Welcome to the April 29th edition on the Maritime Beer Report.
Big news from Cape Breton today with Big Spruce Brewing and Breton Brewing spliting $436K repayable investments from ACOA to expand operations.
From ACOA news release:
Big Spruce Brewing is receiving a repayable investment of $350,000 to support the construction of an additional 5,000 square feet of building space at their facilities located in Nyanza, Cape Breton. This project will also assist with the purchase of new incremental processing equipment and the installation of an innovative product containment system.
Breton Brewing is receiving a repayable investment of $86,000 to support the installation of two new fermenting tanks and a canning line for packaging at their microbrewery in Sydney. This equipment will assist Breton Brewing in keeping up with consumer demand and allow finished products to be sold more easily to second-party vendors.
A sure sign of summer is Big Spruce Brewing releasing the Silver Tart sour ale. This seasonal favourite made from raspberries and is 4.5% ABV. Look for it now at the brewery and usual taps soon.
Boxing Rock Brewing released Mutiny Subversive Amber Ale. This amber ale is a collaboration with Garrison Brewing, Propeller Brewing, Schoolhouse Brewing and Hell Bay Brewing and forms the base for the grog soon to be released to Gahan House for Race the Kegs on May 8 as part of Nova Scotia Craft Beer Week. This is an English style pale ale, amber in colour with a bold malt backbone and moderate hoppiness, lots of citrus hop aroma and very smooth and drinkable. It is 5% ABV at the brewery and currently at Bishops Cellar.
Garrison Brewing released Klingon Warnog Roggen Dunkel today. Brewed under licence the dunkelweizen has an aroma that is predominantly mild banana and clove produced by the German wheat yeast, supported by subtle sweet malt character from the use of Munich malt. The 5.5% ABV, 20 IBU beer is now at the brewery.
Garrison also released its seasonal Sugar Moon Maple Ale at the brewery. It is brewed with maple syrup from Sugar Moon farms in Earltown and is a warming 6.3% ABV.
Garrison also announced the date of Halifax Oktoberfest, save September 16 and 17.
Rare Bird Craft Beer jumped in the big truck and head into the backwoods of Nova Scotia to get fresh maple sap so they could brew up a batch maple ale.There’s no water added to their brew, just pure Nova Scotia maple sap, some maple syrup and a bit of spice to give the beer it’s unique maple flavour. It comes in at 6.5% ABV, but the smooth maple flavour balances out the alcohol and hops to give it a refreshing taste and rare character. It is at the brewery and coming to private stores in HRM soon.
Saltbox Brewing had a couple of updates this week. One important piece was annouced being the brewer. Jeremy Fehr is a recent graduate from Niagara College but has racked up an impressive list of achievements. Most notably a Bronze Medal finish at the US Beer Open for his Imperial Pilsner. He joins the brewery on May 16th.
They also launched their pioneer club that will give members exclusive access to the first batch of each new brew launched, special invitation to regular educational seminars and a limited release Saltbox T-shirt labeled with ‘Pioneers Club’ to designate you as a Saltbox Pioneers Beer Club Founding Member. It is 40.00 and limited to 150 members. Available now on their website.
Tatamagouche Brewing quietly released Tweed Wolf Brown IPA recently. It has Cascade, Simcoe and huell melon. This is the second release of their staff beer, Alex Martin came up with the idea and he and Matt knocked out recipe together. It clocks in at 7.1% ABV and 70 IBUs.
PEI Brewing released Setting Day - PEI's harvest Saison today. It is an homage to the day when hearty men and women set out in the early morning to set the first traps of the season. This brew is a sessionable 3.5% ABV.
Picaroons introduced another beer in their staff beer series, Iain the Canadiain Stoutvwas brewed by our Iain Brannigan, This assertively roasty stout clocks in at 7% ABV. and has a well balanced hop bitterness which goes down quite smooth due to the velvety nature of the generous helping of oats in the recipe. On tap now at the Brewtique while supplies last.
The Moncton Beer League is proud to announce the second annual Atlantic Canadian Craft Brew Oktoberfest on Saturday, September 24th at the Lions Club, 55 Mark Avenue to support United Way of Greater Moncton and Southeastern New Brunswick. The event is being planned to showcase local Atlantic Canadian products including craft beer and food, all while raising funds for United Way during their 2016 campaign.
The regular session from 7:30-10pm allows you unlimited beer samples in your custom take-home glass from Jym Line Glassware. The VIP ticket gets you a special glass, along with an industry panel discussion and exclusive guided beer tasting an hour and a half earlier in addition to the regular session. More info at http://ambereffect.com/events/
Thanks for joining me again this week, until next time enjoy responsibly.
