Unfiltered Brewing Releases Mise En Garde Barley Wine

(Halifax, NS) - Unfiltered Brewing announced that its newest release, Mise En Garde, comes out this Friday, June 22nd. The barley wine is oak-aged and was fermented on both American and Belgian yeasts and rings in at 10.8% ABV. Mise En Garde, which means warning, will be available in vintage-dated 500 ml bottles, draught, kegs, pints, and growlers at the brewery and next door at Charm School. 

Unfiltered Brewing Releases Inducement DIPA

Photo from Unfiltered Brewing

(Halifax, NS) - Unfiltered Brewing is releasing Inducement DIPA on Friday June 8th at Noon at the brewery and next door at Charm School Pub. The 7.5% ABV beer is described by the brewery as "Fruity-as-f@%& Mosaic and Falconer's Flight hops with a wee touch of honey malt". 

Further Reading
Inducements Remain Rampant in Beer Industry

The beer name is a comment by the outspoken Halifax brewery on the practice of providing inducements or bribes for bar owners to carry a certain beer, a practice that is illegal and hurts small craft producers. I say let producing great beer for the people be the inducement.

Unfiltered Brewing Announces Select Beers in Cans

Photo from Unfiltered Brewing

(Halifax, NS) - Social media exploded last week with Unfiltered Brewing announcing four of their top beers were going into cans. Exile On North St IPA, Twelve Years To Zion DIPA, Double Orange Ale (DOA) DIPA, and Flat Black Jesus American Stout debuted at the brewery and at Bishops Cellar. Sales were reported to be brisk at both locations. 
Unfiltered will be selling the cans at the brewery on Friday and Saturday ONLY while they last.  

Unfiltered Brewing and Beau's Brewery to release EPH Bomb Double IPA

(Halifax, NS & Vankleek Hill, ON) - Unfiltered Brewing and Beau's Brewery  brewed a special collaboration beer. EPH Bomb Double IPA will be the 8th release in Beau's Ottawa 2017 series, interpreting Canada's 150th from coast to coast, through beer googles. They will be raising funds for Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank with this release. The limited-edition 9% ABV and 75 IBU beer will be available in Halifax:

• At The Port by the NSLC in early-mid August
• At Beau's Brewery Stillwell Beer Garden 10-Tap Takeover on August 10th
• On tap at Beau's booth during Seaport Beerfest on August 11th and 12th
• On tap at Charm School 

Unfiltered Brewing releases Play with Fire Smoked Imperial Schwarzbier

(Halifax, NS) - Unfiltered Brewing released Play with Fire Smoked Imperial Schwarzbier today. This monster black lager is 8% ABV and 34 IBUs and has tons of dark fruit, roasted malt, and smokey phenols.

Unfiltered Brewing Sues the NSLC

(Halifax, NS) - The embattled liquor agencies in the Maritimes have one more fight on their hands. Unfiltered Brewing in Halifax is taking the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (NSLC) to court over a fee that Unfiltered considers an unconstitutional tax. 

The fee that is in question is the Retail Sales Mark-up Allocation that the NSLC levies on craft brewers. This fee, that is referred to as the remittance tax by craft breweries, is 50 cents for every liter they sell directly or gives away as a sample. This fee has been in the news over the last year and I spoke to it in a blog in April called How can Nova Scotia be more Craft Beer Friendly. The fee is 150% higher for breweries than wine or spirit producers and despite promises to harmonize the fee among industries it has never happened. The Craft Brewers Association of Nova Scotia (CBANS) holds that the money would be better suited being reinvested in equipment and jobs rather than being absorbed in to the NSLC's general revenue. 

In Unfiltered's filing, that was shared on twitter today, they said they paid $24,000 in their first year of operation and says this fee is unconstitutional and equates to a tax that the corporation does not have the authority to levy and collect. 

The case is scheduled for September 6th at 11:00 AM at the Lower Water Street courts. 

Unfiltered Brewing releases Deity DIPA

(Halifax, NS) - In honour of IPA Day 2016 Unfiltered Brewing is releasing a new beer. Deity SMaSH DIPA uses two-row and Columbus hops and rolls in at 7.5% ABV and 100 IBUs. It is a sister beer to the hugely popular Double Orange Ale also produced by the brewery that uses Citra hops instead. 
Unfiltered describes Deity as "Massively juicy and with a spicy, herbal nose". Growler fills and pints starting at noon today at the brewery.

