MBR June 30, 2017 - Nova Scotia Edition

There is a lot of information this week, here is all the beer news for June 30th 2017. 

Saltbox Brewery says for Canada Day Weekend, June 30th to July 2nd they have hot tubs at the brewery. Partnering with Bay Tubs of Mahone Bay, it's an opportunity for the customers to truly relax at the brewery.

Unfiltered Brewing have brought back RSMA Mosaic SMaSH DIPA this week end for pints and growler fills. Really Serious Mosaic Ale? Retail Sales Markup Allowance? They say you pick. It is 7.5% ABV and 100+ IBU.

Boxing Rock Brewing's birthday is July 8th and of course they are having a party at the brewery. Their party schedule:

• 1 PM-3 PM: Drop in axe throwing ($15) with Birthday boy Adam!
• 1:30 PM-3:30 PM: Finest Kind BBQ and corn boil!
• 3 PM: Shelburne's Tall Ship beer name announced!
• 3 PM: CAKE!!
• Washer toss and beer pong, 2 for 1 tours, and music throughout the day!

Owners Emily Tipton and Henry Pedro wanted to do something special to commemorate Canada’s 150th birthday, and celebrate Southwest Nova Scotia. They thought nothing could be better than naming a special beer for this special place. A portion of Dark as Keji sales are being donated to the Friends of Keji Cooperating Association, which support the Dark Sky Education programs at the park. Since the launch of Dark as Keji Black IPA a few short weeks ago, well over one thousand dollars has been set aside to be donated.
There will be a Canada 150 event at the brewery, where Boxing Rock will offer samples of Dark as Keji as well as beer ice cream floats (root beer for the kids!) and food specials from the Finest Kind Food Company. Look for the special Dark as Keji packaging at NSLC stores around the province, as well as at the Boxing Rock’s brewery store in Shelburne.

Good Robot Brewing says Leave Me Blue Kentucky Common is back on tap this week. Red Moon Landing Red IPA is back next week but they replaced Vienna malt with Pilsner. This one weighs in at 7.1% ABV and 48 IBU.
Beta Brewsday will be on Wednesday next week with the release of Re:Drella, a SMaSH with Red X malt and Ella hops, sitting at 6.5% ABV and 28 IBU. Brewed by Dan Hendricken and Kelly Costello.

Garrison Brewing launched a new beer called “Sour to the People” which is currently available in the brewery for growler fills and samples, and will be at licensees later this week/early next week. The Strong Sour Ale was soured with Lactobacillus in the kettle to bring its tart character.  It has green apple, stone fruit (peach) and sweet malt aroma along with its nice green apple & lemon flavors. The sour is 6.5% ABV and 0 IBU.

Ladies Beer League is brewing up a black wheat beer at Brightwood Brewery this week. They are currently thinking of a name. Look for this beer coming out this summer.

The wait is over, FirkinStein Brewing are opening their new location at 673 King Street in Bridgewater. They are opening on Saturday for growler fills and samples. Look for the hours to be posted soon on social media.

Another screening of Sociable! Craft Brewing in Nova Scotia documentary is coming up at Roof Hound Brewing on July 22nd at 9 PM. 

Spindrift Brewing have released Blood Orange India Pale Lager this week. It is in cans and available for growler fills at the brewery and will be in private stores ASAP. This IPL has an addition of pure blood orange with tropical and stone fruit hop flavours that are amplified by the blood orange and dry hopped with Mandarina Bavaria and Citra.

Come out to celebrate what Wayfarers Ale Wharf has to offer. Their full menu will be available, along with an all day BBQ on the newly renovated Wharf with picnic tables

The $25.00 ticket includes:

• A Wayfarers Ale Society souvenir glass
• One 0.95L growler of your choice
• Free samples of their crafted ales
• A tour of the brewery (12 PM,2 PM,4 PM,6 PM)
• BBQ will include sausages, and Angus burgers! Vegetarian options are available.

Annapolis Cider has their latest 'Something Different' out. Strawberry Rhubarb is a 6.3% ABV sparkling cider crafted from a blend of their signature cool-fermented dry apple cider with the fresh juices of local hand-picked ruby-red rhubarb, garden strawberries and finished with a touch of fresh-pressed apple juice. The result is a pale-rose tinged cider with bright notes of juicy strawberries paired with the bold zing of tart rhubarb, a classic summer combination that is crisp and refreshing. $0.50 from each refill of Strawberry Rhubarb will be donated to Blue Route NS. This is a province-wide project to develop safe, well-connected bicycle routes, which will make it easier for Nova Scotians to get around the province on two wheels.

Battery Park says their patio taps will be filled with the four Canadian Brewing Award gold medal winning Nova Scotian beers on July 1st. This will be your only chance to try them all in one place. There will be North Brewing's Gus' 65 m Belgian Blonde and Glenora Barrel Aged Midnight,  Boxing Rock's Stayin' Alive Bock, and Uncle Leo's Voh's Weizenbier. The beers will be start pouring Saturday at opening and stay on through the long weekend while supplies last.

Have a great and safe Canada Day week end and I will be back next Friday. 

MBR June 23, 2017 - New Brunswick/PEI Edition

Welcome to the first beer report on summer 2017.

The Gahan House says brand new on tap is their first Hard Root Beer, The Daily Dose. It is 6.5% ABV. 

Upstreet Craft Brewing will release De Novo II on Thursday, June 29 from 6 PM - 10 PM. It is also the company's second anniversary.
De Novo II is a hand-bottled farmhouse saison, a special Belgian style beer with no two alike. Known for its complex flavours with a dry finish. They used a simple ingredient list of Maritime malt, a sacch and brett yeast blend from a lab in Ontario and New Brunswick Goldings hops. These contribute light candy and funky flavours, with just enough bitterness and hops. Over time, the brett will continue to consume the remaining sugars, making the beer even more dry and funky.

