Tag Archives: Milestones

Disneyland Memories

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[Over 2025, the Sip Family will use their Magic Key year passes to attend the Disneyland Resort frequently. Therefore, a fair bit of my content will be Disney based this year, while also presenting a Disney-themed cocktail recipe.]

Disneyland means a lot to me and my history. I mean, one of the biggest moments of my life took place within its limits. Other unforgettable stories occurred there and with each trip, more remembrances are being created, especially with the Sipplings now joining in the memory making. Here are some of my favourite personal moments in the park:

Humble Beginnings

People are always surprised to hear that my and Mrs. Sip’s relationship began in Disneyland. It’s not a common story for two folks who don’t live local to the ‘happiest place on earth’. When we were both 18, our respective families were on vacation at the resort. Cousin Sip was friends with Mrs. Sip back at home and played matchmaker for us. On Mrs. Sip’s last night at the park before driving home with her family, we met up for that evening’s fireworks spectacular. Fully aware it was now or perhaps never and this was the best chance I was going to get, as the show reached its climax, I asked her out for a future date and she replied ‘okay’. My neurotic brain would later question if that was actually a yes or if she was still processing my query. I mean, she had to at least give me a chance given my romantic timing. Upon getting home after flying back days later, I had barely entered our home when I gave the future Mrs. Sip a call to make first date plans for the following weekend. And, the rest they say, is history!

Indecent Proposal

While Mrs. Sip and I were already engaged, in a perfect world, I would have popped the question where it all began. When I did ask Mrs. Sip to marry me, we had no plans to head to Disneyland anytime soon, so I just couldn’t wait. 10 months later, we were SoCal bound for a trip to the resort, as well as to catch a Vancouver Canucks-Anaheim Ducks game. I figured, what’s wrong with getting engaged twice, so I formulated a plan that included a nice little ring from one of the many Disney shops and as we exited Peter Pan’s Flight, as we had done nearly a decade earlier as our first ride after I asked her out, I dropped to a knee and popped the big Q a second time. Mrs. Sip was taken aback, as other Disney guests cheered us on. Wouldn’t it have been hilarious if she said no this time!?

DisneyBANNED

Some park memories, especially as we got more and more into the resort’s booze offerings, are of the fuzzy variety. The first time Mrs. Sip and I ever attended a California Wine and Food Festival at California Adventure park was completely unplanned. We were in town for brief mini reunion with folks I had met while going to school for a semester in England and the festival just happened to be going on at the time. After our tasting passport was filled, we decided to continue the revelry with 10% ABV festival beers. Let’s just say we all got a little goofy on the way out of the park, with plans to head over to Disneyland, which was open later that night. Without realizing it, park security began tailing us with the goal of ending our evening early. We may have been drunk, but we were still clever, splitting up so the poor security person could only follow half our foursome. Mrs. Sip and I made it into Disneyland, while our pals joined later, helped by the fact one of them forgot their backpack in California Adventure and had to go back to retrieve it. The rest of that night lives somewhere in my brain, but only photographs viewed the next day (ala The Hangover style) helped me piece together what actually happened.

FastPass Fun

On that same trip, when we weren’t being drunkards, we were having a much more innocent brand of fun. When we went to the Big Thunder Mountain FastPass machines and it spit out multiple blank tickets, we decided to try our luck. After writing “Right Now” onto the passes, we approached the cast member guarding the queue entrance. After looking over the tickets, he flashed a smile and gave us front of the line passes to two attractions of our choice. We chose to use them on the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage (at that time, a new and popular attraction) and Space Mountain (an always popular attraction).

Last Ride

With the extended Sip Family in Disneyland to celebrate Ma Sip’s 60th birthday, we knew the Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror would soon be closing for good. On our last night at the parks, as we were running around trying to get on one final ride before park closing, we jumped into the queue for the ride. Our timing was just right as our group of five boarded the last run of the night in a car all to ourselves. Our photo is pretty epic, but we weren’t able to purchase it, as I put my feet up on the safety rail, causing the pic to “disappear into the fifth dimension”.

Lost and Found

The chances of losing something at Disneyland are high and those odds only increase with children. On our most recent voyage to the resort, both Girl and Boy Sip managed to lose their MagicBands. We were lucky though, as dear ol’ dad, along with some great cast members, were able to bring a happy ending to both missing band cases. The first disappearance occurred as Boy Sip was in one of the park washrooms. I ran around a number of locations, finally having the band returned to me well after the parks had closed for the evening by the Lost and Found Office. A couple days later, Girl Sip managed to lose her band on the Haunted Mansion ride. Once we realized it was gone, I rushed over to the attraction and spoke to one of the cast members. Minutes later, the band was returned and superglued back onto Girl Sip’s wrist.

50th Anniversary Anxiety

The whole entire Sip Family attended the parks 50th anniversary in 2005. Unfortunately, as we made our way through a chaotic crowd, we got separated. This was decades before the park had wifi and many of us didn’t even have cell phones yet, so we couldn’t just send a message or make a call to meet up. Not sure what to do, our splintered crew hunkered down at a place in the park we all liked for its serenity. After waiting only a brief time, we were all reunited and from that point forward, we were very careful to make meeting spots throughout the day, should anyone from the herd get disconnected.

