Nine Locks Brewing releases One Foot On The Wagon Session IPA

(Dartmouth, NS) - Nine Locks Brewing released One Foot On The Wagon Session IPA that they say is brewed to go down easy, clocking in at 4.2% ABV and 40 IBU. All the hop flavour and aroma you need, with less alcohol, their session IPA is brewed to go down easy. Generous additions of Amarillo and Ahtanum hops, both in the whirlpool and dry hop, provide floral, grapefruit, and peachy notes without over the top bitterness. Light body and a refreshingly spritzy finish. 
It’s the first beer in their Signature Series where brewer Jake Saunders gets to be a little more creative and create some new styles outside their core brands and seasonals. These will be get-them-while-you-can releases, limited batches and will be available for growler fills and in cans. You can also expect to see very limited quantities at the private stores in Halifax and on tap for limited engagements at select bars & pubs in Dartmouth and Halifax. 

Garrison Brewing Remakes Wintervention Chocolate Imperial Stout

(Halifax, NS) - Garrison Brewing brought back one of last years favourite, Wintervention Chocolate Imperial Stout. Garrison describes it the beer as "delectable strong and dark ale is a real chocolate bomb. Rich bittersweet chocolate aromatics with dark dried fruits and vanilla underneath. Layers of chocolate fudge, malted milk balls and molasses flavors with a bittersweet chocolate finish."
Wintervention is imperial strength and conditioned a month on cocoa nibs. Coming in at 10.5% ABV and 60 IBU it is chock full of chocolatey goodness. Available now at the brewery and making it way to Newfoundland and New Brunswick next month. 

Boxing Rock Brewing Releases Bravo Single Hopped IPA

(Shelburne, NS) - Boxing Rock Brewing released Bravo Single Hopped IPA. This IPA is a study into the relatively unknown but versatile Bravo hop varietal. In order to showcase what bravo hops can do, Boxing Rock employed advanced hopping techniques during the boil, during the fermentation, and after the fermentation. This quadruple-dry-hopped IPA displays everything Bravo hops can do, from their clean bitterness, to their mild flavour and their floral, evergreen, and fruity aromas. Available at the retail store in 650mL bottles and 1L growlers.

Tidehouse Brewing Releases Argyle Fine Ale

(Halifax, NS) - Tidehouse Brewing released Argyle Fine Ale in collaboration with Argyle Fine Art. Described as a well hopped pale ale with the addition of locally foraged spruce tips from East Coast Wild Foods and is 5.8% ABV. The second bottle release from Tidehouse it is available at The Tiny Tasty Beverage Room while supplies last.

Off Track Brewing Opens in Bedford Nova Scotia

(Bedford,NS) - Off Track Brewing opened at 275 Rocky Lake Drive just before Christmas becoming the first modern craft brewer in the town. Partners Allan MacKay, Matt Scott and Jon Saunders had a great opening with demand out stripping what their pilot system could produce.
The brewery also houses a tap room and retail space in which they offer growler fills, flight sales as well as pint sales as well as Off Track merchandise. The new brewery is going to be a 5 BBL operation with four fermenters when they arrive next month giving more stability in their beer availability. Off Track brews straight ahead approachable beers that appeal to the masses. When I visited they had a pale ale, brown ale, IPA and a pretty great peanut butter stout.
The hiatus ended today with hours posted every Tuesday on social media. 

Picaroons Releases Pivot IIPA version 11

Photo from Picaroons

(Fredericton, NB) - Picaroons Traditional Ales have bottled their eleventh version of Pivot Ale. This time around they steered away from the tropical train and leaned more on the citrusy and herbal end of things. Hopped with Lemondrop, Zeus, and Warrior, this version has some herbal earthiness as well as lots of spicy peppery notes from the Zeus hops that's all blanketed by the lemony citrus and fruity notes from the Lemondrop and Warrior. This batch will start hitting the taps and shelves very soon. 

Garrison Brewing Releases Two Seasonal Favourite

Photo from Garrison Brewing

(Halifax, NS) - Garrison Brewing released two of its well known beers.
First off Hopyard will be returning for a limited time. Available now at the brewery and will follow shortly after at the NSLC. Crafted at the Halifax Seaport but brewed with juicy West Coast hops, this bi-coastal American Pale Ale boasts citrusy and floral aromas and a crisp dry finish.
They also launched their 2018 Cellar Series Barrel-aged Spruce Beer on Friday. Their beloved Spruce Beer, brewed with local spruce and fir tips as well as Crosby's blackstrap molasses hibernated in Ironworks Distillery rum barrels with an amazingly complex and boozy result. 

Grimross Brewing Releases Après Lager

Photo from Grimross Brewing 

(Fredericton, NB) - Grimross Brewing says Après Lager is now available at the brewery and Crabbe Mountain on tap now, with kegs rolling out everywhere next week. Cans will be available across the province in early February. This is a 5 week cold fermented, light, crisp, malty and red in colour beer that weighs in at 5.6% ABV. 

