Secret Cove Brewery

All posts tagged Secret Cove Brewery

Here we are heading into the the last week of July in Atlantic Canada and despite the strangeness brought on by COVID-19, the beer certainly still seems to be flowing, just via some different routes than we’ve been used to in previous years. While it’s still a bit of a complicated undertaking to sit and have a pint in a taproom or beer bar, with so many breweries keeping delivery offerings available, it’s gotten a whole lot easier to get beer to your home. We encourage folks to take advantage of this by maybe putting in an order from a further away brewery that they haven’t tried, maybe even across a Provincial border? Even better, get some friends together and do a few orders from a few breweries and have a little beer tasting party! THE FUN NEVER ENDS!! But seriously, ordering beer helps keep breweries afloat during times when tap room and keg sales are hurting. Ordering for pickup or delivery is convenient, usually quite quick, and a great way to help keep your thirst slaked and our scene surviving.

Sydney, Nova Scotia’s Breton Brewing celebrated their 5th Anniversary at the end of June, and are releasing five new beers to celebrate! The third in the series was released yesterday, joining Shipwreck DIPA and Right Some Good Dry-Hopped Sour. Ol’ Mick’s Grapefruit IPA is a 5.8% ABV American IPA which uses a splash of grapefruit juice to bump up the citrus and pithy character. Homebrewer Mike Morrison helped brew a similar beer with the Breton crew back in 2014, and now the rest of us can enjoy it too! Using malted wheat and oats on top of the base barley to get that soft mouthfeel, bittered in the kettle to about 45 IBU with a blend of American hops, and dry-hopped during active fermentation, Ol’ Mick’s pours like orange juice, with a brilliant colour and solid body. The beer is available at their 364 Keltic Drive taproom and retail shop, as well as online ordering for pickup, next day delivery within the CBRM, Halifax next week, and available province-wide as well (along with the last bit of Right Some Good).

If you’re making a break for the mainland from Sydney, you’ll be well-served to make a quick detour up the Yankee Line Road in Nyanza to Big Spruce Brewing. They are pouring two brand new beers this week, sub-5% ABV, perfect for enjoying in quantity. The first is The Inhaled Affirmative, lovingly named after the Cape Breton practice. This 4.1% ABV is firmly rooted in the Czech tradition, using Pilsner malt, natch, and plenty of Saaz hops for a blend of spicy and herbaceous aromatics on a base of bread and crust. Available on tap at the brewery, and soon at licensees around the province, it will also be on the shelves at Bishop’s Cellar in a cute 330 ml bottle, which means those across Nova Scotia will be able to partake (free shipping province-wide for orders over $150!).

And speaking of a cute beer, the Spruce has released Lilliputian, a Nano IPA weighing in at a very crushable 3.5% ABV. Speaking of “crushable”, we’re not sure how many Lilluputians were crushed in Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels, but we can assure you they won’t be as tasty as the 6” tall bottles coming this weekend. Despite its diminutive stature, this is a bold expression of pineapple, candied fruit, and more, thanks to the Idaho Gem and Citra hops used in the brew. In addition to the brewery, look for it to be pouring at Battery Park before too long!

Hanwell’s hometown brewery is bringing back a couple of favourites these days, including one from the archives that’s been months in the making. First up from Niche Brewing is Empty Garden, their 5.4% ABV Kveik-fermented APA, which they had the misfortune of releasing mid-April, when the province was pretty much closed. Their timing this batch is much better, now that most restaurants and bars have re-opened to safely serve customers. Featuring Nelson Sauvin and Enigma hops in the boil, with more of these, plus Galaxy, in a dry-hopping addition, the Ebbegarden strain of Kveik yeast (care of Escarpment Labs) was allowed to play in the wort at a toasty warm temperature, meaning a quick fermentation and lots of fruity character. Kegs of Empty Garden are at The Joyce Pub and 540 Kitchen and Bar in Fredericton, as well as Peppers Pub and Cask & Kettle in Saint John, and at CAVOK Brewing in Moncton, with a couple slipping across the border to Halifax’s Stillwell.

The second returning Niche beer is Golden Flair, their collaborative brew with Halifax’s 2 Crows Brewing. First released in April 2019, this is a 5.9% ABV Saison fermented with a blend of the house cultures from both breweries. After primary, the beer was dry-hopped with El Dorado and Ekaunot, and conditioned on apricot puree for a spell, before spending 6 months in a Chardonnay barrel to round out and pick up a touch more character. A natural bottle conditioning interval allowed it to carbonate before release, with everything coming together in a tart, fruity, funky, and dry package. So, enough chatter, how can you grab the beer? They can be found at your local ANBL, with Fredericton’s York Street and the Moncton North locations jumping on the orders right away. If you don’t see it at your shop, see if they’ll order it in, as the managers have plenty of discretion for what is added to the shelves. CAVOK will also be selling some bottles at their taproom next week. For those who’d rather not leave home, DrinkNB will be adding Golden Flair to their roster very soon, check to see if you are within their delivery area! And for those wondering, that Chard barrel has already been filled with another beer, hanging out for a few months before release this fall.

Dartmouth’s Brightwood Brewery recently released a special beer that has been flying off the shelves since it became available. Brewed in honour of Captain Brenden Ian MacDonald, who was aboard the CH-148 Cyclone helicopter that crashed in April of this year, BMac Hazy IPA is a Session IPA that was hopped with one of the newer experimental varieties, HBC-692. Developed from a hybrid pollination from Sabro and open pollination, HBC-692 has been reported as showing “intense flavours of citrus, flowers, and wood”. Brightwood has confirmed lots of grapefruit flavours throughout BMac, all in a sessionable package. With $1 from each can and 15% of all draught sales going to the MacDonald family, the first run of cans sold out very quickly; luckily, more have been packaged and are now available at the brewery (and on their online shop any minute now, where you can also make a directed donation to the MacDonald family). Drop in quickly to pick up yours, and support a great cause while also being able to enjoy a tasty beer!

Testing your ability (and more importantly, your desire) to throw yourself back into the late 1990s, Secret Cove Brewing tries to pull you back with their latest beer, which they’ve named A Night at the Raspberry (fine, if you’re too young… here). This 4% ABV kettle sour was conditioned on lots of wild raspberries, with two additions – during the latter part of fermentation, and again once fermentation was completed. “Slightly tart and very crushable”, with some pleasant raspberry notes on the nose, you can find it pouring for pints and growlers at the brewery, and it’s also available in cans (some of which are being distributed to several NLC stores in the area).

In more sessionable beer news (summer is great for these low-ABV beers; heck, it’s awesome having them all year long!), Tanner & Co. has their very own to share with you thirsty Chester, NS folks. Hello Session Rye IPA is a 4.5% ABV SIPA brewed with – we feel safe assuming – a portion of Rye malt in the grist. Hopped with Simcoe, Cascade and Mosaic, the beer has aromas and flavours of pineapple, mango, and orange. Easy-drinking and lightly bitter, it’s available for purchase in growlers and bottles at the brewery and the Duke St. taproom. They’re also still doing home deliveries in the area, and are bringing the beer to the Lunenburg Farmers’ Market.

In St. John’s, Bannerman Brewing has released their take/twist on an American Blonde Ale with their latest beer, Neon Lights. Brewed with a grist of Pilsner, Pale and Wheat malts, they lightly hopped the wort with Mosaic (not exactly commonplace for a Blonde Ale, but we doubt that anyone is complaining!). The final beer was conditioned on a large amount of lime, lemon, and orange zest, giving this light-bodied brew plenty of fruity flavours to bump up the refreshment factor. Very drinkable at 4.5% ABV, it’s available at the brewery on tap now, and should be in cans either today or over the weekend.

Just in time for PEI’s 2020 Pride Week, Upstreet is re-releasing their annually-brewed Lavender Saison, Rainbrew. This popular beer is brewed with ingredients that represent the colours of the pride flag: strawberries (red), orange (PEI 2-row and Vienna malt), yellow (yeast), green (Belma hops), blue (water), and purple (lavender). The lavender and strawberries come through lightly in the aroma of this 5.5% ABV bright purple beer (come on, Anne, give it a try!), and this time around it is being released in cans! Drop by Upstreet or Craft Beer Corner to grab yours, so you can celebrate Pride in style.

Keeping in the fruit-forward vein, there’s a new collaborative brew out from Dartmouth’s Lake City Cider and North Brewing. North’s B.Y.O.B, a light beer with lemon and lime zest, met Lake City’s Cider and blueberry and dark currant wines in a dark alley secondary fermenter and the result is Burst, a 5.3% ABV snakebite. Unlike a standard snakebite, which is a 1:1 blend of beer (usually lager) and cider each poured from the taps and possibly dosed with liqueur or cordial, the co-fermentation on this one could potentially make for a deeper integration of cider and beer flavors. You can be the judge of that; this one is available in cans from both Lake City and North as of this morning.

Bar Stillwell is hosting a 12-tap takeover from Quebec’s Brasserie Dunham tomorrow, July 25th. In addition to tasty, funky, hoppy, fruity, and sour beers, Stilly HQ is also turning over the keys to their kitchen to the fine folks behind CODA Ramen. Previously operating at Water & Bone, CODA has been doing at-home Ramen kits for a few months, and are popping up on Barrington to offer a few options for ramen as well as the necessary accompaniments. Due to physical distancing requirements, seating is being done by reservation only, in 2 hour slots, beginning at noon. Reserve your place at the table by emailing Sam with your party size and preferred arrival time. We hear there may not be many spots available, but maybe ask if there’s a waitlist? 😬

A few beer and cider notes before we call it quits today:

Fredericton’s TrailWay Brewing has brought back their Dump Run Saves, the 4.0% ABV summer ale, featuring loads of peach, mango, and passion fruit, bumped up just a touch with a subtle El Dorado addition. Available on tap and in cans at the brewery right now!

Also in Freddy Beach, Coastliner Cider has done a major re-branding and introduced several new blends of cider, now in cans, including the Maritime Original, Raspberry Rose, and Cherry Vanilla. Their full offering is available through DrinkNB, pop over there for satisfaction.

