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 #20 – Real Cask Burnley Bastard Mild

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At the Winter Beer Hall that Mrs. Sip and I recently attended at Big Rock Urban Brewery, this was Real Cask Brewing’s contribution to the festivities.

I wasn’t a big fan of the Burnley Bastard Mild. At only 3%, it’s incredibly light and I’ve come to expect stronger flavours and profiles from my craft beers. I believe, though, that others will appreciate the brew for what it is. It just wasn’t in my wheelhouse. I do have to say, it has a hell of a name.

Real Cask Burnley Bastard Mild

Callister Brewing, which houses Real Cask, has a very interesting set-up in that it provides space and equipment for a number of independent brewers (both professional and amateur alike) in a collaborative effort to get their products out to a larger audience. Currently operating out of the space are Callister, Real Cask, Machine Ales, and Brewery Creek.

The one time Mrs. Sip and I have been able to get to Callister Brewing, we put together a sampler of every beer they had available and ended up with 13 different selections to choose from. It was fun going through each one, some of which were quite diverse from anything else on the market.

For more BC Beer Baron articles, please visit our main page…

Cocktail Corner – Fashionably Late

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Here’s Looking At You

For my birthday in September, I took a look at the best of 1983. To celebrate Mrs. Sip’s anniversary today, I decided we should delve into her birth year of 1984. Yes, on top of being more successful and better looking, Mrs. Sip is younger than yours truly. So, what do I bring to the table… sweet posts like this! I’ll be looking at the year in regards to what impacted Mrs. Sip the most, rather than myself. So, while 1984 was amazing for TV show debuts (The Cosby Show, Transformers, Murder She Wrote, Night Court), those series matter more to me, than her. On with the list and again, happy birthday, honey!:

#5: MAC Make-Up Launches

While Mrs. Sip is a natural beauty, the minimal make-up she uses is often from MAC and when she really wants to get gussied up for a special event, she lets the artists at the company do their thing. I am no cosmetics expert, but I can only assume they make fine products if Mrs. Sip and others have committed their time and financial resources to them. Not that she needs the help, but Mrs. Sip certainly looks stunning after applying MAC wares.

makeup lipsticks

#4: Legal Taping Using Betamax

Growing up, Mrs. Sip had a regular routine that consisted of coming home from school, napping, doing her homework, and then staying up late watching TV shows she had taped from earlier, before repeating the process. Well, that would have never been possible had the Betamax not won a 1984 legal battle versus Universal City Studios, which allowed home videotaping to be legalized. Given Mrs. Sip’s profession as a lawyer, a landmark legal decision seems perfect for this article.

#3: Movie Releases

1984 was an amazing year for feature films, with hits like Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Ghostbusters, Gremlins, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Revenge of the Nerds, Beverly Hills Cop, Police Academy, and many more all hitting the big screen. Many of these movies are beloved by Mrs. Sip, particularly Indiana Jones and Gremlins. All that’s missing is a Star Wars movie and you might have been able to call this the most important year in 80’s cinema.

Indiana Jones Temple Run

#2: Craft Breweries Open in B.C.

With the opening of both Granville Island Brewing and Vancouver Island Brewing (clearly, the islands knew something long before the rest of the province) craft beer arrived in British Columbia and while Mrs. Sip and I weren’t drinking back then, their hard work established a growing movement which we would finally be able to enjoy much later. While wine is still Mrs. Sip’s beverage of choice, she has become a craft beer junkie just like the Sip Advisor.

#1: Cirque du Soleil is Founded

Mrs. Sip is a huge fan of Cirque du Soleil productions, having seen a number of the Las Vegas-based shows, as well as big top performances here at home. Before hitting the international stage, Cirque du Soleil grew from a small touring operation in Quebec, Canada. Today, their combination of circus, theatrics, costumes, atmosphere, and music is loved the world over. Among Mrs. Sip’s favourite Cirque shows are O, Ka, and Love, proving it doesn’t take a long title to make a great experience.

Cocktail Corner: Fashionably Late

Jan 19

  • 1.5 oz Whiskey
  • 1 oz Port
  • Top with Cranberry Juice
  • Dash of Angostura Bitters
  • Garnish with an Orange Twist

Mrs. Sip shares her birth year with such dignitaries as Scarlett Johansson and LeBron James. Some honourable mentions for 1984, include Michael Jackson’s Thriller album, Michael Jordan being drafted into the NBA, the creation of Tetris, and the birth of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in comic form. At least the actual 1984 didn’t turn out like the classic George Orwell novel, which showed the world in a state of dystopia. That said, 1984 brought the birth of crack cocaine, as well as the discovery of the AIDS virus, so maybe the novel wasn’t that far off.

