MBR September 30, 2016 - Nova Scotia Edition

Welcome to the Beer Report for the last day of September 2016.

2 Crows Brewing and Tidehouse Brewing had some exciting news this week. Both upstart brewers received their respective brewing gear. Both will have beer flowing before Christmas.

Big Spruce Brewing has some news again this week. First off one of my favorite beer names is back, Spruce Bringstein is available again.
In two weeks they have been given the opportunity to take over all 6 of their draft lines with Big Spruce beers at The Cabot House at Cabot Links in Inverness, Cape Breton on Friday October 14th. They'll have year round stuff, seasonals, and most certainly some rare and one off beers.Beech Hill will be playing live music that evening and the first 48 people in the door will get a free souvenir glass to take home with them.
Lastly it is time to announce the 4th Annual Big Spruce Home Brew Challenge. There are 3 categories to enter this year Double IPA (Strong American Ale 22A), Dark Mild (Brown British Beer 13A) and Experimental Sour (Specialty Beer, 34C). There are several levels of winners with Best in Show winner also being given the opportunity to brew their beer at Big Spruce Brewing for release in January 2017 at the 4th Annual Craft Beer and Local Food festival put on by Local Connections in Halifax. Get the details on Big Spruce's facebook page 

Brightwood Brewery is celebrating fall with a new beer release. Visit them this week end at Alderney Market and try a rye IPA they've dubbed the 'McNabs Pure', a 6.3% ABV and 49 IBU beer. 

FirkinStein Brewing have also brewing a new beer. It is a coffee oatmeal stout this weekend in which they are using coffee from Laughing Whale Coffee Roasters. Details on this one soon. 

Garrison Brewing has brought its Double Jack Imperial Pumpkin back for fall. They say "Subtle aromas of pumpkin and baking spices greet you in this rich, fall brew. Kilned amber malt adds a complex nutty flavour which pairs beautifully with a light sweetness and balanced spiciness evocative of pumpkin pie. Mild hopping allows this strong, special ale to finish warm and smooth". Look for this one in Nova Scotia at the brewery, private stores and in the NSLC early next month. 

Meander River Farm's Home Grown, their farm to glass fresh hop ale is out this week end as well as Dusty Road, hard apple cider, Available at the brewery and Forum Farmers market. 

Nine Locks Brewing are releasing their next seasonal early next month. Pumpkin Ale they say is "a dark amber ale with a full body and residual sweetness, the pumpkin and spices combine to give a unique flavour to this seasonal offering. A malty backbone provides mouth fullness balancing the crisp spicing. It will be a 5.2% ABV and 12 IBU ale. 

North Brewing released Priority Pale yesterday. It is a dry hopped with American hops and yeast with Belgian malt. A classic APA with a twist. 

Rudder's Seafood Restaurant & Brew Pub has a new beer out,  False Harbour Ale is now on tap and weighs in at 5.2% ABV and 30 IBUs.

Next week Tatamagouche Brewing will be doing a tap takeover at Battery Park in Dartmouth on October 6th. The beer line up will include all your favorites, hard to find brews as well as BATATARY PARK collaboration brew. Battery Park are revealing beers on their facebook page.

Unfiltered Brewing has brought back, or is that risen, Flat Black Jesus American-style Stout on tap for growler fills and glasses. It is a warming 7% ABV and 100+ IBUs. 

Wayfarers' Ales is throwing an Oktoberfest concert at the brewery with dancing and drinking to polkas and waltzes with an authentic Oktoberfest music band. It is on October 15th at 8 PM. They say "lederhosen trousers, hats with feathers and Bavarian dresses encouraged - this will be a real beer fest with real beer, "

That wraps it for this week, until next time enjoy responsibly. 

MBR September 23, 2016 - New Brunswick/Prince Edward Island Edition

Welcome to the New Brunswick/Prince Edward Island Edition report for September 23, 2016.

Bore City Brewing has a brand new Imperial IPA. Tipsy Giant Imperial IPA is a 8.5% ABV and 75 IBU beer hopped with heavy amounts of Equinox, Galaxy and Topaz. Brewmaster Jamie Melanson says "it's dank, it's fruity, it's delicious". 

