Tag Archives: Vancouver Canucks

Vancouver Canucks – Vancouver Canucks Cocktail

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Throughout the year, the Sip Advisor will alphabetically travel the National Hockey League (NHL), discovering the best and worst each team has to offer in a variety of subjects. We will also feature a drink based off the franchise. Today, we look at the Vancouver Canucks, the Sip Advisor’s hometown and favourite squad. I’ll try my best to not show any bias!:

Establishment Story: The Canucks joined the NHL as an expansion team in 1970. Previously, minor league versions of the Canucks played in the Pacific Coast Hockey League and Western Hockey League from 1945-70. Canucks owners had bid to join the NHL for its 1967 expansion, but were denied. They also tried to have the Oakland Seals moved to Vancouver, but that was vetoed by the NHL.

Stanley Cups: The Canucks have not won the big one, despite appearing in three Stanley Cup Finals (1982 vs. New York Islanders, 1994 vs. New York Rangers and 2011 vs. Boston Bruins). In two of those championship series, they played to a seventh and deciding game, coming up short both times. Vancouver did win back-to-back President’s Trophies in 2011 and 2012, but the ultimate prize has always eluded the franchise.

Celebrity Fan: Singer Michael Bublé is a passionate supporter of the Canucks, as the Burnaby native has been for most of his life. Bublé even has an ownership stake in the Western Hockey League Vancouver Giants junior team. Bublé is such a hockey fan, part of his concert contract rider asks each promoter to include the puck of a local team in his dressing room.

Buble

Super Fan: First appearing on December 22, 2009, the infamous Green Men – wearing full-body spandex outfits – quickly became recognizable fixtures at Canucks games. Taking their seats next to the visitor’s penalty box, the Green Men (Adam ‘Force’ Forsyth and Ryan ‘Sully’ Sullivan) would mercilessly mock those sent to the sin bin with signs and other antics. The duo was inducted into ESPN’s Hall of Fans, before retiring after the 2014-15 season.

Mascot: Fin the Whale was introduced on June 4, 2001. Among the orca/killer whale’s favourite things are B.C. salmon, the book Moby Dick and the movie Free Willy… not to mention arena popcorn! His least favourite team, of course, would be the defunct Hartford Whalers. While Fin is perhaps best known for his charity appearances, he also has a habit of chomping unsuspecting fan’s heads.

Tradition: Towel Power was born during the 1982 Campbell Conference Finals. When coach Roger Nielson grew frustrated over what he viewed to be lopsided officiating, he waived a white towel attached to a raised stick as his sign of surrender. Upon the team’s return to home ice, fans began waving towels in support of the coach and team. The Canucks won three straight, advancing to their first Stanley Cup Finals.

Appearances in Media: Thanks to actress Cobie Smulders hailing from Vancouver, like her How I Met Your Mother character Robin Scherbatsky, a number of references to the Canucks occurred over the course of the sitcom’s nine seasons. These included multiple occasions where Scherbatsky is clad in a Canucks jersey, mentions players from the team and attends a Canucks-New York Rangers game.

Green Men

Events/Scandal: Following their defeats in both the 1994 and 2011 Stanley Cup Finals, Downtown Vancouver became engulfed in riots that destroyed property and caused numerous injuries. Thankfully, in both incidents, no deaths were reported. In the aftermath of the 2011 riot, 887 criminal charges were laid against 301 suspects, hopefully deterring future similar behaviour.

Rivalry: The Canucks lacked a true geographic rival until the Seattle Kraken entered the NHL in 2021. Up to that point, rivalries with fellow western Canada clubs the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers have always existed, as well as incident- and playoff-born rivalries with teams such as the New York Rangers, Colorado Avalanche, Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins.

Tragedy: The Canucks franchise has been struck with tragedy on a few occasions. One of the team’s first stars, Wayne Maki, was diagnosed with brain cancer in 1972, succumbing to the disease in 1974, aged 29. Then, in 2008, defenseman Luc Bourdon was killed in a motorcycle accident at the young age of 21. Finally, forward Rick Rypien committed suicide in the 2011 off-season, after his tenure with Vancouver, but before debuting with the Winnipeg Jets.

Player Nicknames: Canucks history is loaded with great nicknames. Among them: Russian Rocket (Pavel Bure), Steamer (Stan Smyl), Captain Kirk (Kirk McLean), Brockstar (Brock Boeser), King Richard (Richard Brodeur), and JovoCop (Ed Jovanovski). An underrated entry would be Cowan the Brabarian, given to Jeff Cowan after a bra was thrown on the ice following a goal from the enforcer.

Riot

Line: Two Canucks lines had very successful runs as a unit. First, the West Coast Express (Markus Naslund, Todd Bertuzzi and Brendan Morrison) terrorized opponents from 2002-06. The line was named after Vancouver’s commuter train line. Second, the Lotto Line (Brock Boeser, Elias Petterson and J.T. Miller) had a shorter but memorable stint together. The trio received its moniker when a Twitter user realized their numbers 6, 40 and 9, matched the local 649 lottery.

Captain: While the Canucks have had a number of memorable leaders, including Stan Smyl, Trevor Linden and Henrik Sedin, in 2008, the organization abandoned all convention, naming goalie Roberto Luongo as the team’s captain. He was the first netminder to hold such an honour since 1947-48. Luongo’s reign as team leader lasted only two seasons, before it was mutually agreed he should relinquish the role.

Enforcer: Canucks history is littered with teams that couldn’t beat opponents on the scoreboard, so they just tried to beat them up. Among the franchise’s many fighters, perhaps the most beloved was – and still is – the ‘Algonquin Assassin’ Gino Odjick. Odjick holds the team record for total penalty minutes at 2,127, over eight seasons with the club. Odjick also holds five of the top 10 slots for penalty minutes in a season.

Family Values: The Canucks have a long history of family relations within the organization. This is best highlighted with the Sedin twins, who were able to come to Vancouver together thanks to the incredible draft day dealings of GM Brian Burke. The Canucks also united the Courtnall brothers – Geoff and Russ, from nearby Vancouver Island – for 13 games in the 1994-95 season.

Gino Odjick

Returning Players: The trading of Trevor Linden during the 1998 Olympic break never seemed right for both the player and the organization. That was all remedied in 2001, when Linden was reacquired by the Canucks. Linden played out the rest of his career with the team, reaching 1,000 games played and points scored with the club it was meant to happen with.

Short Stint: A free agent in 2008, Toronto Maple Leafs icon Mats Sundin weighed contract offers from a number of teams, while also considering retirement. The Canucks two-year, $20 million offer would have made Sundin the highest paid player in the NHL. After sitting out the start of the season, Sundin finally put pen to paper with Vancouver on December 18, 2008, being paid a prorated $5 million for the season. Sundin played 49 games combined (regular season and playoffs) with the Canucks, before retiring.

Undrafted: Alex Burrows story of perseverance from undrafted to star player is inspiring. He quickly rose through the ranks of the minor leagues, joining the big league squad in January 2006 and never looked back. Originally a checker, Burrows eventually found himself on the top line, where he and the Sedins became a popular trio. Burrows was added to the Canucks Ring of Honour in 2019.

Trade: Among the best moves the Canucks have made are acquiring Roberto Luongo from the Florida Panthers and stealing Markus Naslund from the Pittsburgh Penguins. Both trades are among the most lopsided in NHL history. On the flip side, dealing a young, homegrown Cam Neely to the Boston Bruins has always been lamented by Canucks fans. While the return was decent, Neely blossomed into a superstar, plus they also gave up a first-round draft pick in the transaction.

Trevor Linden

Signing: There are more bad signings in Canucks history than good ones. Among the worst would be Mark Messier’s three-year, $18 million pact in 1997 and Loui Eriksson’s six-year, $36 million deal in 2016. Messier was a cancer in the Canucks locker room, while Eriksson vastly underperformed his contract, both drawing the ire of the fan base. Also, Roberto Luongo’s 12-year, $64 million resigning in 2009, eventually led to a three-year, $3 million cap recapture penalty, upon Luongo’s retirement.

Draft Pick: The Canucks have never selected first overall, but have done fairly well with the number two pick, using their first ever choice in 1970 on Dale Tallon and also getting Trevor Linden (1988) and the Sedin twins (1999) at second and third. Their greatest draft steal was Pavel Bure in the sixth round, 113th overall. The Nucks drafted Bure in 1989, despite confusion over his eligibility.

