Tag Archives: BC Craft Beer

BC Beer Baron #184 – Bad Tattoo True Love Kolsch

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Just like yesterday, I have to apologize for neglecting a brewery for far too long, as part of this 366-day BC craft beer project. Thanks to a visit to St. Augustine’s in East Vancouver, I’m finally able to remedy that slight against Bad Tattoo Brewing.

The True Love Kolsch was very nice and may help in the Sip Advisor getting more into that style of beer. Not that I’ve even hated it, but I’ve preferred others. This 4.5% ABV, 25 IBUs brew is very new to the company’s lineup. I particularly enjoyed the flavour and carbonation of the drink, which made it quite refreshing on a hot summer day.

Bad Tattoo Brewing

I like the label art for this beer (available in bomber-sized bottles), which features a classic arrow-through-heart tattoo, with the names Lager and Pilsner crossed out… you know, just like a tattoo that needs to be edited when the love fades and another person takes the place of the original affection.

I have really enjoyed myself the two times Mrs. Sip and I have visited the Bad Tattoo tasting room in Penticton, BC. Our first stop was a late night trek for nightcap beverages, while a few months later, we popped in for some lunch and brews. Their rock oven pizzas are fantastic, particularly from the ‘Weird’ portion of the menu.

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BC Beer Baron #183 – Dageraad Amber Ale

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I honestly can’t explain why it’s taken so long (we’re halfway through this 366-day BC craft beer project) to throw some coverage Dageraad Brewing’s way. I’ve liked most everything I’ve ever had from the company, but the opportunity in 2016 just hasn’t come up.

That was, until recently, when visiting friends and being offered some of the brewery’s Amber Ale. This beer is incredibly good, with notes of sweet malts to go along with a refreshing, crisp finish. The 6% ABV is an homage to and coming together of complex Belgian and drinkable British ales.

Dageraad Amber Ale

The unfiltered brew is available in bomber sized bottles. Suggested food pairings include Indian and Malaysian curries, braised meats, barbecue, and general pub dishes. The folks at Dageraad argue the Amber Ale is a perfect pairing beer, given its flavour, complexity and higher level of carbonation to cleanse the palate.

Dageraad remains one of the few Lower Mainland breweries that we have yet to visit in-person. We just don’t head out in that direction very often, but should make a point of dropping in. Mrs. Sip would love the place, as their line is heavily made up of Belgian-style releases.

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BC Beer Baron #182 – Main Street/Powell Street Scottish Golden Ale

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While perusing new releases at the BC Liquor Store recently, this craft beer collaboration from Main Street Brewing and Powell Street Brewing instantly caught my eye.

The Scottish Golden Ale is light at only 4% ABV and 20 IBUs, but packs a punch with its taste. Although I picked the brew out for a friend who loves Scotch Ales, I probably enjoyed the drink more given its peaty smoky flavour finish. The colour of this beer is incredibly bright, or as the makers put it: “As blonde as the East Van Sun in Spring!”

Main Street & Powell Street Scottish Golden Ale

Dubbed ‘The Streets’ collaboration, thanks to the two breweries monikers, the beer is available in bomber-sized bottles. Each brewery made their own batch of the recipe, before combining the two later. I’m not sure if it was the glassware we were using or some other factor, but the beer poured with a lot of head, although it evaporated quickly.

It seems every visit to the liquor store nowadays – even if only a few days apart – provides at least a couple new treats for consideration. It’s truly a wonderful time to be a craft beer connoisseur in this province and I can’t see the good times ending anytime soon.

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BC Beer Baron #181 – Spinnakers Dragonfly Rye Spring Saison

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One of my favourite things about doing this 366-day BC craft beer project has been discovering places I either never knew about or had only had a brew or two from previously. One company that would fit in that category would be Spinnakers Brewing in Victoria, BC.

Most recently, I picked up a bomber of their Dragonfly Rye Spring Saison, which I shared with Mrs. Sip. She enjoyed the beer, noting it went from creamy to a slightly bitter finish. I had to echo her sentiment about the 6% ABV, 25 IBUs beverage.

