2 Crows Brewing Releases Dandy - First in Barrel-Aged Series

(Halifax, NS) - 2 Crows Brewing are releasing their first ever bottled beer and the first beer in their barrel-aged sour series. Dandy is a gin barrel-aged sour that is conditioned on burnt citrus.

Photo from 2 Crows Brewing

2 Crows says the beer was "Brewed with Pilsner malt, spelt, wheat, and oats, and hopped lightly with Calypso and Bramling Cross. Soured with a mixture of lactobacillus cultures, and fermented in gin barrels with a blend of saccharomyces and brettanomyces yeast. After conditioning in barrel for several months, the beer was transferred to stainless where it was further conditioned on the burnt zest of lemons, oranges, limes, and grapefruit. Finally, the beer was bottle conditioned with champagne yeast for a lively carbonation."
Dandy is limited quantity but there is no bottle limit and will be available on Saturday July 7th at the brewery as well Bishops Cellar said they were bringing a few in.
Tasting notes are "Bright, tart, lightly funky, with juniper, citrus, oaky tannins, a subtle burnt/smoky character and a firm minerality" and it is  5.1% ABV.

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.

Five Nova Scotia Brewers Win At The 2018 Canadian Brewing Awards

Photo from 2 Crows Brewing 

(Halifax, NS) - The 2018 Canadian Brewing Awards were held in Halifax on May 26th with five Nova Scotia brewers taking home nine awards in eight categories. All the winners are in the new wave of brewers starting in the last five years. 

New comer 2 Crows Brewing have been amazing beer lovers in Halifax won a gold Bonanza! Foedre Aged Wheat Wine in the Wood and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer category and two silvers for Dynamo Rustic Saison in the French and Belgian Style Saison category and   Never Again Foedre Aged Brett Pale Ale with Peaches  in the American-style Brett Beer category. 

Photo from Boxing Rock Brewing

Photo from Tatamagouche
Brewing

North Brewing, who have won several CBAs peviously, added a silver in the Kellerbier/Zwickelbier category for its Little Beast, a silver in the  Belgian Style Abbey Ale/Pale Ale category for it perennial favourite Gus’ 65m Ale and a bronze for Oh My Darlin’-Clementine Brett Pale Ale in the American-style Brett Beer category. 

Photo from Meander
River Farm & Brewery

The other winners was Tatamagouche Brewing's Giantess Barley Wine taking silver in Barley Wine-Style Ale – American-Style, Boxing Rock Brewing took a silver in North American Style Amber/Red Ale for Temptation Red Ale and Meander River Farm & Brewery won bronze for its Smoky Chipotle Porter in the Experimental Beer category. 

Full results for the 2018 winners available here.

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.

2 Crows Brewing To Release Linnea Imperial Stout

Photo from 2 Crows Brewing 

(Halifax, NS) - On December 6th 2 Crows Brewing releases its interpretation of a Russian Imperial Stout using a lot of flavours that are used in Finnish cuisine — salty liquorice and cardamom. Linnea used a bit of sea salt, liquorice root, star anise, and cardamom pods as well as about 95% Finnish malt too, from Viking malt. 
It is the Finnish 100th year of independence this year (100 years independent from Russia).Brewer Jeremy Taylor lived briefly in Finland where his brother currently lives there with his family. The beer is named after Jeremy's niece. Linnea is 9.1% and 62 IBU and was brewed back in late August, to allow it time to mellow and condition for its release.

2 Crows Brewing and Kilter Brewing Release Hawaiian Ivory

Photo from 2 Crows Brewing

(Halifax, NS) - 2 Crows Brewing are releasing their collaboration with Kilter Brewing of Winnipeg this week end. Hawaiian Ivory is a milkshake IPA brewed with coconut, banana, lime, pineapple, mango, lactose and vanilla. It was brewed at the beginning of November will Kilter was in town at 2 Crows. In addition to being here at the brewery cans will also be sent out to Manitoba Liquor Mart to help generate a bit of excitement for Kilter..Hawaiian Ivory is 6.3% ABV and 49 IBU.

