Tag Archives: Craft Beer

BC Beer Baron #323 – Okanagan Spring 1516 Bavarian Lager

Posted on by
Reply

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. With all the crazy brewing options out there, lagers sometimes get lost in the shuffle. That’s why the Sip Advisor is giving them their own feature week. After all, we should support and give thanks to the beers that brought many of us to this craft beer dance!

Any look at craft lagers within BC wouldn’t be complete without mention of this Okanagan Spring Brewing staple. It is, after all, one of the most common beers to find on tap at bars and restaurants around the province.

The 1516 Bavarian Lager is the brewery’s signature offering and is as easy-drinking as you will find on the market. The 5% ABV product is light and refreshing – the type of beer that converts many young drinkers to the world of beer.

okanagan-spring-1516-bavarian-lager

Debuting in 2002, the beverage pays homage to the infamous 1516 German Beer Purity Law, which outlined the four ingredients – water, yeast, barley, hops – that were to be used in beer production. That Duke Wilhelm IV was onto something.

The beer can be found is a multitude of forms, including six- and 12-packs, as well as playing an integral part of any mixed case. The brewery’s current Winter Craft Pack also features a Pale Ale, Brewmaster’s Black Lager, and Big White White IPA.

For more BC Beer Baron articles, please visit our main page…

BC Beer Baron #322 – Bomber Marzen Amber Lager

Posted on by
Reply

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. With all the crazy brewing options out there, lagers sometimes get lost in the shuffle. That’s why the Sip Advisor is giving them their own feature week. After all, we should support and give thanks to the beers that brought many of us to this craft beer dance!

Lager Week steams along with yet another German-inspired treat. This Bomber Brewing selection is a favourite of Cousin Sip’s husband and after having my own servings over time, I can see why.

The Marzen Amber Lager is smooth and refreshing with a decent alcohol content (5.5% ABV) and just enough bitterness (20 IBUs) to satisfy the hopheads. The beverage is perfect for drinkers of all types for all occasions.

bomber-marzen-amber-lager

“Marzen” translates to March or March beer, but Bomber suggests the brew can be enjoyed throughout the year, despite typically being a summer seasonal release. The product is available in canned six-packs, as well as bomber-sized bottles at private liquor stores.

The style originated in Bavaria and dates back to the 16th century, when by decree, beer could only be manufactured between September 29th and April 23rd. Marzen’s were brewed in March and the recipe let it survive until production could begin again in the fall. Remaining cellared bottles were served at Oktoberfest celebrations.

For more BC Beer Baron articles, please visit our main page…

BC Beer Baron #321 – Howe Sound Howe Sound Lager

Posted on by
Reply

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. With all the crazy brewing options out there, lagers sometimes get lost in the shuffle. That’s why the Sip Advisor is giving them their own feature week. After all, we should support and give thanks to the beers that brought many of us to this craft beer dance!

A couple months back, at the Tip N’ Taste event in Langley, the Sip Alliance had a good long chat with the representatives from Howe Sound Brewing. As the evening ended, they gifted us with a few cans of this beer, which came in handy for the planned after party.

The Howe Sound Lager is a solid, refreshing beer. You know, the kind that even the pickiest of drinkers can enjoy. We all have them in our life, so pay it forward and give them a good option. With the word ‘BRILLIANT’ incorporated in the beer’s label design, the beverage has a lot to live up to, but will leave most more than satisfied.

howe-sound-lager

This Dortmund-style lager comes with stats of 5.5% ABV and 18 IBUs. It’s available in canned six-packs, including at BC Liquor Stores for the low, low price of $10.99 (before taxes and deposit). The beer was recognized with bronze medals at the 2011 and 2013 Canadian Brewing Awards in the Kellerbier category.

The Sip Advisor finds it funny that many of us likely had our first beer in the form of a lager, but this style of brew is largely absent from the craft beer scene. Some have gone so far as to call the variety “endangered”, but hopefully that will change with time and experimentation.

