Hello and welcome to June 26th edition of the Maritime Beer Report
PEI Brewing Company launched their cask program this week with their first offering being a cask of Island Red with bourbon soaked wood chips. Every week they'll have something new on there so they say "Keep your eyes peeled!".
Les Brasseurs du Petit-Sault is celebrating their first anniversary tomorrow, June 27th, at the brewery. From 1 PM until 6 PM will be an open house and guided tours. At 6 PM there will be a short ceremony and tapping of the anniversary keg followed by music.
Celtic Knot Brewing release a teaser of what they are making this fall. Bruce says he has been wanting to make an oyster stout for quite some time and after he enjoys the summer. Look for notice once the time gets closer
Grimross Brewing is making a new experimental beer and for this one they are getting rid of the gluten, A Table Oat Saison. This will be a very light low alcohol beer (less than 4%), very light body and crisp taste. Brewed with 100% Oat Malt. They can't officially call Oat Saison "Gluten Free" because it was malted and packaged in a malterie that handles other grains, including Barley and Wheat and Grimross obviously handles other grains as well and are not "certified gluten free". As a result there may be trace amounts of other grains.
Breton Brewing is having a soft opening this Saturday June 27th from 10 AM-5 PM. They are releasing their first two beer: Sterling Hefeweizen and Black Angus IPA. Merchandise will also be available. Cash, debit, MasterCard or Visa. Samples will not be available due to licensing situation at the moment.
Garrison Brewing says that The Coast to Coastless Imperial ESB is now available. In Nova Scotia look for it now at the brewery and private stores and the NSLC shortly. As well, look for it iin ANBL stores and PEILCC stores next month. I gave all the details on last weeks blog.
Garrison also donated $4300.00 to Ecology Action Centre raised at the Backlot Bash. Well done.
Meander River Farm is releasing Surf & Turf, Seaweed and Peated Malt Strong Scotch Ale, From Meander "This deep copper, brown ale was mashed with seaweed and peated malt to give it a rich complex flavour of scotch, sweet caramel, slight salt and roasted malt. Surf & Turf was brewed in collaboration with Daniel Girard of Garrison Brewing Co. for the Taste of Nova Scotia "Dinner on the Ocean Floor" event, premiering this weekend. Recommended pairings are red meat dishes and teams fish chowders." This 6.2% ABV beer is on tap this week end at the brewery.
Propeller Brewing latest One Hit Wonder Halifornia Common is on tap at both brewery Prop Shops. Brewed using lager yeast and fermented at ale temperatures Propeller Halifornia Common is a malty brew that finishes dry and crisp, with a lingering hop bitterness. An American West Coast original style that is perfect to quench any beer drinkers thirst for something truly unique. The beer weighs in at 5.2% ABV and 32 IBU.
Sea Level Brewing has their latest seasonal out, Southern Cross IPA. The name is inspired by a Crosby, Stills & Nash song Southern Cross. The IPA is layered with resinous spiciness that gives way to a fresh squeezed citrus aroma with subtle pine notes and comes in at 6.5% ABV.
Tatamagouche Brewing canning line has been busy this week. Look for more and more of Tata's brews to be available in this format going forward.
Producers of craft alcohol In New Brunswick have joined together to form the New Brunswick Craft Alcohol Producers Association (NBCAPA). The purpose of this newly formed association is to act as the representative and formal voice for an expanding industry that includes microbreweries, meaderies, wineries, cider producers and distilleries.
To date membership includes 20 craft producers from all over the province and the expectation is that numbers will continue to grow. The production of craft alcohol has important economic development potential for the province and the goal of the association is to work with multiple stakeholders including the Province and NB Liquor to fully realize this potential. “We know for a fact that we are an important tourist attraction. We have created over 100 jobs in the province; we have a positive impact on our communities and are actively involved in events. We also support local producers. We invest in the province for the province,“ says Sean Dunbar of Northampton Brewing Co.
Tasting NB is bringing together NB craft alcohol producers of all varieties for the first time. This early evening outdoor event takes place across The Capital Complex patios and surrounding area. Producers include Picaroons Traditional Ales, Big Axe Brewery, Les Brasseurs du Petit-Sault, TrailWay Brewing Co., Grimross Brewing Co., Railcar Brewing Company, The Pump House Brewery and Restaurant, Gillis of Belleisle Winery, Red Rover Brewing Company, Pollen Angels meade and Fils du Roy. It is taking place Saturday July 11, 2015 from 7 PM - 10 PM enjoy tasting a full range of products at your leisure, then join us for an NB Tap Takeover and afterparty in Wilser’s Room with musical guests Dub Antenna. Join us and see what NB has to offer. Tickets are $55.99 (taxes/fees included) online or in person at the etixnow kiosk located at the Isaac's Way Restaurant building (649 Queen St).
