Tag Archives: White Spot

Sip Trips #254: Avengers Assemble

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sip Trips #253: Sober October

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Well, the Sip Advisor spent this month not drinking. After a friend stated they planned to do the same, I wondered if it was even possible for me to pull off the feat. I kept it quiet as a bit of a social experiment, trying to see how long I could go before someone figured it out. If I was ever going to have a dry month, this was the time to do it. No travels, no big events, etc., while having to do a fair bit of driving for the functions we were attending. Here’s how the Sip Advisor survived the month:

October began with me taking the Siplings to a Vancouver Canucks pre-season game. I chose to drive for the occasion, rather than take transit. Our trio enjoyed dinner at White Spot prior to the contest, with me ordering the Legendary Burger with Caesar Salad… and a water.

The next day, I was tasked with driving Mrs. Sip and three other ladies to their one-day cruise from Seattle to Vancouver. Mrs. Sip offered many suggestions about where I could eat after dropping the crew off, but craft breweries were sadly out, as well as restaurants where I’d want to pair a beer with my meal. I ended up back close to home and trying Firehouse Subs for the first time, selecting the Club on a Sub, which was very good.

The next night, we were at Bozzini’s for a birthday dinner. Mrs. Sip and I split their tasty Butter Chicken Pizza. Our table ordered a pitcher of beer to split and it was tough turning down a glass, as I didn’t really have a reason not to have any at all. I could have just thrown out the whole idea of Dry October, especially since it was so early in the month, but I pressed on and once the first occasion was in the rearview mirror, I was rolling.

Our previously planned trip to Victoria for Mrs. Sip’s work that next week was greatly altered, with Mrs. Sip just travelling to Vancouver Island for a day. It would have been tough not to visit any breweries or have hotel drinks. This vacation disappearing probably helped me keep my cover longer, as Mrs. Sip would have surely busted me.

Thanksgiving dinner at Cousin Sip’s was also a challenge. Thankfully, we weren’t set to sleepover and I was on tap to be the designated driver. I mean, if there’s any group you want to drink around the most, it’s extended family! For the feast, I brought along two non-alcoholic beers that were sitting in our fridge from a previous visitor to fill the void and keep my story up. Let me be clear: non-alcoholic beer should be called non-good beer. Cousin Sip also offered me a taste of a new cream liqueur she had and I almost went for it, prior to remembering my mission. Luckily, I had the excuse that I really don’t like cream liqueurs, so the sample would be wasted on me.

The next day, while out doing family activities, Mrs. Sip suggested going to a brewpub for dinner. I had to research alternatives and in the end, we returned home with takeout pizza. That night, Mrs. Sip suggested we have drinks while building Ikea furniture, so I grabbed the last non-alcoholic beer in our fridge and faked a rum and cola. It was all cola and no rum.

The long weekend overall was slightly difficult. I did many things that are drink-inducing (shopping at Costco, building furniture) and this had me wanting to relax with a beverage. Nevertheless, I stuck to my guns and walked the straight edge path. It’s enough to make a man shudder!

The following weekend, we attended a Vancouver Whitecaps game. While meeting with friends before the game was supposed to be neutralized by me chaperoning Girl Sip at a birthday party, when we got downtown, Mrs. Sip and Boy Sip were still at Chambar, which has good selection of European beers. After not having a drink there, as well as at the game itself, Mrs. Sip finally put the pieces together and called me out on the dry spell. It was day 18 of the experiment.

She was incredulous that I hadn’t drank since our last day in Vegas at the end of September. Had I only faked taking a sip of the beer she wanted me to try, I could have kept the façade up, but maybe I was ready to be caught. The next day, I spilled the beans to Cousin Sip, who was meeting with Mrs. Sip at Township 7 Vineyards.

The rest of the month wasn’t too difficult to get through. I watched a couple Toronto Blue Jays playoff games, rooting for whoever their opponent was. There’s a sport that needs alcohol to make it even remotely watchable!

We also attended a trio of Halloween parties, but all were family-friendly and since I was driving, it was easy to not drink. I will say, I noticed myself being a little withdrawn at these gatherings, not as comfortable without a drink in my hand.

Another big drinking night for me is typically Halloween. That said, it was just as easy not to drink at all and simply enjoy taking the kids around the neighbourhood to collect treats. At least without the beverages, I wasn’t in need of a bathroom.

One of my “concerns” with this experiment was if I’d learn about some great improvement that would make me hesitant to return to drinking. Mrs. Sip pointed out that my skin was doing much better than recent times, particularly my face. She isn’t wrong, but who knows how much that has to do with going dry. Sadly, there was no noticeable drop in weight, as I didn’t alter my eating habits.

So, that was my Sober October. It will be torrential downpours going forward!

Sip Trips #240: Home Sweet Home

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

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

Beer Dinner

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

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

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

Soft Play

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

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

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

Disney on Ice

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

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

Sip Trips #233: Playoff Fever

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April was a very uneventful month, as far as outings go. We were trying to behave ourselves following our big Spring Break vacation and stayed in more than usual. That said, we did get up to a few things:

Upon arriving home from our epic Escondido road trip, we had dinner at Boston Pizza. I ordered the Royal Hawaiian pizza, but didn’t pair a drink with it, as it was finally time to do some post-holiday detox… I mean, at least for a day or two.