Meeting Minnie

They say you should never meet your heroes, but that wasn’t the case for a young Girl Sip. When she was two years old, we had a single day to enjoy the park, following a coastal cruise to celebrate both my and her birthdays. Our first order of business was to get the kid an autograph book, in case we ran into any characters. Sure enough, who should appear after the purchase but Minnie Mouse. Girl Sip had already been indoctrinated into the Disney cult, thanks to episodes of Minnie’s Bow-Toons. When it was her turn to meet her idol, she clenched her little fists and was literally shaking. Minnie was kind to spend some time with her admirer and give us all a lasting memory.

Milestone Moments

There was really only one place to properly celebrate Mrs. Sip’s 40th birthday. So, we packed the Sip Family up and journeyed to Disneyland for a week of fun in January 2024. Ma and Pa Sip even managed a surprise cameo appearance for the big day. Another element that made this trip so great was it was the first one where both kids were old enough (at six and almost four years old) to fully appreciate the experience.

Breakdown Bonanza

Ride breakdowns have become a regular part of the Disneyland experience. While most are purely frustrating, the odd interruption can actually be kind of neat. Take the issue that happened to Mrs. Sip and I during one riding of Space Mountain. When the attraction suddenly stopped, we weren’t sure what to make of the situation. Then, the lights came on, illuminating the usually pitch black rollercoaster for a rare glimpse of what it actually looked like inside. When the ride thankfully started up again, we were offered a second go through, even though we had already completed the majority of the track. Of course, we accepted and our car chanted the section we got stuck near and all flashed a ‘Z’ hand sign for the ride photo. Another interesting breakdown occurred for Mrs. Sip and Girl Sip on Indiana Jones. After a delay, they were asked to walk off the ride and got to see the attraction from a whole different point of view.

Scavenger Sights

When I went to school in England, I was able to meet some fantastic fellow exchange program students. One was from San Diego and, like me, had a great affinity for Disneyland. For his birthday each year, he put together a Disneyland scavenger hunt for friends and family to enjoy and Mrs. Sip and I travelled to the festivities in back-to-back years to try our hand at the challenge. The hunt allowed us to experience the park in much more detail, looking out for hidden elements that otherwise often go unnoticed. To this day, we’re still on the lookout for touches the Imagineers snuck into attractions.

Disneyland Memories: Hakuna Matata

  • 1.5 oz Spiced Rum
  • 0.75 oz Coconut Rum
  • 0.5 oz Banana Liqueur
  • Dash of Maraschino Cherry Syrup
  • Top with Pineapple Juice
  • Garnish with a Maraschino Cherry

I could go on and on about my preferred Disneyland tales. Each trip adds more magical moments to the memory bank. What are some of your favourite experiences from trips to the happiest place on earth?

Sip Trips #240: Home Sweet Home

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November was a very eventful month, as the Sip Family moved from condo to townhouse and began the long process of settling into our new home. Mixed with the pain of such a progression was a few nights of pleasure here and there. Here’s what the Sip Advisor got up to on rare breaks:

Early in the month, Mrs. Sip and I were offered a date night by Ma and Pa Sip. Well, it was sort of a working date night, as we also capitalized on the child-free time by visiting a number of furniture stores, looking for new pieces to fill our palatial mansion (there’s so much more space to fill than we are accustomed to). The fun part of our date night – because who actually enjoys furniture shopping? – was spent enjoying happy hour at Milestones. While I went with the impressively discounted 1989 Burger and a serving of Granville Island English Bay Pale Ale, many other viable options were considered from the restaurant’s fantastic happy hour menu for both food and drinks. Seriously, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen such an impressive amount of options on a happy hour menu before. This certainly wasn’t the typical offering of a couple lame appies and house beers and wines.

Beer Dinner

We spent much of the Remembrance Day long weekend moving stuff from our storage unit and condo into the townhouse. Our reward at the end of the weekend was the Sip Family attending a Vancouver Canucks game. Prior to the on-ice action, we had dinner at the Boston Pizza near Rogers Arena. There, I had the Chicken Strips in Sweet Thai Honey Garlic sauce, along with a Caesar Salad. The meal was quite good and I love when places offer sauces for their chicken dishes.

Two days later, I was back in Vancouver for another Canucks game, this time attending with a friend. After our first two choices to meet up at were too busy, we ended up at Original Joe’s. I’ve had a number of good visits here, but this trip had some issues. First, we waited 20 minutes to be seated, as there was no host and servers didn’t even acknowledge new customers that had walked in. After about 10 minutes, I felt like I waited long enough and was committed to staying, plus I’d lost out on spots at other eateries in the meantime. We were also warned food would take a while to come out, but we were just happy to be seated and had time before the game. I drank two OJ’s Red Ales and ate the Chicken Club Wrap with Fries and Coleslaw. I will say that the food was good and I love that burgers and handhelds come with two sides.

This past week, we had to pick up some orders from our U.S. mail service, so treated the Sipplings to a visit to PlayDate at Bellis Fair Mall. While the kiddos played and Mrs. Sip shopped, I enjoyed a pint of Ten Pin Snake Eye Stout, which was very good.