Holdouts: Once the team’s most popular superstar, Pavel Bure’s exit from the Canucks was ugly. Following the 1997-98 season, Bure gave new GM Brian Burke the first headache of his tenure, stating he would not play the final year of his contract. It took until January 17, 1999, for Bure (along with Bret Hedican, Brad Ference and a third-round draft pick) to be sent to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Ed Jovanovski, Dave Gagner, Mike Brown, Kevin Weekes, and a first-round draft pick.

Buyouts: The Canucks own the largest non-compliance buyout in the NHL salary cap era, used to terminate the contract of defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Ekman-Larsson had joined Vancouver via trade in 2021, lasting only two seasons before his eight-year, $66 million deal was bought out with four seasons remaining. Ekman-Larsson will be paid by the Canucks $19.33 million over eight years.

Roberto Luongo

Unique Game: The Canucks have taken part in a number of NHL international firsts. The first regular season games played outside North America saw Vancouver and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim meet for a pair of 1997-98 season-opening contests in Tokyo, Japan. In 2017, the Canucks would play two pre-season games against the Los Angeles Kings in Shanghai and Beijing, China. These were the first NHL matches ever played in the country. Vancouver also hosted the 2014 Heritage Classic, facing the Ottawa Senators.

Goal: Two Alex Burrows goals during the 2011 run to the Stanley Cup Finals are among the greatest in team history. First the ‘Slay the Dragon’ Game 7 overtime winner versus the Chicago Blackhawks finally put the Canucks past their nemesis. Later, Burrows tally mere seconds into overtime of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals versus the Boston Bruins gave Vancouver a 2-0 series lead, causing mass hysteria across the province.

Fight/Brawl: When Canucks coach John Tortorella saw the Calgary Flames starting lineup flush with goons prior to a 2014 game, he knew something was up. Kellen Lain was playing his first NHL game and a receipt was due for an injury he’d caused in an earlier minor league contest. A line brawl ensued to start the game, with Lain and others ejected from the match. At intermission, Tortorella went to the Flames dressing room, trying to confront Calgary coach Bob Hartley. This resulted in a 15-day suspension for Tortorella.

Injury: On February 11, 2000, Canucks enforcer Donald Brashear fought and defeated his Boston Bruins counterpart Marty McSorley. McSorley pursued a rematch, which Brashear turned down. Late in the contest, McSorley hit Brashear in the side of the head with his stick, knocking Brashear unconscious. Brashear suffered a seizure and concussion, while McSorley was suspended indefinitely, ending his career. McSorley was later convicted of assault with a weapon and sentenced to 18 months probation.

John Tortorella

Penalty: The Todd Bertuzzi-Steve Moore incident is one of hockey’s biggest black eyes. The Canucks were out for revenge after Moore had previously elbowed Canucks captain Markus Naslund, resulting in a concussion. In the midst of a blowout loss, Bertuzzi punched Moore in the back of the head, knocking him out. The resulting fall fractured three of Moore’s neck vertebrae. Criminal and civil action followed, along with Bertuzzi being suspended for the rest of the 2003-04 season and throughout the 2004-05 lockout.

Wildest Story: Canucks fans have long had a feeling the team is cursed, dating back to one of the team’s first official activities. To decide which of Vancouver and the Buffalo Sabres would get the first overall choice in the 1970 NHL Draft, a roulette wheel was used. NHL president Clarence Campbell declared the Canucks the winners, before it was pointed out the ball didn’t stop on number one, but 11 instead. Thus, the Sabres earned the right to select junior standout Gilbert Perreault.

Blooper: In the first round of the 2002 playoffs, the surprising Canucks were up 2-0 in their series against the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Detroit Red Wings. What happened next changed the entire course of the series, as Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom launched a shot from center ice, beating Canucks goalie Dan Cloutier. Detroit won four straight games, eliminating the Canucks, en route to another Stanley Cup.

Miscellaneous: Wayne Gretzky, the greatest player in NHL history, twice almost became a Canuck. In 1988, before he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings, the Canucks could have had ‘The Great One’ for $25 million, Kirk McLean, Greg Adams and three first-round draft picks. A decade later, Gretzky was a free agent and had committed to signing with Vancouver, until he was pressured to put pen to paper and didn’t like the pushy approach. He ended up with the New York Rangers to finish his career.

Vancouver Canucks: Vancouver Canucks Cocktail

Vancouver Canucks Cocktail

  • 1 oz Vodka
  • 0.5 oz Melon Liqueur
  • 0.5 oz Blue Curacao
  • Splash of Lemon Lime Soda

For this cocktail, you mix the Vodka, Melon Liqueur and Lemon Lime Soda, before adding a float of Blue Curacao. The Canucks are looking good this season, renewing the faith of the countless disappointed diehards of this franchise. Go Canucks Go!!!

Sip Trips #220: Hawaiian Hangover

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March was a very busy month, highlighted by our two-week Hawaiian cruise. There’s much to cover, so let’s get right to it:

Before we could hit international waters, we had Boy Sip’s third birthday to celebrate with friends and family. As a result, we crossed the border into Blaine, Washington to pick up some ordered items for the occasion and once again popped into Bob’s Burgers & Brew for a bite to eat. This time, I ordered the Crispy Chicken Burger, going with Potato Salad as my side again. To drink, I had one of my favourite Bellingham beers in the Kulshan Amber Ale.

That weekend, was our long-awaited Vancouver Canucks game against the vile Toronto Maple Leafs. To help with the enjoyment of this 4-1 victory, I spent the entirety of my $50 Canucks membership gift card on a selection of beverages. Following the contest, Mrs. Sip wanted to go to the Caveman Café and get some keto items. I was just happy their “double” drinks are actually three-ounce pours!

Leafs Logo

Running more errands in preparation for Boy Sip’s birthday parties, I found myself in Maple Ridge one afternoon, needing to kill some time before making a pickup. So, I had dinner at the Billy Miner Pub, where I ate a very good Muzzle Loader Burger (braised onions, mushrooms, mozzarella, bacon, lettuce, tomato, pickles and Billy sauce), paired with a pint of Neighbourhood Happy Place Pale Ale.

With the birthday festivities out of the way, it was time to head to San Francisco and board our 15-day Hawaiian cruise. Going in, I joked the voyage would be a a tale of two cruises, with the first half being before Boy Sip turned three and we had to stay with him at the ship’s Kid’s Club, while the latter half, we’d be able to drop both Sipplings off and make a run for it!

Thanks to some maneuvering by Mrs. Sip, some other refunds and a generous Christmas gift from Ma and Pa Sip, we had $900-plus worth of ship credits to work through, so it was like being at an all-inclusive, in that we never had to worry about paying for drinks and other goodies. Even with Mrs. Sip buying internet and photo packages during the journey, we had plenty of money left for frivolities.

Dream Vacation

This was my first cruise as an ‘elite’ passenger, so I received my first complimentary bar set up. The eight mini bottles Mrs. Sip and I received, along with beers and mixers, went well with the other mini bottles I always pack for cruises and the one-liter bottle of Bacardi 8 Rum I bought at Duty Free on the way down that stowed away in my luggage.

As we set sail and passed under the Golden Gate Bridge, I purchased my first cocktail of the cruise, the Limelight (lime vodka, club soda, ginger ale, lime juice, cucumber). It would be the first of many, including the Red Carpet (vodka, cherry liqueur, ginger beer), Dark N’ Stormy, Pina en Fuego (tequila, lime juice, simple syrup, muddled pineapple, jalapeno), Paloma Caliente, Lynchburg Lemonade, Lucky Charm, Cartagena Cool (rum, cinnamon, orange and chocolate bitters, orange peel), Manhattan, and Floradora (gin, raspberry, lime juice, ginger beer). Basically, I never drank the same recipe twice!

Our first port stop of the expedition was in Maui. We began the excursion with lunch at Waikiki Brewing’s Lahaina location. Over the course of our meal, I enjoyed the Hana Hou Hefe and Jalapeno Mouth, while devouring a Chicken and Pork Belly Wrap with Potato Mac Salad. We had a lot of fun here, with the bar being in full-festive St. Patrick’s Day mode. Before returning to the ship, we also hit Kohola Brewing, where I tried their Red Sand Amber Ale and Mrs. Sip and I shared the Hana Mac Nut Stout.