In the middle of the month, I took Girl Sip to our last regular season Vancouver Canucks game. As part of our daddy-daughter evening, we had a nice dinner at White Spot, where I ordered a pint of Bridge Bourbon Blood Orange Wheat Ale to go along with my Legendary Burger with Caesar Salad. Upon realizing that our game didn’t start until 7:30pm, instead of the typical 7:00pm, I added another beer to the tab in the Twin Sails Dat Juice Pale Ale.

Playoffs

The following week, the Canucks were in the playoffs and Mrs. Sip and I attended our first ever post-season contest. We also brought along each of our dads, as early Father’s Day gifts. Prior to the game, we had an amazing feast at Devil’s Elbow Ale & Smokehouse. We arrived just before happy hour ended, so I squeezed in an order of the Crosstown IPA. I would later add a pint of Neighbourhood Way of Life IPA. To eat, we got The Platter for FOUR, which includes pulled pork, beef brisket, sausage, back ribs, and wings, along with four sides, where we elected to add the sauteed mushrooms, coleslaw, fries and mac ‘n cheese cornbread. I particularly enjoyed the smoked wings and fries dipped in a grainy mustard they offered, but the whole spread was spectacular.

That’s it for the month. Shocking, I know. May should be a little more adventurous, including another getaway to Great Wolf Lodge in Washington. Until then, I guess I’ll have to continue (reluctantly) behaving myself!

Sip Trips #232: Escondido Escape

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

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

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

Work

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

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

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

Road Trip

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

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

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

Driving

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

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

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

Lego

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

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

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

Drinks

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

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

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

Returning Home

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

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

Sip Trips #231: Staying Local

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February was a very rare month for the Sip Family, where we didn’t travel anywhere. We remained local for the duration, but still got up to some shenanigans. Here’s how the month transpired:

With Girl Sip on a solo sleepover with Ma and Pa Sip and Mrs. Sip out for a girl’s night, Boy Sip and I spent some time together. After going to the Museum of Surrey and checking out their cool Lego exhibit, Boy Sip got to choose where we enjoyed dinner and he picked White Spot. While there, I had the Legendary Burger with Caesar Salad and a Spot Size Nat’s Pale Ale at happy hour. Boy Sip was happy to have his Pirate Pak Dippin’ Chicken, complete with vanilla milkshake and ice cream for dessert.

Ice Cream

Later on in February, Mrs. Sip and I began our early Valentine’s Day celebrations by attending the Township 7 Vineyards Love is Blind Wine Tasting for the third time in four years. I got one out of four right this year and the server said she saw where I was coming from with another of my answers, as it was a blended wine they offered. Ticket prices were $36 each and included some nibbles, both savoury and sweet, to go along with the wines.

The next night, we dropped into a Chocolate & Beer Pairing, hosted by Steel & Oak Brewing with Origins Chocolates Bar. Tickets were $30 each (total for two tickets, with taxes, came to $69, which I hope was entirely intentional!) and included four beer and chocolate combos. The set was comprised of Weekend Plans Passionfruit Lime Ale with Mission Chocolate (Dark Chocolate with Lime), First Press Cold Brew Coffee Stout with Tanzania Latte Chocolate, Anvil Imperial Stout with Peruvian Dark Milk Chocolate and Smoked Honey Doppelbock with Mirzam Papa New Guinea Dark Chocolate. We had fun at the event, with Mrs. Sip picking up a couple chocolate bars for the road.

In between our Valentine’s events, we had a dinner at Stefanos Greek Restaurant for friends who are moving away. Mrs. Sip and I shared a pitcher of Red Sangria as our beverage and I ate the Chicken Souvlaki platter. The food and company was good here, but our server disappeared at the end of the meal, despite an empty restaurant. This was annoying for Mrs. Sip and I, as we wanted to pay the bill and get home to bail out Ma and Pa Sip, who were with the Sipplings.

Valentine's Day

For Valentine’s Day treats for Mrs. Sip and myself, I bought bottles of Empress Elderflower Rose Gin and Smirnoff Tamarind Vodka, as they were on sale at BC Liquor Stores this month. I have since tried a couple recipes for the gin from the Empress website and used the vodka in a Caesar, with all drinks being good.

Our big event of the month was Girl Sip’s first ringette tournament out in Port Coquitlam. She played three games over the Family Day long weekend and we managed to visit Boardwalk Brewing during one of the breaks. There, I tried the Curious Creatures Parade of the Western Winds West Coast IPA. I also took home tall can four-packs of Boardwalk’s Mojo Mojito NEIPA and Belgian Waffle Belgian Strong from Odin Brewing.

Following the final game of the tournament, we returned home and went for dinner at Cockney Kings. Our group split an appetizer portion of Calamari, as well as the Haddock Family Pack, which includes five pieces of fish, two plates of fries and a large coleslaw. To pair with my meal, I had a pint of Okanagan Springs Pale Ale.