For more BC Beer Baron articles, please visit our main page…

BC Beer Baron #320 – Coal Harbour 311 Helles Lager

Posted on by
Reply

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. With all the crazy brewing options out there, lagers sometimes get lost in the shuffle. That’s why the Sip Advisor is giving them their own feature week. After all, we should support and give thanks to the beers that brought many of us to this craft beer dance!

The Sip Advisor has enjoyed this Munich-style release from Coal Harbour Brewing on a number of occasions, making it a perfect selection for Lager Week. Most anything coming from German heritage is pretty good… such as Mr. Sip, himself!

The 311 Helles Lager – 311 stands for 11/11/11, which was the date of the company’s first creation – is brewed in accordance with the Reinheitsgebot (also known as the German Beer Purity Law) which outlines which ingredients should be used in beer production. The 5% ABV, 19 IBUs beverage is available in a unique eight-pack of cans for the rockin’ price of $12.49, plus taxes and deposit, at BC Liquor Stores.

coal-harbour-311-helles-lager

The product has earned Coal Harbour some accolades, such as a gold medal at the 2014 Canadian Brewing Awards in the North American Style Premium Lager category and a third place finish at the 2013 BC Beer Awards in the Session Lager class.

I really wish Coal Harbour would open a tasting room at their East Vancouver location. I enjoy a bunch of their wares (their Smoke & Mirrors being among my favourite brews) and they could ease the Parallel 49 Brewing congestion.

For more BC Beer Baron articles, please visit our main page…

BC Beer Baron #319 – Hoyne Off the Grid Vienna Lager

Posted on by
Reply

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. With all the crazy brewing options out there, lagers sometimes get lost in the shuffle. That’s why the Sip Advisor is giving them their own feature week. After all, we should support and give thanks to the beers that brought many of us to this craft beer dance!

The Sip Advisor is a big fan of Hoyne Brewing, but I haven’t been able to highlight their work for some time. Lager Week affords me that opportunity with this very tasty and unique release.

The Off the Grid Vienna Lager is a redhead and a fine one at that. Featuring Noble German Tettnang hops, as well as Munich and Vienna malts, the beer is distinctly European. At 5.3% ABV, the drink is also a little stronger than your typical lager.

hoyne-off-the-grid-vienna-lager

The brew is available year-round in bomber-sized bottles. Hoyne describes the Off the Grid as: “Perfect for your trip into the wild.” Thus, it’s not surprising the beverage was bestowed a silver medal through Vancouver Magazine’s Craft Beer Awards in the Other Lager category.

During Lager Week, we’ve seen a number of Munich-inspired products, so what’s the difference with a Viennese option? Well, being amber or copper in colour seems to be the most distinguishing factor. The style dates back to 1841, before brewers brought the recipe with them to North America.

For more BC Beer Baron articles, please visit our main page…

BC Beer Baron #318 – Big Rock Mosaic Lager

Posted on by
Reply

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. With all the crazy brewing options out there, lagers sometimes get lost in the shuffle. That’s why the Sip Advisor is giving them their own feature week. After all, we should support and give thanks to the beers that brought many of us to this craft beer dance!

In recent weekends, Mrs. Sip and I have been spending time looking after at Ma and Pa Sip’s place, while they are on vacation. There, I’ve been enjoying a few cans of this Big Rock Brewing product, left behind by a guest at the Sip Advisor’s recent annual beer pong tournament.

The Mosaic Lager is of the India Pale variety and is very refreshing. The 5.5% ABV, 70 IBUs brew is made using Mosaic hops – didn’t see that coming, did you? – which provides flavours and aromas of grapefruit and citrus. Suggested food pairings include an eclectic assortment of dishes, such as burgers, bratwurst, roast chicken, sushi, and hard and aged cheeses.

big-rock-mosaic-lager

This is yet another release from Big Rock Urban Eatery brewmaster Jody Hammell, whose hard work has made the company’s foray into BC a smash success. Of the beer, Hammell says: “I ferment it low and slow, then age it until the beer tells me it’s ready. I don’t put a time frame on it, it puts a time frame on me.”

