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Thursday Wrap-Up for November 10, 2022 – News from Rough Waters, Shipwright, Bogside, Copper Bottom, TrailWay, Mauzy, Banished, Breton, Propeller, Quidi Vidi and plenty more!

Posted by acbbdamian on 2022-11-10
Posted in: Friday Wrap-Up. Tagged: 2 Crows Brewing, Banished Brewing, Bogside Brewing, Breton Brewing, Copper Bottom Brewing, Island Folk Cider House, Mauzy Cidery, Propeller Brewing, Quidi Vidi Brewery, Rough Waters Brewing, Route 19 Brewing, Serpent Brewing, Shipwright Brewing, Spindrift Brewing, Tatamagouche Brewing, The Church Brewing Company, TrailWay Brewing. 1 comment

Happy Thursday evening! We’re a day early, but a few hours late. But better late than never, right pals? We’ve already used all of our best material below, so let’s just stop the lame jokes and get right to the good stuff!

Deer Lake’s Rough Waters released their first lager last weekend, which is now available at their local good beer shops, and now outside of their region. Perfectschen-lager is an Amber lager, inspired by the German Munich Dunkel style. While light in body, the specialty malt lends a light toast and caramel note, shining through the crisp and clear yeast profile. While their taproom is closed for the season, the RW Crew are still working hard to put out new and exciting beers for you!

Lunenburg’s Shipwright Brewing is making the most of a logistics miscommunication this week, with Exit 8 Hoppy Mistake. What began as a request for Maris Otter malt while in town, turned into a purchase of Munich malt instead, which was not discovered until Exit 8 of the 103 Highway! No need to panic, new Brewer Jason Crozier was able to turn that into a great beer nonetheless! An American Amber Ale, with plenty of toast, dried fruit, and caramel from the malt, with a healthy bitterness from Cascade and Topaz hops, all in a 6.5%/44 IBU package. Available at their taproom on Montague Street for pints, crowler, and growler fills all weekend.

Bogside Brewing has a pair of releases out now, one holding out on summer, the other foretelling of the cooler months ahead, available just in time for the weekend. Gone Coastal American IPA is 6.5% ABV, and bursting with loads of citrus and honeydew melon, thanks to the additions of Callista and Huell Melon late in the process. And in a completely different vein, Stocking Stuffer Winter Wheat is a Belgian Witbier, whose subtle hints of orange and spice may even work as a mulled beer choice as the nights become longer and cooler. Both are available through their online shop for delivery, or in their taproom. Both of these can also be found in their 24 Day Holiday Advent Calendar, available for pre-order now, and delivered PEI-wide Nov 23. Insider scoop, there will be one beer exclusive to this Calendar, available nowhere else!

Staying in Montague, PEI for a little bit, we have a pair of upcoming releases from Copper Bottom to let you know about. Debuting this Saturday is Eclipse, a 6.5% Black IPA. Melding lovely citrus and pine aromatics from the Cascade, Simcoe, and Galaxy hops used late, along with the dark roasted and coffee notes from the malt, all in a lovely alluring dark package.

Next Saturday, November 19th, is Copper Bottom’s Fifth Anniversary, and of course they are throwing a party to celebrate! Live music all afternoon, turning into a dance party that evening, Pizza Box Food Truck and Oyster shucking all day, plus a new beer release, how could you miss it?? Speaking of, Birthday Beer 5 may be their most ambitious yet: an 8.0% Pastry Stout, complete with toasted coconut flakes, cacao nibs, and lactose for a touch of residual sweetness. The Chocolate Malt complements the Roasted Barley for plenty of flavour, with oats to help with mouthfeel. Details on the music lineup and party are available here!

Let’s jump to our only news from New Brunswick this week. Trailway is releasing The Blend, their first take on a style that’s growing in popularity outside of the region, the Smoothie Sour. Part beer, part fruit smoothie, these thick and creamy soured ales incorporate fruit and other additions to push the limits of beer styles and draught lines alike. And because of the unfermented fruit additions, these cans MUST be kept cold, unless you want to kick start a refermentation and have the tops start blowing open on your drive home. This first run of The Blend is a limited release, with cans of the 5.3% sour available at the brewery now.