Cruise Training

The next day, we were on the Big Island, where we enjoyed an amazing lunch at Kona Brewing. Their pizzas are still some of the best I’ve ever had, as I went with the Kulana Bacon Cheeseburger variety. Over the course of a long meal, I indulged in servings of the Kua Bay IPA, Purple Grain (Amber Lager) and Koko Brown Ale. An unknown IPA was also accidentally delivered to our table and I was happy to help eliminate it.

Following lunch, we stumbled to the nearby Puna Chocolate Co., in search of shaved ice and other treats for the Sipplings. Upon entering, we became aware they served chocolate cocktails, dubbed Choc-Tails, so had to sample a couple. I went with the Aztec Old Fashioned (whiskey, Hawaiian chili pepper syrup, Aztec chocolate bitters, black cherry), while Mrs. Sip selected the Chocolate Margarita (tequila, orange liqueur, crème de cacao, lime, orange blossom water), which came with a delicious chocolate rim.

Prior to getting back on the ship, I did an ABC Stores run, smuggling onboard a bottle of Sailor Jerry’s Spiced Rum, along with a couple mixers for the next stage of the trip. That night, Mrs. Sip and I won a bottle of the cruise’s not-so-good bubbly, nailing a perfect score while playing 90s Sitcoms trivia.

Cruise Ship Drunk

Our last Hawaiian island stop was a two-day sojourn in Honolulu. Following a morning spent at the Waikiki Zoo, it was time to quench our thirst with a stop at Maui Brewing’s Waikiki location. This meant, we went to Waikiki Brewing in Maui and Maui Brewing in Waikiki! At the restaurant, Mrs. Sip and I shared a yummy order of MBC Nachos with Pulled Pork. To drink, I had the Waimea Red Ale. Boy Sip then awoke from his slumber and demanded a McDonald’s cheeseburger, so I raced to the other end of the beach strip, stopping for a brief beer at Lulu’s.

I then hurried back for our dinner reservation at Duke’s Waikiki. Here, Mrs. Sip and I shared a pair of appies in the Korean Sticky Ribs and Crispy Coconut Shrimp. For beverages, I had both the Hana Koa Rooftop Pale Ale and Maui Lahaina Town Brown. Of course, we finished with a serving of their famous Kimo’s Original Hula Pie, which was complimentary, as we were celebrating Boy Sip’s birthday from the day before.

The next day, we only had a few hours on land before setting sail again, so visited Aloha Brewing, which had quite an extensive menu of beer options. Between Mrs. Sip and myself, we tried the Hi-Bitchcus Ale, Froot Lupes IPA, Kaka’ako Tripel and Aloha Hefeweizen. Although we definitely didn’t have the time to do it, Mrs. Sip insisted on popping into Honolulu Beer Works on our return to the ship, so we rushed servings of their Cocoweizen and Cream Ale. A more relaxed return is warranted in the future.

Cruise Liver

Aboard the ship again, Mrs. Sip and I partook in a wine tasting, which is free for elite passengers. My only complaint with these, is there’s too much yapping… I was done all my wines well before they finished talking about each one and thankfully had the excuse of checking in on the kids to make my quick exit.

Over our return days at sea, I composed a bar crawl that hit some of the more unique settings on the ship, with the caveat that Mrs. Sip and I had to each order the other’s drink. It all went down like this:

  • Outriggers Bar – Margaritas: Chocolate & Chili Margarita for Mrs. Sip, Sweet & Smoky Margarita for me
  • Wheelhouse Bar – Adapted Classics: Elderflower Paloma for Mrs. Sip, Jack Daniel’s Smash for me
  • Crooners – Martinis: French Martini for Mrs. Sip, Sailing Through Orchards for me
  • Bellini’s – Bellinis: Fellini for Mrs. Sip, Sweet Annie for me
  • Vines – Classics and Beyond: Beverly Hills Iced Tea for Mrs. Sip, Rob Roy for me
  • Good Spirits – elaborate cocktails: Sandia en Fuego for Mrs. Sip, Bangkok Mule for me

Cruise Drinks

Our final port stop, offered a few hours in Ensanada, Mexico. We rushed over to Thor, which we thought was a craft brewery, but was just a bar. There, while trying to fix one of the kid’s toys, I knocked over a freshly-poured pint of Harry Polanco Red Ale, which sucked. We did use the bar’s internet to figure out where an actual brewery was, so headed over to Wendlandt, where I tried their Perro del Mar IPA. We then rushed back to the ship again for our final day at sea.

Upon returning home, Mrs. Sip surprised me with tickets to the Red Hot Chili Peppers concert at the end of the month, as part of our 21st dating anniversary celebrations. Prior to the show, we had dinner and drinks at Original Joe’s, where their daily special was 22oz tankards of beer. Mrs. Sip went with the Golden Lager, while I had the Red Ale. We followed that up with the Silver Dollar cocktail for Mrs. Sip (suggested by me) and a Double Spiced Rum and Coke for moi. To fill our tummies, we shared the Chicken Tenders with Poutine. I like that many of the meals at Original Joe’s come with two sides and we will have to frequent the restaurant more often, as they had numerous menu items we wanted to try.

Chili Peppers

As for the concert, I find you’re always trying hard to maintain your buzz throughout a long show, while not letting the stadium take too big of a bite out of your wallet. Mrs. Sip and I started with a tall beer each and later a pair of margaritas per person (they offered Lime Margartita, Charra Negro and Tequila & 7). The show was fun, but when the band closed out the night without playing my favourite song of theirs, Scar Tissue, it all seemed a little anticlimactic. Maybe next time…

April is already shaping up to be insane, with a fully-booked calendar, despite us still recovering from March. Par for the course, for the Family Sip!

Sip Trips #217: Christmas Craziness

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December was the jam-packed month I’ve come to expect, especially since having kids. Christmas events, Vancouver Canucks games and many meals kept us out and about. Let’s see what the Sip Family got up to, as we bid adieu to 2022:

Early in the month, Mrs. Sip and I had a Canucks game to attend, so prior to the contest, we had dinner at The Keg in Yaletown, where I took full advantaged of their happy hour, ordering the Keg Burger & Fries, along with a pair of Gin Basil Lemonade cocktails. The feast was very good, but we still had time to kill before puck drop, so we walked over to Elisa, where we split a trio of drinks, including the Charring the Cosmos (Gin, Grilled Pineapple Agave Syrup, Lime, Soda, Lem-Marrakech Bitters), Earl Grey Martini (Gin, Amaretto, Earl Grey, Lavender Syrup, Egg White) and Roxanne (Scotch, Malbec, Lemon, Red Dragon Chai Syrup). We hope to return to Elisa another time for the full meal experience.

A few days later, we took Girl Sip out for a movie night, eating at the Old Spaghetti Factory beforehand. I selected the Chicken Parmagiana with Caesar Salad, which was good. It had been a while since I’d eaten at Old Spaghetti Factory and it was fun to try it again with Girl Sip, who is a passionate pasta fanatic.

Pasta

Later that week, Mrs. Sip and I needed to pick up a package at our mailbox in the U.S., so while across the line, we had a quick bite to eat at Gateway Taphouse & Grill in Blaine, Washington. To drink, I went with the Anderson Valley Boont Amber Ale, while Mrs. Sip drank a pint of Beach Cat Meowy Christmas Winter Ale. For food, I took advantage of their $10 Burger Night, which included a burger and seasoned fries, which were a wedge/curly fry hybrid that I really liked.

In the middle of the month, Mrs. Sip and I received our winter VCBW Beer Boxes. I have to give a shout out to the breweries that continue to provide unique beers to this project, particularly Old Yale and Russell, which provided two beers this time. The Wild Eye Dark N Stormy cocktail-inspired beer was neat too.

Prior to another Canucks game, this time with the Sipplings in tow, we ate at Boston Pizza. I had the Boston-Sized Burger, which was very filling, paired with a couple pints of Rickard’s Red. The place was packed on this night and this caused service to be a little chaotic, which was the only downfall of a fun evening out.

