Tag Archives: Vancouver

BC Beer Baron #335 – Main Street Naked Fox IPA

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Over the past year, Main Street Brewing has become a favourite stop for Mrs. Sip and myself, along with members of the Sip Syndicate. On a recent visit, the Sip Advisor imbibed with this strong release and I think I may have found a favourite.

The Naked Fox IPA uses hops from both North America and the Southern Hemisphere to achieve a dry, hoppy drinking experience. At 6.8% ABV and 55 IBUs, the beverage is right in the Sip Advisor’s wheelhouse and I love the varying tropical fruit tastes.

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Released in March 2016, the brew is available in bomber-sized bottles at BC Liquor Stores, as well as private establishments. The company has a good rotation of products, but this one should become a flagship, if it hasn’t already.

The brew’s logo features a baller of a fox, with what looks to be a chain and pendant that would put Flavor Flav in his place! Main Street writes: “Born from infamy, our Naked Fox is a sly one.” While I don’t understand the nudity, I’ll take this beer any day!

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BC Beer Baron #334 – R&B Dude Chilling Pale Ale

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On a recent outing with a friend through the Brewery Creek district of Vancouver, we stopped into R&B Brewing’s tasting room. There, I spotted this drink on their tap menu and immediately knew I had to experience it.

The Dude Chilling Pale Ale is all natural and unfiltered. The 5.2% ABV, 40 IBUs product is “for those who crave hops” and pairs well “with all styles of simple or exotic foods, tapas and cheeses.” It’s a universal beer, perfect for the brewery’s year-round lineup.

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Although the beverage was only recently released on tap and in bomber bottles, it has quickly become R&B’s top seller, beating out former leaders Stolen Bike Lager and Vancouver Special IPA. Head brewer Rod Hughes was happy to add it to their core brands.

As I enjoyed the beer, my friend informed me there’s actually a Dude Chilling Park (aka Guelph Park) in East Vancouver. The park’s sign, originally installed as a prank, but now considered art, features on the brew’s label.

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BC Beer Baron #333 – Brassneck Fantasmagoria Horchata Milk Stout

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For whatever reason, on a recent visit to Brassneck Brewing, this beverage option caught my eye. I’m glad I left my comfort zone with this one, as it ended up being my favourite beer of the evening out.

Although the name is a bit of a tongue twister, the Fantasmagoria Horchata Milk Stout was a very good brew. I wasn’t sure I would like the stout, given the use of Horchata in its recipe, but I appreciated the cinnamon spice that resulted.

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First brewed in October 2016, the 7% ABV drink features a nice blend of the cinnamon spice and roasted malts a stout is typically known for. The inspiration for this product came from Brassneck’s brewers trying a Horchata Cold Brew Coffee.

Horchata, of course, is a milky beverage that is popular in Latin American countries. The drink is often made with ground almonds or rice and cinnamon and sometimes also contains vanilla and other spices.

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BC Beer Baron #326 – Granville Island False Creek Raspberry Ale

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For the benefit of guests (and in particular, the Sip Advisor), Ma and Pa Sip recently grabbed a case of beer for those visiting their amazing home. That pack was from Granville Island Brewing, a long-time favourite among the Sip Alliance.

Among that pack – the company’s Summer Mingler – is the False Creek Raspberry Ale. A refreshing and tart brew, perfect for outdoor summer drinking, the beer is made with Fraser Valley raspberries. Part of the brewery’s seasonal line-up, the 4.5% ABV, 11 IBUs product received a silver medal at the 2013 Canadian Brewing Awards in the Fruit Beer category.

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The ale is available in six-packs and the aforementioned Summer Mingler, in both canned and bottled formats. Both mixed cases also include the Two Tides ISA, with the bottled version being completed by the Hey Day Hefeweizen and English Bay Pale Ale, while the canned release is rounded out by the Cypress Honey Lager and Island Lager.

The beer, named for the waterway that separates Granville Island from Vancouver’s downtown core, is best paired with salads featuring chicken and light dressings. It also combines well with certain desserts, such as raspberry mousse.

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BC Beer Baron #324 – 33 Acres of Darkness

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Each month, as part of this 366-day BC craft beer extravaganza that I will be sharing with you throughout 2016, I will highlight a specific style or theme of beers for a whole week of articles. With all the crazy brewing options out there, lagers sometimes get lost in the shuffle. That’s why the Sip Advisor is giving them their own feature week. After all, we should support and give thanks to the beers that brought many of us to this craft beer dance!

