Welcome to the first report for December 2016.
Big Spruce Brewing's Blood Donair is now in the wild after being released at Battery Park last night. The beer is an Imperial Donair Meat Stout aged on Raspberries and combines a rich chocolaty body, the complexity of rendered donair meat, and the flavour and sweetness of 100 lbs of raspberries. The results for the Big Spruce 4th Annual Home Brew Challenge were released :
Dark Mild:
1st - David Pepper
2nd - Jonah Chaput
3rd - Rod McVicar
Double IPA:
1st - Mitch Kehoe
2nd - Julien Belliveau & Jean Marc Landry
3rd - Brian Harvey & Aaron Spanik
Experimental Sour :
1st - Jeramy Slaunwhite
2nd - Rod McVicar
3rd - Eric Gauthier
Best in show: David Pepper's Dark Mild called Risky Biscuits and look for it next year.
Good Robot Brewing's BrewBot Homebrew Takeover with Brathair Brewing is today and they released the line up. They've brewed six beers on the pilot system, some old but mostly new.
- Kissed by Elvis (IPA), 1st place at Stillwell Open 'Imperial Session'
- 3 Scots & a Frenchman (Scottish ale with saison yeast)
- Daughter of Sin (double IPA), using only whirlpool hops
- Berliner weisse with raspberries
- Berliner weisse with peaches
- IPLish (sort-of India Pale Lager)
Lazy Bear Brewing got kveik yeast last summer from some friends from Norway. This yeast was the starting point for a traditional Norwegian farmhouse ale and the next essential ingredient was juniper sprigs which they recovered much closer to home. The Norwegian was mashed with an infusion of freshly harvested juniper sprigs and noble Hallertau hops and this ale brings you a flavour that imparts orange peel and a Christmas-like spice. Available now it is a 7% ABV and 17 IBU ale.Saltbox Brewery has launched their version of of a home brew competition. Their 1st home brew competition is open to style and will go over several weeks as each brewer gets to present their beers early next year. Go to: http://www.saltboxbrewingcompany.ca/events.html for more details and to register.
Tatamagouche Brewing released more details on their Square One Brewing. Using New World Saison Blend from Escarpment Labs and dry hopped with Citra, Amarillo and Hallertau Blanc hops. Let's Get Funky. The 6.1% ABV beer is available at the Tatamagouche Store now.
Tidehouse Brewing will be Nova Scotia's newest craft brewery next week and will be hosting a weekend long tasting party at Stillwell on Friday December 9th and Good Robot on Saturday 10th. They'll have their core four beers available at both locations, plus a special "one off" each day. Their retail space at 5187 Salter Street will be open in a week or two following.
Unfiltered Brewing says Double Orange Ale returns. This batch made with Horton Ridge malt only for a little something extra and local. It's a bit meatier and juicier with an underlying floral maltiness. Horton Ridge Malt donated the malt for this batch in a show of support for the on going legal battle with the NSLC. It is also Charm School's birthday on Sunday, there will be beer and food, need I say more.
Speaking of next week end it will be a big one for beer nerds. After the Tidehouse launch on Saturday two of the best brewers from Maine take over Stillwell, Bissell Brothers and Orono Brewing bring their beers to Nova Scotia for the first time from Noon to late.
On Sunday Ladies Beer League have their annual brunch also at Stillwell. The ticket gets you a special menu item as well as a vertical tasting on Picaroons Winter Warmer 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Giving a shout out to a new local beer podcast. 902BrewCast is a group of local guys talking to local brewers and bars. They have a couple of casts out from North and Good Robot with Spindrift and 2 Crows coming soon. Good luck guys.
That is it for this time, have a great week and enjoy responsibly.