Big Axe Brewery have a brewed a great summer beer. It is a wild fermented strawberry sour that is slightly acetic and offers complex sourness. Now at the brewery. 

Big Tide Brewing are jumping in a little late but are brewing LaTour Acadian Nut-Brown / Bière Brune-Noisette Acadienne. They didn't quite make the official launch date of June 9th for this international initiative, but wanted to participate nonetheless. So they made a malty, 6.5% ABV interpretation. Look for it on tap and in growlers next week.
This style was created to celebrate the 170th anniversary of the creation of the poem ''Evangeline, A tale of Acadie'' which was an epic poem of the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, written in English and published in 1847.

Loyalist City Brewing announced the launch of “Pink Dwarf”, the first in their summer sour series of beer. Pink Dwarf is a tart and refreshing Berliner Weisse brewed with all natural tart dwarf cherries and a blend of German wheat and pilsner malt. This unfiltered german style wheat beer pours bright pink with a thick persistent white head that gives way to a sour cherry aroma reminiscent of cherry pie. The natural tartness of the dwarf cherries is complimented by a house blend of four different lactobacillus strains that compliment the fruit flavor and add complexity to the finished beer. With a light body, high carbonation, and a wonderful cherry flavor complimented by a subtle doughy malt backbone, this beer is the perfect summer patio beer. This beer will be available at local bars starting this week end.

Maybee Brewing released a new beer this week. Old Growth ESB was made with organic Horton Ridge floor malted pale malt and NB grown Goldings hops from Southan farms. Old Growth is 5.5% ABV and 45 IBU.

Picaroons Traditional Ales released PIVOT #3. Relying heavily on Mosaic and Equinox hops this time around, PIVOT #3 features really complex fruity characteristics over it's simple pale malt bill. Coming soon to The Picaroons Roundhouse, The Brewtique in Downtown Fredericton, The Picaroons General Store in Uptown Saint John, The 5 Kings Restaurant & Picaroons Brewhouse, and at Alcool NB Liquor locations around the province. http://picaroons.ca/pivot/

The Pump House Brewery says that now available on tap at the restaurant is Wheat Beer Hefeweizen coming in at 5.2% ABV. 

Have a great week and see you next Friday

MBR June 23, 2017 - Nova Scotia Edition

Welcome to the first report for the summer of 2017.
Propeller Brewing is celebrating 20 years of craft beer in Halifax's north end with a block party on Gottingen Street. On July 8th they are hosting a day of free concerts on Gottingen. They are taking over the Seven Bays parking lot from 2 PM to 8 PM with the 100% Nova Scotian talents of The Town Heros, Jessie Brown, Dammien Alexander & The Sonic Cinema, The Mike Bomhoff Band, Jont & The Infinite Possibility, Tommy Green Jr and DJ Scout spinning between sets.

Unfiltered Brewing released Sour M.F. today. It is a 6.2% ABV kettle-soured wheat beer refermented on tart cherries (a *lot* of tart cherries). Acidic, refreshing, and bright, it has a big cherry bouquet and a lightly spicy finish. They say an exceptional warm-weather beer and available now at the brewery.

Sober Island Brewing releasing a new summer seasonal, it's their rye seasonal but owner Rebecca Atkinson says it is different this year. Kirby's Canoe is a 5.7% ABV ale with a rye content of 11% and is dry hopped with Bramling Cross and Willamette. They say it is bright with a berry hop character and will be available next Wednesday at the brewery, Henley House, working on getting into growler fill stations and of course local watering holes.

Brewer Stefan Gagliardi said he just tapped a new seasonal at the Keith’s Brewery. Highlands Scottish Pilsner is their take on the traditional European style. They brewed the Pilsner with a blend of Scottish Golden Promise malt and Pilsner malt. The beer is bright yellow, 5.5% ABV, 20 IBU. and lagered for 63 days.

FirkinStein Brewing are releasing a new pale ale tomorrow. Sasamanana has a little tartness from cranberries and a mouthfeel of bananas. It will debut to the public at the Bridgewater Farmers Market on Saturday

Gahan House in Halifax now has crowlers available in the cooler. They currently have:

• Crosscurrent APA (seasonal)
• Impatience Sour Brown (seasonal)
• Captain Falcon's IPA (seasonal)
• Beach Chair Lager
• Sir John A's Honey Wheat Ale
• Blueberry Ale
• Vic Park Pale Ale
• Island Red
• Iron Bridge Brown Ale
• Sydney Street Stout
• 1772 IPA

They also now have Flavour of the Monk, the winning beer from our Homebrewer's Challenge, on tap at the pub.

Horton Ridge Malt House is having its Grand Opening tomorrow to celebrate the taproom and microbrewery. Horton Ridge will have a selection of Nova Scotia craft beer on tap including some of their own which you'll only find there. Local singer/songwriter Caleb Miles will be on hand to play some tunes starting at 6 PM as well as Let's Eat Beer food truck will be serving up beer infused menu items all day, with all proceeds going back into Atlantic Canadian charities. There will also be door prizes, music, food, washer toss, mega jenga, tours and of course - beer.

North Brewing launched their collaboration with North end Runners today. Little Beast is a 4% ABV lagered ale that is the ultimate after run beer. They will also have the return of a White Lightning today.

Stillwell Brewing received the latest bit of French oak to round out their cellar: The got four 600L Pineau des Charentes puncheons that they say are still wet and straight from Cognac.