Soft Play

I ended the month with a weekend of contrasting events. First, the Sip Family attended the annual Disney on Ice travelling spectacle. The show was very entertaining and it was so much fun watching the kids react to the characters and action. Beforehand, we rushed through a dinner at White Spot, as we saw how bad traffic from New West to the Pacific Coliseum was shaping up to be. I ordered my usual Legendary Burger with Caesar Salad, which always hits the spot.

The next night was quite epic, as the Sip Advisor and some buddies attended WWE Survivor Series: War Games 2024. Our day began with meeting up at Devil’s Elbow for lunch. My Duck Bacon BLT was delicious, paired with pints of Steel & Oak Smoked Honey Doppelbock and Superflux Colour & Shape Hazy IPA.

At the show, which was amazing to be in attendance for, I had multiple drinks over the course of the afternoon, including a Spiced Rum and Coke, Coors Pineapple and Cherry Seltzers, Nude Lime Vodka Soda, and Simply Spiked Lemonade.

Disney on Ice

We must have enjoyed Devil’s Elbow so much earlier, because that’s where we ended up again following the show. On my second tour of duty, I tried the Faculty London Fog Ale, followed by the Backcountry Cherry Cola Sour.

That wraps an eventful month in the lives of the Sip Family. December looks to be restful and without much fanfare. Ah, who am I kidding, the Christmas season is packed to the brim with fun and fancy, including a getaway to Great Wolf Lodge!

Sip Trips #232: Escondido Escape

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The bulk of March was spent travelling to and staying in Escondido, California. Here’s what we got up to on our road trip to the Golden State, as well as the lead up to the Spring Break getaway:

Early in the month, following one of Girl Sip’s ringette games, the Sip Family had dinner at White Spot. I had the Legendary Burger with Caesar Salad, paired with the beverage version of a Caesar, which is typically a Sunday special in these parts.

A couple days later, my work treated us to lunch at Catch 122 in North Vancouver. I ordered the Bulgogi Steak N Egg, which was a fantastic dish. Unfortunately, given it was a work function, only water was consumed during the meal.

Work

That weekend, with our vehicle in for servicing, Mrs. Sip and I had lunch at Milestones in Langley. I tried the Steak Sandwich with Cajun Fries, combined with a pint of Blue Moon. I loved the flavours going on with the sandwich, but the steak was really chewy. The fries were also quite good.

That night, Mrs. Sip and I had a Canucks game to attend and discovered that you can get cheaper drinks in the SportsBar Live! portion of the arena and even ask for them to be put in to-go cups. We plan to utilize this more often in the future.

Next up, we hit the road for my first ever long distance driving trip (ie. multiple stops to get to our destination) behind the wheel. We left early in the morning and got a really good start, finally making our first stop of the journey in Salem, Oregon, at For Tomorrow We Die Brewing. There, I had the Hootenanny Herb & Spice Beer, while Mrs. Sip ordered the Kiss the Girl Amber Ale. To share, we had the BBQ Pork Sliders and Samosas, which made for a good feast.

Road Trip

Another hour of driving and we were at stay one of the trek in Springfield, Oregon. For dinner, we met up with Ma and Pa Sip – who were also driving to Escondido – at Hop Valley Brewing. Mrs. Sip and I shared again, going with the BLTA with Tater Tots as our side. The sandwich was absolutely loaded with bacon, which I appreciated. To drink, I enjoyed the Stash Panda IPA.

Our next stay was in Dickson, California, so we could visit the nearby Jelly Belly Tour and Museum the next morning. The experience was very good, especially for the Sipplings. My only complaint was I wish their café offered beers and other beverages, which would have been nice to enjoy as Pa Sip and I got the kids set up with lunch, while Mrs. Sip and Ma Sip did Wine and Chocolate Tasting offered.

Stay three was spent in Kettleman City, California. We had dinner at Wild Jack’s Tex Mex BBQ, which allowed the kids to run around and play as we ate, drank and all enjoyed time outside the vehicle. Our meal included the Brisket Sandwich, Beer Battered Cheese Curds and some other sides ordered by Ma and Pa Sip. My beverage of choice was a bottle of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.

Driving

On our final day of driving, I made a point of visiting the Rainforest Café in Ontario, California, so the Sipplings could experience the restaurant. My Modelo Especiale came in a souvenir glass, which I didn’t really need, but there didn’t seem to be any glassware option. Mrs. Sip got the Mongoose Mai Tai, also in a souvenir glass. To eat, we split the Tuki’s Turkey Club.

Finally, we arrived in Escondido and it was time to kick back a little… after a thorough supply shopping excursion, of course. For drinks, I picked up the White Claw Variety 24 Pack, which I greatly enjoyed, given it had a fantastic variety of flavours (Watermelon, Blackberry, Black Cherry, Mango, Peach, Tangerine). I also snagged the Lagunitas VarietI-PAck (IPA, Hazy Wonder IPA, A Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Wheat IPA, Island Beats Tropical IPA) and a bottle of Trader Joe’s Rum of the God’s Amber.

