Hammond River Brewing Announces 4th Annual Homebrew Competition

(Rothesay, NB) - The 4th Annual Hammond River Brewing Homebrew Competition is intended to encourage creativity in home brewing and support the local home brewing community in the Maritimes. The competition is BJCP certified and participant’s beer will be judged according to the 2015 BJCP guidelines. This year’s competition will be a little different than in the past. Rather than limiting home brewers to a select couple of styles like previously, this year Hammond River is opening the Competition up to ANY European style. So if you want to brew a Belgian Blonde, Irish Stout, Biere De Garde, Weissbier, Czech Pilsner, English Bitter, etc, it’s all fair game this year. It just has to be a European style is all. Participants can brew up to three styles and the competition is open to all home brewers in the Maritimes.
Details and entry forms can be obtained at http://hrbrewing.ca/competition/

Nine Locks Brewing Releases its Vanilla Porter Seasonal

Photo from Nine Locks Brewing 

(Dartmouth, NS) - Nine Locks Brewing says its Vanilla Porter is back at the brewery and select private stores. Nine Locks describes the beer as 'Delicious, easy drinking, London style porter with a smooth touch of Vanilla. Dark brown with a restrained chocolate biscuit character derived from a combination of black and chocolate malts and roasted barley. Aromatic and medium bodied with a toasty toffee finish".  The 5.0% ABV  and 25 IBU beer is available now. 

Gahan House Restaurant & Brewery Announces Fredericton Location

(Charlottetown, PE) – Murphy Hospitality Group (MHG) announced that they have recently purchased Vault 29 in Fredericton, New Brunswick effective January 1, 2018 and will be bringing The Gahan House Restaurant and Brewery to Fredericton in spring 2018.
The restaurant, which will be located at 426 Queen Street, will feature a 120 seat dining room, two seasonal outdoor patios and a 5 BBL brewing system from DME Brewing Systems. The restaurant will also feature an oyster bar with a variety of fresh, local oysters.
The Fredericton restaurant and brewery will be the fourth Gahan House location, with sister locations currently in Charlottetown, PEI, Halifax, NS, and recently Saint John, NB with the third New Brunswick location is slated to open in downtown Moncton in 2018.
Kevin Murphy, President of Murphy Hospitality Group stated “We are very excited about the purchase of Vault 29 and the conversion to a Gahan House Restaurant and Brewery. Fredericton is a craft beer destination and we very much look forward to being part of this scene.” Murphy added “Fredericton has been very good to us in the support of our beers in the NB Liquor stores. We want to support communities that support us and look forward to giving back to the economy of NB.”
MHG noted that they will be hiring approximately 40 staff prior to the opening in March.

Garrison Brewing Has Two Kettle Sours on Tap

Photo from Garrison Brewing 

(Halifax, NS) - Garrison Brewing released a couple of new beers in draft only, so they are on tap at the brewery for samples and growler fills, and they may be at licensees around town.
First is another one of Daniel’s small batch kettle sours, Holy Gose. This one is a nice thirst quenching gose with fruit flavours such as apple, peach, and orange zest, with a light saltiness. The 5.4% ABV beer also has orange zest and sea salt that they describe as having moderate sourness, light salty and fruity character (apple, peach & orange zest) and finishing with a refreshing acidity.
The second sour is La Menta, meaning “mint” in Spanish. It was brewed with mint from Tim Fletcher, a local home brewer and beer judge. The beer has a similar idea as the Saison Froide that Daniel made a couple of years ago. The mint brings that unique “cold” or refreshing character to the beer. It is described as apple cider-like with lime and delicate mint flavor and finishes dry with a refreshing acidity at 5.2% ABV.

Sea Level Brewing Releases 10th Anniversary Baltic Porter

Photo from
Sea Level Brewing

Photo from
Sea Level Brewing

(Port Williams, NS) - Sea Level Brewing is celebrating its 10th Anniversary this year and are releasing a special beer to commemorate it. On Saturday November 25th at 11:00 AM they are releasing The Devils Backbone. The beer was cask fermented for nine months in Buffalo Trace Bourbon barrels courtesy of their neighbours at Barrelling Tide Distillery. The porter will come in 650ml bottles and on tap at The Port Pub and Bistro.

