Bent Nail Brewery Opens in Windsor Forks

(Windsor Forks, NS) - Bent Ridge Winery and Bent Nail Brewery will be open July 1st. Halifax brothers Steven and Glenn Dodge are the driving force behind the project. The combo winery and brewery also has a pizza oven that can cook a pie in 90 seconds and can seat 30 inside and 40 more on the patio. Aaaron Miller will be brewing 240 litre batches with .their first beers on tap being an IPA, a cream ale, an English style beer and a pale ale. They are at  4499 Highway 14 across from Ski Martock. 

2 Crows Brewing releases Slam Jam

Photo from 2 Crows Brewing

(Halifax, NS) - 2 Crows Brewing released Slam Jam Brett IPA Brut with Blueberries, brewed in collaboration with Parallel 49 Brewing from Vancouver. The 6.7% ABV and 11 IBU beer is their take on the new Champagne IPA/IPA Brut style that has emerged out of San Francisco. 
2 Crows says "Brewed with Pilsner malt, oat malt, wheat malt, and special aromatic malt, and hopped in the whirlpool with Huell Melon, Vic Secret, and Azacca hops. We fermented warm with a blend of different brettanomyces yeast strains, and near the end of fermentation added glucoamylase, an enzyme capable of breaking down complex sugars into more fermentable sugars -- essentially giving the yeast more to eat, and making the beer dry as a bone". 
After fermentation they conditioned the beer on 400 lbs of blueberry puree, and dry hopped it aggressively with Azacca, Huell Melon, Vic Secret, and Galaxy hops. Finally, it was carbonated quite high to let the hop and fruit character shine and let the dryness be even more apparent.
Available at the brewery as well as Bishops Cellar.

Unfiltered Brewing Releases Mise En Garde Barley Wine

(Halifax, NS) - Unfiltered Brewing announced that its newest release, Mise En Garde, comes out this Friday, June 22nd. The barley wine is oak-aged and was fermented on both American and Belgian yeasts and rings in at 10.8% ABV. Mise En Garde, which means warning, will be available in vintage-dated 500 ml bottles, draught, kegs, pints, and growlers at the brewery and next door at Charm School. 

Boxing Rock Brewing Releases Bursted! IPA

Photo from Boxing Rock 

(Shelburne, NS) - Boxing Rock Brewing released Bursted! IPA and say  "Warning: This beer is hoppy!" but they say not to worry, they made sure the bitterness wasn't too over powering. Bursted! IPA is this year's runner up in their black box challenge. Brewed in collaboration with home brewer Derek Wood. The beer is full of late addition hops with Derek insisting on a mountain of dry hops too. Boxing Rock says "Balanced nicely by a great pale malt structure with a smooth creamy mouthfeel, it finishes dry so you can savour all the great hops we threw into this beer." Look for the 6.5% ABV and 58 IBU beer at the brewery and coming soon to the Halifax area private stores. 

Tidehouse Brewing Releases Pitcher's Perfect Pineapple NEIPA

(Halifax, NS) - Tidehouse Brewing is releasing Pitcher's Perfect Pineapple NEIPA (6.3% ABV) on Friday June 14th. They say that there is "loads of tropical fruit flavour. Super juicy, hazy, mad tropical and pummeled with pineapple". Brewed in honour of their employee Mike Pitcher who has filled in the gaps and helped the nanobrewery succeed. The beer will be available in 340 ml bottles and on tap at the brewery on Salter Street. 

Picaroons Releases Flood, Sweat and Tears IPA

Photo from Picaroons

(Fredericton, NB) - Picaroons Traditional Ales introduced Flood, Sweat and Tears IPA. This limited edition beer celebrates NB's resilience during the great flood of 2018. Picaroons says "Ringing in at 7% ABV, this one-off is a tad citrus-y from some orange peel additions as well as little fruity from their signature Ringwood yeast. It's a little hazy and is all wrapped up with a nice crisp and bitter finish". It's on sale now at The Picaroons Roundhouse and The Brewtique in Downtown Fredericton, and will be flowing out to the Picaroons General Store in Uptown Saint John, The 5 Kings Restaurant & Picaroons Brewhouse, and to ANBL locations throughout the rest of the province. 

