Tag Archives: BC Liquor Stores

Beer of the Week #11 – Postmark Sevens IPA

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When selecting a beer to feature for this week’s article, one option jumped straight to the top of the list, given I had a handful of them at the World Rugby Sevens Series at BC Place on Saturday. That honour (and my drinking dollar) went to Postmark Brewing.

The Sevens IPA was brewed specifically for the World Rugby Sevens Series coming to Vancouver in 2016. I really enjoyed the product, going so far as to walk an extra distance to purchase it and returning multiple times over this year’s day-long event.

Postmark Sevens IPA

The 6% ABV, 52 IBUs beverage was hoppy and dry with a tasty bouquet of tropical fruit flavour. Available in both canned form and bomber-sized bottles at BC Liquor Stores and other private retailers, you don’t have to be a rugby spectator to enjoy it.

Providing the rugby tournament with its feature beer had to have been a huge score for Postmark. I like their East Vancouver tasting room, but didn’t get to feature them much in last year’s BC Beer Baron project. Hopefully, I’m making amends now.

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Sip Trips #93: Brews Brothers Volume 3

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As the Sip Advisor has mentioned before, I’m not the biggest Twitter follower, but I seem to check my feed at just the right times… at the expense of Mrs. Sip’s hard-earned savings! That occurred again last weekend, as I learned of this new release and having enjoyed the last incarnation, I immediately made a trip to get my hands on the goods.

For the past two years, Parallel 49 Brewing has collaborated with 12 breweries throughout British Columbia to create their Brews Brothers cases. This year, they’re going international and working with some of the United States’ best beer companies for a four-bomber (650ml bottles) set. As in previous versions, the beers included feature a song-inspired name, with this year’s theme being old school West Coast hip hop. Each beverage is a limited edition entry, so let’s see what makes up the contents of the package:

Gettin’ It Farmhouse of the North (with 49th State Brewing from Anchorage, Alaska)

This farmhouse ale/saison is nicely spiced. Gettin’ It is a song by rapper Too $hort, which I had never heard before, showing my affinity for this musical genre.

Baby Got Back Hoppy Hefe (with Scuttlebutt Brewing from Everett Washington)

Using the classic Sir Mix-A-Lot track as their muse, this hopped-up hef has a little something on the back end and why not, given the tune was inspired by Jennifer Lopez’s booty.

Parallel 49 Brews Brothers Volume 3.JPG

Blazing Arrow Tawny IPA (with Gigantic Brewing from Portland, Oregon)

And we’re back to unfamiliar songs and artists with Blazing Arrow by Blackalicious. As for the brew, this was Cousin Sip’s pick of the litter from the case.

What’s Golden East Meets West IPA (with Green Flash Brewing from San Diego, California)

My favourite beer of the bunch and we finish with yet another ditty (What’s Golden) and group (Jurassic 5) I can’t say I know. I suppose I have to do some serious studying of the era.

Hitting store shelves late last month, the product can be found at BC Liquor Stores and private retailers, throughout the province. Coming in at about $30 after taxes and deposit, this release may seem a little pricy, but it’s comparatively equivalent to picking up four random bomber-sized bottles.

“As far apart as the breweries are from each other, it was neat to see how much we had in common,” said Graham With, Parallel 49’s head brewer. “The process of coming up with recipes with each brewery from the United States was surprisingly smooth. Collaborating with these breweries shed light on our similarities and allowed us to get ideas from other perspectives.”

The whole experience has the Sip Advisor already looking forward to Brews Brothers Volume 4. That arrival can’t come soon enough!

Beer of the Week #10 – Russell Root Beer Milk Stout

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With my trusty BC Liquor Stores gift card in hand (thanks again Ma and Pa Sip) I recently grabbed this Russell Brewing new release. Always a root beer fan, since I was a wee little sipper, how could I pass the opportunity up?