Fish and Chips

The following weekend, the Sip Advisor enjoyed a guy’s night out. The day began with drinks at Original Joe’s in Vancouver. I had two $5 happy hour glasses of OJ’s Red Ale, along with some Spicy Chicken Bites, which were good, but the serving of BBQ Ranch dip was waaaaaaaayyyyyy too small. Prior to heading to our Vancouver Canucks game, our crew also had a Pickleback Shot.

Over the course of the hockey game, I had a large Container Manifest Hazy Pale Ale and four Spiced Rum & Cokes. The team delivered a massive come from behind win in overtime to maintain first overall in the NHL, so all Canucks fans left happy.

Following the contest, a buddy and I had a nightcap at Browns Socialhouse, where I had a pint of Social IPA, to go along with my Sesame Ginger Gyoza. All in all, the day was a ton of fun and much needed for the ol’ Sip Advisor.

Hockey Drinking

Mrs. Sip and I were back at Rogers Arena just a few days later and despite trying to go to another restaurant, found ourselves back at Original Joe’s. This time, I ordered the daily special of Teriyaki Chicken Wings. My drink this time around ended up being the OJ’s Blonde Lager (tank size), as both the OJ’s Red Ale and a Winter Ale I was offered were out. The Lager ended up being served to me on the house, so I can’t complain.

We ended the month, on a rare Leap Day, by having dinner at Browns Socialhouse. Mrs. Sip was given a $10 gift card the original owner wasn’t going to use by its expiry date, so took the Sipplings with us to the eatery. I had the Szechuan Beef Noodle Bowl, with a pint of Social IPA. So… yeah, we basically had a $100 meal to spend someone else’s $10 rebate.

That wraps an eventful homebase February. March will be very different, as the Sip Advisor does his first long haul road trip. Over Spring Break, the whole crew will be heading to Escondido, California, for a couple weeks of fun in the sun!

Sip Trips #226: Sip-Tember Celebrations

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September is always a crazy time, filled with numerous birthdays and at least one getaway. This year, was no different. Here’s how it all played out:

The month began with a trip to Bellis Fair Mall in Bellingham, Washington, where we let the kids run wild at Playdate, as we took turns doing some shopping. Our drinks at the cafe included the Terramar Amber Ale and Stemma Hazy IPA. I still maintain there should be more places like this, where kids can play, while adults enjoy a beverage.

Following a friend’s wedding over the Labour Day long weekend, the Sip Family had lunch at Firecrust Pizza, a place Mrs. Sip had long wanted to check out. We ordered the California Club and Prosciutto Arugula pizzas, as well as a side of Mozza Bread for the kids. For dessert we all split two of their Epic Shakes in the Kit Krush and Candyland varieties. While I personally wouldn’t need to do the shakes again, I know the kids won’t allow that. My California Club pizza was delicious.

Pizza

More shopping occurred early in the month, as we geared up for birthdays and vacations. Following one trip, we had dinner at White Spot, where I had a Legendary Burger with Caesar Salad, paired with a Vancouver Island Beachcomber Hefeweizen. This has become my go to meal there over the summer and it’s quite satisfying.

As part of my 40th birthday celebrations, we hosted a Sip, Chip and Dip party, where guests were asked to bring their favourite sip, chip and go for a dip in Ma and Pa Sip’s pool, if weather permitted (and it did!). I was generously gifted a number of treats from family and friends, including many liquor bottles, beers and other items. The chip buffet went over very well and I hope to make this event an annual tradition on the social calendar!

The next day, after meeting with another family at the Museum of Surrey, we had a meal together at Hawthorne Beer Market. For drinks, I enjoyed the Twin Sails Could Crush Watermelon Wheat Ale and Bridge Get to the Choppa IPA, while Mrs. Sip and I shared the Nachos Callejeros. I hope to return to this restaurant in the future to try more items from their extensive menu.

Birthday

Later that week, prior to our performance of Little Shop of Horrors at The Stanley Theatre, we ate at the nearby Cactus Club. My dinner consisted of the Ugly Wheat Ale and Chicken Tenders and Fries, which was solid as usual.

For my actual birthday, we took the Sipplings for a game of bowling at Lucky 9 Lanes. This was followed by lunch at Monkey 9 Brewing, where I capitalized on the free birthday flight I was emailed, compiling the El Jefe Hefeweizen, Guava Loves Mango IPA, Chimp and Dales Hazy IPA and Mizaru Brown Ale. To eat, I had the Pork Belly Rice Bowl.

With the kids dropped off at Ma and Pa Sip’s place for a sleepover, Mrs. Sip and I attended the House of Comedy to see Josh Blue perform. My two item minimum was used on the Crispy Chicken Sandwich with Fries and a tall can of Steel & Oak Royal City Ale. The show was good, but there was a weird vibe with the crowd, with patrons constantly disrupting the show.

Stand Up

The next morning, we set off for our Vancouver to San Francisco cruise. This was the first time we ever bought the drink package aboard a ship, as it came with so many other perks (free internet, gratuities paid, premium desserts, etc.), it was really the best route to go. My mission for the voyage was to have 40 different cocktails and I finally finished the feat a few hours before we disembarked the ship. Some drinks, ordered through the Princess Cruises app, don’t even tell you what ingredients they include, but simply that they contain alcohol, so those were always a fun adventure!

