Tag Archives: Vancouver Island

BC Beer Baron #179 – Tofino Dark Lager

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Sadly, I finally worked my way through the set of four bombers Ma and Pa Sip picked up for me from Tofino Brewing, while they were visiting Vancouver Island earlier this year. And what a set those two non-beer drinkers selected for yours truly.

The Dark Lager is unfiltered and all natural. At 4.5% ABV, it is lighter than one would expect, but the roasted malts provide a strong flavour to the beverage. As the folks at Tofino put it, the results in a “delicate balance of dark and light.”

Tofino Dark Lager

This winter seasonal is available in bomber-sized bottles, as well as on tap at the brewery for growler fills and other servings. Tofino also has a more traditional lager, as part of their lineup.

Having now tried a fair bit of Tofino Brewing’s releases, I would still love to get my hands on their Hunt & Gather Kettle Sour, Cosmic Wave Double IPA, and Spruce Tree Ale, to name a few. I have been greatly impressed with the brewery, thanks to my bomber set experience.

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BC Beer Baron #131 – Tofino Hoppin’ Cretin IPA

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The Sip Advisor loves getting gifts from Mrs. Sip and Ma and Pa Sip, whenever they return from travelling… especially, when they’re of the booze variety. Therefore, when Ma and Pa Sip recently gifted me with a four-pack of Tofino Brewing bombers from their trip to Vancouver Island, I was thrilled.

Among that mixed pack was the Hoppin’ Cretin IPA, which was a very good India Pale Ale with very pleasing stats of a 7.5% ABV and 60 IBUs. This is the type of IPA that drinkers should try before they completely give up on this variety of beverage. They may come away pleasantly surprised.

Tofino Hoppin' Cretin IPA

I’m not entirely sure what’s behind the name of this beer, but one description I found for the brew states: “There’s no stoppin’ the cretins from hoppin’”. A cretin, of course is an idiot, so I guess the ol’ Sip Advisor would fall under that category!

I would love to visit Tofino Brewing at some point (as well as other Vancouver Island spots) and just have to find the time to get over there. One day, a bridge will unite the mainland and island, all in the name of fine beer!

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BC Beer Baron #12 – Driftwood Crooked Coast Altbier

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I have previously enjoyed Driftwood Brewing beers, such as their White Bark Witbier and Fat Tug IPA, so giving this beverage a shot wasn’t a difficult choice. For those unfamiliar, the alt style of beer comes from Dusseldorf, Germany and means “old beer”.

The Crooked Coast Altbier was good. While the brewery suggests pairings, including vegetables (celery, fennel and parsnips) and bratwurst and other pork products, I enjoyed it with a spaghetti dinner (complete with garlic bread and Caesar salad) prepared by Ma Sip, as we listened to some David Bowie tunes, in honour of his life.

Driftwood Crooked Coast Altbier

This Driftwood beer seems to have a story or legend attached to it: “On a misshapen island away from the eyes of the world, the inhabitants have twisted together German noble hops and Munich malt, an unholy Amber Ale brewed to trick the tongue. Do not speak its name. A crooked gesture will suffice.”

The saga depicted above had me intrigued and got me thinking that perhaps this was the perfect beer to toast Mr. Bowie, a master of creativity, innovation and character construction. Sometimes things just line up like this.

Mrs. Sip’s Take:

The beer had a bitter finish that I couldn’t get over, so the drink was better left in the hands of the Sip Advisor. I did love the artwork on the bottle, though, and wish credit to the artist had been available.

The lovely and adventurous Mrs. Sip and I have tossed around the idea of heading to Victoria on the upcoming Family Day long weekend to visit friends and make new ones at the many breweries located on Vancouver Island. Driftwood’s tasting room would definitely be on our route, if the mini vacation goes ahead.

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