Niche Brewing to Open in Fredericton

(Fredericton, NB) - Niche Brewing is opening a 2 BBL nanobrewery operating out of Hanwell, NB. The brewery is hoping to be open by December with the goal of brewing a variety of beer styles, with an emphasis on sours, Brett, and hops. Their beers will be available for purchase at bars and restaurants in the Fredericton area, and throughout the Maritimes. Shawn Meek and Rob Coombs, who are both well known in the brewing community, are co-owners and will both be brewing in the new venture.

Atlantic Canada Craft Beer Oktoberfest Celebrates Year Three

I recently had the chance to ask Amber Richards, the organizer of Atlantic Canada Craft Beer Oktoberfest, a few questions about the upcoming event coming back to Moncton on September 30th.

Maritime Beer Report (MBR): Why did you decide to have a craft beer fest in Moncton?

Amber Richards (AR): As a lover of craft beer myself, I tried to get to all of the beer festivals in the Maritimes, but a few times a year was not enough to to get to try and buy all the varieties of local craft beer that was being made.  I started the Moncton Beer League in January 2014 as a way to get together with more craft beer lovers and found that many others also wanted access to more local products. So, in 2015, the Atlantic Canadian Craft Brew Oktoberfest was born incorporating all the best parts of the other beer festivals I had attended, yet focusing exclusively on local Atlantic Canadian craft products. 

MBR: What do you think of the beer scene in Moncton and New Brunswick? Where do you think it is going?

AR: The beer scene in Moncton is good, but it is not as easily accessible as it is in places like Fredericton and Halifax. Most brewers here are small and only sell to licensees, so it can be hit-and-miss when trying to find their beers. But, I know of a few brewers who are, or recently have expanded like Celtic Knot and the Pump House. Now you can get growlers filled on a regular basis when you want. Growth is happening so keep supporting your local craft brewer!

MBR: How many brewers, cider makers and exhibitors are coming?

AR: We have 32 brewers (including 3 cideries, and one meadery), 6 food exhibitors, and 4 non-alcoholic options to sample - all from the Maritimes! You can now see the full list at ambereffect.com/events. Get up close and personal with them...taste and ask questions. 

MBR: What can people expect at the festival?

AR: The #ACCBOktoberfest event is the only brew festival in New Brunswick promoting local Atlantic Canadian craft beer, cider, mead and food exclusively, allowing you to interact with over 30 brewers and owners in attendance. Every ticket sold helps United Way work to improve communities in Southeastern New Brunswick (Kent, Westmorland and Albert counties). Everyone who arrives for their session receives a sample glass to use and take home at the end of the night. Samples are unlimited, but pace yourself and be sure to have a safe ride home. Food samples are included and we have a Designated Driver ticket available as well. Several exhibitors will have products for sale and we'll have a photo place to have a fun way to document the evening with your friends.

MBR: What charities are benefiting from this years event?

AR: The United Way creates long-term, positive change; moving people from poverty to possibility, building strong communities, and ensuring that kids be all that kids can be. Working for over 60 years in Southeastern New Brunswick, United Way partners with over 27 community agencies and helps fund over 32 programs and initiatives to make this change possible. 2,661 kids had a place to go after school or in the evening to connect with their peers, be themselves and get the support they need to grow in a positive way thanks to dollars donated to the United Way Community Fund. For more information, please visit http://www.gmsenbunitedway.ca/

MBR: Which beer are you most looking forward to coming to the fest?

AR: There are so many new breweries and old favorites in Atlantic Canada that I just cannot choose one!

MBR: If people want a ticket where can they go? 

AR: Tickets are still available at ambereffect.com/events 

Garrison Brewing Welcomes Fall with Three New Beers

(Halifax, NS) - Garrison Brewing released three new beers this week. First Lemondrop, a part of the kettle sour series Daniel has been concocting at our old plant, is a 5.0% ABV and 0 IBU kettle sour dry hopped with Lemondrop hops. According to Daniel it has an “aroma and flavour of lemon and lemon meringue pie, and finishes nicely with a touch of lemon and pepper”.