The next day was Boy Sip’s fourth birthday, so we spent the occasion at Legoland. For lunch, we dropped into the Knights Smokehouse BBQ, where I had the Tarantula Hill Cali Day IPA. The Sip Family shared the delicious Smoked Haven Platter (Brisket, Pulled Pork, Ribs), along with sides of Fries, Potato Salad and Cornbread. We also got some Chicken Strips for the table, which were so good I went back for them on our next visit (the Sip Family bought year passes, given they had a buy three, get one free deal going on). Best of all, a side of Chicken Strips were only $5. The eatery’s Smoky BBQ Sauce was also tremendous.

Lego

After a few days off to enjoy the Welk Resort we were staying at, we visited the nearby Deer Park Winery & Auto Museum. There, as most of our group enjoyed some of the vineyard’s wares, I sat down to a can of Mother Earth Cali Creamin’ Vanilla Cream Ale, reminding me how good this beer is.

Looking to restock some of our supplies, Cousin Sip and I did some more shopping at a Vons grocery store. There, I picked up a 1.75-litre bottle of Sailor Jerry’s Spiced Rum (for only $20!!!), along with the Mother Earth Cali Combo Mixed 12-Pack (Peaches & Cream, Vanilla Cream Ale, Orange Creamsicle) and Ashland Hard Seltzer case (Raspberry Lemonade, Watermelon, Mango Strawberry, Tropical Cherry).

On the last day for some of our group, we travelled to Temecula to hit up some of the breweries there. Boy Sip and I played a number of games at Black Market Brewing, as I enjoyed an Enemy Within Dragonfruit IPA. We also stopped at 8-Bit Brewing, where I had The Oregon Pale Hazy Pale Ale. We had tried to go to Garage Brewing, but minors weren’t allowed because they don’t have a food menu. This was too bad, as we had a couple good trips to their previous location in 2018, when they offered a great pizza menu.

Drinks

One other brewery stop we made was to Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens, which is a massive facility. This was Boy Sip’s 100th brewery, so celebrations were in order as I loved my Wagyu Luxe Burger, paired with a Space Bar Friends Altbier. The bistro has an interesting online ordering system, which practically eliminates the need for a server.

A few days later, we returned to Temecula, this time to the Old Town area, so we could enjoy some Mexican fare. Mrs. Sip selected Landeros Mexican Grill + Cantina for our lunch, where I had the Tacos de Queso Birria and a pint of Pizza Port Chronic Ale.

Sadly, it was time to pack up and make the haul back home, starting on Easter Sunday. Along our way home, we had dinner at Pea Soup Andersen’s in Santa Nella, California (also our stopping point for the night), where I ate the “Rich Boy” Triple Decker Club with Potato Salad. This is another place I would have loved to enjoy an adult beverage, but that wasn’t an option in the dining area.

Returning Home

Our last stay was spent in Eugene, Oregon, where we went for a meal at Red Lobster so Mrs. Sip could partake in Lobsterfest. I really enjoyed what’s become my usual order at the chain, the Sesame-Soy Salmon Bowl, along with a pint of Blue Moon.

That wraps a pretty epic March. April doesn’t have nearly the same content on the calendar, but I’m sure we’ll find a way to have fun, as we always do!

Sip Trips #228: Wild Winter

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November was interesting, with two getaways spread throughout the month – one a guy’s weekend and the other a family vacation. Let’s see what the Sip Advisor got up to as the temperatures dropped and winter announced its arrival:

The fun got started early, as the Sip Advisor joined a group of guys on a weekend away at a cabin in Concrete, Washington. The trip was full of drinking debauchery, including stops at a couple restaurants in the area, which each provided amazing eats. En route to our destination, we stopped for drinks at Double Barrel BBQ in Sedro-Woolley, where I enjoyed a pint of Boneyard IPA, one of my all-time favourite brews. The place also offers to-go Bourbon Slushies, which we took advantage of upon leaving. We returned to Double Barrel on our way out of town for lunch, where I had a delicious Turkey Bacon Ranch sandwich, paired with another serving of Boneyard.

Slushie

As for our day spent in downtown Concrete, we began with a beverage at The Hub, where I had the Mac & Jack’s African Amber. Following that, we went for lunch a few doors down at The Lonestar. There, I had a scrumptious Ambush sandwich (turkey, ham, bacon, lettuce, tomato), paired with an Elysian Space Dust IPA. We also added orders of Sidewinder Fries (steak-curly fry hybrid), which completed a very good feast.

A week later, the Sip Family was off to the Mayan Riviera for a week at an all-inclusive resort. Unfortunately, some kind of stomach bug hit me on our second day, which drastically affected how much I ate and drank during the holiday. I tried to still participate in as much of the fun as I could, but quickly grew tired of sugary drinks and shitty beer. Mrs. Sip found me my favourite cocktail of the vacation, a double Cucumber Gin and Soda offering that really hit the spot and steered me away from the overly sweet options.

Upon returning home, we took the kids to Disney on Ice, beginning our evening with dinner at Gino’s Restaurant in Sapperton. Boy Sip and I shared the Chicken Tenders platter and I look forward to trying other menu items at the eatery when we can return.