Baby Sitting

Perhaps the dating highlight of the month was when Mrs. Sip and I were able to visit the Tinseltown Bar, being run out of the Vancouver Alpen Club. Tickets were $19 each and included a welcome drink (Mulled Wine, Hot Cider or Hot Chocolate with liquor of your choice). I went with a Hot Chocolate with Spiced Rum, which I enjoyed. As we played a few games and listened to various Christmas tunes, we also ordered four of the seven cocktails offered by the pop-up bar. This included the Jingle All the Way (Gin, Lime Juice, Cranberry Juice, Simple Syrup, Egg Whites), White Christmas (White Rum, Lime Juice, Mint, Simple Syrup, Club Soda, Candy Cane garnish), Holly Jolly (Vodka, Elderflower, Orange Juice, Ginger Beer, Mint garnish) and Sugar Plum Fairy (Chambord, Gin, Soda, Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup, Sugar Rim, Mint garnish). Each drink was $10-$12 and all we tried were tasty.

For Christmas, I received a couple beers, a BC Liquor Store gift card and edible cocktail glitters from Mrs. Sip. The Sip-in-Laws provided me a bottle of Hennessy Cognac and Ma and Pa Sip gave me the Monin Holiday Cheer Collection syrup collection (Macadamia Nut, Peppermint, Dark Chocolate, Gingerbread, Toasted Marshmallow), as far as liquor-related presents went.

For Christmas dinner, I presented another cocktail menu for the family. It was my last chance to serve the 38th Birthday recipes I had been working on for most of the year, after Mrs. Sip and Cousin Sip’s joint birthday in January was vetoed due to a Covid lockdown. The menu was comprised of the Hold On Loosely (Southern Comfort, Cola, Orange Soda); stRontiUM (Bacardi Dragonfruit Rum, Sprite Winter Cranberry Soda, Maraschino Cherry Syrup); The Parallel (Grapefruit Soju, Peach Schnapps, Lemon Juice); Place Your Bets (Tito’s Vodka, Watermelon-Lime Club Soda, Raspberries and Blackberries); and Top of the Table (Tanqueray Rangpur Gin, Tonic Water, Raspberry-Lemonade). Each drink was connected to the number 38, as Hold On Loosely is a song by the rock group 38 Special, stRontiUM has an atomic number of 38, the 38th parallel separates North and South Korea, Place Your Bets is a reference to the 38 slots on a roulette wheel, and Top of the Table is connected to the 38 matches played by each team in a Premier League season.

Cocktail Menu

Following our last Canucks game of 2022, Mrs. Sip and I had a late night meal at Devil’s Elbow Ale and Smokehouse. As we shared their Pulled Pork Plate (our two sides were the Mac N’ Cheese Cornbread and Tater Tots), I had servings of the Main Street Naked Fox IPA and Moon Under Water Puft Daddy Marshmallow White Stout, while Mrs. Sip tried the Faculty 241 Minzeweizen and Container Dark Arts Belgian Quadrupel. It was a very nice end to a busy Christmas week.

But we were ready to wrap the month just yet. After taking the Sipplings to Science World (or as Boy Sip calls it: Science Circle), we had a late lunch/early dinner at R&B Ale & Pizza House. Mrs. Sip and I both took advantage of their Pizza and Beer deal for $20. She had the Mushroom Bianca pizza with Auld Nick Winter Ale, while I went with a delicious BBQ Brisket and Pineapple pizza with Hipster Haze Hazy IPA. The Sipplings were quite content with their Pretzel, followed by a sundae at Earnest Ice Cream.

Ice Cream

For New Year’s Eve, I picked up a 1.14-litre bottle of Captain Morgan’s Spiced Rum and immediately put it to good use. Adding it all up, my New Year’s consumption included seven mixed drinks, five vodka sodas, two beers, a couple shots, and a partridge in a pear tree! Our group stayed up way too late and this was following a 40th birthday celebration the night before. Suffice to say, Mrs. Sip and I are still tired and trying to get back on a good sleep pattern.

2023 is already shaping up to be a busy year. I wish everyone out there reading this a Happy New Year and hope you’ll continue to follow along with the shenanigans of the Sip Family!

Sip Trips #216: Bellingham Bonanza

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November had a fair pace to it, including a mid-month getaway, along with other activities as we work towards the most wonderful time of the year. Let’s see what the Sip Family got up to throughout November:

The month began as many do, watching the Vancouver Canucks lose. While at the game, which started out well, only to end in misery, a friend and I took turns buying rounds. $20 for a tall craft beer at Rogers Arena is ridiculous and hard to accept. I had to do a double take each time the total came up on the payment machine. By comparison, we were able to buy late night happy hour pitchers at Browns Socialhouse following the game for the same price.

Beeramid

The highlight of November was our stay in Bellingham, Washington, over the Remembrance Day long weekend. Each night, our Oxford Suites hotel, offered a manager’s reception, with two drink tickets per guest. This allowed for a couple beers or wines to be enjoyed each day of our stay, so long as the kids allowed it. Mrs. Sip and I also had dinner at the hotel one night, where I really liked my Oxford Burger with Pasta Salad.

For dinner after arriving, we walked over to Buffalo Wild Wings at Bellis Fair Mall. This was my first time at the restaurant and I enjoyed my pair of Bird Dawgs (Honey BBQ and Buffalo), which is a chicken variation of hotdogs. Thanks to Mrs. Sip asking if I could mix and match flavour options, I was able to try two different versions of the meal, which I paired with a Breckenridge Christmas Ale. I hope to go back soon to try other menu items.

After visiting the fascinating Spark Museum, we dropped into Stemma Brewing. While there, I drank servings of the saBro That’s Fresh Hazy Fresh Hop IPA and Conditus Lager. I don’t normally go with lagers, but was curious about its blend of lemon and cayenne. I also got to try Mrs. Sip’s Skybright Winter Ale. To eat, we ordered some Birria Tacos from the food truck outside.

Birria Tacos

Next up, was returning to Bellis Fair Mall, to allow the kids to burn some energy at the Playdate playground. The best part of this place is that while the kids get to have their fun, parents and guardians are able to order beer and wine, along with various food offerings. Over two stays at Playdate, I was able to drink pints of Terramar Amber On, Breakside IPA and Stemma Hazy IPA. I would have taken the kids here if they only sold Budweiser, so for them to exclusively offer craft beers is a bonus. A playdate cafe, where adults can playdate too!

The next day, we started by perusing the Bellingham Farmer’s Market. This was followed by lunch at Boundary Bay Brewing, where Mrs. Sip and I shared the B.L.A.T. + Turkey with Tim’s Potato Chips. To drink, I ordered the Cosmic Visions Cold IPA. We’ve always enjoyed our times at Boundary Bay and this was no exception.

After lunch, Ma and Pa Sip took the Sipplings to a playground, while allowing Mrs. Sip and I a chance to relax at Stones Throw Brewing. It was a brief stay, but very much enjoyed, as I tried the Happy Valley Hazy IPA, while Mrs. Sip went with a hot cup of Mulled Wine. We really enjoyed our outdoor seats around a roaring fire.

Mulled Wine

Our last brewery stop of the day was at Otherlands Brewing. Here, I went with the Some Soft Returning Amber Kellerbier, while Mrs. Sip tried the Send in the Clouds Hefeweizen. We were tempted to try some the vegetarian dishes offered by the eatery, but had dinner upcoming.

For that meal, we visited Mi Mexico. To drink, I ordered the Bartender’s Special (Tequila, Triple Sec, Margarita Mix, topped with Cranberry Juice and Grand Marnier), which was very tasty. My feast consisted of the Burrito Al Pastor, which was enough for two people and quite good.

The next day, Mrs. Sip left for her girl’s trip to Las Vegas, while the remaining Sip Family members travelled to Blaine to check out Beach Cat Brewing. I had a pint of the Munchkin Red Ale, while the Sipplings played with the many games at the brewery. For dinner, Pa Sip and I picked up food from Boomer’s Drive-In. I had the delicious Bacon Swiss Burger with Curly Fries.

Curly Fries

One more food note for the trip, I finally tried a McDonald’s McRib, as the sandwich is celebrating a farewell tour in the U.S. The results were I wish I’d ordered my usual Mickey D’s favourites instead, but I can cross it off the food bucket list. I also brought home bottles of Tito’s Vodka and Dough Ball Cookie Dough Whiskey, along with a case of Mountain Dew Fruit Quake fruit cake-flavoured soda.

