Tag Archives: BC Craft Beer

BC Beer Baron #154 – Parallel 49/Axe & Barrel Paranoid Oat Wild Pilsner

Posted on by
Reply

For the second consecutive year, Parallel 49 Brewing has joined forces with 12 different BC craft breweries to release a package of unique beers, dubbed Brews Brothers Volume 2. The Sip Advisor figured spending the first chunk of June reviewing these releases would be a great idea. So, let’s get on with things.

Like the first post in this series, yesterday, I wanted to include this beer early on, as I haven’t had a chance to include Axe & Barrel Brewing yet as part of the 366-day BC Beer Baron project. Also, while I’ve certainly tried pilsner brews before, I can’t unequivocally state that I’ve never had an imperial variation (translation: stronger and boozier… or are those the same things).

Parallel 49 & Axe & Barrel Paranoid Oat Wild Pilsner

The Paranoid Oat Wild Pilsner had this beer package going two-for-two in the success category. I really enjoyed the strength of the beer (8.5% ABV) and found that it didn’t overwhelm, which is always a concern when beverages enter “imperial” territory. Brewed with sake and chardonnay elements, no wonder the drink packs a punch. Based off of this work alone, it looks like Mrs. Sip and I have yet another stop to add to our ever-growing Victoria craft beer itinerary.

Each beer is named after a classic rock song, and this one is quite appropriately an homage to the Black Sabbath classic Paranoid. The track appears on a number of greatest songs lists, including spot #250 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

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

BC Beer Baron #153 – Parallel 49/Crannog Ales Suspect Device Gruit

Posted on by
Reply

For the second consecutive year, Parallel 49 Brewing has joined forces with 12 different BC craft breweries to release a package of unique beers, dubbed Brews Brothers Volume 2. The Sip Advisor figured spending the first chunk of June reviewing these releases would be a great idea. So, let’s get on with things.

First up, I wanted to take a look at this partnership with Crannog Ales, as I have yet to include the brewery as part of the 366-day BC Beer Baron project and I don’t believe I’ve ever tried this style of beer.

Parallel 49 & Crannog Ales Suspect Device Gruit

The Suspect Device Gruit (which means an herb mixture used to flavour beer) was quite good. This gruit was comprised of a mix of organic heather flowers, juniper and dry-hopped fresh ginger. Dubbed a mild rye ale, this 5.5% drink was full of complex tastes, finished with a boost of boozy strength.

Each beer is named after a classic rock song, but I have to admit this is one of only two tunes among the bunch I’m not familiar with. From the band Stiff Little Fingers (hailing from Belfast, Northern Ireland), the punk anthem is actually pretty rocking and reminds me of work from the likes of The Ramones.

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

BC Beer Baron #152 – Steel & Oak/Strange Fellows Tu Meke Saison

Posted on by
Reply

While heading out to join Mrs. Sip and company at her office for happy hour last Friday, I decided to grab a couple growlers for my drinking enjoyment and was very happy to find this Steel & Oak and Strange Fellows collaborative effort.

The Tu Meke Saison was brewed to be the feature beer of the 2016 Vancouver Craft Beer Week (VCBW) festivities. This Oceania-inspired brew has already been recognized as ‘Best in Show’ at the 2016 Collaboration Tap Takeover at Big Rock Urban Eatery over the weekend and without trying any of its competition, I can see why it’s so popular. The offering is very good and I’ve already come to the conclusion that this will be the summer of saisons for the Sip Advisor. Using Tasmanian pepperberries, along with a variety of New Zealand hops, notes of spice, berries and citrus await the drinker.

Steel & Oak & Strange Fellows Tu Meke Saison

Tu Meke is a Maori term, applied to good things that happen. That’s exactly the result this beverage will provide, as proceeds from its sale will go towards Music Heals, the official 2016 VCBW charity partner. It can be found in bomber-sized bottles at BC Liquor Stores and other private establishments across the Lower Mainland.

Mrs. Sip and I aren’t attending any of this year’s VCBW events, having found the 2016 lineup to be a little lacking, especially compared to last year’s calendar, when we made it to three different attractions. Our recent return from vacation also played a role in this decision, but many of the activities we enjoyed so much last year, did not return to be part of the 2016 festivities.