Disney on Ice

Towards the end of the month, we joined friends to celebrate a birthday, including a wine tasting at Township 7 Vineyards in Langley, followed by dinner at the nearby Milestones Grill + Bar. I really enjoyed my Sweet Chili Chicken Bowl, which was accompanied by a glass of Trading Post Hazy IPA.

To wrap the month, Mrs. Sip and I had dinner and drinks at Ludica Pizza, prior to our Vancouver Canucks game. We shared the Hansa Pizza (Mozzarella, Chicken, Bacon, Caramelized Onions, Smoked Gouda), which was pretty good. I also had a pair of Phillips Free Ride Hazy IPAs to complete the meal.

December is already loaded with events, to the degree one wonders how we’ll be able to survive the madness. I will say, our normal schedule doesn’t look all that different, so I guess it’s just par for the course!

Sip Trips #204: December Dynamics

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Well, the merriest month of the year has come and gone and as we settle into the melancholy that January can often bring, it’s time to look back on how the Sip Family enjoyed December. There’s a fair bit to cover, so let’s get right to it:

We began the month with a trip to ride the Stanley Park Christmas Train. En route, we dropped into Storm Brewing, as I had wanted to pick up their Christmas themed tall can four-pack, including one can each of Christmas Orange Ale, Eggnog Latte Stout, Turkey Dinner IPA and Xmas Tree Pilsner. While there, Mrs. Sip and I shared a series of samples, comprised of the brewery’s Pineapple Paradise Pilsner, Strawberry Shortcake Ale, Chocolate Strawberry Stout and Mrs. Claus Pilsner (brewed with winter spices). It was an enjoyable stop, highlighted by the most unique beers the local scene has to offer.

beer-christmas

Prior to our train ride, we had dinner at the Stanley Park Brewpub. There, I enjoyed a Red Rye Session IPA and Master Chicken Sandwich. We had great service for our large group and the food and drink were very good.

The next week, for a Christmas party with friends, I picked up the Red Racer Dozen Donuts Mix Pack, composed of three each of Honey Crueller Lager, Chocolate Dip Stout, Raspberry Jelly Sour and Boston Cream Ale. Among the set, my favourites were the Stout and Cream Ale.

Although we had a couple Canucks games scheduled for the month, only one contest ended up going ahead (thanks a bunch, COVID!). Prior to the match, we met with friends at the Hotel Georgia 1927 Lobby Lounge, where I had a liquid dinner of their Hotel Georgia cocktail (Botanist Gin, orgeat, lemon, orange blossom water, egg white and nutmeg dust). It was a very nice drink, but I found the lounge to generally be more expensive than I was planning for.

Expensive

At the game, I enjoyed servings of Hoyne Dark Matter, Parkside Dreamboat Hazy IPA and Stanley Park 1897 Amber Ale. This was the Canucks game where they were down 3-0 early, before storming back and scoring the winning goal with minutes left in the game, coming away with a 4-3 victory. If COVID keeps scuttling games for us, that memory will last a while.

A couple nights later, Mrs. Sip and I took the kids to the Surrey Holiday Lights display. The free event was very well done and offered some drink options for adults. While Mrs. Sip had a spiked hot chocolate and a glass of wine, I went with a can of the Stanley Park Shadow Play Dark Ale. Afterwards, we went for dinner at the nearby Boston Pizza, where I sipped a double Spiced Rum and Coke, along with the Sriracha Garlic Chicken Pizza. It was a good meal and even came with a free Toblerone bar, as it was part of the special seasonal menu.

Next up, was Mrs. Sip’s office Christmas party, hosted at El Santo. Among a very filling set menu dinner, I ordered a number of cocktails, including the El Antijito (pulparindo-infused Cazadores blanco, Aperol, green apple, lime, guava, house-made chamoy and tajin rim); Grito de Delores (estancia raicilla, Cointreau, Green Chartreuse, verdita); El Bosque Nuboso (Avua cachaca, Bacardi 8, Sombra mezcal, Campari, pineapple, lime, passionfruit, Narrative fortified); and the El Padrino (Charred corn husk infused mezcal, Sons of Vancouver amaretto, house mole bitters) for dessert. I also had sips of Mrs. Sip’s Tepache Spritz (house-made tepache, cava, pineapple, cinnamon, soda).

Chips

Unfortunately, our Canucks vs. Leafs game (the reason we select the quarter season package we do) was cancelled due to Omicron concerns. To take advantage of the break in our schedule, Mrs. Sip and I decided to tackle our Christmas shopping, decorating and wrapping. To console ourselves, we began the day of errands with lunch at Milestones. My 1989 Burger was very good and I loved that the server suggested I do half fries and half Caesar Salad, when I struggled to decide on my side dish. More places should offer this option. To drink, I had a pint of the Twin Sails Dat Juice Pale Ale.

After our shopping was done, we dropped into Steel & Oak Brewing, where we shared a flight including B-Jamz Cherry Apricot Pale Ale, Nightcap Cranberry Orange Belgian Ale, Baltic Porter and Phonograph Maple Smoked Porter. Mrs. Sip also grabbed bottles of their Woodland Dark Lager and Velvet Thunder Barrel-Aged Wild Ale, before we returned home for a night of drinks, snacks and Home Alone movies, while wrapping gifts and doing some decorating.

