About Daniel Wilson

I love making drinks for my friends and family, and, of course, sampling my concoctions myself! Finding and playing around with recipes is a favourite past time of mine and I hope to share that passion with all my readers.

Sip Trips #243: Love and Family

Posted on March 3, 2025 by Daniel Wilson

February was quite busy, with a lean towards sports events and movies. Let’s see what the Sip Family managed to cram into the shortest month of the year:

The fun began with a trip to Boston Pizza, where myself, Mrs. Sip and Ma and Pa Sip took advantage of the Monday night $10 Individual Pizza deal. I have kind of strayed from ordering pizzas at the restaurant, as none of the current options particularly pique my interest, but it’s hard to pass up a deal like this. I went with the Bourbon BBQ Chicken, which I enjoyed, especially when paired with a Boston-Sized Rickard’s Red.

Later that week, Mrs. Sip and I attended a friend’s 40^th birthday celebration at the Lougheed Village Bar & Grill. To eat, I went with the Montreal Smoked Meat Club, while I downed two Pabst Blue Ribbons (I have such a soft place in my heart for this brew) and also tried a Sapporo Black Lager, which I hadn’t heard of before. All in all, it was a fun night catching up with folks and Mrs. Sip and I may have found a new haunt for bar adventures.

The next night, it was time for the annual BCR Regimental Whiskey Tasting. I really enjoy this event, as it provides an opportunity to try a bunch of whiskeys I would never otherwise get to sample, while hanging out with a great group of people. On the docket for this year’s tasting was Kilchoman Sauternes Cask Matured 2024 Edition, Oban Distiller’s Edition 2022, Ardnamurchan AD/Sauternes Cask Release, Ardbeg Anthology 13 Year, and Glennorangie The Nectar 16 Year. Between all the drams, a number of beers were consumed and even a shot of tequila to close the evening.

For celebrating Valentine’s Day, the Sip Family continued what has become our tradition of going to Boston Pizza so the kid’s can order heart-shaped pies. I opted for the Sweet Thai Honey Garlic Chicken Strips and another Rickard’s Red. We followed the meal with watching Dog Man (a preferred book series of Girl Sip) at the nearby Landmark Cinemas.

The next night, we attended a Vancouver Giants game, where Girl Sip’s ringette team played during the first intermission. This was my first foray to the Langley Events Centre and I was impressed with the facility and its variety of great food and beverage options. There was even a Barley Merchant stall, featuring beers from Langley-based breweries. I had a very tasty serving of Five Roads Son of a Peach Juicy Pale Ale.

With Ma and Pa Sip in town that weekend, Mrs. Sip and I got a date night the next day, starting with beers at Steel & Oak Brewing. I selected The Breaks West Coast IPA and You Party? Blackcurrent Cherry Pale Ale, as Mrs. Sip and I tried the Skip-Bo card game for the first time. We also got burgers from the Between 2 Buns food truck outside the brewery and I really enjoyed my Bacon Cheeser.

Next up was checking out Love Hurts at Landmark Cinemas, which was a wildly fun movie. To cap the night out and not really wanting to get home and have to put the Sipplings to bed, we walked over to Kelly O’Bryans for their late night happy hour. We split an order of the Chicken Lips, while I drank pints of Whistler Grapefruit Ale and Fat Tug IPA, continuing our Skip-Bo playing. Let the record show, I won our three-game series – a very rare W for the Sip Advisor – taking the rubber match in what can only be described as beginner’s luck!

To close out the long weekend, we spent Family Day travelling to the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre. Following that attraction, we visited the Great Canadian Brewhouse, which was offering kids eat free for the holiday. Given my love of rice and noodle bowls, I tried their Tuna Poke Rice Bowl, which I especially enjoyed after asking the server for a cup of soy sauce to add to the dish. To drink, I went with the Stanley Park Waypoint Hazy Pale Ale, while also having a few sips of Mrs. Sip’s Stanley Park SunSetter Peach Wheat Ale.

The month ended with back-to-back Canucks Road Game Viewing Parties at The Sportsbar. Mrs. Sip and I were each invited to these events, a perk of our quarter season ticket memberships. With four tickets each, Mrs. Sip tried to figure out who should join us. But my mind works in special ways and I formulated the plan that if we each selected one of the available games, we’d get to go twice with the Sipplings. Double your pleasure, double your fun! For each occasion, your table gets to split two appies, while each person gets a main and a drink. For the first game, I selected the Honey Garlic Wings, which are very good with a nice crunch and delicious sauce. I was so stuffed after the appy, which I had all to myself, as the Sipplings wouldn’t try them, that I packed up my The SportsBar Cheeseburger for the next day’s lunch. To drink, I had the Backcountry Widowmaker Hazy IPA and Superflux Colour & Shape IPA.

For our second game (which full disclosure, occurred on March 1, but I wanted to lump together with the other game), I switched my choices up slightly. I once again had to get the Honey Garlic Wings, but for my main, this time I went with the Chicken Strips, which looked so good on other plates the week before. Sadly, these strips came out overcooked, but Boy Sip didn’t seem to mind them as leftovers the next day. I was also determined to alter my drink orders, this time going with the Parkside Dreamboat Hazy IPA and Twin Sails Dat Juice Pale Ale.

