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Friday Wrap-Up for June 30th, 2023 – News from Little North, Propeller, Tatamagouche, Upstreet, Tire Shack, Annapolis Cider, Trailway, and More!!

Posted by acbbaaron on 2023-06-30
Posted in: Friday Wrap-Up. Tagged: 2 Crows Brewing, Annapolis Brewing Company, Annapolis Cider Company, Baccalieu Trail Brewing, Banished Brewing, Breton Brewing, Half Cut Brewing, Landwash Brewery, Little North Brewhouse, Microbrasserie Ateepic, Off Track Brewing, Propeller Brewing, Rough Waters Brewing, Serpent Brewing, Tatamagouche Brewing, Tire Shack Brewing, TrailWay Brewing, Unfiltered Brewing, Upstreet Craft Brewing. Leave a Comment

Happy Friday, and what we hope is the start of a long weekend for you all! For whatever reason you may be celebrating, or not, we’ve got plenty of new beers, and locations to enjoy them, for you this week. Remember to enjoy responsibly and look out for each other!

We’re happy to share news of another new brewery opening its doors in rural Newfoundland, this time in Baie Verte. Little North Brewhouse has been in development for many years, and unfortunately was delayed in part due to ACOA funding for breweries drying up in 2019, when there was thought to be too many breweries in Newfoundland. Ha! There have been five breweries open since then, and Little North makes brewery #22! Thankfully, the folks behind Little North have persevered, and while their taproom plans in Baie Verte are on hold for the time being, their first beer has hit the shelves of Central NLCs today. Short Straw is a 6.7% ABV New England IPA, bursting with notes of citrus and mango, in a hazy body. Look for it at the NLCs in Corner Brook, Grand-Falls Windsor, and Gander, and will be on the shelves at 410 Grocery in Baie Verte any minute now! We’ll have plenty more with the crew behind Little North in the coming weeks.

From one opening to another, the long-anticipated Bedford location of Propeller Brewing is opening tomorrow, July 1st! Located at 1225 Bedford Highway (at the base of Fourth Street), this purpose-built building is their first to sport a drive-thru window! While the taproom (with both indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a kitchen) is set to open in another few weeks, the Prop Shop is open for retail and drive-thru 12 PM – 12 AM Saturday, 12 – 10 PM Sunday, and retail 12 – 10 PM & drive-thru 4 – 10 PM Monday. (BTW, all of the PropShops are open from noon until 8 or later all weekend long, so you don’t have to worry about running out of great local beer to fuel your long weekend celebrations) And if Bedford is your home base, or you don’t mind commuting, they are hiring for the retail and kitchen now, email noah@drinkpropeller.ca today to apply/learn more! Of course, we’ll keep you in the loop when the taproom and kitchen are set to open.

There’s lots happening on the North Shore this week with a few new beers from Tatamagouche Brewing. A few weeks ago we told you about their Twin Shores Collaboration Pale Ale with Propeller, but what we didn’t tell you is that they’ve also been letting some Brettanomyces work away on another pale ale, which is out now. Kudos Brett Pale Ale features the New Zealand hop Nectaron, with the fermentation and hop additions ledding to notes of grapefruit and stone fruit. Cans of the 4.6% ABV pale ale are available now through both breweries. In other Tata news, keep an eye out for a barrel aged version of their Irish Stout, Hierlihy. This version was aged for 10 months in third-use cognac barrels that saw the introduction of a Brett Lambicus strain during their prior use. The aging process has allowed the beer’s malt character to come through the forefront, which combined with the subtle brett character, is giving some fruity and vinous notes. This one won’t be packaged, so keep an eye out for kegs and casks at the brewery and better beer bars in the province. 

Across the Northumberland, Upstreet is releasing the 8th version of their annual De Novo series, which coincides with their anniversary. De Novo 8 is a big one, a 10% Triple IPA coming in at 40 IBUs. Starting with a grain bill of 2-row, flaked and crystal wheat, flaked oats, and Golden Naked Oats, it then saw big additions of Trident, Sabro, Samba and NHZ-107 hops. Expect a creamy and luscious drinking experience, with notes of stone fruit, pineapple, citrus and lightly toasted marshmallow. Canning is happening today (Friday) and as of publication time, they’re on track to release cans at the taproom and the downtown Craft Beer Corner later today. Happy 8 years to Upstreet from your friends at ACBB!

Is there anything that screams Atlantic Canada summer more than a lobster boil and beer? Well, maybe high gas prices, but we digress. In their tribute to New Brunswick summers, Moncton’s Tire Shack Brewery has released Lobster Boil Gose. 50 kg of lobsters were added to the boil on brewday, to go along with malt and hops that were all grown within the province. The resulting salty and sour wheat beer is available now in cans and on tap at the brewery. 

For something different, let’s head to Wolfville where Annapolis Cider is releasing Imperial Gimlet, the latest in their Something Different series. The inspiration for this one comes from one of the cidery’s favourite cocktails, the French Gimlet, a stiff cocktail featuring gin, elderflower liquor and lime juice. The cider featuring two fermentations, additions of lime juice, hops and elderflower, leading to a floral aroma, notes of berry and a bit of acidity. It also packs a punch at 9.1%, but decidedly less punch than an actual gimlet. And because the folks at Annapolis Cider are mighty swell people, $0.50 from each purchase will be donated to the Canadian Red Cross fund supporting Nova Scotia’s recovery from the recent wildfires. 

