Tag Archives: BC Beer Awards

BC Beer Baron #303 – R&B Enigma Kettle Sour

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One of the highlights of the BC Beer Awards was the broad spectrum of brewing styles that were on display. That included this tart offering from R&B Brewing.

The Enigma Kettle Sour is a dry-hopped sour ale, featuring the eponymous Enigma hops, in combination with Galaxy hops. The 6.5% ABV, 18 IBUs beverage is stronger than many sours on the market, which certainly catches the Sip Advisor’s eye.

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The latest release from R&B’s Mount Pleasant Series is available in bomber-sized bottles at private liquor stores. It can also be found on tap at R&B’s awesome new tasting room in the Brewery Creek area of Vancouver.

Also part of the Mount Pleasant Series are the Vienna Lager and White IPA. The series focuses on limited edition brews, offering “new and interesting flavours” for drinkers.

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BC Beer Baron #302 – Dageraad Dark Days Saison

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With the days growing darker and daylight hours being squeezed to a minimum, things can get pretty glum. At least the season inspired Dageraad Brewing to create this product.

The Dark Days Saison is brewed with spices and incorporates golden naked oats and fennel into the recipe. The 5.6% ABV beverage was right up my alley, as saisons are a favourite family for the Sip Advisor.

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This limited release can only be found on tap at Dageraad, so I’m lucky to have got the chance to sample the brew. It won’t stick around forever, so those curious should get out to Burnaby quickly.

As Mrs. Sip and I told the crew operating the Dageraad booth at the BC Beer Awards, they are one of the few Lower Mainland establishments we have yet to visit. For shame!

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BC Beer Baron #301 – Red Collar Doppelbock

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The 2016 BC Beer Awards may go down as the event where I discovered a true love for this style of beer. That was thanks in large part to a serving of this beverage from Red Collar Brewing.

The Doppelbock is clean and crisp, featuring roasted malts and a balanced amount of hops. At 7.7% and 32 IBUs, this may be the booziest lager the Sip Advisor has come across… and I loved it.

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A fall/winter seasonal release, the Dopplebock is available in bomber-sized bottles at private liquor stores. I’m willing to bet the drink will be perfect for Christmas gatherings.

It’s been many years since I was last in Kamloops, but I would love to do a swing through the region and hop around to the various breweries that have launched in the area. Now I just need the time off!

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BC Beer Baron #300 – Fuggles & Warlock Chrono Wet Hop IPA

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We are amidst wet hop beer season and for some, it’s the most wonderful time of the year! Fuggles & Warlock Brewing have taken advantage of the bounty, releasing this amazing drink, which I was able to partake in at the BC Beer Awards.

The Chrono Wet Hop IPA features freshly-picked Cascade and Centennial hops from BC Hop Co, which were added to this beer’s recipe within hours of being plucked. The 6.9% ABV, 66 IBUs brew is not for the faint-hearted, as citrus and bitterness will explode through your taste buds and take hold of your senses.

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The beverage is available in bomber-sized bottles at private liquor stores, as well as from the Fuggles & Warlock tasting room in Richmond, where it is also on tap. I really enjoyed this IPA, so I should make some time to get a growler fill.

I believe the beer’s theming comes from the popular role-playing video game Chrono Trigger, originally for the Super Nintendo. While I never played this game, not being much of an RPG fan, I do know it’s a childhood favourite for many around the world.

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BC Beer Baron #299 – Moon Under Water Hip As Funk Farmhouse IPA

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What do you get when you combine two of my favourite beer styles – IPA and Saison? A very happy Sip Advisor, that’s what. It’s no surprise the folks at Moon Under Water Brewing were able to provide this treat at the recent BC Beer Awards.

The Hip As Funk Farmhouse IPA was very good. The brewery describes the 7% ABV, 35 IBU beverage as “Skittles in the attic,” thanks to the use of hops that provide flavours of tropical fruits and the mix of yeast and malts that round out the recipe.

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Released on International Women’s Day in 2015 and featuring the image of a strong lady on its label, Moon Under Water intended for the brew to represent the female beer drinker, who is often inaccurately depicted by the industry.

The drink’s label was designed by artist Bjauna Sorensen. “Female craft beer drinkers know what they like and unapologetically drink it,” said brewery co-owner Chelsea Walker. The IPA is available in bomber-sized bottles at private liquor stores.

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BC Beer Baron #298 – Steel & Oak Smoked Honey Doppelbock

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The Sip Advisor is a big fan of smoked beers and a dedicated supporter of Steel & Oak Brewing. Therefore, when I came across their table at the recent BC Beer Awards and saw this on their tap list, I knew I had to try a sample.