Bad Apple Brewhouse Announces Cans and a Collaboration

photo from Bad Apple
Brewhouse

(Somerset, NS) - Bad Apple Brewhouse dipped its toe into canning last week sending out two of its top beers out. The Mosaic DIPA and Black & Tackle Russian Imperial Stout. They are currently available at the brewery and all four private liquor stores in Halifax. 

photo from 5 Paddles
Brewing

While brewer Jeff Saunders was in Ontario last month he collaborated with he brewed at 5 Paddles Brewing to help create 321 IPA. 321 is a west-coast style IPA with intense late hop and dry hop additions. This beer expresses aromas of pine and resin. On the palate, expect a crisp mouthfeel with pine and resin notes and moderate bitterness. Like Bad Apple does with its Mosaic, 5 Paddles says $1 from the sale of each bottle of 321 IPA will be donated to the Durham Down Syndrome Association which supports those living with Down syndrome, their families, and community through encouraging and promoting inclusion, participation, and respect within the Durham region.

Trider's Craft Beer Rolls Out Commander Rye-Ker Imperial Rye IPA

photo from Trider's Craft Beer

(Amherst, NS) - Trider's Craft Beer are rolling out a full batch of their Commander Rye-Ker in 500 ml bottles and for growler fills. It is an Imperial Rye IPA that is a deep brown and 8% ABV and 80 IBU. The beer showcases Amarillo hops exclusively that is continuously and relentlessly added to a 75 minute boil and dry hopped in the fermenter. Trider's goes on to say "Despite the heavy hand on hops, and thanks to a massive mash, Rye-Ker’s bitterness balances with a solid malt backbone. As the name suggests, a touch of Canadian rye malt rounds off the Amarillo fruitiness with a subtle spicy kick. Clean and crisp North American Ale yeast ensures incredible slammability without detracting from its colossal punch".

Trailway Brewing Releasing Dank Williams IPA

(Fredericton, NB) - Trailway Brewing says this Friday, November 24th, at noon, Dank Williams IPA. Trailway says it is the dankest of all dank beers, named after the up-and-coming, mysterious but aromatic country music star. They selected some of their favorite dank but also fruity/spicy hops. 

Saltbox Brewery Announces Joint Research with Acadia University

Photo from Saltbox Brewery 

(Mahone Bay, NS) - Saltbox Brewery announced a joint research project with Acadia University. The brewery and the Department of Biology at Acadia University have received a research and innovation grant from Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI) to investigate the creation of specialized yeast strains to make unique Nova Scotia craft beers.
Patrick Jardine, Director of Operations at the Brewery, said “ Research and development projects of this kind are an important part of the ‘craft’ in craft beer making . We feel honoured to have been selected to partner with Acadia University in work which could lead to unique yeast strains to make special Nova Scotia branded craft beers. It is an important step in our journey to be among the leaders in specialized beer production in our province”. Jardine also said that the Brewery intends to share this research with other Nova Scotia breweries through the Craft Brewers Association of Nova Scotia.
They will be looking for wild yeast on the South Shore collecting in Blue Rocks, Stonehurst, Ross Farm, Ovens, Peggy's Cove and more. 

Picaroons' Yippee IPA Now in Cans

photo from Picaroons

(Fredericton, NB) - Yet another Maritime craft brewer has released a can. Picaroons Traditional Ales has put their latest batch of Yippee IPA into cans thanks to Craft Coast Canning. They are starting to ship these around New Brunswick so look for them on at your local ANBL location, as well as at The Picaroons Roundhouse, The Brewtique in Downtown Fredericton, The Picaroons General Store in Uptown Saint John, and The 5 Kings Restaurant & Picaroons Brewhouse in St. Stephen.

