the brewery’s taproom by tomorrow, as well as at select licensees.

Fans of Hampton Brewing Co. will be happy to hear that the brewery has finally announced that, after contract brewing at other locations since opening (including Loyalist City and Hammond River), they have broken ground on their own location in Hampton. The plan is to have a taproom and patio area along with the brewery, which will be located at Fire Fly Recreation Campground, just outside of Hampton at 64 Robertson Rd. Of course it’ll be many months before the project is complete, but naturally they’re quite excited about having a set location and plan in place! In the meantime, you can still find their beers on tap at several bars and restaurants around NB, including Peppers Pub, Britt’s Uptown, Peddlers Creek, Station 33 Cafe, The Joyce Pub, Gridiron Brewing and Grass Roots Grill.

While on the topic of expansions (not a phrase we would expect to be typing during a pandemic, but hey, it’s beer!), Spindrift Brewing has announced that they will be opening a new taproom and beer store in Antigonish. The Spindrift Oak Manor will be located at 271 Main St., with the plans to open sometime in early 2021. The brewhouse will be small, at only 1 BBL (~120 L), with several fermentors of the same size; this will allow the brewery to experiment with new and exciting beers that will be exclusive to Oak Manor. Of course, they’ll also regularly have the flagship Burnside-brewed Spindrift beers available on tap for pints and growler fills, along with cans and Spindrift merch for takeaway. As for the taproom itself, the plan is to have lots of small group seating, as well as some larger communal tables, all in a comfortable, cozy setting that locals should be happy to think of as their home away from home. And if you live in the Antigonish area (or would love to have an excuse to move there!), the brewery is currently looking for someone to manage Oak Manor; if interested, check out the details here.

In this week’s events, it’s time to declare outdoor beer drinking season officially closed (we guess, if we have to…*grumble*), and who says you can’t have a (COVID protocol compliant, socially distanced) Beer Fest in 2020? Not us!

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end… warm weather, hugging complete strangers in the middle of the sidewalk (that used to be a thing, right?), and the Stillwell Beer Garden. That’s right, tomorrow, October 31st is the last day for outdoor beers, tacos, ice cream, etc. That means you have only two more days to take advantage of their final week blowout, which includes $5 pricing for most pints, $5 cans of North hard seltzer and TrailWay Patio, hot chocolate (with bourbon or without!), and, of course, cornhole. 

Also tomorrow, Old Road BBQ is following suit and shutting down their patio for the season. Luckily, they’re going out with a party! Willie Stratton (2019 Music Nova Scotia’s “Entertainer of the Year”) will be headlining a socially-distanced music event at Old Road’s location in Truro (190 Industrial Ave.), and you know that there’ll be puh-lenty of delicious BBQ available on site as well. You can grab your ticket ($11.62) from the event link above; there’s also a two-ticket-plus-hotel-room option you may want to consider!

The Cox & Palmer Atlantic Canadian Craft Brew Fest For United Way is happening next weekend. Looking quite different than in years past, the celebration of local beer is holding a pair of in-person events, while encouraging attendees to go virtual for the rest. Next Friday, November 6th, there will be a 5 course Brew Dinner at the recently opened Monk10 Taproom in downtown Moncton. And then next morning, Monk10 will host the Brewmasters’ Breakfast at 10 AM. Tickets for both events can be found at the above website. For those fortunate enough to grab tickets for the Brew Fest in a Box (sales end at noon today), you’ll be able to take part in all aspects of the virtual Fest. Your ticket will get you 4 beers from the participating breweries, as well as ingredients to prepare some paired dishes, so you can tune in and drink along! Bubble up and grab 4 tickets to try all 16 available! The Brew Fest in a Box Live Q & A will allow you to chat with brewers from around the region too, recreating some more of the fun from ACCBF years past.

And furthering the charitable aspect of the Fest is the Silent Auction which is on now. Benefitting the United Way of Greater Moncton and Southeastern NB, breweries from the region have donated swag, growler fills, gift cards, and everything in between, perfect to complete your collection. The auction closes next Sunday, November 8th, and it looks like there are some great deals to be had right now!

We’re finishing off with two notices for our Homebrewing readers, don’t sleep on either of them! If you’re looking to getting into homebrewing, check out the Brewnosers or Newfermenters, both very active groups.

Today is the last day to sign up and deliver your beer to take part in the Maritime Home Brew Challenge by Gahan. Follow that link to register yourself, and then pop down to your local Gahan to deliver your West Coast and/or North East IPA, grab your t-shirt, and you’re in it to win it! Judging will be taking place next weekend, with the Awards being announced the following weekend. With thousands of dollars in prizes up for grabs, great feedback coming your way from BJCP-certified judges, there’s really no reason not to enter!

Big Spruce has announced the details of its 8th annual Home Brew Challenge. This year, home brewers from across the region are being challenged to create their best version of a Sticke Altbier, a variant of the BJCP 2008 category 7C Düsseldorf Altbier. As always, ingredients are left to the creative minds of the brewers, but for those looking for yeast, Big Spruce will arrange for pickup or delivery of Escarpment Yeast Lab’s Koslch Style Ale. Entry fees are $25 per submission, with the beers due for drop-off by January 15, 2021 (leaving plenty of time for lagering!) at a TBD location. Email jeremy@bigspruce.ca for an entry form or more details, or check out the event’s Facebook page. Unlike previous competitions, this year’s winners will be announced virtually, but T-shirts and other swag will be available to all who participate! The top 3 judge beers will be announced, and per tradition, the winner will be invited to Nyanza to brew their beer on the 7 BBL system.