Friday, May 20, 2016

Maritime Beer Report- May 20, 2016


Hope everyone is set for the unofficial kick-off to summer this week end. Here is a few beer items to help you plan what to get.

Upstreet Craft Brewing have released the first small-batch release in the new One Way Series called Smoke'em If Ye Got'em. It's a 6% ABV smoked porter with Chinook hops from New Brunswick and smoked malt.

Flying Boats Brewing has brewed Humpyard Steam Ale (California Common) this style was originally brewed by the early German settlers in San Francisco, using Pale Ale ingredients but fermented with a larger yeast at the low end of Ale fermentation techniques. Flying Boats says it hass a nice caramel malt flavour with a distinctive crisp and clean finish defines this refreshing beer. 5.8% ABV with 46 IBUs. Watch for it on tap soon.

Grimross Brewing ‏have released their new E.S.B. It is a 5.3% ABV beer. Grimross descibes it as woodsy, peppery, caramel malt and a hop finish. On tap now. 

Hammond River Brewing have brewed their Blood Orange Hefeweizen and The Vegas SMaSH IPA. Vegas is dedicated to Shane's Duck Toller named Vegas that passed away earlier this month. This SMaSH IPA was brewed with Pale Ale Malt and lots of Amarillo hops. It will be a 6.5% ABV beer and 60 IBUs. 

Graystone Brewing brewed a black IPA at Maybee Brewing this week. Brewer helping brewer, that is why I love covering the Maritime Craft Brewing scene. Look for it soon.‬

Breton Brewing was at Full House Beer fest showing off their cans. They tell me look for Breton in cans at the brewery and at select NSLC stores the first week of June. 

Garrison Brewing has are launching the ultimate community beer with their U-Pick Series. The first one is Rhubarb. They are asking people to bring us your clean ripe Rhubarb to their Seaport Retail store, they will brew it up and you get beer in trade.
This weekend Garrison will have Brewhouse Cider back on tap at the brewery. It is a collaboration cider with Bulwark. It is 5.8% ABV and it is gluten free.

Good Robot Brewing has a couple of new BetaBrews. Versions 1.0 and 2.0 of American Wheat beer are available for tasting at the taproom. 

Tatamagouche Brewing says its Deception Bay IPA is now available at select NSLC across the province.

Unfiltered Brewing has brought Daytimer back. It is a 3.4% ABV kettle-soured Berliner Weisse with a big tropical-fruit kick from dry-hopping with Mosaic. It is at the store tomorrow at noon and Charm School at 4 PM.

Stubborn Goat Waterfront Beer Garden is opening this Saturday. There are 12 taps, food options and the patio has been reconfigured and more seating added. Look for the menu online now. 

That will do it for this week. I am off for a couple of weeks hopefully returning June 10th. Until then be good to each other and enjoy responsibly. 

Monday, May 16, 2016

Halifax Beer Bus - Sampling the city's fine beers


 I recently had the pleasure of hopping on the new Halifax Beer Bus Tour. The Saturday afternoon tour took us around to a sample some of Halifax's craft beer scene hitting up several locations while trying some beers and snacks. 

My tour started at Gahan House with a couple of  the house beers while I meet other craft beer fans, our tour leader Susan and the brewmaster. This location is off the menu so to speak for the brewpub's busy summer season but an equally great substitution was implemented. 


From Gahan we boarded our wheels for the afternoon and made our way to Garrison Brewing near the Seaport Farmers' Market. Here we went into the brewhouse to sip two of their beers and have a talk about Garrison and brewing in general. There brewhouse here was their production brewery until last year when their new brewery opened but is still in use. Here we had a little extra time to shop in the retail store. No drinking is allowed on the bus but the have a cooler to store any products you decide to buy. 

Back on the bus we headed north while Susan talked about a few interesting facts to land at Propeller Brewing. In the events room we were treated to our choice of what was available on tap. The refurbished historic building that housed the total operation at one time but now is their specialty brewhouse. Again we had a moment to shop before heading to one of the newest breweries.

We reached our northern most point at the self-described "most questionable brewery in Halifax", Good Robot Brewing. We entered the breweries tap room and were meet by one of the co-owners, Josh Council, who talked on beer, brewing and the brewery itself. Josh is a very entertaining speaker and kept it very light. I grabbed a quick snack here (not part of the tour) while I enjoyed my beer in the tap room.

We got on the bus to head to out last destination, The Stubborn Goat Gastropub. This was the last stop for me as some of chose to end our tour here rather than be returned to out starting point. This stop offered a wide variety of breweries and a slider to wind up the tour.