Celtic Knot Brewing says that the previously announced oyster stout will be available soon. Brewmaster Bruce Barton says he added local wild oysters to the brew. Also coming soon is a new brown rye IPA that Rob Black from AWOL Brewing and Celtic Knot collaborated on. Lastly Toque and Mitts barley wine will return this year. The delicious full bodied oaked barley wine should return sometime in December.

Picaroons Traditional Ales is brewing their third and final batch of Harvest Ale this week. It is made with 100% Wild Moose Mountain Hops. Picaroons says the hops smell delicious and are grown in our good old New Brunswick Holmesville soil. The first batches will start pouring next week.

Trail Way Brewing released a couple of new beers this week. Rype a 5% ABV American Pale Ale was brewed with Comet, Mosaic and Topaz hops and a subtle addition of rye malt that provides background spiciness and complexity and also pairs great with the Mosaic hops. On tap now at the brewery.
The other beer now available is Sour 1, it is a 4.7% ABV kettle-soured ale hopped with Citra and galaxy that provides some nice background fruitiness

On October 15th and 16th, Red Rover Craft Cider is hosting an event based on the art of scrumping. While traditionally, scrumping would involve “borrowing” apples from local orchards or other properties, our event comprises of using apples from your own personal trees. We will be creating a special edition cider in honour of the Fredericton Region Museum with the profits going to this great organisation.
Bring them 2 bushels of apples, and they’ll give you a 750 ml bottle of cider created from all the scrumped apples. If you want to donate the bottle, They'll sell it and donate the profits for you. Local apples, local cider, local cause.

That is all I have this week, have a great week and as always, enjoy responsibly. 

MBR September 23, 2016 - Nova Scotia Edition

Welcome to the first report of fall and we are deep in harvest time here in the Maritimes.

Big Spruce Brewing has developed something really cool. They have developed their own proprietary yeast. For over a year they have tested and isolated a wild strain of  saccharomyces cerevisiae (brewers' yeast) from right on their organic farm. Look for the resultant beer soon and the full story on Big Spruce's facebook page.

Garrison Brewing has Hammerschlagen, an Oktoberfest-style brew that was exclusive for their event last weekend but some kegs have ended up at the brewery for everyone’s sampling and growler-filling pleasure. Garrison says "At 5.4% ABV and 14 IBUs this amber-coloured lager boasts delicious toffee and caramel flavours and an aroma of dark fruit. It is a great beer to enjoy with a variety of foods but is especially delicious paired with pub fare". 
Next Thursday, September 29th Garrison will be bringing back Double Jack Imperial Pumpkin Ale. Brewmaster Daniel carved up “Cinderella” pumpkins, then added Cinnamon, Cloves, Allspice & Nutmeg to create this pumpkin ale. The fall brew has subtle aromas of pumpkin and baking spices with 8.0% ABV and 30 IBUs. 

Hell Bay Brewing has Black Flag IPA on tap. This black IPA is 6.1% ABV and 55 IBU and has a nice balance of hops to dark malts. The addition of Demerara sugar lends a bit of a rum flavour to bring out your inner pirate.

Lazy Bear Brewing created a pale ale with a late addition of the handpicked cascade hops (40 bines worth generously provided by Pat Hudgins in Aylesford, NS). The resulting beer has a slight citrus nose with aroma of green, fresh hops. On tap now. 

North Brewing says this Saturday Many Hands version 4.0 drops! The annual wet hopped collaboration brew with Boxing Rock Brewing this year not only features 100% local fresh hops but also locally malted barley from Horton Ridge Malt. Peter Burbridge says "This is a celebration of what Nova Scotia has to offer and speaks volumes about how far the local craft beer industry has come. Not only do we have micro breweries employing hundreds of people, we also have spin off agricultural and value added artisanal business adding more to the job market and the richness of Nova Scotian culture. So let's all toast Nova Scotia and the next four years of collaboration".

Schoolhouse Brewery has released this years first rendition of Big Red Schoolhouse. Made with fresh Wolfville hops the beer is 6.5% ABV and 80 IBUs. Look for this beer on the first Thursday in October at our new location at 40 Water Street in Windsor for that months sneak peek. 

Have a great week end and as always enjoy responsibly. 