Unfiltered Brewing Announces Select Beers in Cans

Photo from Unfiltered Brewing

(Halifax, NS) - Social media exploded last week with Unfiltered Brewing announcing four of their top beers were going into cans. Exile On North St IPA, Twelve Years To Zion DIPA, Double Orange Ale (DOA) DIPA, and Flat Black Jesus American Stout debuted at the brewery and at Bishops Cellar. Sales were reported to be brisk at both locations. 
Unfiltered will be selling the cans at the brewery on Friday and Saturday ONLY while they last.  

North Brewing Announces Return of Two Seasonals and a New Release

photo from North Brewing

(Halifax, NS) - North Brewing has been very busy and has three beers available. They released Midnight, their Canadian Brewing Awards Gold Medal winning beer for 2017. It is the first pass of their Strong Dark Belgian aged in freshly drained Glenora Whiskey barrels, guaranteed to warm you up. 

Dartmouth Dark Lagered is making its return with a fresh new can design. The 4.5% ABV ale was first brewed to celebrate the opening of Battery Park Beer Bar in Dartmouth. Dartmouth Dark is a lagered ale infused with cold-brewed Cannon Espresso Blend from Anchored Coffee.

photo from North Brewing

Lastly, the next installment in the Finite Series will be released. Reverb is a red wine barrel aged American style wheat beer. This beer was brewed with Horton Ridge Malt & Grain malted wheat, and aged for two months in a red wine barrel from Benjamin Bridge. The beer was then conditioned naturally in the bottle for just over 4 months. Tasting notes are "Lemon, peach, a little funky with a refreshing effervescence". There will be 292-750 ml bottles of Reverb available. 
All three releases will be available in the bottle shops with Midnight available now and Dartmouth Dark available on Thursday and Reverb out on Friday November 24th. 

Picaroons Traditional Ales releases Pivot 9

Photo from Picaroons Traditional Ales

(Fredericton, NB) - Picaroons Traditional Ales released Pivot 9, the latest in its hop series. This time it is a new hop to them, Zythos and they paired it with a some home-grown Moose Mountain Hops to get what they call "a very drinkable IPA with lots of the expected pineapple notes along with a good helping of piney-ness. There's also some nice subtle grassy and earthy undertones, along with an assertive bitterness, that's tying nicely into the malt character and keeping this batch grounded and drinkable." Limited release. 

Shiretown Beer Closing Operations

(Charlo, NB) - Shiretown Beer is ceasing operations this month. Opening its doors in 2011 with a year hiatus between 2015 and 2016 owner Derek Leslie has called it quits. The brewer grew from a tiny brewhouse to its current location and could be found on ANBL shelves through out New Brunswick.  He released the following statement via social media on Monday:

With a heavy heart and sadness Shiretown Beer is closing its doors by the end of this month. We have experienced many Good Times serving our cherished customers over this past year and hopefully we've left a good experience that good beer good people bring together. If you've been to see us a number of times or haven't had a chance, dont be shy and drop in if you can over the next week and a half and we'll lend you the same type of service as always. Many great beers left on hand at the shop try and get in before they're all gone. It's been a pleasure serving in New Brunswick.
Derek

There is no immediate information on what will happen to the brewing equipment. 

Stillwell Brewing Sells Out First Bottle Release

Photo from Stillwell Brewing

(Halifax, NS) - Stillwell Brewing sold out its initial bottle release, Stillwell Four, on the first day of sales last Sunday. The brewery announced it will be open every Sunday from 12 to 4 for retail sales leading up to Christmas. This Sunday the 26th they will be releasing Sport, their tart, low-alcohol farmhouse refresher with lime zest and sea salt. 

Trailway Brewing debuts Velvet Fog Milkshake IPA

Photo from Trailway Brewing 

(Fredericton, NB) - Trailway Brewing debuted Velvet Fog today, their take on a milkshake IPA. This version was brewed with a ton of oats, a healthy dose of lactose, exclusively El Dorado hops to maximize juicy fruitiness, as well as peaches, apricots and pure vanilla. Trailway says "With intentionally low carbonation, mouthfeel is off the charts, insane creamy and thick. None of the ingredients are at the forefront but rather work together to create one massive killer balanced aroma of tropical fruit, peaches, bubble gum and vanilla". On sale now and is a super drinkable at 6.5% ABV.