Spinnakers Dragonfly Rye Saison

The seasonal release is available at BC Liquor Stores and I was pleasantly surprised at how inexpensive the product was, coming in at under $5, before taxes. Good deals can still be had, if you know where to look.

I’ve found that I really like rye in my beers, which give the drink an extra boost of booze on each sip. Saisons have also shot up the charts for me (I’ve dubbed this the ‘Summer of Saisons’), as I like their blend of spice and fruit, reminding me of a more potent hefeweizen.

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BC Beer Baron #180 – Bomber/Moody Ales Tam O’ Shanter Scotch Ale

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When the Sip Alliance last visited Bomber Brewing’s tasting room, we grabbed a couple bottles of this Bomber Brewing/Moody Ales collaboration beer to enjoy later.

The Tam O’ Shanter Scotch Ale is perfect for the winter season and even though we finally cracked the beer open on a sunny spring day, the experience was still magnificent. The brew features sweet flavours of caramel and toffee in the 7.8% ABV, 29 IBUs concoction, as well as a strong overall roasted malts taste.

Bomber Brewing & Moody Ales Tam O' Shanter Wee Heavy Scotch Ale

The beer’s name is a reference to a poem by Robbie Burns, which was later used to describe the classic Scottish cap or bonnet – worn by military men and bagpipers – that many of us are familiar with. If that doesn’t prove the name belongs on a Wee Heavy Scotch Ale, nothing else will.

Going with the theme of the beverage, I love how the two breweries called it a ‘Bomber McMoody Ale’. Available in 650ml bottles, the beer is best paired with sharp cheese, game bird, grilled meats, or English trifle. Include some haggis in the meal and Mr. Burns would be quite proud!

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BC Beer Baron #179 – Tofino Dark Lager

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Sadly, I finally worked my way through the set of four bombers Ma and Pa Sip picked up for me from Tofino Brewing, while they were visiting Vancouver Island earlier this year. And what a set those two non-beer drinkers selected for yours truly.

The Dark Lager is unfiltered and all natural. At 4.5% ABV, it is lighter than one would expect, but the roasted malts provide a strong flavour to the beverage. As the folks at Tofino put it, the results in a “delicate balance of dark and light.”

Tofino Dark Lager

This winter seasonal is available in bomber-sized bottles, as well as on tap at the brewery for growler fills and other servings. Tofino also has a more traditional lager, as part of their lineup.

Having now tried a fair bit of Tofino Brewing’s releases, I would still love to get my hands on their Hunt & Gather Kettle Sour, Cosmic Wave Double IPA, and Spruce Tree Ale, to name a few. I have been greatly impressed with the brewery, thanks to my bomber set experience.

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BC Beer Baron #178 – 33 Acres of Nirvana

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In need of some drinks for a friend’s birthday celebration, the Sip Alliance popped out for a brief booze crawl around Vancouver. Our first stop was 33 Acres Brewing, where I filled a growler of this beauty.

The 33 Acres of Nirvana is an IPA which has become one of my favourite Vancouver beers, thanks to its mix of pine and citrus flavours that makeup the 7% ABV, 70 IBUs beverage. Along with your standard tasting room pours – glasses and growler fills – the Nirvana IPA is available in six-packs of bottles.

33 Acres of Nirvana

33 Acres beer descriptions are all neat, but this one will really get your mind thinking existentially: “Along the path to IPA immortality, a wise guide suggested forging a specially brewed trail. As is the pacific north-west tradition, nature’s whispers were honoured following the voice within. Iconically, this beer truly smells like dreamed spirits. One whiff, a taste, then a hearty smile begins any journey into 33 acres of Nirvana after-life.”

Mrs. Sip and I have become quite fond of 33 Acres in recent times, with her falling in love with their Belgian Tripel (33 Acres of Euphoria) and yours truly liking most anything they have on their menu. It has become a preferred stop when showing visiting friends around our great city!

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BC Beer Baron #177 – Dead Frog Tropic Vice Tropical Fruit Ale

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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. Fruit beers may have some traditionalists up in arms, but if they only them a chance, they would see how good the beverages can be. In putting together this feature week, I tried to incorporate as many different fruits as possible, so let’s see what BC has to offer in this realm.

