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Friday Wrap-Up – News from Boxing Rock, Propeller, Picaroons, Port City Beer Run, Fredericton Beer Run and much more!

Posted by acbbchris on 2015-02-06
Posted in: Friday Wrap-Up. Tagged: 540 Kitchen & Bar, Big Axe Brewery, Boxing Rock Brewing, Cicerone Certification Program, Fredericton Beer Run, Fredericton Craft Beer Festival, Garrison Brewing, Horton Ridge Malt & Grain, King Street Ale House, Ladies Beer League, Picaroons Traditional Ales, Port City Beer Run, Propeller Brewing, RockBottom Brewpub, Tide & Boar Gastropub. 1 comment

Happy Friday! Snow continues to fall, temperatures continue to drop… but luckily, the beer news in our region continues to flow in!

• Last weekend, Boxing Rock brewed up a new beer with a special guest – Andrew “Esty” Estabrooks, former head brewer at Picaroons. The Next Chapter is a Rye IPA brewed with New Brunswick-grown malt, and hopped with Columbus, Mosaic, and Simcoe. Coming in at 6.3% ABV, it will feature “rich spicy notes” from the rye malt, and a “great dank bitterness with a fruity middle, and dry, citrusy, piney finish” according to Boxing Rock head brewer Henry Pedro. This collaboration is going to be a special Boxing Rock release, as it’s not only their first IPA, but also their first beer intended for release only in New Brunswick! Lucky attendees of this year’s Fredericton Craft Beer Festival will be able to sample the beer, which will then have an exclusive tap at the King Street Ale House. In addition, right now the plan is for 650 mL bottles of the beer to be available through ANBL; it’s not confirmed yet, but let’s keep our fingers crossed!

• Don’t worry, Nova Scotia, Boxing Rock has a new beer for you, too! A Bohemian Pilsener, Wild Axe is brewed with all Saaz hops (a spicy and floral European variety), fermented cool in true lager fashion, and then aged cold to give the clean, balanced, crisp flavors expected of the style. Weighing in at 5.7% ABV, look for this one to be released on tap at the brewery and at better beer bars/restaurants in Nova Scotia today, and by next Wednesday in 650 mL bottles.

• Propeller has just released their newest One-Hit Wonder, and they couldn’t have timed it any better! 6 More Weeks is an Indian Brown Ale (aka hoppy American Brown, or Brown IPA) that is brewed with dark malts (including Chocolate, Roast, and Black Prinz) to give “a dash of roast character that adds a delicate creaminess”, and is hopped with Warrior, Centennial, Cascade and Ahtanum. These hop varieties lend an earthy, piney, and spicy hop character to the flavor and aroma, as well as “plenty of bitterness that doesn’t linger”. At 5.5% ABV and 82 IBUs, this dark brown beer can be found at both Prop Shop locations for growler fills, and on tap around the city. No groundhogs were harmed in the making of this beer.

• Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Picaroons will be re-releasing their Afterglow Aphrodisiac Ale. This 5% ABV, full-bodied dark beer is brewed with chocolate, cayenne, ginseng root, and liquorice root. Look for it on tap at the Brewtique for growler fills next week, and at several restaurants throughout Frederiction. Next week also marks the return of their Beer & Chocolate Dinners, which feature several chocolate-infused courses, each paired with a different Picaroons beer. Taking place on February 10th (7:00 pm) at 540 Kitchen & Bar and February 11th (6:30 pm) at Tide and Boar Gastropub, tickets are on sale through both locations now ($50 + tax/gratuity).

• Living in Saint John? Do you like to run, drink local beer, and support a good cause? Well the Port City Beer Run is for you! Being held on Saturday, May 30th at the Diamond Jubilee Cruise Terminal, the run will feature your choice of a 3, 5, or 10 km distance (route TBD); afterwards, there will be live music, food from three local restaurants, and beer! There are currently four breweries attending (Big Tide, Grimross, Hammond River, and Moosehead), with an additional 1-2 likely to be announced soon. Each brewery will have two types of beer; you’ll be able to enjoy 1-2 oz samples (to a maximum of 16 oz), and then a full pint of your favourite. Early-bird tickets are $50 and on sale now until April 30th; after that, tickets are $60 each. The price includes the run, food, entertainment and beer, and all funds go to JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). The registration page isn’t up quite yet, so keep an eye on their Facebook account; you can also message them your name and email address to reserve a spot.