We’ll leave you with a tale of two provinces this week… New Brunswick opening up the ability for small breweries without a Brewers Agency Store license, to sell direct to customers. Details are still trickling out, but opening up avenues for producers to get their product in front of consumers is definitely a step in the right direction. A bit more info here, we’ll have more soon.

On the other hand…. The NSLC has changed the markup structure to aid one industrial brewery. The latest version of the Local Beer Production Policy, available here along with all of the Manufacturers’ Policies, now leads with the following text “To ensure fairness amongst all local beer producers, it is the policy of the Corporation that beer produced within the province by commercial, craft, and nano breweries, shall be subject to the same markup structure.” The problem is, the playing field is never fair when dealing with multi-national, multi-billion-dollar corporations, who have immense buying power, their claws into all aspects of the supply chain (anyone remember the South African hop fiasco a few years back?), and deep pockets to entice/induce sales of their product. It’s almost like the NSLC is thumbing their nose at the Auditor General’s report released last month. We’ll share more on this real soon, but encourage reading the new policies, and a good article and quick CBC bit from this week’s news.

We’re back! Did you miss us? We missed you! That week of vacation has e-invigorated us to keep spreading the gospel of good local beer, and we even managed to switch our web-hosting provider to something that fits our criteria better (ie, cheaper, seeing as we do this for nothing). So grab a coffee or pint and get back up to speed with the beers goings on (going ons? goings ons?) in the region.

Happy 7th Anniversary to Shelburne Nova Scotia’s Boxing Rock Brewing! The landscape has certainly changed in the region in the last seven years, with the number of breweries operating in the region increasing 5-fold since their launch in 2013. You missed this week’s cake at their taproom, but the good vibes continue with a brand new release of theirs, Aldeia Portuguese Pilsner. At 5.2% ABV, this straw coloured clear pilsner is a “modern interpretation of an old world classic style”. Taking its time fermenting at low temperature, this crisp beer features a light dry-hopping of “modern varietals of old world hops” (we’re not exactly sure what that means either 😉). In all seriousness, this ode to Portugal is celebrating the country’s embracing of modernity with human rights and environmentalism, while still maintaining respect for the ancient architecture and traditions. But good news, you don’t have to just read about the beer, you can find out for yourself by dropping into the Boxing Rock Taproom at 218 Water Street in Shelburne for a pint or grab some cans to go! They’ve also let us know about Indigo, a sour beer with blueberries from the Parrsboro region to be released in the next little bit. 5.2% ABV, mildly tart, and showing a lovely bright colour. And they are now introducing a few other neat things on the go, including getting your own Taproom Experience, with several options including a guided tasting and pairing with food, Beer 101, or a look at the barrel aging program. Congratulations to the Boxing Rock team!

So, this is what happens when you take a week off… Jeremy and the crew at 2 Crows in Halifax decide to release three new beers. We really need to get our calendars synced up! 😘 OK, let’s get you up to date with these new beers they’ve got on offer. First released was Dreamworld, a 5.6% ABV foedre Saison. Starting from a base of Shoreline Malting Pilsner, Wheat malt and raw wheat, as well as spelt malt, it was whirlpool (aka, after the boil, but before transferring to the fermenter) hopped with Galaxy and Huell Melon, and underwent primary fermentation in one of their foedres, with a blend of house Brettanomyces cultures. More Galaxy and HM were added during active fermentation (biotransformation galore), and hung out in the foedre for another 4 months. At that point, the beer was dry-hopped yet again, and transferred to cans where it spent the last 7 months carbonating and conditioning. Bright and zesty, with grapefruit on the nose with passion fruit and spiciness, on a juicy base thanks to the adjunct malts. This one is in 473 mL cans now.

A pair of bottles also debuted at 2 Crows late last week, from their barrels prominently displayed in the brewery’s taproom. Monarch is a 5.5% ABV golden sour that spent seven months fermenting in freshly-emptied Pinot Grigio barrels, before a round of Enigma and Bramling Cross hopping just before being bottled back in May. This one definitely has plenty of grapey goodness in the bottle, with the refreshing acidity helping the grape and honeysuckle notes dance and meld. Also debuting was Delight, a 5.6% ABV blended sour with sea buckthorn. This beer is actually a blend of two separate beers, the first beginning life from a 100% heirloom German pilsner malt, aged for a year and a half in Sauvignon Blanc barrels (with a mixed culture of Brettanomyces, Saccharomyces, Lactobacillus, and Pediococcus), mixed with a golden sour base beer aged for about a year in neutral (aka, already used a few times) wine barrels. When combined, they received a dose of cold-pressed sea buckthorn juice from New Brunswick, and received a dry-hopping addition of aged Noble hops (think preservation rather than bitterness or aroma), before bottling and conditioning for two months. The fruit’s oils serve to knock out the head retention, but more than make up for it in massive pineapple, fuzzy peaches, and mango character. Both are available for purchase now at the brewery, and online, in 375 mL format. And while you’re checking out their online shop, be sure to grab your raffle ticket for a massive raffle they are holding at this time. Supporting the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre, the prize pack is an amazing assortment of 25 unique beer offerings from their cellar, including many historic beers that are long “out-of-print”, as well as sneak peeks at beers yet to be released, worth at least $275 (full bottle and can list available here). You can grab your tickets for the raffle here, with the drawing taking place next Wednesday, July 15th. Enter today, enter often!

There are no areas in the world that haven’t experienced a surge in heartbreak over the past few, difficult months, but Nova Scotia is one area that seems to have received an-even-heavier-than-expected blow. Paying homage to those lives lost in the Canadian Armed Forces Cyclone and Snowbirds crashes that claimed the lives of seven Canadian Armed Forces personnel, Spindrift released NS Love Lager late last week. Described as a 5% ABV, crean, crisp Lager, 100% of the profits of every case sold will go directly to the families of those who were tragically killed in the accidents. The label was designed by Jampy Furniture’s Chris Smith; note that Jampy had previously designed wooden signs with the NS Love logo, with those profits being donated to families of victims of the Portapique mass shooting earlier in the year. Cans are available at the brewery for pick-up, as well as on their online store.

If you’re a bit overwhelmed with endless releases of hoppy beers, sour beers, big beers, etc., we recommend you head over to Propeller this weekend for a very limited release of Lotus Lager, a “Lagered Ale” inspired by the delicious Kölsch beers of Cologne, Germany. Fermented with an Ale yeast strain at cooler temperatures, as is typical for the style, the brewery added Lotus hops in the boil, providing “a burst of orange, berries, and tropical citrus”, backed by a hint of honey malt flavour. Light, crisp, and refreshing, you can find it on tap for pints at all three Prop stores, as well as in cans (note that growler fills are not available for this one). And in more great news, there’s been a rare sighting of their Sasquatch Pale Ale (this is the first 100% Canadian hop) in cans only at their three retail shops (as well as home delivery), and there’s not much of it, so jump on that while you can. And lastly with the great Prop news, their Quinpool Tap Room location, in The Keep complex, has opened their taps and tables for onsite enjoyment! Open at 10 AM daily (noon Sundays), until 8 PM Mon and Tues, 10 PM Wed, Thurs, and Sun, and 11 PM Fri and Sat.

More Tidehouse cans available this week, as they continue their series of well-received Milkshake IPAs with Big Rent Money. Brewed with malt from Horton Ridge, the beer was hopped with Hammerhead Hops varieties. Cascade, Centennial, and Idaho 7 are the hops in this one, lending a touch of bitterness with a whole heap of fruit character. As always with a Milkshake IPA, it’s not just about hops and vanilla addition, but also the fruit… in this case, plenty of pineapple and mango, as well as orange zest. Thick, creamy, and fruity, cans of this 8.8% ABV beauty are available today at 2 PM at the brewery (and we don’t expect it to last the day), along with a few others, including Sotil 2 (5% ABV Saison with Marquette grape skins), and Two Can Win (7.5% ABV Imperial saison with Loral and Saaz hops).

Now that Prince Edward Island is open to visitors from the other Atlantic provinces again, most of you will likely be crossing over to the Island via the Confederation Bridge. Conveniently, Lone Oak Brewing is located *right* there when you touch down, so why not stop by their tasting room to have a pint and pick up some growlers/cans? And to celebrate your arrival, they’ve just released a brand new mixed-fermentation Saison, Duet. Brewed with all PEI grain (barley, wheat, and oats from Island Malt House), it was hopped with Saaz and Centennial to 22 IBUs, and fermented with a blend of two strains of Saccharomyces and two of Brettanomyces. Aged for six months in Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc barrels, the final beer is tasting very dry and complex, with some “lemon zest and noble hop characteristics” in the background. Super drinkable at just 4.5% ABV, it’s currently available on tap, and now in 750 mL bottles too! Expect to see other barrel-aged offerings from Lone Oak in the near future, now that the beers have had some time to develop; we’ve heard a rumour that a foedre-aged Grisette could be next!

Elsewhere in PEI, Charlottetown’s Upstreet is keeping local residents hoppy, as they continue to release new entries in their Neon Friday series; maybe not weekly, but pretty darn regular! Today they’re putting out Neon Friday 3.03 DIPA, an 8% ABV beer brewed with Pale and Vienna malts, along with Wheat, Oats and Rye. Hopped with lots of Sabro, Citra and Mosaic, this sandy-gold-coloured beer has aromas and flavours of “toasted coconut, pineapple, and freshly-squeezed orange and clementine”. You can find it on tap and in cans at one of your favourite downtown Upstreet locations.

A couple weeks ago, we wrote about the first of five 5th Birthday beers from Breton Brewing, and this week they’ve released the second in the line-up. Right Some Good is a kettle sour that was dry-hopped with Idaho 7 and Sabro varieties, giving notes of “pineapple, lime zest, and berries”, complemented by the accompanying tartness. Described as full-bodied despite the 4.2% ABV, it’s hazy-gold in colour and quite refreshing. Like all beers in this series, it will be available in a limited quantity; currently, you can grab it at their taproom or have it delivered if you live in the CBRM, and you should be able to see it around Halifax late next week. Stay tuned for their third birthday beer, dropping two weeks!