While I picked up the Vancouver Island Pod Pack on my most recent jaunt to the liquor store, Dead Frog Brewing’s Mixer Pack was also in serious contention, highlighted by this new addition to their lineup.

The Tropic Vice Tropical Fruit Ale is infused with mango and passion fruit. With each sip, you get a burst of flavour from the spring seasonal. At only 5% ABV, the brew is light and refreshing and should be a hit at with drinkers of all creeds.

Dead Frog Tropic Vice Tropical Fruit Ale

The beer has been racking up accolades since its release, voted the People’s Choice Best Beer and Judge’s Choice Best Fruit Beer at the 2016 Okanagan Fest of Ale in Penticton, BC. As a result, Dead Frog is calling this brew ‘The Beer of Summer’. Along with its inclusion in the company’s Mixer Pack, it can also be found in bottled six packs.

The beverage is said to pair well with burgers, pizza, Cajun chicken, and nachos. That makes it the perfect accessory for summer barbecues, days spent lounging in the sun and even around the campfire at night.

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BC Beer Baron #176 – Four Mile Tangerine Dream Ale

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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. Fruit beers may have some traditionalists up in arms, but if they only them a chance, they would see how good the beverages can be. In putting together this feature week, I tried to incorporate as many different fruits as possible, so let’s see what BC has to offer in this realm.

After first sampling their wares last November at the Hopscotch 2015 Grand Tasting Hall, I was curious to try more products from Victoria’s Four Mile Brewing. When I learned that this beer was among their arsenal, I looked forward to the day when we would meet.

I finally found the Tangerine Dream Ale at the 8th Street Liquor Store in New Westminster, en route to meeting Mrs. Sip and her colleagues for a Friday afternoon happy hour. While the beverage went light on its alcohol content (only 4.25% ABV), it certainly travelled to the other end of the spectrum with its citrus flavour. I’m not sure if I’ll be dreaming about the beer anytime soon, but it was a good drink.

Four Mile Tangerine Dream Ale

The art on Four Mile’s labels are really neat, featuring forest wildlife and other creatures. The Tangerine Dream Ale, available in bomber-sized bottles at private liquor stores around BC, is highlighted by a noble looking fox and that’s good enough for the Sip Advisor.

I would love to check out Four Mile’s brewery when Mrs. Sip and I finally get around to doing our epic Victoria beer journey. A couple of their other seasonal releases have piqued my interest, namely the Prickly Pear Cactus Wheat Ale and Double Chocolate Porter.

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BC Beer Baron #175 – Stanley Park SunSetter Summer Ale

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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. Fruit beers may have some traditionalists up in arms, but if they only them a chance, they would see how good the beverages can be. In putting together this feature week, I tried to incorporate as many different fruits as possible, so let’s see what BC has to offer in this realm.

Mrs. Sip and I recently attended a talk and tasting opportunity, titled: From Barley to Beer, with Kwantlen Polytechnic University Brewing Program instructor Alek Egi. At that event, the Sip Advisor was able to reacquaint himself with an old friend from Stanley Park Brewing.

The SunSetter Summer Ale is an unfiltered wheat beer, which features a nice peach flavour that is not overwhelming. This results in a refreshing beverage that as the name should suggest, is ideal during the summer months. The seasonal release carries stats of 4.8% ABV and 16 IBUs and is available in a number of ways, including Stanley Park’s Summer Edition mixed 12-pack.

Stanley Park SunSetter Summer Ale

I first enjoyed this beer while on vacation last year in Penticton, BC. It was suggested to me by Cousin Sip, who’s a big fan of the product, picking up cases whenever she finds the summer seasonal during the long and lonely winter. Suggested pairings include Caprese salad, steamed clams and grilled pork tenderloin. The SunSetter won a gold medal at the 2015 World Beer Championships in the Flavored Wheat Beer category.

While chatting with the Stanley Park representative, we learned that plans are coming together for the brewery to finally open a tasting room. It was also revealed that Stanley Park will be releasing an India Brown Ale in the fall, which has my interest piqued, as I don’t believe I’ve ever tried that style of suds before.

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