If you decide to go the tour buy the numbers 5 stops, 10 beers, 3 hours, 1 bus and 1 great time. The tour is geared for tourists looking to sample what the city has to offer but would be a great way to kick off a Saturday evening or an activity for a group of friends.

Friday, May 13, 2016

Maritime Beer Report - May 13, 2016


Welcome to the May 13th edition of the Maritime Beer Report.

Big Spruce Brewing has done a first. They used malted 2 row barley 100% malted in Nova Scotia by Horton Ridge Malt and Grain. This is some of the first malt out of their newly commissioned facility, I will report more when the beer is ready.
Big Spruce Brewing is hiring. They are looking for an energetic, personable new member of our team to work a full time schedule on our retail sales desk this high season (approx June 1st to Oct 15th, but we are flexible). If you think you want to get involved in the NS Craft Beer scene, this is your chance. Applicants must be 19+. Experience in a former server/sales role, and some basic craft beer knowledge are considered a bonus! Please send us a resume to bigsprucebrewingoffice@gmail.com

Boxing Rock Brewing added a last minute event to the schedule. They are doing a tap takeover at the Lion & Bright Café Wine Bar tonight. For every Boxing Rock Beer sold they will be donating $1 to The Red Cross for Fort Mac.

Good Robot Brewing has released their autumn saison called Awesome Beer, Great Job. Intended for a fall 2015 release, the first batch of Awesome Beer, Great Job! did not turn out. Then the second one did not turn out. Loaded with fall flavours like plum, brown sugar and spice. On tap now.

Nine Locks Brewing was expanding this month adding two 60 BBL fermenters. So what does that mean? This expands capacity so that their flagships can continue to flow uninterrupted and the can produce some seasonal beers. Look for some summer beers coming soon.

North Brewing has a couple of new beers out. First is a collaboration Gose with Stillwell. It is a kettle soured beer made with corriander and sea salt available in their stores in growlers and 750s and is 4.5% ABV. They also have a Grisette that they say has light notes of lemon and grapefruit with a dry, peppery finish  and is a light 3.5% ABV.

Sea Level Brewing released their Summer Blonde Pilsner that is a 4.8% ABV beer. They must think summer is around the corner.

Unfiltered Brewing and Bad Apple Brewhouse are doing a Tap Takeover at Tom's Little Havana this week end. There will be on 7 taps and promise a surprise. 

Big Tide Brewing are heading to The James Joyce Pub tonight for their latest Meet the Maker event. Go meet Wendy and grab some of the last pints.

Flying Boats Brewing is also doing a Meet the Maker at Hotel Shediac, St James Gate on Tuesday, May 17th. 7:30 - 9 PM. The art of brewing craft beers. Enjoy a sampler tray of three 5 oz. servings of Flying Boats craft beers and then huddle around the bar with other Craft Beer enthusiasts.

Off Grid Ales poked their head out this week. They say "In the woods of south eastern NB, a completely off grid (solar and wind powered) craft brewery specializing in full-bodies IPAs.". Looking forward to seeing and tasting more. 

Savoie's Brewhouse says coming soon to the Heron's Nest Pub as Test Batches the following beers. BON AMI Strawberry Blonde, SugarLoaf Mountain Maple Amber, Restigouche River Raspberry Hop Hash Amber and Bullers Blue Berry Ale made with Blue Berries from Belangers. Lets hope it makes it out of Charlo. 

Think Brewing also announced their emanate arrival this week. One barrel craft brewery operating in the woods of Tweedside, NB. On tap in local restaurants mid-summer 2016.

Enjoy the last couple of days of the Nova Scotia Craft Beer Week and whatever you decide to do, enjoy responsibly. 


Friday, May 6, 2016

2016 Nova Scotia Craft Beer Week Events


6 May 2016 Cape Breton Kitchen Party  Sydney 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM

6 May 2016 Beer and Beethoven  Halifax 7:00 PM to 10:30 PM

7 May 2016 Open Brewery Day 12:00 PM to 06:00 PM

     Big Spruce Brewing
     Boxing Rock Brewing
     Tatamagouche Brewing
     Garrison Brewing
     Gahan House
     Good Robot Brewing
     Breton Brewing
     Spindrift Brewing
     North Brewing
     Rudders Brew Pub
     Rockbottom Brew Pub
     Propeller Brewing
     Nine Locks Brewing