Back in New Brunswick, Trailway is releasing the latest in its Land Series, with Marsh Land Tripel. Per the style, this is a bigger beer, coming in at 9% ABV. Expect some biscuity malt notes, with aromatics of apricot and banana from the Belgian yeast, and a grassy bitterness from the hops. Cans are out now at the Fredericton and Saint John taprooms. 

2 Crows Brewing has 2 Beers Releasing today, in decidedly distinct styles. Brewed during this month’s CBAC, the Crows invited folks from Calgary’s The Establishment to play around in the brewery. Fashionable People is a fuzzy and hazy IPA, brewed with flaked oats and wheat on top of the base of pilsner malt, along with some chit malt too. The hopping began in the mash with Cascade, and continued in the boil with Columbus, before post-boil hopping with the quartet of classic and new hops Idaho 7, Centennial, Solero, and HBC 1019. Fermenting with Verdant yeast also assisted in keeping the beer hazy and juicy. Mango, citrus, passion fruit will dance on your tongue, and you could even grab a couple to enjoy at Ashtray Rock! Watch out, this was a small batch, so act quickly to avoid disappointment.

Also from 2 Crows is the latest in their Jamboree sour series: Watermelon + Kiwi. Sticking to a base of pilsner and wheat malts, along with help from flaked wheat and flaked oats, JW+K was soured with Lactobacillus plantarum before fermentation with Escarpment Labs’ Ebbegarden Kveik yeast. After that was complete, tons (well, kilos) of kiwi and watermelon purees were added to the beer during conditioning, and it was allowed to finish carbonating naturally. You can find Jamboree: Watermelon + Kiwi on tap and in cans at the brewery now, with cans hitting the shelves of the provincial liquor corporation later in July.

Sydney’s Breton Brewing is celebrating eight years of beer with a new seasonal release, Mango IPA. A hazy beer packed with plenty of Citra and Amarillo hops for a big citrus punch, it also features (duh) mango to kick the juiciness up a big notch. Coming in at 6.5% ABV, you’ll find it pouring in the taproom for pints and fills as well as in cans to go (and do remember, they ship province-wide). If you’re in the area, definitely consider stopping by tomorrow for a combination Canada Day and Breton Birthday celebration with live music, deals on Island Time Lager, and Scots Dogs on site with food.

In Bay Roberts, NL, Baccalieu Trail Brewing also has a fruited beer out this week, one they put together with Rough Waters Brewing way across the island in Deer Lake. PLURNT is listed as a “late-hopped imperial pineapple sour” which certainly has some connotations. Though not an IPA, this one saw some late additions of El Dorado, which are known for providing a tropical punch, plus some other hop varieties they’re electing to keep under wraps for now, but which provide flavors and aromas that marry well with the pineapple purée that the beer was conditioned on for four days before packaging. On the bigger side for a sour, hence the “imperial” category, it landed at 6.8% ABV. Look for this one already on tap in the Baccalieu Trail taproom for pints and fills, and the cans will hit the shelves tomorrow at BT’s regular retailers just in time for your Canada Day celebrations. As for the name, don’t ask us, we have no idea either!

Continuing their Make/shift series of collaborations with local businesses, this week Landwash Brewery has released Verafin Session IPA. Taking cues and inspiration from the group from Verafin who came into the brewery earlier this month, this 4.5% ABV hoppy little thing features Cascade in the mash and early fermentation, with two New Zealand hops, Motueka and Rakau, after that. Cans and draught are available at the brewery in Mount Pearl now, with cans at their regular retailers shortly too!

Microbrasserie Ateepic, located at the Edmundston Golf Course, has a new beer on tap today, promising to be a refreshing drink for after (or before/instead of) your round of golf. Coup Sûr is a 4.5% Gose, that salty and sour style from Germany that has migrated to North America in the last decade. Ateepic’s take on it features both cucumber and lime, to enhance the refreshment and satisfying character. Find it on tap at the brewery this weekend!

We’ve got one brewery doing some hiring this week:

Up in Fredericton, NB, Half Cut Brewing is hiring for a couple of available slots, one in the brewery, the other in the taproom. On the production side, they’re looking for a Production Assistant to help with all aspects of the brewing process, from brewing, to packaging, to general labour, to cleaning (especially the cleaning, we expect). And in the taproom, they’re looking for a FT or PT bartender. Both positions are for ages 19+. To apply, you can lob a resume at info@halfcut.ca or drop by the brewery during business hours for a chat.

Lastly, a few quick hits before you get on with your Canada Day weekend!

Annapolis Brewing has brought back their Duck Slayer Czech Amber Lager this week. Giving you a bit of a maltier option for the summer while still being crisp and refreshing, it features classic Saaz hops for a bit of balancing spiciness. Super crushable at 4.7% and 27 IBU, it’s available now at the brewery.

Bedford’s Off Track Brewing set out to make perfect summer brew and landed on Basinview Lager, a 4.2% ABV American Lager. Pale yellow, crisp, and ultra crushable, it’ll pair well with post-softball aches and pains.