Unfiltered Brewing releases Really Falc'd Up DIPA

(Halifax, NS) - Unfiltered Brewing is releasing its latest creation on Friday January 8th at the brewery and Charm School tap room. They say it is All Falc'd Up's big brother, Really Falc'd Up DIPA. It is 9.0% ABV and 100+ IBUs  with even bigger blast of tropical-fruit laden hoppy goodness.

Unfiltered Brewing Opens Taproom

(Halifax, NS) - Unfiltered Brewing opened its awaited saloon this past week end. It is called Charm School and is next to the brewery at 6041 North Street. The new pub has eight beers on tap from brewmaster Greg Nash and a small menu of tasty items. There will always have all the beers currently on at the store in the pub as well as a few treats now and look for the food menu to expand soon. Charm School is open Tuesday through Sunday from  4 PM to midnight.

Unfiltered Brewing releases First Stout

(Halifax, NS) Unfiltered Brewing is having its own version of Black Friday by releasing its first stout called Flat Black Jesus. It is an American-style stout brewed in early September.with plenty of locally harvested wet hops, dry-hopped with several new Australian hop varietals, and then conditioned on oak. 
The brewery assures us Flat Black Jesus is not flat, and contains no actual Jesus. The ale is 7.0% ABV and 100+ IBUs and hits the taps at the brewery on November 27th at noon.

Maritime Beer Report - September 4, 2015

Welcome to the September 4th edition of the Maritime Beer Report.

Big Axe Brewery has released Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Ale. They say it is a delicious light brown ale with red hues and an aroma of strawberry ganache. They brewed it with a mixture of dark crystal malts and a great amount of toasted wheat to add a bit of complexity. A moderate amount of hops add a mild, fruity hop aroma that blends extremely well with caramel notes produced from Carabohemian malt. They used 10 lbs of strawberries from Hoyt's and some freshly picked rhubarb to create the Pie.
Strawberry Rhubarb Pie weighs in at 5.5% ABV and has a very mild 22 IBUs.

Hammond River Brewing is currently brewing the first wet hopped Harvest Ale batch of 2015. Lots of fresh hops grown right there at HRB will be added

Railcar Brewing Company says CSB time is now and available to purchase until the end of September. There are three levels $125, 250 and 500, each with great deals attached.

The first Fredericton Cider Festival will be on Saturday, October 24th. Brought to you by those behind the Fredericton Craft Beer Festival, the afternoon event will be held at Brewbakers in downtown Fredericton, and will feature unlimited tasting (4 oz pours) of up to 30 different ciders. With several local craft cideries attending as well as other big brands, there will be plenty of different offerings to sample! There are two ticket options: regular tickets $56.50 will get you a tasting glass and unlimited pours from 1-4 pm, while a limited number of VIP tickets $65.00 will allow for early entry at noon, plus a special information session on cider production. The event will be held outdoors on Brewbakers' partially-covered deck; a small food menu from the restaurant will also be available for purchase. Attendees can expect to see some extra-special products at the fest, quite-possibly including New Brunswick's first exposure to cask cider. Tickets available now on eventbrite. 

I was lucky enough to attend to great events in Moncton last night. I was at Pump House Brewing's production facility for this years Stone Fire Ale's kick off. As they did last year they dunked super heated rocks into the wort to create the unique flavors. The brewer tells me he change the recipe this year by switching up some malts to work better he hopes with the process. They plan on producing 4000 bottles again this year in the flip-top bottles. 
I also went to Flying Boats Brewing's launch at Laundromat Expresso Bar. Brewer/owner Marc Melanson saw all three of his kegs emptied in an hour and twenty minutes. The S-55 Special Mission Pale Ale (5.9% ABV 43 IBUs) and Empress Irish Red Ale (5.5% ABV 20 IBUs) were both great. Look for these beers in Moncton, Shediac and Sackville areas.

Garrison Brewing released its Tri-collaboration yesterday at Stillwell and the Beergarden. Not So Gentle Tickle IPA is a 7.0% ABV and 55 IBUs beer made with whole leaf Amarillo, Citra and Columbus hops in the kettle, whirpool and fermenter . It is described as having “a bold hop flavor with juicy, citrusy and fruity aspects". It is available for a limited time at the brewery in 650 ml bottles.