Chain Yard Cider and Boxing Rock Brewing Release Snake Bite

Photo from Chain Yard Cider

(Halifax & Shelburne, NS) - Chain Yard Cider and Boxing Rock Brewing released Snake Bite (5.7% ABV). Although not the traditional recipe for the drink the collaboration is half Foundation Cider and half Hunky Dory Pale Ale, a combination that was arrived at by staff tasting and voting for the favourite combination. Look for Sanke Bite on tap and in limited edition cans at the retail stores and the NSLC this week.

Unfiltered Brewing Releases Inducement DIPA

Photo from Unfiltered Brewing

(Halifax, NS) - Unfiltered Brewing is releasing Inducement DIPA on Friday June 8th at Noon at the brewery and next door at Charm School Pub. The 7.5% ABV beer is described by the brewery as "Fruity-as-f@%& Mosaic and Falconer's Flight hops with a wee touch of honey malt". 

Further Reading
Inducements Remain Rampant in Beer Industry

The beer name is a comment by the outspoken Halifax brewery on the practice of providing inducements or bribes for bar owners to carry a certain beer, a practice that is illegal and hurts small craft producers. I say let producing great beer for the people be the inducement.

Picaroons Releases Melonhead for 2018

Photo from Picaroons

(Fredericton, NB) - Picaroons Traditional Ales says Melonhead is back and announces this years winner of the cat contest. This years winner is Henry Smith and his "cat mom" Jordan "he actually likes playing fetch and drinking from people glasses. He's sweet". Melonhead, a crisp pale ale infused with natural watermelon extract, will not be available in bottles this year but in 473 ml cans and of course on tap. Look for Melonhead cans on the shelves of Picaroons retail stores and ANBL stores. 

Boxing Rock Brewing Releases OH, SNAP! American Brown

Photo from Boxing
 Rock Brewing 

(Shelburne, NS) - Boxing Rock Brewing announced the release of OH, SNAP! American Brown Ale. This Beer was the winner of the 2018 Black Box Challenge and was brewed with the winner Aaron Spanik. The ale is lightly infused with ginger, combined with light and dark roasted malts, the palate is described as reminiscent of dark biscuit - almost like a ginger snap. The hop profile is all classic North American hops with a healthy dose of dry hops rounding out the finish. The 6% ABV beer is available at their retail store, their Seaport and Alderney market booths on Saturdays, and private liquor stores in HRM.

Stillwell Brewing Announces Poptones Farmhouse Pale Ale

Photo from Stillwell Brewing

(Halifax, NS) - Stillwell Brewing Company (SBC) will be releasing a new bottle this Saturday, June 9th, from Noon to 3:00 PM. Poptones Farmhouse Pale Ale is 5.3% ABV and  started out as a clean pale ale to which SBC added their house cultures for a three month secondary fermentation. SBC describes it as "Along with the wonderful, funky, hay-like fermentation characteristics we get hop bitterness and aroma from Saphir & Sterling in the kettle and dry hop, plus a light acidity from our house cultures". SBC adds that there is a barrel-aged version of Poptones coming soon as well. 
Also on Saturday you will find limited quantities of Preach farmhouse ale refermented on NS peaches, Gosh 2.0 mosaic-dry hopped farmhouse blend , plus a few a few more they have been releasing from the cellar. Sale is at the brewery at 2015 Gottingen Street around at the back of the building. 

Picaroons Releases Version 16 of Pivot IIPA

Photo from Picaroons 

(Fredericton, NB) - Picaroons Traditional Ales says that PIVOT #16 has arrived. In this Pivot they are bringing a whole new flavour profile to the table. They used Fuggles, Northern Brewer and in the hop percolator they used Willamette, to provide a "beer that any fans of English IPAs will really enjoy". They also say that "This combination of hops allows the aroma of their Ringwood yeast to shine through, provides earthy flavours, a nice lingering bitterness, and a slight fruity finish". The Imperial IPA is now shipping to all Picaroons outlets and ANBL locations throughout NB. 

Tidehouse Brewing Brings Out The Sex RIS

(Halifax, NS) - Tidehouse Brewing is bringing a giant beer to its tiny shop on Salter Street. Calling it their fruity summer sipper, The Sex Raspberry Russian Imperial Stout is available Friday at 2:00 PM in 340 ml bottles and 4 oz glasses.
Whether it is a bottle to share with a friend or a night ender this dark, rich, stupid strong, chocolatey, raspberry stout fits the bill. The Sex is fortified with port for a little extra zip to help this beer top out at 11.9% ABV.

