Sip Trips #53: Best of 2015

Posted on January 7, 2016 by Daniel Wilson

2015 was a great year for Sip Advisor adventures, many of which were documented in our new feature, ‘Sip Trips’. Here are the Top 15 experiences of 2015, in chronological order because it would be way too hard to rank so much awesomeness:

#1: Valentine’s Day Beer Tour

Is there a better way to celebrate you and your partner’s love than boarding a bus with other beer nuts and travelling around to a selection of breweries and other stops? Dubbed the ‘For the Love of Craft’ tour, this route featured stops at Strange Fellowes Brewing, Storm Brewing, Schokolade Chocolate Café, and finished at Odd Society Spirits. Best of all, the tour still allowed for some one-on-one time that night, so you could enjoy each other’s drunken splendor in private.

#2: Portland Beer and Wine Fest

This annual Easter treat is a favourite festival for the Sip Advisor. It’s just so well done, with options for beer, wine, and spirits connoisseurs alike. We especially enjoy the educational presentations, which allow for samples of drink, mixed with food, such as the tequila and chocolate truffle session. After a full day of drinking at the Portland Convention Center, we returned to our hotel for the manager’s reception and then things really got fuzzy.

#3: Bacchanalia

What happens when you drink wine all day and all night… you end up in a bar with a pint of beer as a nightcap! Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy wine quite a bit, but I love breaking things up with some brews. It helps keep the palate refreshed. Bacchanalia is a very fun event, featuring countless wineries from around the Okanagan wine region. Best of all, it’s an excuse to get away and spend the weekend at a nice resort (also the site of the wine event)… until you return to a flooded apartment.

#4: Beer Trivia and This Sandwich/That Beer

This was another great weekend of sipping, as we combined Beer Trivia, followed the next day by This Sandwich/That Beer, all part of Vancouver Craft Beer Week. Our team fared well during trivia, which included a number of beverage servings, while the food and drink at This Sandwich/That Beer were both amazing and the venue (The Portside Pub) was a perfect place to host the extravaganza. I’d recommend both events to all beer fans.

#5: Tip N’ Taste

This is the only event on this list that did not include Mrs. Sip, who was gallivanting around Europe at the time. I’ve been a supporter of this festival for years and will continue to go back. The drinks offered are joined by great food from a number of local restaurants. You know a night of drinking went well when I wake up before Ma and Pa Sip – who I was sharing a hotel room with – the next morning, nearly missing the location’s continental breakfast.

#6: Galiano Beer and Wine Festival

I’m still amazed that this festival was occurring for the 23rd year in a row and yet most beer aficionados (people more connected than even I) hadn’t heard of it. Arriving early in the morning and having to kill a few hours before the event began was totally worth it. In future years, we may try to stay on the island longer and partake in the party bus transporting attendees from the event to a local pub afterwards for more boozing.

#7: Disneyland 60th Anniversary

Trips to Disneyland for Mrs. Sip and I have evolved from being all about the rides and attractions to being about the rides and attractions… while intoxicated. With each holiday, we find new places to enjoy drinks and new experiences to conquer, while under the influence. On this trip, we visited The Cove Bar for the first time, splitting lobster nachos and sampling drinks from their secret menu. Then, it was off to the Animation Building to try our hand at illustrating Disney characters.

#8: Brewery Bike Tour and Brew Cruise

With a friend visiting from Toronto, I had to share Vancouver’s burgeoning craft beer industry and the best way to tackle the ‘Yeast Van’ region is by bike. We managed to visit eight different locations around the city. As if we hadn’t had enough beer, the next day we were back at it, boarding the S.S. Booze Cruise (okay, that wasn’t the real name of the vessel) for some debauchery on the open seas. In total, over the weekend, I tried over 60 different beers!

#9: First Night in Zambia

After 36 hours of travel, all Mrs. Sip and I wanted to do was crash and acclimatize ourselves to our new time zone. Following a six-hour nap, we hoped to see some of Zambia’s city core during our brief stay. The owner of our accommodation invited us to have a couple beers and offered to take us into town for dinner. What followed was a meal that included fried caterpillars, bottles of wine and beer, and a visit to a local club for a truly Zambian music experience.