Propeller Brewing ‏noted that there was a very familiar and special aroma coming from their Brewhouse recently. Pumpkin Ale is on the way.

Unfiltered Brewing is releasing DOA (Double Orange Ale) today. It is a Citra SMaSH (single malt and single hop) Double IPA hits the taps @unfilteredbrews Friday at noon. Greg Nash says it contains NO oranges, it does, however, contain a boatload of citrus-y hop flavour and just the slightest hint of malt sweetness. It is a 7.5% ABV and 100+ IBU beer.

FirkinStein Brewing of Bridgewater says they will have beer very soon. I hope to meet with them in the next week or two to get all the details for you.

Staying with new brewery news, High Tide Brewing is opening a 15 BBL brewery in Truro. They are currently looking for a Head Brewer. I was talking to the owner and said he will meet with me next month to release details.

Thanks for checking out Maritime Beer Report, have a great long week end and as always enjoy responsibly.

Maritime Beer Report - August 14, 2015

Hello and welcome to the Maritime Beer Report for August 14th.

PEI Brewing Company says they found 40 bottles of Ice Boat Barrel-Aged Stout. If your lucky enough to be in the area drop in to the brewery and see if you can grab some.

Upstreet Craft Brewing and Boxing Rock Brewing Company worked on a collaboration brew that they will be releasing in a couple of weeks. Keep your eyes peeled for Rumble in the Alley: Round 1.

Acadie-Broue says Le Gaboteuse is currently available at The Tide and Boar in Moncton. This beer is a Belgian IPA brewed in collaboration with Big Tide Brewing.

NB Beer Tours is doing their River Valley again on October 17th. It leaves at 9:00 AM from King Street Ale House and returns at 6:15 PM. Includes beers at Petit-Sault, Railcar Brewing and Big Axe Brewing with samples on bus and a box lunch. Get tickets now. 

Breton Brewing is hiring, they are looking for retail, delivery and assistant brewer positions. If you are interested send a resume to bretonbrewing@gmail.com or drop by the brewery.

Garrison Brewing says Honey Lavender Ale is back,in 650ml bomber bottles. Available at the brewery and it weighs in at 6.3% ABV.

Good Robot is having a Dog Wash on Sunday August 16th. Get your dog pampered by All 4 Paws Pet Services, grab a custom-made T DOGS hot dog, 12 ounces of beer and jam to some Snoop all for 20 bucks with some of the proceeds will be going to ElderDog.


North Brewing and Brooklyn Warehouse released more details on the new joint venture, Battery Park, that is opening in October. As far as food Chef Mark Gray will be designing an ever-changing menu of snacks, small plates to share, and other surprises. North will have its beers on tap as well as one offs that will be brewed on site. North will also have a retail shop for growler fills. This is another step on North becoming a zero emission brewery by powering the new brewhouse with spent cooking oil. Lastly, as Brooklyn did, they are using crowdfunding as a means to finance this project. 

The owners of Paddy’s Pub in Kentville and Wolfville will add a new location on Cole Drive next to the Super 8 Hotel in Windsor. They hope to open by the Spring of next year and the new building will contain Paddy’s Pub, Rosie’s Restaurant, a 15 barrel brewery and a banquet hall. Long term plans include canning at the site as well. 

Unfiltered Brewing is releasing a new seasonal, Daytimer, a 3.4% ABV kettle-soured Berliner Weisse dry-hopped with plenty of Mosaic for a serious kick of tropical fruit. Available at the brewery now. 

On September 1st Bar Stillwell will be hosting brewers from Jester King and Brasserie Dunham as part of a celebration of the release of their new collaborative brew. Tickets to the 6 PM - 8 PM session will allow early access to the limited supply of draught and bottles and a piece of glassware to commemorate the event. Chef Graeme Ruppel will be cooking up some special dishes. Tickets available now.

That is all for this week, until next time enjoy responsibly. 

Maritime Beer Report - July 31, 2015

Hello and welcome to the July 31st edition of the Maritime Beer Report.

PEI Brewing Company says that even though Reanimator Doppelbock is gone for now, look for a barrel-aged version coming this fall.