Sip Advisor Bar Notes (4 Sips out of 5):
This drink is, of course, in honour of the habitually late Mrs. Sip. I used Vanilla Spiced Whiskey in favour of Bourbon and that added a whole bonus flavour to the cocktail. My Port choice came from Backyard Vineyards, where Mrs. Sip is a member. Everything came together quite nicely for a refreshing, interesting martini.

BC Beer Baron #19 – Strange Fellows Talisman West Coast Pale Ale

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While I picked a different beer during the Romer’s Burger Bar Craft Bowl competition round last week, both Mrs. Sip and Cousin Sip selected this Strange Fellows Brewing offering and to be honest, it was my runner-up and a strong contender for my choice, as well.

The Talisman West Coast Pale Ale is purported to be the perfect offering to win favour from the Sirens of the Seas, hopefully gaining folks “safe passage and a bountiful catch” rather than “storms and shipwrecks”. I like to play a little risky, though and there’s no way any sea creature is getting my beer!

Strange Fellow Talisman

According to Strange Fellows, this beer pairs well with absolutely anything. They did narrow that down slightly with the suggestions of burgers, cheese, fish and chips, and pizza. I had my sample with garlic fries and those two seemed to go well together.

Mrs. Sip’s Take:

I preferred this beer over my other two Craft Bowl options because it was lightly hopped compared to its IPA competitors.

Mrs. Sip and I have only been to Strange Fellows location once before and should really try to get back there, as our original visit was shortly after the brewery opened. That said, I have tried some of their other brews at bars around Vancouver and have enjoyed them. Of specific note is their Nocturnum Dark India Pale Ale, which will certainly be featured as part of this 366-day BC craft beer project eventually.

For more BC Beer Baron articles, please visit our main page…

BC Beer Baron #18 – Big Rock Dine Out Van Fest Ale

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Although Big Rock Brewing is based out of Calgary, their Urban Eatery in Vancouver also produces beer, so the Sip Advisor has made the landmark decision (in the matter of Big Rock v. The Sip Advisor) to include this brewery as part of the 366 days of BC craft beer project.

Good thing, too, as Big Rock hosted the Winter Beer Hall on Saturday, a feature attraction of the annual Dine Out Vancouver Festival. The brewery also took on the challenge of providing the two-week (January 15-31) foodie extravaganza with its very own craft beer, a first for the event.

Big Rock Dine Out Van Fest Ale

There is quite a bit going on with the Dine Out Van Fest Ale, with tastes of fruit and spice (and everything nice). Drinkers will notice hints of plum and chocolate, while enjoying the brew. Among the five casks available – there were two more on tap for VIP guests – at the Winter Beer Hall, this was among my and Mrs. Sip’s favourites.

Mrs. Sip’s Take:

I thought the beer had a great smell and lots of flavour. The ale tasted sweeter to me than other casks that were available. It was a good start to my tasting lineup.

Big Rock’s Urban Eatery in Vancouver is a fun spot for drinks. They are very experimental with their food menu, so picky eaters might find it hard to select a dish, while adventurous diners will have a great time trying new and interesting items.

For more BC Beer Baron articles, please visit our main page…

BC Beer Baron #17 – Postmark Falconer’s Flight IPA

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On Friday night, some members of the Sip Alliance ended up at Romer’s Burger Bar where they have a really neat competition going on. The Craft Bowl sees each Romer’s location have two to three beers going against each other, with customers voting for their favourite in a blind taste test. The winners move on to the next round, leading to a final battle around Super Bowl weekend.

For only $6, you get a sample of each beer and once you choose your favourite, you receive a full serving of that. While I will later cover the two other beers I had to consider, my choice amongst the trio was Postmark Brewing’s Falconer’s Flight IPA.

Postmark IPA

The beer was a combo of fruit notes and hops flavour, which I thought was very refreshing. The other two options were both good, but this brew was first up in my lineup and I couldn’t shake how much I enjoyed it. I wonder if it had been somewhere else on my tasting board, if my decision would have been different. Regardless, I’m happy with the results.

Mrs. Sip and I have enjoyed past visits to Postmark’s facility in Railtown, which also houses Urban Winery. We had a good chat with their new manager in the summer and it inspired to grab and try some of the beers they had for purchase.

As for Romer’s, it had once been a preferred stop for Mrs. Sip and I, especially when they did their weekly trivia nights. This Craft Bowl competition has won me over again and we will try to get back for other rounds of the challenge.

For more BC Beer Baron articles, please visit our main page…

BC Beer Baron #16 – Okanagan Springs Brewmaster’s Black Lager

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Mrs. Sip and I have returned to our Urban Rec multi-sports (each week is a different gym class classic) careers again and with that comes our regular trips to The Flying Beaver pub and restaurant, near the Richmond Olympic Oval. There, Okanagan Springs Brewing products are often on special.

