Tag Archives: Craft Beer

Sip Trips #107: Canadian Carousing

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This past weekend was spent celebrating Canada’s 150th birthday and that meant a fair bit of liquor shopping and time spent enjoying all the splendors this country has to offer. Let’s see how the Sip Advisor and company saluted the nation:

My first order of business, as it is with every Canada Day, was to stock up on supplies. Earlier in the week, I had focused my attention on the Big Rock Canada 150 Variety Pack, which I thought would be an ideal set to enjoy on Canada Day. For whatever reason, the set wasn’t available at BC Liquor Stores, so I had to go a little out of my way to find it. Each of the brews is meant to highlight a different region of the country and is comprised of a Hibernation Ale, Peach Pilsner, Maple Lager, Oak Aged Rye Ale, Oyster Stout, and rounded out by their Signature Series Grasshopper Kristallweizen.

Canada Day Drunk

Among my other shopping finds was the Bridge Brewing Bridge Builder Variety Pack. This six-pack features two each of the Bourbon Blood Orange Wheat Ale, North Shore Pale Ale and Wunderbar Kolsch. Although I haven’t tapped into the bottled six-pack yet, I foresee many opportunities ahead.

Ever the amazing wife, Mrs. Sip also pointed out the Red Truck Hand Built Series Mix Pack, which contains eight tall cans, two per of their Blackberry Bourbon Ale, Golden Ale, Saison and White ISA. Usually I want more from Red Truck’s in-store releases and this one has the potential to be quite special.

Those finds accumulated, I didn’t have to worry as much as first thought about my beer cache, as Ma and Pa Sip picked up an amazing set for me, while they were vacationing in Portland, Oregon the weekend before.

Canada Day-4th of July

The Sierra Nevada Across the World Beer Camp features 12 very unique collaborative brews, six from stateside and six from overseas. The pack contained nine bottles and three tall cans, with such intriguing options as a Ginger Lager (brewed with Ginger and Cayenne, fermented on oak) and Thai-Style Iced Tea (brewed with lactose, orange peel, black tea, tamarind and star anise). I will have to chase down future installments of this wonderful product.

While I could have lounged around poolside all weekend, Mrs. Sip and I had to return to reality and start setting up our baby registry. I will say the baby registry was a lot more fun than our wedding registry, but paled in comparison to drinking and floating in the great outdoors.

Returning home to attend the Queen with Adam Lambert concert, we dropped into Patron Tacos & Cantina for dinner, prior to the show. Mrs. Sip and I shared our usual order of Queso Fundido and collection of four tacos, which I paired with a Goose Island IPA, a tasty rotating tap for the restaurant. As for the show, the drink selection was quite limited, with nothing on tap available in the arena; therefore, no craft beer options. I settled for a generously-poured rum and coke. The show itself was amazing, as the band played for more than two hours straight.

Oh Canada Beer

The next day – and last of the glorious long weekend – found us on the patio at Jimmy’s Tap House. This used to be my neighbourhood haunt, but I hadn’t visited for some time. After a pint of Main Street Brewing’s Naked Fox IPA, which went very well with my Southern Fried Chicken Sandwich, I was reminded of how good the place was and will return more regularly. Best of all, their Monday daily special was 50 per cent off each second entrée, so our bill was quite reasonable.

Now we have to return to work and push through the holiday hangover. At least we know there will be plenty more fun over the course of the summer, all of which will be highlighted here!

Beer of the Week #24 – CrossRoads Old Westie Amber Lager

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As we recently passed through Prince George, BC, I searched for craft breweries we could visit. Thankfully, we stumbled upon CrossRoads Brewing, which offered some delicious food and beers for us weary travellers.

It’s not often a lager jumps out at me anymore, but the Old Westie Amber Lager was among the best of the bunch I sampled. And I tried each of the company’s nine beers that were available, so I had plenty of options to choose from.

CrossRoads Brewing

Brewed in the traditional Viennese style, this 5% ABV, 20 IBUs release is light with nice malt and hop flavours. All the group’s beers are only available straight from the source, with a four-pack of tall cans being developed for sale.

Anyone passing through the area should try to visit CrossRoads’ tasting room. The brewery was constructing an outdoor patio that would be amazing to sit on during the warmer months of the year.

For more Beer of the Week articles, please visit our main page…

Sip Trips #106: Northern Exposure

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This week was another busy one, with Mrs. Sip and I joining her family for a wedding in northern BC/Alberta. Along the way, we made sure to have some good food and beer. What else would you expect for your friendly neighbourhood booze pusher!

Leaving Thursday morning, we stopped for lunch in 100 Mile House at the Firehouse Diner. There, I enjoyed a Whistler Powder Mountain Lager with a Pickle Burger that was overflowing with deep fried pickle chips. The place had a number of other burgers and sandwiches that caught my eye, so I will keep it in mind for future passes through the city.

Kind of a Big Dill.jpg

Our first day of driving ended with us arriving in Quesnel, home to Barkerville Brewing. I have always enjoyed beers from the company, so a visit – brief as it was – was definitely in order. I downed a pint of their High Stakes Imperial IPA, while Sis-in-Law Sip had the White Gold Witbier. The tasting room was bustling with locals and we enjoyed the ambiance of the place, wishing we had more time to play one of their available games and try some of the other ales.

