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Thursday Wrap-Up for June 1, 2023 – News from Propeller, Tatamagouche, 2 Crows, Brew Culture, Candid, North, Garrison, Stillwell, Landwash, Trailway and More

Posted by acbbdevon on 2023-06-01
Posted in: Friday Wrap-Up. Tagged: 2 Crows Brewing, Banished Brewing, Bishop's Cellar, Brew Culture, Burdock Brewery, Canadian Brewing Awards Conference, Candid Brewing, Escarpment Laboratories, Garrison Brewing, Grimross Brewing, Indie Alehouse, Island Folk Cider House, Landwash Brewery, Lightfoot & Wolfville, Lone Oak Brewing, Merit Brewing, North Brewing, Propeller Brewing, Stillwell Brewing, Tatamagouche Brewing, Tide & Boar Brewing, TrailWay Brewing. Leave a Comment

The Canadian Brewing Awards and Conference kicks off in Halifax today, and unfortunately, does so under the shadow of the immense forest fires affecting thousands of Nova Scotians. Like many of you, we have friends and family affected by the fires and emergency evacuations, and understand beer is much lower on the priority list for many! If you are able to assist through donations to Red Cross and United Way, who are assisting those seeking food and shelter and other necessities, and when it is time to rebuild. North Brewing is donating 15% of draught sales until Sunday, as well as a drop point for necessary items for displaced people. Read more here. You can also do your part by doing nothing… Now is not the time to get out and enjoy a hike and a beer in our forested lands! Pause those activities until it is safe to do so. Let’s get you up to speed with the events and new beers that those in Halifax, and beyond, can enjoy in the days to come.

As mentioned, the Canadian Brewing Awards are taking place in downtown Halifax today until Saturday, and while a ticket is required to attend talks, check out the Exhibition Floor, or attend the Awards Gala Saturday night, there are plenty of events happening around Halifax to celebrate the increased eyes on the region’s beer scene. Here are but a few events that we know about, but you’ll be doing yourself a favour by checking Social Media to avoid disappointment, just in case your favourite taproom is closed for an event! 

Propeller Brewing and Tatamagouche got together for a pair of home-and-home collaborations at their respective breweries in May, and are releasing them today in a big bash at Prop’s Gottingen Street tap room. When the Tata crew came to the big city, they brewed Twin Shores Collaboration Ale, a 4.5% Pale Ale featuring Nectaron and Vic Secret hops, for a double dose of passion fruit, peach, and pineapple. Using a cold fermentation temp kept the beer crisp and clean. In addition to the draught for today’s event, cans of Twin Shores are also available now. Prop will have a half-dozen more beer on tap, a collection of newer releases, complemented by seven from TataBrew, who will be offering a sneak peak of the soon-to-come Kudos.

When the Propeller Team visited Main Street Tatamagouche, they opted to get a little funky, using Sacc Brux Trois to ferment the Nectaron-hopped Pale Ale. The yeast itself gives off plenty of fruity aromas, only enhancing the hop choice. While visitors today (like, right now!) will be able to try Kudos in advance of its full can release in the coming weeks. Also on tap from Tata is the Bishops Cellar collab Cellar Slammer, Dekorum Lime, Apres Cream Ale, Saltwater Cowboy Gose, Deception Bay IPA, and Baltic Porter. And if you time it just right, you’ll be able to enjoy food from Humble Pie Kitchen, who are on-site from 3 PM until sell out. 

Not on tap at Propeller today, but available wherever Tata beer is sold, is the newest entry to their Dekorum line, Dekorum Gold. After Brewer Chad Ellis tasted Horton Ridge Malt’s Vienna malt recently, he knew that it would make a great base for a “maltier light lager”, and pictured it as the next Dekorum. Using that Vienna malt, with just a touch of Dextrin for a bit more body, malt, and “oomph”, it was lightly hopped in the mash and then whirlpool with Strisselspalt and Spalter Select, respectively, before fermentation with Isar Lager from Escarpment Labs (plenty from them later in the blog!). After several weeks of cool fermentation and conditioning, small cans of this super crispy beer with a light toasty note are available now at Tata’s shop and taproom on Main Street, as well as select retailers in the province, including their online shop.

Another event is being hosted today by BrewCulture at the Gahan House Nova Centre location, adjacent to the CBAC, and is sure to appeal to the yeast nerds in the audience. Dr. Chris White, of White Labs, will be in attendance 4 – 6 PM to chat all things yeast, and to toast the release of Thiol City IPA, a collaboration brew featuring WLP077 Tropicale Yeast Blend. And after the Conference tomorrow, BrewCulture is hosting a party at the Propeller Gottingen Street taproom and Arcade, learn more and RSVP here.

