Maritime Beer Report - June 30, 2016

Here is all the beer news for June 30th for the Maritimes.

Garrison Brewing is kicking off the Canada Day Long Week end with a new beer and and bringing back a gold medal winner.
Recently Garrison called for its fans to bring in rhubarb to create a community-sourced ale. The "fruits" of their efforts is “It’s Rhubarb Saison!” a summery Saison that comes in at 5.7% ABV.
They are also bringing back Rise 'n’ Stein Hefeweizen that was a gold winning beer at the 2015 Atlantic Canada Brewing Awards. The wheat ale with its straw colour, dry finish and fluffy white head is 5.5% ABV.
Both will be available at the brewery on tap and the Rise 'n’ Stein in bottles at the brewery, private stores and hitting the NSLC's shelves around July 11th.
On Canada Day Garrison will have 6 extra specialty beers on tap. This means they will have up to 15 different Garrison beer on tap including Cider. In addition there will be maple bacon cupcakes from Blue Bird Bakery.

Good Robot Brewing says one of their most popular beers are back, get Damn Fine Coffee & Cherry Pie Pale while supplies last. On Canada Day they will have Rinaldo's on site with their Hoagies and every Friday for the summer and T DOGS every Saturday.

Lazy Bear Brewing notes Battery Park Beer Bar will host Gut View Amber and Bear Bones IPA this week. Their retail space open opens today,  June 30th from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. They say they are starting with one night a week and may expand later.

North Brewing are launching a new beer on Canada Day. Tomorrow they will release Wiley Boys - black saison aged on currents. Available for growler fills, in 750 swing-tops and on tap at Battery Park Beer Bar for Ace Burger Canada Day Pop Up. Also look for Sauer Sagan Hat, Belgian Milk Stout, $5 pints of Gus' 65M Ale, North x Stillwell Barberry Gose cask and North x Stillwell Mango Gose cask.

Saltbox Brewing moves ever closer to opening. They say they now have their three initial brews now fermenting. In case you are wondering they are Dark Cream Ale,  Hefeweizen and IPA. More news coming soon.

Schoolhouse Brewery has signed the lease for their new brewing location on Water Street in Windsor. Looking forward to seeing what they will do with it.

Townhouse Brewpub & Eatery is turning 4 and has a full week end planned. On Saturday July 2nd from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM there will be brewery tours. There is also an oyster bar paired with 3 local stouts Terry’s Dry Irish Stout, Granite Brewery Keefe’s Irish Stout, and Sober Island Brewing’s Oyster Stout. Lots more happening, check their facebook for all the details.

Trider's Craft Beer announced they will be setting up in the Amherst Industrial Park in leased space in the incubator mall the middle of next month. Brewmaster Joe Potter says they have a 7 BBL system on order that should arrive by late October and hope to be sending out batches from it right around the new year. Look for two or three easy drinking and straight ahead ales including what they call Scotian Pale Ale (a very lightly hopped APA) with a revolving cast of locally themed seasonals as well as a light lager for next summer. They plan to start selling beer from a 10 gallon pilot system before the end of summer while they are waiting for their new production system. Look for them to be active in the farmers markets from Amherst to Halifax at that point. Check for full details on my blog. 

Wayfarers' Ale Society are now open in Port Williams next to The Port Pub and are currently open Monday to Wednesday from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Thursday to Saturday from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM. The tap room is opening today, Friday and Saturday from 4:00 PM to 11:00 PM. They currently have Hellene Summer Ale the is 4.2% ABV and 17 IBUs and Ruby Red that is an Irish Red and comes in at 4.8% ABV and 30 IBUs. 
Beers coming soon are a German-style Blond Ale, an English Bitter, a Scottish beer and One-eyed River Hog IPA. 

Big Axe Brewery is having a summer beer tasting event and a 3 course meal while enjoying the view of the Saint John River. The beer is paired with wild foraged food of New Brunswick.  This is a ticket only event on July 23rd and tickets are on sale now. 

Flying Boats Brewing has released Flying Boats Session IPA. It is a 4.7% ABV beer with several additions of Galaxy (Australia) hops for a passion fruit citrusy flavor and aroma. The ale is yet to be named but look for it at the Laundromat on the tap rotation over the weekend and other taps soon.