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

BC Beer Baron #151 – Central City Scotch Ale

Posted on by
Reply

On our most recent trip to Central City’s Brew Pub in Downtown Vancouver, Cousin Sip’s husband ordered this brew, but didn’t expect how smoky it would be. Always hunting for smoky beverages, I agreed (out of the kindness of my heart) to swap him my drink – ironically, a light on the smoke Smoked Porter – so he could enjoy his experience.

My reward was this Scotch Ale, which surprised me with how flavourful it was. Already rocking the prerequisite notes of caramel/toffee, the smoky finish wrapped the beer up in a nice, neat package.

Central City Brewing

The 6.1% ABV, 34 IBUs ale takes much of its composition from peated malts, an ingredient the Scottish seem to have specialized in and perfected. Scotch Ales have been growing on me lately, thanks to the Sip Advisor coming across the paths of a number of good ones, in recent times.

On this venture to the Central City Brew Pub, we had trouble getting many of the beers we wanted, as we visited at a time when the restaurant was changing a number of kegs and menu items over with the spring season in mind. Still, with a large list of prospective brews, we were still able to stumble across diamonds in the rough, such as the Scotch Ale… we just had to have our choices narrowed down for us.

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

BC Beer Baron #150 – Moon Under Water Creepy Uncle Dunkel

Posted on by
Reply

As has become tradition whenever we hit a milestone along the road of this 366-day BC craft beer project, we will celebrate by reviewing a favourite beer of the Sip Advisor. For this momentous occasion, I’d like to share one of my preferred beverages from Moon Under Water Brew Pub.

The Creepy Uncle Dunkel isn’t creepy at all… it’s delicious. It was one of the first beers to ever take me to the dark side of the brewing world and show me just how good things could be there. The brew’s stats come in at 5.4% ABV and 18 IBUs, so it’s a very drinkable recipe.

Moon Under Water Creepy Uncle Dunkel

Moon Under Water describes this beer as: “Pilsner’s creepy uncle. Dark and complex, the most misunderstood of all lagers. Dark Munich malts and a little roasted wheat give this brew a rich, vanilla, and nutty-sweet palate with a dry, rounded finish. Unfiltered as always. Maybe it’s the long decoction mashes or the five-week lagering time spent alone in the cold… or maybe he’s just a complicated dude?”

When the Sip Family was heading to Germany in 2014 for a family reunion-type gathering, Mrs. Sip came up with the great idea of bringing some BC beers over to share with our relatives. At the top of our list was the Creepy Uncle Dunkel, which was one of the biggest hits with the German family, amongst the half dozen bombers we brought over for an international tasting experience.

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

BC Beer Baron #149 – Rossland 7 Summits Milk Stout

Posted on by
Reply

Recently, Mrs. Sip travelled to Rossland, BC for a night to make a court appearance for a client there. As she went for a walk around the tiny town, she discovered they had their own brewery. Despite being closed, she vowed to return the next day and check out all Rossland Brewing had to offer.

After trying the three beers the nano brewery had on tap that day, it was decision time on what to fill a Boston up with to bring back home for the ol’ Sip Advisor. The server suggested their 7 Summits Milk Stout, as it’s their most popular product. After sampling it for myself, I can see why it picked up a gold medal at the 2015 Canadian Brewing Awards, in the Stout category.

Rossland 7 Summits Milk Stout

Described as a ‘Sweet Stout’, the 5.9% ABV, 20 IBUs beverage was a treat, with flavours of rich chocolate and coffee. Add a little roast and smoke (the name of the pro wrestling tag team that lives in my mind and are good friends, but better enemies!) to the experience and the Sip Advisor was in heaven.

It may be hard for most to get their hands on any Rossland Brewing suds. Only on rare occasions do they do any bottling and those items are sent to local liquor stores and then fly off the shelves. It seems you have to be in the vicinity and either come across their beers on tap at area bars or visit the brewery itself. Thanks to Mrs. Sip for getting some for me!