Between their brewery operations and their taproom, Halifax’s Good Robot Brewing boasts one of the most diverse staffs in our region’s brewing scene and are way, way above the (admittedly low) bar in that regard. They also continue to be behind some of the most inclusive beer-related events in our region. So it’s no surprise that their Brewer, Giovanni Johnson, one of the few BIPOC brewers in Eastern Canada and one of the folks behind the Limestone Group who have repeatedly brought a taste of Bahamian food and culture to the Halifax, is one of the folks behind the newly formed Change Is Brewing Collective, a group of BIPOC Nova Scotians in the food and beverage industry, to benefit BIPOC youth and community groups and to raise awareness of BIPOC issues. The first fruit of this labor is, appropriately, a fruited beer they’re calling Blackberry Freedom. Available starting tomorrow for takeout and in the taproom, this 5.5% ABV pale ale is designed to, “awaken the senses,” according to GR’s own LaMeia Reddick, a founding member of the collective and one of the folks involved in its design. Gio himself says, “This beer was made to honour the black experience. In collaboration with Good Robot we call for unity and justice at this time.” GR has pledged that 50% of the proceeds from this beer will be donated to BIPOC youth and community groups. The press release for Change is Brewing and Blackberry Freedom begins with the phrase, “Black Lives are Essential.” We believe this is a valid and vital position and they’re making it pretty easy to show your support for it through the purchase of this beer (but hopefully we can all find ways to do more). And look for more information about Change is Brewing and what they’re all about in a future post right here.

In other Good Robot beer news, Little Creature, the “Li’l Sister” to their popular Creature Feature series of NEIPAs is back on the go. Smoother than it is bitter, like its older sibling it features the much ballyhooed and also much debated biotransformation process of hopping during active fermentation, but in a more sessionable 4.5% ABV package. Look for it at brewery and taproom as well as online orders for delivery.

Down in Lunenburg, Shipwright Brewing has just tapped Citrus Got Real, a 4.5% ABV kettle sour. Brewed with Pilsner, Wheat, and Acid malts, the wort was soured with Lactobacillus before fermentation. Once complete, they added fresh lime juice and zest, as well as some raw coconut, giving lots of citrus and, naturally, coconut, backed by some “pleasant bready notes and an overall crisp grain profile”. This is the brewery’s first kettle sour, so make sure you get over there for a pint or crowler fill! It should be on tap, soon, at the Grand Banker as well.

Couple new and interesting beers available this week from Bannerman Brewing in St. John’s; first they’ve got Good Vibes Only, an American Pale Ale with a twist. Hopped with a blend of South African hop varieties, it was fermented with a “Brettanomyces-like” yeast strain (homebrewers out there, name that strain!). Hops and yeast combine to bring notes of tropical and overripe fruit to this 5.5% ABV beer; it’s available on tap for pints and growlers, and in cans, at the brewery. And if kettle sours are more your bag, they’ve got you covered with their other newbie, Punch Drunk Love. Fruited with a mix of raspberry, pink guava, sweet cherry, and pineapple, you can bet that it’s a tart and fruity flavour bomb! Also available on tap, with cans just hitting their shelves today.

Moving on to Secret Cove, who have re-released their Newfoundland Light & Sour, which they originally launched last summer. This 3.8% ABV take on the Berliner Weisse style has a change this time around – the first iteration featured an addition of locally-foraged marsh berries, but the newest version crams in local rhubarb, partridgeberry, and strawberries. It’s still tart, light, and easy-drinking, but with a different fruit profile than what you may remember from last year, if you were lucky enough to grab some then. Drop by the taproom this weekend for a pour, with cans coming in the near future.

O’Creek Brewing has updated us on two returning favourites of theirs, one beer on tap, and the other back in cans. For draught beer, their Berry Mango Sour IPA – a 4.5% ABV kettle sour hopped with Citra and Sabro, with some Nelson Sauvin in the dry-hop, conditioned on raspberry and mango puree – is back, and currently on tap at Dieppe’s CAVOK Brewing (remember, CAVOK lets you take home crowlers of guest taps!). And speaking of CAVOK, O’Creek contract brewed another batch of their Route 117 IPA at the brewery, and it’s now canned and ready to go! Hazy and juicy, it’s 6.5% ABV, and available at CAVOK and several ANBL stores (including Moncton North and Mountain Rd.).

In brewing, as in the rest of life, timing can be everything. And sometimes you think you’ve got your timing dead on and circumstances seem to conspire against you. Such was the case for Hanwell, NB’s Niche Brewing, who released a new beer called Hop Altered right in early March, just before the Government told us all to go home and stay there. As a brewery without a retail outlet, this put quite a crimp in Niche’s ability to move beer. When a big part of your oeuvre is hoppy ales best enjoyed fresh, there’s also no real opportunity to “sit on” such beers for later release. The good news is that Niche is here on the other side of the first (and only, we hope) lockdown and they’ve made that beer again, only a little different. Keeping the grist the same as well as the yeast (Escarpment Labs’ Foggy London blend) and the kettle hops (El Dorado and Mosaic), but tweaking the dry hop a little with Mosaic and Citra, the result is a fairly sessionable (5% ABV) hoppy, juicy hazebomb. Or is that a hazy, hoppy juicebomb? You’ll have to decide for yourself. Grab a pint at one of Niche’s tap accounts; we’ve confirmed that they’ve shipped kegs to The Joyce, Peppers Pub, and the Pump House Fill Station, with the balance on its way to Stillwell (which Stillwell? Hopefully all of them!). And if hops aren’t your thing, but you like a nice German Pilsner on a hot summer’s day, check out The Pickle Jar (at the Hilton Garden Inn) in Fredericton, who have laid claim to the last keg of Lanai.

We’ve actually got a pair of events to tell you about today, for the first time in a few minutes!

One of the most consistent and consistently popular series of beer-related events in our region over the last couple years has been the Craft Draught Showdowns at The Carleton in Halifax. Many music lovers know the Carleton as the best place in the city for intimate and respectful concerts by a wide range of Canadian and International acts, but especially since their relaunch a couple years ago, they’ve cemented their reputation as a destination for excellent food and local beer. CDS events pit two breweries and brewmasters against each other, pairing 4oz pours of their creations with five courses from Chef Mathias Probst. The audience votes on whose beer was a better match for each course and a winner is announced at the end of the night. Just under two weeks from now, on July 22nd, the Craft Draught Showdown returns from exile with two local breweries, Brightwood Brewery and Propeller Brewing, head-to-head with a soundtrack to the evening provided by Almasy (Michael Dalton). Spots are extra-limited due to seating restrictions, but we’ve been told that tickets are still available for this one; cost is $65 ($74.75 with HST) and includes gratuity and can be purchased online.

For our Nova Scotia brewery employee readers, we want to be sure you are aware of this important event coming August 10th. Ren Navarro is Beer. Diversity., consulting those in the beer industry on how to improve diversity in hiring practices, community outreach, in-person interactions, and how to make each more welcoming to all. She will be holding a teleseminar August 10th, 1 -3 PM AST (not EST as originally pormoted), “Committing to Diversity in Our Beer Industry”, welcoming any and all members of the Nova Scotia brewing community to take part, from owners, to brewers, to social media folk, to taproom bartenders. This interactive event will include local brewery folks Christopher Reynolds of Stillwell, Nick Ogden of 2 Crows, and Rozina Darvesh of North Brewing helping moderate the two-hour event. Those in the Craft Brewers Association of Nova Scotia may have already seen the notice, but for those breweries not members (or maybe haven’t seen the call yet), you can check out the tickets at the 2 Crows webshop. Because of the extremely limited number, you’ll need to grab a password from one of the moderators above.

A few more newsbites for you, and we’ll take this time to mention that the Hard Seltzer Invasion continues unabated in our region, with new releases from Good Robot (Grapefruit and Moon Mist [which sold out in minutes] joining Mint Berry, fermented malt, gluten-reduced), North Brewing (Strawberry Rhubarb, blended seltzer, not from fermented malt, and gluten free), and the return of Big Spruce’s Zesty Lime and Red Raspberry Bliss (fermented malt, but filtered to remove malt flavor and gluten). We’d also like to add that you’re not likely to see too many more mentions of hard seltzers in our future blog posts. We absolutely get it, but between beer (our first love), cider, and the occasional mead, along with brewery openings, events (hah! Remember events?!), and job postings, we already have more than enough to write about on a weekly basis. So we’re tapping out and we’ll simply recommend you stay tuned to your favorite breweries’ social media for information about their alcopop offerings. And with that, let’s wrap this up for another week with a couple of quick hits and a job(s) posting:

Dildo Brewing Co. has a new summer beer for those of you in the area – Island Sunrise is a 5.2% ABV “Blood Orange and Mango Ale”. We’re extremely short on details, but rest assured it must have blood orange and mango in it! Available on tap at the brewery, and in cans. Also, the Dildo Outport Heritage Museum, located in the building, is now open for the summer, so you can drop in and enlighten yourself while buying beer!

Last week Moncton’s Grand Monk Artisan Ales dropped a new one off at Euston Park Social. Little Queenie Pale Ale is a lightweight (4.5% ABV) number with plenty of classic American hops: Chinook, Columbus, and Cascade. Described as “citrus, grassy goodness” you’ll find it on tap now at the aforementioned Euston Park, with a few other spots in the area receiving kegs this weekend.

Halifax’s Unfiltered Brewing has brought back their big bad German daddy Hellevator Bock. Featuring German everything (except water, for obvious reasons), it’s on the maltier side for an Unfiltered beer, but still with plenty of Continental hop kick. Get your fills or cans of this 7% ABV Teutonic banger at the brewery from opening today.

Charlottetown’s Upstreet Brewing has three openings available, but if you’re interested and you haven’t yet applied, your time is limited as the postings close today! First up is a Brewer to operate under the Head Brewer, helping pump out the beer that is the core of their operation. Next is Cellar Person, responsible for the path the beer takes from grain, hops, water, and yeast, to the point where the customer walks it out the door. And lastly, but certainly not leastly, a Warehousing/Packaging Operator who can help make sure that beer packaging is sound and sanitary, ensuring the customer is getting the freshest product possible. Check out the full details of each job posting here and then get your resumes in by email to joel@upstreet.ca. Applicants chosen for an interview will be contacted in the next couple of weeks.