March will be quite full, as we celebrate Boy Sip’s fifth birthday and once again road trip to California over spring break. Disneyland and Legoland are both on the agenda for that getaway, so there will be much to discuss in the next Sip Trips!

Bottle of the Month #2 – Lost Spirits 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Rum

Posted on February 21, 2025 by Daniel Wilson

[The Sip Advisor has been growing his liquor collection for a decade plus. It is something I’m very proud of, my children before kids and my legacy to leave to this world. I’d like to share what I’ve curated with all you little sippers via this project.]

When Mrs. Sip was going on a girl’s trip to Las Vegas in November 2022, I suggested they visit the Lost Spirits Distillery, having heard about it online. Surprisingly, they listened to this madman and had themselves a fantastic time, attending the Day Drinking with Magicians experience. The following year, as Mrs. Sip and I celebrated my 40^th birthday in Sin City, I finally got to check the place out for myself, as we enjoyed an evening of acrobats, vaudeville-esque acts and, most importantly, rum cocktails.

When the entertainment had wrapped, Mrs. Sip and I stuck around to savour a nightcap, letting the facility empty. On our own way out, Mrs. Sip said I should pick up one of the distillery’s bottles – a birthday treat to myself – and I went with the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Rum.

I’ve really enjoyed this selection, as I’ve always been a fan of booze with a smoky finish. I typically use the bottle for Rum and Cokes or Rum and Dr. Peppers, but have also dabbled with fancier cocktails, such as the Mai Tai and Dark N’ Stormy. Today, I try to recreate one of the cocktails we enjoyed while visiting the distillery.

Bottle of the Month #2: Rum Zing

1.5 oz 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Rum
0.5 oz Orange Liqueur
Top with Ginger Ale
Splash of Orange Juice
Dash of Grenadine
Sprinkle of Cinnamon and Nutmeg
Garnish with an Orange Slices

Sadly, Lost Spirits Distillery closed up shop in April 2024. Operating since 2021, the distillery was visited by more than 250,000 patrons during its existence and given such praise as “Willy Wonka of Booze” and “Disneyland for Liquor”. Aside from the circus atmosphere, part of the Lost Spirits experience was taking a tour of the distillery, where founder Bryan Davis had discovered a way to rapidly age whiskeys and rums in mere days. Chemistry at its finest!

Sip Trips #242: Disneyland Dreams

Posted on February 5, 2025 by Daniel Wilson

We weren’t super busy in January, save for the final week, which was spent in the happiest place on earth, Disneyland! Here’s what the Sip Family got up to in the first month of 2025:

Although we continue to develop our new townhouse, it was time to welcome friends into the space with a housewarming party. For the occasion, I developed a cocktail, dubbed Home Sweet Home, to serve to guests. It was comprised of Southern Comfort, Spiced Rum, Pomegranate Juice, Lemonade, and Club Soda. I also had a number of different garnishes on hand, including using pomegranate seeds for the first time ever, which resulted in our kitchen looking like a crime scene, while my poorly-chosen white shirt offered blood splatter evidence.

The following weekend, Mrs. Sip and I were able to have a date night out to celebrate her birthday. We began our evening with dinner at Glowbal. I was disappointed when we first arrived at the restaurant, as it’s pretty rare nowadays that a place doesn’t have some kind of burger on the menu, an item I was craving. That said, what we did order was delicious. We had a feast of shared plates, including Albacore Tuna, Waygu Steak Tartare, Foie Gras Pate and Black Truffle Fries. To drink, I ordered glasses of Parallel 49 Filthy Dirty IPA and Glowbal Amber Lager. The service at Glowbal was top notch, including a dessert treat for Mrs. Sip on the house.

The next part of our date night was a Vancouver Canucks game, where we slipped away during the first intermission to The Sportsbar for some beverages. While hitting The Sportsbar can provide some difficulty in getting served by the busy bar staff, drinks are noticeably cheaper. I went with a Double Rum & Coke for the visit and cheered the home team on to a big win over the dastardly Edmonton Oilers.

We wrapped the month with our first voyage to Disneyland with the Magic Keys we purchased in early 2024. We had one year to activate these year passes and saved them for when the Lunar New Year Festival would be going on, as we were teased by the food and drink that would be available when we visited in January 2024, but returned home before that version of the festival began.

For the festival, Mrs. Sip and I each bought a Sip and Savor Pass, which allowed us to pick six different eligible menu options from around the California Adventure park, for $45 (thanks to a small discount for Magic Key holders). A few culinary items below fell outside of the Sip and Savor Pass, as well as any alcoholic drinks.

Food we tried included the Red Panda Bao, Mini Char Siu Pork Shanks, Quesabirra Eggroll, Fried Lemongrass Chicken Dumplings, Pho Dip, Fire Chicken Wings, Bulgogi Pizza Slice, Spicy Gochujang Chicken Taco, Shrimp Lo Mein, and Scallion Pancake Tostada. I’d say nothing disappointed and it was hard to pick favourites.