The Mosaic Lager is available from BC, as far east as Manitoba, in canned and bottled six-packs, as well as in Big Rock’s Variety Pack. The lager is joined by the Purple Gas Fruit Ale, Rhine Stone Cowboy Kolsch, and Grasshopper Wheat Ale.

For more BC Beer Baron articles, please visit our main page…

BC Beer Baron #317 – Phillips Raspberry Wheat

Posted on by
Reply

While shopping for brews for my annual beer pong tournament, I went conservative by searching for a good variety case. Mrs. Sip on the other hand, not one to play by anyone’s rules, grabbed a few bombers, including this Phillips Brewing selection.

One of the brewery’s original products, upon launching in 2001, was the Raspberry Wheat. In honour of those tough early days, as the company struggled to survive, the Raspberry Wheat returns annually to quench summer thirst. It is available in bomber-sized bottles from various liquor stores.

phillips-raspberry-wheat

With a logo featuring a box of freshly-picked raspberries, it’s no wonder that the raspberry content in this beer is high. The 5% ABV beverage benefits from raspberry puree being added at the end of the fermentation process, so as not to dominate the brew’s profile.

Phillips is not adverse to creating fruit-based beers, as evidenced by their long list of releases, including the Pucker Plucker Sour Cherry Ale, Solaris White Peach Ale, and Scarfface Orange Cran Wit, among others. As for raspberries, they have also offered the Thorny Horn Sour Raspberry Brown Ale.

For more BC Beer Baron articles, please visit our main page…

BC Beer Baron #316 – Bridge Hopilano IPA

Posted on by
Reply

On our recent visit to Bridge Brewing’s new tasting room, the Sip Alliance tried everything the company could throw our way. Amongst more than a dozen options, was this diamond in the rough… not to say the rest of the lineup isn’t smooth, as well.

The Hopilano IPA is of the northwest variety, made with Cascade, Centennial and Columbus hops. The 6% ABV, 59 IBUs beverage is heavy on citrus flavours, such as lemon and grapefruit, while also mixing in a distinct bitterness that balances the rest of the recipe.

bridge-hopilano-ipa

I like what Bridge did with this beer’s name, taking the Capilano region of North Vancouver and changing it to Hopilano. Capilano is home to the Capilano Suspension Bridge, a major tourist attraction in the province, which is prominently featured as part of this brew’s logo.

Of the IPA, which is now available in canned six-packs, the brewery writes: “Like our West Coast climate, our beer will leave your mouth lush and wanting more.” Well, I’m always wanting more and this is the type of beer I don’t mind getting me there!

For more BC Beer Baron articles, please visit our main page…

Sip Trips #81: Restaurant Roundup

Posted on by
Reply

While the Sip Advisor hasn’t posted a Sip Trips article for a couple weeks, that doesn’t mean I haven’t kept up my typical level of social activities. I was just saving up a few outings and before I knew it, there was almost too much to report on.

Dressed as my own inner child – seriously, I just couldn’t get inspired to come up with a costume for this Halloween season, so this was a last minute idea that actually worked out fairly well – we attended a friend’s fundraiser at Rusty’s Neighbourhood Pub in Cloverdale. The burger and beer deal didn’t leave much to the imagination, especially as far as beverages went, but through a technicality, we were able to upsize our burgers and I really enjoyed my Doc Holliday variation. Much of their menu looked really good, so next time we’re in the area, we’ll have to drop in again.

bacon-cheeseburger

The next day, we intended to check out Abbotsford’s Craft Beer Corn Maze, before a storm decimated the attraction. Instead, we used the occasion of being out in the Fraser Valley to visit Old Abbey Ales. Here, the Sip Alliance each constructed their own flight of beer and with so many options available at the tasting room, no two boards were the same. I really like that Old Abbey Ales has the customer fill out there selections, rather than recite them. This gives you more time to round out a perfect cross section of brews and decreases the chances your order will get mixed up.