Once off the cruise, we did a day excursion that ended with us all being dropped off at the airport. A highlight of this tour was the Sip Family walking across the famous Golden Gate Bridge, which took about 45 minutes to traverse. Lunch on this outing took place at the Ferry Building Marketplace, where we combined El Porteno Empanadas (Jamon, Champinion, Acelga) with a tall can of Bike Dog Dog Year’s IPA.

While the Sipplings, Ma and Pa Sip and Cousin Sip’s family all returned home, Mrs. Sip and I travelled to Las Vegas for the next leg of our 40th birthday vacation festivities. After checking into our awesome room at The Vdara (complete with kitchen amenities), we were off in search of a late night dinner. I wanted to go to Shake Shack, where I had a ShackBurger and shared some Bacon Cheddar Fries and Oreo Cookie Funnel Cake Shake with Mrs. Sip.

Vegas

The next morning, we continued to settle into Sin City, making our way to Gordon Ramsay Burger for lunch. I had a fantastic Stout Burger (complete with mushrooms and crispy onions), while we split a 32oz serving of Mother Earth Cali Creamin’ Vanilla Cream Ale. The Truffle Parmesan Fries here were also very good.

Our main event for the first full day in Vegas was visiting Lost Spirits Distillery. I had learned about this attraction prior to one of Mrs. Sip’s girl trips and given the awesome time they had, Mrs. Sip vowed to share the next experience there with me. We purchased the package that offered four rum tastings (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea [bought bottle at end of the night], Pineapple, Creme de Cerise and Navy Style), along with four cocktails between us. We really enjoyed the whole outing, constantly entertained by acrobats and dancers, while savouring our sips. We lucked out by deciding to go mid-week, as not only were ticket prices cheaper at $99 each, but attendance was around 200 people, compared to 500 folks on weekends.

During our walk on the night we arrived, the sign for Scottish brewery BrewDog caught my eye and we made a reservation for their outdoor patio. This is an element I love about the city, as you often go with some places planned out (old favourites and new destinations) and just walking around and having a keen eye can pad the rest of the stay. We hit BrewDog for their happy hour, which offered $10 cocktails, $7 beers and two-for-one appies. To eat, we shared the Wood-Fired Flatbread and Bang Bang Chicken, while each trying a beer (Crimson Amber Ale and Hazy Jane Guava NEIPA) and a cocktail (Whiskey Sour and Elvis Paloma [made with Elvis Juice IPA]). Combining the chicken and flatbread was into one bite was a great move on my part.

Happy Hour

From BrewDog, we walked down the strip to Fuel Bar, where we’ve enjoyed many drinks together. Using their 2-for-1 coupons, we ordered a pair of The Bizz (Dragonberry Rum, Coconut Puree, Cranberry Juice, Citrus Sour) and watched some of their flair bartending displays.

Continuing our journey, we ended up at The Venetian to inquire about their Atomic Saloon show. The guy running the ticket desk said he could get us into the next show at a discounted rate, so we made impromptu purchases of front row seats and 45 minutes later were encompassed by the chaos of the wild, Wild West show. Given our seats, we became part of the action, with three different characters using me as a prop, while we were pelted at times by dinner rolls, ping pong balls and even some sugar glass! For the performance, I ordered the Where There’s Smoke cocktail (Tequila, Chipotle, Peach, Cinnamon, Lime).

The next day, we targeted the Arts District for a brewery crawl. We began at Able Baker Brewing, which has a very cool theme. I drank a pint of the Ententanz Oktoberfest, while Mrs. Sip’s flight consisted of the Class A Detonator Doppelbock, Mango Calutron Girl Hefeweizen, Of Balloons & Unicorns Hazy IPA and Our-Cha-Tah Cream Ale. We also split some Pulled Pork Tacos, which were very tasty.

Brewery

Next up was Nevada Brew Labs, which was just a block from Able Baker. I had the Ariana Rye IPA, while Mrs. Sip put together another flight, this time having the Hefeweizen, Brulee Dunkelweizen, Oktoberfest and Blood Orange Hefe.

After that, we went next door to HUDL Brewing, where we combined our beers – Toasted Pecan Ale for me, High Hatter Hefe on Pineapple for Mrs. Sip – with some amazing Disco Fries (BBQ spiced fries with cheese sauce, pulled pork and giardiniera) from Soulbelly BBQ, which is also housed on the property.

Stop number four was SerVehZah, where I tried one of the bottle shop and tap room’s own brews, the Nueva Esperanza (Mexican Lager), complete with Tajin rim. Mrs. Sip got a taster of the Bad Beat Japanese Lager with Hibiscus. Our final visit of the crawl was Hop Nuts Brewing, where we split a Papa’s Red Ale, before returning to the Strip.

Tajin

Once back among the bright lights, we popped into Ocean One in the Miracle Mile Shops. This place offers much cheaper food than your typical Vegas locales, along with three-for-one cocktails at $12. To eat, I had a very good Honey Dijon Chicken Club (only $10!), to go along with a set of cocktails, including a Long Island Iced Tea, Tom Collins and Moscow Mule. Mrs. Sip got her own trio, which I helped her finish, so I was feeling pretty loose by the end of the night!