We also tried some of the desserts available, such as the Toasted Sesame and Red Bean Churro, Sweet Taro Bun and Chocolate Firecracker. I wasn’t super big into any of these items, but we got them mostly for the Sipplings, who love desserts. Lastly, cocktails we tried included the Strawberry-Lychee, Dragon Fruit (I really liked the Chinese five-spice syrup in this one) and Guava Lemongrass.

Even outside of the festival parameters, we ate and drank like kings and queens, princes and princesses… or witch, as Girl Sip preferred to be identified as. Over our six days at the resort, Mrs. Sip and I shared a number of beers and cocktails. The long list was comprised of the Hamilton Family Tow Mango Double IPA, Lost Coast Tangerine Wheat Ale, La Bodega Hazmatt Double Hazy IPA, Bottle Logic Fuzzy Logic Hazy Peach IPA, New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Juice Force Hazy Imperial IPA, Elysian Space Dust IPA, Breckenridge Christmas Ale, Karl Strauss Peanut Butter Cup Porter (a little too roasted for my tastes), SLO Brew Cali-Squesze Blood Orange Hefeweizen, Topa Topa Chief Peak IPA, Beer Mimosa (with Sierra Nevada Sunny Little Thing Wheat Ale), Karl Strauss Aurora Hoppyalis IPA, Karl Strauss Boat Shoes Hazy IPA, Craftwell Hibiscus Lemonade, Bottle Logic Paloma Hard Seltzer, Brewery X Baja Breeze, Seaborn Spicy Cucumber Margarita, and Seaborn Lavender Lemonade. SO.MANY.DRINKS!

Some notable food items we enjoyed were the California Roll Sandwich, Cheeseburger Flatbread, Snack-Size Mardi Gras Monte Cristo and Quantum Pretzel. We also made a point to try a number of desserts throughout the resort, which the Sipplings were totally up for. These yummy treats included a Cinnamon Bun Pretzel, Mickey Mouse Cookie, Toffee Pretzel, Pineapple-Strawberry Dole Whip Swirl, Jack-Jack Cookie Num Num, and Raspberry Peanut Butter Bar.

Within and outside the parks, we had a couple notable meals. After one long day, we visited the Denny’s near our hotel, which the kids loved for the Birthday Cake Pancakes. I also greatly enjoyed my Crispy Chicken Bacon Ranch Sandwich. In future, we need to go on Tuesdays between 4-10pm, as kids eat for free with every adult entrée purchased.

Another quick meal was had at the Carthay Circle Lounge in California Adventure. I tried the Bootlegger’s Old World Hefeweizen, while Mrs. Sip and I shared the Baked Brie Cheese Palmiers and the Sipplings devoured the Mickey Hazelnut Crunch Ice Cream Pop.

We also made time to sit down in the Sip Advisor’s favourite outside-the-park restaurant, Tony Roma’s. Here, I shared the Chicken Tenderloin Platter with Boy Sip, while sipping on a large serving of Firestone Mind Haze Hazy IPA. Another hack we’ll have to capitalize on in the future, is kids eat for $2.99 on Mondays, with each adult entrée ordered.

Finally back home, we just need to avoid looking at our Visa bill for a while, as that currency conversion shock will no doubt cause some stress. February is dotted with some interesting events, such as a whiskey tasting and Girl Sip getting to play with her ringette team at the intermission of a Vancouver Giants game!

Bottle of the Month #1 – Jameson Orange Irish Whiskey

Posted on January 13, 2025 by Daniel Wilson

I’ve long been a fan of Jameson Irish Whiskey. So much so, that while Mrs. Sip and I were in Ireland in 2016, we went well out of our way – driving on the wrong side of the road on sometimes extremely narrow passages – to visit the Jameson Distillery in Cork.

Jameson Orange

As for this particular bottle, I came across it on a Las Vegas vacation in 2022 and had to bring it home, having never seen it in my neck of the woods before. The product was available locally for a time, but seems to have disappeared from the market. When the time comes, I will have to find an alternative way to replace it, as I’ve developed a fondness for this twist on the classic.

One of my favourite drinks to make with the orange variant is the beverage they made us in Cork: Jameson, Ginger Ale and Lime. I’ve also swapped the Ginger Ale for Ginger Beer, resulting in an Irish Mule spinoff. Speaking of recipes, let’s get to today’s creation, courtesy the Jameson website.

Bottle of the Month #1: Orange Burst

Orange Burst

1.5 oz Jameson Orange Irish Whiskey
1 oz Orange Liqueur
Top with Orange Juice
Splash of Lemon-Lime Soda
Garnish with an Orange Slice

How about a couple trivia tidbits to wrap this article? John Jameson, founder of Jameson Whiskey, was a lawyer before entering the distilling game. His grandson, Guglielmo Marconi, would go on to invent wireless telegraphy (sharing the 1909 Nobel Prize in Physics), which would lead to the creation of radio and later be used in the development of television and other wireless communications.