The Root Beer Milk Stout instantly caught my eye as a unique and must-try beverage. I was not to be disappointed, as the drink has just the right level of root beer (sassafras) flavour, mixed with the chocolate taste you’d expect from a milk stout.

Russell Root Beer Milk Stout

With the recent explosion of hard root beer drinks, why shouldn’t the brewing game get in on the action? The 6.5% ABV, 30 IBUs beverage is available in bomber-sized bottles at the aforementioned BC Liquor Stores, for a decent price.

Russell believes this product is perfect to “Celebrate the winter months… with the best, feet-up-by-the-fire-job-well-done feeling a brewer could dream up.” I tested that theory while we were recently away and they nailed it!

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BC Beer Baron #362 – Spinnakers Jolly Hopper Imperial IPA

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Perfect for the holiday season and all the celebrations that come with it, this Spinnakers Brewing product was quickly scooped off the shelf by the Sip Advisor. To boot, the beer is fairly red in colour, making it more than festive!

The Jolly Hopper Imperial IPA comes exactly as advertised, with a hearty 8% ABV and a whopping 100 IBUs. Despite the strong hops content, I didn’t find the brew to be too bitter and even Broski Sip (a less experienced beer drinker) liked the taste.

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The release is available in bomber-sized bottles at BC Liquor Stores. The Sip Advisor’s process for purchasing drinks includes weighing alcohol percentage and cost, with beverage IBUs and style also playing a smaller role in my decision making.

I really enjoyed the pirate theme of this selection.  The beer’s label states: While the Jolly Roger is flown to identify that pirates are about to attack, our Jolly Hopper signifies an imminent attack on your tastebuds… Surrender or walk the plank.”

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BC Beer Baron #359 – Driftwood Blackstone Porter

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Through winter, there’s nothing better than cuddling up in front of a roaring fire with Mrs. Sip and throwing on a classic Christmas movie. Add in a dark beer, such as this Driftwood Brewing selection and the picture is complete.

The Blackstone Porter is highlighted by flavours of cocoa, coffee and chocolate. The 6% ABV beverage may be on the heavy side, but the flavours are totally worth it. Hired Guns Creative once again knock the beer’s label out of the park.

driftwood-blackstone-porter

This seasonal release is available from fall, through to early spring, in bomber-sized bottles at BC Liquor Stores and private retailers. The brewery suggests that this is “A drinkable platform to explore dark malt!” I couldn’t’ agree more.

Driftwood has suggested a myriad of food pairings for the beer. These include oysters, smoked foods, barbecue, mushrooms, onions, rosemary, thyme, cheeses such as Stilton, Caerphilly or aged Cheddar, chocolate, or pecans.

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BC Beer Baron #357 – Barkerville Sternwheeler Scotch Ale

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“Silky, stubborn, rich.” That’s how Barkerville Brewing describes this seasonal release, which I was lucky to come across recently. Good timing, too, since it’s the Sip Advisor’s belief that this style of beer is best enjoyed in front of a fire, whether camping or hibernating for winter.

The Sternwheeler Scotch Ale is dark, yet mild, featuring the toffee, caramel and hint of smoke flavours and finish that Scotch Ales are known for. The 7.7% ABV, 19 IBUs beverage is a little sweeter than some of its contemporaries, but that doesn’t detract from the overall experience.

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The beer is available in bomber-sized bottles at BC Liquor Stores. Drinkers should be careful to check their bottle cap for a chance to win merchandise from the brewery or the grand prize of a real gold nugget. Don’t miss out like the Sip Advisor may have recently.

This product is meant as a tribute to sternwheeler’s (particularly one called Barnard’s Express) that made shipping possible during the BC gold rush. The story of the ship didn’t end happily, however, as it sunk carrying 100 tons of cement, after crashing into Woodpecker Reef.

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BC Beer Baron #338 – Bowen Island Reef Break Hemp Blonde Ale

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Always prepared for thirsty guests who may drop by the Sip Advisor headquarters, I recently picked up Bowen Island Brewing’s Adventure Pack. Within that variety case was this product, which may be the pick of the bunch.