Big Spruce Brewing produces 100% Nova Scotia Beer

(Nyanza, NS) - Big Spruce Brewing is producing its 100% Nova Scotia ingredient beer, One Hundred. This year partnering with Horton Ridge Grain & Malt Company to produce a one-off, canned batch of their beer that features their wild proprietary yeast that they cultivated from a pin cherry near the brewery, organic hops grown on their own farm at Big Spruce, and organic barley and rye grown in the Valley at Horton Ridge and also malted there.

photo from Big Spruce Brewing

One Hundred and will be hosting the launch of this new limited-release beer this week. On Thursday November 16 there will be an all day tap takeover at Westside Beer Wine Spirits in Halifax with a free tasting of One Hundred from 5 PM to 7 PM. On Saturday the 18th there is a tap takeover and official launch at Horton Ridge Grain & Malt Company from 3 PM to 6 PM with live music and Rustic Crust Food Truck at 4 PM. 
The special cans will land in nine select NSLC stores the week of November 20th. Look for the beer at Quinpool Road, Bayers Lake, Tantallon, Sydney River, Sydney Prince Street, Forest Hills, Bridgewater, New Minas and  The Port By The NSLC. 

Courage (For Gord Downie) Amber Wheat Ale Released

(Halifax & Shelburne, NS) - As announced last month, Boxing Rock Brewing and Garrison Brewing released Courage (For Gord Downie) Amber Wheat Ale today at both breweries. The 2000 bottle limited release beer will be in 650 ml bottles featuring a label art by graphic artist Erin McGuire of his Tragically Hip-inspired artwork ‘By the Numbers’ with $1 from each bottle will go directly to causes close to Gord, $0.50 to Brain Tumour research and $0.50 to Indigenous Peoples Reconciliation. 
Available now at the breweries and private liquor stores in HRM and in limited quantities at the NSLC on November 20th. 

Annapolis Cider releases Juniperry: Unfiltered Sparkling Perry

(Wolfville, NS) - Annapolis Cider has a new cider in their Something Different series. Juniperry is a 6.5% ABV unfiltered sparkling perry made exclusively from local hand-picked Flemish Beauty pears and infused with wild-foraged juniper berries.Flemish Beauty pears, an heirloom variety prized for its delicate flavour and fragrant aroma, were fresh-pressed and the pear juice underwent an arrested fermentation. Juniper berries, the seeds from coniferous juniper trees which give gin its distinctive flavour, were foraged from Peggy’s Cove and Prospect Bay, and then crushed and immersed in the perry for flavour extraction. The result is a pale-hued perry with a delicate woodsy aroma and a complex palate of sweet pear and balmy pine with a hint of citrus. $0.50 from each refill of Juniperry will be donated at the Town of Wolfville Volunteer Fire Department.

Trider's Craft Beer Releases Honey Chaga-Lug Brown Ale

(Amherst, NS) - Trider's Craft Beer released Honey Chaga-Lug Brown Ale this week. It is an earthy, crisp, refreshing Northern English Brown Ale that has steeped Chaga harvested by Shawee, a real life Lumberjack, giving it a deep brown colour. They topped it off with copious amounts of Nappan Wildflower Honey, so you’ll also catch a light bodied honey tartness. The secret blend of hops were grown right here in Amherst by locally notorious home brewer Jeff Smith. Triders  are stocked with Growlers and Grunters and have 500 ml bottles soon. 

