Tag Archives: Food

Sip Trips #265: Calgary Collision

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August absolutely flew by. For the first third of the month, Mrs. Sip and I were mostly kid-free and got up to some fun, including visiting friends in Calgary. Over the second half, we were busy with the Siplings, cramming in as many summer activities as we could handle. Here’s what we got up to:

We began August with flying to Calgary for the long weekend, invited by friends to stay at their place. Prior to leaving Vancouver, we shared a snack at the Whistler Taphouse & Grill at the Vancouver Airport. Their Poutine with Pulled Pork was a really good little dish, paired with a Hazy IPA.

Our first destination in Calgary was to go up the Calgary Tower and dine at the Sky 360 restaurant, which offers free tower entry with a reservation. To eat, I had the Crispy Chicken Sandwich and washed it down with a delicious Cherry Bourbon Cola Smash (bourbon, cherry brandy, ginger beer, cola, lime juice).

Next up, we met with our hosts at the Major Tom Bar, complete with a 40th floor view of the city. We were there during their ‘Golden Hour’, so took advantage by selecting the Major Tom Collins 3.0 (Beefeater Gin, lemon oil, citrus vanilla, salt) which was only $5 during this time. I followed that with the Synthwave (Appleton Rum, Blackpool Spiced Rum, tonka bean, tamarind, sarsaparilla, sherry, lime), as the ingredients sounded so interesting.

We continued our crawl of the amazing downtown bar scene by popping into Sound Room. This is a taproom for Ol’ Beautiful Brewing, which burned down in June 2024, although there are plans to rebuild at the original location. Mrs. Sip and I ordered the Okami Kasu Japanese Ale and Brass Monkey Blood Orange Blonde, sharing both.

From there, we moved onto Proof Cocktail Bar, which was has a 4-7pm happy hour. I selected the Manhattan, a former favourite beverage of mine that I hadn’t had in some time. This was followed by Shelter Cocktail Bar, where I tried the Orange & Sesame (Johnnie Walker Black, sesame, black cardamom, orange, CO2), while Mrs. Sip went with the Who the Fuck is Polina? (Flor de Cana 12yr Rum, pineapple rum, banana, cherry, house falernum, lime, grapefruit, tiki bitters).

We wrapped up our night with a stop into 33 Acres Brewing. We love the Vancouver location and didn’t know they had branched out to Calgary. I ordered a 24 oz serving of the Fluffy Cloud IPA, but they were out of that size of glass, so they gave me two 16 oz servings, meaning I got an extra eight ounces for free!

The next day, we had planned a bike beer crawl, hitting five different locations in the Calgary heat. Here’s how our trek played out with first beer being what I ordered, followed by Mrs. Sip’s brew choice:

  • Annex Ale Project – Lorem Ipsum Amber Ale; Water Wings Mango Ale
  • Cold Garden Brewing – Red Smashed in Buffalo Jump; Pinky Promise Cherry Hibiscus Sour
  • Good Cheer Brewing – 980 Raol (raw ale); 1956 Abbey-Style Tripel (also had an Icelandic Hot Dog (Pylsa) here to refuel)
  • Cabin Brewing – All That Glitter IPK; Summer Saturation Tropical Hazy
  • Prairie Dog Brewing – Cloud Alby NEIPA with Fallentimber Honey shared with Mrs. Sip (we also tried the Pork Belly Burnt Ends at this stop and I got to see their smoker, which is the largest indoor BBQ pit in Canada)

All these locations were within an area known as the Barley Belt and we could have visited even more, if we chose to do so. Each place offered a unique experience and made me pine for some of the beer regions we used to frequent when living in Downtown Vancouver.

With one more day left in our visit, you’d think we’d sit back and relax a little, but instead we were off to see other breweries, outside the Barley Belt offerings. We had lunch at Wild Rose Brewery, where I paired the White Shadow White IPA with Teriyaki Chicken Wings.

Then, we were off to The Establishment Brewing, which we tried to get to the day before, but they closed early. I had the Sky Rocket Hazy IPA, while Mrs. Sip elected to try the Museum of Flight. We both enjoyed the Jam Rock from Mrs. Sip’s collection of samples.

Our final stop of the journey was Bitter Sisters Brewing, where we surprised the Siplings, who just happened to be in Calgary with Ma and Pa Sip. It was fun to just sit at the table where they had been seated. Boy Sip kept asking if he was dreaming! My meal here consisted of the Pork Dumplings and Blueberry Blonde Bombshell Ale.

Overall, I was very impressed by Calgary’s vibrant beer and cocktail scene, with many top notch options existing all around the city. While we got to a wild number of places, among our hosts favourites, I’m certain we only scratched the surface of what the area offers.

Upon returning home and looking to take advantage of our kid-free time, we attended trivia for the first time at the Notorious Grey Fox. This is my kind of place, as they were playing classic WWF wrestling and old He-Man cartoons on the TVs. Over the course of the evening, Mrs. Sip and I shared the Nashville Hot Chicken Bites, which I really enjoyed, while I also had the Happy Flatbread, a Philly Cheesesteak creation on this occasion. To drink, I went with a pair of Boombox Juicy AF Hazy IPAs. The trivia itself was tough but fun, hosted by local comedian Justin Nichol.

With the Siplings back at home, it was time to squeeze in some local summer favourites. That started with attending a BC Lions football game. Mrs. Sip and I haven’t been to a match in many years and the Siplings have never attended, so we took advantage of the First Game On Us program, which gives free tickets to folks who want to check out a game. While at the stadium, I did enjoy a Stanley Park Trail Hopper IPA.

A couple days later, we spent a day at the PNE/Playland, in part to celebrate our 14th wedding anniversary. I only had one drink over our stay, a can of Parallel 49 Trash Panda Hazy IPA. My dinner was extraordinary, as I grabbed some Bulgogi Beef Dirty Fries from the Mahshik food truck, remembering a similar dish I had enjoyed at Glow Langley around Christmas. The meal was fantastic again, a generous serving for only $16. In the future, we will likely try to separate our PNE and Playland experiences, as combining the two makes for an expensive day and makes it difficult to get your full value, as you try to cram as much as you can into the visit, losing focus on parts of each attraction.