Among the collaborations Stefan Gagliardi of BrewCulture undertook recently is Born to be Mild, with Antigonish’s Candid Brewing. This lower alcohol Mild Ale was fermented with White Labs’ London Ale Yeast, expressing some subtle esters of oak, and enhancing the light toast and coffee notes from the malts. Available now on draught and in cans wherever you enjoy being Candid.

And for those folks in town to attend the Conference, the fine folks at Anton-Paar are in attendance, and will have some working instruments at Booth 117 on the Exhibition floor. So if you’re looking for information on Dissolved Oxygen (bad!), Alcohol testing (good!), and CO2/Carbonation level (depends!), bring in your cans and bottles, and Tim and Co will let you know what you’ve got on the go!

It wouldn’t be a big week of beer in Halifax if 2 Crows didn’t torture us at ACBeerBlog with more of everything. True to form, they’re kicking off the CBAC weekend tomorrow, June 2nd, from 4pm ‘til close with a special tap takeover. Featuring beers made in collaboration with PEI’s Shoreline Malting and Guelph’s Escarpment Labs, 10 new tipples are slated to be on tap at the 2C taproom on Brunswick Street. We told you last week about 2C’s new Green World DIPA, which features 100% Maritime-grown ingredients including the aforementioned Shoreline malt and hops from Lakeview Hops in Harvey Station, NB. Also from the home brewery is Guv, an English mild that started with Shoreline Pale, with some amber and black malts capping the mash for color and a bit of toasty bread crust and drying roast, respectively, and some brewer’s caramel. It was hopped in the boil with Goldings from Southan Farms and fermented with Escarpment’s House strain. Bready and creamy, they’ll have it on the nitro tap as well for a real treat in terms of mouthfeel. Rounding out the 2C contribution is Racy, which is part beer, part kekfrancos piquette. The kekfrancos skins came from frequent 2C collaborators Lightfoot & Wolfville and the beer side is essentially AC Light Lager, but you probably wouldn’t recognize it as such, as it’s got plenty of winey depth and spritz from the piquette side. You’ll also find Saison du Chardonnay from North Brewing pouring from bottles, Shore, a pseudo-lager from Lone Oak that leverages the Escarpment Krispy Kveik strain, and If you Don’t Stop, a hazy NE-style IPA from Tide & Boar. Given the capricious nature of our provincial regulatory overlords at NSLC, the realities of shipping beer across the country in a post-pandemic world, and the added complications of our local wildfire problem, the rest of the beers are a little bit tentative, but we can tell you that you might run into additional offerings from Burdock, Indie Alehouse, Merit Brewing, Banished Brewing, and Escarpment themselves! The only way to find out for sure is to head over on Friday evening!

For those who are thirsty now and don’t want to wait until tomorrow, 2 Crows has brought back their collaborative and charitable radler, The Agenda. Version 2.0 features a light lager base, with the addition of tangerine and peach puree. Using a touch of agave nectar for a hint of sweetness, this juicy hybrid is fresh, easy drinking, and just 2.0% ABV! This is only available on tap during the month of June, and will see 100% of the sales donated to Halifax Sexual Health Centre, a non-judgemental non-profit giving back to folkx in the Halifax region since 1970, especially embracing the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

Back in Halifax, Garrison has two new releases this week starting off with the newest version of their Pucker Up! Series, Citrus. This 4.9% ABV kettle sour starts of with 2-row and wheat malt before seeing additions of flavoured green tea and stevia. Expect notes of orange, lemon, grapefruit and lime, with a hint of vanilla, and a tart finish. Next up is this year’s version of SMASH, a beer made with one type of malt and one variety of hops, in this case 2-row malt and Sasquatch hops. Coming in at 5% ABV, and brewed in the American Pale Ale style, expect \ woodsy and citrusy notes from the hops along with some dankness. They’re both available now at both Garrison locations, on tap and in cans, with SMASH also seeing distribution at the private stores in HRM.

This week’s last release comes to you from Sydney, where Island Folk is rolling out Blowing Raspberries, featuring notes of raspberry and rose water. Bottles of the 5.4% ABV cider are available now at the cider house and through their online store. The name for this one stemmed from a partnership with the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia, that saw Island Folk run a competition for short stories or poems that reflect the unique personality of the cidery and the flavours of this new cider. Hannah Vincent, a writer from Truro, took the prize with a poem titled Blowing Raspberries and a new cider name was born.

Not all of the fun is in Halifax this weekend, as Landwash in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland is holding a Cask Festival Saturday at noon. Inviting in breweries and cideries from across the island (Banished, Bannerman, Bootleg, Dildo, Port Rexton, Rough Waters, and Mauzy Cider), they will have plenty of tasty and unique casks a-pouring this weekend, including something a bit crazy with Skittles! You’ll have to pop by to check it out!