After returning from the vacation, Girl Sip and I had a daddy-daughter dinner at Boston Pizza. Monday nights are a perfect time to visit the chain, as draft beer is $1.50 off and individual pizzas are only $9.99 (about $5 off). I had a pint of Belgian Moon, along with a Tropical Chicken Pizza. While I don’t typically order dessert at restaurants, I had a free dessert for my birthday, through the BP app, so I went with the Loaded Brownie S’mores, off the Fall Menu. The dish was delicious, with the combo of hot brownie bites, toasted marshmallows and Graham Crackers being perfectly blended.

I hate smores - meme

We wrapped the month with a performance of Disney on Ice, an earlier birthday gift for Girl Sip. Prior to the show, we ate at the White Spot R+D Kitchen, where I had to get my usual Legendary Deluxe Burger (with Caesar Salad), despite some experimental options piquing my interest. I paired the burger I was craving with a serving of Off the Rail Big Red Ale, which completed a very good spread.

December is now here and we’ve already attended a few Christmas festivities. The month will only get crazier as we progress through it, so my liver has been warned of the impending work schedule!

British Columbia – Vancouver Cocktail

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Each month, the Sip Advisor will alphabetically travel Canada, discovering the best each province has to offer in a variety of subjects. We will also featuring a drink the area is known for. Today, we are in British Columbia, where the Sip Advisor resides. Although we lack large egos (in this humble writer’s opinion), the province once called itself “The Best Place on Earth”. Let’s see what life is like on the Left Coast:

Nicknames: ‘Beautiful British Columbia’ is the slogan that appears on licence plates in the province after being adopted as an official motto in 1964. Another common catchphrase used here, particularly by the local tourism industry, is ‘Super, Natural, British Columbia’. No matter what moniker folks want to tag onto the place, I prefer to simply call it home.

Motto: “Splendor without diminishment” – Ooh la la, tres fancy!

Food: The Nanaimo Bar – a sweet treat consisting of layers of a crumb base, icing middle and chocolate top – was invented in Nanaimo in the 1950’s. The bar’s popularity grew when it was featured at Expo 86 and efforts have been made to see the Nanaimo Bar named ‘Canada’s Favourite Confection’. The dessert even got the stamp treatment in 2019, but I’d rather lick the real thing.

Drink: British Columbia has amazing craft beer, wine and distillery industries, making the Sip Advisor a very happy man. A nostalgic entry here is Clearly Canadian, which was founded in B.C. in 1987. The flavoured sparkling waters grew wildly popular quickly, being featured in movies and TV shows such as Jerry Maguire, Seinfeld, Friends, and Sex and the City.

Nanaimo Bar

Site to See: Having travelled a fair bit of the province, there’s really not many bad choices to explore. If I had to pick a favourite place, it would probably be Whistler, which provides an amazing escape in both winter and summer. Situated in the mountains, Whistler offers picturesque landscapes, while the has village a number of great dining and entertainment options.

Street: The Downtown Vancouver portion of Granville Street is lined with much of the city’s entertainment district and can be a very interesting place to traverse at night. The street was once illuminated with numerous neon light signs, reminiscent to Las Vegas, but many have been removed. Granville Street is the second most expensive property in Canadian Monopoly.

TV Show: While B.C. is sometimes referred to as Hollywood North, thanks to the film and TV industries that do so much shooting here, not many project are actually set in the province. The most enduring series was The Beachcombers, running for 19 seasons and 387 episodes. The Sip Family recently stayed in Gibsons, where the show was set, seeing the boat (Persephone) and café (Molly’s Reach) used in the show.

Movie: No movie takes place entirely in B.C., but a couple films have the majority of their plots occur in the province. Of these, I really enjoyed The Hunted, starring Tommy Lee Jones and Benicio del Toro. del Toro plays a former armed forces operative, while Jones, his former mentor, is tasked with tracking his student down. The movie mostly uses hand-to-hand combat fight scenes.

Granville Street

Book/Author: Environmental activist David Suzuki was born in Vancouver in 1936. He has authored 52 books, including 19 for children, mostly on scientific topics. Suzuki is also known for his long-running TV series The Nature of Things and the David Suzuki Foundation, which is dedicated “to find ways for society to live in balance with the natural world that does sustain us”.

Fictional Character: Robin Scherbatsky from How I Met Your Mother, is played by Vancouverite Cobie Smulders. She is a true Canadian girl, best shown through her love of hockey and the Vancouver Canucks. Mrs. Sip and I enjoyed How I Met Your Mother even more with the touch of Canadiana and our hometown being involved. I’ll even forgive Scherbatsky for her time as teen pop idol Robin Sparkles.

Fictional City: Edgemont, a made up suburb of Vancouver, was the setting for a teen drama series of the same name. The show ran for five seasons and 70 episodes, centered on the young love and break ups of students at McKinley High School. A couple cast members went on to more recognized projects, such as Kristin Kreuk (Lana Lang on Smallville) and Grace Park (Kono Kalakaua on Hawaii Five-0).

Actor/Actress: This is a tough category. First, there’s universally-beloved movie star Ryan Reynolds. Then, there’s stoner comedy icon Seth Rogen. And, who could forget the legendary Michael J. Fox. A sentimental nod also has to go to Raymond Burr for his iconic role as lawyer Perry Mason. All are from Vancouver or its surrounding suburbs and have represented the province quite well.

Ryan Reynolds

Song: British Columbia is certainly not the easiest name to turn into lyrics, but on New Year’s Eve 1965, Jewel of the West (Beautiful B.C.) was made the official theme song of the province. It was composed by musician Machelle Shapira. Another song worthy of mention is Home for a Rest by Spirit of the West. That home the North Vancouver-based band is longing for is B.C.

Band/Musician: Bryan Adams is one of the most successful musicians of all-time, selling close to 100 million records and singles worldwide. He is best known for songs such as (Everything I Do) I Do It for You, Summer of ’69 and Heaven. Also deserving of mention is crooner Michael Bublé, who has had a number of chart-topping songs and albums, to go along with four Grammy Awards.

People: Terry Fox is a national hero. With one leg amputated due to cancer, Fox was only 21 when he embarked on a cross-country trek to raise awareness about the disease. Sadly, Fox didn’t achieve his goal of going coast-to-coast, as his deteriorating health forced him off the road. His legacy exists to this day thanks to all he inspired with his courage. Terry Fox Runs are done annually around the world, raising an estimated $800 million for cancer research.

Animal: The Great Bear Rainforest is home to the rare Kermode Bear (aka Spirit Bear), which is recognized as B.C.’s Provincial Animal. The bear was named after Frank Kermode, who helped discover the animal. Spotting a Spirit Bear is said to bring good luck. One bear, nicknamed Clover, is believed to be the first in captivity, after the cub was abandoned and not suitable for release into the wild.

Spirit Bear

Invention: In 1911, the modern Egg Carton was invented by Joseph Coyle, a newspaper editor and publisher in Smithers. Coyle developed the device to help settle a disagreement between a farmer and hotel owner over deliveries often resulting in numerous broken eggs. Eggs were previously transported in baskets. Coyle turned the creation into a successful business venture.

Crime: B.C. has a sordid history, with criminals such as Robert Pickton and Clifford Olsen part of our unfortunate past. Pickton confessed to 49 murders, following the discovery of various remains on his family pig farm in 2002. Olsen, known as the Beast of British Columbia, killed 11 kids and teens in the early 1980’s. There’s also the Highway of Tears in Northern B.C., where at least 80 women have gone missing or been murdered from.

Sports Team: The Vancouver sports scene features three teams, the Vancouver Canucks (NHL), B.C. Lions (CFL) and Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS). From 1995 to 2001, there used to also be the Vancouver Grizzlies (NBA), but after six dreadful seasons, the franchise relocated to Memphis. Despite their short existence, the Grizzlies still have a cult following in the province and outside it.

Athlete: Two Burnaby-born icons fill this category. Hockey star Joe Sakic (commonly referred to as ‘Burnaby Joe’) and Christine Sinclair, perhaps the greatest female soccer player of all-time, both come from the Vancouver suburb. In Burnaby, a street has been named after Sakic, while Sinclair’s name is attached to a community centre located near Joe Sakic Way.