Tanner & Co Brewing is planning to open in August on Angus Hiltz Road in Chester Nova Scotia. Owner and brewer Dan Tanner brings a wealth of knowledge from the restaurant industry, is a sommelier as well as having five years of homebrewing experience. Tanner and his partner Peggy Locke plan to be producing a core group of ales including a lightly hopped pale ale, as well as a lighter Dampfbier and darker Roggenbier.
They’ll be doing different beers and experimenting also around the German beer roots with a Cabernet Franc Stout and Chardonnay Hefeweizen that they produced last year with grapes grown in their onsite vineyard.
Mr. Tanner, a Lunenburg native, will be brewing on a 3 BBL system with sales coming from keg sales and Farmers Markets. Longer term there may be onsite growler fills at the brewery but not initially.

Tidehouse Brewing has 2 Many Birds out today. It is a dry, hoppy crushable saison hopped with Perle, Amarillo and Pacific Jade You can find this at the Stillwell Beer Garden, Battery Park Beer Bar and in very limited quantity at the brewery for growler fills.

Townhouse Brewpub & Eatery first opened their doors on July 4th, 2012. For their 5th birthday they are throwing a party. Festivities will commence with Happy Hours and raw oyster bar ($2/oyster!) from 4-6 PM. There will be cakes with one at 5:30 PM and 9 PM, extra special local food and beer pairings ,and a performance from Jacques Mindreau's wild and wonderful West coast musical ensemble, OQO featuring Nightingale at 9 PM.

The NSLC released its year-end results for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2017. The result showed a decrease in earnings ($239.2M) and total volume there was a slight increase in sales ($611.8M). 
Overall total beer sales shrank about 1% to $276 million or just over 45% of total sales at the provincial agency and Nova Scotia Craft Beer growth continuing at stellar rate with sales growing by 34.2% to $10.2 million. 
The NSLC says there are now 18 local breweries products on their shelves, up from three four years ago and one of every four beer listings in their stores is a local craft beer.

Other items of note are:

• NS Craft Beer surpassed NS wine made with local grapes last year
• Nova Scotia ready-to-drink products, which are largely ciders, had a strong year with sales increasing by 83.7% to $2.9 million
• Nova Scotia commercial beer sales coming in at $160.9 million

NSLC Announces 2017 Year End Results

Have a great week end and as always enjoy responsibly. 

Tanner & Co Brewing Opening in Chester Area Summer of 2017

(Chester, NS) - Tanner & Co Brewing is planning to open in August on Angus Hiltz Road in Chester Nova Scotia. Owner and brewer Dan Tanner brings a wealth of knowledge from the restaurant industry, is a sommelier as well as having five years of homebrewing experience. Tanner and his partner Peggy Locke plan to be producing a core group of ales including a lightly hopped pale ale, as well as a lighter Dampfbier and darker Roggenbier. 
They’ll be doing different beers and experimenting also around the German beer roots with a Cabernet Franc Stout and Chardonnay Hefeweizen that they produced last year with grapes grown in their onsite vineyard.
Mr. Tanner, a Lunenburg native, will be brewing on a 3 BBL system with sales coming from keg sales and Farmers Markets. Longer term there may be onsite growler fills at the brewery but not initially. 
Tanner says he got a lot of assistance from Jeff Saunders from Bad Apple Brewhouse as he proceeds toward his production brewhouse.  

NS Craft Beer Sales Grew 34.2% Last Year at NSLC

(Halifax, NS) -  The NSLC released its year-end results for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2017. The result showed a decrease in earnings ($239.2M) and total volume there was a slight increase in sales ($611.8M). 
Overall total beer sales shrank about 1% to $276 million or just over 45% of total sales at the provincial agency and Nova Scotia Craft Beer growth continuing at stellar rate with sales growing by 34.2% to $10.2 million. 
The NSLC says there are now 18 local breweries products on their shelves, up from three four years ago and one of every four beer listings in their stores is a local craft beer.

Other items of note are:

• NS Craft Beer surpassed NS wine made with local grapes last year
• Nova Scotia ready-to-drink products, which are largely ciders, had a strong year with sales increasing by 83.7% to $2.9 million
• Nova Scotia commercial beer sales coming in at $160.9 million

NSLC Announces 2017 Year End Results

The Fathers of Fermentation Brews Special Eh'le

Seven brewers from across Canada joined together last week to brew an historically authentic national beer. These independent microbrewers have come together to celebrate the signing of Confederation with a signature collaborative microbrewery beer to toast Canada’s 150th. Participating in this National Event are the following breweries:

• Granite Brewery, Halifax NS 
• Picaroon’s Traditional Ales, Fredericton NB 
• Golden Lion Brewery, Lennoxville QU 
• Granite Brewery, Toronto ON. 
• Ashton Brewing Company, Ottawa ON 
• Clock Tower Brewing, Ottawa ON 
• Four Mile Brewing, Victoria BC 

As a patriotic celebration of Canada’s 150, this group of brewing friends shall henceforth be known as the “Fathers of Fermentation”. The project brainchild of Doug White, of Four Mile Brew Pub, who discovered that these brewers all have two things in common beyond a shared passion for creating truly great beers. They all use the traditional Open Fermentation and direct fire Peter Austin brewing system, and can create the same unique ale. More importantly, they are all located in the original provinces who signed on to create this great nation in 1867 with the exception of BC.
Sir John’s Special Eh’le will be delicately aged for release on July 1, 2017. 

Upstreet releases Commons Czech Style Pilsner in six packs

(Charlottetown, PE) - Upstreet Craft Brewing has released Commons Czech Style Pilsner in a new size. Just in time for summer Commons will be put in 355 ml bottles in six packs. Find these in the taproom at 41 Allen Street and at liquor stores across Prince Edward Island. 