• We may as well take this opportunity to remind you that tickets are now on sale for the 3rd Annual Fredericton Beer Run! Held this summer on Monday, August 3rd (New Brunswick Day), the 4, 6, or 12 km run features plenty of local beer, cider and mead to be consumed after your hard work – fourteen 4 oz samples of about 30 brands, to be exact! Breweries haven’t been announced yet, but expect a mostly-NB-based turnout. Tickets are on sale now, and are $60 each (a Coach’s ticket can be purchased for $50; you must accompany a runner to buy this ticket).

• Rockbottom Brewpub will have three new beers hitting the taps in the next couple of weeks, starting with their Scottish Export, hitting the taps today. This beer is a Scottish malt-forward beer, with Oatmeal added to the recipe. The colour is Mahogany Red, with tan head and lacing. The beer is very malty, with caramel and toasted notes, reminiscent of stewed plums, and oatmeal raisin cookies. It weighs in at 5.5% ABV and 25 IBUs. They will be tapping a Double Chocolate Stout on February 11th, just in time for Valentine’s Day. A special day deserves a special beer, and this small batch delivers: Roast Barley and dark crystal malts are enhanced with Belgian dark chocolate and Peruvian Cacao nibs. The beer is served on a nitro tap, which will give the beer a very smooth and silky character This beer clocks in at 7.0% ABV and 50 IBUs. And the following Wednesday, February 18th, will see the return of the Wreckoning Russian Imperial Stout. It was awarded the Gold for Imperial Stout at the 2014 Canadian Brewing Awards last fall, and we have heard that this is the last batch to be brewed, ever. This beer has incredible complexity, owing to the massive malt bill (the beer is 10.5% ABV and 100 IBUs), with notes of roast, coffee, chocolate, vanilla, cherries, caramel, and more. Don’t miss out on these beers, grab a pint at the ‘Bottom.

• Horton Ridge Malt & Grain Co. is holding an information session at The Wooden Monkey – Alderney Landing, February 11, 7-9 PM. They are in the middle of raising funds through the Community Economic Development Investment Funds (CEDIF) program to open a Malt House in the Annapolis Valley, and will be sharing the malting outlook and market in our region. They have invited local brewers to talk about using local malt and the benefits of a local malt house. Snacks and samples will be served.

• Speaking of malting, later in the month, on February 21st, the CCNB in Edmundston is hosting a day-long seminar, Regional Malts for a Regional Beer. Aimed at brewers, homebrewers, farmers and potential maltsters, the goal of the event is to open dialogue around producing, processing, and brewing with regional malts. From organizer Mike Doucette, “We will give the floor to Jean-Michel Degraux of MaltBroue, who will talk about the possibility of malt house franchises across Eastern Canada. We’ll also talk about the Biorefinery Technology Scale-up Center at CCNB, and the services we offer. I will give a short presentation on Barley field trials in eastern Canada. In the afternoon, Jean-Michel Degraux will give a presentation pertaining to malt varieties and brewing. There will then be a panel discussion around using local malts for brewing local beers. We hope to answer some questions and to extinguish some of the major concerns around using local malts for brewing.” Tickets are available online now, and should prove to be an informative day to those in the beer business.

• There are a couple of events happening in Halifax on February 14th to tie in with your love of beer, no date required! The Le Trou du Diable Tap Takeover Event at Bar Stillwell is almost sold out, however there are a handful of tickets left for the noon-3pm session. More than a twelve draft and bottled beers will make their Atlantic Canadian debut. Plus, visit and chat with the brewers, and grab some TdD schwag/swag. Email them to secure your spot. After that, head on by the Stubborn Goat, to take part in their Speed Dating event. The event kicks off at 6pm, and there will be prizes (plus lots of great local beer)! Check out the details here, and be sure to register with Evan before the 13th.