Last week, the Sip Family tried some of the McDonald’s World Menu Heist items. Mrs. Sip and I both found the Garlic and Black Pepper Chicken McNuggets disappointing, preferring the classic McNuggets recipe. The Black Garlic sauce was good, though. We also all shared the Stroopwafel McFlurry. By share, I mean I had a single bite, but that nibble was quite enjoyable.

To wrap the month, we got together with a visiting friend, hitting two locations in the White Rock area. First up was White Rock Beach Beer, where I had hoped to try the Five Corners Cream Ale, but they were out of the brew, so settled for the Pier IPA. Following that, we went to the neighbouring Beer Shack, my first visit here since Three Dogs Brewing left the site. Mrs. Sip ordered the Hoyne Entre Nous Belgian Cherry Witbier, while I had a mere couple sips, as the designated driver.

September, being a big family birthday month, is loaded with potential activities. We will also spend the Labour Day long weekend at Ma and Pa Sip’s place in Tobiano, so there is much fun to be had on the horizon!

Sip Trips #264: Chasing the Midnight Sun

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July flew by, in part because we embarked on a family road trip for the first few weeks, travelling to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, and back. This included a number of craft brewery visits and other shenanigans, so let’s get right to checking out how the journey played out:

After a couple nights at Ma and Pa Sip’s place in Tobiano, the next leg of our trek took us to Prince George, where we squeezed two breweries in upon arrival and before checking out Minions & Monsters at the Raceway Fun Park drive-in theatre. We began with Deadfall Brewing, where Mrs. Sip and I ordered the Basal Brown Ale and Hefeweizen.

This was followed by dinner at CrossRoads Tap & Kitchen, where I enjoyed their Tuna Poke Bowl, paired with a serving of CrossRoads Fast Lane IPA. We also tried to go to Trench Brewing & Distilling the following day, but they were unexpectedly closed, so we missed out on completing the PG trifecta.

Our next port of call was Dawson Creek. After checking into our hotel, we ventured to Post & Row Taphouse & Eatery for dinner. To eat, I went with a Single Smash Burger, taking advantage of the All Day Happy Hour on Mondays, complete with delicious crispy fries. Over the course of our meal, Mrs. Sip and I tried the King of the North IPA, Archer’s Red Ale, Hundo (100th Batch) and Haugen’s Hallow Apricot Orange Blonde Ale. We also added some Brussels Sprouts to our feast.

With Mrs. Sip working the next day in nearby Fort St. John, I had an entire day to figure out what to do with the Siplings there. After a morning of playgrounds, we reconvened for lunch together at Hungry Bear, a hidden gem that the locals love. This eatery has an interesting menu, combining Asian dishes with other comfort food options. Our order consisted of Popcorn Shrimp as a starter, followed by the Crispy FSJ Roll and HB California Roll.

Following an afternoon at a McDonald’s PlayPlace – apparently, the largest one in Canada – we wrapped our day in Fort. St. John by dropping into Beard’s Brewing. I drank the Red Beard, while Mrs. Sip selected the Honey Brown Beard. A second brewery in the city, Mighty Peace Brewing, is unfortunately closed on Tuesdays, so we missed out on that.

Back in Dawson Creek the next day, with Mrs. Sip working again, I took the Siplings to the Walter Wright Pioneer Village. Both kids are very into heritage museums and love seeing how people lived in the past. Girl Sip is particularly fond of typewriters, while Boy Sip always wants to be warned of creepy dolls… and there’s always creepy dolls! Meeting up with Mrs. Sip for lunch, we tried Stuie’s Diner, where I had their Clubhouse, my go to diner order.

For dinner that night, we met with members of Mrs. Sip’s family at Boston Pizza. I appreciate that BP, more than most other restaurants, changes their seasonal menu, offering up new pizzas, sandwiches, appies, drinks, and other items. On this occasion, I ordered the Smash Burger Pizza, which I hope makes its way onto their permanent menu.

As we crossed the border into Alberta, we picked up some Albertan beers, including: Brewsters 52nd Street Peach Ale, a collection of Peace River Brewing offerings (Don’t Worry be Heffy, Foxtail Amber, Tastes Pink IPA, Bangin’ Belgian), Lil Buzz Honey Lemon Lager, and Letterkenny Puppers Lager. Our dinner in High Level that night took place at Stardust Restaurant & Lounge, where I was fiending for some greens and I went with the Chicken Caesar Salad, which featured really good grilled chicken and more than I expected from the $18 price tag.

The next day, after a long drive, we finally reached Yellowknife, where we took it easy for our first night. Our first destination of the stay was, of course, NWT Brewing and The Woodyard restaurant. Since we weren’t using the vehicle, I could truly enjoy the beers, with Mrs. Sip and I ordering the Kicksled Cream Ale, Ragged Pine Pale Ale, London Fog Hazy IPA and Water Squatter Belgian Hazy IPA over our stay. It was a good thing we went on Saturday and not Sunday, as the place was closed that day. I’ll never understand Sunday closures of breweries. Monday and perhaps Tuesday, go right ahead, but why would you close on a weekend day during tourist season?

Next up, was some fish and chips at the famous Bullocks Bistro. We shared a large serving of Great Slave Cod and Chips, along with a tall can of NWT Honey Bucket Nut Brown. With the fish, I got to try their Teriyaki and Herb & Garlic Dressing sauces, both of which were good.

Looking to complete our Yellowknife foodie tour, we next walked to Wildcat Café, the oldest restaurant in the city. This was a meal of hits and misses, as our Butter Birch Walnut Ice Cream was surprisingly good, but the Hunters Pie (braised bison, local spruce gremolata) and Bannock and Jam were disappointing. The experience was completed with a can of NWT Turbid Wit Witbier.

The next day, we explored Yellowknife more, finishing our day with dinner at the Bluebell Eatery, where Mrs. Sip and I shared the Butter Chicken Platter and a NWT Bug Repellent IPA. The kids even got into things, dipping garlic naan into the curry.