New Acadian/Cajun Beer Style Released

To mark the 170th anniversary of the poem Evangeline: tale of Acadie. several brewers have joined to create a new beer style. The official launch of the beer style was on June 9, 2017. The Henry W. Longfellow poem was published in 1847 and presented to the world the tragic history of the Deportation of the Acadians. 

The 1400 line poem, written in hexameters, is an epic poem based on the oral tradition. It is the story of a young girl, Evangeline Bellefontaine, engaged to her lover, Gabriel Lajeunesse, who are cruelly separated from one another during the Deportation of Grand Pré in 1755. 
The Acadian Nut-Brown or Cajun Nut-Brown was not a historical fact but was mentioned on line 330:

Then Evangeline lighted the brazen lamp on the table,
Filled, till it overflowed, the pewter tankard with home-brewed
Nut-brown ale, that was famed for its strength in the village of Grand-Pré

Each brewery that participated were told they should give their beer a francophone name or a name from a place or a person that was Acadien or Cajun. It would also be appropriate to give it a name related to the poem of Longfellow (Evangline, Gabriel etc). 
The ten brewers and beers are as follows:

• Acadie-Broue (Moncton, NB) was found in 2004 by Patrice Godin. Their Nut-Brown will be called La Bringue, 
• À l’abri de la Tempête (Îles de la Madeleine, QU) La Palabre acadienne is the name they choose for their Nut-Brown. This microbrewery opened their doors in 2004 and is in a former fish processing plant in the Iles de la Madeleine.. Located by the sea, its magnificent terrace offers views of the sea and the Dune of the West.  The microbrewery values the use of local raw materials in the design of its beers such as the development of a local smoked malt, algae harvesting of native spices and picking fresh herbs are used to create unique beers.
• Brasseux d'la Côte (Tracadie, NB) have called their Nut-Brown, “La Belle Acadienne”. The microbrewery is an idea that started in the head of a group of friends who wanted to offer locally crafted beer. After a few years of hard work and the support of a group of investors and a cooperative, the project finally broke ground in 2017. 
• Cajun Brewing (Lafayette, LA) called their Nut-Brown Evangeline. Located in the heart of Cajun country in Lafayette, Louisiana, Cajun Brewing is proud to be the first brewery in a dynamic city known for incredible food and unmatched hospitality. 
• CAVOK Brewing (Dieppe, NB) called their Nut-Brown Bellefontaine de Grand-Pré. CAVOK is a new brewery looking to open in Dieppe this fall. 
• Distillerie Fils du Roy (Petit-Paquetville, NB)  has called their Nut-Brown Évangeline. Fils du Roy has been operation since 2012, located in the Acadian peninsula. The distillery is specialized in the production of spirits, but makes small batch of beer. It is possible to visit the distillery and samples their products both for free.
• Flying Boats Brewing (Shediac, NB) has created The General's Armada Acadian Nut Brown Ale. Named for the storied Italian general Italo Balbo, lead an "armada" of hydroplanes (S-55 Savoia Marchetti) to Shediac, on his way to and back from the Chicago World's Fair in 1933.
• Les Brasseurs du Petit-Sault (Edmunston, NB) Nut Brown Ale was baptized La Madoueska. Madoueska is a town in Maine, a county in New Brunswick, a river born in Québec and a legendary republic. Madoueska, Maliseeet land of the porcupine was adopted by an indomitable people called the Brayons. Rooted in its lands and forests, it’s the part of Acadia not quite like the others. 
• Microbrasserie le Naufrageur (Carleton-sur-mer, QU) is in the heart of the Bay of Chaleur. Le Naufrageur, The Wrecker, very name is a nod to the fact that the founders of the brewery have ancestors who practiced piracy in one form or another through the maritime troubled history of Acadia and New-France. Microbrewery Le Naufrageur has always worked with Quebec and organic ingredients to create beers with Gaspesian accents. Several of its beers draw their flavour from plants and shrubs of the Gaspe and almost 100% of its raw materials are grown and processed in Quebec. 
• Savoie's Brewhouse (Charlo, NB) called their beer the Savoie's Nut-Brown. They started their operations nearly two years ago and now house their microbrewery at Herons Nest in Charlo. 

Look for the beers at the breweries now. 

MBR June 16, 2017 - New Brunswick/PEI Edition

As we finish the last full week of spring, here is the beer news for this week. 

Big Tide Brewing have Zippy Pale Ale now on tap. Zippy Pale Ale is an American Pale ale and is 4.6% ABV and 43 IBU from Cascade and Summit hops. Dry hopped with citrusy cascade for a refreshing summer beer.

Les Brasseurs du Petit-Sault released an new  Acadian Nut Brown Ale, La Madoueska. The 6% ABV beer is part of the a group of beers released. 

Distillerie Fils du Roy is marking the 170th anniversary of the poem "Evangeline" by Henry Longfellow by releasing two new beers. Évangéline is an Acadian Nut Brown Ale that is 7% ABV and Gabriel, a Dark Spruce Ale that is also 7%. The brewer suggests blending the two beers. 

There will be a new microbrewery opening in Bathurst this coming winter. Four Rivers Brewing will be located on Murray Avenue in the former Toyota dealership building in November or December. The beer will be produced and brewed on site in a state of the art brew house and served in a newly built tasting room. The brewery is a family business formed by René Legacy, his two sons, Chris and Stephen, and his brother-in-law René Landry. The brewery and taproom hope to create about a dozen jobs when they open. 
Follow them on Facebook and Instagram ( @four.rivers.brew) over the next few months as they work toward opening their brewery. 

Graystone Brewing released Wild Child, a refreshing, light bodied radler with subtle citrus from real grapefruit. It is 4.5% ABV and 5 IBU and is available in pints, Crowlers and Growlers.