• The Ladies Beer League crew have another great event coming soon, a Charity Curling-Board Game-Dance Party… with Local Beer! On February 21st at 8pm, the LBL will be taking over the Mayflower Curling Club, and hosting curling lessons and giant games from the Board Room Game Cafe. And then a dance party, supported by CKDU. There will be local beer flowing, and the Food Wolf will be serving up their creations. Entry to the event is free, and all proceeds from the activities go to Stepping Stone.

• Big Axe has been brewing some new beers again, after their brief hiatus due to a much-needed vacation in December. First up is their Big Axe Blonde, a light-bodied, golden-colored ale. An easy-drinking style that is perfect for introducing craft beer to those who haven’t made the leap yet, this beer was “modestly hopped” with Cascade and Saaz, and showcases a smooth malt character; it comes in at 5.1% ABV. Next up is a Chocolate Orange Stout; this is their Shakesbeer Chocolate Oatmeal Stout (6.5% ABV), but with orange added to the boil. Both beers should be making their debut at 540 Kitchen & Bar this weekend, during Fredericton’s Winterfesthiver 2015. Big Axe has also tweaked their Double Bit IPA; according to brewer Peter Cole, the hop profile has been changed to give a “clean, crisp finish” to the beer.

• Homebrewer Jason McDougall visited Garrison Brewing yesterday, to brew up his 2014 Home Brew-Off-winning Hefeweizen on their system. No word on the exact recipe details quite yet, but we do know that it will be released at this year’s Brew-Off Gala, being held March 5th at the brewery. And a reminder to homebrewers, you must drop off your Robust Porter entries for this year’s competition by Thursday, February 12th.

• The Certified Cicerone® Exam is coming to Halifax, July 14th, at Bar Stillwell. While it might be five months away, it is never too early to get studying! We interviewed Mirella Amato (the first non-US resident to achieve Master Cicerone® status, and the person who will be administering the exam) and Mike Buhler (the first Certified Cicerone® in the Atlantic Provinces) previously about the program; their responses may help you decide whether the program is worth pursuing. For those interested, be sure to take the Certified Beer Server online exam, and then sign up for the exam. There is also a Facebook study group for Canadian Examinees.

Have a great weekend, and stay warm! TrailWay Brewing has added a new account in Fredericton, as their Whitney Coffee Stout (Kenyan) is now available on tap at the James Joyce Irish Pub. Petit-Sault‘s new Cappuccino Stout, Canon Franchetti, will be hitting all four ANBL growler stations next week, so make sure to drop the one closest to you and give it a try, if you haven’t already! And as a final note, if you’re looking to purchase some Hammond River swag, they now have an online store up and running; toques and glassware are currently available, with more merchandise being added soon!

Friday Wrap-Up – News and new beers from Petit-Sault, Antigonish Townhouse, Propeller, Picaroons, Garrison and much more!

Posted by acbbshawn on 2015-01-16
Posted in: Friday Wrap-Up. Tagged: Antigonish Townhouse, Big Spruce Brewing, Boxing Rock Brewing, Brasseurs du Petit Sault, Garrison Brewing, Lion & Bright, Picaroons Traditional Ales, Propeller Brewing, Rogues Roost Brewpub, Stillwell Beer Bar, Tatamagouche Brewing, Wrought Iron Brewing Company. 1 comment

After a quiet beginning to the year, we are now back to our regular-sized posts, chock full of new beers and other exciting news for our region!