Leaving Yellowknife, our longest drive of the journey was a 10.5-hour voyage to Hinton, Alberta. Upon arriving, we went to Folding Mountain Brewing Taproom & Kitchen for dinner. There, Mrs. Sip and I had pints of the Moraine West Coast IPA and Mount Solomon Session Hazy IPA. My meal for the occasion was the Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich.

To return to B.C., we travelled through Jasper National Park, stopping in the resort town for lunch. We originally intend to explore the area a little more, but upon lucking out with one of the last seats available at Jasper Brewing, with the England vs. Argentina World Cup semifinal playing, we altered course and watched most of the game before hitting the road again. At the brewpub, we tried servings of the Hazy Does It IPA, Blueberry Vanilla Ale, Raspberry Peach Sour and Pump Track Wheat Ale. All the food here was very good, including my Tuna Poke Bowl.

Back at Ma and Pa Sip’s abode in Tobiano, we got a babysitter for the Siplings one night, so all us older folks could have dinner at Jess’ Tobiano, the nearby golf course restaurant. My meal combined the Iron Road Loop Line IPA and GreenTee Smashed Burger. We also managed to get out to Monte Creek Winery, where we enjoyed a free tasting as Ma Sip is a member. My preferred wine from the experience was their Cabernet Franc.

On our return to Tobiano, I popped into an Angry Otter Liquor store and grabbed the Nude Vodka Water pack, enticed by flavours like Blackberry Lime, Raspberry Lemon, Strawberry Grapefruit and Cranberry Orange. I didn’t realize vodka water meant non-carbonated, so that was a huge mistake on my part. The case was also more expensive than my usual purchases, but I wanted to give the set a try.

Back at home, the Sip Family attended a New Westminster Salmonbellies lacrosse game, thanks to receiving six free tickets. Mrs. Sip and I took advantage of the Steel & Oak beers being sold inside Queens Park Arena, each getting a Bellies Pale Ale. Mrs. Sip also grabbed me an Original Burger from the Triple Os food truck outside, all making for a fun night out.

We wrapped the busy month with a member pickup party at Township 7, enjoying a tasting on their patio. August will be just as busy as July, with the Siplings on vacation with Ma and Pa Sip for the first half of the month and Mrs. Sip and I travelling to Calgary to visit friends!

Sip Trips #263: Soccer Saturation

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June started off a little slow, but built up as the month progressed, thanks in part to the FIFA World Cup arriving in Vancouver and on screens across the world. Here’s what the Sip Family got up to:

Our first outing saw us having lunch at Kelly O’Bryans for Mrs. Sip’s mom’s birthday. While I should venture to order other things off the extensive menu, their Chicken Lips N’ Fries are so god damn good, it’s hard to stray from a classic. To drink, I went with a pair of Whistler Grapefruit Ales, which were on happy hour pricing. I love Kelly O’Bryans so much, I drove over three hours home from Nicola Lake, B.C., to make the meal!

To watch Canada’s opening game of the World Cup, while also meeting up with visiting friends from Calgary, we landed at Quayside Tiki Bar for the first time. While I was a little disappointed that the eatery’s lunch menu and dinner menu are different and their website doesn’t make that clear, I thoroughly enjoyed my Chicken Burger, paired with servings of Steel & Oak Shiny Things Hazy IPA and Bridge Bourbon Blood Orange Wheat Ale. It will be interesting to see how the location develops, as it is still bridging the gap between being a tiki establishment and a sports bar.

With the World Cup in full swing and Mrs. Sip and I offered a date night by Ma and Pa Sip, we decided to travel to Downtown Vancouver to check out the footy vibes. I originally booked a reservation at another spot, but once we learned the Pourhouse Restaurant was running a 48 cocktails – one for each World Cup country – drink menu, we altered course and started our journey is Gastown. I went with the Japan entry of whiskey, houjicha liqueur, lemon and soda, while Mrs. Sip tried the Morocco offering of rum, mint tea and turbinado. Both drinks were good and as the World Cup progresses and countries are eliminated, their representative cocktail will disappear from the menu. I also had a $10 Smash Burger for happy hour, which was tasty and hit the spot.

We then went for a long walk through the downtown core, checking out various viewing areas, including drinks at the Junction Public Market, which is an open-air container zone we had no clue existed.

In need of a restroom, our final stop of the evening was at Victor at The Park (Parq Casino), where I had a delicious cocktail, the Club 43, comprised of rye, Licor 43, peach, thyme, lemon, honey, and vegan foamer. In particular, the peach and lemon made for a nice flavour combo.

Father’s Day didn’t feature any outings, but I was gifted tickets to Letterkenny Live next March, as well as some Dr. Pepper gear in the form of socks and pajama pants. Also, Mrs. Sip got my precious watch fixed, which had been in much need of repairs since late 2025.

One final note on Father’s Day, I thought Boston Pizza had a neat high tea promotion running at some locations, where beer would be served out of tea pots and a fair bit of food would comprise a nibbly tower all for $99. Hopefully, they run this again in future years and I can give it a try.

If you’ve been following along with the Sip Advisor’s adventures, you’ll know that I’m a fan of Verve and their various ready-to-drink products. Well, add another set to those I’ve tried, as I picked up the Verve Vodka Soda Sour Mix Pack, enticed by the interesting flavours (Passionfruit Pomegranate, Cucumber Lime, Plum Yuzu, White Grapefruit Watermelon) and 7% ABV content. My worry that the beverages may be too sour was quelled as the tartness is at just the right level.

We finished the month with a quick jaunt over to Victoria, as Mrs. Sip had work there. The only Sip Trips-related item that occurred on the island was trying cans of Phillips Solaris Citrus Wheat Ale, which is the kind of beer you can enjoy multiple servings of on a hot summer day and not get too messed up while doing so.

July promises to be a busy month, as the Sip Family travels to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories and back over the first couple weeks of summer break. That should all make for a wild future Sip Trips!

