BC Beer Baron #106 – Steamworks Jasmine IPA

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Each month, as part of this 366-day BC craft beer extravaganza that I will be sharing with you throughout 2016, I will highlight a specific style or theme of beers for a whole week of articles. It may have taken some time, but IPA’s now rank among my favourite styles of beer. Let’s take a look at some of the best BC has to offer, among this acquired taste.

As part of the Sip Advisor’s recent St. Patrick’s Day celebrations (how is this not a worldwide observed national holiday yet?), I shared a bomber bottle of this Steamworks Brewing release with Cousin Sip and it was a highlight of my drinking experiences that day.

It had been a little while since I had tried the Jasmine IPA and I couldn’t remember my previous opinion of it. I’m happy to report that the beer wowed me and I wish I hadn’t gone so long between servings. The jasmine flower notes are mild, but do provide the beer with a nice aroma and taste. I don’t think you’d want the participation of the jasmine to be too overwhelming and that’s achieved here.

Steamworks Jasmine IPA

Steamworks label designs have always been interesting and it’s no different with this product. The artwork features Chinese influences, such as what we’ve all come to know as the ornate entrances to major city’s Chinatowns, as well as animal gatekeepers, in this case the dragon/lion mythological creature.

The 6.4% ABV, 60 IBUs beverage is available year round on tap at Steamworks brewery and brew pub. It can also be located at BC Liquor Stores and other fine retailers in 650ml bottles. I urge you all to get down with your bad dragon/lion self, while enjoying this beer!

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BC Beer Baron #105 – Hoyne Devil’s Dream IPA

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Each month, as part of this 366-day BC craft beer extravaganza that I will be sharing with you throughout 2016, I will highlight a specific style or theme of beers for a whole week of articles. It may have taken some time, but IPA’s now rank among my favourite styles of beer. Let’s take a look at some of the best BC has to offer, among this acquired taste.

As we continue IPA Week, we travel to Victoria’s Hoyne Brewing for this devilish treat.

The Devil’s Dream IPA is a perfect example of a fine BC IPA. The 6% ABV offering is made with three different types of hops and is a bold, flavourful drinking ecperience.

Hoyne Devil's Dream IPA

I absolutely love the name of this beer, which includes a label that features a faceless (possibly horned) entity darkly playing a violin. The beer’s description completes the chilling experience: “Here’s to Daniel Lapp, Oliver Schroer, ELH, and all great fiddlers. Libation and music, like the tumultuous marriage of malt and hops, stand waiting with us at the crossroads. And look: here comes the Devil, whistling past the graveyard, singing in the midnight choir, bottle in one hand, a fiddle in the other, and that crazy smile…”. That statement gives me goosebumps and makes me want to down that beer even more… if only to calm the nerves!

I first had this brew at The Flying Beaver in Richmond. I figured I’d give it a try since I was so enamoured with Hoyne’s Dark Matter release. I’m very glad I gave it a shot and I looked quite the drinker with my 650ml bomber bottle, while others had mere sleeves in front of them!

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BC Beer Baron #104 – Filthy Dirty IPA

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Each month, as part of this 366-day BC craft beer extravaganza that I will be sharing with you throughout 2016, I will highlight a specific style or theme of beers for a whole week of articles. It may have taken some time, but IPA’s now rank among my favourite styles of beer. Let’s take a look at some of the best BC has to offer, among this acquired taste.

Given Parallel 49 Brewing’s ever-growing list of IPA releases, I had to include them as part of IPA Week.

Narrowing down which entry to go with wasn’t easy, but I finally settled on the Filthy Dirty IPA, thanks to its year round availability and strong stats. This 7.2% ABV, 76 IBU offering is nothing to scoff at and is probably better left to the professionals. Featuring fruit, pine and floral aromas, simply moving in for a sip will instantly remind you you’re now entering flavour country!

Parallel 49 Filthy Dirty IPA

The brew is available in six-packs and features great logo work with a gangster pig (certainly of the filthy dirty variety). If this little piggy went to the market, it was merely to rip off as many helpless victims as possible, making them go wee wee wee all the way home.