The Smoked Honey Doppelbock appealed to me on so many levels. Of course, there was the smoky flavour with each sip, but there was also exactly the right amount of sweetness from the honey. At 7.9% ABV and 20 IBUs, this beverage was right in my wheelhouse stat wise.

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Steel & Oak joke that the beer is “best enjoyed while seated in a leather chair with your feet up on a rich mahogany coffee table.” While that may work for some, I’ll take it with a scantily clad Mrs. Sip, silhouetted perhaps by a roaring fire!.

The limited edition release is available in bomber-sized bottles at private liquor stores and at Steel & Oak’s New West tasting room. It’s been a little while since I was able to pop in for a flight, so I think I should remedy that glaring error promptly.

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BC Beer Baron #297 – White Sails Mount Benson IPA

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We’re far from finishing our coverage of all the different products I was able to experience at the BC Beer Awards, but we’ve made it to the last from a brewery I was unfamiliar with going into the event. And what a way to wrap up, with this treat from White Sails Brewing.

Simply put, the Mount Benson IPA is everything the Sip Advisor is looking for in a beverage. The 7% ABV, 60 IBUs flagship release is available in bomber-sized bottles from private liquor retailers. In a similar vein, I’d love to try the brewery’s Snake Island Cascadian Dark Ale (6.5% ABV and 80 IBUs), which received a gold medal at the World Beer Awards in the Best Canadian Black IPA category.

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Named after Nanaimo’s Mount Benson, White Sails says of the landmark: “Accept the challenge, savour the reward. With endless coastal views and picturesque forest, an ambitious hike awaits demanding adventure and a smile of­ accomplishment.” Now, imagine drinking this IPA at the mountain’s peak as your prize!

The brewery takes their name from Nanaimo’s city flag, which features a ship with white sail, commemorating those that sailed from England to settle the area. Their tasting room sits on what used to be the Newcastle Hotel, which dates back to the late 1800’s.

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BC Beer Baron #296 – Gladstone Oktoberfest

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Another brewery introduction, courtesy of the BC Beer Awards, came when Mrs. Sip received a sample of this Gladstone Brewing selection. While Oktoberfest beers don’t rank among my favourite styles, I still found this offering to be decent.

Gladstone’s Oktoberfest continues the tradition of Bavarian brewing, where beers were produced in the spring and aged until the fall. When they were released, drinkers rejoiced, providing us with what’s known today as Oktoberfest and what should be an international holiday for all booze hounds.

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The 5.5% ABV, 25 IBUs beverage is dark and is highlighted by flavours of caramel, toast and malts. The easy drinking brew has a level of hops that won’t scare any imbibers away, while also having enough there for those that want a bitter finish.

Gladstone is yet another addition to my ever-expanding map of breweries I need to visit on Vancouver Island. The company launched in 2014 and focuses on “Belgian ales, European lagers, and Pacific Northwest style India pale ales”. That covers a fair bit of ground!

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BC Beer Baron #295 – Lightheart Purple People Pleaser Blackberry Wheat Ale

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While the summer may have come and gone, many wheat beers were still on display at last weekend’s BC Beer Awards. That included this release from Lightheart Brewing, providing the Sip Advisor’s first opportunity to sample suds from the company.

The Purple People Pleaser Blackberry Wheat Ale was an intriguing offering, given its colour and taste. The 5.4% ABV beverage should not be confused with Urban Dictionary’s definition of a Purple People Pleaser, which I’ll leave to your own imagination to figure out… sicko!

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The beer’s production is in line with the Halloween season, playing on the Purple People Eater character from Sheb Wooley’s 1958 classic tune of the same name. Hey, if it was good enough to reach #1 on the Billboard pop charts, it can certainly be a beer, as well.

Lightheart is one of the collaborative partners occupying space at Callister Brewing’s location. The company’s website is still in the development stage, so those looking for updates on their wares may want to keep an eye on their Twitter account.

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BC Beer Baron #294 – Luppolo Fresh Hop Belgian IPA

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The BC Beer Awards offered a wonderful opportunity to try breweries close to home and abroad for the very first time. One of those that is situated nearby, but has yet to be graced (more like invaded) with the presence of the Sip Advisor and his associates is Luppolo Brewing.

Their Fresh Hop Belgian IPA was another hit with me and Mrs. Sip, as it seemed we couldn’t pick a bad drink if we tried, while traversing the Croatian Cultural Centre’s two rooms. The 6% ABV beverage made a solid first impression with its balanced and tasty recipe.

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While the brewery has yet to officially open its tasting room, thus making it difficult to currently track down their products, their doors should be opening before the end of the year. This will add yet another can’t miss stop to any Yeast Van crawl.

Luppolo (which translates to “hops” in Italian) is aiming to capture the qualities of Italian culture, such as quality, craftsmanship, community and family. Makes sense, given the operation is the result of two couples combining their experience and resources.

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