A few weeks ago, we mentioned the launch of Newfoundland’s newest cidery, Mauzy, which focuses on wild fermentation methods. This Saturday (November 12), they’re releasing their newest product in Mt. Pearl at the Landwash taproom. Willie is a spontaneously fermented cider t\that showcases Williams Pride apples from nearby Kelligrews. This one was aged for eight months prior to bottling and then bottle conditioned with honey from Baccalieu Trail Honey. Bottle pours will be available at the Landwash taproom beginning at 5 pm. For those not otherwise able to make it to the celebration, online ordering is also available.

Paradise’s other purveyor of fermented wares, Banished Brewing, also has a new release out this week with another iteration of Paradise Town, their rotating line of fruited (or not) sours. This latest version is Tangerine, with this 5.5% sour featuring massive notes of sour tangerines and yummy citrusness. You can find it now at the brewery in Paradise, and keep an eye on their social channels to see if it will hit the wider distribution network on the Avalon.

Let’s cross the Strait to Cape Breton, where Breton Brewing is partnering with Cape Breton University Alumni Association  for the release of Now & Forever CBU. This 4% ABV lager is a light and crisp crusher with enough bitterness at 20 IBUs to draw you back in for more. A portion of the sales will go to student awards and scholarships at CBU. Cans are available now at the two Sydney locations, or through their online store for delivery.

We told you all about Propeller Brewing’s Wild IPA release back in April, and the brewing crew at Propeller have something special available for us today… Wilder IPA! Choosing a specific white wine barrel from their inventory, this Wild Ale was fermented with Escarpment’s Mothership Brett Blend and hung out in that same barrel for two and a half years, allowing some massive bold fruit and funk character to develop. The beer was then blended with some freshly brewed IPA with Nelson Sauvin, Citra, Vic Secret, and Galaxy hops, which kicked off a secondary (or tertiary) fermentation that was captured during the can conditioning phase. The resulting beer features plenty of tropical and citrus notes from the fresh beer and ingredients, which allowing the tart and complex Brett notes to complement. This 6.2% meeting of old and new is available in cans at all 3 Prop Shops now, for home delivery and Canada-wide shipping, and there will be a little launch at Bishop’s Cellar on Saturday to celebrate its arrival!

Speaking of sours, let’s head back to The Rock to Quidi Vidi, who have released the collaborative Hard Ticket Fruit Punch Sour this week. Teaming up with the imaginative folks at Saltwater Designs, the Hard Ticket is juicy, creamy, and tart, with tropical fruits like pineapple and peach coming through in spades. Head down to the gut or their Hop Shop, or check out your local NLC or convenience store to grab some.

Sydney NS’s Island Folk Cider House has a returning favourite this week, with a brand new seasonal name. Sweater Weather is here, and it’s their Cranberry Cinnamon Cider in a brand new label and name. 100% NS-grown apples and cranberries in the can, with a touch of cinnamon to complement the fruit blend. At 6.5%, you’ll be warmed up in no time! Grab it from their taproom today!

A bit of a preview for you beer wonks who are tuning in on Thursday afternoon… Tatamagouche Brewing has a sneak peek of a brand new English Ale that will soon be in advent calendars around the region. Flintshire is 4.0% ABV, which means it can be consumed in quantity without too much work. And what better way to enjoy this blend of toast and caramel malt notes with the earthiness of Fuggles (with a dash of Cascade for some citrus brightness) and fermented with an iconic English ale yeast than on a handpump aka beer engine? I can’t think of one either, so we’re thrilled to share that the first releases of Flintshire will be debuting on cask at better beer bars in the province (and possibly beyond!), saving you the cost of a plane ticket to jolly old England.