After Halifax was announced as the host of the 2018 Canadian Brewing Awards Garrison reached out to Sawdust City in Gravenhurst, ON and wanted to brew something special to commemorate. Leroy is a behemoth imperial brown ale weighing in at 10% ABV and 41 IBU. Aromas of molasses bread and milk chocolate will give way to a smooth flavour of molasses, coffee and finish with massive tones of dark chocolate. As our fall nights get cool, Leroy will provide some warmth.
The Imperial Brown is at the growler program in NB this week end but will eventually be making its way into bottles for a super limited release here in Nova Scotia.

Lastly Garrison has the latest Federation of Beer Star Trek release coming next week: Borg Ale. It won’t be bottled until next week, however they’ll be serving up samples of it at Hal-Con this week end.
Garrison says "We are the Borg, and this is our ale. Lower your shields, raise a glass, and surrender your taste-buds. Resistance is futile… But, that’s OK because this is the most advanced black ale in the entire Delta Quadrant. Created with Dark Munich and Black Malt, this strong dark ale is sure to satisfy your bio-chip". The ale is 5.6% ABV and 25 IBU and will be released in the brewery and at private stores.

NSLC hosts Local Craft Beer and Cider Series in October

(Halifax, NS) - NSLC is hosting some of the top craft beer and cider makers in Nova Scotia over four weeks in October. Beer and cider have become increasingly important in our economy over the last few years. Beyond the pure monetary impact Nova Scotians have embraced the personalities and culture of these companies while enjoying their fantastic ales and lagers. 
The four-week educational series will be held at The Port by the NSLC throughout the month of October.
The series kicks off on October 4th with Bulwark Cider's maker Alex Boivin talking about Bulwark’s cider-making process in which they ferment and bottle freshly pressed Annapolis Valley apples at their cidery in New Ross, Lunenburg County. He’ll present some fall food pairings and mix up some delicious cider cocktails. Peter Burbridge of North Brewing Co. and Mark Huizink of 2 Crows Brewing join the series October 11 to talk about how the unique character of wood is imparted on barrel-aged brews. In week three, Boxing Rock Brewing Company co-founders Emily Tipton and Henry Pedro will talk about autumn seasonal beer varieties then ask everyone to think outside the box as they try some of their beer. The series wraps up October 25th when Big Spruce Brewing Company founder Jeremy White discuss all about his certified organic brewery and his use of locally grown hops and local mineral-rich water to brew hoppy, dark beer.
Tickets are available online at Eventbrite or in person at The Port by the NSLC on 5485 Clyde Street in Halifax. The series is $60 and runs from 7-8:30 PM each evening.

Painted Boat Beer Company Opening in Stellarton in 2018

(Stellarton, NS) - Distiller Nova Scotia Spirits Co. is planning to expand its product line by setting up a brewery. Alex Rice, the company’s president, said in an interview Thursday that The Painted Boat Beer Company will craft an as-yet-unnamed lager it will unveil next May with other beers to be launched later. That brewery is being set up in Nova Scotia Spirit Co.’s newly acquired building at 230 Foord St. in Stellarton, the former Scotsburn distribution plant.

Read the full article here 

2 Crows Brewing Releases Chaos Ghost Tripel

(Halifax, NS) - 2 Crows Brewing are releasing their next foedre aged beer this Saturday at noon. Chaos Ghost is a 9.3% ABV and 31 IBU Calvados Foedre-aged Tripel brewed with Belgian Pilsner malt, Belgian candy sugar and hopped with Sterling, Golding, and H Blanc. The beer was fermented with an abbey yeast and allowed to condition for several months in a Calvados Foedre. The brewery describes it as "Slightly spicy, dry, peppery/estery, bright, with a hint of oaky tannins and apple brandy sweetness". 