Halifax’s Unfiltered has their classic summer sour, Sour Motherfucker back today for those folks who aren’t into hops. Not a little beer by any means, it’s 6.5% with plenty of fruity and refreshing tart cherry character and, as a bonus for those whose dietary needs warrant it, this year’s version is also gluten reduced!

A sneaky surprise release from Serpent Brewing on the weekend is still around, but definitely won’t last til Monday. Summer Fling is a 6.6% ABV Saison, to which they have added citron, ginger, and honey, for a citrus and lightly spicy saison fit for some summer days and nights. As there is only a single keg available, we suggest heading your way there today, and while you’re at it, sample their new food menu too!

Banished Brewing in Paradise has brought back their Makes Sense Hazy IPA this week, absolutely chock-full of hops, giving a OJ vibes thanks to the Citra, Nelson, and Solero added throughout the process. Look for it on tap and in cans at the brewery, hitting local retail shelves in the next few days.

Friday Wrap-Up for April 16, 2021 – News from Bar Brewdock, Big Spruce, Tatamagouche, North, Battery Park, morALE Brewsters, CAVOK, New Scotland, Saltbox, and More!!

Posted by acbbchris on 2021-04-16
Posted in: Friday Wrap-Up. Tagged: 2 Crows Brewing, ANBL, Baccalieu Trail Brewing, Backstage Brewing, Bannerman Brewing, Bar Brewdock, Battery Park, Big Spruce Brewing, Bishop's Cellar, Bogside Brewing, Boomstick Brewing, Bootleg Brew Company, CAVOK Brewing, Copper Bottom Brewing, Euston Park Social Beer Garden, Evermoore Brewing Co, Garrison Brewing, Griffin's Pub, Grimross Brewing, HopYard, Landwash Brewery, Lone Oak Brewing, Mingler's Pub, morALE Brewsters, Moth Lane Brewing, New Scotland Brewing, Ninepenny Brewing, North Brewing, NS Craft Beer Month, NSLC, Off Track Brewing, PEI Brewing Co., Picaroons Roundhouse, Port Rexton Brewing Co., Propeller Brewing, Quidi Vidi Brewery, Red Island Cider, Rough Waters Brewing, Saltbox Brewing, Serpent Brewing, Shipwright Brewing, Sober Island Brewing, Tatamagouche Brewing, Tire Shack Brewing, Toslow, TrailWay Brewing, Upstreet Craft Brewing, Village Green by Modern Brewer. Leave a Comment

We’re officially halfway through April, and halfway through Nova Scotia Craft Beer Month (COVID-limited edition), but that doesn’t mean there’s not a bunch of news from the other provinces in Atlantic Canada. So while the weather isn’t exactly screaming “Spring is here” this weekend in much of the region, there’s still plenty of good beer to explore, including the annual return of a hoppy beast, some cool collaborations, and a new option for good beer drinking in St. John’s.

After years of planning, and months of anticipation from thirsty patrons, the East Duckworth area of St. John’s is about to welcome another beery establishment! Bar Brewdock is the brainchild of Craig Farewell and Steve Martin, the busy fellas behind the Newfoundland Craft Beer Festival and plenty of other beer-centric events. Their love of craft beer is more than a decade old, and they are ready to share the passion in a permanent establishment with their fellow Newfoundlanders. With 24 rotating taps (including 2 Czech side-pull faucets for that silky-smooth beer with a tight creamy head) and the province’s first Beer Engine (perfect for casks!), Brewdock will be pouring beer from independent breweries across the province and beyond. Chef Chris Mercer is the brains in the kitchen, whose team is whipping up beer-pairing-worthy snacks and plates for those visiting, with veggie and vegan dishes available too. Benefiting from, and building upon, the great distribution breweries from across the province are seeing to the Avalon, their debut tap list features beers from Bootleg, Boomstick, Rough Waters, Port Rexton, Baccalieu Trail, Ninepenny, Landwash, and Quidi Vidi, with kegs from more craft breweries in Newfoundland and Labrador, the rest of the Atlantic provinces, and beyond to be following along in short order. Look for their collaboration brew with Toslow at Bannerman Brewing to be released in the next couple of weeks, securing the camaraderie of the East Duck Beer District. Named Block Party, this Hibiscus Saison has a lovely pink hue owing to the flower, and is reminiscent of both Brewdock’s iconic 24 Flavors sign and Toslow’s ambient lighting. Sounds perfect outside on a warm day, which is fitting as in addition to their indoor seating for about 40, their Beer Garden will feature even more very soon. Brewdock opens their doors to the public next Thursday, April 22nd, and operates Wed (4 – 11 PM), Thurs (4 – 12 AM), Fri – Sun (12 PM – 12 AM). Congratulations to Farewell, Martin, Mercer, and the whole Brewdock team!

From one three-way collaboration to another, let’s head to Nova Scotia, where its breweries are celebrating Nova Scotia Craft Beer Month. While COVID has put a damper on any big events, it is still an opportunity for some conspiring, with Organic breweries Big Spruce and Tatamagouche once again teaming up for their Cerberus American IPA. But this duet is even better as a trio, and they have enlisted Cole Harbour’s North Brewing to complete the team. Heavily hopped late in the boil with Simcoe, El Dorado, and Mosaic, and further enhanced with a big biotransformation addition (mid-ferment to have the yeast help convert some terpenes), as well as a pair of dry hoppings, this will satisfy any hop head who dares take on the beast. From Big Spruce’s big spruce Jeremy White, “Every year Tata and Big Spruce get together to remind the NS craft beer world of what it means to be an organic brewer:  sustainability, environment and ecology. Cerberus also happens to be one monstrous, haze driven, hop forward aroma bomb as well! Last year we invited North to the dance, and the foot stomps felt just right with them around, so we decided to double up and have them to dinner again!” Cerberus is out today in cans and draught at all three breweries, with growler fills available at both Big Spruce and Tata.