#10: Chobe River Cruise

Floating down Botswana’s Chobe River, with beer in hand, was a ‘Welcome to Africa’ moment I will never forget. Everywhere the eye could see provided views of animals in their natural habitat, behaving (rightfully so) as if we were foreigners to their land. A meal shared with our boat’s crew, while watching the sunset and sipping wine made you feel more connected with the universe than ever before. Mrs. Sip has ranked this as her top moment of 2015, and I can’t really blame her.

#11: Birthday Bus Party

My 32nd birthday was spent in amazing fashion, waking up to the sounds of thirsty elephant, heading to the man-made watering hole at Elephant Sands in Botswana. The festive day ended in similar fashion, aboard our tour bus with bomber-sized beers. The only hiccup was receiving a room without a fridge (while many of our tour compatriots had one), so I couldn’t keep chilled the beer I wanted to enjoy that night, as well as the cake I was given that morning.

#12: Etosha Waterhole

Watching elephants, rhinos, and giraffes come in and out of the waterhole, while jackals ran around wildly and even a lion could be spotted surveying the scene from a distance, as we sipped beers, wine, and bubbly, is an experience Mrs. Sip and I will never, ever forget. We did the waterhole right, developing our own schedule over our visits. Beer and chips in the afternoon; wine, cheese and crackers for sunset; and bubbly paired with dessert through the twilight.

#13: Last Night in Cape Town

We chose to spend our last night in beautiful Cape Town, bouncing around the city and exploring its beer, wine, and food culture. Cape Town is renowned for two of those things, but we found their budding craft beer industry to also hold some gems. When your day starts with breweries and taphouses and finishes with wine in a crypt beneath a church (with an amazing three course wine pairing meal in between) you know you’re living the high life.

#14: Bellingham Tap Trail

As a belated birthday gift, Ma and Pa Sip treated Mrs. Sip and me to a fun-filled weekend in Bellingham, Washington (just across the Canadian-U.S. border). Bellingham has a great craft beer community and we made sure to completely immerse ourselves in it. Over the weekend, we visited eight different breweries and taphouses along the town’s Tap Trail and have plans to return early in 2016 for another go round.

#15: Unibroue Dinner

Mrs. Sip and I have been to a number of great beer events this year, but this dinner, featuring the beers of Quebec’s Unibroue Brewery and the food of the Devil’s Elbow Ale and Smokehouse might go down as the best. Set during the Vancouver Hopscotch Festival week, the meal featured generous pours of Unibroue’s fantastic line-up and servings of some amazing food. The gifts didn’t stop coming, though, as upon leaving, we were given a souvenir glass as a memento.

I probably could have filled this entire list with experiences from our trip to Southern Africa (missing is dinner at Mama Africa and wine tasting through the famed Stellenbosch and Franschhoek regions). Even outside of Africa, this list is far from complete, as I am neglecting a number of amazing days, nights and entire weekends. For those out there that played a role in my enjoyment, I humbly thank you and hope we can do it again in 2016!

BC Beer Baron #7 – Howe Sound Gathering Storm Dark Ale

Posted on January 7, 2016 by Daniel Wilson

With a recent visit to The Devil’s Elbow Ale and Smokehouse, Mrs. Sip and I (along with some friends) were able to try some beers from Howe Sound Brewing’s extensive menu. The restaurant and pub acts as a tasting room for Howe Sound, while also carrying some other craft beer products.

My choice of beverage for the occasion was the Gathering Storm Dark Ale, which is a limited release brown ale, bursting with flavour, thanks to six types of barley malts and three different Pacific Northwest hops varieties.

While my serving was merely a pint, if you track down a bottle of this brew, you will be rewarded with three full glasses, thanks to Howe Sound’s distinctive one-litre bottle offerings.

I have still yet to visit Howe Sound’s actual brewery or brew pub in Squamish, B.C., but would love to make the journey there sooner, rather than later. You can even stay at the Howe Sound Inn and really make a trip out of it!