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.

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". 

2 Crows Brewing lands Promiseland DIPA

(Halifax, NS) - 2 Crows Brewing is releasing Promiseland Double IPA. It is coming in at 8.3% ABV and 64 IBU and is loaded with Simcoe and Citra hops. It is a seasonal release so it will be around for the fall. 2 Crows are selling it in cans, pints and growlers out of tap room and it will also be sold at private liquor stores.

2 Crows Brewing to Release Fandango Milkshake IPA

(Halifax, NS) - 2 Crows Brewing will be releasing a new beer on Saturday at noon. Fandango is a Calvados foedre-aged Milkshake IPA coming in at 6.8% ABV and 52 IBU. Hopped heavily with Azacca, Galaxy, and Citra, conditioned in a Calvados foedre for a couple weeks for added vanilla and fruit notes, then absolutely loaded with mango, peaches, more hops, and a bit of vanilla and lactose. Tastes like pure juice. Limited quantities available in glasses and cans, no growler fills.

NSLC Sees Large Influx of Local Craft Beer to Stores

(Halifax, NS) - The NSLC is excited about the development of the Nova Scotia craft beer industry and are preparing for a tidal wave of local beer hitting their shelves. By May they will have 42 Nova Scotia Craft Beer listings from 18 breweries in stores. Listings include many first time appearances including established brewers Big Spruce Brewing and North Brewing and many new brewers including Trider's Craft Beer, 2 Crows Brewing, and Downeast Beer Factory. The NSLC will also have Nova Scotia specific beer sections in stores. 
When the new listings are added Nova Scotia Craft Beer will constitute 19% of all NSLC beer listings. Currently local craft beer is 65% of their total craft beer sales and 3% of total beer sales overall. 
This move is great for all involved with local beer fans having greater access to regionally available brands, giving the brewers better access to consumers and the NSLC supporting and encouraging local brewers. 

Ladies Beer League to Give Sneak Peek While Helping Food Bank

(Halifax, NS) - Ladies Beer League (LBL) are partnering with 2 Crows Brewing for an exclusive event in aid of Feed Nova Scotia. 
Join LBL along with Mark, Kelly and Jeremy of 2 Crows Brewing in an intimate setting to taste and give feedback on their three core beers before they open plus maybe a few surprises.
ALL ticket sales go to Feed Nova Scotia and there will be boxes at the event to collect non-perishable food items as well.
Tickets on sale now at Eventbrite 

The Ladies Beer League is a non-profit organization that fosters a welcoming space for women to learn about craft beer and local breweries through social events and fundraising activities. Since its inception, LBL has opened its membership to all genders, and has made supporting local womens’ charities and causes a high priority. 

2 Crows Brewing plans to open a microbrewery this fall in the heart of downtown Halifax and intends to create beers that are approachable with a "twist". 

2 Crows Brewing Opening in Halifax this Fall

(Halifax, NS) - A new craft brewer is opening a large brewery in Halifax. 2 Crows Brewing is opening a 20 bbl brewery in the heart of downtown at 1932 Brunswick Street about a block north of the Citadel.

Mark Huizink along with his wife Kelly and Head Brewer Jeremy Taylor will be the key people running the new brewery. Mark trades in a seven year accounting career to come to this passion project and Jeremy comes from Bridge Brewing in Vancouver as the head brewer and brings his MSc. in Brewing from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. 

Jeremy Taylor and his wife Elaine Moody

The brewery intends to create beers that are approachable with a "twist" and will be selling to a few licensees to start, as well as growlers and cans when they open this fall. The brewery is being built as a open concept to the tap room that will have its flagship ales, seasonals as well as guest brews for patrons. 

Mark and Kelly Huizink

Mark when asked why he is jumping into the craft beer scene here he said he loves Nova Scotia and loves great beer and sees opportunity to bring their beer and brewery here. 

Look for 2 Crows to officially open in September if all goes well and there may be a sneak peak in August at the beer fest. Follow along with their progress on twitter, facebook and instagram.