There is a lot of information this week, here is all the beer news for June 30th 2017.
Saltbox Brewery says for Canada Day Weekend, June 30th to July 2nd they have hot tubs at the brewery. Partnering with Bay Tubs of Mahone Bay, it's an opportunity for the customers to truly relax at the brewery.
Unfiltered Brewing have brought back RSMA Mosaic SMaSH DIPA this week end for pints and growler fills. Really Serious Mosaic Ale? Retail Sales Markup Allowance? They say you pick. It is 7.5% ABV and 100+ IBU.
Boxing Rock Brewing's birthday is July 8th and of course they are having a party at the brewery. Their party schedule:
- 1 PM-3 PM: Drop in axe throwing ($15) with Birthday boy Adam!
- 1:30 PM-3:30 PM: Finest Kind BBQ and corn boil!
- 3 PM: Shelburne's Tall Ship beer name announced!
- 3 PM: CAKE!!
- Washer toss and beer pong, 2 for 1 tours, and music throughout the day!
Owners Emily Tipton and Henry Pedro wanted to do something special to commemorate Canada’s 150th birthday, and celebrate Southwest Nova Scotia. They thought nothing could be better than naming a special beer for this special place. A portion of Dark as Keji sales are being donated to the Friends of Keji Cooperating Association, which support the Dark Sky Education programs at the park. Since the launch of Dark as Keji Black IPA a few short weeks ago, well over one thousand dollars has been set aside to be donated.
There will be a Canada 150 event at the brewery, where Boxing Rock will offer samples of Dark as Keji as well as beer ice cream floats (root beer for the kids!) and food specials from the Finest Kind Food Company. Look for the special Dark as Keji packaging at NSLC stores around the province, as well as at the Boxing Rock’s brewery store in Shelburne.
Good Robot Brewing says Leave Me Blue Kentucky Common is back on tap this week. Red Moon Landing Red IPA is back next week but they replaced Vienna malt with Pilsner. This one weighs in at 7.1% ABV and 48 IBU.
Beta Brewsday will be on Wednesday next week with the release of Re:Drella, a SMaSH with Red X malt and Ella hops, sitting at 6.5% ABV and 28 IBU. Brewed by Dan Hendricken and Kelly Costello.
Garrison Brewing launched a new beer called “Sour to the People” which is currently available in the brewery for growler fills and samples, and will be at licensees later this week/early next week. The Strong Sour Ale was soured with Lactobacillus in the kettle to bring its tart character. It has green apple, stone fruit (peach) and sweet malt aroma along with its nice green apple & lemon flavors. The sour is 6.5% ABV and 0 IBU.
Ladies Beer League is brewing up a black wheat beer at Brightwood Brewery this week. They are currently thinking of a name. Look for this beer coming out this summer.
The wait is over, FirkinStein Brewing are opening their new location at 673 King Street in Bridgewater. They are opening on Saturday for growler fills and samples. Look for the hours to be posted soon on social media.
Another screening of Sociable! Craft Brewing in Nova Scotia documentary is coming up at Roof Hound Brewing on July 22nd at 9 PM.
Spindrift Brewing have released Blood Orange India Pale Lager this week. It is in cans and available for growler fills at the brewery and will be in private stores ASAP. This IPL has an addition of pure blood orange with tropical and stone fruit hop flavours that are amplified by the blood orange and dry hopped with Mandarina Bavaria and Citra.
Come out to celebrate what Wayfarers Ale Wharf has to offer. Their full menu will be available, along with an all day BBQ on the newly renovated Wharf with picnic tables
The $25.00 ticket includes:
- A Wayfarers Ale Society souvenir glass
- One 0.95L growler of your choice
- Free samples of their crafted ales
- A tour of the brewery (12 PM,2 PM,4 PM,6 PM)
- BBQ will include sausages, and Angus burgers! Vegetarian options are available.
Annapolis Cider has their latest 'Something Different' out. Strawberry Rhubarb is a 6.3% ABV sparkling cider crafted from a blend of their signature cool-fermented dry apple cider with the fresh juices of local hand-picked ruby-red rhubarb, garden strawberries and finished with a touch of fresh-pressed apple juice. The result is a pale-rose tinged cider with bright notes of juicy strawberries paired with the bold zing of tart rhubarb, a classic summer combination that is crisp and refreshing. $0.50 from each refill of Strawberry Rhubarb will be donated to Blue Route NS. This is a province-wide project to develop safe, well-connected bicycle routes, which will make it easier for Nova Scotians to get around the province on two wheels.