Trailway Brewing Releases Off-Topic IPA

(Fredericton, NB) - Trailway Brewing released Off-Topic IPA today. They say Off-Topic is a delicious display of an American and Aussie hop blend, featuring two blockbuster hops, fresh crop year Vic Secret and Idaho7. This "fruit bomb" has Banana, Pineapple and Citrus. This is an one off American IPA that rings in at 6.5% ABV and is available now in cans.

Fog Bank rolls in to Saltbox Brewing

(Mahone Bay, NS) - Fog Bank barrel-aged stout will be released this week at Saltbox Brewing. Their Old Foundry Stout was nurtured for five months in Ironworks Distillery rum barrels to impart notes from the wood like vanilla and dark fruit, with a slightly higher alcohol content (9.0% ABV) to provide a smooth, mellow finish.  

Upstreet releases Red Stone Stock Ale

(Charlottetown, PE) - In 1777, after Rev Theophilus Desbrisay was taken prisoner by privateers and released without a penny to his name, he journeyed to Charlottetown determined to share his faith. There he found his parish meeting in the back of an old tavern; a welcoming community that would help shape the Island to what it is now. 
To commemorate this bit of Island history, and to help celebrate the 250th anniversary of St. Paul's Anglican Church, Upstreet Craft Brewing have created Red Stone Stock Ale, a very special brew inspired by the era. Oak aged and lightly carbonated to bring out the simple grain bill of English Pale, Medium Crystal and Chocolate malts, this beer packs a complex flavour profile that offers a mild tartness and dry finish. 
Red Stone Stock Ale blends traditions of yesterday with the tools of today, and will be available in limited quantities in liquor stores across the Island. Proceeds from the sale of every bottle will help fund St. Paul's Anglican Church outreach programs. 

Coastliner Releases New Cider to NB Liquor Growler Program

(Fredericton, NB) - Coastliner Craft Cider announced that next week they will have an exclusive tap as part of the Alcool NB Liquor Growler Program for their new cider called CASTAWAY. This cider is infused with tropical fruit and hibiscus and comes out at an ABV of 5.4%. The cider will be on tap starting Sept 21st and will be available across the province with bottles to follow later this year.

Schoolhouse Brewing Releases Pumpkin Paddler

(Windsor, NS) - Schoolhouse Brewing releases seasonal Pumpkin Paddler. Inspired by Windsor’s Annual Pumpkin Regatta, where every October the town comes together to watch Dill’s Giant Pumpkins race across Lake Pisiquid; right behind their brewery. Schoolhouse says "pouring hazy golden orange, Pumpkin Paddler is sessionable with just the right blend of spices… the perfect beer for a cool autumn day". The ale has pumpkin puree, whole cinnamon sticks, fresh ginger along with some allspice and a secret spice component. Coming in at 5.7% ABV' it is a heavy hitter among the pumpkin beers and is malt and spice forward with a nice slightly bitter finish. 
It will be hitting their retail shelves this week and tap room later in September. 

Red Rover Craft Cider Brings Back Blues Cider

(Fredericton, NB) - Red Rover Craft Cider announced they are welcoming back Blues Cider. They say just in time for the most musical time of the year in Fredericton they have a fresh batch of blues cider coming down the pipe. The Blueberry infused cider is 7% ABV that they say it is "semi- Dry bursting with wild blueberries and a crisp apple finish".
It will be available Thursday at The Ciderhouse at 546 Queen Street in Fredericton for pints and fills. 

Lunn's Mill Beer to host Octobeerfest

(Lawerencetown, NS) - Lunn's Mill Beer is hosting Octobeerfest at the brewery at 515 Carleton Road, Lawrencetown, NS (the one in the valley!) on Saturday October 7th from 3 PM to 10 PM. Tickets are $45 and include a custom 20 oz beer glass, one beer, a meal, and live music. The beer menu will include two special German-style releases for the event, a Hefeweizen and a Vienna Lager as well as three of our regular brews in the lineup.
The meal includes sausages, chicken schnitzel, potato salad, green salad and apple crisp with the music featuring four local bands: Two Can Sam, Heather and Caleb. Midnight Genny and Dayliner. They will also have a photo booth on site from Dan Froese. 
There will be a shuttle running from Bridgetown to Middleton from 3 to 5 PM to get there, and again from 7 to 10 PM to get home. 
Tickets on sale now on the Lunn's Mill website.

