Tag Archives: BC Craft Beer

BC Beer Baron #94 – Steel & Oak Red Pilsner

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The good times – and well-executed orders – kept rolling during the Sip Advisor’s recent visit to the Library Square Public House, when this Steel & Oak Brewing product was next in line for consumption.

The Red Pilsner covered all the bases for me, being a touch sweet and a little bit spicy, finishing with some hoppy goodness to boot. The 5% ABV, 35 IBUs brew went down real easy and provided a great drinking experience.

Steel & Oak Growlers

One of Steel & Oak’s flagships beers, this brewery keeps on producing really solid stuff. German-trained brewmaster Peter Schulz created the Red Pilsner, himself being more of a lager-style beer fan. The colour of this beer is obviously a little unique, but that’s all part of the fun.

The Red Pilsner can be found on tap at Steel & Oak’s New West tasting room, as well as other various locations. It can also be purchased in bomber-sized bottles, available in select liquor stores.

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BC Beer Baron #93 – Strange Fellows Jongleur Belgian Wit

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On a recent visit to the Library Square Public House, one of the beers I enjoyed over the evening of sports viewing was this treasure from Strange Fellows Brewing.

The Jongleur Belgian Wit was incredibly tasty and refreshing, with flavours of orange and spices. The beer is light and easy drinking, at only 4.5% ABV and 12 IBUs. I know I’ve tried this beer before, but this serving of the suds was especially memorable… even if the rest of the night got pretty foggy!

Strange Fellows Jongleur

Of the brew, the company writes (in their very unique style): “Amid bursts of confetti and music, the Juggler entertains us with a handful of oranges. As the oranges rise and fall, the planets revolve in the universe, babies are born, and the old pass on. Jongleur – our silky bodied, spicy and aromatic Wit – infuses any moment with a spark of joy. A glass of this bright and refreshing beer reminds us of the juggler’s simple lesson: to take pleasure in both the big and the small things in life.”

Suggested food pairings include seafood, curries, and Thai. The beer, part of Strange Fellows ‘Foundation Series’, can be found in four-packs of 473ml cans, as well as on tap around Vancouver.

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BC Beer Baron #92 – Spinnakers Chocoholic Chocolate Milk Stout

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Taking me back to the good ol’ days of grocery shopping with Ma Sip and being allowed to select a treat for my good behaviour, Mrs. Sip gave me the same opportunity on a recent trip to a BC Liquor Store location. My choice was from Victoria’s Spinnakers Brew Pub.

With the store getting ready to close up for the night and with a friend’s place to be, I hurriedly selected the Chocoholic Chocolate Milk Stout. I’ve really come to like Spinnakers line-up and wanted to dip once again into their work.

Spinnakers Chocoholic Chocolate Stout

The stout was not as chocolatey as I hoped it would be, but was still a good beer. At 7.75% ABV, it was just right for sitting back on the late Friday evening and letting a well-constructed brew bring me into the weekend. As I relaxed, Mrs. Sip and her girlfriends had to stress pack for a weekend away in Las Vegas.

I really like what Spinnakers have to say about this product, so I’m sharing it with all you little sippers: “There is more to the relationship between chocolate and beer than tastes and indulgences, both being prehistoric from an ancient past. It is impossible to know which came first but here we present these two fermented foods in a modern relationship, designed to last until the last drop.”

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BC Beer Baron #91 – BrewHouse India Red Ale

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It seemed like Whistler’s BrewHouse (High Mountain Brewing) didn’t get the memo prior to the Yaletown Brewery’s recent Irish Stouts and Porters Caskival, as they showed up with a beer that fit neither of those types (even more ironic given they are part of the same Mark James Group that operates the Caskival host). That said, having something completely different amongst all the stouts and porters was refreshing, so I won’t give them too much grief.

The India Red Ale was a welcome change to the lineup. A unique feature of this beer is that it was cask-conditioned using dates soaked in Jameson Irish Whiskey and thus fitting the Irish theme of the Caskival.

BrewHouse

The 6.5% ABV, 60 IBUs beverage was strong and hoppy, just the way the Sip Advisor likes his brews. I’ve really been getting into red ales lately and this serving was one of the beers that got me there.

Unfortunately, it has been some time since I was able to visit the BrewHouse, settled nicely in Whistler Village. They have some good beers and some great food dishes, particularly their poutine and pizza dishes.

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BC Beer Baron #90 – Category 12 Critical Point Pale Ale

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Looking to get off our butts and go for a long walk (despite the dreary weather) a couple weeks back, Mrs. Sip and I made our way to Vancovuer’s Olympic Village, where Legacy Liquor Store was hosting a tasting of Category 12 Brewing products.

One of my favourites among the four samples provided was the Critical Point Pale Ale, which was very easy drinking with just the right amount of hops. This Northwest Pale Ale comes in at 5.6% ABV and 49 IBUs with flavours of caramel and citrus.

Category 12 Critical Point Pale Ale

In Category 12’s scientific fashion (their brewmaster earned a doctorate in microbiology and biochemistry, after all), this is how they describe the beer: “The pressure is on. It’s going to take cunning to blend science with instinct and the clock is ticking. But timing is everything and precision is the only thing that matters. Confidence, analysis and art collide to create a perfectly balanced beer. And, when it comes down to the wire, success tastes even more satisfying.”