Copper Bottom Brewing Announces the Release of The Rabble Rouser Red

(Montague, PE) - Copper Bottom Brewing announced the release of their third Flagship beer, “The Rabble Rouser Red” is a crisp, bold take on an old favourite.

Photo fro Copper Bottom Brewing 

They thought about some famous Rabble Rousers from Montague, PEI and the first name that arose was that of the legendary Scotsman & Eastern Graphic Newspaper founder Jim MacNeill. Jim was known for his fiery personality and ability to always be on the opposing side of whoever was in political power as well as his ability to keep an ear to the ground. He had a talent for drawing out of his community the stories that could make a difference. The Eastern Graphic ran their newspaper out of 567 Main St (the building that they now call Copper Bottom Brewing) for almost 40 years. It is well known that Jim loved to bring the community together for “rousing” conversation over a fine drink and we aspire to do that today in the building that once belonged to him. 
Release Party to be held Thursday January 18th 6-10pm at Copper Bottom Brewing. Sneaky Cheats BBQ on-site from 6-10 PM & traditional fiddle music from 7-9 PM.

Four Rivers Brewing Opens in Bathurst NB

(Bathurst, NB) - Four Rivers Brewing says the wait is finally over. We are open Friday from 12-8 PM and Saturday from 12-5 PM with their regular hours coming shortly.They have their American Pale Ale (APA) and American Amber Ale (AAA) both available. Growlers will be available for fill/take-out. with more beer styles on the way in the coming weeks. 

2 Crows Brewing Releases Forever Young: A Foedre-Aged Brett Saison with Rose

Photo from 2 Crows Brewing 

(Halifax, NS) - 2 Crows Brewing are releasing Forever Young is a Foedre-Aged Brett Saison with Rose on Saturday. Brewed with Pilsner malt, Vienna malt, and malted and raw wheat, and then hopped lightly in the boil with Sterling and Hallertau Blanc. This beer was fermented in their foedre that previously held Cognac. After fermentation with their house saison culture and an experimental Brettanomyces strain, they conditioned the beer on local rosehips for three months before transferring the beer back to stainless steel to condition further with a small amount of rosewater before carbonation and packaging. The resulting beer is earthy, floral, lightly funky, and dry. The beer clocks in at 8.5% and 29 IBU.

Good Robot Brewing Announces FemmeBrew Home Brew Competition

(Halifax, NS) - Good Robot Brewing Announces FemmeBrew Home Brew Competition, an all female/femme identified home-brew competition for women's day. Here is the information on the upcoming competition.

What? Brew any pre-prohibition style beer that is an original recipe (no kits)

Who? Eligibility is all women and female-presenting, non-professional brewers. 

When?  You must register by February 1st and submit 4x341mL bottles by March 1st.

Where? Turn in submissions to Good Robot, "Beer Later" area with winners announced at Good Robot's FemmeBot celebration on March 7th. 

How? Fill out this form: https://goo.gl/forms/DwdZlI02FiPTXlQH2 
Email questions to kelly@goodrobotbrewing.ca

Why? The prizes includes a spot on the Betabrew schedule and some Good Robot swag.

The Ladies Beer League and Lunn’s Mill Beer Co. Release Hoppers’ Bazaar

(Lawrencetown, NS) - The Ladies Beer League traveled down to Lunn’s Mill Beer Company on December 19th to brew their latest collaboration. Hoppers’ Bazaar is a Dark  Belgian Dubbel brewed with a Pilsner base malt, Amber, Dark Munich, Special B, Chocolate Wheat & Dark Belgian Candi sugar. It was then gently hopped with Saaz, Tettnang and just to keep things kind. of bazaar a late addition of Garam Masala.  The beer is a rich semi-sweet and spicy beer with hints of cumin and cardamom that comes in at 6.7% ABV and 14 IBU.
The beer was brewed on Lunn's “Bazaar” pilot system that was their first piece of equipment and was funded by a grant from AIRO, the Annapolis Invests In Rural Opportunities. It was released 
The LBL came down on Dec 19th and we had a great day. They released the beer on Friday at The Wooden Monkey in Dartmouth and can also be found at Good Robot Brewing as well as at Lunn's Mill

Trider's Craft Beer Releases Hibrrrnation

(Amherst, NS) - Trider's Craft Beer launched a new beer in growlers with 500ml bottles later this week. It's an extra strong winter ale at 8.5% ABV called "Hibrrrnation". Trider's says "For a nation no stranger to the cold, we know the importance of making the winter warmer. Full bodied and ringing in at a hearty 8.5%, Hibrrrnation is an extra strong belly warmer perfect for sitting by the fire and kicking off a long winter’s nap. We loaded this deep chestnut brown ale with demerara sugar and unfiltered local honey for an extra sweet and rich warmth. The sweetness of this great big brew stays grounded by the earthy tones of willamette hops." The Chestnut Brown Ale will disappear with the snow, so get it while you can. Available now at the brewery.