Author Archives: Daniel Wilson

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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.

BC Beer Baron #218 – Big Rock White Rocket White IPA

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On a recent trip to Big Rock’s Urban Eatery – while guiding out-of-town visitors around the Vancouver craft scene – my drink selection was a pint of this Big Rock Brewing release.

The White Rocket White IPA is unfiltered with a wit beer base. This provides a spiciness to the beverage, before IPA flavours (hops and citrus fruits) finish the tasting experience. At 7% ABV and 70 IBUs, the brew is strong, but doesn’t overwhelm. Big Rock’s BC brewmaster, Jody Hammell, says the White Rocket was the result of leftover Belgian wit yeast and an empty tank for experimentation.

Big Rock White Rocket White IPA

The Sip Advisor was served this beer from one of the Urban Eatery’s nano-taps, but it is also available in bomber-sized bottles. While many of Big Rock’s products can be found in other provinces, this brew is a British Columbia exclusive.

Suggested food pairings include spicy curries; Mexican dishes, such as cheese enchiladas; grilled chicken or fish; and sweet desserts, including crème brulée. I paired the drink with a feature dish, the Papas Bravas Poutine (fried potatoes covered in tomato sauce, truffle aioli, and cheese curds), and that seemed to work well, too.

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BC Beer Baron #217 – Moody Ales Affable IPA

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Cousin Sip and I wrapped up our recent trek through Brewers Row in Port Moody with a visit to Moody Ales, which provided ample seating – inside and out – for customers.

There, I most enjoyed my serving of the company’s Affable IPA. At 6.8% ABV and 60 IBUs, this is not for the beer newbie. Using four different hops, there’s a slightly bitter finish to the beverage. Suggested food pairings include strong cheeses, garlic-heavy foods and fried meat.

Moody Ales Affable IPA

The brewery is most proud of the beer’s nose, which they describe as a “piney, fruity, floral bouquet”. Speaking of scents, I like how Moody Ales aroma scale goes from fruit salad to egg salad, with this product obviously on the fruit salad end of the spectrum.

The beer is available in a number of formats, including canned six packs, bomber-sized bottles and even the rare (but becoming more common) crowlers. For those who don’t know, a crowler is a canned serving, equivalent of a growler.

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BC Beer Baron #216 – Parkside Dusk Pale Ale

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On our recent foray through Port Moody’s Brewers Row, Cousin Sip and I really enjoyed our stop at the area’s newest addition: Parkside Brewing.

There, I tried a flight of their wares, with my favourite being the Dusk Pale Ale. This beer has stats of 5.3% ABV and 30 IBUs, which is about as balanced as you can get. The American-style Pale Ale is designed to embrace hop flavours rather than bitterness.

Parkside Dusk Pale Ale

The Dusk Pale Ale is the counterbalance to the brewery’s Dawn Pilsner, which was unfortunately tapped out when we visited. The pale ale is available in 355ml cans and is described as a relaxed, west coast beverage.

For those also wanting to explore the Brewers Row, Parkside even has a monthly calendar, letting customers know when food trucks will be at their location.

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BC Beer Baron #215 – Yellow Dog Pineapple Brett IPA

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Recently, Cousin Sip and I toured Port Moody’s Brewers Row. While we enjoyed each stop along the condensed route, our relaxing beverages at Yellow Dog Brewing, may have been the highlight of the day out, sans spouses.

In fact, I enjoyed my serving of their Pineapple Brett IPA so much, that we returned to the brewery before leaving the area, to fill a couple growlers of the drink. Of course, pineapple is a prominent flavour here, but I enjoyed it, even though I prefer the fruit on pizza.

Yellow Dog Brewing

I assume the base of this 7% ABV brew is Yellow Dog’s Play Dead IPA, but I could be wrong. The beer is available at some of the Lower Mainland’s finest beer establishments, such as Darby’s Public House in Kitsilano and Alibi Room in Vancouver’s Gastown district.

This was my second trip to Yellow Dog’s tasting room, but our previous venture was during the winter and on a rainy day. Therefore, I had no clue that the brewery had a gorgeous seating area at the back of their facility, complete with picnic tables for beer enjoyment. I can’t wait to bring Mrs. Sip along next time.

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BC Beer Baron #214 – Twin Sails Dry Hopped Kolsch

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The first stop of my and Cousin Sip’s tour of the Port Moody beer scene was Twin Sails Brewing, which has been open since late 2015.

Given the brewery specializes in German beers, it was no surprise that their Dry Hopped Kolsch was really good and a centerpiece of their lineup. The 5.1% ABV, 22 IBUs beverage is constructed using 100% German barley and wheat, then dry hopped to add light fruit flavours.

Twin Sails Dry Hopped Kolsch

The Kolsch is one of the few beers that Twin Sails has put into either bottles or cans. The Kolsch can be had in bomber-sized bottles with limited availability. Twin Sails has also released a lemon variation of the Kolsch, which likely adds a tarter finish to the product.

This was the Sip Advisor’s first foray to Twin Sails tasting room, as Cousin Sip and I tackled Port Moody’s Brewers Row. Given how much fun we had, a return trip is in short order!

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BC Beer Baron #213 – Central City Red Racer Imperial IPA

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One of Central City Brewing’s most popular products and one that has introduced many to the company is the Red Racer IPA. It seems the company is looking to take that classic recipe up a notch with one of their most recent new releases.