7 May 2016 Sugar Moon Dinner  Earltown 6:00 PM to 09:30 PM

7 May 2016 Beer and Beethoven  Halifax 7:00 PM to 10:30 PM

7 May 2016 Beer School for Beginners  Liverpool 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

8 May 2016 Stillwell Open - Best Session Beer Halifax 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM
8 May 2016 Stillwell Open - Best Imperial Beer Halifax 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM


8 May 2016 Race The Kegs Halifax 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM

9 May 2016 Pints and Poses Shelburne 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

10 May 2016 A Walk In the Park Dartmouth 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM

11 May 2016 Beer Cocktail Face Off  Halifax 7:00 PM to 11:45 PM

12 May 2016 Royal Rumble Halifax 8:00 PM to 11:45 PM

13 May 2016 Boxing Rock Tap Takeover at Lion & Bright Halifax 5:00 PM 


13 May 2016 Brews Cruise Halifax 6:45 PM to 08:30 PM

14 May 2016 Full House Halifax 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM
14 May 2016 Full House Halifax 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM


15 May 2016 Nova Scotian Kitchen Party Brunch 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM

Maritime Beer Report - May 6, 2016


Welcome to the May 6th edition of the Maritime Beer report.

Big Spruce Brewing, Tatamagouche Brewing and Propeller Brewing are releasing Cerberus today and they say hop Heads had better not miss out on this one. They've even done a one off collectors edition 650 ml bomber bottle, decorated locally at Jym Line Glassware.

On Saturday Boxing Rock Brewing says to join them for free tours and samples. From 12-5 they'll have the bbq going with tasty The Pork Shop sausages (made with their beer) for sale and free cake too.

Breton Brewing says Saturday May 7th is National Homebrew Day and Nova Scotia Craft Beer Week Open Brewery Day. To Celebrate they have a guest Brewer, Mike Morrison brewing all day. Come by, learn the process, pick up tips and tricks as he brews a batch or lend a hand. They will be also offering free tours all day. Best of all releasing a new beer, Crazy Angus Double IPA

Good Robot Brewing says on tap is updated Tom Waits for No One to v2.0. Normally the stout uses London Extra Special Bitter yeast, which yields sweet and fruity notes and accentuates malt. The new version uses California Ale yeast, the same as their APA, which is very clean and accentuates hops.
On Saturday it is also their very first Birthday and the grand opening of the GastroTurf, their new beer garden and frolicking space. Local homebrewer Mike Orr will be brewing a Chocolate IPA live for your viewing and brewing pleasure.

Meander River Farm has released their Summer Solstice Session IPA again for the summer. The ale is light, refreshing and a touch of hops.

Propeller Brewing says for Open Brewery day they will be brewering a new One Hit Wonder at Gottingen St between 10 am-3 pm. People are welcome to come and watch, chat with our brewers, samples, and buy some beer. They are released a new one hit wonder this week called, Lil' Sipa. Its a Session IPA and sits at 4.4% ABV and 27 IBU's.

Sober Island Brewing are becoming the first Crowler service in the Atlantic Provinces. They received the seamer and 2,400 crowlers. A Crowler is part growler, part can and is highly portable. Take it camping, hiking, canoeing, fishing or anywhere outdoors. Their beers are now on tap at The Henley House Pub and Restaurant in Sheet Harbour. 

Unfiltered Brewing is happy to say DOA’s back. Slightly tweaked for an even more insane level of “another round!” juiciness, and a return to its SMaSH roots. This ale is 7.5% ABV and 100+ IBUs. Released today at noon and at 4 at Charm School.

Big Tide Brewing has a new beer on tap. A Cascade SMaSH APA, featuring a lot of late addition and dry-hopped Cascade from Darlings Island Farm. It is 5.25%ABV and 39 IBU’S and they say very drinkable and has a beautiful citrusy flavor and aroma. 

Picaroons channeled their inner nerd and released a special beer on May 4th, Star Wars Day. Jedi IPA was out at both The Brewtique in Downtown Fredericton and at the Picaroons General Store in Uptown Saint John, They had a very limited amount of the 4.6% ABV session-able IPA, dry-hopped with Orbit and Galaxy hops. 

Trail Way Brewing says their first brew day at 280 Main Street is in the books. They also say they will be setting and announcing an opening day very soon.

Stillwell announced the new location of this years beer garden. It is going on Spring Garden Road next to Eastlink near South Park Street. There will be a few changes from their waterfront location, most noteably is 10 taps of craft beer. Work has begun on the site already and hope to open next month.

Enjoy Nova Scotia Craft Beer Week and until next time enjoy responsibly.