Maybee Brewing has a new beer out this week. Introducing Orion Quadrupel, a Belgian Dark Strong beer conditioned with Briggs Maple Syrup. This heavyweight rings in at 11.5% ABV and is available now 

Picaroons Traditional Ales is part of  a Canada 150 collaboration project with some other breweries in Canada that they have a very special kinship with. That kinship being that they produce beer using traditional open fermentation and direct fire Peter Austin brewing systems. Along with Granite Brewery in Nova Scotia, Golden Lion Pub & Brewery in Quebec, Granite Brewery in Toronto, Ashton Brewing Company and Clock Tower Breweries in Ottawa, and Four Mile Brewing in BC, they brewed a coast to coast collaboration ale to celebrate Canada 150. The Fathers of Fermentation are calling their brew Sir John’s Special Eh’le.

Trailway Brewing released a fruit bomb this week. Seeing Citra is a 6.7% ABV IPA made exclusively with, you guessed it, Citra hops. Available at the brewery now. 

Thanks for checking in this week, have a great week. 

MBR June 16, 2017 - Nova Scotia Edition

Happy Friday, here is the beer news for June 16th. 

Propeller Brewing has launched The Gottingen Small Batch series that is an evolution of the One-Hit Wonder series. Moving forward, the "Gottingen Small Batch" series will be rolled out on a regular (monthly) basis highlighting styles of beer that often go overlooked in the mainstream beer market. They want to explore more beer styles by bringing forward a greater variety of true-to-style (but rarely seen) beers. The first Gottingen Small Batch release is a simple summer India Session Ale entitled "Gratitude". It is a 4.5% ABV and 56 IBU beer hopped with Centennial, Moose Mountain Cascade and Amarillo. 

Good Robot Brewing as their Shocking Pink, their Gose radler, out and on tap.  is on tap as of today. Looking ahead there are two new brews next week, First up is Beta Brew "Cream Team" brewed by Kelly Costello and Doug Kehoe: A cream ale at 6.56% ABV and 15 IBU with a nice sweet, honey, straw aroma, slightly lemony flavour and grassy aftertaste. Creamy mouthfeel, of course. Warrior, tettnang and willamette hops. Next up is SMaSH Pale Ale #2: Pacifica (Name TBD) is a 4.7% ABV and 24 IBU pale ale showcasing the pacifica hops. 

Garrison Brewing is hosting Backlot Bash, featuring The Sheepdogs, ECMA winner Port Cities, Juno Award winner Garret Mason and local favourites the Royal Volts, on Saturday. It is in support of the Ecology Action Centre. Before the concert they will be hosting Red Racer’s Sprinter van on their brewery patio from 1-4 PM. They have been travelling across Canada on their Celebration Tour, stopping by breweries on their way. Daryn Medwid, Gary Lohin and James Hume will be there from Central City pouring samples of  Garrison's collaboration, the “New” Scottish Ale which is part of the Red Racer Across The Nation Collaboration 12-pack commemorating the country’s milestone birthday. Speaking of that “New” Scottish Ale, it is now on tap at the brewery for growler fills and samples, and will be making its way to some accounts shortly. The 5.7% ABV and 38 IBU beer has nice smoked aroma with caramel & hints of berry-like fruits. Dominant caramel flavour with pleasant smoky character and low-medium bitter finish.

Chill Street Fresh Beer and Cider Market opened for business this week in Elmsdale. They opened with four products Unplugged Pale Ale, Skinny Dippin' Apple Cider, Honey I'm Home Honey Brown Ale and Hants Down Pilsner. They are open 10 AM to 10 PM Monday to Saturday and Noon to 8 PM on Sunday. 

Gahan House - Halifax has a couple beer updates for their waterfront brewpub. The final keg of Barrel Aged Golden Ale with Brett was tapped this week. It was aged for 8 months in Hungarian Oak and is 5% ABV. They also just released the second batch of Impatience Sour Brown Ale, aged on Morello cherries and raspberries. It's a dark ale, yet still very thirst quenching. 

Granite Brewery is part of a National Brewing Collaboration for Canada's 150. The Fathers of Fermentation are doing a Unique, Canadian Brewing Collaboration to Celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Signing of Confederation - Sir John’s Special Eh’le.
A truly Canadian concept, 7 microbreweries and brewpubs from across Canada are collaborating to produce the first handcrafted national beer brewed from Coast to Coast. This liquid treasure will be available at the following breweries as of July 1, 2017:
Granite Brewery, in Halifax NS 
Picaroon’s Traditional Ales of Fredericton NB
Golden Lion Brewery, Lennoxville Que. 
Granite Brewery, Toronto Ont.
Ashton Brew Pub, Ottawa Ont 
Clock Tower Brewing, Ottawa Ont.
Four Mile Brewing Co, Victoria BC

North Brewing released a Barrel aged Headline Milk Stout as a limited bottle release. The beer was aged in barrels for 5 months and conditioned in the bottle just shy of 2 months. 

Roof Hound Brewing announced a new Kettle Sour. It is called Thyme to Grow A Pear Blueberry Kettle Sour and is 4% ABV. Find it at the brewery this week end.

Salty Dog Brewing collaborated with My Home Apparel to create Home Brew Session Ale. They say this light, fresh, 3.5% ale is perfect for summer sipping. They are also hosting a pop-up at My HOME Apparel this Saturday afternoon from 12-4, with samples, music and half-price growlers. 

Schoolhouse Brewing are celebrating their grand opening tomorrow. Their "Graduation" will start at 11 AM and continue throughout the day until address and speech by the Principal at 7 PM. Over the day, they will be having the biggest tournament of Four Square that Nova Scotia has ever seen, washer toss, some music and food and, of course beer. After the address they have The Basin Brothers, Tony Wood Trio & Special Guests along with some hot eats from some of the finest food trucks in the province.