Dartmouth’s Spindrift Brewing is pushing the Toller line above and beyond this week with their release of Toller Ice. Doesn’t seem like this one was Cold Filtered For Maximum Punch, but at 6.0%, it is the highest ABV of the Toller family. Eschewing the rice and corn found in the other members of the ensemble, this is an all-malt brew, with a hint of Melanoidin sitting on top of the base of Pilsner malt. A small addition of Warrior hops ensure it does not finish too sweet. Toller Ice is available now at both the Dartmouth and Antigonish Spindrift locations, and at the NSLC.

As a small follow-up to last week’s announcement of the Belgian Strong, the collaboration between longtime friends Steve Crane and Glen O’Keefe of Church Brewing and Serpent Brewing, respectively… We mentioned that we were unsure where/when it would be available in HRM. Well, we can report that if heading to Wolfville is a bit far, then Serpent’s Spryfield taproom is pouring the 12% Quadrupel today, so gird your loins and head over now! And if we are lucky, it will be available in cans later in the Fall.

Just one event to warn you about as we close out the blog for another week… A reminder that the provincial liquor stores, and some breweries, will be closed or adjusting their hours tomorrow, in honour of Remembrance Day, so check first before heading out.

2 Crows is releasing a super-small-batch, taproom-only beer next Friday, and having a bit of a party to go with it. SCOOPS is a 9.3% Imperial Pastry Stout, brewed with coffee, vanilla, graham cracker, cocoa, and to top it off, vanilla soft serve (lactose-free). To celebrate this unholy and sacrilicious melding of flavours, the 2C Crew is hosting Dartmouth Doom Metal band Skullocybin in the taproom Nov 18 at 8 PM. Also, SCOOPS will be available as an Ice Cream Float all day with more of that lactose-free soft serve for those chasing the full experience.

Two Nova Scotia Breweries are for sale, read on for a bit more info…

If you are looking to get into the beer business by purchasing a turn-key operation, complete with multiple locations and NSLC listings, someone in Nova Scotia is ready to help you make that dream happen. Check the sales listing here.

And if you are looking to make a play with a brewery and its real estate in a high traffic area, albeit seasonal, those with deep pockets should check this listing to see if this tickles their fancy.

Friday Wrap-Up for October 14, 2022 – News from North, Serpent, Tatamagouche, Half Cocked, Tire Shack, Rough Waters, and more!

Posted by acbbdamian on 2022-10-14
Posted in: Friday Wrap-Up. Tagged: Baccalieu Trail Brewing, Bishop's Cellar, Bite House, CAVOK Brewing, Half Cocked Brewing, Lake City Cider, North Brewing, PEI Brewing Co., Rough Waters Brewing, Serpent Brewing, Sourwood Cidery, Tatamagouche Brewing, Tire Shack Brewing, Upstreet Craft Brewing. Leave a Comment

Welcome, welcome, welcome! Is this a natural time for a beer news lull? Maybe! But there is always news out there and we are happy to bring it to you. We feel for our breweries in the Pictou/New Glasgow/Stellarton area that were mostly out of power for over two weeks with Hurricane Fiona. Just as with any of your other local businesses and community members, keep your heart and mind open to all of those around you. You could even bring them some beer, or get some for yourself! Watch the weather, relax after some turkey and drink what you like, or try something new…now onto some news for you!

‘Tis the season, and North Brewing is getting into the Pumpkin SZN swing with Sweater Weather, a Pumpkin Spiced Amber Ale and North’s first ever pumpkin beer! They started out by roasting out those pumpies before adding a selection of seasonal spices, including nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, and ginger in the fermenter. It came out at 5% and is nicely spiced, malty and drinkable. It’s available now in cans from all North locations and on tap as well. 

Keeping our feet firmly planted in the pumpkin patch we find Serpent Brewing also has a gourdy new release, fresh out of Spryfield. Today they’re releasing Pumpkin König Tripel, sticking with their Belgian-inspired backbone and a mostly traditional Belgian Tripel style, but with the addition of a touch of pumpkin spice. Using traditional amber and biscuit malts, with the aforementioned spices and some simple candy syrup to clean it all up, it’s got a nice body, while staying dry and drinkable. It’s 7.5% and available to go in 500ml bottles and on tap for pints and growlers. This is very limited in bottle stock, so don’t wait for Halloween!. 