We began the next day going for a long walk to the Pinball Hall of Fame. Here, we enjoyed a number of the classic arcade games at 25-75 cents per play. We spent close to two hours here, with the only downsides being a number of games being out of order and there being no bar on site. Still, I would recommend this place to anyone interested in a respite from the Strip.

On our journey back, we got martinis at The Chocolate Bar in New York-New York. I went with the decadent Hershey’s Chocolate Caramel Martini, while Mrs. Sip had the equally yummy Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Martini.

Pinball

For dinner that night, we returned to the Miracle Mile Shops and tried Flights, where most menu items are served in trio flights – food and drinks – and there is a fun overall travel theme. The featured drink flights change throughout the day, as some take off, while others land. Over our sitting, we had the Mule Flight (Moscow, Kentucky, Mexican) and Mojito Flight (Classic, Watermelon, Strawberry). For eats, we had the Mac N’ Cheese Flight (four-cheese, crispy bacon mac and cheese sticks, truffle) and Tacos Flight (steak, chicken, carnitas). The dessert cheesecake flight also looked good, but we were quite stuffed already.

The following day, Mrs. Sip wanted to have afternoon tea at Petrossian in The Bellagio. While there, I had a Franziskaner Weissbier and picked at some of the scones offered to Mrs. Sip.

Our late dinner that evening was at Vanderpump à Paris, where we were seated at the exact same table we had been at for the restaurant’s soft opening in March 2022. To drink, I had the Tickle Your Fancy cocktail (tequila, Cointreau, white peach, lime, pink peppercorns, orange bitters, firewater bitters), while we split the Truffle-Stuffed Vanderpump Baguette, Ratatouille Frites and Boeuf Wellington-Style Sliders. This was a delicious meal in a unique setting.

Appetizers

On our final day, we attended the Immersive Disney Animation exhibit, which we hope eventually makes its way to Vancouver, so we can take the Sipplings. The one-hour show, includes great art, music and special effects, to really make you feel part of the Disney world.

After a brief rest, we went to our dinner at Superfrico, stopping briefly into the Ski Lodge speakeasy that adjoins the restaurant. At Ski Lodge, we had a pair of cocktails in the Devil’s Dimples (mezcal, genepy, grapefruit, celery, agave) and Sticky Pajamas (vodka, lychee, grape, lemon, coconut honey) drinks. The theming of this hidden bar – somehow only the first true speakeasy the Sip Advisor has ever visited – is very cool and everyone seems to get into the spirit.

Our feast at Superfrico took on a whole new life when I pointed out to Mrs. Sip that there was a Chef’s Menu. For $149 each, we received a nine course meal, including gem salad, tuna, carpaccio, meatballs, scallops, butternut squash, chicken parm, Brussels sprouts, and cheesecake for dessert. Mrs. Sip got the wine and cocktail pairings (white, red, Poolboy, Espresso Martini), while I had a pair of beverages in the Make It Snap Pea (gin, snap pea, lime, aquavit, white miso) and emMa-ReNAe (bourbon, sherry, ginger, lemon, toasted coconut honey). We left the place feeling full and impressed by the spread.

Speakeasy

Before returning to our hotel, we hit one more speakeasy in Ghost Donkey, where I had a Smoked Corn & Coconut Manhattan. We tried to complete the Cosmopolitan speakeasy crawl, but The Barbershop was closed for a private party… or so that’s what they said!

Upon flying back to Bellingham, we went for a meal with the Sip Family at Buffalo Wild Wings. I liked my Southern Chicken Sandwich, paired with a Wild Herd Kolsch (brewed by Goose Island). Ma and Pa Sip, along with Boy and Girl Sip, also enjoyed their meals and we will be back in the future.

Well, that wraps an intensely busy September. October, by comparison, is looking much lighter, even as we dive into the school and kid activity calendar. There will also surely be many Halloween activities to keep us busy!

Sip Trips #225: Voracious Vegas

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Well, August flew by, thanks to various travels and spending half the month trying to entertain Boy Sip as best as possible, while Mrs. Sip and Girl Sip were off the France. Let’s see how the Sip Advisor survived the spell:

Out one day in Langley, early in the month, Mrs. Sip and I were both in need of a washroom, so decided to drop into the nearest brewery. We ended up at Five Roads Brewing, where I ordered the Leprechaun Museum Irish Red Ale. We also split Tater Tot Poutine and Pork Al Pastor Tacos, with the poutine being particularly good.

In the middle of the month, the Sip Advisor enjoyed a Las Vegas bachelor party weekend. Our adventure began with lunch at Browns Socialhouse at the Bellingham Airport. Here, I paired a Widmer Hefeweizen with the delicious Sesame Ginger Gyoza appetizer. I loved the sauces accompanying the dumplings and now crave this dish. A round of tequila shots was also had, as a good start to the guys’ getaway.

Gyoza

After arriving and settling into our hotel, The Mirage, we walked over to Gilley’s at Treasure Island for some dinner. I had the Pulled Pork Sliders, while our crew shared a bucket of beers. Collectively, this wasn’t among our favourite stops of the weekend.