Picaroons says their organic wheat beer, Dooryard Summer Ale, will be joining their Best Bitter and Yippee IPA on the shelves of the NSLC on July 11th.
Picaroons also says as of tomorrow, July 1st, the new price of bottles will now be $3.95, and a Growler fill will be $11.50. 

The Pump House Brewery says it now has on tap Pump House Weisen. It is a classic unfiltered German style wheat beer with a spicy clove-like, banana bouquet and flavour from the Weinstephan yeast strain. Malty and lightly acidic making this one very refreshing. Garnish with lemon. 5.2% ABV

Trail Way Brewing says its Raspberry Wheat  is back on tap at the brewery just in time for Canada Day. Get it at the brewery now. 

The Guardian has reported that the Murphy Hospitality Group is opening a new boutique hotel in Moncton that will include a Gahan House Restaurant and Brewery. The new Gahan House, which will be on the corner of Wesley and Queen Streets, will join the two current locations in downtown Charlottetown Prince Edward Island and in Nova Scotia on the Halifax waterfront. The restaurant and brewery will be located on the main level of the 75 unit hotel and will feature a 160 seat dining room, seasonal 60 seat patio and 6 BBL DME brewing system.

Have a great long week end and I'll be back with another report next Friday.

The Gahan House Restauarant and Brewery comes to Moncton

(Moncton, NB) - The Guardian has reported that the Murphy Hospitality Group (MHG) is opening a new boutique hotel in Moncton that will include a Gahan House Restaurant and Brewery. The new Gahan House, which will be on the corner of Wesley and Queen Streets, will join the two current locations in downtown Charlottetown Prince Edward Island and in Nova Scotia on the Halifax waterfront. 

The restaurant and brewery will be located on the main level of the 75 unit hotel and will feature a 160 seat dining room, seasonal 60 seat patio and 6 BBL DME brewing system.

The new hotel marks the MHG's first venture into New Brunswick. The new hotel complex hopes to open in late 2017 or early 2018.

For more details, see the full Guardian article.

Scenic decks to grab a craft beer in Nova Scotia

There are many things I love about Nova Scotia during the summer months. Topping my list is the ever-evolving craft beer scene and the natural beauty of the province. If you dream of sitting in the sun savoring a local beer and soaking in the stunning scenery, then these picturesque decks are the perfect spots to enjoy a brew or two.

Continue reading on Travel Maritimes 

Garrison Releases Two Beers for Canada Day

(Halifax, NS) - Garrison Brewing is kicking off the Canada Day Long Week end with a new beer and and bringing back a gold medal winner. 

Recently Garrison called for its fans to bring in rhubarb to create a community-sourced ale. The "fruits" of their efforts is “It’s Rhubarb Saison!” a summery Saison that comes in at 5.7% ABV.

They are also bringing back Rise 'n’ Stein Hefeweizen that was a gold winning beer at the 2015 Atlantic Canada Brewing Awards. The wheat ale with its straw colour, dry finish and fluffy white head is 5.5% ABV.  

Both will be available at the brewery on tap and the Rise 'n’ Stein in bottles at the brewery, private stores and hitting the NSLC's shelves around July 11th. 

Nova Scotia Craft Beer Sales Grew 25.5% at NSLC

(Halifax, NS) - In the latest NSLC year-end results ending March 31, 2016 saw NS craft beer sales grow by 25.5% to $7.6 million. They also say that the craft beer industry has grown significantly over the past year and now comprise four percent of all its beer sales. 
Here are the highlights from this years report.

• Net income (earnings) totaled $241.3 million; up $13.3 million or 5.8%
• Total sales were $607.6 million; an increase of $16.3 million or 2.8%
• Total volume of alcohol sold was up 1.7%

Local Product Sales Highlights

• Nova Scotia wine sales (made with locally grown grapes) grew by 8.7% to $9.6 million.
• Nova Scotia craft beer sales grew by 25.5% to $7.6 million. 
• Nova Scotia spirit sales grew by 177.3% to $1.5 million. 
• Nova Scotia commercial wine sales (produced here with imported grapes) were up 7.3% to $21.7 million.
• Nova Scotia commercial beer sales were stable in 2015-2016, at $160.5 million.
• Nova Scotia ready-to-drink products, which are largely ciders, had a strong year with sales increasing by 44.4%. The popularity of ciders in Nova Scotia continues to grow, and now comprises 22 percent of all ready-to-drink sales.