• There’s another new beer now available from Les Brasseurs du Petit-Sault – Soeur Catherine, an American IPA. The brewery named the beer after “a headstrong (and somewhat bitter) nun who taught elementary school in Edmundston for four decades”. Hopped to 70 IBUs with lots of Centennial, Chinook, Citra, Columbus, and Galena, it has aromas of strong citrus, hints of black currant and pine, and “a subtle earthiness balanced by a touch of Caramel malt”, according to the brewery. This 7% ABV IPA is now available for growler fills at the brewery, and also at the Dieppe ANBL store this weekend, as part of their growler program!

• Petit-Sault has two other new beers on the horizon as well! Cappuccino Stout (name not finalized) is a “Coffee Milk Stout” brewed with real coffee from no fewer than three Edmundston cafes. Coming in at 5% ABV and 25 IBUs, it has a strong roasted aroma that is “dominated by flavors of freshly-brewed espresso and a hint of bittersweet chocolate. Look for this one to be available sometime in late February. The other new beer is a currently-unnamed “Maple Brown Ale”, which will be brewed with “copious amounts” of local maple syrup. This beer will be brewed by an all-women brew team (including Petit-Sault’s own Mychèle Poitras) as part of the Pink Boots Society International Women’s Collaborative Brew Day, and will be launched on Saturday, March 7th, just in time for International Women’s Day on March 8th. It will also be debuting at the Fredericton Craft Beer Festival that Saturday night!

• Brewer Terry Piercey of The Antigonish Townhouse has been brewing upstairs above their pub for more than two years, experimenting with different styles and recipes. Terry’s Bitter, a cask-conditioned English Bitter, is their house beer, and absolutely a must-try when visiting the Townhouse. Lately, they have been hosting “Double Pumped Fridays”, when a second house-brewed cask is tapped as well. Recently, Terry’s Stout has made a big splash, selling out in a matter of hours after release. Terry himself was kind enough to share some details of the beer. This Dry Irish Stout is fairly bitter (from the UK Fuggles added at the start of the boil), and high in roasted malt character, finishing at 3.9% ABV. This was the first stout they’ve brewed and served from the handpump, and was a great success! “The pump highlighted the silky mouthfeel and produced a thick creamy head through the tight sparkler. I’m definitely not breaking new ground here but it’s a very pleasant and easy drinking low gravity stout all around.” Those of you who missed it last week, fear not! The Stout will be available today (as well as the Bitter), and will definitely be a regular part of the Double Pumped Friday rotation. But don’t delay, as there is only 20 litres in the cask. For the the next two Fridays, Terry is serving his English IPA, in addition to the Bitter.

• Propeller has yet another new beer in their One Hit Wonder series, and it’s available now at both Prop Shop locations! Black Out is an American Black Ale (aka Black IPA) brewed with dark malts (Chocolate, Roast, and Black Prinz) to give “a hint of chocolate and roasty characters” to the medium-light bodied beer, and is hopped with plenty of Warrior, Falconers Flight, Cascade, and Ahtanum to lend lots of piney and resinous hop flavor. Weighing in at 6.9% ABV and 78 IBUs, you’ll be able to find this one on tap at better beer establishments across the city, soon.

• Picaroons has a new beer coming out soon, to be released just in time for next weekend’s annual Shivering Songs Festival (Jan 22nd-25th) in Fredericton. SS Cocoa Beware is described by the brewery as a “Dark Chocolate Wheat” beer, and is brewed with Carafa malt and real dark chocolate, giving this 4.8% ABV ale lots of chocolate and roast flavors. They plan on releasing it sometime next week (stay tuned to their Facebook and Twitter pages for exact details when they have them); you’ll be able to find it in Fredericton at the Brewtique for growler fills, and on tap at the Snooty Fox, Isaac’s Way, Wilser’s Room, and several venues during the festival. It will also be on tap outside the city at the Tide & Boar in Moncton (they’re hosting a SS show on Jan 23rd) and Ducky’s in Sackville (in support of the town’s Stereophonic music festival the same weekend).

