Tag Archives: Craft Beer

BC Beer Baron #349 – Central City Red Racer Winter Ale

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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. Already the best time of the year, the fact it’s Winter Ale season makes it that much better.

With a logo featuring Central City Brewing’s red-headed mascot still aboard her familiar bike, but for the season, decked out in gloves and earmuffs, you know this selection was made for winter drinking. The Sip Advisor is only too happy to oblige.

The Red Racer Winter Ale combines flavours of vanilla and maple syrup with notes of spice. The 6% ABV beverage is to be enjoyed while only partially chilled, as recommended by the brewery. The overall effect is a warming finish that will help drinkers get through the chilly weather.

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The beer can be found in bomber-sized bottles at private liquor stores. It is also included in Central City’s Season’s Greetings advent calendar (in partnership with Parallel 49 Brewing). Oddly, when I popped into their Surrey brewery and store in November, I wasn’t able to locate the beer then.

One of Central City’s most popular products also hits shelves this time of year: Thor’s Hammer Barley Wine. ‘Tis the season for barley wines, which I haven’t got into previously, but one brought back from Colorado by Ma and Pa Sip may have opened that door.

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BC Beer Baron #348 – Big Rock Winter Spice Ale

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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. Already the best time of the year, the fact it’s Winter Ale season makes it that much better.

At last month’s Chowder Chowder, hosted by the Vancouver Aquarium, Big Rock Brewing was my choice for MVP of the evening, highlighted by this offering. Thanks guys, for the good time and being the last group to close up shop at the event.

The Winter Spice Ale is like Christmas in a bottle, as Cousin Sip put it. The 6% ABV, 12.5 IBUs winter warmer features flavours of caramel, ginger, cinnamon and cloves. The beer was created to help Canadians get through the long, dark and cold season.

Big Rock Winter Spice Ale.png

First released last winter, the Sip Advisor was very happy to see the Winter Spice Ale return to store shelves, along with the brewery’s Midnight Rhapsody Dark Ale. The Winter Spice Ale can be found in bottled six-packs, throughout western Canada.

Suggested food pairings include ginger beef, braised duck, gingerbread cookies, pumpkin pie, and chocolate. Meanwhile, Big Rock’s staff suggest listening to Wintertime Love by The Doors or watching the movie Fargo, while enjoying the beer.

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BC Beer Baron #347 – Fernie Black Mammoth Winter Ale

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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. Already the best time of the year, the fact it’s Winter Ale season makes it that much better.

The Sip Advisor loves a good ‘winter warmer’ and this selection may be one of the best of the bunch. Fernie Brewing calls it their “most decadent brew yet,” which is a very strong start.

The Black Mammoth Winter Ale features flavours of chocolate, cocoa and even citrus, provided by Seville orange peels. While no food pairings are suggested, the brewery notes that the 8% ABV, 25 IBUs beverage combines well with any cold winter day… that’s good enough for the Sip Advisor to crack a bottle open!

Fernie Black Mammoth Winter Ale.png

First brewed in 2012, this limited edition winter seasonal is available in bomber-sized bottles in BC, Alberta and Manitoba (too bad, so sad Saskatchewan!). Make sure to grab one while you can as the product can only be had while supplies last through December and January.

The Black Mammoth was created to commemorate Fernie Brewing’s 10th anniversary in January 2013. The beer’s popularity brought it back in following years and now it’s a staple of the holiday season, throughout western Canada.

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BC Beer Baron #346 – Bridge The Grinch Winter Ale

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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. Already the best time of the year, the fact it’s Winter Ale season makes it that much better.

Just like the character of the Grinch experienced his heart growing three sizes thanks to the Whovillians, perhaps the same happened with Bridge Brewing, given their bevvy of seasonal releases for Christmas. Of course, that’s not to say the folks at the brewery were bad to begin with…

The Grinch Winter Ale is a limited edition beer, providing the elements one would expect in a winter warmer, such as flavours of caramel, plum pudding and spices. Bridge has created a great Seussian poem for the 6.5% ABV, 26 IBUs beverage that really should be read before enjoying the brew.

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There is also a barrel-aged version of The Grinch, which I have yet to try. This variation features the recipe being aged in bourbon and Sherry Wood Single Malt Whiskey barrels. Apricots also used by Sons of Vancouver in their amaretto have also been added to the mix.

As far as Christmas-themed beers go, Bridge also has the Sleigh Booster Imperial Red Ale, which comes with stats of 9% ABV and 71 IBUs. Mrs. Sip gave me both The Grinch and the Sleigh Booster in a self-made beer advent calendar last year and it resulted in a wonderful Christmas!

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BC Beer Baron #345 – Russell Naughty & Spiced Porter

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Things have become increasingly festive at the Sip Advisor headquarters and release such as this certainly help. This Russell Brewing small batch has been exchanged between Mrs. Sip and I a few times, over the years.

The Naughty & Spiced Porter is perfect for winter, with a strong alcohol content of 6.5% ABV to warm the soul and 30 IBUs to tantalize the taste buds. The beverage features spices such as cinnamon, all-spice, ginger and nutmeg, as well as vanilla beans.