The next day, following hitting a gun range and prior to hopping into the resort’s pool, we had lunch at Diablo’s Cantina at The Mirage. I enjoyed my Southwest Chicken Caesar Salad, along with a massive 32 oz serving of Elysian Superfuzz Blood Orange Pale Ale. We also did some jello shots from an outlet across the way from the restaurant and I still don’t understand why these have ever gained any popularity.

For dinner that evening, we went to Best Friend at Park MGM. There, we had the Chef’s Menu ($69 per person), which featured items such as Kogi Tacos, Slippery Shrimp, Kimchi Fried Rice, Garlic Chicken, and others. I’ll be honest with you, I don’t remember many details about this meal (like which beverages I ordered) after a full day of drinking, but I’m sure I enjoyed the Korean-Mexican fusion spot.

Memory Loss

The next day, we hit the Fremont area of the city, spending some time at the Circa Resort sports book and doing some gambling. I had my second meal ever at White Castle, looking to get some food in my tummy before massive beers and rum and cokes, and I just don’t get the appeal. This is how I felt the first time around in 2013, but thought a second chance was deserved. The meal was very meh.

We next made our way to the Sahara resort. Prior to our dinner, we had drinks and a snack at Uno Mas. There, I had a tasty Michoacan Margarita (818 Silver Tequila, Tanteo Habanero Tequila, Bols Watermelon, Cantaloupe Syrup, Lime Juice).

Our dinner was at Bazaar Meat. We began by sharing the scrumptious Vittore 1950 Carpaccio. My main for the meal was Thai Lobster, which melted in my mouth. Side dishes for our table included mashed potatoes, carrots and Brussels Sprouts, all perfectly seasoned and presented. For drinks, I had the Nitro Caipirinha and an Enriched Tom Collins, which I really enjoyed. We were even given a dessert platter on the house, in celebration of the stag.

Lobster

Following our feast, we ventured to the Rio’s Comedy Cellar, where we saw a very funny show. My favourite comedian of the night was Dustin Ybarra, who may be best known for his appearances on the TV show Kevin (Probably) Saves the World. I had a cocktail at the performance, but didn’t note what it was and the venue has no drink menu online for me to verify.

Once back at home, we were on the road again, as Mrs. Sip had court in Kelowna. On our way there, we stopped at Empty Keg Brewing, a favourite break spot of ours, on drives to and from the Okanagan. There, I had the Kilt Lifter Scottish Ale, while we snacked on Taquitos and very good Soft Pretzels. We learned any local outside food (even fast food options) is allowed at the place, which is a cool policy.

Upon arriving in Kelowna, we visited White Spot for their annual Adult Pirate Pack Day. I had the Legendary Burger option, paired with a Spot Size Nat’s Pale Ale. Everyone left happy, following servings of ice cream and a chocolate coin.

Chocolate Coins

The next day, we had lunch at Vintner’s Grill, the restaurant for our hotel. We had another good German Pretzel here, while my meal of the Prime Rib Burger with Caesar Salad was incredible. It reminded me of how good a similar burger used to be a The Keg restaurants.

That evening, we went to Unleashed Brewing, hoping to partake in their Music Bingo. Unfortunately, a wildfire had broken out in nearby West Kelowna and folks who usually run the bingo were understandably preoccupied with potentially having to evacuate their home. We decided to stick around for some drinks, with my selections being the All Dogs Go to Hefeweizen and Fuggley Dog Irish Red Ale, while Mrs. Sip went with a flight, which was cleverly served in a dog bowl. It was fascinating and a little scary to watch the wildfire grow over the course of the night and we were a little relieved to head home and out of any danger the next day.

On our journey home, we stopped at Old Yale Brewing’s new Abbotsford location. I had the Tropical Fruited Hefeweizen, along with the breweries Sunset Slider Trio (pulled pork, cheeseburger and hot fried chicken). I liked being able to try all three sliders, so I know what to perhaps get a full order of on our next visit.

Bingo

Towards the end of the month, Boy Sip and I picked up Ma and Pa Sip from the airport and were treated to dinner at White Spot for our efforts. After years of contemplating changing my traditional order at the restaurant, I finally pulled the trigger and tried The White Spot Club. It did not disappoint and going forward, I will have a difficult decision to make when perusing the menu. Complimenting the sandwich, I had a Spot Size Vancouver Island Beachcomber Hefeweizen.

Finally, out in Pitt Meadows/Maple Ridge for a kid’s birthday party, we dropped into Foamers Folly for a pint. I really enjoyed my Zesty Slice Key Lime Pie Ale (Nitro), while Cousin Sip tried their Barbie Flight, which featured three pink brews and a hard seltzer.

September promises to be its usual level of crazy, with so many family and friend birthdays taking place during the month. Among them, the Sip Advisor’s big number 40 occurs, so there will be much celebrating to document!