Trailway Releases DDH Luster

(Fredericton, NB) - Trailway Brewing is releasing a variant of its popular Luster Session IPA. They took their regular Luster a step further with a second full dry-hop of fresh El Dorado. They say the result is a "beer so aromatic and pungent it smells like a freshly opened bag of pellets. Truly unlike anything we've released to date".
They are planning to have about 40 cases of DDH Luster available September 13th at 4 PM in cans only. It will make its way on tap for pints and fills towards the end of the week and will be available at the brewery in Fredericton only.

Moosehead Breweries Announces Opening of Small-Batch Brewery

(Saint John, NB) - After scrapping plans for a small-batch brewery on the Saint John waterfront earlier this year Moosehead Breweries announced a small-batch brewery and tap room to be built at the company’s historic brewery at 89 Main Street West in Saint John.

The new small-batch brewery will feature a 20-barrel brewing system and a 3-barrel pilot system, allowing Moosehead to create new beers in smaller quantities for offer at retail, on-site in the tap room or at bars and restaurants. The new small-batch brewery will provide a complete "Moosehead experience" that will feature a retail store, growler fill station and a selection of Moosehead merchandise for sale. An on-site tap room will give consumers the opportunity to enjoy fresh beer on the floor of the new brewery, and will also serve as the beginning and end point for the Moosehead Brewery Tours, which the company started offering in June of this year.

“As a company, we’re excited to have the flexibility to experiment in ways that can be difficult within our primary brewhouse,” said Andrew Oland, President and CEO, Moosehead Breweries. “We have a talented team ready to bring incredible new innovations to life and I can’t wait to introduce these new beers to Saint John and to Canada.”

Moosehead, Canada’s oldest and largest independent brewery that is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, says construction gets underway next week, with opening scheduled for May 2018 that will include a number of new hires.

Garrison Brewing releases Rise n Stein and Announces Oktoberfest

(Halifax, NS) - Garrison Brewing announced this year's Oktoberfest festivities which include hosting them at the brewery in their newly renovated Seaport Hall. 
Hops n Brats will be Friday September 15th from 6:30 PM until 11 PM. The Beer and Sausage Extravaganza will host breweries from across the province who will present their top brands, while you enjoy sausage themed food along with live music. The event features 11 breweries – Garrison, 2 Crows, Big Spruce, Good Robot, Spindrift, Tidehouse, Boxing Rock, Sober Island, North, Nine Locks and Tatamagouche. Tickets are $25 which includes entry, 8 sample tickets and a souvenir glass with additional sample tickets available to purchase on site. 
The next day Oktoberfest opens its gates to the public at 11 AM, with traditional German food, Music and of course Garrison beer all day long. They are partnering with CF Atlantic Canada to raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis research and care. Satori will rock the house with The Swell Guys, Die Brew-misters and The Roving Steins Oompah Bands. 11AM-5PM the event is free admission and all ages. At 5 PM the Oktoberfest party continues but they switch gears becoming a 19+ party with more dancing, games, food, and of course, beer. The $16 entry includes your first beer.

Finally Garrison has released Rise n Stein Hefeweizen. This weissbier with its straw colour, dry finish and fluffy white head is refreshingly effervescent. It was originally brewed as a one-off for Garrison’s annual Oktoberfest, and went on to win Gold at the 2015 Atlantic Canadian Beer Awards. 5.5% ABV 13 IBU. This year Rise n Stein will be a brewery and private stores exclusive.