The Red Racer Imperial IPA takes their traditional 6.5% ABV, 80 IBUs recipe and ups those stats to 9% ABV and 90 IBUs. Other alterations include dropping from three different malts to just one (UK Maris Otter) and completely starting anew on the hops end with Yakima Valley, as opposed to the four different styles used in the original brew.

Central City Red Racer Imperial IPA

The beer is available on tap and in bomber-sized bottles. South of the border, the Imperial IPA can be found under the Red Betty brand name. This was the result of Bear Republic Brewing filing a lawsuit against Central City and their Red Racer name, which they viewed as too similar to their Racer 5 IPA and Red Rocket Ale trademarks.

I came across this beer at Central City’s Surrey brewery, tasting room and store. Although I was at the location hunting for something else, I just had to try this supersized version of an old favourite.

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BC Beer Baron #212 – Main Street Old Knights Pale Ale

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While leading visiting friends on a mini tour (yes, the Sip Advisor considers three stops to be mini) of Vancouver’s craft beer scene, I made sure to cap the night with a layover at Main Street Brewing.

There, I ordered the Old Knights Pale Ale, which is a Pacific Northwest adaptation of classic English Pale Ales. Released in March 2016, the 5.5% ABV, 50 IBUs beverage is a solid, with a good hop dosage – from Columbus and Cascade varieties – that hits on the front and finish of the drink.

Main Street Old Knights Pale Ale

The beer is named for Main Street’s neighbours, the Western Front Society art gallery, which formerly housed a chapter of the Knights of Pythias, a secret society and fraternal organization. Notable alumni from the group, include former U.S. presidents Franklin Roosevelt, Warren G. Harding and William McKinley.

I’ve always been a fan of Main Street’s tasting room, finding the place to be quite inviting and comfortable. Plus, the beers on tap (and really, that’s why we’re there) are varied and of great quality. It’s a win-win, really!

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BC Beer Baron #211 – Phillips Short Wave West Coast Pale Ale

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A family friend will often bring over a six-pack of beer when visiting Ma and Pa Sip’s place and whatever is left over, is often gifted to me. Through this, we’ve developed a bit of an unwritten beer trading deal, with our latest swap resulting in a couple bottles of this Phillips Brewing beverage.

The Short Wave West Coast Pale Ale is citrus-infused with a refreshing, balanced finish. Part of the Phillips full-time lineup, the 5.2% ABV product is available in bottled six-packs, as well as 473ml tall cans.

Phillips Short Wave West Coast Pale Ale

The beer’s name is an homage to short wave radio frequencies. Phillips writes of the brew: “Scan through static and tune in to the Short Wave.” They also hope that drinkers will the frequency frequently.

I first sampled this beer back at the Tapped Vancouver event earlier this year. With a full dosage and a better understanding of the brew, I think it works better in the summer months.

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BC Beer Baron #210 – Parallel 49 Seedspitter Watermelon Wit

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When I first learned of this beer from Parallel 49 Brewing, I had to be restrained by Mrs. Sip. Let’s get one thing abundantly clear: I am a watermelon fanatic. I eat that sweet stuff right down to the rind and keep on going. So, I wondered, how would combining the fruit with one of my other favourite things in the world (that would be beer!) work out?

The Seedspitter Watermelon Wit is a Belgian-style witbier, with hints of watermelon added to the recipe. The watermelon aroma and taste are not as prevalent as I would like, but it still makes for a decent beverage. I’ve often added a splash of DeKuyper Watermelon Pucker, when drinking this brew, just to up the sweet and sour quotient.

Parallel 49 Seedspitter Watermelon Wit

This product may appear on the ‘Seasonal Beers’ page of Parallel 49’s website, but I can locate it year round. While perfect for lounging in the sun or enjoying summer patio time, I’ve also picked up six packs of the Watermelon Wit for Christmas parties… because the Sip Advisor is always one to share the joy!

While I like the Seedspitter, I can’t help but compare it to a few American watermelon beers I’ve enjoyed in recent times, including Hell or High Watermelon from 21st Amendment, New Belgium’s Heavy Melon Watermelon Lime Ale, and Watermelon Dorado Double IPA from Ballast Point.

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BC Beer Baron #209 – Old Abbey Ales Dry Hop Saison

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The Sip Advisor first tried this Old Abbey Ales release earlier this year and enjoyed it then. Thankfully, I was graciously reintroduced to the drink at the recent Tip N’ Taste event in Langley, where I spent my final ticket on a serving.

The Dry Hop Saison is everything you’d expect from a company that prides themselves on making quality Belgian brews. Tastes of citrus and pepper come together for a refreshing experience. While many of Old Abbey’s beers can only be found on tap at their tasting room, this is one of the few that has been moved to bottling.

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Part of the brewery’s Innovation Series (where each batch produces a new beer), the 6.5% ABV, 35 IBUs beverage was inspired by classic saisons, which were constructed to be enjoyed by seasonal workers in the summer. These workers were called ‘les saisonniers’, thus the name of the beer variation.

Suggested food pairings include quiche, pizza, garden salads, and BC trout or salmon dishes. Among recommended cheese pairings are salty goat cheeses (soft or hard), as well as Comte and Appenzeller varieties.

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