Sip Trips #222: Goin’ to the Lodge

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May flew by quickly, highlighted by our first ever expedition to the Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound (Centralia), Washington. Aside from that, there was much adventure enjoyed by all. Let’s see how it all unfolded:

The month began with me meeting Mrs. Sip and the kids after work in Port Coquitlam. There, we had dinner at Patina Brewing, where I combined the Fries N’ More Pile (with Pulled Pork) with pints of the brewery’s Hazy Pale Ale and Amber Lager. The barbecue at Patina is some of the best I’ve come across locally and Mrs. Sip and I continually return for the meats.

A few days later, it was Cinco de Mayo. Mrs. Sip and I were granted a date night by Ma and Pa Sip, so made quite the evening of it. First, we ventured to Port Moody’s Brewer’s Row, drawn by a social media post by Parkside Brewing. While I was hoping to try the Paloma Ale Cask they advertised, apparently the beer presented more as a Lime Margarita Ale Cask, so was renamed. While there, we did have a decadent Churro Donut and split some delicious tacos (Braised Beef with Jalapeno Cheese Crust and Korean Pork from the Taps & Tacos food truck.

Lucha Libre

Up next, was our first visit to Rewind Brewing, where I loved the 80s/90s theming. To drink, I had the Scantron Saison (a collab between Rewind and Brassneck), while Mrs. Sip compiled a flight, consisting of the Leg Warmers Hot Cocoa Ale, The Dark Crystal Dark Ale, Hammer Time Hazy Pale Ale and Rainbow Road Passionfruit-Guava-Pomegranate Fruit Ale/Sour. The flight was served on a cafeteria tray, which I thought was a neat touch. Our last stop on the Row was Rocky Point Spirits, where Mrs. Sip ordered a Horchata Hootch and I went with a Margarita.

With a buzz going, it was time to head to our main event (literally!), as we travelled to Downtown Vancouver’s infamous Commodore Ballroom for a Nation Extreme Wrestling show. Tickets were $47.75 each, with lucha libre matches and a mariachi band advertised. The venue also offered tacos and quesadillas, along with Mexican beers. To pair with my tacos, I had a Stanley Park Trail Hopper IPA, followed later in the show by a Mexican Mule cocktail.

Later in the month, Mrs. Sip and I had another date night, taking advantage of the opportunity to see Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 at the Cineplex VIP Theatre in Coquitlam. Arriving as the previews started, I quickly ordered a Whiskey Business (whiskey, blackberry syrup, basil, lime, ginger ale), which was tasty. Following the movie, we went for a late dinner at the nearby Cactus Club, where I selected the Chicken Tenders and an Ugly Wheat Ale.

Chicken Tenders

The next night, we were back at it, this time with the kids in tow. Following the Jurassic Quest event at the Vancouver Convention Centre – which we would never do again, by the way – we took the kids to White Spot for eats. I paired the Legendary Burger (with Caesar Salad) with a Granville Island Beachcomber Hefeweizen, while revelling in the Toronto Maple Leafs defeat and elimination from the NHL playoffs.

For the May long weekend, we packed up our swim trunks and our flippy floppies, crossing the border en route to the Great Wolf Lodge. On the way, we stopped for dinner at Red Lobster in Olympia, Washington. Although I was tempted to order some lobster, the Sesame-Soy Salmon Bowl caught my attention thanks to the combo of ingredients included in it, such as edamame beans and crispy Brussels sprouts, not to mention the delicious sauces. I completed the meal with a Blue Moon beer.

To stock up our room for the weekend, we bought the White Claw Bring the Wave Variety Pack (Citrus Yuzu Smash, Tropical Pomelo Smash, Watermelon Lime Smach, Wildberry Acai Smash), a four-pack of Cutwater Tiki Rum Mai Tai ready-to-enjoy cocktail and a bottle of Bacardi Spiced Rum.

Clawserole

Our entire family, kids and adults alike, enjoyed the stay at Great Wolf Lodge. While the resort is definitely geared towards youngsters, Mrs. Sip and I felt there was enough for adults to join in on, not to mention we felt comfortable walking around the place with drinks in hand. To set up our crew with the visit, Mrs. Sip purchased the Sip & Savor Pass, which provided the following:

  • 1 appetizer at Lodge Wood Fired Grill
  • 2 rounds of Howl at the Moon Mini Golf
  • 1 Wine Down or Northwest Brews Package
  • $20 Arcade Card at Northwest Lights Arcade
  • Choice of 2 Mimosas or Bloody Mary drinks at Loose Moose
  • 2 Tiki Souvenir Sippers at Grizzly Rob’s

For our meal at Lodge Wood Fired Grill, we used our free appy on 12 Jumbo Wings, selecting a mix of Korean and BBQ Dry Rub. We also ordered a plate of Potato Chip Nachos. For beverages, I enjoyed the Gold Rush (Jameson Whiskey, honey, lemon, pineapple, Angostura bitters, ginger beer), while Mrs. Sip had a Lodge Mojito (Light Rum, coconut water, mint, lime juice, club soda). I liked that the Kid’s Meals included all three side options, giving picky kids lots of choice.

Great Wolf Lodge

We also had one lunch at the nearby Burger Claim restaurant. I had an Original Burger with Fries, paired with a bottle of Elysian Space Dust IPA.