Also on July 11th in Moncton is the NS Craft Beer BBQ Deck Party. The Moncton Beer League is partnering with Chefs Dan & Cheryl McLenaghan from La Teraz and INFUZED Catering for a delectable 4-course menu - each paired with a different Nova Scotia brewed beer, plus an additional welcome beer from Propeller in a souvenir glass you can keep. Doors open at 5pm. Food will be served from platters beginning at 6 PM outside on the deck beside the pool (weather permitting). Indoor seating will be available, but feel free to mingle and enjoy the gorgeous outdoor deck.
Early bird tickets are on sale for $59+fees until June 30th, and $65+fees until Tuesday, July 7th at noon. Ticket sales are final. No refunds.
Join the Ladies Beer League at their Second Beerthday Party on June 27th at The Wooden Monkey Restaurant in Dartmouth. they will have four special casks made by some of our favourite local craft breweries - Boxing Rock Brewing (Rule 42), Big Spruce Brewing (Tims Dirty American IPA) Garrison Brewing (Dry hopped IPA) & North Brewing Company (Summer Saison with sour cherries). Tickets are $25 and include 5 (5oz) cask samples, a belly full of the Wooden Monkey's amazing pizza and - of course - birthday cake. Tickets available online and at the door.
Bishop's Cellar now has a Growler Fill Station and is now open for business featuring brews not easily available in bottle/can. Opening taps are :
Propeller Halifornia Common | Steam | 5.2%
Garrison Coast to Coastless | Imperial ESB | 7.6%
Granite Hopping Mad | Pale Ale | 6.0%
Good Robot Crown on the Ground | Steam| 4.7%
Tatamagouche Butcher's Block Red | Red Ale | 6.0%
Thanks for joining me again this week and until next time enjoy responsibly.
Hello and welcome to the June 19th edition of the Maritime Beer Report.
The latest Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation annual sales information released this week shows continued exceptional growth for Nova Scotia made craft beer. According to the NSLC, Nova Scotia craft beer sales grew last year by 25.4% compared to 22% the year before. This growth is even more significant given the 1.2% decline in sales in the beer category overall. Overall, the Nova Scotia Craft Beer industry grew 35.9 % last year, including more than $10 million in direct sales from breweries and the private wine stores, in addition to the over $5 million of sales through the NSLC retail outlets.
Big Spruce Brewing is having a food truck party every Friday throughout the summer and next Friday, June 26th is the first first day. The folks at Free Range Bio Farm will be there with their custom Big Yellow food truck, featuring some of their on-farm raised/processed, German style, Berkshire pork sausages. There will be potato salad, sauerkraut, chili, and lots of other delicious local treats.
Boxing Rock tells me that the last batch of Sessionista is ready to be released. Sad news but they are brewing a new session ale on Monday and rumor has it there will be rye in it. Stay tuned for details.
Garrison Brewing says they are pouring "Brewhouse Cider" in conjunction with their friends Bulwark Ciders, and produced right in the old seaport brewery. Also Garrison's Coast to Coastless Imperial ESB will be released on Monday. This is a strong 7.6% ABV and 50 IBUs beer and was made with Philips Brewing, Flying Monkeys Craft Brewing and Trou du Diable. This will be available at the brewery, bottle shops and NSLC eventually.
Granite Brewery was brewing Honey Ginger this week. It should be available next week end and for the rest of the summer.
North Brewing Company has produced "Hang Ten" birthday beer for The Local Source and will be out this Saturday in their store and Lion and Bright. It is a 4.5% ABV hybrid lager dry hopped with Wakatu and Columbus.
Rare Bird Pub opened yesterday for the summer season on the Guysborough waterfront. A great place to have a Rare Bird Craft beer.
The Gahan House says they are heading to the Cavendish Beach Music Festival. Located at the top of the festival grounds will be the Gahan at the Beach Pop-up Restaurant featuring handcrafted ales on tap, beer and food demos, a pig roast and so much more.
Join the Ladies Beer League at their Second Beerthday Party on June 27th at The Wooden Monkey Restaurant in Dartmouth. They will have four special casks made by some of our favourite local craft breweries.