Staying in season, Tatamagouche Brewing is bringing back their seasonal Lagerhosen in a 355ml format and with a festive new label. Originally released over 8 years ago(!), you probably already know that it’s an Oktoberfest-themed lager, but were you aware that it picked up silver at the 2014 Atlantic Canadian Brewing Awards? Crisp and refreshing at 4.5% it’s brewed with Halltertau Mittelfrüh hops for classic spicy and floral notes.

Also new and available today from TataBrew, and in collaboration with Derado’s Pizzeria for their anniversary, is Saucy, a Cerveza with a basil addition inspired by the classic pizzeria. The beer is 4.5% and pairs perfectly with all the fare from Derado’s. Both of these releases are available online and in-store. 

Pulling a different thread of connections between beer news items we’ll switch to geography. On the North Shore in the Antigonish area you’ll find Half Cocked Brewing who have a new 4.5% lager-ish release available. Pip is a Pseudo-American Lager that is canned and available now from the brewery in 355ml cans. 

Taking a rip over to Moncton, Tire Shack has their big banger monster sized triple IPA back for Spooky Season! Killed by Death is a 10% TIPA absolutely loaded with a luscious, juicy mix of Citra, Mosaic and Vic Secret hops. Look for citrus and tropical fruit along with some dankness on top of a big body with some alcohol bite. It’s available now in cans and on tap at the brewery. 

Straight out of Deer Lake, NL, Rough Waters has a new Daydreamer IPA out now and soon to spread across the western part of the island. Featuring a powerful hop blend of Vic Secret, Sabro and Mosaic, it’s smooth and balanced with some bitterness but still has a full, hazy body at 5.2%. It’s available from the brewery now and in Deer Lake, Corner Brook and Pasadena over the coming days, with distro to the eastern part of the province in the following week. 

Jumping across to Bay Roberts, Baccalieu Trail is jumping into the low ABV lager game with the release of Baccalieu Light. The brewery has been experimenting with different light lagers over the last 8 months, making tweaks and improvements along the way, and has landed on a recipe worthy of its core lineup. Featuring a grain bill of Pilsner malt and flaked corn and hopped exclusively with Saaz hops, Light comes in at a sessionable 4.3% ABV. The first batch is currently flowing from the taps at the brewery, with a larger run of cans currently conditioning for release in a few weeks. 

In what has the look of an annual event, Sourwood is once again releasing two collabs with Baddeck Forks Chef Bryan Picard of Bite House fame. First up is a Pet-Nat made from a blend of wild apples to the tune of 5.3% ABV. Expect a hint of sweetness and a pleasant carbonation from the bottle conditioning. Field Blend Pet-Nat is available in 375 ml bottles. The pomance from those wild apples was then combined with water to extract the remaining sugars and fermented as a Piquette style cider, with the signature low-ABV of the Piquette method. Feral Apple Piquette features a more neutral acidity and comes in at 1.9% ABV. You can find these two releases at the Sourwood taproom, through their online store or via the fine folks at Bishops Cellar. 

Skipping straight over Hallowe’en and getting an early start on stocking stuffers this year is Dartmouth’s Lake City Cider. Featuring a stocking hat-clad take on their duck logo on the outside of the bottle, the inside looks to bring a taste of winter. Off-dry (or semi-sweet, depending on your preferred terminology), and 6.8% ABV, it’s bolstered by a blend of cinnamon, ginger, clove, nutmeg, and dried orange peel. A limited edition, Spice Up Your Life is available in 750ml bottles via Lake City’s online store, a great gift for the cider lover in your life, or maybe you’ll want to grab one and dream of cooler nights to come yourself.