Trider's Craft Beer to open Brewery in Amherst

(Amherst, NS) - Trider's Craft Beer will commence brewing in Amherst this year. They will be setting up in the Amherst Industrial Park in leased space in the incubator mall the middle of next month. The brew space will also have a small storefront for purchases and it may end up licensed as a tap room as well depending on how things go. 

Brewmaster Joe Potter says they have a 7 BBL system on order that should arrive by late October and hope to be sending out batches from it right around the new year. Look for two or three easy drinking and straight ahead ales including what they call Scotian Pale Ale (a very lightly hopped APA) with a revolving cast of locally themed seasonals as well as a light lager for next summer.

Trider's plan to start selling beer from a 10 gallon pilot system before the end of summer while they are waiting for their new production system. Look for them to be active in the farmers markets from Amherst to Halifax at that point. Long term plans is to set up a tap room and store front in downtown Amherst serving light fare or to partner up with a local food establishment to offer some eats. This location will also house a small batch system to brew periodic specialty releases. 

Joining Joe on this venture is his wife who will be the operations and retail manager and his brother-in-law who will handle marketing. Watch for details here as the continue along with development.

Grimross Brewing Expands to Meet Demand

Grimross Brewing has signed an agreement to to double in size to 8000 square feet at 600 Bishop Drive in Fredericton, NB. Co-owner Stephen Dixon says "This expansion is necessary to accommodate the growing demand for our taproom and need for more space in our brewery and warehouse. Our current space is getting a little cramped as we increase the number of fermenters, which means more grain, more kegs and more cans. 
The new space will allow them to expand their warehouse space and dedicate more space to increasing production.
Dixon explained that the expansion will happen in two phases with phase one focusing on expanding the taproom and warehouse space. He says "We regularly host music talent in our taproom and the new space will allow for bigger acts and more customers. Phase two will see more fermentation capacity and patio overlooking a very scenic marshland." 
Grimross Brewing is a Fredericton, NB based brewery that started selling its beer in July 2013 and is owned by Stephen Dixon and Dawn Vincent-Dixon.

Maritime Beer Report - June 24, 2016

Welcome to the first Maritime Beer Report of summer 2016

Big Spruce Brewing is serving an experimental blonde ale they "conspired" with Boxing Rock to make at their brewery. Wigged Out is a crisp, light, late addition ale. 

Boxing Rock Brewing has a bunch of beers out this week. First off they are re-introducing Bottle Blonde. It's malty with that spicy hint of something in the background you just can't put your finger on. The 5% ABV beer is available at select taps and coming to the NSLC soon.
They made another batch of Oban Heather Ale since the batch sold out in just a couple of weeks. Made with loads of Golden Promise Malt, it has a perfect malty biscuity base to showcase the 35 kg of Scottish Heather flowers they put into the brew. To balance all those heady floral notes of the Heather, we added lots and lots of wildflower honey from our producer up in the Annapolis Valley, and just a hint of peat smoked malt.
Lastly they brewed the first runner up in their Black Box Challenge. Hop Springs Eternal White IPA was made in collaboration with home brewers Mark Reid and Sean Ebert. It is made with over 30% wheat in the malt bill, and hopped generously with Columbus, Cascade, Willamette and New Zealand Pacifica hops. This creates a blend of flavours right up the IPA alley, while the wheat makes a great mouth filling base for it. To top it off quite an obscure yeast strain is used to ferment it, giving the beer some fruity notes that perfectly compliment the fruity citrus and pine notes in the beer. It is 5.6% ABV and available at the brewery and privates. 

Downeast Beer Factory is celebrating its Grand Opening tomorrow June 25th. They are launching their Fiddlers Irish Red Ale and Game Changer IPA. The event is in support of Children's Wish and will run from 11:00 AM - 2:00 AM and $5 from every bill will be donated. 

FirkinStein Brewing says Nor'easter will be available in 500 ml bottles for the first time for the market tomorrow along with growler fills. 