It may not happen right away, but I would love to eventually visit Category 12 at their Victoria location. Hell, Mrs. Sip and I are in serious need of a return to the island and a tour around the town of all the amazing breweries over there. Now we just need to find some spare time.

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BC Beer Baron #89 – Big Ridge Vanilla Bean Porter

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While a Caskival featuring a particular beer type is still tons of fun, one’s palate can sometimes grow weary of tasting similar things. When a group spices things up with different ingredients, that can be amazingly refreshing. That’s exactly what Big Ridge Brewing did with their contribution to the event.

The Vanilla Bean Porter was a welcome change to some of the more traditional fare at the event. Using Bushmill Irish Whiskey in its recipe, the beer was definitely strong, but the vanilla was still able avoid being hidden. Vanilla is quickly becoming a favourite beer flavour of mine, as it is noticeable, but doesn’t overpower any of the beverages I’ve experienced it in.

Big Ridge Brewing

The 5.2% ABV, 34 IBUs offering rallied my senses for the second half of the Caskival event. The beer is an adaptation of the company’s Toll Bridge Vanilla Bean Porter, which is a collaborative effort between Big Ridge and Moody Ales.

Mrs. Sip and I haven’t been to Big Ridge for about a year now, last hitting the brew pub as part of our 13-year dating anniversary (although we’re now married, what’s wrong with celebrating as much as possible) for lunch and some beers, before heading out to play some mini golf at Castle Fun Park in Abbotsford. Now that’s how you remain young at heart!

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BC Beer Baron #88 – Trading Post Derby Hop Session Lager

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Mrs. Sip and I were able to get into Trading Post Brewing on their second day of public existence and it’s my understanding that the brewery is thriving a couple months into its life.

While we had different favourites among our flights, we both agreed that the Derby Hop Session Lager was a really good beer and among the top of our lists from their menu. The brew finishes with a little more hoppy profile (21 IBUs) than one would expect from the traditional lager-style of beer, coming from Mittelfruh and Cascade hops. I’m always open to this, though and even Mrs. Sip was onboard.

Trading Post Brewing Board

The Derby does come in with a lighter alcohol content (4.75% ABV), however, making it a very good introductory beer for visitors. I have heard from others that the Hop Session Lager is amongst their favourites and I can fully understand why.

I have been impressed by some of the events Trading Post has already presented at their Langley facility, despite being so new to the game. This has included a chocolate and beer pairing (which Mrs. Sip and I attended) as well as a cupcake and beer pairing.

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BC Beer Baron #87 – Lighthouse Shipwreck IPA

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Getting together with friends recently at Library Square to watch the Vancouver Whitecaps game, I was impressed by the pubs line-up of craft beers, which included this tasty gem from Lighthouse Brewing.

The Shipwreck IPA is a Pacific Northwest version of an India Pale Ale and that’s just the way the Sip Advisor likes ‘em. At perfectly corresponding numbers of 6.5% ABV and 65 IBUs, this IPA comes right into my wheelhouse, no pun intended.

Lighthouse Shipwreck IPA

Part of Lighthouse’s Explorer Series, the IPA is available in six-packs of bottles and cans. The name of the beer was originally Switchback IPA, but had to be changed due to legal action from the Okanagan Crush Pad winery, which had trademarked their Summerland location “Switchback Organic Vineyard”.

In the past, I’ve greatly enjoyed Lighthouse products when I’ve come across them at festivals (my MVP of the Galiano Wine & Beer Festival last year) and have picked up their Bounty mixed case a couple times. Next time I journey to Esquimalt, I’ll have to stop by their location and experience things right from the source.

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BC Beer Baron #86 – Bomber Park Life Passion Fruit Ale

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With spring and summer rapidly approaching, Bomber Brewing has brought back this seasonal release, perfect for the time of year.

The Park Life Passion Fruit Ale is light (only 4.5% ABV) and refreshing with a powerful punch of passion fruit flavour. Although I’m only recently getting more into sour beers, the tart finish here was quite enjoyable and did not detract from the rest of the drinking experience.

Bomber Park Life Passion Fruit Ale

The American Blonde Ale is available in canned six-packs, which makes it easy to pack along for camping or otherwise hanging out in the great outdoors. Plus, with it being so light, you can throw back a whole bunch of them with relative ease.

On our recent journey to Yeast Van, we had to stop into Bomber Brewing, where Cousin Sip’s husband is a diehard fan of their Marzen amber lager. I’m only happy to oblige another destination being added to our itinerary and more beers being enjoyed.

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BC Beer Baron #85 – Off the Rail Raj Mahal India Ale

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Since the first time Mrs. Sip and I stepped foot into Off the Rail Brewing (chancing upon the location for its grand opening), this has been my favourite beverage among their ever-expanding lineup.

When we popped into the East Vancouver tasting room recently and I ordered a glass of the Raj Mahal India Ale, I had the chance to confirm that’s still the case. The brew is an interesting blend, using lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves, for a very refreshing experience.

Off the Rail Raj Mahal India Ale

The 5% ABV, 38 IBUs beer can be found in bomber-sized bottles at private liquor stores. It should be noted that this is not an IPA, but rather a India Ale and therefore drinkers who aren’t into IPAs might still enjoy the Raj Mahal.

Off the Rail is located across the street from Bomber Brewing. The two will soon be joined by Luppolo Brewing and together, the Adanac Street companies comprise part of the Yeast Van brewery district. With spring arriving soon, it’s time to dust off the bike and prep for regular trips out that way.

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