Our last event prior to Christmas was Lumagica in Cloverdale. The weather was really windy, but we enjoyed the light displays and walk. The kids absolutely loved the outing, which is really what the season is about. As we traversed the route, I enjoyed a 2 Pals Cuffing Season Winter Ale.

Lights

Our Christmas Eve, Christmas and Boxing Day were all fun, if not hectic, but that’s par for the course. Liquor-related gifts I received included bottles of Wayward Distilleries Krupnik Spiced Honey Liqueur and Raspberry Gin Liqueur, as well as Havana Club Cuban Smoky Rum. I also got a BC Liquor Stores gift card for future adventures and The Unofficial Disney Parks Drink Recipe book for inspiration for those adventures.

Some notable boozy gifts I had for Mrs. Sip, included some neat new beers: tall can four-packs of Granville Island Cheeky Monkey Chocolate and Vanilla Hefeweizen, Russell Cinnamon Bun Brown Ale and Twin Sails These Pretzels Are Making Me Thirsty Stout (Chocolate, Peanut, Pretzel, Marshmallow). Also, single tall cans of Granville Island Prometheus Belgian-Style Golden Strong and Seawall Saison. We spent some of Boxing Day trying a few of these offerings.

For Christmas dinner, hosted at Ma and Pa Sip’s abode, I finally got to serve the Christmas cocktail menu I created for last year’s festivities. My theme was cocktails from around the world, with names that translated to Merry Christmas, featuring ingredients from those places. This resulted in the Mele Kalikimaka (Toasted Coconut Rum, Macadamia Nut Liqueur, Mango-Pineapple Juice, Lime Juice), Feliz Navidad (Cinnamon Tequila, Kahlua Vanilla, Milk/Soda Water), Joyeux Noel (Grey Goose Le Melon Vodka, Elderflower Liqueur, Lemon-Lime Soda) and Buon Natale (Limoncello, Amaretto, Ginger Beer).

Gifts

Our last outing of December was to Patina Brewing. Mrs. Sip and I shared their Smoked Meat Bunwich (pulled pork in Memphis BBQ sauce) with fries and coleslaw, Pulled Pork Tacos and Southern Cornbread. Our beverages included an excellent Horchata Cream Ale (also bought a tall can four-pack) and Blueberry Wheat Ale. I loved seeing horchata used in a cream ale, as I typically only see it used in dark, heavier beers, such as stouts.

That’s a wrap for the month and the year. I hope to get my Best of 2021 out there soon. As for no mention of New Year’s on this article, it’s because the night was a dud, inspiring a future article on the best and worst holidays. Lots to look forward to as we begin 2022!

Sip Trips #189: Celebratory September

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I’ve decided to do monthly Sip Trips updates going forward and we’ll start with the last gasps of summer, moving into fall. It was a busy month, as Septembers always are, given the Sip Advisor, Pa Sip, Toddler Sip and others all have birthdays. With that in mind, let’s get right into things:

The month began with meeting a friend for dinner at Izba Bistro in Port Coquitlam. There, I had the Chicken Schnitzel Burger and a glass of Krombacher Pilsner. While the meal was quite good, my Vancouver Canucks were eliminated from the NHL playoffs as we ate, but I can’t hold that against the restaurant… or can I!?

The next day, we celebrated Pa Sip’s birthday. As a massive Beatles fan and someone who was turning 64, we held a ‘When I’m 64’ party and going with the British theme, I picked up a bottle of Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla Gin to serve up some G&Ts. As I grabbed the bottle, I also bought a tall can four-pack of Ravens Two to Tango Mango Jalapeno Gose, as well as a bottle of Captain Morgan Orange Vanilla Twist to gift to Pa Sip. Served at the party was bottles of Innis & Gunn Bourbon Barrel Scotch Ale and cans of Old Speckled Hen Pale Ale, both of which added to the ambience.

64 Birthday

During that next week, we journeyed to White Rock to hit a couple of breweries there, which we had never visited before. We started with 3 Dogs Brewing, where we shared a flight (Dog Daze Haze IPA, Dingo 8 My Baby Aussie Ale, Blackie the Brown Dog Porter, Faux Paw Wet Hop Pale Ale), paired with two of their hotdogs, the Trailer Park Dog (crushed potato chips and queso sauce) and Downward Dog (avocado, sundried tomatoes, feta). The hotdogs were very good, as were the brews. Next up, was the neighbouring White Rock Beach Brewing, where we delved into another flight (West Beach Pale Ale, East Beach Brown Ale, Oxford Hill Hefeweizen, Russell Avenue Raspberry Honey Wit). After ordering tacos from a stand outside, we decided to pair our eats with a glass of the Hefeweizen.

With a week off from work on the schedule, we began the break with a trip out to the Abbotsford breweries. First stop was Field House Brewing, where I had a glass of their Citra Tettnang Galaxy XPA, while Mrs. Sip had the Mosaic Enigma Raspberry Hazy. Old Abbey Ales followed for a flight (Diehard Hazy Lager, Pineapple Express, Wit-ness Protection, Gimme S’more, Sippy Chai Aye) of their many creative creations. Last, was Loud Mouth Brewing for another flight (Peach Guava Sour, Pilsner, Hazy IPA, Raspberry Wheat) and an order of Churros. We’re glad we got to Loud Mouth when we did, as it may not be around much longer. The owner-operator said he’s shutting the doors soon to open a restaurant instead. If that food is anywhere near as good as the Churros were, I can’t wait to try the place.