Delivery and Taproom Changes, plus March 20, 2020 News From Hardisty Brewing, Unfiltered, 2 Crows, Port Rexton and pals, Garrison, Good Robot

Posted by acbbaaron on 2020-03-20

Posted in: Friday Wrap-Up. Tagged: 2 Crows Brewing, 9zero2 Brewing, Baccalieu Trail Brewing, Backstage Brewing, Bannerman Brewing, BarNone Brewing, Bishop's Cellar, Bogside Brewing, Boomstick Brewing, Bootleg Brew Company, Celtic Knot Brewing, Copper Bottom Brewing, Crooked Feeder Brewing, Dildo Brewing, Evermoore Brewing Co, Four Rivers Brewing Co., Gahan House (Charlottetown), Garrison Brewing, Good Robot Brewing, Hardisty Brewing, Hill Top Hops, HopYard, Iron Rock Brewing Co., Landwash Brewery, Lone Oak Brewing, Millstone Harvest Brewhouse, Moth Lane Brewing, Ninepenny Brewing, North Brewing, PEI Brewing Co., Port Rexton Brewing Co., Propeller Brewing, Quidi Vidi Brewery, RagnaRock Northern Brewing Company, Red Rover Brewing, Roof Hound Brewing, Rough Waters Brewing, Sea Level Brewing, Secret Cove Brewery, Spindrift Brewing, Split Rock Brewing, Stillwell Beer Bar, Stillwell Brewing, Storm Brewing in Newfoundland, Sussex Ale Works, The Church Brewing Company, The Good Robot FemmeBrew Competition, The Stillwell Freehouse, TrailWay Brewing, Uncle Leo's Brewery, Unfiltered Brewing, Upstreet Craft Brewing, Western Newfoundland Brewing, WestSide Beer Wine Spirits, YellowBelly Brewery. 11 comments

With licensees closed or greatly reducing accessibility, the beer and cider producers of the region are changing their approach to getting the good stuff in your hands. Many are offering delivery and curbside pickup to keep employees and drinkers safe. This is the time for local beer and cider, good food, and live music fans to step up and support the community in the ways that we’re able, by continuing to buy product, or ordering giftcards for use in the future, while still protecting ourselves and loved ones. We’ve moved the weekly news from March 20 to the end of the post, so this list is easily accessible.

Here is our unofficial and almost certainly “out of date as soon as we publish” list of what breweries and cideries are up to at the moment. If you have more recent info, PLEASE LET US KNOW, and we’ll update it here.
Last update: 1800 May 21.

New Brunswick

The ANBL is now open 11 AM – 6 PM, Monday – Saturday, other retailers are allowed to set their own hours. They are implementing curbside pickup as well. Uncorked Tours in Saint John is organizing Virtual Tours of the province’s breweries, keep an eye on their social media for the latest info. As of May 17th, some brewery taprooms and better beer restaurants have re-opened. If you go, do so safely, only with your bubble, and only if you feel well, etc, etc… We’ll keep updating this list with the latest delivery options, however!

13 Barrels
13 Barrels is offering free deliveries to the Bathurst area. Email (13barrelsbrewing@gmail.com) or call (506-546-5300) in your order, and they will come to you. List in link.

3Flip Brewing
3Flip Brewing is available on the DrinkNB.ca website for ordering, as well as occasional home deliveries in the Fredericton and Doulgas areas. Email them (3flipbrewing@gmail.com) for the details on what’s available and schedule.

Big Axe Brewery
Big Axe Brewery is open for bottle sales upon request. Call (506-575-1093), email (info@bigaxe.ca) or FB message them with requests.

Big Tide Brewing
Big Tide Brewing is open for take-away 12 – 2 PM and 5 – 8 PM daily.

Brasserie Chockpish
Brasserie Chockpish is only available via draught, and is now being sold through Picaroons, details below.

Brasseux d’la Cote
Brasseux d’la Cote is open for take-away 3 – 6 PM Mar 26-28. Pre-order and information on possible home delivery can be found via email (info@brasseuxdlacote.ca).

CAVOK
CAVOK Brewing is open 3 – 8 PM daily, and also offering free daily home delivery in the Greater Moncton Area. Minimum order of 6 cans ($6 fee, free if more than 24 cans, within 25 km of the brewery), order at their online shop or via email (info@cavokbrewing.ca). Order before 10 AM for same-day delivery. Can also package guest taps, including Grimross, Holy Whale, and O’Creek Brewing at time of publishing, please check social media for updates. Can now order outside of the region, including Canada-wide, shipping pricing varies.

Celtic Knot
Celtic Knot in Riverview has switched to a delivery-only service service the Greater Moncton Area. Text your order (506-988-2579) before 2 PM Wed – Sun, and you’ll receive it that day. $40 minimum, free delivery to Riverview, $5 elsewhere. Payment by EMT only.

Distillerie Fils du Roy
Distillery Fils du Roy has temporarily closed their retail in service of preparing hand sanitizer, but check their FB page for updates, as they are opening occasionally.

DrinkNB
DrinkNB.ca has been established to allow many producers to offer delivery, to Fredericton and Saint John and now Greater Moncton Area, perhaps further afield soon. Follow their IG page for updates.

Flying Boats
Flying Boats Brewing is offering Grab & Go, and Click & Collect options at their taproom. Email (info@flyingboatsbrewing.com) your request, await total to send to EMT to same address, and then pickup.

Foghorn Brewing
Foghorn Brewing is open 12 – 6 PM daily for take-away and pre-orders of bottles, cans, and growler fills. Delivery is also available via online ordering.

Four Rivers
Four Rivers is currently open 12-8 pm M-F and 12-6 pm Sat for beer-to-go purchases (cans and kegs) only.

Gagetown Distilling & Cidery
Gagetown Distilling & Cidery have closed their retail location, but are doing deliveries Tuesdays and Saturdays, via online ordering. They have also produced sanitizer that is available by donation.

Gahan Fredericton, Moncton, Saint John
The three New Brunswick Gahan locations are now open for take-away food and beer, order in advance via the MHG app or chowhound. Can also do online.

Graystone Brewing
Graystone Brewing is offering call-and-collect pickup service of cans and crowlers, Mon – Sat, 12 – 6 PM. Call (506-459-7710) from home, car, or safe distance away to request and pay, and they will bring the beer outside to your waiting vehicle.

Gridiron Brewing
Gridiron Brewing in Hampton is open for growler fills/exchange Thursday – Sunday, 4 – 6 PM. New growlers are available for purchase for $5, and proceeds from new growlers will be donated to the Hampton Food Bank. Deliveries of growlers will happen on the same days, order via email (info@gridironbrewing.com) or phone/text (506-607-3252) before 1:30 PM for same day delivery in the Hampton, Bloomfield, and Darlings Island area, between 2 – 4 PM.

Grimross Brewing
Grimross Brewing in Fredericton is maintaining 12 – 8 PM hours at their retail location, and have recently introduced a contactless pick-up option. Call (506-454-4810) in advance, or from the parking lot, to order, and it will be brought outside.

Hammond River Brewing
Hammond River Brewing is open for retail take-away daily 12 – 4 PM, with bottles, cans, and growler fills. Delivery to the Kennebecasis Valley is also available daily, no minimum, $5 delivery fee waived on orders above $30. Full list and details here, email (shane@hrbrewing.ca) to get your order in!

Holy Whale
Holy Whale Beer and Buddha Bear Cafe are open for pick-up Fridays (3 – 8 PM), and Saturday and Sundays (12 – 8 PM). They are also running occasional deliveries to Sussex and weekly Thursday runs to Greater Moncton Areas, details on their Facebook page. They are also making deliveries of nearby Scow Cider.

King West Brewing
King West Brewing, operating out of RustiCo in Fredericton, has recently introduced canned beer to go and for delivery Mon – Sat. Message them (Fb and Ig) or call in (506-451-3473) your request of beer and/or pizza. Minimum order of 8 beer, free delivery over $50 ($5 otherwise). Deliveries are usually made the same day, 2 – 6 PM (call or message 11 AM – 5 PM).

Long Bay Brewery
Long Bay Brewery is open for curbside pickup of bottles and growler fills, Wed – Sat, 12 – 6 PM. Call (506-847-4677) in advance, and do a no-contact pick up at the brewery later that day (give them at least 15 minutes, please!). Both 4-packs and growler fills are $12, and they are offering discounts on full case orders of beer, just ask!

Loyalist City
Loyalist City Brewing is now operating pickup and deliveries to the Saint John area. Use their online shop to order a growler fill or four-pack of beer, and they’ll bring it to you Wednesday or Friday. For pickup, fire them an email (beerstore@loyalistcitybrewing.ca, can also answer any questions you may have there) to ensure they’re around. Easy as that!

Mama’s Brewpub
Mama’s Brewpub is open for retail beer, and food to to, Tuesday to Saturday, 4 – 8 PM. Call (506-450-4303) ahead for curb-site pickup. Friday afternoon delivery is also available, by emailing (mamasbrewpub@outlook.com) before 10 PM Thursday evening.

Maybee Brewing
Maybee Brewing in Fredericton has closed their taproom and retail shop, however have implemented a delivery option, shipping Canada-wide for free. The way to beer success is via their online ordering page, where you can buy full cases of your fave beer(s), or mix and match to your hearts content. Also available on DrinkNB.ca

New Maritime Beer
Miramichi’s New Maritime Beer now has pickup and delivery options available: local deliveries Wed – Sun, and weekly deliveries to Fredericton on Thursday and Moncton Saturdays. Email (info@newmaritimebeer.com) or call (506-622-1200) your request, and they’ll come to you!

Niche Brewing
Niche Brewing has their latest bottled release, Bridget, available for sale and delivery via DrinkNB.ca. They are now also selling kegs for at-home enjoyment, contact them via Social Media (Fb/Ig/Tw) for the latest beer and price list. There may be some bottles of Bridge or Quintessential at your local ANBLs, too!