Garrison Brewing says they are going to have our own tap-takeover at the brewery with 6 extra specialty beer on tap. That means they will have at least 15 different Garrison beers on tap including their Cider. In addition they will have maple bacon cupcakes from Blue Bird Bakery.
The Canada Beer Run in Halifax will be happening on the Saturday of Oktoberfest, Sept 17th. 500 runners will begin at Garrison Brewery and run around the city stopping at different breweries and ending their run to celebrate at the Oktoberfest.

Granite Brewery says Honey Ginger is back on for the summer. It is a light pale ale (4.75% ABV) with hints of honey and ginger. It is available in growlers at the brewery. 

Propeller Brewing released its latest beer in its One Hit Wonder Series. June Bock is a Maibock Style beer that is 6.8% ABV and 35 IBUs. Propeller describes it as "bright golden colour, moderate bitterness with a slight floral hop". It uses Hallertauer hops, Two Row and Pilsener malts and Munich wheat. Available for growler fills only at the breweries shops.

Tatamagouche Brewing has released Horton Ridge Malt and Grain Co. SMaSH (single malt and single hop) now on tap and growler fills. The 5.4% ABV has Horton Ridge Pale Malt and Amarillo hops get it while it lasts.

Big Tide Brewing says that coming soon is Barrelled Life Braggot (barley wine and black honey mead). They brewed this with Dunhams Run Winery in December 2015 and have been waiting patiently for six months while it ages in a hot Frontenac oak barrel. At 10.2% ABV, this rich, deep copper coloured brew has a nose of caramel, honey and the warmth of alcohol. Silky smooth on the palate. It will be available in house at the pub soon and also at Dunhams Run on the Kingston Peninsula.

Fans of Brasseurs du Petit-Sault in Nova Scotia rejoice. 864 six-packs of Louis XVII Amber Ale has been shipped to the NSLC for a seasonal listing. Look for it on shelves soon.

Distillerie Fils du Roy has created a cranberry beer only available on the Miscou Island at the Terrasse à Steve. The name of the beer is the Gougou.
The gougou appear in the literature on the first exploration of Samuel de Champlain who mentioned the Gougou during his voyages.
Here is the text from Samuel de Champlain:
“… there is an island where a terrible monster resides, which the (autochthon) call ‘Gougou,’ and which they told me had the form of a woman, though very frightful, and of such a size that they told me the tops of the masts of our vessel would not reach to his middle.”
And he goes on…

“… and they say that he has often devoured and still continues to devour many (autochthon); these he puts, when he can catch them, into a great pocket, and afterwards eats them; and those who had escaped the jaws of this wretched creature said that its pocket was so great that it could have put our vessel into it. This monster makes horrible noises in this island. … When they speak of him, it is with the greatest possible fear, and several have assured me that they have seen him.

First City Brewery is in the process of moving locations to right beside the Peel Pub on Union St.  They say it is not much bigger than their current location but all around a better spot for them. The plan is to be able to offer growler fills through the Peel Pub once up and running. They hope to be able to brew the first batch at the new location within a week or two.

Gray Stone Brewing is officially opening at 221 King Street on Canada Day, Friday July 1st, 2016 that was conceived 11 years ago and following 3 years of hard work.
The new location will house the 10 BBL brewery where Gray Stone will brew its small batches of hand crafted, west coast style ales as well as lounge, patio and taphouse. .The tap house has 24 taps which will have Gray Stone's offerings as well as showcasing 20+ of New Brunswick's craft beer. 
Join them Canada Day from 11:00 AM  to midnight for a full day of delicious New Brunswick beer, summer foods and games.

Grimross Brewing has signed an agreement to take an additional 4000 sq.ft. adjacent space at 600 Bishop Drive in Fredericton, NB, doubling its footprint to 8000 sq.ft. This expansion is necessary to accommodate the growing demand for the taproom and need for more space in their brewery and warehouse. The current space is getting a little cramped as they increase the number of fermenters, which means more fermenters, more grain, more kegs and more cans. This new space will allow them to expand warehouse space and dedicate more space to increasing production.

Owner Stephen Dixon explained that the expansion will happen in two phases with phase one focusing on expanding the taproom and warehouse space. We regularly host music talent in our taproom and the new space will allow for bigger acts and more customers. Phase two will see more fermentation capacity and patio overlooking a very scenic marshland.

Mama's Brew Pub released "Raspberry Wheat" brew for the summer. It is a 4.8% ABV German Heffe with 30 pounds of raspberries added in secondary. The grain is 2 row and Torrified wheat, rice hulls as a filter, bittering hop was East Kent Golding from Southan farms in NB.  Dry and delicious.