Parallel 49 seems to have mastered hoppy beers. Other IPA products coming from the popular East Vancouver brewery include Toques of Hazzard (Imperial White IPA); Rye the Longface (Imperial Rye IPA); Hopnotist (One Hop IPA); 187 On An Undercover Hop (Imperial IPA); Corn Hops (Imperial Corn IPA); Robo Ruby (Imperial Red IPA); Snap Crackle, Hop (Imperial Rice IPA); and Mr. Needles (Pine IPA).

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BC Beer Baron #103 – Four Winds Juxtapose Brett IPA

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Each month, as part of this 366-day BC craft beer extravaganza that I will be sharing with you throughout 2016, I will highlight a specific style or theme of beers for a whole week of articles. It may have taken some time, but IPA’s now rank among my favourite styles of beer. Let’s take a look at some of the best BC has to offer, among this acquired taste.

As IPA week continues to roll along, we go to Four Winds Brewing and profile my favourite beer from the company.

The Juxtapose Brett IPA provides a nice balance between the hoppy IPA and sour Brett varieties and comes in at 6.5% ABV and 50 IBUs. The name is perfect in that two diverse types are placed together for contrast. As Four Winds writes, this is “where orchards meet pastures.” I’ve found lately that I really enjoy the Brett-style IPAs and it’s probably my favourite foray into sour territory.

Four Winds Juxtapose Brett IPA

This limited release (I wish it was available year round) is available on tap and in 650ml bomber bottles. I found the beer to be perfect during barbecue season, pairing well with much of the fare you expect from summer gatherings. Juxtapose has won a silver medal at the 2014 World Beer Cup in the American-Style Brett Beer category and a bronze medal at the 2014 BC Beer Awards in the Belgian/French Beer class.

I really should make more of a point of visiting Four Winds, based in my original hometown of Delta. They do some really neat stuff, their tasting room is fantastic, and it’s located close to Ma and Pa Sip’s place. What more could a beer lover ask for!?

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BC Beer Baron #102 – Russell Punch Bowl IPA

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Each month, as part of this 366-day BC craft beer extravaganza that I will be sharing with you throughout 2016, I will highlight a specific style or theme of beers for a whole week of articles. It may have taken some time, but IPA’s now rank among my favourite styles of beer. Let’s take a look at some of the best BC has to offer, among this acquired taste.

While researching which beers to feature as part of IPA week, I began licking my chops when I came across this Russell Brewing option. And that was before I learned it was a gold medal winner at the 2015 Canadian Brewing Awards, in the American Style IPA category.

The Punch Bowl IPA takes flavours such as stone fruit, berries, and melon and hops them up for a perfect blend of beer goodness. Part of the brewery’s Specialty Series, this Northwest IPA has all the right stats in all the right places, with a 6.5% ABV and 65 IBUs.

Russell Punch Bowl IPA

Russell has some interesting logic that went into the creation of this beer, writing: “India Pale Ale was a beer created to make the trip from England to India, Punch was a fruit drink introduced to England from India. So as tribute to full flavoured beer and to party drinks that can be spiked, may we present the Punch Bowl!”

On top of the typical 650ml bomber format, the Punch Bowl IPA has just been released in new 341ml bottled six-packs, available at BC Liquor Stores and other private locations. If you’re big into India Pale Ales (and who isn’t!), Russell also has the IP’eh!, which is about as Canadian as you can get with a beer.

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BC Beer Baron #101 – Driftwood Fat Tug IPA

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Each month, as part of this 366-day BC craft beer extravaganza that I will be sharing with you throughout 2016, I will highlight a specific style or theme of beers for a whole week of articles. It may have taken some time, but IPA’s now rank among my favourite styles of beer. Let’s take a look at some of the best BC has to offer, among this acquired taste.

This Driftwood Brewing beverage has to be one of the most popular IPA’s in the province and is a beer that has introduced many drinkers to the variety, holding them there as fans for life.

The Fat Tug IPA is a northwest style IPA, full of tropical flavours to go along with its 7% ABV and 80-plus IBUs. It’s so hoppy, they can’t get a definitive reading on the beer… or so the Sip Advisor assumes!

Driftwood Fat Tug IPA

Not surprisingly, the beer won a gold medal at the 2013 BC Beer Awards for top India Pale Ale. This has largely led to the IPA’s popularity with the public and it can be easily located throughout the province.

Suggested pairings include spicy Asian and Mexican cuisine; shellfish or sashimi; or strong cheeses, such as Roquefort, Romano, cheddar, or washed-rind varieties. Driftwood even suggests drinking Fat Tug as an aperitif to help fuel your appetite and aid in digestion.