Battery Park says their patio taps will be filled with the four Canadian Brewing Award gold medal winning Nova Scotian beers on July 1st. This will be your only chance to try them all in one place. There will be North Brewing's Gus' 65 m Belgian Blonde and Glenora Barrel Aged Midnight, Boxing Rock's Stayin' Alive Bock, and Uncle Leo's Voh's Weizenbier. The beers will be start pouring Saturday at opening and stay on through the long weekend while supplies last.
Have a great and safe Canada Day week end and I will be back next Friday.
Welcome to the first beer report on summer 2017.
The Gahan House says brand new on tap is their first Hard Root Beer, The Daily Dose. It is 6.5% ABV.
Upstreet Craft Brewing will release De Novo II on Thursday, June 29 from 6 PM - 10 PM. It is also the company's second anniversary.
De Novo II is a hand-bottled farmhouse saison, a special Belgian style beer with no two alike. Known for its complex flavours with a dry finish. They used a simple ingredient list of Maritime malt, a sacch and brett yeast blend from a lab in Ontario and New Brunswick Goldings hops. These contribute light candy and funky flavours, with just enough bitterness and hops. Over time, the brett will continue to consume the remaining sugars, making the beer even more dry and funky.
Big Axe Brewery have a brewed a great summer beer. It is a wild fermented strawberry sour that is slightly acetic and offers complex sourness. Now at the brewery.
Big Tide Brewing are jumping in a little late but are brewing LaTour Acadian Nut-Brown / Bière Brune-Noisette Acadienne. They didn't quite make the official launch date of June 9th for this international initiative, but wanted to participate nonetheless. So they made a malty, 6.5% ABV interpretation. Look for it on tap and in growlers next week.
This style was created to celebrate the 170th anniversary of the creation of the poem ''Evangeline, A tale of Acadie'' which was an epic poem of the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, written in English and published in 1847.
Loyalist City Brewing announced the launch of “Pink Dwarf”, the first in their summer sour series of beer. Pink Dwarf is a tart and refreshing Berliner Weisse brewed with all natural tart dwarf cherries and a blend of German wheat and pilsner malt. This unfiltered german style wheat beer pours bright pink with a thick persistent white head that gives way to a sour cherry aroma reminiscent of cherry pie. The natural tartness of the dwarf cherries is complimented by a house blend of four different lactobacillus strains that compliment the fruit flavor and add complexity to the finished beer. With a light body, high carbonation, and a wonderful cherry flavor complimented by a subtle doughy malt backbone, this beer is the perfect summer patio beer. This beer will be available at local bars starting this week end.
Maybee Brewing released a new beer this week. Old Growth ESB was made with organic Horton Ridge floor malted pale malt and NB grown Goldings hops from Southan farms. Old Growth is 5.5% ABV and 45 IBU.
Picaroons Traditional Ales released PIVOT #3. Relying heavily on Mosaic and Equinox hops this time around, PIVOT #3 features really complex fruity characteristics over it's simple pale malt bill. Coming soon to The Picaroons Roundhouse, The Brewtique in Downtown Fredericton, The Picaroons General Store in Uptown Saint John, The 5 Kings Restaurant & Picaroons Brewhouse, and at Alcool NB Liquor locations around the province. http://picaroons.ca/pivot/
The Pump House Brewery says that now available on tap at the restaurant is Wheat Beer Hefeweizen coming in at 5.2% ABV.
Have a great week and see you next Friday
Welcome to the first report for the summer of 2017.
Propeller Brewing is celebrating 20 years of craft beer in Halifax's north end with a block party on Gottingen Street. On July 8th they are hosting a day of free concerts on Gottingen. They are taking over the Seven Bays parking lot from 2 PM to 8 PM with the 100% Nova Scotian talents of The Town Heros, Jessie Brown, Dammien Alexander & The Sonic Cinema, The Mike Bomhoff Band, Jont & The Infinite Possibility, Tommy Green Jr and DJ Scout spinning between sets.
Unfiltered Brewing released Sour M.F. today. It is a 6.2% ABV kettle-soured wheat beer refermented on tart cherries (a *lot* of tart cherries). Acidic, refreshing, and bright, it has a big cherry bouquet and a lightly spicy finish. They say an exceptional warm-weather beer and available now at the brewery.