• Garrison Brewing is releasing their Ol’ Fog Burner Barley Wine today! After a brief hiatus in 2014, this favourite winter seasonal for those cold nights around the fire makes its return. The 2015 edition of this English Barleywine weighs in at a whopping 11.5% ABV, so their 500mL bottles are certainly made for sharing (or you ambitious Vikings)! While the rich malt backbone is the star of this copper coloured beer, Nugget, Spalt and Brewers Gold hops keep things balanced at 60 IBUs. Strong, but not sweet. Available today at the brewery store on Marginal Road, it will also be in the private stores shortly. Ol’ Fog Burner’s Glenora-barrel-aged brother (sister?) will sadly not be making an appearance this year, but we’ve been assured that it will be making a return in 2016. This beer is a great candidate for your cellar, for those looking to start, or add to, their beer collection.

• For those of you in Fredericton and Sackville, NB, your local ANBL will be carrying Garrison Brewing’s IPA for growler fills this weekend. Also look for the return of their EKG (East Kent Golding) One Hop IPA in six-packs available now at the brewery, and the NSLC shortly.

• There’s a new beer on tap at Rogues Roost – Winter IPA. Combining a malty sweetness with lots of hop character (coming mostly from the Cascade variety), think of it as a juiced-up version of their regular IPA. It comes in at 6.5% ABV and about 70 IBUs, providing a firm, lingering bitterness in the finish. Hop on down to the brewpub to give it a try before it’s gone!

• Lion & Bright is celebrating their One-Year Anniversary tomorrow with a Tap Takeover by a couple of their closest friends: Big Spruce and Boxing Rock. They will be sharing the bar and pouring a half dozen beers each, including some casks and brand new beers. Look for Big Spruce to be pouring Bráthair Éric American Wheat and Coade Word: Snowmaggedon (more on these below), plus a few other new favourites and core brands. Boxing Rock will be pouring U-889, Unobtanium, Many Hands, and more from their core brands, as well as The Vicars Cross DIPA on cask.

• Last night was the Local Connections Craft Beer and Local Food Event, and those in attendance were treated to the launch and return of several beers from over a dozen breweries. Here are a few highlights:

– Wrought Iron Brewing Company made its debut at the event, bringing four (FOUR!) beers to delight the thirsty attendees. Tom Waits for No One Stout, Cleveland Steamer California Common, and the first ever commercial Gose beers in our region (Goseface Killah and Gutter Sow), a unique wheat beer style originating in Germany, traditionally brewed with coriander and salt. Their equipment from DME has yet to arrive, so these beers were produced on their pilot system. WIBC will be making its official debut in the Spring; check out the latest from them on their blog.

– Big Spruce Brewing released a pair of new beers, including Home Brew Challenge winner Eric Gauthier’s Bráthair Éric American Wheat. Lots of late addition Simcoe and Cascade lend a great citrus flavour; 5.2% ABV and 22 IBUs. Also debuted was Coade Word: Snowmaggedon, the Winter Warmer we described earlier. With rum-soaked cinnamon, vanilla beans and fresh organic ginger, this beer has a great character for cold nights. Only local-sourced whole leaf Nugget and Centennial hops from their own hop farm, as well as Southan Farms in NB and the Alan Doyle farm in NS. Look for both of these beers at the brewery, Cape Breton Farmers’ Market, and at better beer bars now!

– Tatamagouche Brewing debuted their Horns Over Hooves Double IPA, the collaboration they brewed with the crew from Stubborn Goat. The beer features Chinook, Centennial and Columbus, and was dry hopped with Azacca, finishing at 8% ABV and 77 IBUs. Look for it on tap at the brewery now, and at the Goat and other better beer bars shortly.

And finally today,

• Bar Stillwell is holding another great Tap Takeover for all of you lovebirds out there. On February 14th, they will be welcoming Le Trou du Diable to Barrington St. While Stillwell has been selling excellent TdD beers for over a year, that is just a small selection of the incredible diversity of their offerings. The guys from Shawinigan will be bringing twelve draught beers (only a couple of which have been seen previously on the East Coast), as well as bottles of their excellent barrel-aged beers. There will be three tasting sessions: 12-3, 4-7, and 8-close. Tickets will be $20, which include a special printed glass to take home, and your first pour. Tickets go on sale today, drop by or fire them an email to secure your spot. We’ll see you there!