Tidehouse Brewing has Birthday Sauce now available. It is a classic IPA with a good hit of bittering, pine & orange notes and clocks in a 6.5% ABV. 

Have a great week and I will be back next week. 

Heritage Brewing opens in Yarmouth

(Yarmouth, NS) - Heritage Brewing opened its doors at 19 Kirk Street on Saturday, June 10th. The second brewery to open in the town they currently have an electric 1.5 BBL system with 8 fermenters. 
They are starting with four beers, a Blonde Ale, Amber Ale, Session IPA and a Stout.  They also have plans for Cream Ale, Double IPA, Porter, Brown, Red, and Strawberry Rhubarb Wheat as they progress. They are quite excited about their Strawberry Rhubarb Wheat after making it last year. It was so much work and so messy they swore we would never make it again but after tasting and giving some away the response was so positive they have already started freezing rhubarb and tracking down strawberries.
They are currently selling and filling 950 ml and 1.89 litre growlers on site along with tasters. Heritage looking for local establishments to have their beer on tap and in bottles.  They plan to be distributing bottles to restaurants in the coming weeks and have hopes and plans for a taproom expansion.
The brewery will currently be open Thursdays from  4 PM to 8 PM and Saturdays from 10 AM to 4 PM, subject to change. 

Four Rivers Brewing coming to Bathurst this Winter

(Bathurst, NB) - There will be a new microbrewery opening in Bathurst this coming winter. Four Rivers Brewing (FRBco) will be located on Murray Avenue in the former Toyota dealership building in November or December. The beer will be produced and brewed on site in a state of the art brew house and served in a newly built tasting room. 
FRBco is a family business formed by René Legacy, his two sons, Chris and Stephen, and his brother-in-law René Landry. The brewery and taproom hope to create about a dozen jobs when they open. 
Follow them on Facebook and Instagram ( @four.rivers.brew) over the next few months as they work toward opening their brewery. 

Horton Ridge Malt and Grain launches new brewery and taproom

Horton Ridge Malt and Grain launched their new brewery and taproom on June 1st. The 1 BBL brewery and taproom are in the maltery on Ridge Road just off exit 10 on highway 101 and will sport six taps. Three taps will be their own beers that will rotate with Big Spruce Brewing and Tatamagouche Brewing each having a permanent tap and the last one being breweries that use Horton Ridge's malt.
Atlantic Canada's only Malt House opened in April 2016 producing organic floor malt and see the tap room as a venue to showcase its malt an the breweries who use it. The venue has a fantastic view overlooking the farmland.
The hours of operation are 11 AM to 8 PM seven days a week for pints and growler fills in 1 litre swingtops. 
The Grand Opening is slated for Saturday June 24th from 11 AM - 10 PM and will include music, food, washer toss, mega jenga, tours and beer!

MBR June 9, 2017 - New Brunswick/PEI Edition

Hope all is going well, here is the beer news. 

Barnone Brewery says they are now open both Thursday and Friday all summer long starting this week in Rose Valley.

Half Cut Brewing released Tickle Fight IPA this week. The 5.8% ABV beer is available now.

The wait is almost over. Hammond River Brewing announced they are now ready to start brewing in the new Rothesay brewhouse. The inaugural brew will be happening on Monday, and as a tribute to Shane Steeve's Father, it will be the Gammie California Steam Ale. 

Picaroons reminds us The Across The Nation party with Central City at The Roundhouse is next Friday. This is going to be an evening of live music, local food, likely some ball hockey, and  Hop(e) Restored ESB  on tap. NB Liquor will be on site selling the Across The Nation Canada 150 mix packs.

Tide and Boar Gastropub will be filling growlers this Saturday Morning then check out the Samuel Adams Utopia Release. The three beers on tap this week are:

• Pow Pillows IPA - This Brand New, New England IPA features Nelson, Citra and Galaxy. With an added addition of lactose.
• Hand Plant IPA - All Galaxy, and one crazy yeast strain makes for one hoppy yeasty beer.
• Layback Lager - German Lager Yeast, New Zealand Hops and a little rye for some spice.

Trailway Brewing have our brand new Porter. Blueprint is available in cans and on tap at the brewery. A chocolate-forward, sessionable, dry, crisp Porter that rings in at 4.6% ABV.

There was a launch of a new Acadian/Cajun beer style this week by ten breweries in two provinces and one state. The 170th anniversary of the poem Evangeline: tale of Acadie is this year and in the poem a "Nut-brown ale" was mentioned. Acadian Nut-Brown / Cajun Nut-Brown was brewed with each brewery creating the recipe.
The beers :
Acadie-Broue :The Nut-Brown will be called La Bringue.
À l’abri de la Tempête: La Palabre acadienne is the name choose for the Nut-Brown.
Brasseux d'la Côte : Have called their Nut-Brown, “La Belle Acadienne”. 
Cajun Brewing : called their Nut-Broun Evangeline. 
CAVOK Brewing: called their Nut-Brown Bellefontaine de Grand-Pré.
Distillerie Fils du Roy has called their Nut-Brown Évangeline. 
Flying Boats Brewing: The General's Armada - Acadian Nut Brown Ale. 5.2% with 23 IBUs. 
Les Brasseurs du Petit-Sault baptized their beer La Madoueska. Madoueska is a town in Maine, a county in New Brunswick, a river born in Québec and a legendary republic! Madoueska, Maliseeet land of the porcupine was adopted by an indomitable people called the Brayons. Rooted in its lands and forests, it’s the part of Acadia not quite like the others.  
Microbrasserie le Naufrageur : released l'Évangéline
Savoies Brewhouse : released Savoie's Nut-Brown.