Sip Trips #262: Spring Sampling

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This may be one of my lightest Sip Trips ever, but that doesn’t mean we didn’t enjoy a month that completely flew by. Here’s what we got up to in May:

Early in the month, Mrs. Sip was off to a girl’s night out, beginning with happy hour at Milestones. I decided to drop her off, with the plan to stay for a quick drink and then return home. My beverage choice was the Stanley Park Trail Hopper IPA, which was quickly downed as the traffic out to the Guildford area was awful and I needed to return home for dinner with the rest of the Sip Family.

The next day, we attended a show at the Anvil Theatre. Mrs. Sip took the kids up to the venue while I dealt with paying for parking in the garage. When I joined, Mrs. Sip was gleefully walking away from the concession with a glass of wine in hand, pleasantly surprised this was an option. I quickly joined, selecting a tall can of Steel & Oak Shiny Things Hazy IPA.

Following our show, we met with Ma and Pa Sip at the nearby Boston Pizza location. Ma Sip and I shared the The MVP (Most Valuable Platter), which included Honey Garlic Wings, Deep-Fried Pickle Wedges, Kickin’ Chicken Shawarma Pizza and Philly Cheesesteak Pizza. The meal was quite enjoyable, especially paired with a Boston-Sized Blue Moon.

As we’ve generally stayed away from dining out, at least compared to what we would typically do over the course of a month, we’ve spent a lot more time eating and drinking at home. To facilitate this, I recently picked up two 7 Up products that caught my attention in the Watermelon and Nimbooz Lemonade varieties. Each product has one issue attached to them, with the Watermelon only being offered as a zero sugar soda and the Nimbooz Lemonade coming with a  $2 price tag for a 355ml bottle.

Another beverage purchase was the new Verve Vodka Iced Tea pack, including Original Lemon, Orchard Peach, Iced Tea Lemonade and Raspberry Earl Grey flavours. I really disliked the Orchard Peach, while the Original Lemon and Iced Tea Lemonade were good. I probably won’t buy the pack again, a rare Verve disappointment, as I vouch for their vodka, gin and tequila cases.

Our one big night out for the month was spent at the Fraser Bar speakeasy, which sits atop the Milestones test kitchen location in Coquitlam. This is a neat little place, where you can enjoy the ambience of a speakeasy, while ordering from extensive food and drink menus. I tried the Poco Paloma (tequila, grapefruit soju, sake, lemon, blood orange seltzer, cinnamon syrup), followed by a Stanley Park Trail Hopper IPA to go with my meal. To eat, I went with the Ahi Tuna Sushi Bowl. While I wish I had tried one of the test kitchen menu items, such as the Korean Fried Chicken Baos, the opportunity to get a poke bowl when Mrs. Sip and I aren’t going out very often was too hard to pass up. I also tried bites of the Moroccan Beef Sliders and Samosa Poutine, both of which were tasty. If you’re thinking of attending the Fraser Bar, be careful of getting too excited with the online menu, as many items were not available when we arrived at the restaurant. Checking out the Milestones Test Kitchen menu is a safer bet. Also, reservations, particularly on the weekend, are suggested.

May wrapped with a trip to Township 7 Vineyards for their fried chicken and sparkling wine event. Set at a reasonable $15 for members, we enjoyed a chicken strip, wing and drum from CultivATE Food Truck, paired with three different sparkling wines. Particularly good were the two sauces that accompanied the food, a spicy mango and chimichurri. We also took advantage of the members wine tasting, trying a variety of bottles on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon.

That’s it for the month that was. June promises to be a little busier, as we close out another year of school for the Siplings and start to get prepped for glorious summer!

Sip Trips #261: Basket Cases

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As the reality of our upcoming complex reno – particularly its cost – becomes more suppressing, we’ve tried to do a lot more at home and less out and about. Still, we had a few activities come up in April. Here’s what the Sip Family got up to:

For Easter weekend imbibing, I picked up the Verve Gin Smash pack, which was only $20, as part of a flash sale at BC Liquor Stores. I really enjoyed the variety of flavours, which included Grapefruit Spritz, Blood Orange Tonic, Cucumber Melon and Blackberry Lemon. Even at only $20, once you add in taxes and deposit fees, you’re handing over around $25.

For the second year in a row, I created an original Easter cocktail, devising the Mischievous Bunny, which combined Tequila, Black Cherry-Cranberry Juice, Club Soda, Coconut Cream, and Lime Juice. The blend of flavours all worked together well for a enjoyable beverage.

Mrs. Sip and I swapped Easter baskets with each other this year, based on a podcast we heard where a couple did something similar. Mrs. Sip put together a great package for me, including treats sweet, sour and savoury, headlined by a bottle of Kraken Gold Spiced Rum. This is a new tradition of ours that I look forward to continuing in the future.

With the Siplings now having swimming lessons in Port Coquitlam and Mrs. Sip having work that way sometimes, we met up at Patina Brewing one afternoon. I had wanted to try their Maple Amber Ale, but it was no longer available. I settled for the Amber Lager, which was a happy hour option. To eat, I ordered the Nashville Crispy Chicken Sandwich, which was really good. I liked the crunch of the chicken, the pickles and the sauce.

That weekend, Cousin Sip came over and over the course of drinks, I was challenged to create a cocktail using ranch. I decided to start with a ranch dressing rim, to go with Whiskey, Pickle Juice and Lemonade. While I wouldn’t have this drink regularly, it wasn’t offensive in any way, reminding me a bit of a Pickleback with a few additional flavours.

The next day, myself and a couple friends had our long-awaited All Elite Wrestling: Dynasty live event to attend. We began the festivities by meeting up at Devil’s Elbow, where I started with the North Point Strawberry Blonde. This was followed by a pair of Parallel 49 IPAs, which were on happy hour pricing. Looking for a bit of an energy boost, I next had two Rum and Pepsi servings. To eat, I tried both the Pulled Pork and Brisket Sliders, with the brisket being my favourite of the two. At the show, I had a couple Granville Island Pale Ales, which were far more expensive than they should be.

Over two Burger King trips through the month, I was able to try the chain’s new Whopper and fries. While I don’t really notice any difference in the Whopper, among my favourite fast food burgers, the new version fries are fantastic and a definite upgrade over the previous version.