We hope you have a great weekend! If you’re out drinking around Fredericton, TrailWay Brewing is now available on tap at Vault 29 (joining their regular accounts, King Street Ale House and 540 Kitchen & Bar). This Sunday is the official judging day for the 1st Annual Hammond River Homebrew Competition; we’ll be sure to announce the results in next week’s post! Finally, A.W.O.L. Brewery has announced that they’re now officially incorporated, and are narrowing down the location to open their brewery in the future… great news, and congrats to them!

Friday Wrap-Up – News and New Beers from TrailWay, Celtic Knot, Hammond River, PEIBC, and more!

Posted by acbbshawn on 2015-01-02
Posted in: Friday Wrap-Up. Tagged: Celtic Knot Brewing, Grimross Brewing, Hammond River Brewing, Ladies Beer League, New Brunswick Beer Tours, PEI Brewing, Propeller Brewing, Railcar Brewing, Red Rover Brewing, RockBottom Brewpub, Rogues Roost Brewpub, Sea Level Brewing, Sunset Heights Meadery, TrailWay Brewing. 2 comments

Happy New Year, beer lovers, and welcome back! While beer news is a bit slow this week as we all recover from the holidays, there’s still a few things going on in our region to start 2015…

• After a successful launch party on December 20th, TrailWay Brewing already has two new beers brewed and planned for release sometime over the next 2-3 weeks. The first beer is a Session IPA; this hop-forward, easy-drinking ale comes in at a very sessionable 4.4% ABV, and is hopped with lots of Comet and Amarillo. Not to break the hop streak, the second beer is an American IPA, with higher numbers in both ABV and IBUs (6.5% and 60, respectively); this one also uses Comet and Amarillo, along with Centennial hops. Both beers should be on tap in the near future at both TrailWay accounts in Fredericton (King Street Ale House and 540 Kitchen & Bar).

• Celtic Knot has brewed up a new beer; Éire is an Irish Red Ale, brewed with Maris Otter, Crystal malt, and some Roasted Barley to give this easy-drinking, malty-sweet beer its classic deep-red color. Hopped with East Kent Goldings and Fuggles to 26 IBUs, the beer should clock in at about 5.3% ABV. Look for it on tap at Celtic Knot accounts in the near future!

• Hammond River is expecting to release a new beer within a few weeks, and it’s an interesting one! Named Breakfast Stout, it was brewed with several dark malts, including Chocolate, Black Patent, and Roasted Barley… but that’s not all! Owner/brewer Shane Steeves added lots of Java Moose coffee to the beer, along with cacao nibs. And as a final twist, the beer was “dry-hopped” with Shane’s own home-smoked Applewood bacon! It comes in at about 8% ABV and 60 IBUs; we’ll be sure to let you know when it’s available, so you can plan your breakfasts accordingly! And just a reminder that their Back in Black Oatmeal Stout is available for growler fills this week at the Kennebecasis Valley ANBL; also, check out the Saint John Ale House, as there may still be some of the Too Hop To Handle DIPA on tap, which was recently brewed to higher IBUs, if you’re into bitterness (and who isn’t)!

• For their second higher-ABV beer, now that provincial restrictions have been lifted, PEI Brewing Co. brewed up a Doppelbock shortly before Christmas. This strong, malty and rich lager will be hitting both PEILCC and ANBL shelves sometime in late winter/early spring, giving it enough time to lager at cool temps and let the flavors develop and smooth out. They also plan on barrelling about 12 hL of this beer for release during Oktoberfest in the fall. Expect this deep-red-colored beer to come in above 8% ABV, and around 25 IBUs.