Propeller Brewing Releases Latest Beer in its Small Batch "Hop Series"

(Halifax, NS) - Propeller Brewing says the second release in their Gottingen Small Batch "Hop Series" is a spotlight on Idaho-7, an experimental hop variety from Jackson Hop Farm in Wilder, Idaho. IDAHO-7 Extra Pale Ale bursts with complex fruit and citrus aromas of apricot and orange and finishes with a subtle backdrop of resiny pine and the slightest things of black tea. IDAHO-7 XPA is available at both Halifax & Dartmouth breweries for growler fills now and is a 5% ABV and 40 IBU beer.
Propeller also has their cask night tonight where they will be tapping a pin of cask conditioned Honey Wheat Ale, aged with black raspberries. The cask goes live at 5 PM, sharp at the Gottingen Tasting Room.

Trailway Brewing Releases Binary IPA

(Fredericton, NB) - It seems with Trailway Brewing there is a new release every week and this week is no exception. They released their latest IPA, Binary, brewed with 100% Golden Promise malt and 100% El Dorado hops. Trailway says it has "Incredible juice, candied-fruit character with aromatics that would rival anything produced under this roof, honestly". 
The 6% ABV ale has cans available at the brewery only and kegs will see some distribution to your local watering holes.

Saltbox Brewing Releases Limited Edition Three Churches Cans

(Mahone Bay, NS) - On Friday, November 10th at 6 PM Saltbox Brewing will be releasing their limited edition Three Churches can. Saltbox says it is "Filled with Holy Mackerel [Pale Ale] of course. A portion of all proceeds will be given to the Three Churches Foundation, that helps keep the iconic three churches on the Mahone Bay waterfront picturesque as well as the streetscape.

AKA Beer Opens nanobrewery in Bathurst

AKA Beer

(Bathurst, NB) - AKA Beer has quietly opened after two years of planning and went on tap at Au Bootlegger at 100 Main Street in Bathurst. 

The AKA Beer name comes from the initials of its 3 founders, Adam, Kyle and Andy Hodnett. The  small nanobrewery will be focusing on unique small-batch draught. Their flagship amber ale is named “Prohibition Ale, AKA Bootlegger’s Brew.” “I’ve been working on this recipe for years,” said Kyle Hodnett, the Brewmaster and a small-scale farmer from North Tetagouche. “Friends have always wanted to be able to buy it.” 

Adam, Kyle and Andy Hodnett and Michael Petrovici

The brewery has intentions of involving customers in the beer-making process as much as possible, while also incorporating as many unique local flavours as possible. “We wanted to provide just one more reason to draw people to the great businesses in the area,” said Adam Hodnett, co-owner and owner of Folk Media Communications – a content marketing company in the area. “We also want people to have a hand in the development of the beer.” 
The half-barrel system allows for the production of 80 litres at a time, just enough to serve Au Bootlegger with the “Prohibition Ale” remaining an exclusive there. Plans are in the works for a locally hopped batch before the end of 2017. 

Copper Bottom Brewing Opens in Montague

(Montague, PE) - Copper Bottom Brewing opened its doors today at 567 Main Street in Montague Prince Edward Island. Starting Saturday November 4th they'll be open from Noon to Midnight daily for growler fills and pints in the tap room. Also Saturday will see Dave Gunning, acclaimed folk-based singer/songwriter, performing in the taproom. Tickets are limited. 
The brewery was opened by husband and wife team Ken Spears and Ashley Condon in the old fire hall on the Montague waterfront. They want to not only to bring great craft beer to eastern Prince Edward Island but also a music venue. 
The have released details on a couple of their beers. "The Broadside APA" is a hoppy and aromatic take on a west coast American Pale Ale with a hint of pine and citrus. The other is "Centennial Stock Blonde Ale". 

Trailway Brewing Releases 2 Jackets IPA

(Fredericton, NB) - Trailway Brewing debuted 2 Jackets American IPA today. This IPA features a bunch of their all time favorite hops - Centennial, Mosaic, Amarillo and Citra. They say "Some old school flavours, mixed with tons of citrus, intense juiciness and some spice". Available in cans and on tap, only at the brewery in Fredericton at noon ttoday. They 7% ABV beer will run $17/4pack (or $4.50/can).