And for those in Fredericton, TrailWay Brewing is celebrating their Seventh Anniversary on Main Street with their annual Block Party! Live music, Food Trucks, face painting for the kids (and adults, we hope!), and of course great beer (look out for some tasty beer slushies)! The party kicks off at 11 AM and runs all afternoon and evening, with live music kicking off at noon. More details on the line-up here!

We’ll leave you with a few final newsbites, starting in Fredericton where Grimross is releasing its cult-favourite Praha bohemian lager for another summer run. This one packs lots of herbal hop character and bitterness into a sessional 3.8% ABV package. Short cans are available now at the brewery. 

Sticking with short cans, Halifax’s Bishop Cellar is stocking an exclusive 6-pack of Tatamagouche Brewing’s Dekorum lager, featuring 2 each of the lime, mandarin and unfruited versions. And while you’re there, be sure to grab some cans of the aforementioned Twin Shores Pale Ale collab with Propeller and this year’s edition of Cellar Slammer. 

Unfortunately, as we began the post today, we must also end with sad news of the fires currently burning in Nova Scotia. While not in the most affected area of the province, The Harbour Brewing in Musquodoboit Harbour shared some video and pictures of their storage and expansion gear affected by a fire a couple of days ago. As they sift through the debris, we can help them by purchasing their beer where available, and maybe even making a trip to their taproom/retail spot on Highway 7, to purchase their beer and merch.

Friday Wrap-Up for May 26, 2023 – News from Serpent, 2 Crows, Party Time, Bogside, Lone Oak, Banished, Secret Cove, Sea Level, Big Spruce, Tire Shack and much more!

Posted by acbbdamian on 2023-05-26
Posted in: Friday Wrap-Up. Tagged: 2 Crows Brewing, Banished Brewing, BarNone Brewing, Big Spruce Brewing, Bishop's Cellar, Bogside Brewing, Canadian Brewing Awards, Canadian Brewing Awards Conference, Escarpment Laboratories, Hops Connect Canada, Lone Oak Beer Garden, Lone Oak Brewing, North Brewing, O'Creek Brewing, Party Time Brewing, PEI Brewing Co., Sea Level Brewing, Secret Cove Brewery, Serpent Brewing, Shoreline Malting, Stillwell Beer Bar, Stillwell Beergarden, Stillwell Brewing, Tatamagouche Brewing, The Links at Brunello, The Post Taphouse, Tire Shack Brewing, TrailWay Brewing. Leave a Comment

Happy Friday y’all! We’re as excited to start the weekend as you are, so let’s get you out the door and drinking the good stuff quickly! We have a reminder of what’s coming to our region next weekend in the Events section, so be sure to read closely!

Spryfield’s Serpent Brewing has a very special collaboration available now on tap and in cans. Born from a familial connection to Mexico, Serpent invited the crew from Cerveceria Itañeñe into the brewhouse a few months ago. And of course, Rodrigo and Lucia of Itañeñe brought gifts, in the form of their favourite coffee from roasters Ilustre. Pairing that with some locally-harvested Maple Syrup from MacRae’s, and a base English Brown Ale, they thus gave birth to Here Comes Trouble. This 5.9% beer will wake you up and keep you going all day, with the strong malt, coffee, and maple character coming through! Pop by the brewery for a taste and four-pack, and while there, you’ll be able to sample the food new menu put together by Chef Barry Samways. Having worked in kitchens at Hermitage, Elliot & Vine, and most recently at Quinn’s Arms, Chef Samways is focusing on local producers for as many ingredients as possible to ensure quality and freshness. As with any brewery menu, complementing the beer is important, so look for both share-able sizing for when your whole crew is with you, or snacking sizes for solo pop-bys to the space. Homemade pasta, tacos, microgreen salads, and several gluten-free and vegan options are also available!

On Brunswick Street in downtown Halifax, 2 Crows has a pair of new releases out this week. Let’s start hoppy, with Green World DIPA out on draught and in cans now. West Coast-inspired, this was brewed in collaboration with PEI’s Shoreline Malting, who provided the base Pale Malt, which was amped up with a touch of Crystal. This was hopped aggressively with classic American hops from Lakeview Hops throughout, including in the mash, again as the wort enters the kettle (first wort), of course throughout the boil, and again as the beer is cooled on its way to the fermenter. At that point, Escarpment Labs’ House Ale strain took over, fermenting it clean and providing natural carbonation to the finished product. It’s available today at the brewery as well as for online ordering and delivery. If you pop by the brewery, you’ll also be able to enjoy their latest tiny batch release, Multiflora. This beer/wine hybrid is the love child of a 3-year-old Wild Ale blended with fresh rosé piquette, itself made up of pomace from Riesling grapes, plus a small amount of Pinot Noir and Kekfrankos, with some quince from Head Brewer Jeremy Taylor’s backyard. This bright and funky hybrid is available on draught only, and in short supply, so if it sounds as tasty to you as it does to us…don’t delay in visiting!