MBR September 16, 2016 - New Brunswick/ Prince Edward Island Edition

Welcome to the last MBR of summer 2016 for Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. 

The Gahan House has announced their 3rd Annual Home Brewer's Challenge. This year's style is Winter Warmer with registration open until September 30th and entries due on November 18th. The winner gets a cash prize, the chance to brew with Brew Master Trent Hayes and it will be on tap at Gahan. Check out the rest of the details: http://bit.ly/2cBRaVu

PEI Brewing has released its seasonal beer Pumpkin Ale. It is now available in their Taproom and at PEI Liquor stores. It's a limited release so if pumpkin is your thing don't miss out.

Upstreet Craft Brewing are partnering with Chef Michael Smith on Fall Flavours event, Grilling and Chilling on September 25th. There will be transportation from Upstreet to the Inn at Bay Fortune.
Upstreet released its Gravedigger Imperial Pumpkin Ale (6.5% ABV) yesterday. Look for it now.

Big Tide Brewing brewed Indian Beach Pumpkin Ale with fresh pumpkins and hops from from Dunham's Run. They also made a Hemp Pale Ale and expect them to be ready over the next week, keep an eye on twitter, Facebook and Instagram for news.

Maybee Brewing made a SMaSH (Single Malt and Single Hop) Harvest Ale with fresh whole Columbus hops from Southan Farms and Maris Otter malt. They say it will land around 6% ABV and 60 IBUs. 

Moosehead Brewing announced they are going to build their new 10,000 sq ft small batch brewery on the waterfront next to the Coast Guard Site on Pugsley Wharf in uptown Saint John. 

Red Rover has come out with The Blues Cider. They used 120 pounds of rough crushed wild blueberries from Sackville and St Stephen and spiced with cardamom while aged on skins to give that beautiful vibrant color. Red Rover says "This cider is medium dry and cloudy and best served chilled". Get it while supplies last. 

Atlantic Craft Canada Craft Beer Fest is next Saturday September 24th with 25 craft brewers confirmed from Atlantic Canada and four local food vendors. There will be 70 different beer, cider and mead to try. You can also get up close and personal with the people who make them. But tickets here.

Bogtrotter Craft Beer Launch is also on September 24th at 12 PM at Alcool NB Liquor 380 York Street in Fredericton. Drop by and see the New Brunswick's newest brewer.

Fredericton Cider Festival 2016 is October 1st at Brewbakers Patio 546 King St. in Fredericton. The Festival will showcase local cider options as well as other ciders - about 25 different ciders in all will be available in 4 oz samples with a custom sampling glass. Tickets are on eventbrite. 

Christmas Brewery Tour will be happening December 17th and will offer four brewery stops to sample their beer and meet the people serving up some that great beer. Each stop includes 4 samples and a great time. 

- Grimross Brewing (11;30-12:30)
- Trailway Brewing (12:45-1:45)
- Mama's Brewpub (2:00-3:00)
- TBD Brewering (3:15-4:15)

King Street Ale House (4:30, Met Rod from Bogtrotter for a pint of beer )

Have a great week and enjoy responsibly. 

MBR September 16, 2016 - Nova Scotia Edition

Lots of good news on the Nova Scotia and beer scene in Nova Scotia this week. 

News on three new brewery news this week in Nova Scotia. 

First off, Saltbox Brewing's Grand Opening is tomorrow, Saturday, at the brewery in Mahone Bay. Drop in starting at 10 AM  to purchase beer and merchandise and try a pint. In addition to their own beer they will also have Firkenstein, Boxing Rock, Good Robot and Shipbuilders on tap. 

Trider's Craft Beer opened their store today in the Amherst Industrial Park at 46 Anson Avenue, Unit 3 in Amherst. They will be filling 1.89 l growlers and will have clothing available. Trider’s first offerings with Rod’s Red and Yellow Beer’d. In the future their offerings will  grow including Scotian Pale Ale as well as a half-size growlers and 500 ml "stubbies". 
Trider’s retail will be open today from noon to 10 PM and Saturday from noon to 8 PM. 