Sip Trips #241: Comfort and Joy

Posted on January 3, 2025 by Daniel Wilson

December offered all the typical craziness of years past, with the added twist of still moving into our new place to add an extra level of insanity to the holiday season. As usual, we survived and thrived, getting up to a few shenanigans here and there. Here’s how the month played out:

My work Christmas lunch this year took place at Joey Shipyards. There, I had the very good Ahi Tuna Club. Although we were allowed to order adult beverages, providing we pay for them ourselves, a scan of the two tables showed no one else was willing to make this bold move, so I declined as well.

Days later, we were off to Grand Mound, Washington, for a three-night stay at Great Wolf Lodge (GWL). En route, we stopped at Red Lobster in Olympia for a meal to celebrate Ma Sip’s birthday. I had my usual Sesame-Soy Salmon Bowl and Blue Moon Belgian White combo, which just hits the spot. I wish there was a closer Red Lobster than two-plus hours away, so I could enjoy the meal more regularly.

Also before arriving at GWL, we stopped at Costco and Walmart to do some provision shopping. I decided to try the Kirkland Hard Seltzer (with flavours of lime, grapefruit, mango and black cherry) as you just couldn’t beat the price. It was $10 cheaper than the similar White Claw offering, although that pack has six different flavours. I also grabbed some Spiced Rum and Dr. Pepper (Costco offers a 30-can case – excess at its finest!).

We had one sit down meal at GWL, dining at Fireside. There, I tried the Chili-Lime Chicken Bowl, paired with a pint of Talking Cedar Juicy IPA. While I wouldn’t rank this Mexican-inspired bowl up with the Asian ones I typically enjoy, it was not a disappointment either.

Later in the month, we attended Mrs. Sip’s office Christmas party at The Boathouse. My drinks over the course of the evening included the Herb’N Soda and Smoke & Bourbon. As for my meal picks, from the set menu, I went with a Caesar Salad, the Grilled Salmon and the Mocha Ice Cream Pie for dessert. Everything tasted great, but the salmon could have used some sort of glaze or sauce.

The next night, Mrs. Sip and I were out again, offered a date night by the visiting Ma and Pa Sip. I surprised Mrs. Sip with a visit to the PoMo Express, a festively decorated heritage train at the Port Moody Museum. The event was only being run on a few selected nights in December, complete with food a drink offerings. Our food selections included the Beef and Pork Polpette, Arancini and Albacore Tuna Crudo. For drinks, we tried a couple of their select cocktails, while I also ordered a Parkside Humans IPA.

Following our train experience, we decided to travel some of the nearby Brewer’s Row. Our first stop was at Moody Ales, where we shared a flight, consisting of their Gingerbread Ale, O Christmas Tree IPA, Holiday Party Punch Sour and Hazelnut Honey Brown Ale. While the Christmas-themed beers were good, it was a prime example of my issue with flight costs. We shelled out $14 for four five-ounce servings (totalling 20 ounces of suds), while for only $8.50, we could have had a 20-ounce pint of any of those beers. Colour me confused…

Next, we dropped into Parkside Brewing, where I tried the Orange You Glad Orange Cream Ale, while Mrs. Sip went with the cask offering Hot Frosty Pale Ale. We completed our evening out at Twin Sails Brewing, sharing a pint of the Frozen Banana Double Dipped Chocolate Banana Stout.

Right before Christmas, we met with friends we hadn’t seen in a long while at Steel & Oak Brewing. After trying samples of both the Sunglow Hefeweizen and You Party? Blackcurrant and Cherry Pale Ale, I went with the hef, but also enjoyed the pale ale.

Christmas Day finally arrived and a gift of note I received from Mrs. Sip was the Mixology & Murder book, combining two of my greatest loves: drinking and true crime.

Christmas dinner brought my annual Christmas cocktail menu to life, with this year’s theme being holiday music. The drink recipes included: Fairytale of New York (Jameson Orange Irish Whiskey, Apple Juice, Club Soda), Do They Know It’s Christmas (Amarula Gold, Pomegranate Juice, Lemon-Lime Soda), Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree (Southern Comfort, Raspberry Iced Tea, Lemonade) and Little Drummer Boy (Bacardi Dragonberry Rum, Raspberry-Lemon Ginger Ale, Orange Bitters).

Following Christmas, I met with a group of guys for a night out. We began with beers at both Hops and Kelly O’Bryans, followed by a great dinner at El Santo. My meal consisted of Pastor and Barbacoa Tacos – after trading with a friend, so we could get a greater variety – along with drinks of the Magdalena cocktail (pisco, vanilla and mandarin syrup, lemon, egg whites, cinnamon) and Steel & Oak Festbier.

With New Year’s Eve plans falling through on the day of, we decided to have a quiet, relaxed night. It was a great way to wrap a wild 2024 and start thinking ahead to what will hopefully be a calmer 2025!