HRM’s newest source of suds, Party Time Brewing in Mount Uniacke, who we profiled earlier this month, has a couple new beers and a new delivery channel for us this week. Party Time Pilsner is an American Pilsner at 30 IBU and 5% ABV that’s sure to sate your craving for a light and crispy new world crusher and Raft Up is “a beery beer” hopped with Hallertauer Mittelfrüh coming in at 4.5% ABV. Both of these are available for online ordering (althought the Party Time Pils is already in short supply!) for delivery in the general environs of Mount Uniacke, but if you’re from further afield you now have an option for pickup in the parking lot of Uniacke Pizza. You can also try the Raft Up at the Mount Uniacke Pub & Eatery.

Over on the Island, Summerside’s Bogside Brewing has a couple of new offerings this week, one of which won’t get you loaded no matter how much you drink. Bogside Zero is their first foray into the non-alcoholic beer market and they’re happy to report that it, “tastes like a real beer!” Based on their Local Legend blonde ale recipe, they’ve invested in a de-alcoholizer to take the finished beer remove the alcohol. Tasting similar enough to the original that many folks are hard-pressed to tell the difference, it’ll be a welcome option for those who want to taste a beer without having a beer. Also new on the go is a second entry in Bogside’s single hop series, this time using Belma, a bit of an unsung hop that’s been around for a decade or so, but hasn’t gained the mindshare of some of the heavy hitters. Known for providing tasting notes of strawberry and pear in particular, it also has a bit of a citrus kick on the palate and aromas of berries and melon, giving this iteration a little more of a West Coast IPA feel than the previous El Dorado version. Coming in at 6% ABV and 35 IBU, you’ll find this limited edition along with Bogside Zero available in the taproom and for online ordering.

Staying in PEI we land at Lone Oak, who, as mentioned last week, are celebrating their birthday this month. To celebrate they’ve got a brand new beer available, but so far only at Milky Way Brewpub in Charlottetown and in cans to go from their Cold Beer Store. Lone Oak Light does what it says on the tin, a North American light lager at 4% ABV that’s sure to please the beery beer drinkers out there. Simple, crisp and refreshing, it’s sure to pair well with summertime. Keep an eye on the social media for their latest location, the Lone Oak Beer Garden at Cavendish Beach, as it is set to open in the next few weeks.

From the little island we head up to the big one where, in Paradise, Banished Brewing has a brand new beer that they’re calling Baked Ziti. Why the reference to tasty noodletubes, tomato, and cheese? Because it’s an Italian Pilsner, of course! A style that’s been coming on in North America the last few years, the Italian take on a more northern European style features a light, but still malty body, with a firm bitterness and a pungent hop note, always continental and often leaning towards the floral part of the hop spectrum. Unfiltered, as is de rigueur (d’obbligo?) for the style, you’ll find this 5% delight on tap at the brewery and appearing at local retailers as well.

My, b’y, but there’s a lot of new lagers in the region this week and Port au Port’s Secret Cove Brewing has one too. A 4% American Lager they’re calling Cove Lager, it leverages rice as an adjunct to keep the body light and lagered cool to keep it crisp, it’s designed to be super easy drinking through the warmer summer months. Packaged in 355ml cans (with a super classy label) for maximum portability, it’s available now at the brewery and will see retail distribution real soon now.

We haven’t had any news out of Sheffield Mills in a few weeks, but that stops today with Sea Level’s release of Barn Yard IPA. Their take on a hazy session IPA is TRIPLE dry-hopped with Mosaic, Apollo and Comet, giving lots of topical fruit notes. The grain bill features Sea Level’s standard base malt, with an addition of Vienna for a hint of sweetness, with all of the malt coming from nearby Horton Ridge Malt House. Coming in at a sessionable 4.6% ABV, you can find Barn Yard on tap and in cans at both Sea Level locations now. 

Just in time for another sunny Cape Breton weekend, Big Spruce has a new release and the return of one of their all-time crowd pleasers. First up is It Takes Two to Mango, a 5% ABV fruited sour. Look for a pleasing tangy tartness to complement the sweetness of the ripe mangos, with the mangos also imparting their colour to the final beverage. You can find this one on tap in Nyanza. And while we’re at it, the ultimate pairing for Cape Breton summer weather is making its return. Silver Tart, the sour raspberry wheat ale originally brewed in 2015, is back for another season, with its refreshing tartness, berry flavour and deep pink hue. Cans and pints are available now, with the cans already making their way to Big Spruce’s online store for shipping and delivery. 