Maybee Brewing's Grand Opening Party is tomorrow from 6:00 PM - 11:00 PM at the brewery.

The weather looks fantastic for the first week end of summer. Whatever ou decide to do if drinking is involved, enjoy responsibly. 

Propeller Brewing Releases Latest One Hit Wonder

(Halifax, NS) - Propeller Brewing released its latest beer in its One Hit Wonder Series. June Bock is a Maibock Style beer that is 6.8% ABV and 35 IBUs. Propeller describes it as "bright golden colour, moderate bitterness with a slight floral hop". It uses Hallertauer hops, Two Row and Pilsener malts and Munich wheat. Available for growler fills only at the breweries shops. 

Gray Stone Brewing Opens for Business July 1st

(Fredericton, NB) - Gray Stone Brewing is officially opening at 221 King Street on Canada Day, Friday July 1st, 2016 that was conceived 11 years ago and following 3 years of hard work.

The new location will house the 10 BBL brewery where Gray Stone will brew its small batches of hand crafted, west coast style ales as well as lounge, patio and taphouse. .The tap house has 24 taps which will have Gray Stone's offerings as well as showcasing 20+ of New Brunswick's craft beer. 

Join them Canada Day from 11:00 AM  to midnight for a full day of delicious New Brunswick beer, summer foods and games.

www.graystonebrewing.com
Facebook: graystonebrewing
Instagram: @graystonebrewing 
Twitter: @graystonebeer

Authentic Seacoast Opens New Brewery and Distillery

(Guysborough, NS) - Authentic Seacoast Company celebrated the Grand Opening of their new state-of-the-art brewery and distillery on June 18th. Located on Ferry Road next to Osprey Shores Golf Resort the facility’s footprint spans more than 22,000 square feet and comprises three buildings including a hospitality room, still house, brew hall, milling room, packaging hall and warehouse. 

The new facility represents a significant increase in Authentic Seacoast’s craft brewing of Rare Bird Craft Beer with the addition of a 30 BBL brew system and 90 BBL fermenters. This system does double duty by starting some of the spirits before sending them to the still house. 


When it came to the facility’s design, all efforts were made to blend in to historic Guysborough. “Our intention was to reduce the impact of the structure on the streetscape, make it more interesting, yet achieve the functional goals of the facility,” says Authentic Seacoast Proprietor Glynn Williams. “These are wood structures with cedar as the cladding material, which is a traditional form of local construction.”

The multi-million dollar expansion will also add about two dozen jobs to the area as it comes on stream. The new Authentic Seacoast brewery and distillery is now open to the public with tours and tastings are available at 2:00 PM throughout the summer and by appointment during the winter months.

Alexander Keith's Brewery Goes Small

 

 (Halifax, NS) - The most historic and storied brewery in Nova Scotia, Alexander Keith’s, blew the dust off its mothballed 20 BBL system on Lower Water Street to start a small batch brewing program. To make this happen a newly appointed brewmaster Stefan Gagliardi was brought in to create locally-inspired beer that celebrate the people, history and heritage of Nova Scotia.


Being named brewmaster for such an iconic brewery is an incredible honour,” says Gagliardi, who has been working in the beer community for over 10 years. “I’m excited to tap into the Alexander Keith’s spirit of innovation and create new, great tasting brews that are as unique as the people who live and work in Nova Scotia.”

On June 16th the first two beers were revealed at a large launch event. Cornerstone Edinburgh Pale Ale (4.3% ABV), named for the cornerstone laid during the original construction of the Halifax brewery, Cornerstone is symbolic of the brewery's solid foundation and its inaugural brew for a new era.   The new beer is inspired by brewing techniques of two centuries ago in Edinburgh, where Mr. Keith spent time perfecting his brewing craftmanship in the 1800s. Colder temperatures give the beer a sweeter malt profile, and the late addition of English hops round off the beer’s citrus and herbaceous hop aromas.The second beer is Lunenburg Coffee and Cacao Stout (6.5% ABV), that uses 5 kilograms of Laughing Whale Coffee from Lunenburg.