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

BC Beer Baron #6 – Powell Street Old Jalopy Pale Ale

Posted on January 6, 2016 by Daniel Wilson

The Central City Brew Pub on Beatty Street has a very unique item on their tap menu: a mystery pour. Always game for trying something adventurous, Mrs. Sip ordered it and waited anxiously for the results.

When the beverage arrived, we got to play the guessing game of “What’s in my Glass” and the answer was Powell Street’s Old Jalopy Pale Ale. The beer is quite good, having been named the Canadian Beer of the Year at the 2013 Canadian Brewing Awards.

On our last visit to Powell Street Brewing, during the summer, I ranked it as one my favourite stops of our day, which included popping into eight different locations around Vancouver. We will certainly be back again soon.

Mrs. Sip’s Take:

It may not have been our favourite brew of the night, but you can’t beat paying $3 for a full serving of an award-winning beer at a restaurant. Much thanks to the server who encouraged us to give it a shot.

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

BC Beer Baron #5: Four Winds Tiger Style Ale

Posted on January 5, 2016 by Daniel Wilson

Another beer Mrs. Sip and I enjoyed on our recent trip to Central City’s downtown brew pub was the Four Winds Tiger Style Ale. The brew is designed to replicate Tiger Stripe ice cream, with flavours of dark chocolate, coffee, vanilla, licorice, and orange.

I’m not sure how close the beer actually comes to the ice cream, having not had a serving of the dessert for many years (do they even still make it?), but I can vouch for the beer being delicious. I like Four Winds penchant for experimenting with different ingredients and combinations and this was another success, in the Sip Advisor’s book.

Mrs. Sip’s Take:

Mrs. Sip really enjoyed this beer, but wasn’t overly familiar with its ice cream inspiration. I think we should both try and track down a scoop before trying the beer again and see just how close it actually comes.

The Tiger Style Ale was originally only available in Four Winds Delta-based tasting room, so I think Mrs. Sip and I were particularly lucky to come across it on the Central City Brew Pub seasonal beer menu. More on the another brew pub selection with tomorrow’s article!

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

Cocktail Corner – Clean Slate

Posted on January 4, 2016 by Daniel Wilson

Good Riddance

As the Sip Advisor has done in years past, it’s time to look back at those that enjoyed the best and worst years in 2015. As for me, 2015 was a mixed bag of amazing experiences and personal lows. I’m happy to bid farewell to the year and start fresh with 2016. Let’s see who’s likely to join me:

#5: Jared Fogle and Subway

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Jared Fogle went from the face of Subway and role model to those looking to shed pounds, to public pariah overnight, after it was revealed he was being investigated for paying for sex with minors and receiving and distributing child pornography. The fall was even swifter than his rise to fame as spokesperson of the sandwich shop. As 2015 came to a close, Fogle was sentenced to a 15-year prison term. I wonder if he can get his precious sandwiches from behind bars?

#4: Hulk Hogan

Once the greatest star the wrestling industry has ever seen, the full damage of Hulk Hogan’s leaked sex tape from 2007 was finally revealed in 2015. In the video, Hogan uses racial slurs in describing the thought of his daughter Brooke’s dating a black man and instantly, the ‘drink your milk, take your vitamins (ahem, steroids),’ all-American hero was gone. There will be no Hulking-up from this and if we ever see Hogan again in a WWE ring, it will be a complete and total shock.

#3: Sepp Blatter and FIFA

One of the most crooked sports organizations in the world was finally served a slice of humble pie, in the form of an FBI-lead investigation into corruption accusations against a number of FIFA officials and president Sepp Blatter. After originally forging ahead and even winning his bid for re-election as head of the football association, Blatter eventually chose to resign due to the scandal. Most recently, Blatter was banned from any FIFA involvement for eight years.

#2: Bill Cosby

Despite a collection of friends, colleagues, and fans who are still willing to defend Bill Cosby, in light of countless drugging and sexual assault allegations, the comedy legend was finally backed into a corner and charged with sexual assault by Pennsylvania authorities, on December 30, 2015. To date, more than 50 women have come forward in recent years, claiming that Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted them. Depending on where this heads in 2016, Cosby could top this list next year.