Tickets are $25 and include five 5 oz cask samples, a belly full of the Wooden Monkey's amazing pizza and - of course - birthday cake.
To celebrate their second year there are new Ladies Beer League swag. Come out to celebrate, hang out with awesome people, share ideas for future events, or just come for the beer.
The casks include:
- Boxing Rock is bringing Rule 42, which is an English IPA collaboration with Hell Bay, Sea Level and Gahan House.
- Big Spruce is doing up a Pump Le Mousse Grapefruit Wheat.
- Garrison firkin and North Brewing cask,
In celebration of their 2nd birthday they want to know where you have gone with the Ladies Beer League. Post a picture of you in your LBL shirt before Friday June 26 and you could win one of their new shirts designed by Dartmouth Clothing Company. Check on the facebook for details.
Tasting NB is bringing together NB craft alcohol producers of all varieties for the first time. This early evening outdoor event takes place across The Capital Complex patios and surrounding area. Producers include Picaroons Traditional Ales, Big Axe Brewery, Les Brasseurs du Petit-Sault, TrailWay Brewing , Grimross Brewing , Railcar Brewing, The Pump House Brewery and Restaurant, Belleisle Winery, Red Rover Brewing, Pollen Angels Meade and Fils du Roy Spirits. Additional producers still to be announced. This is taking place Saturday July 11, 2015 from 7PM - 10PM.
Thanks for joining me again this week and until next time enjoy responsibly.
Hello and welcome to the June 12th edition of the Maritime Beer Report.
Congrats to Maritime Breweries who won medals at the 2015 Canadian Brewing Awards. PEI Brewing Company won Gold in the Brown Ale category for their Gahan Iron Bridge Brown. Red Rover Brewing Company also won Gold for Cider with Herbs/Spices with their Experimental Brew - Fire. Muwin Estate Wines got Gold in Specialty Ciders for their Bulwark Gold Traditional Craft Cider. Tatamagouche Brewing captured a Bronze for German Style Kolsch with North Shore Lagered Ale. Garrison Brewing also got a Bronze for Barley Wine with Ol’ Fog Burner. Lastly Les Brasseurs du Petit-Sault captured a Bronze in European Style Lager with La Kedgwick. Congrats to all the brewers.
PEI Brewing Company says Island Red is now available in Nova Scotia at select NSLC locations. Let me know where you see it.
They also say Vic Park Hop Sessions brew with the Citra hop variety is on tap now at the brewery - limited quantity - once it's gone, it's gone. This is a 5.7% ABV beer.
Upstreet Craft Brewing offered their first 50 memberships to their Mug Club this week and the went really fast. There is a waitlist to get yours when the start selling again. Their website is live now with beer listings and their first 18 tap accounts.
Big Axe Brewery's Taproom grand-opening and belated 1 year birthday celebration is tomorrow June 13th at 1 PM. Big Axe taproom will be serving craft ales, cider and mead, the Southern Ukrainian grill will be open from 5-7 PM and Julio's Garage playing 8 to 10 PM.
Hammond River Brewing says Blueberry Ale has returned this summer. From HRB "Brewed with all real Blueberries, this is one tasty and refreshing beer for the patio!" It is currently on tap at Saint John Ale House, Barrel's Head, and Bourbon Quarter.
Railcar Brewing says it is pleased to announce that in two weeks they will be offering bottles to go for sale at the brewery. Their IPA and Grapefruit Pale Ale will be available next weekend in bottles at the brewery. Listings submitted for Pale Ale and IPA to hit ANBL shelves soon.
Railcar will be tapping a special keg of Peanut Butter Chocolate Porter tomorrow at noon. Only one keg available get your growler filled ASAP.
A brewery I heard about a couple of weeks ago in the Shediac area went on social media this week. Flying Boats Brewing launched a facebook page this week. They say they are working on the listings and recently kegged a 7.2% ABV Black IPA.
Garrison Brewing Company has their new brewery launch celebration tomorrow at the Back Lot Bash, tickets are still available. Also Seaport Beer Fest are now on sale, this is always a sell out so get them early.
Last week end I helped brew an Imperial Red at Rockbottom Brewpub with the Ladies Beer League. Look for Fizzgig coming to their taps in July.
Looks like after delays Stillwell's Beer Garden on the Halifax waterfront opens today. There was some negative press out this week but I for one think it will be a good addition to the waterfront area.