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Available in bomber-sized bottles, if the beer itself doesn’t get your motor running, the product’s label surely will. I don’t know what it is about attractive women in Santa caps, but it definitely works for the Sip Advisor! The heels, nightie and sack of beers helps!

Although the brew is only around for a limited time each holiday season, for the Sip Advisor, it has become a sign that Christmas is upon us. It is often one of the first yuletide-themed treats I see pop up at liquor stores.

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BC Beer Baron #344 – Faculty 241 Minzeweizen

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Ever since I first heard about this Faculty Brewing beer, I wanted to experience it. That opportunity finally came recently, as a friend and I toured the Brewery Creek district of Vancouver and took the plunge into the unknown.

The 241 Minzeweizen basically combines a hefeweizen with peppermint. In this case, peppermint tea was added to the recipe to create this unique beverage. The brew comes with stats of 5.2% ABV and 22 IBUs and its recipe (like all Faculty beers) is available to the public.

faculty-241-minzeweizen

Our first sips were great, but the real test would come as we worked our way through our 500ml mugs. Would the beer hold up halfway through? Would it still be okay on the last sip? I’m happy to report it all checked out.

After talking with the brewery staff, we learned that Faculty has bought some space across the street and hopes to expand to bottling products soon. Their launch has been successful so far, with their beers showing up at many nearby locations.

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BC Beer Baron #343 – Whistler Valley Trail Chestnut Ale

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Nothing says Christmas like the smell of roasted chestnuts. While the Sip Advisor is not a fan of eating the holiday treat, I certainly don’t mind drinking a concoction based on it. Thankfully, Whistler Brewing came along with this seasonal specialty.

The Valley Trail Chestnut Ale is of the dark amber variety and features flavours of vanilla, nuts, caramel and spice. The 5% ABV beverage is lightly hopped and uses stone-milled chestnut flour from roasted and unroasted chestnuts, alike.

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While I see the beer as a dessert option, the brewery suggests pairing it with roasted chicken, Asian noodle dishes, and braised pork and beef. I will have to give those options a try and see how things come together.

First released in 2011, the brew is available from October to April in six-packs, bombers, and as part of the brewery’s Winter Party Pack. Either way, the Chestnut Ale has become a welcoming sign of the changing seasons.

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BC Beer Baron #342 – Steamworks Salty Caramel Ale

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On a recent visit to the Steamworks Brew Pub in Downtown Vancouver, the Sip Advisor was finally able to get his hands on this long sought after beverage. All I can say is that the wait was worth it and victory has never tasted so sweet (literally!).

The Salty Caramel Ale blends elements of an Amber Ale and a Scotch Ale with a nice and not overwhelming caramel sweetness, to boot. The 5.3% ABV, 16 IBUs drink also had a subtle salty bite to it, as one would expect, given the beer’s moniker.

steamworks-brewing

This is one of the few products Steamworks has that isn’t available in some form of packaging. To my knowledge, the brew can only be found at the company’s restaurant, appearing at various times throughout the year.

My harrowing tale pursuing this beer began with a Twitter post back in February. When I arrived at the brew pub, I was told the ale was not on tap, as advertised. Months later, it was listed on their ‘coming soon’ menu, but not yet available. Persistence pays off!

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BC Beer Baron #341 – Off the Rail East Bound Nut Brown Ale

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On a recent visit to Off the Rail Brewing, Mrs. Sip grabbed this beer for me and her to try (although I didn’t share as much as I should have). This proves good things do come from the pursuit of cheese twist snacks.

The East Bound Nut Brown Ale features flavours of nuts, chocolate and caramel/toffee. At 5% ABV and 32 IBUs, the beer is lighter with a decent hop presence, which helps in balancing the sweeter tastes. The entire recipe results in a rich brew.

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The product is available in bomber-sized bottles at the brewery and private liquor stores. I’ve found, through this BC Beer Baron project, that Brown Ales rank highly among my favourite beverage styles, which wasn’t expected.

Mrs. Sip and I were in attendance the day Off the Rail first opened their doors and it’s nice to return on occasion. So long as they keep those addictive cheese twists in stock and continue to create good beers, we’ll be back.

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BC Beer Baron #340 – Tree Puck Drop Pilsner

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Tasked with picking up a case of beer for Ma and Pa Sip to offer guests over the holiday season, I picked up this winter-themed mixer from Tree Brewing. Would it live up to the brewery’s slogan: “The best things in life are Tree!”?

I’ve worked through some of the selections and chose to feature the Puck Drop Pilsner. After all, nothing say winter in Canada like hockey… and beer. At 5% ABV this “classic European style pilsner with a crisp finish” can be enjoyed by anyone.

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The Season Pass pack also includes the Backcountry Nut Brown Ale, Yard Sale Pale Ale and Bluebird Lager. The brews that comprise this collection can only be found in this case and will be available through the winter. Game on, indeed.

I still remember fondly the Sip Syndicate’s visit to the Tree Brewing Beer Institute in Kelowna last summer. There, we enjoyed a few beverages in the perfectly located tasting room, while playing some of the games available.

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