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BC Beer Baron #100 – Coal Harbour Smoke & Mirrors

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When the Sip Advisor hits a milestone, as part of this 366-day BC craft beer project, a favourite beer will be profiled and as we hit the centennial mark, this Coal Harbour Brewing selection gets its proper due.

The full name of this brew is Smoke & Mirrors Imperial Smoked Ale and it is a spectacular beverage. I could wax on about how much I love smoky beers and how this is at the top of my list, but I’ll let the fact that it finished first and third, respectively, at the 2012 and 2013 BC Beer Awards in the Specialty/Special Beer category speak for itself. The 8.5% ABV has never been a turn off for the Sip Advisor and really only enhances the overall drinking experience.

Coal Harbour Smoke & Mirrors

I first tried this beer at Tip N’ Taste in Langley last July and then again aboard the Vancouver Brew Cruise in August. Basically, if these guys are operating a booth, I will be there! If only Coal Harbour would open a tasting room and growler fill station out of their East Vancouver brewing location, I would be a very happy camper. Located right across the street from Parallel 49 Brewing, they could be the benefactor of the overflow from that popular tasting room.

Smoke & Mirrors is among Coal Harbour’s three year round releases, which also includes their 311 Helles Lager and Powell IPA. In total, the brewery only has five brews, which is a little limited, but I guess that allows them the concentrate on what they do have available. Coal Harbour products are available in government and private liquor stores, as well as some bars and restaurants.

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BC Beer Baron #99 – 33 Acres of Ocean

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The Sip Advisor wrapped up his evening out at the Library Square Public House with this fantastic beverage from 33 Acres Brewing.

The 33 Acres of Ocean is an American Pale Ale, with a strong hop profile and pine scent that has it bordering on the IPA perimeter. At 5.6% ABV, the beverage was refreshing and far from heavy.

33 Acres of Ocean

Resulting in the brew’s name, many of its ingredients were harvested near the Pacific Ocean, including the three hops varieties (galena, cascade and citra) that make up the recipe. I like the company’s tagline for the drink: “Typically consumed in good company amid the Pacific and pine.”

Mrs. Sip was recently won over big time by 33 Acres, after enjoying most of their line-up and particularly their 33 Acres of Euphoria Belgian Tripel, during a recent visit to the brewery and tasting room. This beer was another reminder to me, of how good the company is.

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BC Beer Baron #98 – Callister Axis & Allies Rye Pale Ale

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On a recent trip to St. Augustine’s, one of Vancouver’s finest craft beer restaurants, the Sip Advisor ordered a paddle of tasters to sample. Among them, was this release from Callister Brewing.

The Axis & Allies Rye Pale Ale was decent. I’m finding the addition of rye to any brew to be quite enjoyable, as it adds an element of strength to the recipe. The beverage comes in at 5.5% ABV and features notes of citrus and spice (and everything nice!) for a well-balanced drink.

Callister Brewing

Somewhat unique to Callister is that they also makes sodas. Their current menu includes Ginger Mint, Blueberry Lemongrass and Traditional Tonic. These sound like fun options for all my fellow mixologists out there.

I’ve only been to Callister Brewing’s collaborative facility once before and really need to get back there. The space is shared between Callister, Real Cask, Machine Ales, and Brewery Creek, which means lots of available beers. With spring arriving and summer just around the bend, bike season has also come upon us and a Yeast Van brewery crawl is definitely on the horizon.

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BC Beer Baron #97 – Real Cask India Porter

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Given the word ‘Cask’ is in the brewery’s name, of course you would expect Real Cask Brewing to participate in the latest Yaletown Brewery Caskival, featuring Irish stouts and porters.

Brewed with traditional English-style exports in mind, the India Porter is made with East Kent Goldings hops, resulting in a beverage that hits you with some bitterness upon sipping, before mellowing out into more traditional porter tastes.

Real Cask Brewing

At 6.3% ABV, the beer has some strength to it, to go along with flavours of chocolate and roasted malts. It’s definitely an interesting twist on the porter genre.

Working out of Callister Brewing’s East Vancouver facility, Real Cask’s focus seems to be on more experimental releases. The India Porter is available on tap at Callister, along with a couple other Real Cask options.

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