Thursday, December 31, 2015

Boxing Rock Brewing kicks off 2016 with Sunken Ledge Porter


(Shelburne, NS) - After a busy year of brewing, collaborating and expanding Boxing Rock Brewing is kicking off the new year with a brand new beer. Sunken Ledge Porter is 5% ABV and 21 IBUs and is a tribute to their good friend Toby Chambers, who was instrumental in the construction of Boxing Rock. Sunken Ledge is named for a shoal in Shelburne Harbour, the same harbour that has Boxing Rock.

It pours a deep mahogany colour with a persistent tan head and there is a subtle molasses aroma as you bring the glass to your lips. The flavours that follow are of dark chocolate and coffee, in fact the coffee taste lingers pleasantly.

Sunken Ledge will be available at select NSLC Stores and Private Wine Stores next week, Seaport and Alderney Farmers Markets starting Saturday January 2nd and direct from the brewery now.


Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Gray Stone Brewing finds a home

(Fredericton, NB) - Gray Stone Brewing has announced it found a home in downtown Fredericton at 221 King Street. 

Wes Ward from Gray Stone says they will be starting with a 10 BBL brewhouse and creating american ales and hopes to open in late spring 2016.

They will be joining six other breweries in the capital city as well as two craft cideries making Freddy Beach one of the most exciting craft beer cities in Canada.

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Dartmouth from craft beer have not to craft beer have lots


Dartmouth seemed to have been left behind as across the harbour Halifax rode a craft beer wave that grew and grew. Let me first go back a dozen and a half years to get a little history.

Back in 1998 when Nova Scotia craft brewing was still quite small Maritime Beer built a very large brewing facility and restaurant on Windmill Road. Unfortunately it declared bankruptcy in 2000 and the assets eventually were purchased by Sleemans later that year. The plant operated for several years until it was shuttered in 2013 and the brewing gear sent to Collective Arts Brewing in Hamilton.

Shortly before the Maritime Beer facility was shut Propeller Brewing opened it new production facility on Windmill Road. This made them the lone craft brewer in Dartmouth until they were joined by Spindrift Brewing in Burnside in September this year with its production facility, retail store and tap room. 

Earlier this month North Brewing moved its 5 BBL system to Battery Park Beer Bar, their collaboration with Brooklyn Warehouse. They also put in fifteen taps at Battery Park of which thirteen pour Nova Scotia craft beer for Dartmouthians as well as an outstanding small plate menu. 

More good beer coming it 2016, Nine Locks Brewing is opening at 219 Waverley Road in Montebello with its 20 BBL facility, 6 flagship beers and a retail store in January. Harold MacKay, who was a major player in Maritime Beer, is bringing  Downeast Beer Factory a production brewery with a taproom back to where he started at 612 Windmill Road. 

So needless to say Dartmouth has quickly become a beer city in the Nova Scotia  craft beer revolution.