Tag Archives: BC Craft Beer

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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BC Beer Baron #96 – Whistler Bear Paw Honey Lager

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One of my beverage selections as we recently ate at EXP Restaurant + Bar was this Whistler Brewing release.

The Bear Paw Honey Lager was a decent beverage, but a little on the sweet end of the spectrum, thanks to being fermented with 100% organic BC honey. The brewery writes: “Whistler really is bear country and it’s quite common to meet a hungry bear on the Whistler Valley Trail. Which is fine, unless you happen to be carrying a Whistler Bear Paw Honey Lager; ‘cause we all know bears love real honey, right???”

Whistler Bear Paw Honey Lager

Speaking of carrying the beer, it’s available in six-packs of bottles and will soon be joined with canned six-packs. “Just make sure you don’t walk home via the Whistler Valley Trail,” Whistler Brewing warns. Suggested food pairings (honey bears don’t give a damn about pairings!), include turkey, pizza, lasagne, steak, and calamari.

Featuring a logo with a bear chowing down on honey, how can you not fall in love with this brew. Sure, traditionalists will tell you that it’s all about the beer and not the package, but I’m a softy!

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BC Beer Baron #95 – Dogwood Maple Molasses Stout

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Although it recently celebrated its first anniversary, Mrs. Sip and I were finally able to try some of Dogwood Brewing’s work at the recent Yaletown Brewery Irish Stout and Porters Caskival.

The Maple Molasses Stout was Dogwood’s contribution to the event and it was decent, with light flavours of maple and a mild overall sweetness. The easy drinking beer could have benefitted from even more pronounced tastes, especially with the maple.

Dogwood Brewing Flight

The brewery is Vancouver’s first all-organic operation, even offering to recycle customer’s used coffee bags. For those unaware, the dogwood is the official provincial flower of BC.

Owner Claire Wilson was at the Caskival and we spent some time chatting with her about her move to Vancouver from Ireland and opening up the brewery with her husband. Best of luck to them and Mrs. Sip and I will have to pop by for a visit soon.

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