One of my recent favourites at the bar has been the OK Springs Brewmaster’s Black Lager, which I have only seen at this establishment. As far as I know, it can’t be found in BC liquor stores or at least not the ones I’ve been to and it doesn’t feature into the brewery’s Winter Variety Pack. I’m not sure why that is, as it’s one of the better beers I’ve had from the company. The Black Lager is easy drinking, but the darkness adds a different flavour profile than their 1516 Lager.

Okanagan Springs Black Lager

Speaking of the Winter Variety Pack I like that it includes two bottles of six different beers, which is a change from the typical 3×4 and 4×3 combos (not that there’s anything wrong with that!). That said, I haven’t picked up a case of the beer yet and should remedy that soon, especially with their Chili Porter onboard.

Some may give Okanagan Springs some flak for growing too big (owned by the Sleeman conglomerate of breweries before that company was acquired by Sapporo), but they are one of the original craft breweries in this province – established in 1985 – and they continue to churn out interesting beers that are worth a taste.

For more BC Beer Baron articles, please visit our main page…

BC Beer Baron #15 – Nelson Face Plant Winter Ale

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As I began this 366-day BC craft beer project, I couldn’t help but think of the Beatles song ‘With A Little Help From My Friends’. I knew that for me to succeed, I’d have to lean on my network a little and take advantage of any brews offered to me. Cousin Sip came up big again when she offered me a beer with dinner yesterday. I had never tried a Nelson Brewing product before, so this was a nice introduction.

The Face Plant Winter Ale is organically made, as is the entire Nelson Brewing line. According to the brewery, the beer “tastes best with every additional foot of fresh powder that falls in the mountains… and is the perfect treat after a long day on the slopes.” A line like that makes me want to take up skiing again and see how accurate the statement is. That is, until they follow it up with “Careful, the name says it all!”

Nelson Face Plant Winter Ale

While it wasn’t my favourite Winter Ale, I have nothing bad to say about it either. It seemed to lack the chocolate notes I’ve come to expect from Winter Ales, but I don’t think that detracted from the experience. The beer comes in at 6.5%, but doesn’t taste as strong as the number warns, which is always a good thing.

At first, I read this beer’s name as ‘Face Palm’ and have had to look very closely to see it’s actually ‘Face Plant’. I have to say that I’d appreciate the ‘Face Palm’ name too, as an ironic look at life fails. Regardless, I hope the name isn’t a harbinger of things to come if you enjoy a few too many of the brew.

For more BC Beer Baron articles, please visit our main page…

Sip Trips #54: Dinner and a Show

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As the post-holiday blues subside we get back to our regular routine, Mrs. Sip and I have made sure to continue having fun, out and about, in this beautiful city we call home. Here’s what we got up to over the last week:

With tickets to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s ‘As Heard on TV’ concert last Friday, Mrs. Sip and I needed a spot for a date night dinner beforehand. Dunn’s Famous BC is located right next to The Orpheum concert hall and is perfect for pre-concert food and drink. The restaurant recently went through a prolonged renovation, morphing into more of a deli type eatery, similar to its original location in Montreal, Quebec.

cat-has-a-symphony

We’ve enjoyed Dunn’s before, but haven’t visited since it reopened. While we had heard it was more of a takeout place now, that was incorrect and there was ample seating for guests who wanted to eat in. My concern was that alcoholic beverages could no longer be had, but that fear was quickly relieved by their advertisement of a bucket of beers deal on Fridays (among other offers, throughout the week).

Our drink order was a no-brainer. Their usual bucket of beer listing is $20 for four Steam Whistle bottles. On Fridays however, you can get five East Coast bottles of craft beer for the same price. Our bucket included three Unibroue selections (Blanche de Chambly, La Fin du Monde and Maudite) and two from Muskoka (Mad Tom IPA and Detour IPA). This all paired nicely with our order of Fried Chicken Poutine and a California Grilled Cheese, to share.

The next day, we made the long journey from Downtown Vancouver to Langley for Backyard Vineyards open house event. The gathering commemorated the winery’s release of their 2013 Syrah Reserve, which they were offering complimentary tastings of.

wine tasting randy marsh

Outside of enjoying the Syrah, Ma and Pa Sip ordered a couple bottles of Backyard’s Rose, which is a crisp, light and flavourful wine that goes down very easy… especially when you’re enjoying the music of Andrew Christopher and taking in the beautiful surroundings.

I almost hate saying this because the open houses are busy enough already, but the winery is great, the staff amazing and if at all possible, it should be experienced. Mrs. Sip has been a member of Backyard for a couple years now and we’ve managed to convert other family and even strangers to join the club.