#1: Syrian Refugees

With images of bodies – young and old – washed ashore, as Syrian refugees attempted to flee their country for better lives, amidst civil war and unrest, this international incident finally came to the forefront in 2015. With many countries accepting the four million refugees into their borders, let’s hope that 2016 is a year in which the Syrian refugees are moved from the worst list, to the best, finding new and prosperous homes, around the world.

Cocktail Corner: Clean Slate

Rim glass with Sugar
0.75 oz Amaretto
0.5 oz Elderflower Liqueur
0.5 oz Cherry Liqueur
Splash of Lemon Juice
Dash of Sour Apple Mixer
Top with Champagne

Some dishonourable mentions include fraudster Martin Shkreli, reality star rapist Josh Duggar, Volkswagen, Ashley Madison and their users, Ebola victims, and American police. Next week, we look at those who had a great 2015 and look to ride that momentum in the New Year.

Sip Advisor Bar Notes (3 Sips out of 5):
I did some tinkering with this recipe, but the end result was a decent drink. There’s a bunch of different flavours all competing for your attention, with the Amaretto probably winning the battle. A fun drink for New Year’s celebrations.

BC Beer Baron #4: Central City Super Sonic IPA

Posted on January 4, 2016 by Daniel Wilson

To celebrate Cousin Sip’s birthday, the gang went to Central City’s downtown brew pub yesterday for burgers and beer (and wine for some) and while mulling over my beverage options, the server suggested I try the Central City Super Sonic IPA, as according to him, it’s only available at that location and could disappear from the menu at any time.

That sounded like a good pick to the Sip Advisor, especially if the brew couldn’t be located at liquor stores or even Central City’s other brew pub or brewery and tasting room in Surrey. The beer is described as “Out of this world!” and while it didn’t send me into orbit, it was a solid beer, which paired quite nicely with my Crispy Crunch Burger.

Mrs. Sip’s Take:

A lighter, smoother IPA and she’s totally right. The IPA came in at 68 IBU, which isn’t very hoppy, especially compared to the same brewery’s Imperial IPA, which jumps up to 90 IBU.

In the coming weeks, I’ll have more from our visit to Central City, including Mrs. Sip’s daring choice of ordering the mystery tap beer, as well as trying a beer modeled after a childhood memory for many of us.

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

BC Beer Baron #3: Fuggles and Warlock Destiny IPA

Posted on January 4, 2016 by Daniel Wilson

From the brewery that boasts, “Keeping Beer Weird,” I must admit that I don’t have a ton of experience with Fuggles and Warlock products, but what I’ve tried (such as their Shiva White IPA), I’ve enjoyed.

Featuring seven different styles of hops, I really liked the Destiny IPA, enjoyed at The Hub in New West, as part of a taster flight. The brewer’s dare drinkers to “Pour yourself a glass… Discover your destiny.”

Their tasting room in Richmond, B.C. opens in February and Mrs. Sip and I are hoping to visit early on in its existence.

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

BC Beer Baron #2: Whistler Winter Dunkel

Posted on January 2, 2016 by Daniel Wilson

Every day through 2016, we will feature a different BC craft beer. Today’s brew of choice is the Whistler Winter Dunkel, which is perhaps the best beer I’ve had all winter and the closest thing you will ever find to drinking a Terry’s Chocolate Orange.

A co-worker and fellow beer aficionado first told me about this beer in early December. She said she couldn’t wait to track it down, having enjoyed it in years past. With the beverage on my radar, I was quick to locate a bottle and gave it to Mrs. Sip as part of my annual advent calendar for her. We enjoyed it Christmas Eve and were blown away by how tasty it was.

Following that experience, I had a thirst for more and saw that my local BC Liquor Store had three bottles left. By the time I got there, they were down to two, which I quickly snagged. I gave one away as a gift and politely shared the other with guests at my and Mrs. Sip’s New Year’s Eve bash. After all, I kept raving about the beer, so I had to pour tasters for those that were still around.