And if you’re looking for a way to celebrate the release (or celebrate Friday, who are we to judge), get yourself to Downtown Dartmouth’s Battery Park today for their Three-Headed Tap Takeover, with each brewery bringing 5 bangin’ beers to the taps, and it may be the only way to experience both the Cerberus on draught and on cask side by side, which is sure to change the flavour profile. The beers are pouring from their opening at 11:30 AM, with the full details on who’s pouring what available here.

morALE Brewsters is a service member- and veteran-owned nano brewery in Oromocto, New Brunswick, and due to their small production size, primarily serve the local area bars and restaurants. Wanting to expand their reach, the morALE team worked with the fine folks at Dieppe’s CAVOK Brewing to upscale one of their brands to serve a larger audience. Pte Bloggins is a 5.0% ABV Blonde Ale, light on the bitterness at 14 IBU, and perfect for enjoying in volume after a long day doing drill on the tarmac (or lazing around on the deck). Kegs have been delivered to their locals Griffin’s Pub and Mingler’s in Oromocto, as well as to the Pics Roundhouse, Grimross, and host brewery CAVOK, with cans also available at CAVOK as well as the ANBL locations Fredericton York Street, Corvette Centre, and Oromocto. And don’t be shy asking for it at your own ANBL or local bar if you’d like to see it on tap. The morALE team is thrilled for the experience, and very thankful to Serges Basque and Nadeau, and the brewing team of Ben and Guillaume.

In some Nova Scotian collaboration news, Dartmouth’s New Scotland Brewing and Mahone Bay’s Saltbox have come together for a special release! Salty Lion is a hoppy, hazy Double IPA coming in at 8.2%. Generously hopped with Ekuanot and Citra, it brings that orange citrus flavour with notes of peach as well. Watch for this release available now on tap at the Saltbox and New Scotland taprooms and it will also be available in cans from both locations as well. 

We’ve got a new one from the Do Gooders (Good Doers?) at Upstreet as they have a brand new crisp and refreshing 4% ABV crusher they’re calling Cavalier. A light lager with a light body and grassy notes, sweetness on the nose and flavour, that has well balanced bitterness and is very crisp. Leveraging some rice in the grain bill to keep the body in check and Ekuanot to hop, the result is a very refreshing lager. Get this one in 355 mL cans from Upstreet directly (in store and online) with 12-packs going for just over $23! And if you give them the secret password when you head into the brewery to grab a case, they may even let you try the pilot batch of their next Libra non-alcoholic beer, a Hazy IPA.

Halifax’s 2 Crows has decided this won’t be one of the (very) few weeks of the year when they don’t release something new as they are releasing Roble today. Billed as an “oak-fermented wild Witbier” coming in at 4.2% ABV, those with long beer memories – like our own @acbbchris – may recognize some shared DNA with Ramble, their 2.9% ABV “wild table Witbier” from the summer of 2018. Originally brewed in late 2020 on a base of Shoreline Malting Pilsner, wheat malt, raw wheat, and some flaked wheat, it was mash hopped with plenty of Sterling and kettle hopped with more Sterling and some Citra. Traditional coriander and fresh orange zest were added via the hopback before the beer was shipped into a foedre for fermentation with the 2C house culture on a pile of sliced oranges. The oranges were removed after fermentation was complete, but the beer remained in foedre to condition for several months before it was finished with a dry hop of Bru-1 hops and can-conditioned with Champagne yeast. Described as, “dry, super-orangey, zippy, fun, funky, and fresh,” you almost certainly won’t find it too bitter at 19 IBU. Look for it at the brewery now, and according to the 2C team, there’s another (slightly tweaked) batch conditioning in foedre right now as this one is slated to be a semi-regular member of their lineup!

Keeping it cool in PEI, we’ve got some bad mother shuckers from Bogside giving us a new release. Shucker’s Select West Coast IPA is a 7.1% hop forward, bitter release that is layered with hop aroma and flavour at 55 IBU. Available on tap at the brewery now, look for kegs across the province, and cans to go or for Island-wide delivery!

Straight outta Stellarock, there is some exciting from Backstage Brewing. Although they’ve previously done some limited bottling runs since their opening in 2017, this week they’ve gotten themselves some swank new bottle branding thanks to Task at Hand Illustration & Design. Also responsible for the Backstage logo, Task at Hand has produced a new run of 4 labels (with more to come, we hope) for some of Backstage’s core beers. 

And what better way to celebrate the new labels than with a new beer?! Off the Hop is a 4.3% ABV Golden Ale featuring Shoreline Malting Pilsner malt and balanced out nicely with Mosaic and Centennial hops. Fermented with a British ale yeast, this is a fun style that can range from more British-centric, with more malt presence and earthy, herbal hops, to more New World, with a lighter body and American hops; this one seems to aim for a nice balance. Try it yourself and see what you think; it’s available now in 500 mL bottles from the brewery on Bridge Ave. 