O’Creek Brewing
O’Creek Brewing has recently released their Route 117 in cans, and is available for delivery through CAVOK, and the ANBL locations in Richibucto and Dieppe.

Petit-Sault
Brasseurs Petit-Sault have established an online ordering portal, for onsite curb-side pickup and delivery orders. Order before noon for same-day delivery, Monday – Saturday, in Edmundston, Saint-Jacques, Saint-Basile and Verret areas.

Picaroons
Picaroons is now doing beer deliveries in Fredericton, and occasionally to Saint John. Email (BringMeBeer@picaroons.ca) or call/text (506-501-4144) to place an order, delivery runs are done 12 – 6 PM. Minimum order of 4 beer, free delivery above $25 ($6 below that amount). Kegs of their own, and some other breweries, also available, ask them for details.

Pump House Brewery
Pump House Brewery is open at their Fill Station daily for take-out sales of cans and bottles. They are also offering delivery in the Greater Moncton Area daily each afternoon. Order online or by phone (506-830-4677) before 5 PM for same day free delivery ($10 below $50 order, no minimum).

Red Rover
Red Rover still has the CiderHouse open for takeaway products from 3-7 pm M-Sat, and 1-5 pm Sun, but they’re also delivering in the Fredericton area. Delivery is $7 or free on orders over $100; check out their online store.

Brasserie Retro Brewing
Brasserie Retro Brewing is doing deliveries in the Grand Caraquet area: FB message or email (brasserie.retro@gmail.com) your request. 12 can minimum, no delivery fee.

Sussex Ale Works
Sussex Ale Works is open for take-home beers Tues – Sat from 2 – 6 PM. They’re filling single-fill, plastic 32 oz containers that they’re calling prowlers, which you can pre-order online. Delivery is also available in their local community.

Think Brewing
Think Brewing in Tweedside is not normally open for onsite visitors, but they have implemented contactless delivery in their delivery zone! Send them a message on Social Media (Fb/Ig) before Thursday’s deliveries. No minimum order, but depending on your location, fees will be waived above 6 or 12 bottle orders. Details here.

Tide and Boar Brewing
Tide and Boar Brewing is offering occasional bottle and growler deliveries to Moncton, Riverview, and Dieppe while their gastropub is closed. The latest details are available here. Food options are also happening, including firing up their smoker for brisket and ribs. Get on it!

Tire Shack Brewing
Tire Shack Brewing in Moncton is open 2 – 8 PM daily for to-go beers, as well as daily same-day delivery to Moncton, Riverview and Dieppe (order before 2 PM, minimum order of 12 beer, free delivery over 24 cans, $5 below that). Order via email (info@tireshackbrewing.com) with your request from the list here.

TrailWay
TrailWay’s taproom is open for can and growler sales, daily from 12-7 pm. They’ve also started a delivery service in the Fredericton area, for minimum orders of 12 cans and kegs, with free delivery for orders of 24 cans or more (discounts too!). And they are now shipping to neighbouring Nova Scotia, PEI, Newfoundland & Labrador, and Ontario. Check out their website for all of the details.

Yip Cider
Yip Cider is available for delivery in the Saint John River Valley area via online ordering, or at their location in Long Reach, on – Fri, 1 – 4 PM.

York County Cider
York County Cider has adjusted their retail sales hours (Sun – Tues, 1 – 5 PM, Wed – Sat, 1 – 7 PM), and are also doing home delivery of their products. Call (506-440-5146), email (yorkcountycider@rogers.com) or through Facebook Messenger for deliveries Thurs – Sat. Order before 2 PM for same-day delivery, free on orders over $50 ($5 otherwise).

Newfoundland

Newfoundland breweries are also doing the right thing and closing their taprooms, limiting growler sales to exchanges and/or selling only packaged product. Some are also continuing to ship to the NLC, but be sure to read the first item below on that. Update May 11: Breweries are now allowed to deliver directly to customers, so keep an eye here and on their social media for the latest information on who is going that route.

NLC
The NLC has made the decision to close their stores around the Province to the general public, and implementing online and phone orders for pick-up. Details here. Check out their COVID-19 related updates at their website where the latest news should always be available at the top of the homepage.

Baccalieu Trail Brewing Co.
In Bay Roberts, Baccalieu Trail has closed their taproom to retail sales, but are open Wed – Sun, 4 – 8 PM for pre-ordered curbside pickup. Must order online or by phone (709-788-2090) in advance. Check their Fb Page for updates.

Bannerman
In St. John’s, Bannerman Brewing has closed their taproom, but has in turn launched their To-Go Store, for pickup Thurs – Sat. You can order beer (of course!), but also coffee and food as well. Hit them up on the website, let them know what you want and when you’d like to pick it up, and they’ll get it ready for you.

Boomstick Brewing Co.
In Corner Brook, recently-opened Boomstick Brewing has closed their taproom, and have implemented curbside pickup options. Open Wed – Sat, 12 – 5 PM, order online at least 24 hours in advance, then head down for a pickup. Double-check their social media (Fb/Ig) before heading out.

Bootleg Brew Co.
Still in Corner Brook, Bootleg Brew Co. has closed their taproom, but are open for curbside pickup. Order via phone (709-634-2964) daily 12 – 6 PM via Credit or Debit, let them know when you’d like to pick up, then head down to grab your request. Bottles and growler fills are both available (exchanged for a freshly sanitized one). Check their social media (Fb/Ig) for updates.

Crooked Feeder Brewing
Still on the Western side of the Rock, Cormack’s Crooked Feeder Brewing is now closed to the public, but they have brought in contactless curbside pickup on Saturdays. Send an email (cfbcorders@gmail.com) with your request (here’s the latest list) and preferred pickup time. They will confirm the order and total, pickup time, and payment.

Dildo Brewing Co.
Across the way in Dildo, the eponymously-named Dildo Brewing Co. have re-opened their retail locations (at home and in St. John’s) for curbside pickup Thurs – Sat, 2 – 5 PM. Call (709-582-3335 Dildo, 709-221-1099 St. John’s) in advance, then pop by for a safe pickup. Keep an eye on their social media (Fb/Ig) for any updates.

Iron Rock Brewing Co.
In Lab City, Iron Rock Brewing Co. has enabled no contact pre-order pickup, Mon – Sat. Call (709-288-0441⁣), email (info@ironrockbrewing.com⁣), or order online, and then head to the brewery for pickup. Please keep an eye on their social media pages (Fb and Ig) for updates.

Landwash Brewery
Mount Pearl’s Landwash Brewery has closed their taproom for the time being, and are now offering contactless pre-order pickup, Tues – Sat, 12 – 6 PM. Order in advance, wait for your confirmation email, and show up safely pickup your order. Follow these directions to ensure safety and success. Check their social media (Fb/Ig) for updates.

Newfoundland Cider Company
George’s Brook-Milton’s Newfoundland Cider Company has implemented a curbside pick-up ordering option, for Friday afternoons. Order in advance online, pop by the retail shop, and call the number on your receipt to collect your order. You can also get delivery in the St. John’s area as well, order through that link!

Ninepenny Brewing
In Conception Bay South, Ninepenny Brewing has begun offering curbside pickup a few days a week. Email The way to beer success is by ordering online, and then waiting for the confirmation when ready for pickup. Their social media (Fb/Ig) accounts have the latest details on offerings and dates.

Port Rexton Brewing
Port Rexton Brewing has closed their taproom for onsite enjoyment, but to-go beers may be available by emailing (sales@portrextonbrewing.com) to set up contactless pickup. Their St. John’s Retail Shop is also open for contactless pickup, through online pre-ordering. Open Thurs – Sat, 12 – 7 PM, submit your order in advance, and await the confirmation email that it’s ready. Don’t forget to maintain that social distance, so don’t hang about the door, waiting in your car is cool! You can listen to music! And you can now order for delivery within ~20km of the SJRS, for Friday evenings. Sweet!

Quidi Vidi
With the Quidi Vidi Brewing Co. taproom and retail closed, they have set up daily contactless pickup. Call (709-738-4040) between 11 – 4 PM to order and drop by to pick up your beerses that same day (open everday, 11 – 6 PM). You can now order online for pick-up or delivery (Tues – Sat, $50 min order)! Just wait for your confirmation email/time for when it’s safe to pick up!

RagnaRock Northern Brewing Company Ltd.
St. Anthony’s RagnaRöck was hoping to have a plan in place this weekend for call-in to-go sales, but are still working through what that looks like. For now, keep an eye on their Fb and Ig pages for updates in order to find out when you might be able to get their beer again.

Rough Waters
Recently-opened Rough Waters Brewing Co. in Deer Lake has closed their taproom in accordance with Provincial and Federal recommendations and guidelines. They are available for occasional bottle pickups, and now delivery, just send them a message on social media (Fb/Ig) or email (info@roughwatersbrewing.com), where you can also stay up-to-date on any changes. They are still delivering their bottles to NLC locations around the province, however, so you needn’t go thirsty!

Secret Cove
Secret Cove has started a twice-weekly contactless curbside pickup option. Order online in advance, await the confirmation it’s ready for pickup, then pop by Wednesday or Friday for your fix. New growler fills, or exchange, no worries! Order by 1 PM on Wed or Fri for same-day success! Any questions, email (beer@secretcovebrewing.com) is best.

Split Rock Brewing Co.
Way up in Twillingate, though the taproom is now officially closed, Split Rock Brewing Co. has instated contactless pick-up. Send them an email (splitrockorders@gmail.com) with your request Monday to Saturday before 4 PM (5 PM on Saturday), and they should be able to set you up the same day. They have cans as well as growler fills for purchase/exchange.

Western Newfoundland
In Pasadena, Western Newfoundland Brewing will continue with production, but your only way to obtain their beer will be through the NLC.

YellowBelly
YellowBelly Brewery has implemented curbside take-out of their beer as well as food, menu available here. Can order online, call (709-757-3780) or email (yellowbellygm@gmail.com) to order, then pop by to pick up. Food-only orders are available for delivery, too. Keep an eye on their social media (Fb/Tw/Ig) for any updates they might post as to their plans for the next couple of weeks.