Did we mention the profusion of lagers this week? Of course we did, and there’s another one to mention from Tire Shack Brewing, the return of their Cerveza Mexican lager. Possibly the most crushable beer they’ve released to date, it’s back on tap and in cans to go as well. Meanwhile, on the “new release” side of things, Tire Shack also has a brand new “AI-designed” beer available. After prompting with the question “What will future beer trends be?” and receiving the response, “Alternative fermentables and herbs,” they further asked for a recipe, which was dutifully provided and dubbed “Garden Party.” They even got it to design a label. Regardless of how you feel about what’s being commonly referred to as “AI” these days, the gang at Tire Shack has dutifully made the 6.0% ABV honey lavender saison from the generated recipe and claim it’s a tasty beer. You’ll have to grab some at their spot in Moncton to find out for yourself!

Still in New Brunswick, but up in Fredericton this time, we see a brand new thang from Trailway. Hoppy? Sure. But this one, from their Main Land series of Belgian-inspired beers, pairs Belgian yeast character with lemony citrus and a grassy bitterness from the noble hops that were used. With a finish that features pear and apple sauce, this hoppy session ale comes in at 4.5% ABV. In returning engagement news at Trailway, their classic summer raspberry wheat, Beyond Reality is available again. At 4% ABV you can plan to enjoy a couple of these fruity delights that boast a touch of balancing tartness. Look for both of these ones, along with the rest of the Trailway oeuvre at a Trailway location near you!

Lots of beery things going on in our region these days, including a lot of summer openings!

Lots of news for you from the Stillwell Family this week, so let’s get you up to speed: The Stillwell Beer Garden at Spring Garden and South Park is open and operating daily from noon til “cold”, with a dozen taps and another dozen different cans from across the region and beyond. The grill is fired up and on the go too, with sausages and dogs, and yummy accompaniments to boot, with ice cream to cap the meal!

One of the beers you’ll find on tap there, as well as Stilly HQ, The Freehouse, and Battery Park, is Stillwell Brewing’s brand new Cream Ale. Eschewing the modern trend towards adjuncts, this is all Pils malt, with a decoction (!), and fermented cool to keep the fruity esters down, it uses a dose of Cascade and Willamette to add a firm bitterness as well as a bit of earth and citrus to the final product. Eminently crushable, you can sense the relationship to Kompact while appreciating the new world hop component. Cans will be coming to the brewery in a few weeks.

Before then, however, Stillwell Brewing is celebrating the opening of their taproom June 3rd. While having been open for retail sales since last year, they have completed the taproom and music system, so it’s time to party! Open from 11 AM to 11 PM next Saturday, Beverly Taco Service (from 4 PM) will be onsite slinging their wares, and there will be live spun records by DJ Douvet and Swee (also from 4 PM) to keep you happy.

Although most folks in the industry have known this for a while, we at ACBB have perhaps been a touch remiss in mentioning that the Canadian Brewing Awards Conference will be in town next weekend, June 1st to 3rd at the Nova Centre in Halifax. A presentation of Taps Media, the CBAC is both a brewing conference and the announcement vehicle for the Canadian Brewing Awards. Judged each spring in Toronto, the CBAs aim to celebrate the best in beer from coast to coast. What does this mean for the humble beer drinker? Mostly that there will be brewery folks from across the country descending on Halifax, sampling our local fare and especially our local beer, and making and rekindling friendships. So don’t be surprised if you find yourself at Stillwell Beer Garden or Hop Yard or any of our brewery tap rooms talking to a brewery owner from Saskatoon or Kelowna or Caledon or St-Jean-sur-Richelieu and feel free to let them know what your favorite locals are! 

Meanwhile, if you’re a hard core beer nerd like us and you’re interested in taking in the conference itself, there will be plenty of sessions of both practical brewing nature and more social responsibility-focused content as well as a conference floor where equipment, ingredient, and service providers ply their wares. Limited (<15!) tickets are still available, with a full ride (conference + gala) going for $400 or separate conference ($200) and gala ($200) options on tap, so to speak. Maybe we’ll see you there!

Our friends at Canadian hop supplier Hops Connect have some news for the local industry this week, as they’re opening up a cold storage warehouse in Montréal next month. If you’re a brewer in Atlantic Canada, this means your orders will get to you that much more quickly and efficiently, and especially when you’re dealing in Southern Hemisphere hops, as Hops Connect does in volume, that can make a big difference. Homebrewers in the region who take advantage of The Brewnosers annual group buys will likely benefit as well. If you’re attending the CBAC next weekend, definitely stop by the Hops Connect booth and find out the finer details (rumor has it there will be a very sensory component to their booth this year as well!!)

Looking for work in the craft beer industry in Moncton? Check this posting out:

After a very successful launch earlier this month, O’Creek Brewing in Moncton is looking to add a Full-Time Taproom Manager to their crew, concentrating on those busy evenings and weekends! If you have experience in that sort of thing, fire Greg an email to let him know you can be the right woman or man for the job! Oh, and while we have you, their on-site kitchen is operating at full speed these days, sending out nachos, quesadillas, pulled pork sandwiches, popcorns, and even serving ice cream from nearby Lost & Found.