Tidehouse Brewing has announced they are hoping to open next month, if all goes as planned, at 5187 Salter Street in downtown Halifax. Long time friends Shean Higgins and Peter Lionais will be the sole employees with Peter doing the brewing and Shean doing sales and general operations of the business. They are starting out on a Synergy Brewing 26 gallon system (98 L) that has been modified for electric elements.The brewery will be starting with approachable beers from recipes that the owners have been developing for years and look forward to having fun with some experimental brews. The initial lineup of four ales will be pre-filled in 1.89 l growlers and on tap in several local restaurants and taprooms. Full story here.

It is Open Farm Day 2016 this Sunday September 18th and Meander River Farm and Brewery will be participating. The day runs from 9 AM to 5 PM with the following activities:
- River and forest walk at 10 AM
- Garden tours at 11 AM and 3 PM
- Brewery tours at noon and 2 PM
- Essential oil distillation at 1 PM.

Tatamagouche Brewing have released their first batch of I'm In Love Berliner Weisse and is available in Growler fills at the brewery. This kettle soured Berliner brewed in collaboration with Big Spruce Brewing and features ground cherries added to secondary giving a tropical/mango like flavour and aroma. It is a sessionable 4% ABV and 21 IBU beer.

Unfiltered Brewing says Double Orange Ale SMaSH DIPA is back today at the brewery. Just as a reminder it is a 7.5% ABV and 100+ IBU beer. 

Annapolis Cider Company latest Something Different is Citrus & Plum.With each refill we are helping to support Flowercart that supports vocational training and support to intellectually disabled adults.

Lots of going on this week end with Oktoberfest , Farm to Fork Food Truck Week End in Nyanza and the brewery openings. Enjoy your week and plan ahead if you plan to imbibe. 

Tidehouse Brewing to Open in Downtown Halifax

Tidehouse Brewing has announced they are hoping to open next month, if all goes as planned, at 5187 Salter Street in downtown Halifax. Long time friends Shean Higgins and Peter Lionais will be the sole employees with Peter doing the brewing and Shean doing sales and general operations of the business.
They say that the desire to open a brewery comes from both being creative people, wanting to be their own bosses and create something they're proud of that they own. As Shean puts it "If you're going to have to work, and we all have to, why not work for something you love?"
Tidehouse is starting out on a Synergy Brewing 26 gallon system (98 L) that has been modified for electric elements with a plan of running double brew days 4 times a week at least to start.

The brewery will be starting with approachable beers from recipes that the owners have been developing for years and look forward to having fun with some experimental brews. 
The first four beers will be:

Golden Glacier– We both like a lot of the same flavour profiles, but we do disagree on some things too. Its a healthy balance we strike but one hop we've always both been big fans of is Glacier. 

The Copper – A darker amber with just a hint of smoke. The owners like smokey beers, but really like it when things are balanced. When playing with specialty malts they've learned over the years that less is more. 

Mild Thing – A low ABV, malty, sessionable brew.

Like A Motorcyc-ale – A very dark, yet sessionable ale. Inspired by the band Like A Motorcycle. Think a smaller version of an India Black Ale/Cascadian Dark Ale. It is lighter in body, but it parties hard. Just like the band.

The initial lineup of four ales will be pre-filled in growlers and on tap in several local restaurants and taprooms.

Social Media Links 
facebook.com/tidehousebrewingcompany/
https://www.instagram.com/tidehousebrewing/
https://twitter.com/TideHousebrew

MBR September 9, 2016 - PEI/NB Edition

Lots of news from New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island this week.

The Nova Scotia Nature Trust announced the launch of a new partnership that will see sales of PEI Brewing Company's Rogues Roost IPA helping to protect and preserve its iconic namesake. Until December 2016, a portion of Rogues Roost IPA sales will be donated to conservation efforts at Rogues Roost, a treasured and internationally renowned sailing, paddling and hiking paradise just south of Halifax. Read the full release here. 

Upstreet Craft Brewing have added a new flagship beer and it's their Scottish Export Ale Eighty Bob. it is being added to the lineup of bottles available year-round in liquor stores and in the taproom.
In support the PEI Brewing Company's Fort Mac fundraiser Upstreet auctioned off the opportunity to collaborate with Hogie in making a special one-off beer. Gavin Hall placed the winning bid and chose to make an American Light Lager that he named Lager Quest. The small batch of beer is made with Maritime barley and flaked corn, is light in colour and has a dry finish. It's ready and wont last long, so come out to the release on September 10th to try Gavin's Lager Quest.
Lastly Gravedigger Imperial Pumpkin Ale will be back next Friday and for the Nova Scotians some of the bottles will be available in Halifax at the private stores. 