Nova Scotia

Big thanks to Kim Hart Macneill for compiling and updating the list of the province’s breweries’ evolving plans, and how we can help them and licensees during this time. As of May 10th, the NSLC has lifted the requirement to stay closed Sundays, and early closure, so breweries are able to once again return to their regular hours. As always, check with the brewery directly before heading there.

2 Crows
2 Crows is only open for online pre-orders (no retail walk-ins) and deliveries in the province (minimum order is 4 cans). Submit your order before 5 PM the day before to ensure success. Click-and-collect, HRM deliveries (free over $50), and free within NS over $75.⁣ Also shipping Canada-wide, Monday mornings.

9zero2 Brewing
9zero2 Brewing, the brewery onsite at Arisaig’s Steinhart Distillery expects to be setting up deliveries soon. In the meantime, they are concentrating on producing sanitizer, as are several of the other NS distilleries.

Annapolis Brewing Company
Annapolis Brewing Company has reduced their retail opening hours to Saturdays, 12 – 4 PM, for bottle sales only.

Annapolis Cider
Annapolis Cider Company has converted their Wolfville location to a Click and Collect pickup-only location Tues – Sat, 11 – 2 PM, available the following day. Online orders can also be shipped Canada-wide (multiples of 6, flat rate $15 over $100, free over $150).

Backstage Brewing
Backstage Brewing is open for retail sales/exchange of their own growlers, Monday – Saturday, 12 – 6 PM. Call (902-755-9371) or DM in advance is preferred, for contactless exchange. Look for bottles coming in the next weeks.

Bent Nail Brewing
Bent Nail Brewery is open daily 11 – 7 PM, and also offering free delivery of beer, with a minimum order of six bottles of their Bent Ridge wine. Details here.

Big Spruce
Big Spruce is open for to-the-car beer service at their retail shop, and is offering delivery Canada-wide (multiples of 12 cans and/or 6 bottles, mixing is OK, free shipping in NS, free above $125 outside of NS). Order online.

Boxing Rock
Boxing Rock is offering delivery daily in the Shelburne and HRM areas, and Wednesday and Friday in between (exact delivery date given after ordering). A minimum order of $50 which gets you free delivery in Shelburne and HRM, and it’s free for orders over $80 elsewhere in their area. Order online or via phone (902-875-2282, between 11 – 7 PM, can also call for pickup). Their Halifax location hosts, Local Source Market, has opened a click-and-collect shop where beer, as well as produce and other items, can be ordered.

Breton Brewing
Breton Brewing is open for retail pickup (or call 902-270-4677 and collect), Mon – Sat 11 – 6 PM (high risk folks may visit 10 – 11 AM). They are also offering next-day delivery Mon – Fri, both within CBRM, and now in HRM. Minimum delivery order is for 12 or more cans, with a $0.50 discount per can if ordering more than 24. For HRM orders under 24 cans, there is a $10 fee. Check here for their full offerings and further details.

Brightwood
Brightwood Brewery is doing deliveries to the Greater Halifax area (including Herring Cove, Fall River, and Porters Lake) Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, no minimum, $4 flat fee. Order online anytime before 2 PM that day for delivery, and use these promo codes for discounts (one per order, can be used on assorted beers, does not need to be all of the same type). Retail is open 12 – 8 PM, Monday – Saturday, 12 – 5 PM Sunday.

Bulwark Cider
Bulwark Cider is offering Canada-wide shipping through their online store, and is also offering pickup in New Ross. Use code SHIP20 to receive $20 off your shipping costs for 12 + bottles or cans.

Chain Yard Cider
Chain Yard Cider is open for retail pickup 12 – 7 PM daily (calling 902 407-2244 first is a good idea), as well as via delivery in Halifax (free over $40 orders), with shipping Nova Scotia (free for orders over $75) and Canada-wide (free for orders $150+). Order here for your apple fix.

Church Brewing
Church Brewing in Wolfville is open for retail sales, 12 – 8 PM daily. Call in (902-542-2337) or do online ordering to speed up the process. Local (daily) and HRM (Thursdays, order before 4 PM Wednesday) delivery is also available, 12 can minimum, delivery fee is waived for orders of $50 or more. Beer options available here.

Corberrie Cider
Corberrie Cider Company has opened a pickup or delivery option for the Tri-Counties region, order online.

FirkinStein Brewing
FirkinStein Brewing in Bridgewater has teamed up with Fresh Cuts Market to offer delivery of food and beer in their area. Email (devinfraser@firkinstein.ca) for more details.

Gahan House
Gahan House Nova Centre is open for beer and food to go. Order through the MHG App or Chowhound. Can also order online.

Garrison Brewing
Garrison Brewing is open 12 – 6 PM for retail sales at both Seaport and Oxford Taproom on Quinpool, and has implemented Halifax-area delivery. Order online or via email (beer@garrisonbrewing.com) or phone (902-406-2174, can also request an instore-pickup that way), delivery minima and schedule vary. Email or call for anything not on the site (singles, bottles, outside-NS, etc) they may be able to help!

Good Robot Brewing
Good Robot remains open for retail sales, Mon – Fri 2 – 7 PM, Sat 12 – 7 PM. Pickup orders can be placed in advance via phone (902-446-1692). You can now get the Robots to come to you! Online ordering is available for Halifax and Dartmouth, no minimum (free over $40, $5 for orders $20-$40, $7.50 under $20). Same-day delivery if ordered before 6 PM. Can also order growlers, and exchange for your own. Also are fully refundable in person when this whole thing is over, so we suggest doing that. They are keeping their Monday Goodwill Bot is back, with $1 from each delivery and take-out product sold online or via retail that day goes to a worthy cause. Keep an eye on social media for the latest beneficiary!

Half Cocked Brewing
Half Cocked Brewing is implementing a delivery option for those in the Antigonish area. Bottles of their Tarred and Feathered are available, as well as growler fills. Email (halfcockedbrewing@gmail.com) your request and for full details.

Harbour Brewing
The Harbour Brewing is open Monday to Saturday, 11 – 5 PM, for pickup of cans and growlers, and can be pre-ordered via phone (902-410-8918). They are also delivering along the Eastern Shore, from Dartmouth to Sheet Harbour, daily, order by phone as well.

Hardisty Brewing
Newly opened Hardisty Brewing is continuing their no-contact delivery in the Colby Village area Thursday – Saturday afternoons, 4 – 5 PM. Contact them online to set up your delivery!

Hell Bay Brewing
Hell Bay Brewing in Liverpool is open occasional hours for curbside or window service, email (hellbaybrewing@eastlink.ca) or call (902-356-3556) or FB message in advance. Also doing deliveries in the region (within 20km of brewery, $5 delivery charge which is donated) on Thursday and Friday.

Heritage Brewing
Heritage Brewing in Yarmouth is offering delivery in the tri-county area. Order via text (780-274-0616) from the list of cans and growler fills available here, pay via EMT (minimum order $40), and your order will be delivered the following day (or the same day if ordered early enough). Growlers can be exchanged for a new sanitized one. Their taproom is open for retail sales, check social media for the information. They also have a new beer on tap (available in growler fills), Cranberry/Blueberry Sour Wheat, based on their Blueberry Grunt recipe. More next week.

Hill Top Hops
Hill Tops Hops in Newport is open for new/exchange growlers to go, as well as bottles. Wednesday – Friday 2 – 6 PM, Saturday 12 – 6 PM. Can order from the parking lot via phone (902-757-3510). They are also offering free delivery in the Hants County area M, W, F, on orders over $30. Smaller orders, or those outside the County may be available, just fire them an email (brewhouse@hilltophops.ca). They should be adding a shop to their website soon, too!

Horton Ridge Malt and Grain
Horton Ridge Malt and Grain are open Mon – Sat, 10 – 5 PM for to-go beer purchases, and have recently started canning beer to make it easier to enjoy.

Lake City Cider
Lake City Cider‘s retail is open 10 – 7 PM, and are doing free same-day delivery in HRM. Call (902-466-7818) between 10 AM – 5 PM to place an order. Can also order online, with shipping fees waived Canada-wide!

Lazy Bear Brewing
Lazy Bear Brewing is still open for their Thursday Growler nights (5 – 7 PM), Annapolis Royal Market (via pre-order), and has implemented a Thursday delivery service, and Saturday pick-up at Yukiko’s Oishi Sushi via pre-order. Call (902-440-0880) or email (info@lazybearbrewing.ca) or message them (Fb/Ig) for details and to submit your request.

Lunn’s Mill
Lunn’s Mill in Lawrencetown are offering free deliveries in Annapolis and Kings Counties. Order online before 10 PM the night before to ensure beer success the next day. Shipping outside of the region is also happening, with weekly trips on Thursday to HRM (also free!), and Canada-wide via Canada Post.

Maritime Express Cider
Maritime Express Cider in Windsor has implemented local delivery, as well occasional HRM trips. Order online. More on their Social Media (Fb/Ig).

Meander River
Meander River is open weekends for retail sales, as well as click-and-collect and delivery via online ordering. Free delivery Saturdays, and receive a free pint glass with a 12-bottle order.

Mountain Meadworks
Mountain Meadworks has their products available through the online versions of the Truro Farmers’ Market and New Glasgow Farmers’ Market, as well as direct via home delivery to the North Shore and Truro regions, as well as occasionally to HRM. Contact them via email (mountainmeadworks@gmail.com) to learn more and place an order.

New Scotland
New Scotland Brewing is open 11 – 7 PM Mon – Sat for take-away, as well as local same-day delivery (order cutoff 2 PM, minimum $35), order online or via phone (902-406-2337).

Nine Locks
Nine Locks Brewing is open for pre-ordered pickup, Mon – Sat, 10 – 7 PM. Call (902-434-4471) in advance. Free delivery is available in most of HRM, orders of $65 or more only, via their online ordering page.

Noggins Corner Cider
Noggins Cider is available at their market locations around HRM, as well as for delivery via online ordering.