Here’s our quick hits this week to finish things off:

The PEI Brewing Company has a new American Pale Ale out. Gahan Longshore is a 5.5% ABV take on the style, featuring notes of citrus, pine and tropical fruit. You’ll find it at the PEIBC Taproom, Gahan Beer Store, and Gahan House locations, and look for it to appear at PEI Liquor and ANBL locations this week.

After taking the winter off, Rose Valley’s Barnone Brewery is open again for the summer. No word yet on their exact opening days/hours, but we can assure you that they are open for at least a few hours today from 5 PM. Pop by their location at 4248 Route 225, Rose Valley/Breadalbane, and let them know ACBB sent ya!

Speaking of openings, The Post Taphouse in Torbay, Newfoundland, opened their doors last weekend. Located at 1412 Torbay Road, they are just a few steps from the East Coast Trail, and offer a lovely view from their patio. Serving local beer from breweries all across Newfoundland and Labrador, they also have a full food menu. They are open 12 – 11 PM daily, rain or shine!

It’s that time of year for the Cellar Slammer to return! This annual collaboration between Tatamagouche Brewing and Bishop’s Cellar is out at both retailers now. This is the 7th year of its release, and this Session IPA / India Session Ale is bigger and better than ever! Clean, bright, citrus, with a touch of white wine grapes, the low alcohol and lighter mouthfeel means this beer can be slammed back all summer long! Just be aware that the can looks a little different this year!

And finishing up with the second in the “new collaborative Session Ale” category is a brand new release from North Brewing. Celebrating their neighbours to their new Timberlea location comes Brunello, brewed with The Links at Brunello. At just 4.5% ABV, it’s lively and bright, refreshing and fun, and perfect to enjoy on your first, ninth, and eighteenth tee-off! On tap and in cans at North’s locations, and of course at the Nineteenth hole at Brunello.

Friday Wrap-Up for May 5, 2023 – News from Shipwright, Lone Oak Fox Meadow, Burnside Brewing, Breton, Tire Shack, Pump House, Maybee, Mauzy, Sourwood, Good Robot, Timber Ship, and much more!

Posted by acbbdevon on 2023-05-05
Posted in: Friday Wrap-Up. Tagged: Big Spruce Brewing, Breton Brewing, Burnside Brewing Company, Craft Brewers Association of Nova Scotia, Discovery Centre, Garrison Brewing, Good Robot Brewing, Grimross Brewing, Lone Oak Brewing, Lone Oak Fox Meadow, Long Bay Brewery, Mauzy Cidery, Maybee Brewing, Ninepenny Brewing, Off Grid Ales, Port Rexton Brewing Co., Propeller Brewing, Pump House Brewery, Shipwright Brewing, Sourwood Cidery, Spindrift Brewing, Stillwell Beer Bar, Tatamagouche Brewing, Tide & Boar Brewing, Timber Ship Brewing, Tire Shack Brewing. Leave a Comment

Happy May, everyone! Flowers are pushing through the dirt and winter debris, migrating birds are returning (hello cardinals!), and patios are opening! As we shed the winter coats (and work towards shedding the winter pounds), there are plenty of new beers and events to encourage us out from hibernation! Let’s get you up to speed with what you could be imbibing this weekend…

Congratulations to the Shipwright Brewing team, as they celebrate the opening of their brand new Taproom + Pizza location at 80 Montague Street in Lunenburg. Located right next door to their original brewery and bar, the Taproom features 25 beers on tap, and a full menu with appetizers, bao buns, and both Detroit and New York style pizzas. For visitors to the OG taproom spot, they will be impressed with the 10-fold increase in the seating, so no more waiting for a spot at the bar or patio during busy summer evenings. The retail fridge is full of beer options to take away, during their 11 AM – 10 PM (or later), seven days a week, opening hours. Just a note that they are only doing dine-in during the first week of operation, and great news for those looking for a more intimate Shipwright experience, the original taproom in the brewery at 82 Montague remains open and ready to serve all visitors!

News from our PEI friends Lone Oak brings the announcement of their new restaurant, Lone Oak Fox Meadow! Opening today (Friday May 5th), this is a full-service, year-round restaurant and events centre at the Fox Meadow Golf Course in Stratford, PEI. They’ll be open 7 days a week for lunch, dinner and drinks and will offer a brunch on the weekends. The full website will launch next week, so for now, keep an eye on Lone Oak’s main socials for any updates, or just go check it out from 11am-10pm any day of the week (open for brunch at 9 AM on the weekends)! Congratulations to the LO Crew!