Grizzlies

Famous Home: Because so much filming is done in B.C., many recognizable homes from TV and movies can be found. This includes Archie’s house from Riverdale, the home Happy Gilmore is trying to save for his grandma, and Jacob’s property from the Twilight franchise. For something a little more historical, there’s Craigdarroch Castle in Victoria. It was designated a National Historic Site in 1992.

Urban Legend: B.C. is home to some legendary mythical creatures, including the Sasquatch – was even used as one of the 2010 Olympics mascots, named Quatchi – and Ogopogo, a water monster said to inhabit Okanagan Lake. There have also been various sightings of mermaids, sometimes made along B.C. Ferry routes. It’s almost as if they want to be seen.

Museum: The Revelstoke Railway Museum is home to the Last Spike at Craigellachie, which completed the Canadian Pacific Railway’s cross-country expansion in 1885. This construction made the line the first transcontinental railway in Canada. The spike was driven into the ground by financier Donald Smith, then removed and turned into a souvenir for some of the wives of Craigellachie.

Firsts: Kim Campbell, born in Port Alberni, became the first female Prime Minister of Canada in 1993. Although her term only lasted 132 days (the third shortest in the country’s history), it was still a gender barrier-breaking moment. Canadian women’s magazine Chatelaine named Campbell its Woman of the Year for 1993. To date, she is the only Prime Minister to come from B.C.

Mermaids

Company: A family-favourite dining spot for the Sip Family is White Spot, famous for their comfort food. The company, founded almost 100 years ago in 1928, has branched out to offering their wares in fast food settings, with those locations known as Triple-O’s (named after the restaurant’s popular burger sauce). Mrs. Sip and I had part of our first-ever date at a White Spot, so I will always be fond of the chain.

Events: Two events put the province on the world stage: Expo 86 and the 2010 Olympics. Expo 86 marked only the second time a Canadian city hosted a World’s Fair, with the theme being “Transportation and Communication: World in Motion – World in Touch”. At the 2010 Olympics, Canada set a new record for gold medals at an Olympics, capped by winning the hockey tournament on Sidney Crosby’s ‘Golden Goal’.

Miscellaneous: Ladysmith’s own Pamela Anderson, recognized for her role on TV show Baywatch and appearances in Playboy Magazine, was actually famous from the day she was born. Born on July 1, 1967, the 100th anniversary of Canada’s official founding, Anderson was Canada’s Centennial Baby… at least from British Columbia. It’s like she was destined to be a star.

Vancouver Cocktail

Vancouver Cocktail

  • 1.5 oz Gin
  • 0.75 oz Sweet Vermouth
  • 0.25 oz Benedictine
  • Dashes of Orange Bitters
  • Garnish with a Cucumber Slice

This drink was created in 1954 at the renowned Sylvia Hotel. Apparently, the recipe was lost until it was rediscovered by bartender and cocktail historian Steve Da Cruz in 2006. The beverage can now be found at various locations around Vancouver. I subbed my Jagermeister Spice for Benedictine, as I can’t justify buying a new bottle of something for a 0.25 oz serving.

Sip Trips #205: Dome Dining

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Well, the first month of 2022 is in the books and it was a pretty good one. Even with Mrs. Sip trying out a keto diet, we managed to have a lot of fun, especially since Mrs. Sip enjoyed a cheat day for her mid-month birthday. Here’s what we got up to in Januray:

To welcome 2022, on New Year’s Day, the Sip Family had a delicious meal at The Keg. My beverage of the Yellow Dog High 5 Hazy IPA combined very well with my Keg Burger with Fries. I had stopped ordering the Keg Burger a few years back when they sadly changed the beef blend the burger was made with. I’m glad I finally gave it another shot because although I still miss how the burger was done when I originally fell in love with it, it’s still a pretty damn good meal.

The next day, we met up with a friend at 3 Dogs Brewing in White Rock. I enjoyed servings of their I Like Big Mutts Hazy Tangerine IPA and K-Nein Mandarin Kolsch, as well as the walk I took with Boy Sip between the two brews, so he could stretch his legs and see the cars and trucks he has become obsessed with as he enters the toddler stage of life.

Toddler

The next weekend, Mrs. Sip and I were offered a childless night from Ma and Pa Sip. We took advantage of the occasion with a visit to Piva Modern Italian, where we used some of the gift card Ma and Pa Sip gave us for Christmas. Mrs. Sip and I split the Calamari Steak, which was very tasty with olive tapenade on top. To drink, I had the Viola cocktail (Empress Gin float, Cointreau, lemon, mango syrup, guava, soda), which was very refreshing thanks to the citrus and soda blend.

Afterwards, as Mrs. Sip did some shopping for snacks for her new diet, I went to the 8th Street Liquor Store, where I bought a single tall can of Stanley Park Deck the Malts Holiday Ale. I hadn’t had the chance to try the seasonal release prior to this and the brew came at a slightly discounted price, so how could I refuse the offer.

Another liquor shopping trip resulted in Mrs. Sip picking up two flavours of Nude Vodka Soda (Strawberry Kiwi and Watermelon), as well as Pyur Coconut Vodka Soda. I’ve enjoyed all three variations and it always feels good to get your drink on and know you’re not sacrificing too much in the calorie intake category.

Calories

Stocking up for a guys’ drinking night the next weekend, I visited the Clayton Liquor Store. There, I bought tall can four-packs of Steel and Oak Throw Blanket West Coast IPA and Boombox Paradise City Passionfruit Coconut IPA, along with a single can of Dead Frog Field Tripper Hazy Rye IPA. The Paradise City was particularly good, with a hint of coconut at the back end of each sip.

As for the guys’ night, our first stop of the evening was Farm Country Brewing. I’ve always liked Farm Country’s set up and enjoyed this stay too, with orders of the Last Call Cocktail Inspired Ale and Hoppy Tonk 2.0 Azacca Fresh Hop IPA.

Next up, was Camp Brewing. I love that Camp sticks with their theming, offering smokies and s’mores on their food menu. I took advantage of that, eating the Ranger Danger Smokie (Korean BBQ sauce, mayo, honey mustard, cilantro, sesame seeds), which really hit the spot. We stayed here for a while, enjoying the fire pit spot that opened up shortly after we arrived, with the Sip Advisor downing pints of Kodiak West Coast Brown Ale, Fall Camp Smoked Amber Ale and Winter Camp Gingersnap Ale. The only downside of the evening was a random woman coming up to us as she was leaving, informing us we had stolen their spot at the fire pit. This, after we asked a server for permission to move and had been sitting at the spot for an hour and a half before being approached. Had the woman come up to us earlier, we would have happily given up the spot in the name of good liquor karma.

Karma

Later that week, we celebrated Mrs. Sip’s birthday with the extravagant Winterlust dome dining experience at H Tasting Lounge. We began with an arrival bottle of bubbly and cheese and meat charcuterie plates. My cocktails consumed during our 2.5-hour reservation, included the Balrog’s Demise (Ardbeg Wee Beastie Scotch, Goslings Black Seal Rum, Lemon Hart 151, Cherry Heering, Averna, pineapple, lime, coconut, tiki bitters, spice), Cut The Chit Chat (Maker’s Mark Bourbon, Cynar, Campari, Apricot Liqueur, antica formula, hellfire bitters) and Isle of Man (Copper Spirits White Rye, Esquimalt Dry Vermouth, Boomsma Genever, Maraschino Liqueur, Sombra Mezcal). I also had tastes of some of Mrs. Sip’s beverages, including Bobby’s A Cinephile (ghee washed Lemon Hart 151 Rum, Angostura 5yr Rum, roasted corn lemon, vegan foamer, popcorn) and Like, Basically (strawberry jacked Absolut Vodka, O5 Elderflower Soda, Chambord, Galliano, lemon). Each cocktail was delicious and presented uniquely. This included my Balrog’s Demise being lit on fire and the Cut the Chit Chat coming in it’s own hand-painted flask, while Mrs. Sip’s Bobby’s A Cinephile was served in a popcorn bag, with caramel corn. To eat, I ordered the HTL Smash Burger and also enjoyed shared plates of Crispy Brussels Sprouts, Chicken Wings and Bread & Oil. The meal wrapped with the restaurant serving up some slices of birthday cake, which we all shared. The experience was well worth it and we had no problem surpassing the $300 minimum order, even though our group was only four people, instead of the six we had originally planned.