A little light this week. Thanks to Monica at Lion & Bright for the kind words and support of the blog. Until next week enjoy responsibly.
Hello and welcome to the June 5th edition of Maritime Beer Report.
Big Axe Brewery says just in time for the camping season, Big Axe is serving up Hatchet blonde ale, weighing in at 4.6% ABV that they say is "light and refreshingly hoppy".
Distillerie Fils du Roy released their spring beer, Stella Maris is now available from their small store in Petit-Paquetville in 750 ml bottles. Stella Maris mean in Latin Sea Star and it’s the name of the star in the Acadian Flag. Their inspiration is from the French beer style called ‘’Bière de Garde’’ that can be translated as ‘’Beer to Keep’’. It’s a malty sweet made from French malt and French hops, the beer has 7.5% ABV.
Picaroons Traditional Ales says Melonhead is back and they would like to introduce Sir Winston Snaggletooth (c/o Jordan Stephens). Melonhead is now on tap at the brewtique in Downtown Fredericton, and will be on the shelves at Alcool NB Liquor now.
Breton Brewing is waiting for art work to officially announce their beer names but has shared them with us in the meantime. Their three initial beers are Black Angus IPA, Stirling Hefeweizen and Sons of Hector Brown Ale. Looking forward to their opening later this month. Remember this is our secret.
Garrison Brewing Company has been hinting at their collaboration for months now. What I can tell you it is an Imperial ESB with Phillips Brewing, Flying Monkey Brewing and Trou du Diable. It will be at the Back lot bash next week end but no time frame on when it will be hitting the brewery and the NSLC, but the are saying this month.
Great Lakes Brewery did a collaboration yesterday with Garrison. It is very secretive and I haven't got any details yet. Garrison did another collaboration recently, see Meander River news.
Good Robot Brewing Company says on Sunday, they officially release their Crown on the Ground steam beer. From Good Robot "Steam beer brewers traditionally used lager (cold-fermenting, crisp) yeast but lacked the funds for proper cooling equipment, so they let the cool San Francisco harbour winds chill the beer naturally. In other words, a steam beer is a common man's lager, a crisp tribute to Americana and music festivals, something to drink all day in the sun or the Chevy Suburban while jamming to malt-rock bands." On Sunday, they'll be playing tunes in the driveway, Halifax Press will be on site, and there will be games they played at those original festivals.
Hell Bay Brewing Company says OPA (oatmeal pale ale) is available this week at the brewery and on tap at select bars. This is a very drinkable ale, crisp hop profile, at 5% ABV and 49 IBUs.
Meander River Farm has a new release. Summer solstice IPA 4.5% ABV. A balanced hoppy flavour and aroma from Amarillo, Citra hops and dry hopped with Cascade. It was releasing at the Taste of Nova Scotia 12 Tides event. Look for it at Stillwell and on tap at the brewery all weekend.
Daniel Girard from Garrison Brewing and brewmaster Alan Bailey are putting their heads together to brew a Strong Scotch Ale with seaweed, peated malt and other special ingredients. A unique brew for "Dinner on the Ocean Floor" with the The Flying Apron Cookery and Avondale Sky Winery, put on by Taste of Nova Scotia. More details as I get them.
On the heels of North Brewing Company and Brooklyn Warehouse's beer dinner during Nova Scotia craft beer they announced a new beer-centric restaurant. They have bought the space where Nectar currently resides which is closing this month.
Propeller Brewing Company launched their newest One Hit Wonder Series - Point Pleasant Pale Ale.From Propeller "This single hopped, crisp and balanced brew is true to the American Pale Ale style. Solely Columbus hops were used for the bittering and aroma additions of this brew, and we feel it displays this hop at its best. Enjoy this sessionable Craft Brew!" It is a 27 IBUs and 5% ABV beer.
Sea Level Brewing released its seasonal Apple Blossom Ale. This is made annually in celebration of the Apple Blossom Festival in the Annapolis Valley. It is made with Maritime Malt, California ale yeast, a hop called Calypso, and infused with apple flavour. It is a light 4.8% ABV and available now in cans or kegs. Limited time only.
Stillwell's Beer Garden is near completion. co-owner Christopher Reynolds is hoping to have a soft-opening on Sunday. Watch their social media for announcements.
The long awaited taps at Bishops Cellar are on the way. The growler fill station's fridge has shipped and construction will start in-store next week. They estimate they will be pouring 5 local brews in just over 2 weeks.
Thanks for supporting me again this week and until next time, enjoy responsibly.