Best of 2024

Posted on December 31, 2024 by Daniel Wilson

2024 was full of big changes I never expected. This included Ma and Pa Sip moving to a location four hours away and the Sip Family’s own move from a condo to townhouse mere minutes apart from each other. In between all the adjustments, we managed to have a lot of fun. From travel to sports to entertainment, here’s the Sip Advisor’s Top 10 for the year:

Wrestle Maniac

Over the course of 2024, I attended three wrestling cards, including two live TV shows and a premium event. WWE Smackdown (January), AEW Collision (May) and WWE Survivor Series 2024: War Games (November) all brought action and pandemonium to Rogers Arena and I was happy to take it all in.

Older and Wiser (and still hot!)

Although she doesn’t look it, Mrs. Sip turned the big 4-0 in January and the Sip Family celebrated with a week in Disneyland. A surprise cameo appearance by Ma and Pa Sip was the icing on the cake, as we rode rides, surveyed shows and drank drinks all in the name of celebrating another milestone birthday.

40th Birthday

Spring Break Scandal

For our spring break getaway, the Sip Family hit the road to Escondido, California, where we visited Lego Land (for Boy Sip’s fourth birthday), enjoyed pool time and tried a few of the area’s craft breweries. This was my first time doing a long haul driving vacation and the whole family really enjoyed it.

Playoff Pleasures

2024 saw the Vancouver Canucks finally return to the playoffs, providing Mrs. Sip and I our first chance to ever attend a post-season match. Over the course of the team’s two-round run, we treated our dad’s to a game, as well as attended another as a date night. We also took the Sipplings to one of the road game viewing parties, which had all the pomp and circumstance of a live contest.

Lodge Leanings

Through the year, we managed to vacation at the Great Wolf Lodge twice. Our first voyage was in May, while the second visit occurred during the resort’s Christmas celebrations. Waterslides, arcade games and Magic Quest, along with large amounts of food and drink we consumed by the crew.

Road Trip

Living the Dream

Our summer began with the kids going on a short vacation with Ma and Pa Sip. This meant for three whole days, Mrs. Sip and I were left to our own devices and we took full advantage. We participated in a pub trivia, attended a wedding with reception at a craft brewery and checked out Gordon Ramsay’s new Vancouver restaurant.

Euro Union

As much as parts of our European odyssey this summer were frustrating, it was still wonderful time away with the family. We stopped in Germany, Belgium and the United Kingdom over two packed weeks. Attractions enjoyed included the Lindt Chocolate Museum, Peppa Pig Bus Tour and Harry Potter Experience.

Goodbye Grief

As the Trooper song goes “every year, has its share of tears; every now and then it’s gotta rain.” After 30 years in the same home, Ma and Pa Sip decided to downsize. To celebrate the place where so much family history took place, we hosted a final big bash, providing one more chance to create and save some fuzzy memories.

No Kids

Moving On Up

While moving isn’t the most enjoyable thing in life (I’m not calling it our ‘forever home’, but our ‘we’re never moving again home’), our November relocation from condo to townhouse was a necessary step and will go down as a major moment in all of our lives. Hopefully we’re settled in by early 2025 and can really start relishing the place.

Wonderful Christmas Time

The Christmas season never grows old for me. I just love it. This year, we hosted Christmas dinner for the first time, finally having the space to welcome family for the big feast. Of course, that meant my annual cocktail menu was served on home soil and the drinks were flowing!

2025 has a lot to live up to and I have no doubt it will exceed expectations. How could it not, with the calendar already having trips to Disneyland penciled in, along with other ideas percolating!

Love & Hate – Mistletoe Moments

Posted on December 24, 2024 by Daniel Wilson

I originally began working on a Love & Hate article for the winter season, but really, all people care about from this time of year is Christmas, so let’s cut to the chase, give people what they want and discuss the pros and cons of the holidays. Here are the reasons to revel in the term:

Getting Lit Up

Christmas lights still fascinate me, especially if it’s a really well done display. It has to be one of Boy Sip’s favourite elements of the season too. Light walks/drives have always been a treasured memory of my Christmases past.

Giving and Getting

The Sip Advisor likes getting gifts… but he LOVES giving treats. Sure, the pursuit of the perfect parcel can be challenging, but it’s all worth it in the end when you see the recipient’s face light up with joy.

Gift Giving

Friends and Family Discount

All the gatherings of Christmas, whether they be with family, friends or some hybrid, typically mean drinks are flowing and feasts of food are being served. The holidays can also provide opportunities to visit with folks you haven’t seen for some time, perhaps since last Christmas.

Family Fondness

Aside from scheduled gatherings, Christmas also provides an increased amount of time with Mrs. Sip and the Sipplings. Part of that is because of the break from school, along with all activities also being on pause. This offers the chance to do cookie kits, gingerbread houses, watch movies and TV, play games, and so much more.

Christmas Cheat

The winter is a perfect time to hibernate and enjoy all of the snacks the season provides. Ma Sip is a baking legend and keeps us all well-stocked with treats. I’m just thankful that the days of trying to preserve a decent body are long behind me.