A few days later, nearing Toddler Sip’s 100th brewery visited, we ventured to Port Coquitlam’s Taylight Brewing for two flights (Blossom Rose Lager, Piwo Grodziske Smokey Wheat Ale, Guava & Lychee, Rye Pale Ale, Graf Giraffe Cider & Beer, Jasmine Gruit, Slack Tide Hazy Pale Ale, BlackBerry Hibiscus Sour), before popping into the nearby Tin House Brewing to accomplish the milestone, all before she turned three later in the week. At Tin House, we ordered sleeves of the Let’s Get Take-Out Thai Wit and Run of the Mill Peppercorn Saison. I’ve enjoyed all the brews I’ve tried at this brewery, so we also took home a growler of their PB&J Stout.

Milestone Beer

For my own birthday, the day before Toddler Sip’s, I received bottles of Captain Morgan Jack-O Blast and Patrón Tequila, as well as a six-pack of Parallel 49 Schadenfreude Pumpkin Oktoberfest. We spent much of my birthday decorating and preparing for Toddler Sip’s Disneyland-themed party, as we were supposed to be in Disneyland for the week, but COVID-19 kyboshed those plans. For the party, I served up a few original cocktails for guests, including the Meeska-Mouska Mocktail (Fruit Punch, Lemon-Lime Soda, Cream Soda), Dead Men Tell No Tales (Spiced Rum, Crystal Skull Vodka, Coconut Cream, Pineapple-Mango Juice), Elephants on Parade (Absolut Karnival Vodka, Pink Lemonade Vodka, Raspberry Lemonade, Lime Juice) and Into the Unknown (Orient Apple Vodka, Arctic Crowberry Frost Liqueur, Hawaiian Punch Berry Blast).

Later in the week, the kids each had doctor appointments in Vancouver, so we took the opportunity to have lunch at Craft Beer Market, which had sent me a $10 off email earlier in the month. Mrs. Sip and I split a tasty Prosciutto & Arugula Pizza, to go along with drink choices of Superflux Colour & Shape Hazy IPA for me and Twin Sails Would Crush Raspberry Wheat Ale for the missus. As we neared the end of our beers, Mrs. Sip had the great idea to combine them, which resulted in a delicious mix.

The next day, we had another small birthday party for Toddler Sip, joined by a couple of her little friends at a nearby playground. To provide the parents with some refreshments, I picked up the Red Truck 4×4 Pack, featuring four cans each of the Cherry Bomb Black Cherry Lager and The Defender Bourbon Ale.

Birthdays

On the way home, just when I thought we had survived the long week and could relax a little, Mrs. Sip surprised me with an evening out with a couple friends on Brewer’s Row in Port Moody. Us guys decided this was a great way to celebrate our birthdays and will hopefully continue to do so in the future. We only hit two of the five establishments on the row, as with lineups at all locations, it was best to hunker down for a bit where you could get in. At Twin Sails Brewing, I had pints of their Two Straws Apricot Milkshake IPA and Vacation Mode Peach & Passionfruit Pale Ale, followed by Moody Ales and their Huge Citrus Hazy Pale Ale and Sublime Pineapple Hefeweizen.

Then, it was finally time to rest, feeling like we needed a vacation from the week of vacation. It’s all good, though, as Toddler Sip had an extended week of birthday fun and we did manage to get our own enjoyment in here and there. I can always chill out during the work week, right!?

Sip Trips #159: Free Bird Follies

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As winter fades away and spring emerges from the darkness, the Sip Family has been busy. Mrs. Sip was recently in Las Vegas with her girlfriends, providing the Sip Advisor a little time to get reacquainted with loved ones. Those would include new purchases, such as Steel & Oak Talanoa Wheat Ale and Lamb’s Cherry Spiced Rum. The Talanoa (Fijian for sharing stories and ideas to build relationships and understanding) was brewed by the ladies of Steel & Oak Brewing as their second annual Women’s Charity Brew. Proceeds from the beer, made with black currant and rosemary, are going to The Kettle Society, which provides support for people living with mental illness. The Spiced Rum was an interesting find as I perused the aisles of a nearby liquor store. Thanks to an online suggestion, I’ve used the booze in a Mai Tai recipe and look forward to throwing it in a Dark N’ Stormy soon.

rum locations

As for events, Mrs. Sip and I attended the Lynyrd Skynyrd concert at the Abbotsford Centre last Friday. Prior to heading out to the valley, we had dinner at Milestones, capitalizing on their afternoon happy hour for servings of Phillip’s Electric Unicorn White IPA and Hoyne Dark Matter. The two Victoria-based brews paired nicely with my Crispy Sweet Chili Chicken Bowl, which I would definitely order again. Mrs. Sip had the Caprese Crispy Chicken Sandwich, which I snagged a bite of, and also enjoyed.