In addition to the new brewing a new tour experience at the historic brewery. The seasonal and limited edition beers crafted at the brewery will be sold in kegs, growlers, 650 ml bottles, and six-pack bottles, onsite at the Lower Water Street location, through the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation, and in select bars and restaurants throughout the province with new brews being unveiled throughout the year.

Maritime Beer Report - June 17, 2015

Welcome to the June 17th edition of the Beer Report. 

Upstreet Craft Brewing is releasing its First Anniversary Beer today at 6:00 PM. De Novo I is a 6 % ABV Saison Farmhouse Ale. The meaning of De Novo is starting from the beginning; anew. Upstreet says "Saison is a very broad style, with no two alike. Known for complex flavours with a dry finish, ours is no exception. We 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." 

The Prince Edward Island Beer Festival is taking place September 2nd and 3rd at the Delta Prince Edward Hotel. It is part of the Fall Flavours Festival, this event is focused on educating visitors and Islanders alike on the art and craft of brewing and tasting beer. Tickets are on sale now. 

Good Robot Brewing released Shocking Pink in honor of the 2016 OUTeast Film Festival. It's their gose cut with pink lemonade and hibiscus tea. On tap now.

Lazy Bear Brewing released its second beer, Bear Bones IPA. It's a single-hop IPA from bittering to aroma. They are using a cultivated wild Ontario hop called Wild Turkey. The aroma should boast some mango, peach and slight citrus notes. It weighs in at 6.5% ABV and around 55 IBUs.

The Nook and Cranny Brew Pub has a new summer beer, a Rhubarb Sour. Not a lot of details on this one right now but sounds perfect. 

Propeller Brewing released its collaboration they made with Flying Monkeys Brewery last month. Graceland Too. They are calling it a white IPA that weighs in at 6.5% ABV. It uses the same yeast as Propeller's Hefeweizen to give it a very unique flavour. Available now in 650 ml bottles at Propeller. 

Rare Bird Craft Beer is having their grand opening tomorrow of the new brewery and distillery. Festivities start tomorrow in Guysborough. At 2:00 PM the official ceremonies will take place, with a plaque being unveiled, flags raised and cannons fired. The Nova Scotia Minister of Finance will join us for the opening. Tours and sampling will continue into the afternoon from 3:00 to 5:00 PM. At 9:00 PM Juno award-winner Garrett Mason will rock the Rare Bird Pub. There is no cover for this public event.

Tatamagouche Brewing is celebrating its birthday on Saturday. The will have some special beer on tap and a cask that Matt cooked up. 

Unfiltered Brewing is having a double release today of two favorites. Double Orange Ale DIPA and Riddle Of Steel IPA are both back and available at the brewery and Charm School.

Alexander Keith's had a release party yesterday for is new small batch brews. The new brews are Cornerstone Edinburgh Pale Ale and Lunenburg Coffee and Cacao Stout. They will be on tap today as well as in bottles at the NSLC. They will be in Nova Scotia only for now.

The Stillwell Beergarden will be opening this week end, they will be open Saturday and maybe today. Best bet is to check social media.

Les Brasseurs du Petit-Sault has brought back Lt Ingall cream ale for the summer. Petit-Sault says "a true session beer, that will go perfectly with all our summer activities". At the brewtique now for growler fills.

Distillerie Fils du Roy says there is a new beer at the Brôkerie in Caraquet. Lady Chaga is made with a mushroom found in our forests. It's an APA for Acadian Pale Ale inspired by the British style IPA. It’s a very hoppy, bitter beer with a finish nutty.

Maybee Brewing says to save the date! Their Grand Opening party for the Taproom will be June 25th. Details to follow in the coming days but there will be music, there will be food. and there will be beer!

Railcar Brewing says bring Dad in for a brewery tour and a sampling of 5 ales (5oz each) and a take home 16 oz Railcar Brewing Glass. For only $20. Dad will love you even more if that's possible and your Father's day present is covered.

Trail Way Brewing has a couple of new beers. One is a new variation of their Session IPA and an oatmeal stout they're calling 'American Oatmeal'. At the brewery now. 

Have a great last week end of spring and whatever you do enjoy responsibly. 

Propeller and Flying Monkeys Brewing Team Up For A New Beer

(Halifax, NS) - Flying Monkeys Brewing visited Propeller Brewing last month at their Dartmouth production facility to brew a collaboration. 