Christmas Baking

Mistletoe Media

Nothing gets me in a festive mood more than watching Christmas movies and TV shows. I don’t care if I’ve seen the film or episode countless times, I’ll still enjoy it again. Introducing the Sipplings to many of my holiday favourites has always been fun, as well.

Yuletide Traditions

Christmas is the season that inspires the most family and friend traditions. The extended Sip Family has many of them, each bringing their own joys to the countdown to the big day.

As much as I love the Christmas season and agree it is the most wonderful time of the year, it does come with a few drawbacks. Here are the issues that plague the period:

Decorating

While I like seeing holiday displays, I abhor putting them together myself. For example, I went to set up Christmas lights for the first time in our new home. Problems began immediately, when I learned there was no electrical outlet on the balcony. Once I figured out a solution to that, I learned our lights from the previous year (after untangling them, of course) no longer worked. Then, I tried another set we have, but it was too small to stretch across the entire balcony rail, so more lights need to be purchased now…

Christmas Lights

Secret Santa

I hate these gift exchanges, where you almost always walk away with crap you never wanted or needed. I also dislike the whole concept of stealing presents and the chaos that causes. Mrs. Sip’s office Secret Santa can take hours to execute and I just want to wrap the meal and get back home. Bah humbug!

Busy Malls, Stores, Roads, etc.

We’ve all been there. You desperately need to make a run to pick up one last present or food item and the dread that washes over you when you realize how busy the roads and stores will be is intense. Regardless of panic, these trips have to be completed and hopefully you return with your sanity still in check.

Black Friday

First, there was Black Friday, one day of shopping deals prior to the Christmas rush. Now, there’s Black Friday weekends/weeks. Heck, the deals keep popping up earlier and earlier, it might as well be called Black Friday Month.

Black Friday

Starts in Summer

Similarly, Christmas seems to start earlier each year. It’s alarming when kids aren’t even back in the school from summer break, but ads for Christmas are already running.

Too Many Activities/Options

In most years, Mrs. Sip has had a tendency to overbook herself and the family. While it’s fun to take advantage of some of the holiday-themed events in your area, doing too much can cause irritation and exhaustion. Even on off years, when we’ve made an effort to do less, it still seems like there’s not enough hours in the day to get everything done.

Christmas Crap

While many Christmas songs are classics, some just spill my drink every time I hear them. Do They Know It’s Christmas has to be one of the most inane, insensitive tunes ever recorded, yet it gets constant air time during the holiday season. Even creator Bob Geldof called it one of the “worst songs in history”. And there are many others that ruin the season.

Christmas Music

Unexpected Gifts

I’ll never forget my first Christmas with Mrs. Sip. Many new people were added to my gift list and I was careful to get good presents for each, hoping to ingratiate myself with the folks who were closest with my love. For some reason, though, I wasn’t expecting something from Mrs. Sip’s grandma – given to me on Christmas Eve – and had to scramble on Christmas morning to find any store that was open, so I could have something prepared for her by Christmas dinner. Other times, you get something from a friend who you don’t typically exchange gifts with and are at a loss. This is why some folks keep a collection of generic gifts on hand, but I’m not sure that’s the best remedy.

$$$

The holidays can be incredibly expensive, from gifts to gatherings to events, you really do bleed money during the December sprint. You tell yourself that things will be lighter and tighter in January, but who are we kidding, things never really slow down.

Love & Hate: Mistletoe Moments

Mistletoe Moments

1.5 oz Empress Gin
Splash of Lemon Juice
Dash of Cranberry Sauce
Dash of Simple Syrup
Dash of Aromatic Bitters
Garnish with a Lemon Peel

What are elements you love and hate about Christmas and the season that surrounds it? I hope everyone out there has a safe and fun holiday season, full of time with all the things you love and not the things you hate!

Sip Trips #240: Home Sweet Home

Posted on December 4, 2024 by Daniel Wilson

November was a very eventful month, as the Sip Family moved from condo to townhouse and began the long process of settling into our new home. Mixed with the pain of such a progression was a few nights of pleasure here and there. Here’s what the Sip Advisor got up to on rare breaks:

Early in the month, Mrs. Sip and I were offered a date night by Ma and Pa Sip. Well, it was sort of a working date night, as we also capitalized on the child-free time by visiting a number of furniture stores, looking for new pieces to fill our palatial mansion (there’s so much more space to fill than we are accustomed to). The fun part of our date night – because who actually enjoys furniture shopping? – was spent enjoying happy hour at Milestones. While I went with the impressively discounted 1989 Burger and a serving of Granville Island English Bay Pale Ale, many other viable options were considered from the restaurant’s fantastic happy hour menu for both food and drinks. Seriously, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen such an impressive amount of options on a happy hour menu before. This certainly wasn’t the typical offering of a couple lame appies and house beers and wines.

Beer Dinner

We spent much of the Remembrance Day long weekend moving stuff from our storage unit and condo into the townhouse. Our reward at the end of the weekend was the Sip Family attending a Vancouver Canucks game. Prior to the on-ice action, we had dinner at the Boston Pizza near Rogers Arena. There, I had the Chicken Strips in Sweet Thai Honey Garlic sauce, along with a Caesar Salad. The meal was quite good and I love when places offer sauces for their chicken dishes.