Jumping across the Northumberland, Village Green has another hop-forward release this week with Antipode. This 6.2% IPA features some of our favourite southern hemisphere hops, with additions of Galaxy, the elusive Nelson Sauvin and Motueka. Expect lots of fruit-forward notes from the hops, including cantaloupe, strawberry, and according to the brewer “white gummy bears that have been smuggled into movie theatres.” Antipode is available in cans and on tap now at the brewery in Cornwall. 

Always bringing the hits and fan favourites, there is some summery and exciting news out of Propeller. First up, we see the re-release of Lime Lite lager. If you remember this from last year, this was a canned hit that was popular for those summer months and it’s back this year with the same light lager infused with real fresh limes but in shorter 355 mL cans. Bringing some nice citrus aroma and a very crisp, clean and refreshing finish at 4.5% ABV and 10 IBU it is is available today at all the Prop Shops and online for delivery; it will also be stocked at Bishop’s Cellar and NSLCs starting in May and available throughout the summer. 

In other news from their Quinpool location, there is a new Small Batch that will be available today! Mosaic Pale Ale was made on the on-site pilot system so the quantities are quite limited. This refreshing pale ale style is hopped generously with Mosaic which should bring a well balanced flavour of fresh berries with a bit of piney-resin. It’s on tap only (no growlers) as of today at Quinpool, Prop Arcade, and you’ll find some popping up at Battery Park later as well. 

For a few other quick hitters from Propeller, Common Lager is retiring but will be available for $40 per flat while supplies last. It’s never a bad idea to have a good stock beer around and that’s a great deal for 24 cans. 

Also, Community Cask Night is back next Friday, so be sure to check out the Facebook event here. 

In addition to the three-way Tap Takeover at Battery Park today, here’s what else is on our radar…

Moncton’s Euston Park Social is popping up in the Tire Shack Brewery taproom this weekend, for a preview and Test Kitchen version of what’s to come to their spot this summer. From 3 PM today, and noon both Saturday and Sunday, you’ll be able to try out the cool dishes to come before anyone else!

Down the Eastern Shore (or is it up?), Sober Island is celebrating its 5th anniversary with a COVID-friendly day of beer, food and music. From noon to 6:00 PM tomorrow, the brewery will be offering brewery tours and free flights to accompany live music and food available for purchase from the Ground Search and Rescue food truck. If you can’t make it on Saturday, the taproom is now open on Wednesday through Sunday, and as temperatures rise, keep an eye out for the opening of their outdoor beer garden. Congrats to Sober Island on 5 years!

Next week, Hopyard Charlottetown is kicking off the second annual Battle of the Breweries. Every Thursday, for nine weeks, HopYard will feature a keg from two breriews who will face-off, with the winner determined by which keg kicks first. This year’s battle will include local favourites such as Lone Oak, Village Green, Red Island Cider, Moth Lane, Evermoore, Upstreet, Bogside, Copper Bottom and PEI Brewing Co. Let the games begin!  

And a few quick mentions as we wrap up the beer news:

On April 1, we profiled Bluenose Lager, a collab between Garrison and Shipwright Brewing to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Bluenose. Cans are now available through both of the breweries’ retail channels and at private liquor stores.

Earlier this month we told you about the grand opening of Serpent Brewing’s taproom in Spryfield. We’re happy to report that Serpent’s kegs are now starting to make their way into beer slinging establishments across HRM. Look for keg or their Belgian IPA and Belgian Single at Battery Park, with the Single also making an appearance at The Other Bean. 

Trailway continues to glance back while moving forward and putting out updated versions of some older brews. This week it’s More Better, an IPA that features dank and resinous Simcoe hops, this time complemented by some Citra. Grab it fresh at the brewery today.

A couple more breweries in the region are looking for some help around their breweries and taprooms for the summer and perhaps beyond:

Bedford’s Off Track Brewing is looking to grow their team and they have a part-time opening for a server/bartender who will also be called on to handle retail sales. As with all serving positions, it’s 19+ only, and in addition, a valid driver’s license is required along with the ability to do some occasional lifting (50lbs+), availability for days, evenings, and weekends, and, as the brewery is dog-friendly, comfort with working around puppers. Folks with relevant experience and a strong customer focus are welcome to apply, but please send in your resume to allan@offtrackbrewing.ca rather than bringing it in person due to current COVID protocols. Off Track is an inclusive place, and folks from all races, sexual orientations, religions, and cultures are welcome to apply. 

Fredericton’s Trailway Brewing is looking to staff a summer position largely centered on their canning and bottling lines, but with additional duties supporting the brewers and cellar folks as required. An entry-level position, they’re expecting it to run 25 – 40 hours per week, depending on production levels and starting ASAP. Resumes will be reviewed as early as this week, so if you’re interested, best get your resume into the brewery in a hurry by sending it to info@trailwaybrewing.com!

Friday Wrap-Up for December 11, 2020 – News from Niche, Twin Harbour, Big Spruce and Harpoon, 902 BrewCast, Off Track, Iron Rock, Long Bay, Lone Oak Breton, and more!