That evening, we walked to the town’s BC Liquor Store, where I discovered the Three Ranges Brewing Orientation Kit six-pack. The set features two each of their Up Swift Creek Pilsner, Tail Slap IPA and seasonal Snowdance Porter or Swamp Donkey Brown Ale, depending on time of year. I really like this new trend of 2×3 six-packs, also having come across similar products from Cannery Brewing and Bridge Brewing, while Steamworks Brewing offers a 2×4 tall can eight-pack. After all, variety is the spice of life.

Spice of Life.jpg

The next day, we were on the road again, stopping at CrossRoads Brewing in Prince George for lunch. We really liked their space, complete with great eats and drinks. Sis-in-Law Sip and I shared a couple flights, in order to try each of their beers. Among my favourites were Old Westie Amber Lager, English Summer Ale and Mother Heffer. On special was a BLT Pizza, which was fantastic and really hit the spot for me.

The weekend concluded with a post-wedding family barbecue, where the Sip In-Laws picked me up a bomber of Dead Frog Furious Friar Belgian IPA. The brew was perfect for sitting back outdoors in the shade, but unfortunately, Mrs. Sip and I couldn’t stay long and were off to the airport to fly back home.

This weekend, Canada celebrates its 150th birthday and there will certainly be hijinks to report on in the next edition of Sip Trips!

Beer of the Week #23 – Britannia Sirens Chai Saison

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With a friend and fellow beer lover visiting from London, a little tour of the BC craft scene was in order. One of our stops provided me with the chance to finally try something from newbie Britannia Brewing.

The Sirens Chai Saison was available as a guest tap and I really enjoyed my pint. The chai tea blend includes elements of rooibos, orange, star anise, clove and pepper. The beverage comes in at 5.7% ABV and 22 IBUs.

Britannia Sirens Chai Saison.jpg

The beer can be found in bomber-sized bottles, for those lured to the call. The Chai Saison is already gaining attention and accolades, taking home a Judge’s Choice Award for Best Saison from the 2017 Fest of Ale.

Opened in late 2016, the brewery strives “to brew with British tradition and west coast ingenuity using the best seasonal ingredients we can get.” Now I need to get to their tasting room to try their other wares.

For more Beer of the Week articles, please visit our main page…

Sip Trips #105: Went By in a Blur

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This past week was incredibly busy for Mrs. Sip and I. So busy, that my head is still spinning… and that’s not from all the booze consumed! Let’s get right down to it…

On Friday, we wrapped up work and immediately hit the road to Tacoma, Washington to watch comedian Christopher Titus perform at the Tacoma Comedy Club. We made it just in time for the 10:30pm show and beers were desperately needed for us weary travellers. Cousin Sip’s husband and I split a couple pitchers of Manny’s Pale Ale from Georgetown Brewing out of Seattle. The show was amazing, as expected. As we waited in line to meet Mr. Titus afterwards, the bar was selling pints of Budweiser for $2 and we figured, “Ah, why the hell not!”

I had also picked up a bomber of Alaskan Brewing Icy Bay IPA at a gas station en route to Tacoma, so that acted as my nightcap before grabbing a few hours of sleep and returning to Vancouver Saturday morning. I wish we didn’t have to rush the stay across the border, but with friends visiting from London, we had to be back for more fun.

morning sunglasses

After meeting up with our guests, the ladies went their way, while the gents searched for craft beer. Our first stop was at Central City’s Vancouver location. There, I paired some Chicken Strips and Fries with the brewery’s Super Stellar IPA, which made for a great combo. For dessert I ordered their Hefeweizen, bringing to mind thoughts of summer, as we wait patiently for the weather to cooperate.

Next up was a short walk to Devil’s Elbow Ale & Smoke House. Here, I was able to try the Britannia Brewing Sirens Chai Saison, which was available as a guest tap. Following that, I had the Howe Sound Jam Session Raspberry Cream Ale, another successful selection. Then, the night took a turn for the extreme with a round of tequila shots.

Feeling suitably buzzed, we rejoined the ladies for dinner at The Keg in Yaletown. Sitting on the restaurant’s rooftop patio, I enjoyed a pair of Caesar Diablo servings, made even better given their $5 daily special pricing.

Drinking Problem

On Monday, Ma Sip met me for lunch at Tap & Barrel in North Vancouver. Unfortunately, I was working, so was not able to imbibe as I usually would when visiting a T&B location. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed my PB&J Burger, which made for a nice substitute to my traditional meal of a PB&J Sandwich during the work week. The burger was messy, but totally worth the experience.

Tuesday, we finally had a meal at the Homer Street Cafe, which is located kitty-corner to my and Mrs. Sip’s humble abode. There to celebrate a friend’s birthday, I ordered their rotisserie quarter chicken meal, which was highlighted by their chicken jus for dipping. To wash it all down, I had a trio of brews, including the Howe Sound Summer Saison, Powell Street Old Jalopy Pale Ale and Storm Black Plague Stout. For a small beer menu, they sure packed some quality selections in.