Two days later, I was back in Vancouver for another Canucks game, this time attending with a friend. After our first two choices to meet up at were too busy, we ended up at Original Joe’s. I’ve had a number of good visits here, but this trip had some issues. First, we waited 20 minutes to be seated, as there was no host and servers didn’t even acknowledge new customers that had walked in. After about 10 minutes, I felt like I waited long enough and was committed to staying, plus I’d lost out on spots at other eateries in the meantime. We were also warned food would take a while to come out, but we were just happy to be seated and had time before the game. I drank two OJ’s Red Ales and ate the Chicken Club Wrap with Fries and Coleslaw. I will say that the food was good and I love that burgers and handhelds come with two sides.

This past week, we had to pick up some orders from our U.S. mail service, so treated the Sipplings to a visit to PlayDate at Bellis Fair Mall. While the kiddos played and Mrs. Sip shopped, I enjoyed a pint of Ten Pin Snake Eye Stout, which was very good.

Soft Play

I ended the month with a weekend of contrasting events. First, the Sip Family attended the annual Disney on Ice travelling spectacle. The show was very entertaining and it was so much fun watching the kids react to the characters and action. Beforehand, we rushed through a dinner at White Spot, as we saw how bad traffic from New West to the Pacific Coliseum was shaping up to be. I ordered my usual Legendary Burger with Caesar Salad, which always hits the spot.

The next night was quite epic, as the Sip Advisor and some buddies attended WWE Survivor Series: War Games 2024. Our day began with meeting up at Devil’s Elbow for lunch. My Duck Bacon BLT was delicious, paired with pints of Steel & Oak Smoked Honey Doppelbock and Superflux Colour & Shape Hazy IPA.

At the show, which was amazing to be in attendance for, I had multiple drinks over the course of the afternoon, including a Spiced Rum and Coke, Coors Pineapple and Cherry Seltzers, Nude Lime Vodka Soda, and Simply Spiked Lemonade.

Disney on Ice

We must have enjoyed Devil’s Elbow so much earlier, because that’s where we ended up again following the show. On my second tour of duty, I tried the Faculty London Fog Ale, followed by the Backcountry Cherry Cola Sour.

That wraps an eventful month in the lives of the Sip Family. December looks to be restful and without much fanfare. Ah, who am I kidding, the Christmas season is packed to the brim with fun and fancy, including a getaway to Great Wolf Lodge!

Sip Trips #239: Wild Times

Posted on November 1, 2024 by Daniel Wilson

October flew by and was busy as heck… but not so much from an outing perspective. Mrs. Sip and I got some more clarity on our attempts to upsize from a condo to a townhouse and that caused a flurry of unexpected action. Here’s what the crew got up to last month:

At the end of the Thanksgiving long weekend, the Sip Family visited the Great Canadian Brewhouse in Richmond. We were out that way, as Mrs. Sip was returning from her last minute flight to California to get some funding for our home purchase. At the restaurant, I had a tankard of Stanley Park The Captain Hazy IPA to go along with a very good Rocky Mountain Chicken Club. We also used their app for a free order of Golden Garlic Fingers. To complete the feast, we tried the Caramel Chocolate Dessert Poutine, which was decadent.

Canadian-Thanksgiving

The following week, Girl Sip got to pick where we ate following her ringette practice. She selected Boston Pizza, where I devoured the new Maple Bacon Burger, enjoying the flavours going on with the handheld. For dessert, Mrs. Sip and I split the Salted Caramel Panookie, which was a nice sweet treat.

Up next was riding the Stanley Park Halloween Train. Prior to our boarding time, we had dinner at Stanley Park Brewing Restaurant & Brewpub. To begin our meal, we shared the Warm Pretzel Bites, or at least tried to, as our pretzel-loving kids promptly gobbled up the dish. For my main, I had a delicious Shanghai Noodle Bowl, which paired quite well with my Parklandia Hazy IPA.

In the lead up to Halloween, we had to do an emergency drive across the border to pick up an ordered costume for Girl Sip. While in the States, we had a wonderful meal at Bob’s Burgers & Brew in Birch Bay. There, I combined a 24oz District Duke Hazy IPA with the Hot Honey Crispy Chicken Burger, a seasonal addition to the menu. Best of all, our server let me select a number of different sauces to go with my Jo Jos side dish. I may have also helped Mrs. Sip a bit with her Kulshan Amber Ale, among my favourite beers from that area.

Costumes

My final activity of the month was meeting up with a friend to attend a Vancouver Canucks game. The contest was a total blowout, not in our favour, making our time at Browns Socialhouse prior to the hockey the highlight of the evening. At Browns, I went with my usual Sesame Ginger Gyoza, washing it down with a pair of Social Lagers.

November will also be a wild month, as we gradually move into our new townhouse and begin the next chapter of our lives!