With the Sipplings staying over at Ma and Pa Sip’s for the night, we also managed to hit the House of Comedy for a show. As if we needed more food, upon arriving, we ordered the Chicken Tenders and Chips & Guac. To drink, I enjoyed the Dark Humor cocktail, which is their version of a Dark N’ Stormy.

We wrapped the month with a Vancouver Canucks game. Prior to heading to the arena, I needed some dinner and went to White Spot for my meal. I paired a pint of Granville Island Lions Winter Ale with a Legendary Burger Platter. It was a fantastic meal and set me up nicely for the hockey ahead.

Burger and Beer

At the game, I got a large-size Parkside Dreamboat IPA. It was nice to have the arena at 50 per cent capacity, for ease of moving around, emptier bathrooms and bar line ups, as well as using transit home. Of course, a packed stadium is good too, but I will enjoy the limited crowd while it lasts.

February promises to be a very interesting month, as the Sip Family goes on their first international vacation since November 2019. We’ll be staying at an all-inclusive resort in Mexico, so that will surely provide some good material for next month’s Sip Trips!

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 #203: November Nostalgia

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Another month is in the books and with two trips to Whistler and the celebration of two friends turning 40, there was a fair bit going on. Here’s what the Sip Family got up to throughout November:

The month began with me and a friend meeting up for a Vancouver Canucks game. Our night started at Original Joe’s, where we took advantage of their Tuesday 49-cent Wings special. I enjoyed servings of their Teriyaki and Salt & Vinegar varieties, paired with a couple of their own Red Ales. I liked that the wings at Original Joe’s were quite meaty, which you sometimes don’t get, especially when the item is on special.

Wings

As for the game, the Canucks pushed the Anaheim Ducks to overtime, but eventually lost. Over the course of the contest, I enjoyed a large Parkside Dreamboat IPA upon arrival, followed by a Captain Morgan Spiced Rum and Coke picked up during each intermission.

Not content to head home just yet – and happy to let the Skytrain rush dissipate – my evening finished with a visit to Devil’s Elbow Ale & Smoke House. Here, I ordered a guest tap pint of Container Three Legged Mare English Brown Ale, which was very good.

Our first trip to Whistler of the month was a family expedition. Our adventure started with having a late lunch at Howe Sound Brewpub in Squamish. I paired my delicious Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich with a pint of Howe Sound’s Habanero Fudge Robust Porter. I would have welcomed a little more heat with this beer, but I understand not going overboard on the spice makes the brew easier for some to handle.

Hot Chicken

Once in Whistler, we had one meal each day in the village. First up, was the infamous Longhorn Saloon, where despite a DJ being on site and blasting loud music, Boy Sip managed to sleep through the visit. I ordered The Cowboy Brisket Wrap and a Deep Cove Hazy IPA, which provided a good meal. That said, I was disappointed by Longhorn’s beer and cocktail offerings and their prices are a little tough to swallow, seemingly inflated so people will buy a membership to the Gibbons network of restaurants there, allowing them discounts on food and drink purchases.

The next day, we enjoyed dinner at High Mountain Brewhouse. I began the feast with a tasty (and fragrant) Pomegranate Basil Smash cocktail. For food, I went with the Wild Sockeye Salmon Burger, which was very good. I had originally glossed right over the menu item, but a second look revealed a number of components that piqued my interest: spicy teriyaki glaze, tempura vegetables and wasabi mayo. I was very satisfied with the order, which went quite well with my 5 Rings IPA.

The following weekend was highlighted by a friend’s 40th birthday bash, which he planned more extravagantly than some weddings I’ve attended. Before we get to that, though, Mrs. Sip and I decided to stay overnight at Downtown Vancouver’s Fairmont Waterfront for the night. We began our stay with cocktails at the hotel’s Arc Restaurant. There, Mrs. Sip and I split a trio of cocktails, including the Rum & Winter Spice (winter spice-infused Bacardi 8, Grand Marnier, orange juice, lemon juice, simple syrup); Blackberry Mule (Grey Goose Vodka, ginger beer, lime juice, simple syrup, blackberries) and Rosemary Gimlet (Wayward/Waterfront Gin, Green Chartreuse, honey syrup, lime juice, sprig of rosemary).

Mini Bar

Those built a good base buzz for the events of the evening, which included ordering room service from Arc. For this dinner, I had a delicious Char-Grilled Angus Cheeseburger and Caesar Salad. Their fries were also very good, which Mrs. Sip had with her enormous Smoked Turkey Sandwich serving (like seriously, there was two full sandwiches part of this platter).

The birthday was held at the Croatian Cultural Centre, with about 160 guests in attendance. Along with an open bar, entertainment included dueling pianos, followed by karaoke. Mrs. Sip and I had a fantastic night, returning to our accommodation at 3am. Thank god for the Fairmont’s late checkout!

The month wrapped with another visit to Whistler. After settling into our Airbnb condo, we ventured to Joe Fortes for après hour. Mrs. Sip and I split the Joe’s Chilled Seafood Platter, along with an order of Truffle Parmesan Fries. The fries were scrumptious and consuming the platter (filled with oysters, mussels, clams, prawns, two types of tuna, and scallop ceviche) felt decadent. To drink, I had a pair of Coast Mountain Hope You’re Happy IPAs.

Seafood

As we paid the bill, our server suggested checking out The Raven Room cocktail bar. That advice did not disappoint, as we split a trio of libations, comprised of: the Paper Crane (gin, sake, Aperol, lemon juice, yuzu, sesame oil); Mom Wants the Pool Boy (sugar snap pea-infused tequila, cucumber liqueur, lime juice, agave syrup); and I Want S’more (graham cracker-infused bourbon, Frangelico, Crème de Cacao, espresso, salted chocolate). Of the three, I liked the Mom Wants the Pool Boy best, thanks to the cucumber liqueur.

Later that night, we met up with the rest of our group, including the birthday girl, at Tapley’s Pub. There, we shared a few pitchers of beer, but Mrs. Sip and I weren’t up to eating anything, following our indulgence at Joe Fortes earlier.

The next afternoon, we all finally reconvened at Caramba!, taking advantage of their happy hour. Mrs. Sip got the Jumbo Caesar, which came with two sliders and some other goodies mixed in, while I had two Strange Fellows Pale Ales.

Caesar

Up next, was El Furniture Warehouse across the way, for their Power Hour. This gives customers one hour to buy 8-ounce beers for $1.95. Over the hour, I downed six Dam Amber beers, while we also partook in a round of shots, with Mrs. Sip and I choosing to do Burt Reynolds (Spiced Rum and Butterscotch Schnapps) shooters. For eats, I went with the Fingers & Fries, which while tasty, was more fries than fingers. What can you expect, though, for the low price of $5.95? All menu items here are between $5.95-$7.95, thus making it a very popular place.

That was it for the month. December promises to be its usual insane sprint to the finish. The calendar is already filled with outings – both adult and family-friendly alike – with Mrs. Sip always finding space to shoehorn in another activity!

Sip Trips #202: October Ovations

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Well, the Halloween month has come and gone and it wasn’t actually as active as I thought it would be, at least when it comes to boozy activities. Perhaps, that’s because much of the latter half of the month was spent doing family activities at community centers and the like and sadly, liquor doesn’t flow on these occasions. Here’s what the Sip Family got up to:

October began with my first trip to Rogers Arena since March 2020, to watch a pre-season NHL contest between the Vancouver Canucks and Winnipeg Jets. To celebrate the return – and also to not have to wear a mask for the entire game – me and Pa Sip took turns paying for rounds of Captain Morgan and Coke beverages. I went with Spiced Rum, while Pa Sip selected the Dark Rum. The Canucks won the game too, so it all made for a pretty good way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Later that week, Mrs. Sip and I met up with a friend on Port Moody’s Brewers Row. On this visit, we achieved a new feat, by doing the entire Row (which I had only done twice before), including the distillery for the first time ever. We began our adventure at Yellow Dog Brewing, where I had the Flora & Fauna Gin Botanical IPA, while Mrs. Sip chose the Octoberish Festbier (a Neighbourhood Brewing guest tap).