A. Keith's Releases Hortonville’s Pumpkin Ale

(Halifax, NS) - A. Keith's Nova Scotia Brewery released its latest small batch beer, Hortonville’s Pumpkin Ale today. Brewed with Vienna and Munich malt from Nova Scotia’s Horton Ridge Malt & Grain and is loaded with pumpkin puree, fresh ginger, Ceylon cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. Brewer Stefan Gagliardi  says "All the flavors come together like a liquid pumpkin pie. The malts provide a rich malty, toasty, sweet pie crust base, a medium-high body and a soft mouthfeel which supports the delightful aromas and flavors of the pumpkin pie filling". Stefan says this recipe has perfected over numerous years on a homebrew scale as it’s one of his favorite beers to brew.
There are three kegs of pumpkin beer going on the growler station on Lower Water Street. 

Picaroons says Goodbye to Dark & Stormy Night

(Fredericton, NB) - After producing their organic dark wheat beer, Dark & Stormy Night, for the past 11 years Picaroons says the time has come to put it to rest. They received a cease and desist order from Gosling Brothers saying that this beer infringed on one of their products. Gosling Brothers has a registered trademark of "Dark 'n' Stormy" to prohibit marketing of a drink under that name or a related, confusing name, unless it is made with Gosling Black Seal rum.
Picaroons fought the order but have officially lost the battle and are now retiring their beer. For now, what's left on the taps and shelves is all that remains of Dark & Stormy Night.

Nine Locks Brewing brings back Harvest Pumpkin Ale

(Dartmouth, NS) - Nine Locks Brewing have released their seasonal Harvest Pumpkin Ale. The beer is a dark amber ale with a full body and residual sweetness with the pumpkin and spices combining to give a unique flavour to this offering. A malty backbone provides mouth fullness balancing the crisp spicing on this 5.2% ABV and 12 IBU ale. Available now at the brewery and coming in October to the NSLC. 

Big Axe Brewery Breaks Ground on Expansion

(Nackawic, NB) - Big Axe Brewery have broken ground on their long awaited expansion. Big Axe Brewery and Saloon will be a wild west style log home brewery built on the banks of the Saint John River in Nackawic constructed by Riverbend Log Homes.
The brewery will house a 10 BBL brew house with 20 BBL fermenters from DME Brewing Solutions with bottling and canning (mobile canning). The saloon plans to offer 12 taps as well as some food options to be worked out.
Current plan is to open their doors in April of 2018. 

Upstreet Craft Brewing says Gravedigger Pumpkin Ale Returns

(Charlottetown, PE) - Upstreet Craft Brewing says the weather feels like Fall has returned and so has their Gravedigger Pumpkin Ale. The 6.5% ABV seasonal treat is made using pumpkin purée, vanilla, brown sugar and a secret blend of spices that creates a deliciously rich brew which they call "pumpkin pie in a bottle". Get it while it last in the taproom and PEI liquor stores. They have also applied for the ANBL growler program and hope to get it on shelves in private stores in Halifax. 

Tatamagouche Brewing releases Rushton's Peach Berliner Weisse

(Tatamagouche, NS) - Tatamagouche Brewing has release another sour. Rushton's Peach Berliner Weisse is a 3.5% ABV tangy and tart beer. Balancing this kettle soured summer quencher, they’ve aged it on organic apricots and peaches. Available now in cans and on tap at the brewery. 

RockBottom Brewpub releases The Aristocrats Brett IPA

(Halifax, NS) - RockBottom Brewpub just tapped a new beer. "The Aristocrats" Brett IPA is a 7% ABV and 60 IBU 100% Brettanomyces fermented India Pale Ale. The beer has yeast derived flavours of pineapple, pear, wet hay, and over ripe berry meld with new world hop nuances of tropical fruit, hard candy, and citrus. Finishing with an understated Brett Funk.
New brewer Ian Kean has taken over as Jake Saunders is now at Nine Locks full time.