Sober Island Brewing releasing a new summer seasonal, it's their rye seasonal but owner Rebecca Atkinson says it is different this year. Kirby's Canoe is a 5.7% ABV ale with a rye content of 11% and is dry hopped with Bramling Cross and Willamette. They say it is bright with a berry hop character and will be available next Wednesday at the brewery, Henley House, working on getting into growler fill stations and of course local watering holes.
Brewer Stefan Gagliardi said he just tapped a new seasonal at the Keith’s Brewery. Highlands Scottish Pilsner is their take on the traditional European style. They brewed the Pilsner with a blend of Scottish Golden Promise malt and Pilsner malt. The beer is bright yellow, 5.5% ABV, 20 IBU. and lagered for 63 days.
FirkinStein Brewing are releasing a new pale ale tomorrow. Sasamanana has a little tartness from cranberries and a mouthfeel of bananas. It will debut to the public at the Bridgewater Farmers Market on Saturday
Gahan House in Halifax now has crowlers available in the cooler. They currently have:
- Crosscurrent APA (seasonal)
- Impatience Sour Brown (seasonal)
- Captain Falcon's IPA (seasonal)
- Beach Chair Lager
- Sir John A's Honey Wheat Ale
- Blueberry Ale
- Vic Park Pale Ale
- Island Red
- Iron Bridge Brown Ale
- Sydney Street Stout
- 1772 IPA
They also now have Flavour of the Monk, the winning beer from our Homebrewer's Challenge, on tap at the pub.
Horton Ridge Malt House is having its Grand Opening tomorrow to celebrate the taproom and microbrewery. Horton Ridge will have a selection of Nova Scotia craft beer on tap including some of their own which you'll only find there. Local singer/songwriter Caleb Miles will be on hand to play some tunes starting at 6 PM as well as Let's Eat Beer food truck will be serving up beer infused menu items all day, with all proceeds going back into Atlantic Canadian charities. There will also be door prizes, music, food, washer toss, mega jenga, tours and of course - beer.
North Brewing launched their collaboration with North end Runners today. Little Beast is a 4% ABV lagered ale that is the ultimate after run beer. They will also have the return of a White Lightning today.
Stillwell Brewing received the latest bit of French oak to round out their cellar: The got four 600L Pineau des Charentes puncheons that they say are still wet and straight from Cognac.
Tanner & Co Brewing is planning to open in August on Angus Hiltz Road in Chester Nova Scotia. Owner and brewer Dan Tanner brings a wealth of knowledge from the restaurant industry, is a sommelier as well as having five years of homebrewing experience. Tanner and his partner Peggy Locke plan to be producing a core group of ales including a lightly hopped pale ale, as well as a lighter Dampfbier and darker Roggenbier.
They’ll be doing different beers and experimenting also around the German beer roots with a Cabernet Franc Stout and Chardonnay Hefeweizen that they produced last year with grapes grown in their onsite vineyard.
Mr. Tanner, a Lunenburg native, will be brewing on a 3 BBL system with sales coming from keg sales and Farmers Markets. Longer term there may be onsite growler fills at the brewery but not initially.
Tidehouse Brewing has 2 Many Birds out today. It is a dry, hoppy crushable saison hopped with Perle, Amarillo and Pacific Jade You can find this at the Stillwell Beer Garden, Battery Park Beer Bar and in very limited quantity at the brewery for growler fills.
Townhouse Brewpub & Eatery first opened their doors on July 4th, 2012. For their 5th birthday they are throwing a party. Festivities will commence with Happy Hours and raw oyster bar ($2/oyster!) from 4-6 PM. There will be cakes with one at 5:30 PM and 9 PM, extra special local food and beer pairings ,and a performance from Jacques Mindreau's wild and wonderful West coast musical ensemble, OQO featuring Nightingale at 9 PM.
The NSLC released its year-end results for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2017. The result showed a decrease in earnings ($239.2M) and total volume there was a slight increase in sales ($611.8M).
Overall total beer sales shrank about 1% to $276 million or just over 45% of total sales at the provincial agency and Nova Scotia Craft Beer growth continuing at stellar rate with sales growing by 34.2% to $10.2 million.
The NSLC says there are now 18 local breweries products on their shelves, up from three four years ago and one of every four beer listings in their stores is a local craft beer.
Other items of note are:
- NS Craft Beer surpassed NS wine made with local grapes last year
- Nova Scotia ready-to-drink products, which are largely ciders, had a strong year with sales increasing by 83.7% to $2.9 million
- Nova Scotia commercial beer sales coming in at $160.9 million
NSLC Announces 2017 Year End Results
Have a great week end and as always enjoy responsibly.