Towards the end of the month, Mrs. Sip and I were invited to the Canucks member open house. It should be noted Mrs. Sip and I both cancelled our season ticket memberships, not happy with rising costs and decreased benefits, while also cautious with our limited expendable income. I think we’ll still try to go to one game per season with the Siplings, but finding ways to fulfill our membership games was becoming quite difficult.

Anyway, at the open house, where we were armed with one food and one drink ticket, food options included: Triple Os (burgers), Sante (bowls), Steamers (hotdogs), Melt (quesadillas and grilled cheese), and Panago (pizza). Drink options were limited and disappointing: Molson Canadian, Coors, house wine, and a couple canned cocktails. I paired a Triple Os burger platter with a Molson Canadian, which made for a decent combo. Another member sitting next to us as we ate mentioned remembering events where folks got at least two drink tickets each. At least we were able to bring home some good Vancouver Warriors freebies for the Siplings, although we believe we should have been able to bring them with us as guests, even at a small price (say $5 each), given how many child-centric activities were running during the event.

On our way home, we stopped into the Howe Sound Taphouse. We selected this bar as we wanted to check out their rock and roll bingo, but upon arrival, we learned they no longer do that event. We decided to still sit down for a drink, the Sip Advisor going with the Paloma, a $10 Tuesday daily special, before we finished the journey home.

To wrap the month, the Siplings and I popped into Camp Brewing, as we waited for Mrs. Sip to finish a meal at the adjacent Haven Kitchen + Bar. I selected the Crosswinds Maibock, a collaboration between Camp and Four Winds, which I enjoyed while playing a phone game with Girl Sip.

May looks like it will largely be a homebody month, with not a whole lot going on. I think that can be a good thing sometimes, allowing folks to recharge the batteries, especially before what promises to be a busy summer!

Sip Trips #258: Family Frenzy

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February was a busy month, even with largely sticking close to home. A lot of fun was had, with highlights including the Family Day long weekend, Valentine’s Day and Vancouver Warriors and Canucks games to attend. Here’s what we got up to:

Prior to the annual Regimental Whiskey Tasting at the Beatty Street Drill Hall, our crew convened at the nearby Browns Socialhouse for some pre-game beverages and a small bite to eat. I enjoyed a pair of Stanley Park Parklandia Hazy IPAs, to go with my typical order of Sesame Ginger Gyoza.

As for the whiskey tasting, a favourite event of mine each year I’m able to attend, the five bottles served to us included Kilkerran 12, Lum Reek 21, Reservoir Wheat Whiskey, Aberlour 18, and Laphroaig The Cask Lore. My favourite of the bunch was the Kilkerran 12. Aside from the whiskeys, the rest of the night was filled with a host of various beers and yummy Costco sandwiches to soak up the alcohol.

The next week, we had tickets to see the Vancouver Warriors lacrosse game. A couple months back, Girl Sip participated in a drill while some Warriors representatives were visiting her school, receiving a coupon for two free tickets to a future game. Using another two-for-one pass we had, the Sip Family ended up at the game for one paid admission. And what a night to go, as we chose Wrestling Night, which included some wrestling skits amongst the usual lacrosse chaos. This game was the wildest sporting event I’ve ever been to, with rock bands, wrestling matches, goals and even a fight during the pre-game ceremony/warm up with kids on the floor. The Siplings loved the experience!

Prior to the game, we ate at the nearby Boston Pizza, using gift cards received at Christmas. Over the course of the meal, I had a Fat Tug IPA, Maple Bacon Burger and we finished with the Chocolate Explosion dessert.

Some Valentine’s Day gifts I received included the Spectrum Box of Chocolates Mix Pack (White Chocolate Stout, Milk Chocolate Ale, Mint Chocolate Ale, Orange Chocolate Ale) from Ma and Pa Sip, as well as a collection of beers from Mrs. Sip: Storm Chocolate Covered Strawberry Ale, Storm Pineapple Paradise Pilsner and Silly Pink Killer (pink grapefruit brew from Belgium). I also picked up the Black Fly Classic Cocktail Mixer Pack (Tequila Margarita, Gin Greyhound, Rum Mojito, Long Island Iced Tea) for the Family Day long weekend.

During that weekend, a large portion of time was spent at the Port Coquitlam Community Centre for Girl Sip’s annual ringette tournament. On our day there with two games and a break in between, I hit the concession for some food and drink, enjoying a Crispy Chicken Burger and PoCo Brothers Amber Ale combo.

To wrap the Family Day long weekend, Mrs. Sip and I went to Big Way Hot Pot for a little Lunar New Year meal. It was interesting to try this place, but think I prefer non-broth Asian dishes. We will likely visit again, but I’ll not fill my bowl with so many ingredients, as you are charged based on weight. I also wish the eatery offered adult beverages.

We wrapped the month with a Vancouver Canucks game for the whole family, once again dining at Boston Pizza beforehand. You just can’t beat free kid’s meals that include main, side, drink and dessert! Looking to switch up my order from the month’s previous visit, I went with the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich, which was good. I also really like BP fries, going with them over a Caesar Salad, which has often become a substitution for me.

The puts a bow on February. March is filled with activities, highlighted by our spring break getaway to Vancouver Island, where we’ll visit Victoria, Nanaimo, Tofino and other locales we don’t get to see very often.

Best of 2025

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2025 was a fun year. The Sip Family made four journeys to the Disneyland Resort, each during a different season and to celebrate different occasions. We also enjoyed our first full year in our new home, being able to entertain friends and family again, while exploring parts of our province on weekend road trips. On average, I’d say we get up to something significant about once a month, so here’s 12 highlights from 2025:

Home, Sweet Home

New year, new home. We kicked off 2025 with a bang, inviting friends to check out our new abode. For the occasion, I served a Sip Advisor original cocktail, offering the Home, Sweet Home (Southern Comfort, spiced rum, pomegranate juice, lemonade, club soda) to guests. The party provided a great launch pad for the year to come.