After checking out, we drove the short distance to Talking Cedar Brewing, which also houses Heritage Distilling. We ate at the facility’s restaurant, with my feast including a Cellar Door Wheat Ale with Jordanian Sage Tea and Fried Chicken Sandwich. As we were leaving, we bought a bottle of Cocoa Bomb Chocolate Whiskey to bring home.

One last stop on the drive home was Rail Hop’n Brewing in Auburn. As Boy Sip could watch the many trains that pass the location, Mrs. Sip and I were able to enjoy pints of their Firebox Jalapeno Amber and Strawberry Patch Cream Ale. The jovial owner and brewer also offered us samples of other wares, including his Jalapeno Blonde.

Chug Life

The next day, we took visiting friends to Steel & Oak Brewing, where I tried the Yuzu Guava Pale Ale (collab with Fieldhouse). Mrs. Sip went with the Gin & Spruce cocktail, as she was back to her keto diet. We also took our friends to Frankie G’s Pub for a quick bite to eat, before they flew out that night. For eats, I had the Pulled Pork Sandwich, paired with a pint of Four Winds La Maison Tropical Ale.

That wrapped the month of May for the Sip Family. June is already fully booked, with excursions to Whistler, Sechelt and the Okanagan on the calendar. There’s also celebrations such as birthdays (young and old) and Father’s Day to be mindful of!

Sip Trips #221: Science Fact

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April was a fairly laid back month, at least in comparison with our typical breakneck speed. Still, there’s a fair bit to cover, so let’s get right to it:

We spent the Easter extra long weekend at a cabin in Manning Park. On the way there, we popped into Sidekick Brewing, which has a selection of amazing deep dish pizzas to go along with their beers. We ordered the Classic Pepperoni and Smokey Hawaiian pizzas to eat, while I drank the Barb Caramel Cookie Brown Ale, followed by sharing the Sister Mary Patrick Belgian Dubbel with Mrs. Sip, who also tried a flight comprised of the Forgivable Roomie Rhonda Hazy Pale Ale, Aspiring Mixologist Toby Cranberry Lime Sour, First Mate Nate Tropical Stout and Lucas Dark Lager with Cacao Nibs.

For our cabin stay, amongst a horde of other beverage options, we purchased the new Nutrl Tropical Mixed Pack, with three each of pineapple, mango, watermelon, peach, and grapefruit flavours. I find myself leaning towards vodka sodas more and more in my drinking habits, especially when Mrs. Sip is doing keto dieting.

keto

On our way home from the Manning Park, we popped into Old Abbey Ales. Mrs. Sip and I each put together a flight of their eclectic options. My set included the Beerzer Tomato Basil Kolsch, Hipsters Paradise Spinach + Kale Sour, Dirty Blonde Cardamom Blonde Ale and Juicy Caboosey White IPA, while Mrs. Sip selected the Sippy Chai Aye Chai Tea Lager, Wee Peachy Peach Cobbler Wheat Ale, Orange You Glad I’m Beer and Razzle Dazzle Raspberry Sour. We also bought a four-pack of the Old Abbey and Storm Brewing collab Cinnamon Toast Crunch Ale.

That week, prior to taking Girl Sip to The Super Mario Bros. Movie, we had dinner at the Cactus Club in Coquitlam. Girl Sip and I shared an order of the Mini Burgers, paired with some Truffle Fries. I also had a pair of Ugly Wheat Ales, reminding me of how much I like that beer.

A few days later, I had time to kill as my vehicle was in for servicing, so I grabbed lunch at the Willowbrook White Spot. Sitting at the bar, watching a muted NHL playoff game, I had a very good meal of their Legendary Burger with Caesar Salad and a Camp Cucumber Kolsch, which was refreshing and tasty.

Cucumbers

Towards the end of the month, Girl Sip had a school Pro D Day, so we took the Sipplings to Science World for a few hours of exploration and play. Following that, we walked over to Brewhall for a meal. The Sip Family shared some Chicken Strips and a Cheeseburger, both with Curly Fries. I also had two Hall Pass IPAs on Happy Hour pricing. To wrap the meal, we ordered the decadent Oreo Ice Cream Cake, which all four of us were fighting for bites over.

A few days later, we closed out April with a bang, returning to Science World for their annual Science of Cocktails charity event. General admission tickets were $185 each (VIP tix were $289), offering 30 bar stations and a host of food tastings. Companies involved included: Jack Daniels, Appleton, Beefeater, Tito’s, Flor de Cana, Campari, and many more. My favourite cocktails of the night included Petrichor Daiquiri, Smoked Old Fashioned and Clarified Smoky Paloma. I even walked away with a pack of Ms. Better’s Bitters. Afterwards, Mrs. Sip asked me if I thought the price was worth it and I’m still grappling with my answer. Yes, it’s very expensive, but you have all-inclusive access to some amazing specialty cocktails and nibbles. Given we wouldn’t go every year because of price, though, I’d have to say it’s an amazing event that is a touch overpriced. When we last went in 2016, we paid $145 each, which feels like a good rate by 2023 standards.

May is already filling up, highlighted by the Sip Family’s debut at Great Wolf Lodge, as well as Cinco De Mayo and Mother’s Day celebrations. Looks like it will be another busy month!