Picaroons Releases Cease & Desist

(Fredericton, NB) - Picaroons Traditional Ales released Cease & Desist, their take on a German dunkelweisen. A light bodied dark wheat beer with notes of chocolate and nuts that is an approachable 4.8% ABV. It is now on tap at The Picaroons Roundhouse, and The Picaroons Brewtique in Downtown Fredericton, and soon will be on tap at ThePicaroons General Store in Uptown Saint John and The 5 Kings Restaurant & Picaroons Brewhouse in St. Stephen. You will also soon find it on tap at many bars and restaurants throughout the Maritimes. 

Garrison Brewing 10th Annual Home Brew-Off Details Released

(Halifax, NS) - Garrison Brewing released the details for the 10th Annual Garrison Home Brew-Off. This year’s style will be Kolsch, style 5B in the BJCP Style Guide. This year’s entry fee is $15 and includes a souvenir glass, one free entry to the gala and a complimentary Growlito and fill with the Garrison beer of your choice. Beer Entries are due by end of day Monday February 12th, 2018. To download the complete competition details go to http://www.garrisonbrewing.com/community/#home-brew-off

Stillwell Brewing to Release Stillwell Four

(Halifax, NS) - Stillwell Brewing will be launching Stillwell Four at Bar Stillwell's 4th Anniversary Party on Saturday November 18th. This will also be the launch of Stillwell Brewing's farmhouse bottle program.
The ale was brewed on May 29th and matured in a single sauvignon blanc barrel with oats, wheat and pils malt and a lower IBU to encourage acidity and to make room for barrel tannins and wine character, Stillwell Four will be available at the bar for on-site consumption, and then at the brewery on Gottigen Street the next day, November 19th, from noon til 4 PM for retail purchase. They don't anticipate this beer seeing any distribution beyond the bar and the brewery. Stillwell Four will come in 500 ml bottles and is 6.2% ABV. 

Brightwood Brewery Announces Expansion and Taproom

(Dartmouth, NS) - After over a year of brewing on a 1 BBL system and selling beer at  the Alderney Landing Farmers' Market Brightwood Brewery is expanding. The new operation will be located in former Nieforth Furnishers store at 35 Portland Street. Brightwood Brewery will be sharing the location with the new Lake City Cider House. It will feature a 10-barrel brewing system, canning line, taproom and retail store. 
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PEI Brewing Releases Two New Beers

(Charlottetown, PE) - PEI Brewing has released its popular Hell Street barrel-aged doppelbock. It is now available at their Taproom, the Beer Station, and The Gahan House. It is inspired by local boxing legend Tom McCluskey who grew up on Dorchester Street, nicknamed Hell Street at the time.
They are also releasing limited edition Shortest Day Spiced Milk Stout on November 16 at The Gahan House. Shortest Day is black and opaque topped with a dark, long lasting head. Prominent vanilla aroma with toasty undertones that last throughout the pint. Spiced with nutmeg, packing a festive punch in the finish. 

Long Bay Brewery Releases Bantam and Chalice in Bottles

(Rothesay, NB) - Long Bay Brewery have released its two core beers in bottles. Bantam APA and Chalice Belgian Ale are now in 355ml bottles at the brewery and on local ANBL shelves. 

Tatamagouche Brewing Releases Jitney Dry-Hopped Sour

(Tatamagouche, NS) - Tatamagouche Brewing released Jitney Dry-Hopped Sour  It is their first dry-hopped sourand is available now at the brewery. It will be available in Halifax over the next few days and is expected to be released in the NSLC around November 20th. They say to expect tart, juicy, and tropical flavours including lemon, pineapple, and mango.

Sober Island Releases Rebranded Core Beers in Cans

(Sheet Harbour, NS) - Sober Island Brewing recently released its core brands in 473 ml cans with fresh branding for each. Their blonde is now Marigold Blonde Ale (5% ABV) and their oyster stout became Beth’s Blackout Oyster Stout (6.1% ABV). They will be officially launched on November 2nd at Bishop’s Cellar in Halifax from 4:00 to 6:00 PM.