The Reef Break Hemp Blonde Ale was a little sweet for my taste, but I still enjoyed the drink for its flavourful and refreshing qualities. The 5% ABV, 14 IBUs beverage contains “a gentle infusion of hemp,” which provides a bitter finish, similar to hops.

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The brew also comes with the tagline: “If it was anymore BC, it would be illegal!” This refers to the province’s budding marijuana industry (see what I did there), which BC has gained quite a reputation for.

Also included in the Adventure Pack are the Deep 6 Lager, Artisan IPA and Freestone Summer Ale. The recently released Winterlude version of the case contains the lager and IPA, joined by the Snug Cove ESB and Twisted Trail Extra Pale Ale.

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BC Beer Baron #336 – Stanley Park WinterGlow Mandarin IPA

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The Sip Advisor was recently on the hunt for this new Stanley Park Brewing release and quickly captured my prey. Being an ardent fan of Mandarin oranges (Pa Sip used to always tuck one into our Christmas stockings), I couldn’t wait to taste them in liquid form.

The WinterGlow Mandarin IPA is a very good beer, with flavours of orange mixed in with west coast hops (Amarillo, Citra, and Centennial). The seasonal beverage comes in with stats of 6.4% ABV and 55 IBUs and is a perfect way to kick off the month of December. The drink even glows a vibrant orange colour.

Stanley Park WinterGlow Mandarin IPA.jpg

As I shared the beer with Cousin Sip, she noticed the Stanley Park logos change depending on the product. For example, the iconic lion that welcomes visitors to Stanley Park and adorns the brewery’s labels is palming an orange for this brew.

The IPA can be found at BC Liquor Stores in bottled six-packs, as well as in the company’s Lord Stanley’s Picks: Winter Edition mixed case. It is joined by fellow newcomer Foghorn India Brown Ale and year-round favourites Windstorm Pale Ale, 1897 Amber Ale, and Noble Pilsner.

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BC Beer Baron #332 – Spinnakers Lion’s Head Cascadia Dark Ale

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In search of new beers to get me through the Remembrance Day long weekend (saluting the troops and our freedom in my own way), I ended up with a couple Spinnakers Brewing selections. That included this gem.

The Lion’s Head Cascadia Dark Ale uses English pale and roasted malts, as well as northwest hops to achieve its look and taste. The 6.5% ABV, 55 IBUs beverage is right in my wheelhouse and I enjoyed its chocolate and coffee notes.

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First released in 2009, the brew is available in bomber-sized bottles, as well as regular cans. I found my bottle at a BC Liquor Store location and the chain seems to routinely stock Spinnaker’s products, at very decent prices.

The beer is named in honour of the Lion’s Head Pub in Robson, BC, which was the Kootenay region’s first craft beer-focused watering hole. The place also offers a number of smokehouse meal options on its diverse menu.

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BC Beer Baron #327 – Vancouver Island Black Betty Blackberry Saison

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With the Sip Advisor’s annual beer pong tournament being contested, some good beers were needed for my red solo cups. I chose to fill some of them up with this Vancouver Island Brewing release and had a party!

The Black Betty Blackberry Saison is brewed using freshly hand-picked blackberries from the island and combined with Northern Brewer hops for notes of spice and pine flavour. The 5.5% ABV beverage has a tart finish, making for a refreshing summer beer. According to the brewery: “We brewed this Blackberry Saison and the damn thing went wild!”

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The summer seasonal is available in canned six-packs at BC Liquor Stores. I also recently came across the beer being part of Vancouver Island’s Pod Pack winter edition, as the feature brew, joined by three other VIB selections.

An homage to the classic rock song of the 1970s, Black Betty by Ram Jam, the tune’s lineage traces back to being an African-American work song. This has caused some controversy when various artists have recorded and released the track.

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