Graceland Too is a 6.5% ABV unfiltered White IPA that uses the same yeast as Propellers hefeweizen.

Available now at Propeller in 650 ml bottles while supplies last. 

Upstreet Craft Brewing Releases First Anniversary Beer

(Charlottetown, PE) - Upstreet Craft Brewing is turning one and to commemorate the milestone they are releasing a beer, De Novo I, a 6 % ABV Saison Farmhouse Ale. The meaning of De Novo is starting from the beginning; anew. 
Upstreet says "Saison is a very broad style, with no two alike. Known for complex flavours with a dry finish, ours is no exception. We 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." 
Upstreet is planning to brew a special Belgian-style beer each year and release it on their anniversary weekend. This one will be released at 6:00 PM  on Friday, June 24th during a full slate of events during Upstreet's Birthday Weekend.

2 Crows Brewing Opening in Halifax this Fall

(Halifax, NS) - A new craft brewer is opening a large brewery in Halifax. 2 Crows Brewing is opening a 20 bbl brewery in the heart of downtown at 1932 Brunswick Street about a block north of the Citadel.

Mark Huizink along with his wife Kelly and Head Brewer Jeremy Taylor will be the key people running the new brewery. Mark trades in a seven year accounting career to come to this passion project and Jeremy comes from Bridge Brewing in Vancouver as the head brewer and brings his MSc. in Brewing from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. 

Jeremy Taylor and his wife Elaine Moody

The brewery intends to create beers that are approachable with a "twist" and will be selling to a few licensees to start, as well as growlers and cans when they open this fall. The brewery is being built as a open concept to the tap room that will have its flagship ales, seasonals as well as guest brews for patrons. 

Mark and Kelly Huizink

Mark when asked why he is jumping into the craft beer scene here he said he loves Nova Scotia and loves great beer and sees opportunity to bring their beer and brewery here. 

Look for 2 Crows to officially open in September if all goes well and there may be a sneak peak in August at the beer fest. Follow along with their progress on twitter, facebook and instagram.

Maritime Beer Report - June 10. 2016

Welcome to the June 10th edition of the Maritime Beer Report. 

PEI Brewing won four gold medals at the Canadian Brewing Awards for Setting Day Saison, Sir John A Honey Wheat, Vic Park Pale Ale and Rogues Roost IPA. Well done. 

Upstreet Craft Brewing just announced its Birthday Weekend. One of the events happening on that weekend is the Upstreet Field Trip. This culinary adventure and bowling has spots for 40 people, get your tickets soon.

Les Brasseurs du Petit-Sault have heralded the return of Tante Blanche at the Edmundston brewtique. Look for her soon at an ANBL store. Big news at the Brewtique is a brand spanking new tap room. They say come have a seat at the most gorgeous and biggest table in Edmundston. They are in the same building, just occupying some new space.

Picaroons Traditional Ales says Melonhead is back . The winner of this year's cat contest is "Chanel" and the new face of MELONHEAD. Look for it at all the regular spots. They also have 506 Logger available. It is a New Brunswick twist on a German tradition using imported German Pilsner malt and a helping of local two-row barley, they've created a beer of golden colour and subtle malt character with slight grassy notes that is dry and crisp with a clean finish. It is a 4.6% ABV and 15 IBU beer.

Pumphouse Brewing released Crafty Radler. It includes a mix of grapefruit and tangerine soda that was created in-house. The taste of this Crafty Radler is as appealing to the taste buds as it is to the nose; the grapefruit flavour dances with the sweetness of tangerines, while the malt and hops give a balanced foundation. It is a 4.7% ABV and 5 IBU ale.

Trail Way Brewing had a hugely successful tap room opening on May 28th. The Fredericton brewery at 280 Main Street released its opening hours as well as a food truck schedule. Get all the details on their facebook page.

Moosehead Breweries, the largest local brewery in the maritimes, announced plans for new small-batch brewery to be constructed ideally in Uptown Saint John. The project, which is anticipated to take more than a year to complete, is a celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Oland family brewing business – a milestone the company will reach in 2017.

A new craft brewer is opening a large brewery in downtown Halifax. 2 Crows Brewing is opening a 20 bbl brewery in the heart of downtown  at 1932 Brunswick Street about a block north of the Citadel.