Picaroons brewed up an Extra Special Bitter made with all New Brunswick malts and hops. The ESB-231 is a moderately malty, moderately hopped, and extremely tasty all New Brunswick beer. This one-off ESB will get tapped this Thursday at the Picaroons Brewtique in Downtown Fredericton as well at the Alcool NB Liquor Growler Stations around the province. Some select bars and restaurants around New Brunswick will also follow suit so keep your ears to the ground.

Savoie's Brewhouse says the day has finally arrived, they are now listed with NB Liquor. The beers are in a few but growing liquor stores in northern NB. Watch for it near you soon.

Garrison Brewing has two completely different tastes of summer. Trop Yard is a radler made with fresh lime and orange juice and Hop Yard making a delightfully tropical fruity yet still bitter radler. It’s 3.4% ABV and available for Growler / Growlito fills and tasters. Fluffernutter is their Nut Brown infused with real marshmallow, it’s slightly sweet and tastes just like it’s namesake. It’s 5% ABV and available JUST for tasters - in a very limited quantity.

The Nook and Cranny will soon have a new beer on tap. They've partnered with their neighbours to bring you NovelTea Passionfruit Ale. Made with custom designed Satya Tea called Berry Bliss, steeped at the Nook with their wheat beer. With hints of hibiscus, chicory root, chamomile, strawberry, and mango, this summer sipping ale is sure to delight.

Unfiltered Brewing  are open for business and have three hoppy brews on. First is Hoppy Fingers APA that is a sessionable 4.8% ABV and 25 IBUs, next is Exile On North Street IPA that is a healthy 6.5% ABV and 65 IBUs and lastly a sippable DIPA called Twelve Years to Zion that is 8% ABV and over 100 IBUs. I asked if that last one was a religious beer and was told it will bring you to your knees. Unfiltered is open Tuesday-Sat 12-8, Sunday 12-6 and closed Monday.

The brewery and beer list for the Seaport Beerfest was released today. There is about 72 Maritime beers available and lots from around North America and Ireland. Tickets for most sessions are still available but choose carefully if there is a particular brewer you want to see as some are only available at certain sessions. 

This New Brunswick weekend the James Joyce Pub will have all 18 New Brunswick Breweries on tap. This starts today at 3 PM and they are here until they are gone.

The Moncton Beer League is having Flights 'n Bites: NS Craft Beer Edition on Friday, 28 August 2015. They bought extra Nova Scotia craft beer so more of you could try it. This event will be out on the deck again (weather permitting) and will feature 5 beers paired with food samples. Tickets are available now via eventbrite.

Thanks for joining me again this week and enjoy responsibly no matter where or what you do this week end.

Maritime Beer Report - July 10, 2015

Hello and welcome to the July 10th edition of the Maritime Beer Report.

Big Tide Brewing Company put a new beer on tap called Marée Montante (Rising Tide) that is a Gose. It is the most recent collaboration with Patrice Godin from Acadie-Broue. A light 4.6% ABV sour mash, refreshing ancient German style ale. Lightly hopped, 15 IBUs and flavored with coriander and none other than straight from the Bay of Fundy salt water collected from Seely's Cove as the tide was rising. Won't last long, and available in-house only. 

Flying Boats Brewing says they will be serving at the Capitol Complex - Tasting NB event this Saturday. They are bringing Humpyard Steam Ale that has a nice malty caramel flavour balanced with Northern Brewer hops and a crisp finish taste that comes in at 5.8 ABV and 46 IBUs. Also Stove Pipe Gang Black IPA, which is a full flavor dark malt IPA with plenty of hops (4 varieties) including a dry hop for aroma. It comes in at 6.9% ABV and has 96 IBUs.

Hammond River Brewing was busy brewing  they're Hop Flash IPA and a brand new beer, a 10.5% Belgian Quad.

Boxing Rock Brewing Company put its new session ale out this week. Introducing Bottle Blonde Rye Ale. The description from Boxing Rock is as follows "It's malty. It's got that spicy hint of something in the background you just can't put your finger on. The hops are there and signal their presence but in a way that lets the malt come through. And with over 35% rye malt, it's different enough to grab your attention." Available now at the brewery and private stores.

Breton Brewing Company put on its third brew this week, Sons of Hector Brown Ale is now on tap at the brewery.

Garrison Brewing Company has a new session ale out, the Seaport Blonde is here now. A 4% ABV crafted light ale that they say is perfect for summer.