• PEIBC brewed up yet another “new” beer recently: Black Banks, a Cascadian Dark Ale (AKA Black IPA), was originally released as a one-off in cans, and was a blend of their Sydney Street Stout and 1772 IPA. This time, they redid the brew from the ground up, and not as a blend. With a grist containing 2-row, Wheat, Munich, Carastan 35, and Midnight Wheat malts, it was kettle-hopped with Millenium, Amarillo, Cascade, and Columbus to 50 IBUs, and then dry-hopped with Falconer’s Flight. Clocking in at 6.2% ABV, look for this one in cans across PEI and NB by late January.

• Rogues Roost currently has a couple of new beers on tap at the brewpub. The first beer, Freedom Stout, is a higher-alcohol stout (8.2% ABV) described as having a “chocolate flavor with hints of rum, raisins and dates”; it is hopped to 50 IBUs. Next up is an all-Citra hopped American Pale Ale; the high quantities of Citra give the beer a strong grapefruit aroma, according to the brewery. It comes in at 5.5% ABV and 40 IBUs. Get down to the brewpub to sample both beers before they’re gone!

• There’s another new beer in the One Hit Wonder series from Propeller – Fly Time IPA is an unfiltered American IPA that incorporates several hop varieties, including Ahtanum, Cascade, Centennial, and Falconer’s Flight, and is heavily dry-hopped. With a grist containing 2-row, Pilsner, Wheat and Crystal malts, it’s a fairly light-colored beer that “leaves only a hint of residual sugar which accentuates the hop aroma and flavour”, according to the brewery. It weighs in at 6.3% ABV and 65 IBUs, and is currently available for growler fills at the Gottingen and Windmill Prop Shops.

• Sea Level released a very-limited version of their High Street Wee Heavy last week. This beer, named High Street Wee Heavier, is a higher-ABV version (8.2%) of their original Scotch Ale, and has also been aged on Bourbon oak chips. It was almost gone, as reported by the brewery, for growlers fills a few days ago, but there may still be some available on tap at the Board Room Game Cafe in Halifax.

• They haven’t been open for very long, but Railcar Brewing is already prepping for expansion! Owner/brewer Mitch Biggar has confirmed that they have ordered four additional 45-gallon fermentors, and are in the process of raising funds to increase the size of the brewery system to a 5-bbl (~580 L) system, hopefully by July. They’re also still busy working on the construction of their 1000 square foot tasting room.

• New Brunswick Beer Tours has announced the itinerary for their second beer tour, to be held on Saturday, January 31st from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. This time, the tour will take place entirely within Fredericton, and will feature visits to Grimross, Sunset Heights Meadery, and Red Rover, and will conclude at the King Street Ale House, where the brewers from TrailWay will be on hand to serve up some of their beers and answer questions. The tour bus will depart from the KSAH in the morning, and return at 1:30 pm for lunch (which is included in the ticket price). Beers/meads/ciders will be sampled at each stop, and there will also be samples provided on the bus itself. Tickets are now on sale for $65 each, and can be purchased here.

• A reminder that the Ladies Beer League official membership launch takes place this Wednesday, January 7th at Rockbottom Brewpub, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm. No ticket purchase is necessary, just drop in to purchase your official membership ($25 each; list of member benefits are here)! Rockbottom’s new brewmaster, Jake Saunders, brewed up a special firkin just for the membership release: a stout fermented with Madagascar vanilla beans and cacao nibs. If you’re not available to attend on Wednesday, shame on you!… but, luckily, you’ll have the chance to purchase your membership at other LBL events in the future, and on their website by the end of this month. The beer, not so much.

Have a fantastic weekend! If you’re in Saint John, Big Tide Brewing has brewed up their Tidal Wave DIPA again, and it’s currently on tap at the brewpub. The new version of Hoppuccino from Big Spruce is now available; drop by the brewery for a growler fill, or look for it on tap at select accounts in Halifax soon. The brewers at Brasseurs du Petit-Sault have several new beers for release in the near future, including a Coffee Stout, Maple Ale, and IPA… we’ll have more info on those next week when the brewers (and half of the blogging team) are back from vacation!