And in the spirit of new beginnings, we have news on changes to a brewery who has been around since 2015… Same brewery, new name! Spindrift Brewing is no more and now Burnside Brewing Company rises from its ashes. Keeping all of the same lineup of beers like Toller and Killick, some of you may be familiar with Spindrift in the US and their beverage products. Our local Spindrift took an enquiry from the unaffiliated RTD brand as a chance to ground where they are and go through a rebranding process. They’re trying to make beer in Burnside that isn’t fancy, is about the beer first, and celebrates working hard, having fun, and making great beer; hence they chose the name of the area in which they feel most at home. Both the Antigonish and Dartmouth locations will remain unchanged and things will continue as normal, except for the new branding and packaging. Their new website is expected to go live shortly, and their socials have changed over to the new moniker.

The Cabot Trail Relay’s newest beer sponsor, Breton Brewing, has lots on the go this week, with a few new releases and a lot of calls for hiring. Let’s start with the beer. First up, Grapefruit IPA is an American IPA with big grapefruit flavours of pine and citrus but also with real grapefruit juice added. It’s bitter, as you’d expect, with a nice punch of that grapefruit kick; it is 6% ABV and 45 IBU. 

Next up is a new member of the Let’s Jam series of sours; Let’s Jam: Raspberry Lemon Sour was brewed with big batches of real raspberry and lemon to mix up the sweet and sour flavours. A nice pink hue captures the eye and the refreshing 4% ABV will leave you wanting more. Both of these are available now at the brewery on tap and in cans, along with their website online. They will also be hitting the shelves of certain NSLC locations across the province. On the HR side of things, Breton has multiple positions for students and full-time work in Halifax and Cape Breton, so head over to their careers page if you’re interested. 

Let’s head to Moncton, where Tire Shack Brewing has a few new releases and fun events they’re hyped about. This week, they have a new experimental sour release on draught, based around the Soursop fruit, also known as guanábana or Brazilian paw paw. Imparting citrus, banana, coconut, and mango to the base sour beer, given the difficulty in sourcing the fruit in our region, there are only a few kegs, and no cans, of this one. And coming later this weekend is another sour beer, this one showcasing Pink Guava, bringing a total of 5 sours on tap, including the recent return of Sun-Kissed Mimosa Sour. 

Rounding out the recent Tire Shack releases is the return of their Gold medal winning Killed By Death, a 10.0% Triple IPA, chock-full of Citra, Mosaic, and Vic Secret late in the process for tons of great aromatics. Pop by the brewery today, or better yet, in celebration of Moncton Taco Week, Tire Shack is welcoming back Birria Dave’s in the taproom both Saturday and Sunday from noon until sell-out, as he is featuring The 3D Birria Taco. Best not to hesitate, as these always go quick!

It’s been a long time since we’ve had one of NB’s oldest craft breweries, Moncton’s own Pump House, on the blog and we’ve been hoping for some fresh drops from them to share with everyone. Uncommon Kölsch is a low-carb and low-calorie release that is crisp and refreshing. It is 4% and available in 355ml 8 packs at the ANBL, on tap at PH accounts and directly from the brewery. Sort through the dark and light stuff and pick out something clean and new to enjoy from this brewery, as this is available now!

Heading west to Fredericton, Maybee Brew has a new beer to celebrate a big milestone at the brewery. Batch 500 is a brand new IPA celebrating exactly what you think! A New England IPA, this milestone brew is big on tropical, mango, citrus, and grapefruit flavours and is juicy and enjoyable. It’s 6.2% ABV and 30 IBU and available today on tap and in cans from the brewery. Grab one of those cans as the design is gorgeous and true to the milestone celebration! 

Mauzy, the cidery operating adjacent to Banished Brewing in Paradise, NL, has their first release of 2022 fermentations this week with Point Towards Heaven, a spontaneously fermented blend of feral Mcintosh and feral crab apple juices. Transparent yellow, with no finings, filtering, or added sulphites, this one represents their first Pet Nat-style cider. Only 20 cases have been produced, so you’ll want to act quickly to get yourself a bottle. Look for this 5.6% ABV delight only at Banished.

In other cider news, Sourwood may not be slinging cider at their old spot on Cornwallis St. in Halifax but they’re still putting out tasty treats. And wouldn’t you know it, they’ve got a Pet Nat on the go as well! Starting with a base of handpicked L’Acadie Blanc grapes, they bolstered it with Russet apple juice from their secret sheep orchard. Capping the fermentation to preserve the natural carbonation, they have not disgorged the bottles, so you can expect some sediment. You can also expect flavors of elderflower, geranium, and pithy grapefruit. Marked with a vintage of 2021, this one has been sitting and improving for quite some time. Look for L’Acadie + Russet in their online shop for delivery or pickup (note that pickup is now at 115 Chain Lake Drive, Unit 12C), at Ramblers (formerly Sourwood’s own in-town location), and potentially at other fine watering holes.