Mark Huizink along with his wife Kelly and Head Brewer Jeremy Taylor, most recently of Bridge Brewing in Vancouver, will be the key people running the new brewery. Look for their approachable beers at select few licensees to start, as well as growlers and cans when they open this fall.

Big Spruce Brewing sent Batch 470 to Halifax last week. It was their Kitchen Party Pale Ale, but for the first time in (modern) NS history it is a beer made entirely of 2 row barley malted right here in NS by Horton Ridge Malt and Grain So nice to get closer to 100% locally sourced beer. 

Breton Brewing has its Black Angus and Red Coat ales in cans now available in Select NSLC’s. Nice to see more product being made available in stores. It is also available in the privates in Halifax.

Garrison Brewing won Silver in the American Style Black Ale category at this year's Canadian Brewing Awards a couple of weeks ago for Dirty Ol' Town - Black IPA. 

This week they released their very special Star Trek 50th Anniversary Golden Ale. They brew this beer for the Federation of Beer. Garrison says it is an easy drinking Golden ale and is 5.0% ABV and 20 IBUs.

Just in time for summer Seaport Blonde is back on the shelves at the brewery.
Lastly the Backlot Bash is on tomorrow with July Talks. There are still tickets for the show.

Good Robot Brewing latest CommuniBrew on tap. Mikey's Chocolate Orange, a chocolate IPA, brewed by Michael Orr and featuring a boat-load of citrusy hops and cacao nibs. Get it while you can. 

Hell Bay Brewing released Burning Van Smoked Wheat Ale (6.7% ABV) recently. This medium bodied wheat ale was brewed in commemoration of their first cargo van. Smoked malt gives this wheat beer its distinctive smokey undertone along with a medium-dark colour. Sweet and roasty upfront, finishes with dry hop and smoke notes. 

North Brewing released a new beer called Gestalt (5.4% ABV). This rustic Farmhouse beer was over three months in the making with 4 saison strains, one Brett strain, 2 fermentations all blended to create something really special. Earthy aroma, notes of peach, cherry, tamarind, subtle hay and lime zest finish.

Tatamagouche Brewing did Nova Scotia very proud bringing home three awards from the 2016 Canadian Brewing Awards including a Gold for Giantess barley wine, a Gold for our Russian Imperial Stout, and a Bronze for Two Rivers Baltic Porter.  

Wayfarers' Ale in Port Williams sent me a quick note saying they will be open  to the public on July 1st. More details soon.

Bulwark Ciders released a new raspberry cider, a limited addition seasonal offering. Available in bottle and on tap so berry soon - next week.

Tickets went on sale today for the Halifax Seaport Beer Festival on August 5th and 6th. Available at NSLCs and online. The 10th anniversary edition showcases over 300 craft beers, premium imports, seasonals and ciders from 15 different countries and almost every province in Canada.
“Nearly 75% of the showcased products are not listed at the NSLC so this is your chance to try new beers, new breweries and new styles," said Bruce Mansour, festival co-founder. “There's never been more excitement or choice in craft beers and ciders, and we're proud to put them on display again this August!”

The Alexander Keith’s brewery on Lower Water Street is firing up the brew 

kettles with a newly appointed brewmaster at the helm. Brewmaster Stefan Gagliardi joins the team bringing a small-batch brewing approach to creating locally-inspired beer that celebrate the people, history and heritage of Nova Scotia.

“Being named brewmaster for such an iconic brewery is an incredible honour,” says Gagliardi, who has been working in the beer community for over 10 years. “I’m excited to tap into the Alexander Keith’s spirit of innovation and create new, great tasting brews that are as unique as the people who live and Gagliardi’s first creation, Cornerstone Edinburgh Pale Ale, is set to be unveiled at the beginning of June. Named for the cornerstone laid during the original construction of the Halifax brewery, Cornerstone EPA is symbolic of the brewery's solid foundation and its inaugural brew for a new era.  The new beer is inspired by brewing techniques of two centuries ago in Edinburgh, where Mr. Keith spent time perfecting his brewing craftmanship in the 1800s. Colder temperatures give the beer a sweeter malt profile, and the late addition of English hops round off the beer’s citrus and herbaceous hop aromas.

Thanks for checking me out again, it is good to be back home. Until next time, enjoy responsibly.