Posted by acbbdamian on 2020-12-11
Posted in: Friday Wrap-Up. Tagged: 2 Crows Brewing, 902 BrewCast, Bannerman Brewing, Big Spruce Brewing, Boxing Rock Brewing, Breton Brewing, Change Is Brewing Collective, Harpoon Brewing, Iron Rock Brewing Co., Lone Oak Brewing, Long Bay Brewery, Niche Brewing, North Brewing, Off Track Brewing, Propeller Brewing, Sea Level Brewing, Tanner & Co Brewing, Tire Shack Brewing, TrailWay Brewing, Twin Harbour Brewing. 1 comment

Good day, sweet world! As we travel down the path of the Holiday season, the beer releases are coming in strong and fast, much like all of the news below! As our Atlantic provinces do our best to combat the spread of the virus, we must stay diligent by staying home and still supporting local businesses and breweries. Make sure you check out your old favourites and new shops and restaurants for pick-up and delivery options as we all do our part to stop the spread of the virus and spread the cheers! Onto what you’re really here for… the news!

Let’s start you off with some good news from our pals in Hanwell, New Brunswick, Niche Brewing. They are dropping another in their line of “infrequent and always special” bottle releases, After the Storm. Quite the fitting name given the world’s state of affairs, and the beer inside rises to the occasion, naturally. Starting with primary fermentation in a freshly-emptied Chardonnay barrel, this Dark Sour featured the use of Lactobacillus, and then fermentation with their house culture with Brettanomyces and Saccharomyces that they’ve been using for the past 3 years. After developing in the barrel for a year and a half (!!), it was moved to a stainless tank and loads of tart cherry puree was added, and allowed to meld for another few months before bottling and conditioning was complete. Dark fruit, chocolate, oak, and more, all in a 5.5% tart beer, ready for us to enjoy this season. In addition to a select few ANBL locations in the Capital (York Street) and Moncton area, After the Storm will also be at the Picaroons Crafted NB Drinks Market this Sunday, and at Maybee Brewing and CAVOK Brewing in their to-go fridges as well.

Heading 2 hours East of Hanwell, just before you hit the Acadian Coast, you will encounter Saint-Antoine/Saint Anthony. There you will find the newest brewery to open in the region, Twin Harbour Brewing. They are operating at 18 Des Bouleaux Ave in the town, and will be open for growler sales today 5 – 9 PM, and Saturday, 2 – 5 PM. So, what can you expect when you roll up to Twin Harbour? As it is a private residence, park in their driveway and head for the side door, bringing you right into the 120 litre (1 BBL) brewhouse. Please, masks on and respect social distancing, and wait until all other customers have left. Payment can be via Cash or EMT or their new gift certificates, perfect for slipping in a holiday card. OK, enough of that stuff, what beer do they have available?? Their locally-themed beers include Bo-Soleil Pale Ale (5.0%), Côte d’Or Blonde (5.0%), Cape Enragée West Coast IPA, and two fruited beers, the Raspberry Wheat (4.3%) and Blueberry Ale (4.5%). All beers are available in their own 1L Twin Harbour growlers, and they will also fill your own 1L and 2L clean growlers as well. We hope to have lots more on their beer and the people behind Twin Harbour next week, and wish them a great and busy weekend! Salut!

Nyanza’s Big Spruce Brewing has recently launched a collaboration beer that is near and dear to their hearts, in appreciation of a gesture from long ago. Ok, enough with the teasing! Most residents of Nova Scotia know that after the Halifax Explosion in 1917, the city of Boston was a big help in getting the city and its residents back on their feet. As a thank you, Halifax has sent a very large (“the biggest and best” – D. Trump) Christmas tree to the city of Boston every year since 1971. Hence, From Nova Scotia With Love, a “Whiskey Barrel Aged Abbey Ale” brewed in a “Home and Home” collaboration with Boston’s Harpoon Brewery. Brewed with a grist containing a portion of oak and cherry wood smoked malts, they decided to throw in a small addition of spruce tips, and aged the beer in Glenora Single Malt Whiskey barrels from Cape Breton. Packaged in 650 mL bottles, the 8% ABV beer is “both layered and complex, with notes of dried fruit, vanilla, wood smoke, and caramel”, as well as a bit of warmth from the whiskey. Proceeds from this beer will be donated to the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia’s Tema Grant, “a non-profit dedicated to supporting the mental health of first responders, frontline workers, and allied health professionals making unprecedented sacrifices in these difficult times”. Grab your bottles at the Sprucetique, or order online for delivery all over!

If you’re wanting to hear even more about the project and more fun details on the beer, may we suggest you check out the 902 BrewCast Podcast, as their most recent episode features an interview with Jeremy White from Big Spruce Brewing. During the episode, Kyle and Tony also chat with the fine folks at North Brewing about their Holiday Box and other recent releases, and drink their way through some new and old favourite Nova Scotian beers. The 902 fellas are also running a contest on their instagram page, so be sure to order some beer and tag them in the post. And congratulations to (former?) co-host Phil Church who has launched his professional photography business, find out more here.