Year of the Snake

Our first of four trips to Disneyland under our Magic Key year passes occurred at the end of January. While at the resort, we took advantage of the Lunar New Year Festival celebrations, trying a number of Asian treats, both savoury and sweet. We feasted throughout the visit, trying many dishes and drinks inside and out of the park.

Whiskey Business

Always a highlight of the years I’m able to make the event, I enjoyed the 2025 edition of the Regiment Whiskey Tasting. Pa Sip joined for the first time and got into the whiskeys served, despite traditionally sticking to other libations. We have tickets to the 2026 event already lined up, so looking forward to a repeat performance from the crew.

SoCal Bound

For the second straight year, we spent spring break on the road, once again making our way to Southern California. We spent eight days at Disneyland, broken up by a quick expedition to the Legoland Resort for a couple nights. Cousin Sip and her brood were with us for some of the vacation, providing a different experience for the Siplings.

Crawl to Order

At the end of the Easter long weekend, Mrs. Sip was due in Kelowna for work and with some time off days to spare, I decided to join her. When her work ended earlier than anticipated, we got to do a bit of a crawl around the downtown area, hitting a number of craft breweries, eateries and bars. We even won trivia on our arrival night.

Read Between the Wines

For the May long weekend, we found ourselves in Osoyoos, staying at the Spirit Ridge resort. There, we dragged the kids around on a full-day winery tour, which they behaved pretty good on. Their reward: taking advantage of the resort’s facilities, including letting the kids play in the pool while enjoying beverages from the sidelines.

While the Kids Are Away…

For two glorious weeks in the summer, Ma and Pa Sip took the Siplings on a tour throughout the province to visit distant family. This offered Mrs. Sip and I some time to ourselves without worrying about childcare and we took full advantage, attending a number of events, while also getting away for the August long weekend in Peachland.

Island Hopping

Once the kids were back with us, there was little time to rest and relax. The next day we were off to Vancouver Island for the communion of a friend’s two children. We stayed in Qualicum Beach, visiting both breweries the small town offers, while also giving the kids ample opportunity to swim and ride the waterslides of our accommodation.

Halloween Already?

At the end of August, we were off to Disneyland again, where the resort was already celebrating the Halloween season. Aside from using our year passes another time, this trips focus was to celebrate my and Mrs. Sip’s 13th wedding anniversary and we did so in style, with meals at both the Blue Bayou and Lamplight Lounge.

Speakeasies and Sinners

To celebrate a friend’s 40th birthday, we took off to Las Vegas for the first time since 2023. The birthday boy put together an amazing itinerary that took us to numerous speakeasies, restaurants and entertainment attractions. We were so busy, we never even made it to the pool, which was a reason we booked the hotel we did.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Christmas is a magical time and particularly at the Disney parks, which go all out with lighting, decorations, food and drink to fill the season with merriment. We also celebrated Ma Sip’s birthday on this getaway and Mrs. Sip and I explored the City Center of Anaheim for the first time, learning about a new to us amazing area.

Christmastime is Here

Christmas at home is amazing too. We spent the season cramming many festive activities into our busy schedule. Best of all, I had time off from work from Christmas Day until early January, which offered a wonderful mix of doing things and doing nothing at all, seeing friends and spending quality time with the Sip Family.

2026 has a lot to live up to. I’m optimistic it can be another fantastic year, full of good times with great people. Don’t let me down 2026!

Sip Trips #256 – Making Spirits Bright

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After returning from Disneyland early in the month, the rest of December was spent splitting free time with family and friends. Here’s what we got up to over the merriest time of the year:

Just days after returning to our regular lives, we checked out the Glow light festival in Langley. On this rainy night, I was impressed that umbrellas were available to all brave enough to head outside to view the displays. The kids also had a great time checking out the indoor festivities, while Mrs. Sip and I enjoyed some Dirty Fries with Bulgogi Beef from one of the food trucks. I was sad that only non-alcoholic drink options were available, fondly remembering the days when you could get a local craft beer or festive cocktail.

For our annual Christmas dinner with some friends, I put together an ambitious menu of drinks, with a total of 10 cocktails and two mocktails. My theme this year was Christmas characters and there are so many deserving options. The recipes included (last two were the mocktails, since they involved child characters!):

  • Bah Humbug! (Ebenezer Scrooge): Rhubarb & Ginger Gin, Red Wine, Sweet & Sour Mix
  • Yippee Ki-Yay (John McClane): Scotch, Coffee Liqueur, Club Soda
  • You Better be Good! (Krampus): Jagermeister Spice, Maraschino Liqueur, Fanta Orange
  • You’re a Mean One (Grinch): Lemon Gin, Melon Liqueur, Sprite Chill, Maraschino Cherry
  • What’s This? (Jack Skellington): Pumpkin Blast Rum, Candy Cane Vodka, Coconut Cream
  • Cotton-Headed Ninny Muggins (Buddy the Elf): Maple Syrup/M&M Rim, Maple Moonshine, Raspberry Iced Tea, Marshmallows
  • The Clause (Scott Calvin): Cookie Dough Whiskey, Creme de Cacao, Egg Whites
  • F*ck Me, Santa (Willy T. Stokes): Vodka, Cranberry-Black Cherry Juice, Tonic Water
  • You Want the Moon? (George Bailey): Banana Bourbon, Orange Juice, Ginger Beer
  • Sh!tter’s Full (Cousin Eddie): Eggnog, Stout
  • Ya Filthy Animal (Kevin McCallister): Pepsi, Ice Cream, Whip Cream, Sprinkles
  • Only I Didn’t Say ‘Fudge’ (Ralphie Parker): Chocolate Milk, Root Beer

From the drinks, the most popular was The Clause, while my preferred beverage was the You Want the Moon? Honourable mentions go to What’s This? and You Better be Good! for being surprisingly tasty.

Later that week, we met up at Me-n-Ed’s Pizza Parlor with some of Boy Sip’s soccer team for a holiday wind up dinner. Mrs. Sip and I shared a pitcher of Hoyne Dark Matter, while I tried the mini-sized Me-n-Ed’s Combo. The wrong pizza was made for Mrs. Sip, so the server gave it to us for free, while her actual order was prepared.