Acadie-Broue officially launched its brew space and new beers at the student Bar le Coude at the University of Moncton yesterday. The 75 litre brew system will primarily supply the bar but some beer will make its way into the wild. 

Big Tide Brewing has tapped its first ever Barleywine, brewed at Big Tide and barrel aged 6 months by Dunhams Run. It was casked in a Frontenac Reserve barrel and blended with Black Mamba Mead to make a silky smooth 11% ABV hopped Mead (braggot). It's only available at Big Tide in 12 oz glasses for $8.25 until the keg runs out. 

Bogtrotter Craft Brewery is set to launch on Saturday, September 24 at 12 PM in downtown Fredericton at NB Liquor 380 York Street. If you miss that there will be a meet your maker event at James Joyce at 8 PM on the same day. 

Bore City Brewing released another new beer. It is a hoppy wheat ale. "I'd Radler Not" is hopped with Summer, Vic Secret, Equinox and Hallertauer Blanc and weighs in at.5.2% ABV and 44 IBUs.
Look for it at the Tide and Boar Gastropub and Laundromat Expresso Bar.

Les Brasseurs du Petit-Sault's Bonhomme Sept-Heures Pumpkin Spice Strong Ale was recently released for the season and also won best beer at PEI Beer Festival last week end.

Hammond River Brewing finally announced its expansion plans recently. HRB will be expanding from it’s existing 1 BBL brewhouse to a 15 BBL brewhouse from Diversified Metal Engineering in Charlottetown. HRB will also employ a larger 20 BBL Mash Lauter Tun, and a combination of 15 BBL and 30 BBL fermenters. This will make HRB the largest Micro Brewery in the area. In addition there will also be a bottling line so that bottled product can purchased from ANBL stores as well as onsite at the brewery.
The new brewery will be in a newly constructed building that will be directly attached to The Barrel’s Head Gastropub. Along with the brewery HRB will have a beer bar where patrons can sit down and have a pint, have a sample flight, or fill up growlers. With the tap room being attached to Barrel’s Head, customers will be able to order food while they enjoy a pint of HRB in the beer bar. Target time frame for the opening is early 2017.

Loyalist City Brewing announced the opening of their new 6 BBL brewery in uptown Saint John mid-November. It will be located in the historic Bank of New Brunswick building on Water St, just steps away from Saint John’s finest restaurants and bars, the brewery will craft a mix of traditional styles and modern hop forward ales. The brewery will distribute kegs directly to bars and restaurants in the area and fill growlers out of their uptown location in the near future with plans to open a tasting room shortly thereafter.
The initial lineup of beer will consist of 5 different styles to appeal to the palates of seasoned craft beer drinkers and those new to craft beer, with rotating seasonal specialties and an alternating hop series of beer.

Maybee Brewing released Long Carry Brett Red in 750 ml cork and cage bottles. If you are new to Brett, or Brettanomyces, it is a yeast that is typically viewed as contamination and the flavours it imparts are considered unwelcome "off-flavours." Certain styles. however, in particular certain Belgian ales it is appreciated and encouraged. The beer that was aged nine months has brett funk and a hint of sourness. Available now at the brewery for $16.50 while supplies last. 

Picaroons just brewed a small batch single malt/single hop (SMaSH) IPA at the Picaroons General Store in Uptown Saint John. Hippie IPA is a 6.3% ABV ale that was brewed using an American Ale yeast and uses all Maritime Malt and all local Nugget hops from LunaHops in Cornhill, New Brunswick. They will be tapping the Hippie IPA this Sunday, September 11th, at The Picaroons General Store along side an acoustic performance from Earthbound Trio at 3 PM. Interesting fact is that 1/3 of the Earthbound Trio is Bob Fitzgerald of LunaHops who grew all of the Nugget Hops.
They started brewing the 2016 Harvest Ales this week. They are doing three different large batches this year. One using all fresh Mt. Hood hops from Wallace Ridge in Nova Scotia, one using all Willamette from Vista Bay/My Father's Farm on PEI, and on using all wild Moose Mountain Hops from Moose Mountain New Brunswick. You can find out about your beer, your hops, and your farmer by visiting My Harvest