As for the concert, I think my hearing is still slowly coming back. The show was rocking all the way through the night and the band ending their appearance with an encore performance of Free Bird was everything a fan could have asked for. Arriving early, we took advantage of the Vancouver Island Brewing free tasting being offered and also grabbed cans of a couple Foamers’ Folly Brewing selections, including the Hot Box IPA for me and Raspberry Honey Hefeweizen for Mrs. Sip.

freebird nursery rhyme.jpg

After a day of “rest”, where we only had two commitments to make, we celebrated St. Patrick’s Day at Dead Frog Brewing. They turned their Steel Toe Lager green (with natural ingredients), so we crossed that tradition off the to-do list. Mrs. Sip also ordered a pint of the newly-released Pineapple Midnight Tropical Porter for us to share, which had an interesting blend of summer and winter flavours. For food, we imbibed with Pork Carnitas Street Tacos for moi and some Avocado Toast for the mademoiselle. Both were quite good and recommendable. The Dead Frog staff deserve major kudos for doing their best to make guests comfortable on a very busy day and for providing live music and cupcakes for children young and old at heart.

In the coming weeks, Mrs. Sip and I will celebrate 17 years of being in a relationship. I honestly can’t believe she’s put up with me this long!

Sip Trips #81: Restaurant Roundup

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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!

July 22 – Cincinnati Lunchbox

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Burger Bar

Very few things compliment a tall, cold mug of beer like burgers do. I’ve been privileged to enjoy a number of fine selections. Here are some of my favourites:

Legendary Burger – White Spot

A darling of Western Canada (particularly the province of British Columbia), I can rarely remember a trip to White Spot that didn’t result in ordering this burger. You scan the menu every single time and even contemplate ordering something other than the norm, but you always end up asking for your favourite and you never regret doing so. The secret recipe Triple-O sauce is to die for and should be available to purchase.

Legendary Burger

Prime Rib Burger – The Keg

Ordered off of its bar menu, most Keg restaurants will allow this to be selected even if you’re in their main dining room, as well. The ones that don’t are listed near the top of my always growing ‘enemy list’. This burger is absolutely fantastic. The seasoning, combined with all the toppings makes for one tasty meal. Take my advice and throw in an extra buck for the bacon. Unbelievably, it’s one of the cheapest items on the restaurant’s menu to boot!

Whopper – Burger King

Flame broiled, yes please! The thing I love best about the Whopper is that it is loaded with toppings. Toppings are essential to any burger enjoyment and the King has read that message loud and clear. I appreciate that the chain has found its way into a number of airports, giving me an opportunity to have a decent meal on the run. Burger King is also one of the few food vendors in movie theatres around my parts, taking advantage of hungry moviegoers.

whopper

Big Xtra – McDonalds

Although I can only find this burger (known as the Big N’ Tasty in the U.S.) at Wal-Mart-connected McDonalds, it is worth the trip. In my opinion, all burgers need essential ingredients and this meal covers all the bases. You have your lettuce, tomato, mayo, ketchup, pickles, and onions… all the colours of the rainbow. Perhaps the only thing missing is a couple strips of bacon, but we’ll let that transgression pass.

Big Crunch – KFC

I had to include a chicken burger on this list and the best place in the world for bird meat is hands down KFC. I haven’t had a Big Crunch in a couple years, but just writing this has me craving the delicious 11 secret herbs and spices recipe. A little tip for chicken burger connoisseurs, try dipping your meal in ketchup before each bite, adding another wonderful flavour to the mix.

Big-Crunch

Kobe Beef Sliders – Milestones

Perhaps the only thing better than one big burger is three mini burgers! Most of my beef selections come sans cheese, but in this case, I’m happy to leave the mozzarella on. The Milestones sliders are topped with crispy onion straws and are accompanied by a delicious sesame mustard sauce for dipping. The appetizer is perfect for sharing and Mrs. Sip and I have been known to gorge ourselves on a couple starters prior to skipping dinner!

Bacon Deluxe – Red Mill Burgers

I learned of Red Mill Burgers watching Man vs. Food, as host Adam Richman toured a selection of restaurants in Seattle, Washington. Thankfully, that means the franchise’s locations are only a two-hour drive away for Mrs. Sip and I. Well worth it, I would say! When we arrived, the line-up for ordering was out the door and it didn’t take long to understand why. Loaded with toppings and the delicious Mill Sauce, I was in burger heaven and I enjoyed the euphoria the entire two-hour trip home!

Drink #203: Cincinnati Lunchbox

Cincinnati Lunchbox Drink Recipe

  • 1 oz Amaretto
  • Top with half Orange Juice and half Beer (I used GIB Hefeweizen)
  • Garnish with Orange Slice

All this talk of burgers has got me really hungry… and all this mentioning of beer has got me really thirsty. Why won’t someone satisfy my needs!? I don’t ask for much. Only to be fed, thirst quenched, and legions of fans who will do my bidding!

Sip Advisor Bar Notes (3 Sips out of 5):
Not a bad beer cocktail, but a little sweet and not really memorable… it doesn’t live up to the burgers listed above. I was looking forward to this drink, as Hefeweizen Beers are my favourite, but I think the Orange Juice took over too much.