A couple days later, we gathered for Mrs. Sip’s office Christmas party at The Boathouse in New West. My entry for the White Elephant gift exchange was a Delirium Tremens gift pack with four beers and a beautiful glass. I walked away with a Boston Pizza gift card, which will come in handy given our frequency of visiting the chain.

As for our meal out, it was really good. Every item on the starter Pupu Platter (Coconut Shrimp, Ahi Tuna Tacos and Vegetable Spring Roll) was yummy, providing me with ideas for future visits to the restaurant. For my three-course meal, I selected the Caesar Salad, Sake Glazed Salmon and Cheesecake with Berry Compote. Of course, multiple cocktails and a beer with dinner were enjoyed as the evening progressed.

For the big day itself, I received a number of liquor-related Christmas gifts, including a cocktail smoker, Crown Royal Chocolate and a four-pack of Jak’s Verdita Margarita (cucumber, pineapple, jalapeno and mint) from Mrs. Sip. I was also gifted a bottle of Diplomatico Reserva Rum from in-laws. As for the giving, I picked up Mrs. Sip a tall can four-pack of Dead Frog Murchie’s London Fog Winter Ale.

That wraps another busy month for the Sip Family. January will see the crew make our final trip to Disneyland on our expiring Magic Key passes!

Sip Trips #255: Disneyland Desires

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To begin the month, the Sip Family set off for another trip to Disneyland, looking to enjoy all the festive decorations, treats and even drinks the resort offers during the Christmas season. Here’s what we got up to over our weeklong stay in Anaheim:

Upon arriving, we did a quick shopping stop at Target, procuring supplies for our stay. I grabbed the White Claw Surge Variety Pack, featuring Lime, Blood Orange, Cranberry and Blackberry flavours, all at a whopping 8% ABV per can. I also picked up a bottle of Mr. Pibb, looking to try the competitor of my precious Dr. Pepper.

With Ma and Pa Sip taking the Sipplings out for a Christmas train experience, Mrs. Sip and I were afforded a date night. I decided to take us to the City Center of Anaheim, which presented an abundance of neat options. We started our crawl with dinner at Craft by Smoke & Fire, which I had often seen recommendations for on Disneyland Facebook groups. There, I had the Mile High Loaded Fries with Baldwin Burger (smash burger) toppings, paired with a Villains Hazy IPA.

While searching for my next hopeful stop, we stumbled upon The Packing House, which is a really cool food hall venue, filled with great places to eat and drink. While my intention was to check out The Blind Rabbit speakeasy, we weren’t able to get in. Instead, we had a cocktail at the BXCR Underground Bar, which looks like a train boxcar. I tried the C-League, containing mezcal, cucumber and cilantro. Mrs. Sip, looking for a caffeine pick-me-up, went with an Espresso Martini.

Across the street was Unsung Hero Brewing, where we shared a trio of beers in the Propeller Head Amber Ale with Coffee, Chocolate Snowball Imperial Blonde Ale and St. Nick R. Doodle Imperial Blonde Ale. I liked seeing all the old action figures that made up the façade of this location.

On our way to what was supposed to be our next stop, we came across the Broken Spirits Distillery, where Mrs. Sip had the delicious Ghost Host (mezcal, St. Germaine Elderflower Liqueur, hibiscus, lime juice) and I had the Ella Baila Sola (tequila, curacao, lime juice, tamarind-infused agave, chile de arbol tincture, tajin rim). The theming at this place was so cool, with all the Haunted Mansion-esque elements.

Our final stop was Villains Brewing next door. Here, we shared a pint of We Will Never Financially Recover from This Red Ale as we walked around the sprawling facility, enjoying all the art and decorations that highlighted the movie villain motif.

Throughout our days in Disneyland, we used our Festival of Holidays pass to try a number of savoury servings. These included: Braised Pork Belly Adobo, Beef Brisket Slider, Chorizo Queso Fundido, Holiday Pizza (not available on the pass), The Holiday Duet (Al Pastor and Savory Kugel Mac & Cheeses), and Spicy Cajun Loaded Fries.

We also dove head first into as many sweet treats as we could possibly handle. Among them: Cinnamon Bun Pretzel, …Don’t forget the Milk & Cookies, Fluffernutter Churro, Red Velvet Mickey Waffles, Elf Mickey Shake, Ookie Wookie Cookie, Holiday M&M’s Éclair, and Cookie Dough Yule Log. The final two items were available on the food pass.

For this trip’s Drink Around DCA: The Revenge, we had to hit as many locations throughout the park, rather than one in each land for one day. Here’s what we achieved over our stay:

  • Award Wieners – Seaborn Blood Orange Cinnamon Margarita
  • Hollywood Lounge – Spiced Pomegranate Cocktail, Seaborn CranMerry Lime Margarita, Keg Craft Berry Sangria, Brooklyn Brewery Brown Ale
  • Pym Tasting Lab/Kitchen – Slo-Brew Cali Squeeze, Sierra Nevada Sunny Little Thing
  • Cozy Cones – Second Chance Brewing Frosty the Hazeman IPA
  • Flo’s Diner – Noble Ale Works Pink Lemonade Seltzer, Brewery X Fender Bender IPA
  • Sanfransokyo Cervezia – Karl Strauss Golden Stout
  • Magic Key Terrace – Sea Witch, Mystical Magical
  • Sonoma Terrace – Craftwell Hibiscus Lemonade, Craftwell Prickly Pear Margarita
  • Mendocino Terrace – Red Wine for Mrs. Sip
  • Bayside Brews – Brewery X Spiced Sangria Seltzer, Rincon Reservation Road Rez Dog Hefeweizen
  • Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta – Brewery X Huckleberry Seltzer
  • Lamplight Lounge – GameCraft Red Ale, bottle of bubbly for Ma and Mrs. Sip
  • Smokejumpers Grill – Berry Pomegranate Paloma
  • Festival of Holidays – Study Break Peppermint Mocha Hard Seltzer, Salted Caramel Brownie White Russian, Kern River Winter IPA, Cranberry Christmas Mule

Almost each day of our visit, we had a notable dining experience on the schedule. First up, was the Magic Key Terrace. I went with the Sea Witch (Raspberry Vodka, Peach Schnapps, Blue Curacao, cranberry juice, Sprite) cocktail on secret menu. To eat, we all did the Prix Fix menu, in order to get preferred seating to that night’s World of Color show. My feast consisted of the House Caesar Salad and Roasted Half Chicken, both of which were good and plentiful. The kids’ meals, on the other hand, were disappointing. Miniscule servings throughout despite a $44 price tag. Only two orange wedges and a tiny cup of yogurt for starters and a small plate of pasta for mains, as well as no toppings for vanilla ice cream desserts. We did have very good service from Quiana, who tried her best to remedy our disappointment in the kids’ servings.