While visiting the Salt Tasting Room in Gastown for the very first time, the Sip Advisor selected this 33 Acres Brewing product to accompany my charcuterie plate. I must say the drink paired well with my meat and condiment platter (no cheese for this guy!).

The 33 Acres of Darkness is a Schwarzbier, meaning black beer, and is a term often used for dark lagers. While lagers in general seem to have been forgotten by many craft brewers, this 5% ABV, 30 IBUs beverage is a fantastic example of what can be achieved if the style is utilized. Flavours of chocolate and coffee highlight this refreshing creation.

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One of the brewery’s flagship releases, the beer is available in bottled six-packs at the brewery, as well as at BC Liquor Stores and private retailers. If you want to try the brew before purchasing a larger quantity, check out 33 Acres ‘quarry’ tasting room and get yourself a rare 24-ounce serving.

The Schwarzbier style comes to us from Germany, where it was first conceived in the Middle Ages. In fact, the oldest known black beer, the Braunschweiger Mumme, dates back to 1390. The variety is similar to stout beers in that they get their colour from dark and roasted malts.

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BC Beer Baron #318 – Big Rock Mosaic Lager

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Each month, as part of this 366-day BC craft beer extravaganza that I will be sharing with you throughout 2016, I will highlight a specific style or theme of beers for a whole week of articles. With all the crazy brewing options out there, lagers sometimes get lost in the shuffle. That’s why the Sip Advisor is giving them their own feature week. After all, we should support and give thanks to the beers that brought many of us to this craft beer dance!

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

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

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

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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

BC Beer Baron #313 – Whistler Whiskey Jack Ale

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While recently competing in a Disney Trivia event at The Pint, in Vancouver, the Sip Advisor was able to reacquaint himself with an old friend from Whistler Brewing… a pal I wasn’t sure even existed anymore.

The Whiskey Jack Ale is described as either a pale or amber ale, but the beverage reminds me of a Scotch ale, with its dark copper appearance and flavour profile. I would have preferred some even stronger tastes and smells, typical of that variety of beer.

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The brew comes in at 5% ABV and is light on hops, making it very easy to drink. Some more complexity would have been welcomed, but it’s still a solid beer. The ale is available in six-packs at BC Liquor Stores.

A whiskey jack, for those who don’t know, is a bird belonging to the crow and jay family. As the brewery writes: “Like our winged friends on the mountain, this ale is full of personality, with just the right amount of hop!”

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BC Beer Baron #312 – Steamworks Flagship IPA

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With a Halloween party to attend last week, the Sip Advisor thought long and hard about what to bring to keep my thirst quenched. The answer was obvious, once this Steamworks Brewing product popped into my devious mind.

The Flagship IPA is very good, featuring Mosaic, Galaxy and Citra hops, for an explosive tropical fruit drinking experience. The northeast style India Pale Ale comes with stats of 6.7% ABV and 65 IBUs, making it perfect for all the hopheads out there… myself included.

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Released just last month, the brew is available in bottled six-packs, as well as the brewery’s Mash Up Tall Can Pack. The beer can also be had at Steamworks Brewpub in Downtown Vancouver and has already joined the company’s year-round lineup.

The Flagship IPA earned Steamworks the top prize at the 2016 BC Beer Awards, receiving the Best in Show accolade. All I know, is when I ended up sharing a couple bottles with friends at the party, it was a hit all around.

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BC Beer Baron #304 – Main Street Red Back Amber Ale

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Perfect for the Halloween season and with today being Devil’s Night, why not review this Main Street Brewing product, which features a red-backed spider as part of its logo? After all, the red back arachnid is both poisonous and into sexual cannibalism.

The Red Back Amber Ale comes from the American Amber/Red Ale family and features four different hop varieties, which deliver a punch of tropical fruit flavours and bitterness. Like a spider’s web, Main Street warns that the brew “is easy to get ensnared in” and that’s one trap I’d be happy to have in my face.

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This 7% ABV, 60 IBUs seasonal release is available in bomber-sized bottles at private liquor stores, as well as on tap at Main Street, through the winter months. It first debuted in cask form in October 2014, before moving to bottles in January 2015.

The Red Back Amber Ale took home a silver medal from the 2015 Canadian Brewing Awards in the Best American Style Amber/Red Ale category. I can’t think of a better beverage (aside from absinthe) to pair with my and Mrs. Sip’s feast, honouring James Patrick March from American Horror Story: Hotel.

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