It should be noted that this week’s wrap up doesn’t even include two games of baseball, Father’s Day celebrations, a trip to the theatre and another meal with our visitors from London. Busy times, for sure.

Beer of the Week #22 – Mt. Begbie Powerhouse Pale Ale

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With a theatre show to attend, Mrs. Sip and I decided to turn it into a full date night, stopping for dinner at Burgoo. There, I inquired about their Burgoo Brew and learned it was the Mt. Begbie Powerhouse Pale Ale.

As soon as I heard the brewery’s name, I was in for a pint, as the company has long been a favourite of mine. The 4.7% ABV, 22 IBUs beverage was just right for our night out, with nice flavouring and a moderate level of hops.

Mt. Begbie Powerhouse Pale Ale.jpg

The Powerhouse Pale Ale has been around for some time, winning a gold medal at the 2004 Canadian Brewing Awards. In fact, Mt. Begbie Brewing took home the Brewery of the Year prize at the 2017 version of the event.

While the ale is described as pairing best with spicy food, it also worked with my Chunky Chicken Salad. The brew can be found in bomber-sized bottles, as well as being a hidden gem of the Burgoo drink menu.

For more Beer of the Week articles, please visit our main page…

Beer of the Week #21 – Lighthouse 150 Heritage Ale

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In the lead up to Canada’s 150th birthday bash, a number of companies have released products to coincide with the celebration. Add Lighthouse Brewing to that group with this special release.

Their 150 Heritage Ale recently hit store shelves. The 6.3% ABV, 14 IBUs beverage is highlighted by flavours of maple, smoke and rye malt. These elements represent Canada, oil lamps and colour, respectively.

Lighthouse 150 Heritage Ale

Part of the brewery’s Explorer Series, the Heritage Ale can be found in bomber-sized bottles at BC Liquor Stores, as well as private retailers. The limited edition brew won’t be around long, though.

The product is also meant to salute all those, past and present, who have watched Canada’s shores in lighthouses. As the country’s “keepers”, the brewery tips their caps to these fine folks.

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Beer of the Week #20 – Bridge Bourbon Blood Orange Wheat Ale

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If you’re looking to “enjoy the deep south way up north”, then this Bridge Brewing release may be the perfect fit for you. I remember when I first saw it on menus a couple years ago, I had to order a few pints and satisfy my curiosity.

The Bourbon Blood Orange Wheat Ale is a good beer that can be enjoyed year round, but is especially perfect on a hot summer day. The 5.5% ABV, 20 IBUs beverage combines many of the Sip Advisor’s favourite alcohol elements, including bourbon, wheat beers, and fruit.

Bridge Bourbon Blood Orange Wheat Ale

Originally brewed solely for Tap & Barrel locations, the beer has grown from a seasonal release to being part of Bridge’s year round lineup. Given its popularity and availability, I’m surprised I didn’t get around to profiling it during last year’s BC Beer Baron project.

The product can be found in bomber-sized bottles and tall cans. I also recently spotted it in a variety six-pack from Bridge, which included two bottles each of the Bourbon Blood Orange, North Shore Pale Ale and Hopilano IPA.

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Beer of the Week #19 – Big Rock Kiwi Fruited Blonde Ale

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Our recent travels with the Sip Syndicate led us to Big Rock Brewing’s Urban Eatery, where I selected this off-menu product. Given what I’ve seen so far this year, kiwi may be the experimental flavour of 2017 for BC breweries.

Despite not being my usual go-to beer style, I picked the Kiwi Fruited Blonde Ale because it was unique and something I had not tried before from the brewery. I was rewarded with a refreshing drink that went down easy and had a light kiwi tartness.

Big Rock Kiwi Fruited Blonde Ale

At 5.2% ABV and 30 IBUs, this beverage is another hit coming from the BC-based portion of Big Rock’s operations. Perfect to go along with a beer that features the kiwi bird on its bottle, the brew uses Southern Hemisphere Topaz Hops.

Available only in British Columbia, this limited edition beer (advertised as “an adventure unto itself”) can be found at the brewery’s Vancouver tap house. It can also be located in bomber-sized bottles at a liquor store near you.

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Beer of the Week #18 – Bomber Superpest Double IPA

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This past weekend, the Sip Alliance took to the streets of East Vancouver for the 2nd annual East Van Brewery Open House. Among our stops, was Bomber Brewing, where I sat down to a pint of this beer.

The Superpest Double IPA was very enjoyable. The edition I had was infused with pomegranate, turning up the recipe a couple notches. At 7.5% ABV and 80 IBUs, the beverage was far from an annoyance.

Bomber Superpest Double IPA

This seasonal release is available on tap at the brewery’s tasting room and in bomber-sized bottles. The Superpest took home a bronze medal at the 2014 BC Beer Awards in the Imperial IPA category.

I wish I’d kept up on Bomber’s Monday movie lineup, as April featured such hockey classics as Slapshot, Goon and Youngblood. Just in time for NHL playoff season, I would have loved to attend.

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