The Pump House Brewery is producing SPCA IPA again this year in support of the SPCA and their incredible efforts to provide care for sick, injured, homeless, lost, and unwanted animals while aiming to prevent and suppress animal cruelty. 
This SPCA IPA was delightfully brewed with an intense amount of atypical hops to traditional North American IPAs and provides pleasant lingering bitterness on the palate that accompanies its predominately citrus aroma. 
A portion of the proceeds from the sales of this craft beer will be donated to the Greater Moncton SPCA

Enjoy the week end and see you next week.

MBR September 9, 2016 - Nova Scotia Edition

Welcome to the first Beer Report for September.

Big Spruce Brewing and St. FX have partnered to ensuring highest quality craft beers through chemistry research. A key factor to growing the Nova Scotian craft beer industry is to develop Nova Scotia hops of the highest quality and unique character. 
Jeremy White of Big Spruce wants to be free of having to import expensive hops so he grows his own. Jeremy says "I will not compromise in quality, so I really need to know my hops, I want to ensure that my beers are at their highest, consistent levels of quality, so I’m partnering with world-class chemistry professors at St. Francis Xavier University to help me.” Read full article here 

Garrison Brewing has released Rye & Ginger IPA (6.4% ABV and 56 IBUs). They say it is "a deliciously spicy brew perfect for the impending fall season" . Brewed exclusively with centennial hops, this quintessential Canadian style IPA has a prominent ginger presence & spicy rye notes. Light reddish-amber and hazy in appearance, this brew has a combination of ginger candy, toffee, peppery rye malt, and citrusy hop aromas. Tasting will reveal flavours of light caramel, dark fruit, ginger, and a grainy spiciness along with earth and citrus hop flavours. The warming dry finish is a great pick-me-up on a crisp fall night.
This beer will be available shortly at NSLC stores, private stores, growler program at ANBL this week end and at their retail location. 

Meander River Farm has harvested about 200 pounds of hops over the last couple of week ends and will have their wet-hopped brew, Home Grown, in the next few weeks.

Nine Locks Brewing recently released a one off. Cream Ale. Described as a "Smooth, full-bodied amber ale. Tight white head on top of a mildly fruity beer. Caramel notes preside with a subtle hop finish. Traditional English hops provide both mild bitterness and hop flavour". It is a 5.2% ABV beer  and available for growler fills. 

North Brewing and Boxing Rock Brewing had their annual get together to produce Many Hands version 4.0 with local wet hops and  Horton Ridge Malt and Grain Co. malt, does it get more local?

Propeller Brewing released its latest One Hit Wonder. Tea Rex Ale is an unfiltered black ale with a creamy brown head that is smooth and approachable. Ahtanum hops brings its bright, distinct notes to this brew, while organic Assam black tea provides a complementary, subtle finish.
This is the first one hit wonder from new head brewer Rod Daigle and the brew is 6% ABV and 47 IBUs and is available now for growler fills at the Propeller's stores.

Roof Hound Brewing now has added growlers to its offerings. The are the standard 1.89 and 0.95 litre bottles and yes they will fill clean growlers from other breweries. There are four of their beers currently on tap as well as four guest and fall hours are now in effect. For people in HRM there was some beer delivered to Stillwell Beer Garden and Battery Park last night so be on the look out. 

Saltbox Brewery is officially opening September 17, 2016 at 10 AM. Watch for details on the event on social media. I am looking forward to see the new brewery.

Spindrift Brewing has started canning the Abyss, Schwarzbier, and it will be available next Friday at our store and should see it in the shelves at the NSLC the first week of October. 

Trider's Craft Beer will be having their Pre Launch Party at Sociables in Springhill, tomorrow if you are in the area. The Amherst storefront opening at 46 Anson Ave Unit 3 in the Amherst Industrial Park will be on the 16th of September. It will be growlers and general merchandise only for the time being but bottles are coming very soon. 