North
North Brewing is implementing a Click & Collect ordering system at their Portland Street location, Mon – Sun. Pre-order online, and the beer will be available for pickup in approximately 30 minutes (wait for that email). Home delivery is now an option, to Dartmouth, Halifax and surrounding areas. Free delivery, $30 minimum order, also seven days a week. And they are now shipping beyond HRM, including Canada-wide! North’s sister bar and resto Battery Park is now open for curbside take-away. The details are on their site, but the Coles notes are you submit your burger and side and beer and wine order via email before 11AM, for pickup that evening, Wed – Sat, 3 – 8 PM.

Off Track
Off Track in Bedford is doing next-day delivery in the Bedford and Lower Sackville area, Mon – Sat. Order online for free next day delivery, minimum order of $28 (about two 4-packs). Their retail location is open for Click & Collect, Fri and Sat, 12 – 2 PM.

Ol’ Biddy’s Brew House
Ol’ Biddy’s Brew House is now open in Lower Sackville, and is offering contact-less Click and Collect service, in addition to in-person ordering. Check out their website for the latest offerings. Open Thurs – Sun, 12 – 6 PM (12 – 8 PM Fri and Sat).

Paddy’s Pubs
Paddy’s Pub in Kentville and Wolfville are offering daily pickup and delivery in their respective regions, 4 – 7 PM. Use the online ordering portal to request both food and beer.

Propeller
Propeller Brewing’s two retail location remain open, while maintaining social distancing. Drop by to order and pick up (12 – 8 PM daily). If you’d like to preorder and pay over the phone call: Hfx: 902-468-1026, Dart: 902-377-4706. Availability listed here. Delivery is also possible within the HRM, free for orders above $65, $5 fee for less than that, free glass for order above $100). Order online for delivery. If submitted before 3 PM, same day delivery in many areas of HRM. Same day for Bedford, Sackville, and Eastern Passage on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. No growler fills at this time, but kegs of your faves may be available for home enjoyment, just email them (michael@drinkpropeller.ca).

Rare Bird
A mixed 6-pack of Rare Bird Beer is available for pickup at the Acadian Maple store in Tantallon, as well as delivered Canada-wide, when ordered through their online portal.

Roof Hound
Roof Hound’s locations in Digby and Kingston remain closed, but they are doing deliveries of full cases all along the 101 to HRM and Yarmouth. Check the link for details.

Route 19 Brewing
Route 19 Brewing in Inverness is offering contactless brewery pick-up options, as well as daily free delivery to the Halifax area, and weekly delivery to the Sydney region. Text (902-258-5374) or email (orders@route19brewing.com) your requests. Both cans and kegs are available, with orders of 24 cans or more getting a $0.50 discount/can.

Saltbox Brewing
Saltbox Brewing in Mahone Bay is delivering within Lunenburg County and HRM several times per week, can be ordered via their online shop.

Schoolhouse Brewery
Schoolhouse Brewery in Windsor is open for Drive-up beer orders, Tues – Sat, 12 – 6 PM: drop by their location and call (902-792-4677), order and pay, and they’ll pop the beer in your trunk. May even be able to pre-order and save that wait time!

Sea Level & Millstone Harvest
Sea Level‘s Port Williams location is closed. Their Millstone Harvest location at 9146 Hwy 221 in Sheffield Mills is open Mon – Sat, 12 – 5 PM, and is also organizing deliveries. Pre-order via phone (902-582-2337), email (sealevelbrewing@gmail.com) or message on FB or IG. Pay by EMT or Card only.

Shipwright
Shipwright Brewing beer is now available to go in crowlers 2 – 7 PM Tuesday – Saturday. Can also call in advance (902-634-3300) for curb-side delivery. They are now doing local Lunenburg deliveries Tues – Sat, as well as a jaunt from Bridgewater to Chester on Fridays, just call in your order! Free delivery for a minimum of 4 crowlers, just $2 otherwise. While their downstairs neighbour Grand Banker is closed, gift cards are available to support and ensure great food in Lunenburg in the future!

Smokehouse
Smokehouse Brewery in Berwick is closed to drop-bys, but open for sales by appointment by calling first (902-680-5198 or 902-680-5243). Deliveries to the local area are also being made, call or email (info@smokehousebrewery.ca) orders for next day delivery (free over $50 orders).

Sober Island
Sober Island Brewing is concentrating on deliveries in their region, as well as further afield. Keep an eye on IG for the latest info, but currently offering free deliveries Wednesday and Saturday along the Eastern Shore (Sherbrooke to Musquodoboit Harbour), and to HRM Thursdays. In addition to their cans, they are offering to pick up groceries and pharmacy needs as well, to encourage social distancing and self-isolation for those at highest risk. Orders must be placed by 10am of the delivery date. Email (rebecca@soberbrewing.ca) or text/call (902-719-9463) requests. They have a temporary portal set up for HRM ordering, while they await a full website.

Sourwood Cider
Sourwood Cider are open for retail sales, as well as doing deliveries via online orders. Shipping is Mon and Wed and Fri, and free above $60, use code APOCALYPSE at checkout. Also shipping Canada-wide.

Spindrift Brewing
Spindrift Brewing is doing free deliveries of full cases of their product in HRM, order online.

Stillwell
Stillwell Brewing is offering free next-day delivery in HRM, 4 bottle minimum. Use code WILDTIME2020 at checkout, and include a number where you can be reached for curbside, contact-free, delivery. They also ship via CP Canada-wide. Just a note that Stillwell Beer Bar and the Freehouse are selling beer from the cellar and snacks via their Corner Store, and gift cards online as well.

Tanner & Co
Tanner & Co in Chester Basin is open for bottle and growler exchanges, and is offering online ordering and delivering to both the Lunenburg to Hubbards area (min. order is 6 bottles, free shipping above $75, $2 fee below that), and to Halifax (minimum order is $50, orders over $75 are free shipping, $5 below that). Both are running Fridays for the time being, submit your order by 12 PM to ensure you have beer that afternoon/evening. Add 6+discount code to your order for a discount on orders above 6 bottles, pickup or delivery.

Tatamagouche Brewing
Tatamagouche Brewing has a walk-up window for retail (Tues – Sat, 10 AM – 5 PM), call (902-657-4000) or email (pickup@tatabrew.com) or order online (and use code BREWERYPICKUP). They are continuing the deliveries Canada-wide through their online store (free shipping over $95).

Tidehouse
Due to their small (some many say tiny) sized taproom, Tidehouse has made the right decision to stay closed, with occasional can releases via delivery or curb-side pickup. Check out their Social Media (Fb/Ig) for details on what and when they’ll have next!

Trider’s
Trider’s Beer in Amherst is open for retail service Tues – Sat, 1 – 6 PM. Can also call in (902-614-8983) or email (contact@triderscraftbeer.com) to organize delivery in their local area.

Truro Brewing Company
Truro Brewing Company is back open again, and offering curbside pickup and NS-wide shipping through their online store. Curbside pickup is available Friday and Saturday afternoons, and province-wide shipping is only $10. Check the link for the latest availability, which currently includes 4 beers, including the return of Trackside Pale Ale.

Tusket Falls Brewing
Tusket Falls Brewing is open for pickup and deliveries. Call (902-648-3340) from the parking lot to order and pay, and they will bring the beer to your trunk. For those in Yarmouth County, free delivery is available (12 can minimum), call or email (info@tusketfallsbrewing.com). Delivery further afield along the 101 and 103 is done occasionally, email for details.

Two Islands Brewing
Two Island Brewing in Parrsboro is open a few days a week for retail sales of cans and growler fills/exchanges. Call (902-728-2221) or email (twoislandspayments@gmail.com) in advance to place your order, which can also include bread from the bakery.

Uncle Leo’s
Uncle Leo’s remains open, and will only be filling their own new growlers, 10 – 4 PM daily. Pre-orders only: Call (902-382-2739) or email (whiffens@eastlink.ca) with your order, and pre-pay via EMT or card. Deliveries now available within Pictou County, contact them for details.

Unfiltered
Unfiltered Brewing’s brewery is open daily 12 – 9 PM for click-and-collect purchases, and is doing free deliveries within ~5km of the brewery Tuesday to Saturday (order before 2 PM for same-day free delivery, $40 min order). 4-packs of cans, bottles, pre-filled growlers, and kegs (including filling your own ball- or pin-locks), online ordering here. May be able to accommodate requests from further afield via email.

Upstreet BBQ Brewhouse
Upstreet BBQ Brewhouse in Burnside has re-opened their doors for beer take-away, as well as take-and-bake offerings from their kitchen. Brisket, ribs, and chicken, plus some yummy sides, with their beers to go in cans and crowlers. Full list of offerings, as well as scheduled pickups, here.

Wayfarers’ Ale
Wayfarers’ Ale Society is open for beer retail and food take-away Mon – Sat 12 – 7 PM, as well as for delivery to the area. Call (902-300-3404) or order online to let them know what you’re craving (beer delivery province wide, delivery minimums and cost vary by region).

Bishops Cellar
Bishops Cellar has closed their retail location, and is offering occasional delivery-within-NS-only mixed cases of wine (and soon beer). Sign up for their newsletters to avoid missing out!

Harvest, RockHead, WestSide
WestSide Beer and Wine remains open 10 – 7 PM (10 – 11 AM reserved for at-risk public), while their sister stores Harvest Wines and RockHead are closed. Delivery is possible throughout NS, with free HRM delivery above $150, $400 elsewhere in the province, order online.

Liquid Assets
Liquid Assets, the Nova Scotia alcohol store at YHZ, has closed their retail location, but is able to do shipping within the province, PEI, and Manitoba, via online order. They will be doing twice-weekly deliveries in the HRM, for $5 fee. Also available by phone (902-873-2275).

Prince Edward Island

PEILCC
With many PEILCC locations closed, they have allowed manufacturers and Agency Stores deliver to consumers. We will update the list below as breweries inform us to their plans, but we think this is a swell idea! The Oaktree, Montague, Granville Street, O’Leary, and Souris stores are now open Monday – Saturday, 11 AM – 6 PM (10 – 11 AM for at-risk members of the public). More details here.

Barnone Brewing
Barnone Brewing is keeping to their Thursday-only schedule for the time, but are asking for orders to be submitted in advance by email (barnonefarm2@gmail.com) or text/phone (902-394-6897) for pre-filling of growlers (details on FB).