Just one event on the go in the next week, as the last (we think!) of the region’s Oktoberfest events 

If you’re in Charlottetown next weekend and you’re looking for something to do involving beer, check out PEI Brewing Co.’s annual Okto-beer-feast celebration. A two-day extravaganza of German-inspired food stations, live entertainment, and activities, tickets are $30 plus taxes and fees per session and include a 24oz. stein and one fill. Friday evening’s festivities run from 5pm – 12am, while saturday’s start earlier, of course, at 2pm and also run until midnight. Beers and ciders will be on tap from Gahan and the food stations will run on a token system. Activities will include some competitions where the winners will receive Murphy Hospitality Group gift cards. Full details for each day can be found at the ticket purchase links for Friday and Saturday.

A few newsbites before we go. 

Upstreet has a fresh batch of Blue Meanie Blueberry DIPA available at its Halifax and Charlottetown locations. Coming in at 8% ABV, expect notes of blueberry jam, lemon, pineapple and a hint of tartness.
We’ll leave you with a quick hit from Dieppe where CAVOK is releasing a lovely new fruited sour, Mission Rhubarbe  Canneberge. This 4.9% sour was fermented on local cranberries and rhubarb and is available now on tap and to-go in growers or crowlers.

Friday Wrap-Up for August 26, 2022 – News from Brightwood, Banished, Big Spruce, Tanner, Rough Waters, Bannerman, Breton, Propeller, and much more!

Posted by acbbaaron on 2022-08-26
Posted in: Friday Wrap-Up. Tagged: 2 Crows Brewing, Banished Brewing, Bannerman Brewing, Big Spruce Brewing, Breton Brewing, Brightwood Brewery, Propeller Brewing, Rough Waters Brewing, Tanner & Co Brewing, Tatamagouche Brewing, The Stillwell Freehouse, Tire Shack Brewing, Ukraine24. Leave a Comment

Friday, here we are again! We’ve made it another week, so let’s drink a local beer to celebrate. Here are just a few suggestions of what’s new and returning in the fridges and on draught in our region.

Unfortunately, the Russian Invasion of Ukraine marked its 6th month anniversary this week, with many casualties and more than 6.5 million Ukrainians displaced by the continuation of the Russo-Ukrainian War. On a happier note, this week also saw the Independence Day of Ukraine, celebrated on August 24th. In Halifax, that meant a flag raising ceremony to celebrate the 31st anniversary of the country’s independence from the Soviet Union. And in Dartmouth, Brightwood Brewery launched Stand with Ukraine, a lagered ale with a major charitable component. Through the UNITED 24 platform, Brightwood is donating $4 from every can of Stand with Ukraine to urgent medical aid and the rebuilding of the country, which will take decades. Currently only available in their brewery and retail shop at 35 Portland Street, it may be available for delivery or shipping on August 29th, should there be any stock remaining.

Paradise NL’s Banished Brewing is continuing their Puffin series with the baby chick version of their core Space Puffin, with this week’s release of Space Puffling. In the same hazy and juicy New England IPA vein, it forgoes a bit of alcohol in the tin (4% ABV), without sacrificing anything else. Massive mango and citrus on the tongue and in the nose, with only a hint of bitterness on the palate. Both Space Puffling and Space Puffin are available at their retail shop on Maverick Place in Paradise, and at local retailers around St. John’s and beyond.

Nyanza’s Big Spruce Brewing is celebrating the warmer days with the release of Tan Lines, a 6.7% Apricot Milkshake IPA. Stone fruit character abounds in this smooth beer, with a sweet finish thanks to the vanilla and milk sugar in the brew. On tap at their taproom spot, and look for it around the way this weekend too. And now for something completely different… Hoom is Where the Heart is is their 4.9% English Pub Ale, brewed with local ingredients, including a high portion of the malt coming from Horton Ridge Malt House, and all of the Challenger, Goldings, and Fuggles hops grown in Big Spruce’s own Organically-farmed hop yard. Available on tap and in cans at the brewery and online, look out for (or demand!) this on a beer engine/hand pump the next time you visit your local pub!