Those jolly androids from Good Robot are back with their latest Goodwill beer and this one is partnered with the Ecology Action Centre. Dark Saison is the style for this release and it features an addition of cranberries to bring a bit of sweetness and tart flavour to the beer, balancing spice and cocoa notes from the malt and yeast. Each can of Goodwill Saison sold from the brewery or online will contribute 50 cents directly to the environmental charity. This beer comes in at 5.3% and is for an excellent cause, supporting climate change, biodiversity and environmental justice. 

Miramichi’s Timber Ship is back with a new release this week, one in the “perfect for enjoying with a group of buds” vein, aka, crushable. They looked to Germany for inspiration, and honed in on the Kölsch style from Cologne. Light in body, clean Pils malt backbone with Hallertauer Mittelfrüh hops, with a crisp and clean finish. Named in celebration of Harley & Hank, find this 4.5% beer on tap at Three Dog Distilling at 279 Newcastle Blvd, or in cans to go from Timber Ship’s Below Deck location on the King George Highway.

Up on The Rock, Port Rexton Brewing has a new collab brew out, this one done with the folks from Ninepenny Brewing in Conception Bay South (you may have heard of this place recently, as it’s iceberg season…). Small Game is a “Tiny” IPA coming in at a paltry 2.6% ABV, but still boasting plenty of aroma and flavor, with gummy candy and tropical fruit on the nose and more fruit and melon undertones on the palate. Perfect for games night, when you want to let loose a little, but still keep your wits about you, you’ll find this one at the taproom, at the PR St. John’s retail shop, and at Ninepenny’s taproom as well.

For those in Halifax, and wanting to delve a bit deeper into what goes into designing and crafting the beer they enjoy, The Discovery Centre is hosting Science of Beer next Saturday, May 13. From 7 – 10:30 PM, ten breweries from the Craft Brewers Association of Nova Scotia will chat up style characteristics, ingredients, processes and more, along with science demonstrations from the DC team, with live music from The Fine Tuners, all while sipping on beer. This 19+ event requires tickets, find out more and grab yours here! 

Let’s do some quick hits for some craft beer jobs around the region!

Stillwell Beer Bar is looking for a full-time server for the summer with a very likely chance for part-time work in the fall. Email here if interested.

Garrison Brewing is looking for a Head Brewer and this could be a dream job at a big craft brewery for a lot of people. Permanent, full-time, big job! Check out the link here for all the details. 

In other Head Brewer news, Long Bay Brewing in Fredericton is looking for a Head Brewer (with professional experience) or an Assistant Brewer (with all-grain homebrewing experience). With a 15bbl brewhouse and 3.5bbl test batch system, there is room to grow and learn. Send your resume here if you’re interested!

Off Grid (or OG Ales) is hiring a bunch of positions for taproom, grounds keeping and housekeeping. Part-time and full-time positions are available, for summer students as well, with pay around $15/hr. Application deadline is May 19th. Please send your resume here

Plenty more beer to let you know about, let’s get some newsbites in front of you.

Halifax’s own Propeller Brewing has a fun 12 pack featuring some summer crushers all at 5% ABV or less in a 355ml format. The Propeller Patio Pack Craft Beer Mixer is this year’s latest mix of 4 beers to grab and go for the summer. Featuring 3 each of: Tango Lagered Ale (4.8%), Tropic Haze Summer Ale (5.0%), Yutopia Summer Ale (5.0%) and Lime Lite Lager (4.5%), you can get this starting today from the 3 Propeller shops (4 if you include the online store!) and the private stores in Halifax. This will be coming to certain NSLCs as well. And a reminder that the patio at their Gottingen Street taproom is now open, so get out and enjoy some beer!

In Tatamagouche they’re getting all ready for summer sipping with the release of this season’s fruited Dekorum variations. Lime, Mandarin, and Blood Orange are all available in 355ml cans as of today, all coming in at a very sessionable 2.9% ABV. Grab them in any combination (potentially including the non-fruited OG version) from their web shop, with delivery available to all Canadian Provinces!

Moncton’s Tide & Boar Brewing has a new IPA in the fridge and on tap these days. Dinosaur Food is a big 7.0% Hazy IPA, hopped heavily with Motueka and Sabro, resulting in massive notes of ripe mango, fruit cocktail, and a coconutty pina colada vibe. Grab it from either of their Brewery or Gastropub locations on tap or in cans to enjoy outdoors.

It’s that time of year again when Big Spruce brings out their She’s Maibock, a German lager on the heavier side at 6.5% ABV. Brewed with modern Continental hop variety Huëll Melon, look for aromas of strawberries, honeydew melon, and stone fruit that complement malty notes of bread crust and candied orange. May a little reminiscent of toast and jam!

And finally this week, Grimross has brought back their Juicy IPA, and this 6.5% ABV can is available now from them and coming to ANBL and other shops shortly.