The other interview during that most recent episode was with Allan of Bedford’s Off Track Brewing, who have released two Bourbon Barrel-Aged beers this week, both available now for pick up or delivery. First up is the Barrel-Aged version of their Crash Course IPA, which spent 6 months in a Buffalo Trace Bourbon barrel, before being moved to a conditioning tank for an extra dry-hopping dose of Mosaic, before a low and slow keg conditioning for the past 4 months, before bottling this 9.4% beast. And a brand new recipe is the Choc-Full Chocolate Stout, a roasty-chocolately stout that was aged for 11 months in a Woodford Reserve barrel, picking up a touch of booze and plenty of vanilla and wood character, before bottling. This 9.2% beaut is available in 500 ml bottles, just like the BBA Crash Course, and both are available for delivery in their region (Hammonds Plains/Bedford/Sackville/Fall River), as well as at the brewery at 275 Rocky Lake Drive during their current retail hours, Thursday and Friday 3 – 7 PM, and Saturday 12 – 4 PM.

Let’s head North, waaaaay North, to Lab City, to tell you about the newest release from Iron Rock Brewing. In November, Nardia McGrath (most recently of Landwash Brewery) took over their brewhouse for a couple of weeks, and along with Assistant Brewer Cindy, developed Cat’s Away IPA. Using a light-coloured base malt of 2-Row, Wheat, Flaked Oats and touch of Crystal 60, the beer featured a ton of Cascade and Citra in the boil, before a round of dry-hopping with Cascade, Citra, and Mosaic. This 6.0% Deadly beer is available in the taproom and to take-away now, so grab some when you pop by for this evening’s Trivia at 7:30 PM, or tomorrow evening’s Open Mic. And for those not in Lab City, check their website for delivery, which they’re offering Canada-wide!

Big things are happening in Rothesay this week as Long Bay Brewery releases its first canned product, Double-Dragon Fly-PA. This 8% ABV New England style DIPA features Sabro, Citra and Mosaic hops, showcasing tropical notes including mango, coconut and tangerine. The team at Long Bay used two different yeast strains and a blend of English and Canadian malts. The beer was cold conditioned for a week before packaging the features the hazy appearance you’ve come to expect from the New England style. Cans are available in 355 ml (more big beers in small cans, please!) and are available now at the brewery, with pints and growler fills also an option. If you can’t make it to Rothesay, look for cans to start popping up on ANBL shelves in the coming days and weeks. Double-Dragon Fly-PA is being launched as part of Long Bay’s core brands, which means you’ll soon be able to enjoy it all year long. In other Long Bay news, construction continues on their taproom expansion with the wall officially coming down to join the current taproom with the neighboring space. Stay tuned to Long Bay’s social channels as they work towards opening the new space during the holiday season.

Have you been stuck in your province? Is the PEI ferry operating? (seriously, we don’t know!) Well, if you’ve been missing some boat traffic if your life Lone Oak is back to fill your waters. Boat Traffic 2.0 is here. The initial release was back in January, as a smooth Oatmeal Stout oak-aged in a new, locally-made foedre. Version 2.0 is here with a big body, chocolate and coconut flavours with undertones of roast and vanilla. The brewery’s first dark beer is back again at 5.0% and 27IBU and is definitely a style to keep stocked in your fridge. Cans are now available in their taproom for pick-up or online for delivery (perfect for anyone stuck quarantining in their hotel room in Charlottetown and needing a bit of a pick-me-up, for example….).

From one island to another, we skip down to Sydney for a pair of new releases from Breton Brewing. The first early christmas gift is a Kolsch, aptly named … Kolsch! A 4.0% true to style, light and refreshing lager, keep it crispy and get some of this delicious style. Staying with the German styles, we get another lager with a very underrated style, as Breton brings us Dunkel, a traditional Munich style Dark Lager. This baby was brewed with Munich and Chocolate malt, well hopped for balance and brings lots of roasty, toasty, caramel notes all come together in a 5.0% gem. Both releases are available now at the brewery, online for home delivery in the CBRM & HRM, and shipping throughout the rest of the province. 

Follow the trail, all the way to Trailway, where in Fredericton we get some new South African hops in Mt. Passion, a new IPA release. Mt (Mount) Passion, 6%, is brewed with Southern Passion and Experimental XJA2/436 hop varieties that are meant to bring out a flavour profile of bright zesty lemon and lime, passionfruit, pineapple, and guava. Southern Passion is a South African bred aroma hop whose pedigree is a diploid seedling originating from a Saaz and Hallertauer crossing. XJA2/436 is a bittering hop with an aroma profile of bergamot citrus, dried lemon zest, candied papaya, ripe cantaloupe, gooseberries, and resin. These are probably the first time these hops have been used in the region and it’s worth a try to expand your flavour profile. It’s currently available in cans at the brewery with shipping options online and will be available on tap for pints and fills later. 

Our friends at 2 Crows have taken a respite from hoppy beers and mixed-fermentation ales to bring us their latest, Hibernaculum, an “Old Barleywine Ale”. This beauty was a l-o-o-o-ng time in the making, as it was brewed almost *three* years ago! The style and recipe research were completed by local beer aficionado Matt McNair, who helped convince the brewery to  brew the beer as two separate concoctions: an Old Ale, and a Barleywine. Both of these were brewed in the traditional English style, with a large portion of Maris Otter in both grists, East Kent Golding hops in the boil, and fermented with a dry English Ale yeast strain. Also, the Old Ale featured an addition of homemade brewer’s caramel, to really help bump up the flavour complexity. After a year of conditioning separately, the beers were blended, along with a pitch of Brett C (oops, did we say a break from mixed-ferm beers? Oh well!). After another year, the final beer was bottled and allowed to condition until now, for a grand total of close to three years. It’s a huge beer at 11.9% ABV (!), and is tasting “rich, bold, and warming”, with notes of leather, dried fruit, treacle and sherry. This is the quintessential sipping-by-the-fire beer, or in front of your Christmas tree, or at your breakfast table with cereal… we won’t judge! Ok, maybe we will a little for that last one. There is an extremely-limited number of bottles available (about 200), so be sure to grab some ASAP… rest assured this is a beer that will cellar wonderfully. Available now!

