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.