Moosehead Breweries is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, and everyone’s invited. They announced that the company will begin offering public tours of their historic Saint John brewery, with tour booking now open at moosehead.ca.
The Moosehead Brewery Experience will offer beer fans the opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at a working brewery, with stops in both the brewhouse and packaging operations. Visitors will hear about the rich history of this celebrated brand and, as - as a highlight of the 60 minute tour - sample a selection of Moosehead products.
The cost of the tour is $15 per adult, and $5 for people 18 and under.

BrewHopper began operating group tours in the Fredericton area. They offer 24-28 passenger shuttles, a selection of breweries and pubs to suit your desires and hourly start times from 1 to 5 pm.  ​
Fredericton BrewHopper circuit with 2 different routes: The River Hop and the Hill Hop running Friday and Saturday.
​
Have a great week. 

MBR June 9, 2017 - Nova Scotia Edition

Looks like the week end is going to be great weather, at least here in Nova Scotia. Here is the beer news for June 9th. 

Good Robot Brewing is adding the final touches on Shocking Pink 2.0, the gose radler brewed as the signature beer for OUTeast Film Festival. This will be released on opening day of the festival, which is Thursday, June 15th. The Shocking Pink v 2.0 is a blend of Goseface Killah  with pink lemonade, ‘Queen of Tarts’ and ‘Fruity Oasis’ organic herbal teas from David’s Tea. A nice 5.2% ABV and 11 IBU.

Garrison Brewing has a lot of news this week. First off they are launching a new version of their Pucker Up this time as a kettle sour with the same pomegranate and hibiscus notes as before. It clocks in at 4.7% ABV and tastes, according to Daniel, like an “adult fun dip”. It is available at the brewery for samples and growler fills and will be available at select licensees very shortly. The beer has 0 IBU and because of this it can’t suffer from being lightstruck, making it the perfect patio beer.
They are also still looking for your excess rhubarb, they'll give you a free taster plus an in-store credit of $1 per pound for fresh, usable rhubarb leaves removed, limit of 10 lbs per person.
They are also busy gearing up for Backlot Bash which is happening next weekend, Saturday June 17th 2017. This year’s bash is featuring Port Cities, The Royal Volts, Garret Mason and The Sheepdogs. 
Finally on June 17th they will be welcoming the folks from Central City who will be in Halifax on their Across the Nation tour. They will be parking their Sprinter Van on the patio and will be pouring samples of Garrison's contribution to the collaborative pack, the “New” Scottish Ale beginning at 1 PM. 

2 Crows Brewing released a collaboration with 902 Brewcast. In Theory is a dry hopped sour tapping in at 5.1% ABV and 18 IBUs. 
They also released Angel Eyes yesterday, a super tropical brett pale ale. Fermented with a blend of 6 different brettanomyces strains, and dry hopped twice with Azacca, Galaxy, and Citra. It is a  6.5% ABV and 34 IBU limited release. 
They also got our patio license for 60 people and will be opening tomorrow. 

Chill Street Fresh Beer and Cider Market announced they will be opening on Wednesday, June 14th inside the Sobeys in Elmsdale. Watch social media for specials and features. 

Heritage Brewing will open its doors on Saturday, June 10th at 11 AM. They can't guarantee they will be a well oiled machine on the first day but are confident you will find one or of their four beers to suit your tastes. They will have samples, growlers and growler fills available as well as a selection of glassware and clothing. 

Big Spruce Brewing will be hosting five beer paired dinners on select Sundays this summer. They will be a five course Farm to Fork dinners with each course paired with a Big Spruce beer set up entirely on their new brew floor. Reservations can be made at the brewery or by calling.

Triders Craft Beer has bottled a new beer. It is a honey wheat ale and should be available at the brewery this week end. 

Annapolis Cider Company's newest Something Different is a Sangria Cider. This is a 7.0% ABV sparkling cider, crafted by combining cool-fermented dry cider made from diverse apple varieties with dry red wine from locally sourced Frontenac Red grapes.
This blend was then finished with fresh-pressed apple juice, as well as juices from oranges, lemons and limes. With aromatic notes of citrus and crisp apple and the characteristic hints of cherry, blackcurrant and plum from the wine, this lively and refreshing rosé-hued cider is the perfect patio sipper. $0.50 from each refill of Sangria Cider will be donated to L'Arche Homefires in Wolfville, who provide meaningful work opportunities for adults with special needs.
What do Rhubarb Ginger, Hopped Pear and Sour Cherry have all been released as part of their latest Creative Series. Each is available in 750ml bottles only at their Wolfville Cidery.

The Coast is presenting Summer Launch Food Truck Party on June 15th, from 4:00 - 8:00 PM at Museum of Natural History on Summer Street. There will be 20 food vendors including:

• Asado Charcoal Hibachti
• Bottleneck Coffee
• Lemon Dogs
• Jamaica Lee Style Cuisine
• Taco Stiles
• Ol’ School Donuts
• Nomad Gourmet
• Halifax Press
• Miller’s Kettle Corn
• Bud the Spud
• Beavertails
• Cheese Curds
• Gecko Bus
• Benny’s Ice-cream
• Benny’s Burgers
• Souper Duper Soup Club
• Good Robot Brewing
• Cove Kombucha
• Smokinstein
• Fresh Food Truck
• Tea North

and six confirmed Craft Breweries and cideries including:

• Garrison Brewing 
• Nine Locks Brewing
• Good Robot Brewing
• Meander River Farm and Brewery
• Chair Yard Cider
• Spindrift Brewing

Have a great weekend and I will be back next Friday. 

MBR June 2, 2017 - New Brunswick/PEI Edition

Welcome to the first report of June and lets hope summer will show up soon.