Tanner & Co in Chester Nova Scotia has another expression in their search for interesting and unique flavours, opting for a return to honey as the fermentable. Just Honey is 5.9% ABV sparkling mead, made with locally sourced product from The Little Bee Farm in Auburndale just a few kilometres down the 103. Light and spritzy, bottles of Just Honey are available at Tanner’s locations in town and at the brewery down Hiltz Road. At both locations you’ll also be able to enjoy the return of their dry-hopped Czech Pils, Most. Using the eponymous hop throughout the brewday, and then again for an extra burst on the nose, the 5.7% Most is available on tap and in cans for pickup at their spots, or place an order for delivery at their online shop.

Deer Lake’s Rough Waters has debuted a new beer in partnership with the upcoming Rough Waters Gravel Grind. Mechan-Enkel is a low alcohol (4.3%) beer brewed originally by monks, in the Belgian Singel/Single/Enkel style. Pilsner and Wheat Malt make up the grist, with a nice touch of citrus and spice from the belgian yeast, give complexity to this beer fit for enjoyment after a long slog on the bike. Speaking of, registration to the October 1st event is open until September 12th, so if you’re looking for a wild few hours in the woods around Humber Valley, sign up now! And if you suspect you’ll need some liquid encouragement beforehand, cans of Mechan-Enkel are available at the brewery to take-away today.

Let’s get you up to speed on a few returning beers before we let you go this week…

Staying in Newfoundland, we’ve got two returning beers from Bannerman Brewing. First up is Shore Leave, their 5.2% dry-hopped sour that features Mosaic hops and sees conditioning on blood orange and pineapple purree. Expect lots of tropical fruit flavours that meld nicely with the beer’s acidity. This week also sees the return of Negative Space, their take on a cold IPA (fermented with an ale yeast, but cold conditioned like a lager). This one has a distinct west coast hop profile using the three-C’s of Cascade, Centennial, and Citra. Both are available on tap now on Duckworth Street. The brewery’s canning line is currently down for maintenance, so keep on eye on their social channels to see when you may be able to grab these to go.

Despite the unwavering humidity, there are signs everywhere that the turn of the season is around the corner. Christmas displays are out at Costco (!), Halloween stores are popping up in abandoned Sears locations, and pumpkin beers are starting to roll out of the tanks. Potentially first to the finish line is Breton Brewing with their 5.5% ABV Spiced Up Pumpkin Ale. Expect hints of cinnamon sugar with prominent notes of pumpkin pie. Cans are available now at Breton’s two taprooms, for delivery via their online store, and should be hitting the shelves at the government monopoly next week.

Ok, so, we technically have a tie for the earliest pumpkin beer release. Propeller’s Pumpkin Spiced Ale is out today, featuring pumpkins from Windsor farmer Howard Dill. The spice mix for this 5% ABV take on the style includes cinnamon, nutmeg and clove that combine for the comforting pumpkin pie aesthetic. It’s available now at Propeller’s three retail locations, for delivery via their online store, and will also make an appearance at the aforementioned NSLC.

Just one event we heard about this week, but it’s fixing’ to be a doozy!

Last week we teased the Tatamagouche Brewing tap/cask takeover happening at the Stillwell Freehouse this Saturday (August 27). Consider this your official reminder that the Freehouse will be featuring 12 taps and 6 casks of core and special Tata brews, along with some cellared kegs of their big beers rotating through the taps. 

We have two breweries hiring this week, in Moncton and Halifax! If you’re looking to continue your brewing career, or just kicking it off, check these out!

Moncton’s Tire Shack Brewery is looking for a Brewer to join their ranks as they expand their facilities this summer and fall on John Street. They are on the search for someone who has brewing experience, and looking for a change of scenery, and flexing their creative juices. There’s always something new in the tanks at Tire Shack, and they are hoping the right candidate will fill that role right away. Offering a competitive salary and plenty of help to get situated in Moncton, they encourage anyone interested to reach out via email with a resume and any questions!

Halifax’s 2 Crows Brewing is on the search for help behind the scenes, in a Bookkeeper/Admin Assistant role on a part-time basis. Additionally, there are two openings for part-time Taproom Server/Packaging Assistants, especially important jobs to ensure the beer in the taps flows smoothly into cans! Learn much more, including wages and how to apply, on their website.