Uncle Leo's Brewery have brewed their 2nd Annual Harvest Ale with hops from Bramble Hill Farm and malt from Horton Ridge Malt and Grain Co. and it is available today. Get it fast as it disappeared quickly last year. 

Oktoberfest is happening next week end in Halifax, so here is a run down of what is happening. 
The weekend kicks off with The Coast’s Food Truck Party – Oktoberfest Edition in the Salter Street Lot on Thursday, September 15th 2016 from 4 PM until 8 PM.
On Friday September 16th from 6:30 PM until 11 PM, the Oktoberfest Site is transformed into a Nova Scotia Beer Celebration Sausage Fest Style for Hops ‘n’ Brats. 13 different breweries will be on-site sampling their best brews while enjoying sausage themed food and live music. Entry is $24 which includes 8 sample tickets and a souvenir cup! Additional Sample tickets are available to purchase on site. New this year you can use three tickets to enjoy a full beer.
Finally on Saturday, September 17th is the Traditional Halifax Oktoberfest. Gates will open to the public at 11 AM with traditional German food, games, and Garrison beer all night long. The Swell Guys and Die Brew-misters Oompah Bands will be providing music. Geir Simensen is back with his team from Scanway Catering with enough sausages, spaetzle and schnitzel for everyone. There will also be two whole roasted pigs. From 11 AM to 5 PM the event will be all-ages, admission is $5/adults and free for kids but at 6 PM the fun continues as a 19+ event with dancing, food, and games. An evening pass can be purchased for $16 which includes entry and one Garrison beer.or bump it to 20.00 and you get a commemorative stein. 

Thanks for the support and enjoy the week end. 

Garrison Brewing releases Rye & Ginger IPA

(Halifax, NS) - Garrison Brewing is releasing Rye & Ginger IPA. This quintessential Canadian style IPA, that is 6.4% ABV and 56 IBUs, is described as a deliciously spicy brew perfect for the impending fall season that is brewed exclusively with centennial hops. Light reddish-amber and hazy in appearance, this brew has a combination of ginger candy, toffee, peppery rye malt, and citrusy hop aromas. Tasting will reveal flavours of light caramel, dark fruit, ginger, and a grainy spiciness along with earth and citrus hop flavours. The warming dry finish is a great pick-me-up on a crisp fall night. 

This beer will be available shortly at NSLC stores, private stores, and for the growler program at ANBL beginning September 8^th. It will be available at the Garrison retail location beginning Friday September 9^th.

Maybee Brewing releases Long Carry Brett Red

(Fredericton, NB) - Maybee Brewing released Long Carry Brett Red in 750 mL cork and cage bottles. If you are new to Brett, or Brettanomyces, it is a yeast that is typically viewed as contamination and the flavours it imparts are considered unwelcome "off-flavours." Certain styles. however, in particular certain Belgian ales it is appreciated and encouraged. The beer that was aged nine months has brett funk and a hint of sourness. Available now at the brewery for $16.50 while supplies last. 

Picaroons to release small batch SMaSH IPA

(Saint John, NB) - Picaroons just brewed a small batch single malt/single hop (SMaSH) IPA at the Picaroons General Store in Uptown Saint John. Hippie IPA is a 6.3% ABV ale that was brewed using an American Ale yeast and uses all Maritime Malt and all local Nugget hops from LunaHops in Cornhill, New Brunswick. They will be tapping the Hippie IPA this Sunday, September 11th, at The Picaroons General Store along side an acoustic performance from Earthbound Trio at 3 PM. 
Interesting fact is that 1/3 of the Earthbound Trio is Bob Fitzgerald of LunaHops who grew all of the Nugget Hops.

Propeller Brewing releases new One Hit Wonder

(Halifax, NS) - Propeller Brewing says "It might not be your gramma’s cuppa, but holding your pinky out while drinking is absolutely an option for this midnight ale". Tea Rex Ale is n unfiltered black ale with a creamy brown head that is smooth and approachable. Ahtanum hops brings its bright, distinct notes to this brew, while organic assam black tea provides a complementary, subtle finish. 
This is our first one hit wonder from new head brewer Rod Daigle and Propeller says to pair it with grilled salmon, pork chops, or bacon and eggs for Sunday brunch. The brew is 6% ABV and 47 IBU and is available now for growler fills at the Propeller's stores.