Sip Trips #238: Birthday Bashing

Posted on October 3, 2024 by Daniel Wilson

September was busy, filled with birthdays and other activities – a fair portion of the month spent out and about, as open houses were run on our condo. Let’s see what the Sip Family got up to over the course of the month:

Our first outing took us to Locality Brewing in Langley. There, I had the Strawberry Milkshake Ale, which I’ve enjoyed before, but was a substitute when my original choice was no longer available on tap. Mrs. Sip and I also shared an order of the food truck’s Bison Poutine, as we did on our inaugural expedition to the brewery.

To celebrate the Sipplings return to school, we took them out to Red Robin for dinner. It had been some time since I’d visited the restaurant and I really enjoyed my Bacon Cheeseburger with Yukon Chips (a bottomless side dish, which I had to get another round of). To wash it all down, I went with the Stanley Park 1897 Amber Ale, another secondary choice when my first selection was tapped out.

back-to-school

Over the course of the month, I picked up a couple different vodka soda cases, including the Truly Hard Seltzer Berry Mix Pack (Black Cherry, Field Berry, Blueberry & Acai, Raspberry Lime) and White Claw Variety 30 Pack, which features five different flavours (Lemon, Lime, Blackberry, Tangerine, and Black Cherry).

Afforded some time to myself, I ended up at a Browns Socialhouse, electing to have their Tiki Tuna Poke Bowl, paired with a Social IPA. I’m not very good with free time on my own, so I ate at a decent pace, settled my tab and returned to my life of misery! 😊

The next weekend, Mrs. Sip and I were in Vancouver to watch the musical Come From Away. Prior to our show, we had another meal at Browns Socialhouse, where I had the Sesame Ginger Gyoza this time, along with another Social IPA. As for the fantastic performance, which is about the many travellers who ended up in Newfoundland, Canada, following the grounding of all planes on 9/11, I tried the Dillon’s Tangerine, Lemon and Mint Gin Cocktail.

Alone

For a guy’s night out, in recognition of my birthday, us lads had an epic dinner and drinks session at The Barley Merchant in Langley. Over the course of six hours spent at the eatery, I consumed the Beva Goombah Milkshake IPA, Barley Merchant x Slackwater Chinwag IPA, two Four Winds Monocle IPAs, a pair of Black Bear Spiced Honey Rum & Cokes, as well as three Pickleback shots.

The birthday festivities continued that weekend with a party for Girl Sip and a side serving of the Sip Advisor. At that gathering, a friend gifted me a one-liter bottle of Captain Morgan’s Spiced Rum, which we worked our way completely through, mixing it mostly with our preferred Dr. Pepper, but also with the limited edition Coca-Cola: Oreo.

The next day, my actual birthday, we ventured out to Barnside Brewing for some family time. There, I had their Home Field Hazy IPA, while the Sip Family shared a couple Beer Baked Pretzels. We also visited Kelly O’Bryans for my free birthday dinner. This promotion allowed me to get an entrée, up to $30, on the house. I went with the O’Bryans Bowl, which is basically a tuna poke bowl, while also picking at Mrs. Sip’s Chicken Lips N’ Lattice Fries. I washed it all down with a pair of Whistler Grapefruit Ales and for dessert, we all shared the decadent King O’ Mud Pie.

Birthday Coupons

Other boozy birthday gifts I received for my birthday, included six 750ml crowlers (Krisp Dry Hopped Lager, Bright El Dorado Pale Ale, Idabro IPA, Heff Hefeweizen, Strawberry Heff Strawberry Hefeweizen, and Key Lime Pie Tart Ale w/ Lime and Vanilla) from Bright Eye Brewing, courtesy of Ma and Pa Sip, as well as a $50 gift card to BC Liquor Stores via Mrs. Sip and the Sipplings.

For Girl Sip’s actual birthday, the day after mine, we had dinner at Boston Pizza. Here, I went with a glass of Blue Moon, while trying their Appy Hour Burger with Caesar Salad. I really liked the burger and will likely order it again in the future. Mrs. Sip and I also used the free birthday dessert I received in the BP app to share the Chocolate Explosion.

For the Reconciliation Day long weekend, I travelled to Tobiano with the Sipplings in tow. This is the location of Ma and Pa Sip’s new abode, located 15 minutes outside of Kamloops. This new off-site headquarters will allow me to explore the Kamloops beer and bar scene over future visits. On this trip, we managed to check out Bright Eye Brewing for their Hoppy Hour. I tried the Smedium Tank Top Hazy IPA and Throwback Burger with Fries, which were both nicely discounted for happy hour.

New House

We also stopped at Iron Road Brewing, where I ordered the Red Bridge Pale Ale. One last local journey we made was to Privato Vineyard. While the kids enjoyed the chance to play and check out the place’s pumpkin patch, I was reminded of how much I HATE WINERIES.

That puts a bow on September. October has already filled up with activities, largely focused on Halloween celebrations. It’ll be interesting to see how we survive the ghoulish month!

Sip Advisor

The Good, The Bad & The Bubbly

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