The 2017 Canadian Brewing Awards were handed out last week end at the end of the 15th annual conference. the awards had 55 categories for beer with an additional 6 for ciders. Local brewers were successful in bringing home a lot of awards including many gold. Get the local results here.
They also announced next year's conference is in Halifax Nova Scotia. 

Upstreet Craft Brewing was bottling their De Novo II Brett Farmhouse Saison this week, look for this one coming out on June 26. Also they said a yet-to-be-named Belgian Pale Ale Summer seasonal with Mosaic, Cashmere and Azacca hops will be unveiled soon.

Flying Boats Brewing kegged the first batch of their summer series beers this week. Session IPA - Galaxy edition beer packs a big flavor profile and a citrusy aroma of Australian Galaxy hops with its juicy passion fruit character, but light on alcohol at 4.7% ABV. Some kegs are destined for one of the Growler stations in Moncton and a few kegs going to James Joyce in Fredericton.

Picaroons Traditional Ales invites everyone to come party with them as they celebrate the Red Racer Brew Across The Nation Collaboration Mix Pack on June 16. Central City Brewers + Distillers are touring the country to celebrate with every brewery they collaborated with on their mix pack. Picaroons will have a full batch of their collab beer, the Restored Hop(e) ESB, on tap. NB Liquor set up on site and selling the mix-packs. FREE ADMISSION. Doors will open (and the beer will be flowing) at 5pm. Food will be available by 6pm. Music will start by 8pm.
Melonhead is back today and available on tap and in bottles at the The Picaroons Roundhouse and The Brewtique in Downtown Fredericton. AND it's now on it's way to The General Store in Uptown Saint John, The 5 Kings Restaurant & Picaroons Brewhouse in St. Stephen, and to NB Liquor locations throughout New Brunswick.

Shiretown Beer released its Hops on for Nowhere IPA. Look for it at the brewery and in its ANBL stores in the coming weeks. This IPA weighs in at 6.5% ABV.

Tide and Boar will have growler fills this Saturday June 3rd featuring three beers. The new Chaga Pale Ale - this beer is a special Collaboration with the Moncton Beer League, and features locally foraged Chaga, with Pacifica Hops. They also will have Robot Food IPA and Killington IPA.

Red Rover Craft Cider released a very limited batch of "Wyld" Cider. It is a wild fermented dry cider coming in at 7% - This cider is a cider for fans of farmhouse funk or sours. They will only be selling this cider at their Ciderhouse for pints in house or flagons to go.

On June 3rd there will will be Beer Day at The Station from 11am-3pm. Product launches, beer cocktails, food pairings, and much more from breweries from all over Atlantic Canada and beyond! Don’t forget to enter your name to win one of their amazing door prizes!

See you next Friday, have a great

MBR June 2, 2017 - Nova Scotia Edition

Here is all the news for the first week end in June 

The 2017 Canadian Brewing Awards were handed out last week end at the end of the 15th annual conference. the awards had 55 categories for beer with an additional 6 for ciders. Local brewers successful in bringing home a lot of awards including many gold. Get the local results here.
They also announced next year's conference is in Halifax Nova Scotia. 

Nine Locks Brewing have released their latest Brewer's Choice. Ginger Rye is a one off that will be in kegs only. Described as a dusky red ale that is full-bodied, with subtle caramel notes and a restrained ginger presence on the palate. The finish is long combining the cereal astringency of the rye and wheat with the assertive spiciness of the ginger. Grab the 5.6% ABV and 15 IBU beer while you can.

Good Robot Brewing this week will be the return of many of their flagship beers including Burban Legend APA and Goseface Killah. 

Unfiltered Brewing launched their latest edition to their SMaSH series, this time made with Amarillo. It is another crazy juicy east-meets-west DIPA designed to make you forget all you've got to deal with. It is 8% ABV and 100+ IBU. 

Garrison Brewing released its Juicy! DIPA in cans this week. The 8.0 ABV beer is joining Tall ship a little earlier than expected. 

Horton Ridge Malt and Grain launched their new brewery and taproom. The 1 BBL brewery and taproom are in the the maltery on Ridge Road and will have 6 taps. Three taps will be their own beers with Big Spruce Brewing and Tatamagouche Brewing each having a permanent tap and the last one being breweries that use Horton Ridge's malt. 

Rare Bird Craft Beer invites everyone to join them  at the Authentic Seacoast Distillery & Brewery on Saturday, June 3rd from 12 noon to 2:00 pm. They will be throwing burgers and brats on the grill and serving Rare Bird Craft Beer as they welcome June on the historic Guysborough harbour. No reservations are required. Just come and taste their new IPA and Maple Ale and celebrate the arrival of warmer days ahead.

Salty Dog Brewing is now open for business in Truro. You can bring your growlers for a fill-up. They have Pale Ale, IPA, Blueberry Wheat, and Amber Ale on tap. If you don't have your own they have 1L and 1.89L growlers for sale for $9.95.

Sober Island Brewing have a summer beer coming out. Kirby's Canoe is a 5% ABV Rye Pale Ale that has a floral and citrus aroma with some rye spiciness. Look for it coming out this month. 

Annapolis Cider have released Geneva Crab Rosé. This specialty, 8.6% cider is crafted soley from hand-picked local apples, which come from only 6 trees in the Annapolis Valley; and produces fewer than 250 cases of cider each year. 
First, Golden Hyslop crabapples are pressed and fermented dry. Then, fresh-pressed juice from Geneva Red crabapples is cryo-extracted, enhancing this red-fleshed apple's natural tannin and colour. Blending both together results in this unique, scarlet-tinged rosé with a distinct tannin structure and intense notes of tart apple. Available exclusively at the Wolfville cidery for a limited time.

Have a great week end and I'll be back next week.