North Brewing Company has released its popular Halifax Common ale again this summer. Currently available at the brewery.

Rock Bottom Brewpub has a has a couple of beers to announce. They have a new Oatmeal stout on nitro tap. Raisin Hell is a dark, rich and chocolaty with coffee and cream notes and a bittersweet finish reminiscent of oatmeal raisin cookies. Aromas of roasted grains, vanilla and cheerios. This Traditional English Stout is brewed with steel cut oats, which provide a full, velvety body. It is 5.5% ABV and 35 IBUs. 
Also on Wednesday they'll launch the Ladies Beer League collaboration brew, Fizzgig. It is a big, bold, and hoppy Imperial Red ale that is a marriage of dark English crystal malts and bright punchy New Zealand hops. Ruby coloured with aromas of blackberry and cut grass. Long bitter lemon-lime finish. It is a hefty 7.5 ABV and 80 IBUs.

Finally Unfiltered Brewing ‏is brewing beer so look for it on the streets of Halifax later this month.

Thanks for joining me again this week. I am in the Nova Scotia bush for a week so next weeks blog will be delayed a  day or two. Until next time enjoy responsibly.

Maritime Beer Report - April 10, 2015

Hello and welcome to the April 10th edition of the Maritime Beer Report.

Big Axe Brewery had a truck full of barrels delivered this week and asked "What does Big Axe Brewery have planned for June 6?". Sounds intriguing.

Grimross Brewing Company's new ‎Serendipity Series‬ Abbey Ale has a name, it will be called Monks Choice. They name came from Ryan Jacobson. This is a fitting name as Monks Choice is a lower alcohol Abbey beer and this is the beer the Monks would have kept to drink themselves, offering the stronger Dubbels, Tripels and Quads for sale to the public.

Picaroons Traditional Ales has a new experimental beer out this week. It is a Belgian Scotch Ale It is on tap at the Brewtique and is described as a little malty sweetness and a tiny bit of smoke, blanketed by a clove-y and spicy Belgian yeast.

Trail Way Brewing Company collaborated with Adam Jones and Roger Ringuette to create Trail Way's newest offering, "Sensible Nonsense" Double IPA. Look for this on tap in the coming weeks, and stay tuned for a couple special Sensible Nonsense cask releases with a Spanish cedar aged cask for launch.

Big Spruce Brewing announced it will once again will be taking over the taps at Lion & Bright Cafe Wine Bar for Spruce Up the Planet! Earth Day Celebration on Wednesday, April 22 at 7:00pm. Last year was a great time and I expect this year will be no different.

Garrison Brewing Company says for the month of April when you get a taster paddle, buy 4 samples and the 5th is on them. It is part of the ‪#‎SpringForLocal‬ campaign.

North Brewing has a beer dinner in the works for Dartmouth during NS Craft beer week. It is in collaboration with Brooklyn Warehouse and will be in the Two If By Sea Cafe on Ochterloney Street. Look for more details in a future blog.

Propeller Brewing's next Lambic release will be on April 25th at Bar Stillwell. All I know currently is that it is not a fruit one. These have been extremely popular and this one will be no exception.

Sea Level Brewing’s next seasonal release is one of Brewmaster Randy Lawrence’s favourites, the recipe given to him from a friend who makes this beer in Düsseldorf, a master brewer at the Brauerei im Füchschen, Germany. The New World ALT is a clean medium bodied ale with a background hop presence provided by the Hallertau Saphir hop and comes in at 4.8% ABV. It is now available in kegs, and in cans. Will be on tap soon at the Port Pub, and in 1 L growlers at our retail shop.

Unfiltered Brewing has opened sales on its club. It has three levels that has various rewards and varies from 250.00, 1000.00 and 5000.00. Check out the blog on their website to see details and ask to join.

Ladies Beer League collaboration beer, Cinnamon Spin, with Boxing Rock Beer is going to be released on April 18th at 6:00 at Bar Stillwell. It is a robust porter with cinnamon. No tickets required and there will be a cask at 6:30.

Last item tonight, on the heels of Nook & Cranny's announcement, four partners are opening Trestle Brewing in the Truro area this fall. Not a lot of details yet but I will let you know as soon as I do.

Thanks for joining me again this week and until next time, enjoy responsibly.