A couple days later, as Mrs. Sip prepared for her ongoing trip to India, we visited Patron Tacos & Cantina for a meal. We typically order their Queso Fundido dish and then use the cheese and sauces it comes with on our tacos. This makes for quite the feast and Mrs. Sip and I both left with overly full tummies.

That weekend, after recently receiving a flyer advertising Milestones new Epic Eats menu, Mrs. Sip and I were looking forward to testing out some of the new additions. While Mrs. Sip ordered the Jiffy Pop Popcorn Shrimp, I had my eyes – and stomach – set on the Hottest Club in Town. This Sriracha chicken and waffles club sandwich was absolutely fantastic and I look forward to crossing paths with it again shortly. We also noted that the restaurant now has a Beers & Bros deal (a pitcher of beer and four appies for $40) to accompany their Girls’ Night Out Bellini promotion.

waffles-pancakes-with-abs

To celebrate Halloween, we decided to check out the Day of the Dead-themed Stanley Park Train. Following that, Mrs. Sip, Sis-in-Law Sip and myself made our way back downtown and popped into Steamworks Brewpub for a bite and beverage. With a $15 pitcher deal on Mondays, we settled on their Pumpkin Ale, while splitting their massive House Baked Pretzel. This was probably the best way to wrap up Oktoberfest festivities, through the month.

Come Friday, I was on the road again. Mrs. Sip and I are members of the Langley-based Backyard Vineyards and as such, are invited to their semi-annual customer appreciation nights. Mrs. Sip always seems to be on vacation when they occur, but that doesn’t stop the Sip Advisor from enjoying. With great live music filing the air, guests were treated to a fantastic meal and other goodies. Prior to arriving at the winery, we had made great time from Vancouver, so decided to pop into Trading Post Brewing for a beer. I liked my serving of their Dear James S.M.A.S.H. Saison and it was a good start to the evening’s entertainment.

beer-and-wine-consumption

The weekend was wrapped up with a visit to White Spot, where I was able to try a pint of Granville Island Harvest Ale. The beer, exclusively brewed for the restaurant chain, was a solid accompaniment to one of my all-time favourites, the Legendary Burger. You are not a true British Columbian if you have never tried this entrée.

Well, I ended up with much more to discuss than I first thought. With Mrs. Sip away in India for the next two weeks, it kind of feels like the calm before the Christmas season storm. I better enjoy my “downtime” while it lasts!

BC Beer Baron #315 – Ridge Ay Caramba! Jalapeño IPA

Posted on by
Reply

This Ridge Brewing beer has been sitting on the Sip Advisor’s ‘To Do’ list for quite some time… too long, if you ask me. Mrs. Sip and I finally got out to Maple Ridge again and after sampling the release, I instantly filled a growler with the brew.

The Ay Caramba! Jalapeño IPA certainly has a bite to it, but it’s far from a one-dimensional beverage. Flavours of caramel and a hop bitterness also prevail in the 5.5% ABV, 70 IBUs concoction. Drinkers should be cautioned that this IPA is muy caliente and not for anyone who is spice sensitive… such as the gorgeous Mrs. Sip. More beer for me, I guess!

ridge-ay-caramba-jalapeno-ipa

The product is available in bomber-sized bottles from the brewery, where it is also on tap for glass and growler fills. Suggested food pairings include salty barbecue items or Mexican food, of course. The Sip Advisor combined the drink with a rotisserie chicken and a host of side dishes.

This was our second visit to Ridge Brewing’s tasting room and both of our stops have been excellent, filled with copious beer servings and great service from those behind the bar. A highlight has also been checking out the brewery’s collection of growlers from around the province.

For more BC Beer Baron articles, please visit our main page…