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

BC Beer Baron #148 – Bridge Side Cut IPA

Posted on by
Reply

The Sip Family recently dropped into The Spud Shack in New Westminster. A favourite hangout for CAMRA Vancouver, now we know why, as their beer selection was impressive, including this gem from Bridge Brewing.

The Side Cut IPA was very good, without being an in-your-face version of the IPA style of beer. The 7.3% ABV, 59 IBUs brew isn’t nearly as bitter as some might expect. This can be good and bad. It can turn off true IPA lovers, but can also introduce newbies to the joys of a hoppier ale.

Bridge Side Cut IPA

Featuring flavours of peach, tangerine and tropical fruit, this is the company’s newest beer (as of April) and is a Northeast IPA, which I’m not sure I’ve had before. It can be found at various liquor stores in bomber-sized bottles.

Upon researching this brew, I noticed another Bridge seasonal that I’d love to get my hands on, a Lemon Gin Saison. If successful, I hope to share the experience with all you little sippers!

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

BC Beer Baron #147 – Granville Island Cypress Honey Lager

Posted on by
Reply

With some gorgeous weather hitting the west coast, it was time to find a patio with a nice view and enjoy being outdoors after another long winter cooped up inside. We found this at Mahony & Sons near the Vancouver Convention Centre and there, I enjoyed this Granville Island Brewing beverage.

The Cypress Honey Lager is a light and refreshing beer with a sweet honey taste, coming from Fraser Valley honey. Keeping with the brewery’s tradition of naming their beers after BC landmarks, this release represents Cypress Mountain on the North Shore.

Granville Island Cypress Honey Lager

The 4.7% ABV, 15 IBUs beer is available year round in bottles and can, as well as on tap at numerous locations around the province. It is also often a member of Granville Island’s summer Mingler variety case, which makes for really good camping packing.

Suggested food pairings include lighter seafood, such as white fish or shellfish. The ‘perfect pairing’ is said to be grilled halibut or grilled spot prawns. The brewery also notes that the brew goes really well with “a thirst for adventure!”

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

BC Beer Baron #146 – Moody Ales/Ridge 1880 Export Stout

Posted on by
Reply

Mrs. Sip and I recently attended the Irish Stout and Porter Caskival at the Yaletown Brewery, where our mutual pick for best in show was this Moody Ales/Ridge Brewing collaborative contribution.

Moody Ales seems to know their way around stouts, having previously created the Lusty Chocolate Oatmeal Stout and Russian Imperial Stout. Meanwhile, Ridge is no stranger to the stout game with their Black Mamba Milk Stout. Put all that experience together and you get the delicious 1880 Export Stout, which Mrs. Sip and I both went back for to get second servings.

Moody Ales & Ridge 1880 Export Stout

This was the first beer we tried among the 12 different casks, so it set the bar pretty high for those offerings that were to follow. The 6.6% ABV beer can be found on tap at both breweries, as well as in bomber-sized bottles available at private liquor stores.

I’ve really enjoyed each of the Caskivals (this was our third) we’ve attended at the Yaletown Brewery and I hope they keep doing them. I can’t decide if I like them to be all one style of beer, so you can compare and contrast the available brews or if a variety of styles is preferable.

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

BC Beer Baron #145 – Powell Street Witbier

Posted on by
Reply

Looking to relax and enjoy what was left of the weekend on a recent Sunday evening, Mrs. Sip and I sat back and cracked open a bomber of this Powell Street Brewing spring seasonal to share.

The Witbier (with ginger and cardamom) was a fantastic beer that we sipped our way through quickly. At 4.8% ABV and 16 IBUs, the Belgian-inspired brew was light and delicious with a ginger bite and a spicy finish.

Powell Street Witbier

The brewery writes of the product: “Complex and refreshing, this beer will pair beautifully with spicy foods or sunshine.” I tend to agree, but it also worked well with a quiet night in, watching movies and TV on Netflix!

Mrs. Sip and I can’t wait for our next bike brewery crawl of the East Vancouver region. Powell Street is a top stop amongst the many companies working out of that area and it’s always fun taking out-of-town friends through ‘Yeast Van’.

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