Yesterday, December 10th, was National Lager Day, and Sea Level Brewing decided to celebrate with the release of their latest Small Batch beer, Schwarzbier. This Dark German Lager is a style that has become increasingly popular over the years, with quite a few local breweries creating their own take on the style. Sea Level’s version is easy-drinking at just 4.2% ABV, and has “a hint of smokiness, chocolate and molasses, and a subtle floral aroma” thanks to an unusual-for-the-style dry hop of Crystal from Fundy Hops. Finishing clean and crisp, you can find it in cans and on tap at the Millstone Harvest Brewhouse.

Tanner squeezes in a Thursday release, with Saison III.  “Best described as a saison IPA hybrid”. The Chester faithful used pilsner, Vienna, Munich and oats and fermented the beer with French saison yeast. This was generously hopped throughout with Nelson Sauvin, Motueka and Lemondrop. Coming in at 7.0% and 40 IBU, “a combination of slightly spicy fruit forward yeast character & dryness, with the exotic fruit from the hop varieties. Complex aromas of citrus and tropical fruit give way to a dry palate that balances with the light malt backbone.” Order online for delivery (deliveries go out Friday!) or pop by to grab 500ml bottles if you can. And there looks to be beer in a new format available shortly, so peep their online store for more details on that over the next few days.

The beery Christmas gifts just keep on comin’, with Propeller bringing us another two for you lucky Haligonians, both of which the brewery refers to as “special bottles a long time in the making”. Sounds like the perfect gifts to us! No, seriously, TO us, for those of you looking for a way to thank us for all of our hard work! What’s that, just get to the beers, you say? FINE. The first is Dark Saison, which was brewed in October, 2019 and aged in a single Bourbon barrel (the very same that kicked off the brewery’s barrel program!). Fermented with a blend of clean Saison yeast and Brettanomyces strains, the beer spent 11 months in the barrel before packaging. Weighing in at 8.0% ABV, the final beer is rich and dark, with “notes of figs, dark fruit, and classic Brett earthiness and funk”, as well as some Bourbon and oak, of course! 

Continuing on this little trend of dark, funky beers, the next release is the return of Brett Porter. This one they refer to as a “classic London Style Porter”, that was initially fermented with a British Ale yeast, and then transferred to oak barrels for a secondary fermentation with Brett C. Aged for over nine months, the 6.4% ABV beer was then bottled and exhibit “layers of rich, roasted malt” to go with the mild Brett characteristics. Both beers are available today for sale in the Prop Shops, and can also be ordered online for home delivery. 

Just a couple quick hits before we leave you this week. Stay safe and drink well, friends!

Down in Shelburne, Boxing Rock is back with a re-release from a few years ago. Rauch Star is a rauchbier, aka a smoked lager. This beer is smooth, malty and full of old-world flavour. The style may not be for everyone, but we encourage you to try it!. True to it’s Bamberg roots, this beer is brewed with Pilsner and roasted malts and just the right amount of German beech-smoked malt. 6.2% ABV and available in 473ml cans at the brewery, private stores in HRM, and in the December 8th slot in the Maritime Craft Beer Advent Calendar. 

If you could use some Holiday cheer, or Good News (a 2 Crows/Change is Brewing Collective release), North Brewing, along with their community, and along with the Change Is Brewing Collective, have raised $14,037.25 with the sales of the Cherry Brook Wheat. Keep an eye out for further releases on how you can support the collective, like the Lake City Cider Forest Glory release out, too. 

In some other celebratory news, Tire Shack out of Moncton has no beer releases this week, but there’s still something to be excited about. This brewery should be on the radar for many of you already with their latest releases, but they picked up a few medals at The US Open Beer Championship held in Ohio. They won Gold in the ‘Fruit Gose’ category for our Lime Margarita Gose . This was a beer that was released this past summer that was hugely popular. They also won Bronze in the ‘Coconut’ category for their Coco Loco. This was a Vanilla-Coconut Porter that sold quickly in the Moncton area. Both of these winners will be coming back into production, so keep an eye out. Check out the full results and medal winners here. 

Our friends in St. John’s have a few pieces of news to carry us home this week. Bannerman gives us seasonal re-release, Yuletide, is a jammy, delicious, tart 5% ale brewed with Pilsner and wheat malts, then conditioned on huge amounts of cranberry, raspberry and cherry puree. Get this in cans or on tap at the brewery. Also this Sunday, they’re hosting a Holiday Edition of the St. John’s Music Merch Fair. The lineup includes many merchants of clothing and or music, including Tim Baker, Hey Rosetta! Duane Andrews and more. Check it out from 11am-5pm at the brewery on Sunday. Check out the event here.