Walk

Next up, was Twin Sails Brewing, where Mrs. Sip and I shared a flight comprised of the Blue Crush Blueberry Wheat Ale, Would Crush Raspberry Wheat Ale, Cookie Jar Oatmeal Fudge Stout and Low Life Festbier. Our following stop was Rocky Point Spirits. I elected to have a Moscow Mule and we each imbibed in one of their Vaccine shots, celebrating another pandemic era gathering.

From there, we moved on to Parkside Brewing for pints of their Dreamboat Hazy IPA for me and Pleasantside Mixed Berry Ale for Mrs. Sip. With time running out, we quickly moved on to The Bakery, where I enjoyed their Fresh Hop Amber Ale. The night ended with a last minute stop into the about-to-close Moody Ales, completing the Brewers Row circuit. Here, I enjoyed a celebratory London Red (Cask) Red Ale.

For the Thanksgiving long weekend, the extended Sip Family travelled to Oliver/Osoyoos for a getaway that included a number of winery stops. Our first sojourn of the vacation was Covert Farms, which offered an animal tour and other options geared towards kids. I did manage to have a glass of their Sauvignon Blanc Semillon, as the ladies in our group enjoyed an extended tasting experience.

thanksgiving

Following the winery, where I largely chased the Sipplings around, I was owed a little brewery time, so we popped into Firehall Brewing. The visit wasn’t as relaxed as I would have wanted, but the kids were understandably done with sitting patiently, following a long drive and getting to play at Covert Farms. I did enjoy my Stoked Ember ESB and also got to try Mrs. Sip’s White Hat Witbier.

The next morning was spent hitting a few more wineries in the Oliver area, including Gehringer Brothers, Hester Creek and Castoro de Oro. Again, I was mostly on child care duty and only had a few sips of vino along the way.

For lunch, we went to the District Wine Village, which will be a really neat destination once they work out a few kinks. There’s basically a large central courtyard, surrounded by various winey tasting rooms. One of the issues is a lack of food options. We ordered a couple pizzas from the Trading Post Brewing location there (along with an Amber Ale), but a few other eating choices would be great, such as a burger place. It was also weird to not be able to take your drink with you to your table and have to be escorted by an employee, but it must have something to do with their liquor license.

pizza

En route back to our hotel, I picked up a tall can four-pack of Highway 97 Mountain Man Cranberry & Orange Witbier, which I enjoyed quite a bit during our nightly happy hours. The next morning, we started at Intersection Vineyards. I was stuck in car with a napping Boy Sip, so also enjoyed a little snooze myself.

Sadly, the one brewery we wanted to visit in Osoyoos, North Basin Brewing, was unexpectedly closed when we tried to hit it. We knew they would be shutdown on the holiday Monday, but when we tried to go there on the Sunday, there was a closed notice on the door. Had we known it would work out that way, we would have made more of an effort to get there on the Friday or Saturday.

After some hotel pool time for the kids, we got an adult afternoon out and went to the nearby Tumbleweed Spirits. While they weren’t serving cocktails during our visit, we did try a series of their libations. My set included the Fireweed Whiskey as well as Blueberry, Cherry, Raspberry and Maple Moonshines. Following the tasting, we bought bottles of the Raspberry and Maple Moonshines, which I look forward to experimenting with soon.

moonshine

Not content to return to our little monsters just yet, we also did a tasting at Lakeside Cellars. This sitting was comprised of their 2020 Bubbles, 2020 Sauvignon Blanc, 2019 Portage White, 2020 Rose, 2017 Portage Red, and 2016 Provenir.

In the middle of October, we began binging Squid Game on Netflix. To fully embrace the Korean spirit of the show, I picked up a couple bottles of Soju (Strawberry and Mango), a bag of Korean BBQ potato chips and we picked up dinner from Chicko Chicken. We enjoyed the chicken so much, we ordered it again following trick-or-treating on Halloween night.

Near the end of the month, we finally got to enjoy a portion or Mrs. Sip’s January birthday gift, which was unfortunately originally cancelled due to pandemic restrictions. Prior to our fun magic show at the Hidden Wonders Speakeasy, we had a small meal at El Santo, sharing orders of the Enchiladas Suizas and Al Pastor Tacos. My beverage of choice was the Batanga (tequila, Ancho Reyes verde, lime, cola, salt rim), which I liked. As for the show, my only complaint was not being able to have a speakeasy cocktail, but perhaps these are offered when outside of pandemic restrictions.

speakeasy

Our last event of October was attending the Vancouver Canucks vs. Philadelphia Flyers. This would be Boy Sip’s first live hockey game, given he was born right as the pandemic was sweeping the world. After a mix up regarding us bringing in Boy Sip’s diaper bag, Mrs. Sip calmed her frustration by grabbing us some brews, which for me consisted of the Stanley Park 1897 Amber Ale.

The calendar for November is already filling up, with two trips to Whistler (including a much-needed vacay sans kids) and a friend’s 40th birthday. All of which should be a ton of fun as we also gear up for another crazy Christmas!

Sip Trips #181: Tidings of Joy

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The last few weeks of December have been filled with a bunch of events, usually geared around Christmas and family time together. Here’s what we’ve been up to during the marathon holiday season:

Earlier this month, Mrs. Sip and I attended the Vancouver Canucks vs. Toronto Maple Leafs contest, which may be the closest I ever come to a playoff atmosphere live. I had also circled this game on the calendar, as the perfect opportunity to use my member gift card, of which I used nearly all of the $50 total on two tasty 24oz Postmark Juicy Pale Ales and a BLT from the Bacon food stand, which really hit the spot. Sadly, this is the first time we’ve attended this rivalry meeting where the Canucks lost, but the night was still fun.

TML

A couple nights later, we were out at Glow: Abbotsford, which had the same food menu as the Vancouver location, but a better selection of beers. I went with a Parallel 49 Filthy Dirty IPA to pair with my Buffalo Chicken Fries and half Philly Cheesesteak (split with Ma Sip). The fries were a little too spicy for my liking, but the meal overall was good. We finished off with a bucket of Mini Donuts to compliment everything. My Fried Chicken Burger, enjoyed when we revisited Glow: Vancouver later in the month was tremendous.

That weekend, while in the area to do the Vancouver Aquarium and Stanley Park Christmas Train, Mrs. Sip and I visited Stanley Park Brewing. My Fried Chicken and Waffles was perhaps the best serving I’ve ever had of this favoured dish. Meanwhile, my Big Jan IPA paired very well with the meal. Following the train, we enjoyed our annual family dinner at White Spot, where I enjoyed a few glasses of Granville Island Lions Winter Ale from a pitcher ordered for the table.

Christmas Day brought a number of liquor-themed gifts, including Cocktail Balls, Orgeat Syrup, a bomber of Steamworks Salted Chocolate Porter and mini bottle of Ole Smokey Moonshine Butter Pecan from Mrs. Sip. From the Sip-in-Laws, I also received a $50 gift card to Liquor Depot, which I can’t wait to use and look forward to a different selection than that of BC Liquor Stores, which I’ve become accustomed to.

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For our family’s Christmas dinner, I concocted a handful of cocktails to serve. These included the Jingle Juice (Gin, Club Soda, Cranberry-Lemonade Juice, Lemon Juice); Mele Kalikimaka (Captain Morgan Gingerbread Spiced Rum, Pineapple Juice, Lime Juice); Yule Mule (Candy Cane Vodka, Ginger Beer, Lime Juice); Snowflake (Tarantula Azul Tequila, Sprite Winter Spiced Cranberry, Coconut Flakes); and Winter Comfort Shooter (Jack Daniel’s Winter Jack and Southern Comfort Gingerbread). Once again, the cocktails went over really well with the crew.

On Boxing Day, we met up with friends for a beer at the newly-opened Five Roads Brewing. I ordered the Christmas Staycation Red IPA (collab with Farm Country and Camp), to go along with a Margherita Pizza shared with Mrs. Sip. This was Baby Sip’s 80th brewery visited, a stat which I’m very proud of!

What a way to end the year and the decade, as well. Our New Year’s Eve will be spent with a quiet night in and we greatly look forward to what 2020 has to offer including a calendar that is quickly filling up and a baby boy on the way!