The upcoming weeks are filling up quickly. This weekend, we’ll be at Big Rock Urban Brewery for the Winter Beer Hall (part of the annual Dine Out Vancouver Festival) and with Mrs. Sip’s birthday rapidly approaching, there will be much to discuss. Sip well, my friends!

BC Beer Baron #14 – Tofino Tuff Session Ale

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I could be wrong, but this may be my first experience drinking a Tofino Brewing offering. I feel as if I sampled something from the company at a beer festival before, but can’t confirm that.

If this is, in fact, my first impression, it’s a good one. The Tuff Session Ale is a very drinkable beer that I think would be a good starting point for those new to craft brewing and beer in general. Available year round, this pale ale is unfiltered and all natural. I’d expect nothing less from the small community.

Tofino Tuff Session Ale

The name of the beer comes from Tofino’s nickname as Tuff (or Tough) City. While it’s hard to peg down exactly why Tofino adopted this nickname – stories range from its history as a logging and fishing community to it being a shortened slang term (ie. “I’m going to Tof,” but pronounced Tuf) – it has been adopted by many local businesses, such as Tough City Clothing and Tough City Sushi.

Mrs. Sips Take:

Despite a bitter finish, I enjoyed the sweetness of this beer. My first sip was while the beer was a little warmer, so I wondered if that made my experience different. My second sip was fresh from the fridge and I thought the Sip Advisor had poured a different beer. It was still very easy to drink.

The brewery has some neat things going on, that will hopefully eventually be included in this project, such as the Kelp Stout, Spruce Tree Ale, and Hunt & Gather Kettle Sour. Mrs. Sip and I have both never been to Tofino, a prime spot for surfing and storm watching. I feel as if we’ve failed as British Columbians, although the revelation of this brewery existing is another drawing point.

For more BC Beer Baron articles, please visit our main page…

Cocktail Corner – Midnight Martini

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Let the Good Times Roll

Last week, we looked at the Top 5 people and groups who had the worst 2015. This week, we look at those who enjoyed the year so much, they probably wish the calendar never turned over. Let’s get the party started!

#5: Donald Trump

Despite being a complete ass, Donald Trump is looking like the next Republican candidate for President of the United States. Some have joked that this is a blessing to Hilary Clinton or whoever holds the Democrat nomination, but the fact Trump has gained any hold over the race can be deemed a success for his camp (and all the fellow bigots who swallow his crap). As he leads the polls, I can’t help but hear the thundering hooves of the four horsemen of the apocalypse approach…

Donald Trump Bankrupt

#4: Justin Trudeau

After being elected Prime Minister of Canada, Trudeau became a media darling not only within his own country, but in many other parts of the world. He’s been viewed as the most attractive political leader in the universe and many have urged him to strike while the iron is hot. Having ousted former Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, who many viewed as a tyrant and bringer of doom, helped in his ascent and much is anticipated from the new head of state in 2016.

#3: Chinese Parents

I can’t imagine being limited to a set number of kids, should I choose to have any at all, but for 35 years, couples living in China were limited to having just one child. This had the adverse effect of dwindling the female population in the country, as parent’s preferred to sire a male heir to continue their bloodlines. That will all be no more, as the republic declared that the law would be repealed and that partners would now be able to have up to two children.

One Child Policy

#2: Disney and Star Wars

Notwithstanding a lackluster reception for episodes 1-3, faith was renewed in the Star Wars saga thanks to Episode 7: The Force Awakens. Hype for the film was palpable and as someone who is not a fan of the franchise, even I must admit that the new movie was quite good and I’m looking forward to its sequels. Disney, having bought the rights to the space opera, is now building Star Wars themed lands at many of its resorts and I’ll be the judge of whether that’s a good thing, in the future.

#1: Caitlyn Jenner

While there are mixed opinions on Caitlyn Jenner, one thing that can’t be denied is that she brought the issue of transgendered people to a height of public debate that it had never experienced before. Jenner’s choice to live her life as a female, while existing in the public eye, has led to numerous accolades, including being the recipient of the ESPY’s Arthur Ashe Courage Award and being named Barbara Walters’ Most Fascinating Person of 2015 and Glamour Magazine’s Woman of the Year.

Cocktail Corner: Midnight Martini

Jan 13

Honourable mentions include teams that brought home championships in their respective leagues, the LGBT community, potheads everywhere, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lawrence, and the Toronto Blue Jays, who after two decades of futility, finally gave their fans something to cheer about.

Sip Advisor Bar Notes (4.5 Sips out of 5):
I haven’t had the chance to use my Patron XO Café Tequila very often, but looked forward to applying it to this recipe. To accentuate the martini, I used Stoli Salted Karamel Vodka and the two mixed well together. Start with a drizzle of Caramel Sauce around the glass and you have the makings of a great cocktail!