PEI Brewing Releases Rix Light Craft Lager

(Charlottetown, PE) - PEI Brewing Company (PEIBC) has announced the release of Rix Light Craft Lager. The 4% ABV and 12 IBU beer is described as a "Crisp light lager, craft brewed with the highest quality ingredients using traditional techniques". The lager is an homage to William F. Rix, who was widely considered Prince Edward Island’s craft beer pioneer in the mid-eighties.
They hope to have the beer at PEIBC Retail outlets today, including PEIBC Taproom, Gahan Beer Store and PEIBC Beer Station, as well as PEILCC locations tomorrow. 

Fils du Roy Releases La Grande Barbe Wheat Beer

(Petit-Paquetville, NB) - Distillerie Fils du Roy has released a new wheat beer highlighting one of Acadia's earliest beer pioneers. La Grande Barbe "The great beard’’ is a wheat beer created in honor of Nicolas Denys (1598?-1688). He began growing wheat in Acadia and made plans to build a flour mill and a microbrewery, which he wanted to substitute beer for wine that had to be import.
We do not know a lot of what he look like, except that he had a full, white beard which caused many of the Mi'kmaq to refer to him as “La Grande Barbe".
The 5.5% ABV beer is available now in 750 ml bottles.

Annapolis Brewing Opens Its Taproom

Photo from Annapolis
Brewing

Photo from Annapolis Brewing

(Annapolis Royal, NS) - Annapolis Brewing who started brewing late last year successfully opened their taproom last Friday at 302 St George Street Annapolis Royal. Open for growler fills and pints of their own beer and will have 20 taps for guest beer, ciders and will have Nova 7 on tap. The establishment will have 50 seats and although they don’t have food available they encourage people to bring food along with them. The hours of operation are Monday to Thursday Noon to 8:00 PM, Friday Noon to 10:00 PM, Saturday 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM and Sunday 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. 

New Homebrew Site BrewHQ Launched (discount code included)

(Dartmouth, NS) - I usually don't write about this sort of business but BrewHQ reached out with what they are trying to achieve and offered my followers a discount so I couldn't pass it up. The team at BrewHQ has over two decades of experience, and we want to pass that knowledge and experience on to you.
BrewHQ wants to offer a complete brewing experience to help you enjoy the hobby. BrewHQ have developed and tested exclusive beer recipes, have a growing collection of recipes to pair or cook with your homebrew, and are always available to give you advice on your brewing needs.
The offer the following perks :
- They offer free shipping on all orders over $75 (before tax)
- The BrewHQ Club. For every $1 you spend at BrewHQ (excluding gift cards, tax and any applicable shipping charges) you’ll get 100 Brew Points to use towards discounts on future orders. You're automatically enrolled in the club as soon as you create a BrewHQ account.
- BrewHQ also offers a quarterly beer recipe subscription. Their beer recipes have been created and tested in-house. Sign up, pay annually in advance and get a new beer recipe complete with all the ingredients you need shipped right to your door. 

Check them out at https://brewhq.ca/ and use Discount code MBR15  to get 15% of entire order until Thurdsay, June 14th 2018.

(I am not associated with BrewHQ and recieve no compensation for this post) 

Trailway Brewing releases Scrumlurkers American IPA

Photo from Trailway Brewing 

(Fredericton, NB) - Trailway Brewing releases Scrumlurkers American IPA. From Trailway - "Anyone out there a fan of the segment "Scrum lurkers" on the Jay and Dan show? Well, we are!" This Friday they are releasing a beer in honour of this segment, as it brings the brewery plenty of laughs on a weekly basis! Scrumlurkers, a 6.5% ABV ale, has a hop profile they had been seeking out for a long while. Through their many weekly one off IPAs they developed this hop schedule that is an intense tropical and citrus fruit with a sweet candy and vanilla character that "lurks" in the background. Complex and really delicious! Find it on tap and in cans tomorrow at the brewery. 

Nine Locks Returns a Popular Blonde

Photo by Nine Locks
Brewing 

(Dartmouth, NS) - Nine Locks Brewing returned its popular seasonal Apricot Blonde today for a limited time. The beer is described as light, crisp, effervescent, and quenching with a hint of apricot. The North American-style Weizen brewed with Canadian wheat and barley is available at the brewery as well as The Port by NSLC now. 
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