Bogside Brewing
Bogside Brewing is adjusting from their winter hours, and is open 1 – 6 PM Tues – Sun for can sales, and is encouraging pre-orders on their site or by phone (902-838-4384). They are also offering delivery in the Charlottetown and Three Rivers areas Friday and Saturday (order cutoff time in 12), and Kensington and Summerside Thursdays (order cutoff is Wednesday 10 PM). Minimum order of 6 cans, free delivery over $50 ($10 below that) on the Island, and free shipping to NS and NB on orders over $100 (multiples of 12 cans only). The Wheelhouse in Georgetown is operating from their kitchen Wednesday through Sunday, 11:30 – 7 PM, which means the brewery will also be open for takeout with your food! Life Pro Tip: Call (902-652-2474) in your food order in advance!

Copper Bottom
Copper Bottom is encouraging social distancing by directing customers to their website for online orders. Use the code SOCIALDISTANCE2020 at checkout to save 10%, and they’ll bring it out to your vehicle when you arrive (give them about an hour to assemble the order). They also are offering Canada-wide delivery! Free Shipping: PEI: Free over $50. NS & NB: Free over $100. Rest of Canada: Free over $200. Pre-filled growlers are also now available.

Evermoore
Evermoore in Summerside is adjusting their hours and is open Tues – Sat, 12 – 5 PM for backdoor can and growler sales. Keep an eye on social media for updates, and how to take part in their usual Thursday night trivia. They have added online ordering and 7 day-a-week delivery options to their local area. Cans, growlers, and kegs.

Gahan and PEI Brewing Company
Gahan and PEI Brewing are open for retail sales, and the restaurants are on the MHG Delivered app and site. Beer is now available on the MHG app!

Lone Oak
Lone Oak Brewing is open for can sales daily (Mon – Sat 11 – 6 PM, Sun 12 – 5 PM). Now that PEILCC allows it, you can have your online order delivered right to your door, Island-wide. Minimum order of 8 cans, no delivery fees.

Moth Lane
Moth Lane is open daily 12 – 5 PM for retail sales of beer in pre-filled growlers only.

Red Island Cider
Red Island Cider‘s taproom remains closed, but they are offering home delivery in Charlottetown, Stratford, Summerside, Queens County and Kings County. Order online for next-day delivery.

Riverdale Orchard
Riverdale Orchard‘s retail spot in Bonshaw remains open, but they ask for pre-orders at this time to ensure safe distance pickup. Please contact them via email (info@riverdaleorchard.com) or phone (902-218-0580), or via online ordering. They are now offering delivery on the Island, free for orders above $50 ($10 below).

Upstreet
Upstreet Brewing and their Craft Beer Corner location are open 12 – 8 PM daily for retail sales, as well as curbisde pickup. Call in (902-894-0543) or order online. Free same-day delivery to Charlottetown, Stratford and Cornwall ($5 fee below $75 orders), and 1-2 day delivery Island-wide. They have recently implemented the Upstreet Family Rewards, good for cash off future orders. They have also gathered in several other local producers to their online shop, to streamline your ability to stay home and stay safe.

HopYard
Friend of good beer HopYard Beer Bar has closed their taproom to onsite enjoyment, but are doing take-out (call 902-367-2599) with daily specials on their Instagram (and are on the TopServe delivery app), 12 – 8 PM.

New Beer News for March 20, 2020.

It’s not all logistics and “stiff upper lip” today, however; there are a few new beers that we spotted that we wanted to highlight, but let’s lead off with the opening of Nova Scotia’s newest brewery!

Located on the eponymous street in Colby Village (in the Cole Harbour area of the HRM), Hardisty Brewing has launched their product for the first time this week. An all-grain homebrewer for close to two decades, Charlene Robichaud (“everyone calls me Char”) has launched Hardisty to share her beer with her local community. There are cans of two beers available currently: their Block Party SMaSH, a 4.5% ABV, 30 IBU, Pale Ale, brewed with 2-Row and Simcoe, tropical and citrus flavour and aroma with a malty backbone, and Smoked Porter, 4.7% ABV and 26 IBU, with a lovely campfire aroma and light nutty flavour, thanks to Smoked and Chocolate malt additions, and hopped with Northern Brewer and Willamette. Look for more IPAs, Rye ales, and a Witbier to be released in the coming months. Hardisty will be launching their website shortly, where folks can sign up for their CSA-like Community Shared Brewery membership, but in the meantime, reach out to them on Instagram to request beer via their Thursday afternoon deliveries in the Colby Village area. We’ll have much more with Char coming soon! Congratulations!

Across the bridge in Halifax, Unfiltered Brewing has released a new beer this week, continuing in the single-hop series that has brought us DOA, Danko, Deity, Edgy, and many more, comes Satisfaction. Featuring the absolutely phenomenal Sabro hop, Nash used it in quantity throughout the process, for a solid bitterness, as well as a big aroma and flavour in the tropical realm, as well as with some resin and pine, in this 7.5% ABV beer. Available on draught for fills as well as in cans (see below for details on grabbing some).

A short distance away, 2 Crows Brewing has released a new beer this week as well, something a little darker. Counsel is an 8.3% ABV Imperial Stout that was brewed with a wide variety of malts, as is often typical for the style. These include assorted caramel malts, Roasted Barley, Chocolate malt, oats, and flaked barley. The wort was boiled for 24 hours (!!!… we’re well aware of 2 Crows’ extended brew days but this is outright ridiculous!) to greatly increase caramelization, and was then fermented with Oslo Kveik yeast, nice and warm. Once fermentation was complete, the beer was conditioned on French oak and toasted coconut (100 lbs worth), and then finally lagered for an additional 5 weeks. The final beer was canned (in 355 mL cans) and allowed to condition for three months to really have those flavours blend together. It’s tasting “roasty, smooth, and lush” with soft note of coconut, light tannin, and a clean finish. A beer like this deserves a launch party, but alas those days are behind us for now, so it’s available this weekend for delivery in the HRM, click-and-collect, and wider delivery via Canada Post. You can also pick up cans at the brewery to-go. For more info on 2 Crows shipping, check out our handy delivery section below.

Port Rexton Brewing has a new beer they’re releasing today, in the hope of celebrating the spirit of collaboration and community between breweries in this time of uncertainty and difficulties. Brewed with Rough Waters Brewing Co., Iron Rock Brewing Co., RagnaRöck Northern Brewing Company Ltd, Ninepenny Brewing, and Bannerman Brewing Co., it’s a “Nano” Kveik IPA called Next Generation 2020 that rolls in at an extremely sessionable 2.9% ABV, perfect for a little working from home day boil (ssshhhhh)! Lots of Galaxy and Mosaic in the dry hop, this beer is super hazy with plenty of aroma and flavor of light tropical fruit, soft candy, apple and pear, with a touch of a vanilla note on the finish from the Kveik yeast.

Today at noon, Garrison will be dropping Bringing Sexy Bock, the winner of their 2019 Home Brew-Off competition (aka the Good Old Days). The winning homebrewer was David Pepper, who got to brew his recipe on the Garrison system with head brewer Daniel Girard. The grist is nice and complex, with Munich, Aromatic, Extra Special, Vienna, Wheat, and Melanoidin malts all playing nicely together (but hopefully 6 feet apart). Hopped lightly with Hallertau (to 25 IBUs), this dark brown beer has “aromas of malt-rich bread, caramel, and dark fruit”. Over in flavour town, see if you can pick our caramel, pumpernickel bread, and black licorice, all balanced by a light bitterness. This 7.2% ABV brew was packaged in 473 mL cans, which can be picked up at either retail store; delivery is also an option within Halifax and Dartmouth (free if your order is $30 or more).

Rounding out the news this week is a happysad entry from Good Robot Brewing. They held their FemmeBrew competition on the weekend, where brew(st)ers were tasked with featuring local and foraged ingredients in their beer. After much deliberation, the winning beer chosen was a Grisette, brewed by beer writer Kim Hart Macneill, a longtime homebrewer. We *believe* her winning beer will be brewed on GRBC’s big system, just not sure of the timeline. The sad part of this story is that this week marked brewster Kelly Costello’s last week with GRBC, as she is moving onto other pursuits, namely obtaining a law degree. Now she’ll be mixing shit up and kicking butt on a bigger scale! Best of luck to Kello in the future, we’re sure it’s not the last we’ve heard from her!

Atlantic Canada Beer Blog

News on Atlantic Canadian beer, cider, and mead

Secret Cove Brewery

All posts tagged Secret Cove Brewery

Friday Wrap-Up for July 24, 2020 – News from Breton, Big Spruce, Niche, Brightwood, Secret Cove, Tanner, Bannerman, Upstreet, Lake City, North, and even more (!!)

Friday Wrap-Up for July 10, 2020 – News from Boxing Rock, 2 Crows, Spindrift, Propeller, Tidehouse, Lone Oak, Upstreet, Breton Good Robot, and much more!

Delivery and Taproom Changes, plus March 20, 2020 News From Hardisty Brewing, Unfiltered, 2 Crows, Port Rexton and pals, Garrison, Good Robot

New Brunswick

Newfoundland

Nova Scotia

Prince Edward Island

New Beer News for March 20, 2020.

Subscribe to the Blog via Email

Support This Site

ACBeerBlog on Facebook

Atlantic Canada Beer Links

Archives

Friday Wrap-Up for July 24, 2020 – News from Breton, Big Spruce, Niche, Brightwood, Secret Cove, Tanner, Bannerman, Upstreet, Lake City, North, and even more (!!)

Share this:

Friday Wrap-Up for July 10, 2020 – News from Boxing Rock, 2 Crows, Spindrift, Propeller, Tidehouse, Lone Oak, Upstreet, Breton Good Robot, and much more!

Share this:

Delivery and Taproom Changes, plus March 20, 2020 News From Hardisty Brewing, Unfiltered, 2 Crows, Port Rexton and pals, Garrison, Good Robot

New Brunswick

Newfoundland

Nova Scotia

Prince Edward Island

New Beer News for March 20, 2020.

Share this:

Subscribe to the Blog via Email

Support This Site

ACBeerBlog on Facebook

Atlantic Canada Beer Links

Archives