Next up, was a surprise reservation opening up for Storyteller’s Café and the Mickey’s Christmas Carol Feast Dinner. It was very cool getting to have a Scrooge McDuck character experience, as he has long been among my favourite Disney characters. The buffet included a very diverse lineup, with the Sip Advisor filling his plate with broccoli crunch salad, chicken strips, beef tenderloin, homemade potato chips, and teriyaki chicken, while my beverage of choice was the Stereo Brewing IPA. My only disappointment here was the dessert options. Nothing really spoke to me, aside from the chocolate chip cookies, but by the time I took both kids to the bathroom, the plate was gone, only to be replaced with gingerbread and lemon options. The ice cream selection was also odd, with mango and passionfruit sorbet being available, rather than good ol’ vanilla and chocolate ice cream.

A couple days later, we were at Lamplight Lounge. My combo included the GameCraft Red Ale and Charbroiled Cheddar Burger with Bacon. I really loved the garlic parmesan fries that accompanied my meal and we all enjoyed being out in the California sun, watching the happenings of the park going on around us.

On our last park day, to celebrate Ma Sip’s birthday, we feasted at the Blue Bayou. I repeated my meal from my and Mrs. Sip’s wedding anniversary lunch in August, once again enjoying the Karl Strauss 70th Anniversary IPA and Monte Cristo sandwich. Our seats this time weren’t as good as the last, but the ambiance was still enjoyed by the group.

One other note from our vacation, this was the first of our trips where we struggled to get a reservation day we wanted. I maintain it’s messed up we pay so much for our passes and can only get four days at a time. There should be a cap, but four seems too little. It was also odd that we were able to book eight days over spring break and six days at the end of August with no issue, but a Tuesday in early December was trouble, while every single day around it – including the Friday – came up as available while we tried for the elusive Tuesday. You had to wonder if it was some kind of glitch. As we were leaving the park after closing, Mrs. Sip finally landed the reservation, so all ended well, but we basically spent a good chunk of the day each constantly refreshing the page, hoping to get our booking in.

That wraps another very eventful stay at the Disneyland Resort, where you feel a vacation is needed as you return from one. It was awesome family time together and worth every early morning to late night stay!

Sip Trips #254: Avengers Assemble

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Despite the Sip Advisor’s return to drinking, November was a fairly tame month. Here’s what we got up to as my fans chanted “Welcome back, welcome back!”:

Early in the month, we had friends from Oklahoma stay with us, as they looked into whether our neck of the woods was a good spot for relocation. As a thanks for putting them up, they gifted us a selection of beers from Oklahoma, all of which have been very good.

While they visited, we took them to a few local restaurants, including Ki Sushi, where I enjoyed a feast including Miso Soup, Goma-ae, California Roll, Dynamite Roll, Golden Roll (deep fried Cali roll), and New West Roll. Another stop that we take all out-of-town visitors to is White Spot, an iconic B.C. eatery, where I had my usual combo of Legendary Burger with Caesar Salad, along with a Granville Island Lions Winter Ale.

When I learned our guests were both gin fans and that a new product had hit BC Liquor Stores shelves, I picked up the Beefeater Peach & Raspberry Gin, using a gift card I received for my birthday. That card had been burning a hole in my pocket for some time, thanks to the fine folks that keep those stores running going on strike. It’s fantastic to have them back at work.

The middle of the month had us out in Richmond for one of Girl Sip’s ringette games. En route, we popped into Barnside Brewing for a quick meal. I tried and enjoyed their Smoked Hot Chicken Sandwich, pairing it with a pint of Five for Fighting Hazy Pale Ale, a brew meant to inspire men to work on their mental health.

Later that week, I got around to sampling McDonald’s new Triple Pickle McCrispy. The burger was good, but was lacking in the crispy pickles department. Yes, I could have used even more pickles than what was being offered.

We wrapped up the month with our long-awaited Avengers/Marvel weekend, which the Sipplings earned by gaining points through successful school days, participation in sports practices and games, as well as general good behaviour around the homestead. Any weekend that starts with video games at The Rec Room and ends with laser tag has to be a good one.

In between, we watched a number of Marvel movies, while I made a selection of cocktails based on the characters. My recipes included: I am Iron Man for Iron Man (Arrack, Goldschlager, Lemon-Lime Soda, Maraschino Cherry); Hulk Smash for The Hulk (Whiskey, Pisang Ambon, Egg Whites, Mint Leaves); The First Avenger for Captain America (Jack Daniel’s Apple Whiskey Punch, Blue Curacao, Club Soda, Apple Slices); The Hammer for Thor (Spiced Honey Liqueur, Cloudberry Liqueur, Lager); Agent of SHIELD for Black Widow (Black Tea Vodka, Milk, Chocolate Syrup); Queen of Chaos for Scarlet Witch (Vodka, Raspberry-Pomegranate-Hibiscus Juice, Lime Juice, Raspberries); and Wakanada Forever for Black Panther (Chocolate Whiskey, Amarula Gold, Vanilla Coke). I thought the menu was pretty good and will likely serve these bevvies up again.

December is upon us and that begins with our family vacation in Disneyland to celebrate Ma Sip’s birthday and check out all the Christmas stuff going on at the resort!