I’m not sure how much longer this brew will be available, as it is a limited release. If you can get your hands on one, you must try it. I’m going to try and get a little stock together to be enjoyed throughout the rest of winter… wish me luck!

Mrs. Sip’s Take:

New to the Sip Advisor is Mrs. Sip’s perspective on each beer. The first thing that she noticed was the incredible smell and while she doesn’t like fruit-flavoured chocolate, this drink was the most true to chocolate tasting brew she has ever experienced. It was a definite win in her books, but would be best enjoyed in small doses.

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

BC Beer Baron #1: Steamworks Winter White Stout

Posted on January 1, 2016 by Daniel Wilson

As the Sip Syndicate sat around late New Year’s Eve, the discussion turned to this wonderful site and what my plans were for 2016. Admittedly, I had thought of many projects, but hadn’t settled on anything. Then, almost as if being dared, a friend suggested doing 365 days of BC beer. Well, my little sippers, I’m more than happy to oblige and I’ll even do 366 to cover the leap year!

Today’s beer, from Steamworks Brewing, is a unique brew that I have never had before or seen anywhere, for that matter. Stout beers are characteristically dark and heavy, but that is obviously not the case here. The beer does share the traditional stout flavour of coffee/chocolate, but it pours a caramel yellow colour. The colour change is due to the removal of roasted malts from the recipe, with the flavours coming from the beer being aged with whole espresso beans, followed by whole cacao beans.

Mrs. Sip’s Take:

I’ve asked Mrs. Sip to add her opinion of each beer reviewed for this project, to offer the female perspective. She found the beer to be disconcerting because of the expected taste versus appearance. Neither of us are coffee drinkers, so stouts and porters – while enjoyable – have always been a bit of a mystery to us and I think this beer was a little too strong in coffee taste for both of us.

I hope all you little sippers had a wonderful New Year’s and that 2016 is an amazing year for you all!

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

Sip Trips #52: Amazing Advent (Part 7)

Posted on December 31, 2015 by Daniel Wilson

Sadly, the craft beer advent calendar Mrs. Sip put together for me has come to a triumphant end. I will greatly miss the thrill that came with revealing each day’s selection and the enjoyment of sharing the experience with Mrs. Sip and all you little sippers. Let’s wrap things up:

Day 23: Parallel 49 Toques of Hazzard

I’ve always wanted to try this beer, but have never got around to it. Parallel 49 is known for their hoppy beers (Filthy Dirty IPA, Hopnotist, Corn Hops, etc.) and so it’s no surprise this seasonal release follows that trend. This Imperial White IPA comes in at a whopping 9.2%, but it’s not overwhelming. You have to love the brew’s name and label, featuring some good ol’ Canadian boys riding a Zamboni, rather than hopping into the General Lee.

Day 24: Howe Sound Father John’s Winter Ale

While most advent calendars provide a bigger treat on the last day, Mrs. Sip perfectly placed this one-litre juggernaut in the #24 spot. Howe Sound has a very unique bottle (re-sealable plug at the top, plus wide load, totalling three full glasses) and without even seeing the beer, just by feel, I had an inkling of what it was (perhaps a sad indictment for myself) and turned out to be right. Finishing with a true Winter Ale was also a nice touch, so thanks to Father John, Howe Sound’s original brewer.

Final Thoughts:

I can’t thank Mrs. Sip enough for putting this advent calendar together for me. As the story goes, she almost didn’t get it done and was going to save it for next year, but I’m so very happy everything came together just in the nick of time. Always a giver, there are a couple beers from this season, deserving mention, that I’ve picked up for Mrs. Sip. These include the Dead Frog Nutty Uncle Peanut Butter Stout and Whistler Dunkel (the closest thing to drinking a Terry’s Chocolate Orange). There are many other brews on the market we’re hoping to try before they disappear from stores, including Steamworks Winter White Stout, Granville Island Cocoa Loco Porter, and Whistler Chestnut Ale.

I hope everyone out there had a wonderful Christmas, full of quality time with family, friends, and your libation of choice!