Maritime Beer Report - December 6, 2013

Hello and welcome to the December 6, 2013 edition of the Maritime Beer Report.

Congratulations to Joe Goodine of Moncton NB for winning The New Brunswick Home-brew Challenge. The finalist were Marc Levesque (Busy Day Bitter), Kynan Hughson (Raging Grampa), Mark McGraw (The Bitter End), Jake Saunders (British Bulldog Bitter), Brian Steeves (Broadway Bitter) and Joe Goodine (OB Juan).

Picaroons' THE "12 BEERS OF CHRISTMAS" are coming back. Starting next Thursday, December 12 , at THE BREWTQUE in Downtown Fredericton, they will be releasing a different festive brew each day, for 12 days. They will announce the day's beers everyday at 12 NOON, and the beer will be ready for your Growlers starting at 3 PM. Sounds fun.

Pump House Brewery ‏have released on tap their seasonal Nor'Easter Beater Winter Warmer. Dark amber color, big malt presence, subtly spiced with clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and 7% A.B.V. 

Shiretown Beer said their Siren T'ale will be in a ANBL store near you in the near future. 

Authentic Seacoast Brewing is spreading holiday cheer across Nova Scotia this month with free Rare Bird Craft Beer tastings in select NSLC stores, check their facebook page for times and locations. The Full Steam Stout has been making its way to private stores this week and the released their pumpkin seasonal will be available real soon. Exciting times in Guysborough.

Big Spruce Brewing's released a Home Brew Challenge Update "We received 17 sets of samples! Judging will be this Friday Dec 6th, with an announcement shortly thereafter to confirm the winner. Thanks to all that participated, and see you for the release of this exciting beer at the Craft Beer and Local Food Festival in Halifax on Jan 16th" 

Garrison is saying the Spruce Beer is bottled and will be out on December 13th in their retail store.

Hell Bay Brewing is now available at Harvest Wine & Spirits and Cristall Wine Merchants in Halifax, great news for us local fans.

Rogue's Roost 1st Brew Master Monday was held this week to a great crowd. It was a chance to sample all their beers, with an opportunity to talk and ask questions with their brewmaster. It didn't appear to be publicized too well but I hope i can let you know when the next one is. 

Cam from Schoolhouse Brewery reported enjoying a beer with master brewer Greg Nash from Rockbottom Brewpub at the soon to open Bad Apple Brewhouse near Berwick. I emailed the Jeff at Bad Apple for some information and will pass it along if I hear anything.

Sea Level Brewing announced its much loved HIGH STREET WEE HEAVY SCOTCH ALE is in the making. An ale with a complex malty body and a slight hint of smokiness in the finish.

Finally this week Yardarm Holdings who is negotiating opening a new brewery in Bayport has applied to also have a distillery at the site of the former Riverport and District Elementary School. It would be nice to see more movement in this project but for now I will keep watching it.

That is all for this week, send all your news tips to toddthebeerdude@gmail.com and until next time, enjoy responsibly and take care.

Beer Review - Rare Bird Pale Ale

This review is the offering from Authentic Seacoast Brewery, it is the Rare Bird Craft Beer Pale Ale. it is a strong beer at 7 % ABV. It is a little darker than I expected being copper in color I didn't see a lot in carbonation and it poured with a thin head. The aroma is hoppy and a slight sweet "fruity" smell. It has light carbonation and a medium body. It has a very slight dry aftertaste but for the most part I get an malty, toffee sweetness and there isn't that alcohol burn you get sometimes from high alcohol beers. It is a great drinking beer and a nice addition to the Maritime craft beer family.

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Todd Tapped Out - Stillwell Beer Bar

I had been waiting for the new beer bar in town to open for sometime, especially after meeting the owners at an event earlier in the fall. A trip with friends to Stillwell Beer Bar on Barrington Street in Halifax happened during a Saturday afternoon. 

We arrived shortly after they opened at four o'clock and it was already starting to fill up. On entry you see a low key bar with tables, chairs, light bulbs hanging from the ceiling, and of course the bar. As I explored a little further there was shelves in the corner with a bunch of vinyl records, a collection of "empties" and downstairs there are some old school video games and even some old city bus seats. I liked the decor, it made me feel at home.

The bar takes up the bulk of one of the walls and behind it is twelve taps of primarily Maritime craft beer with an odd wildcard thrown in. The wall containing the taps is used like a chalkboard with each tap labelled with all its information and wiped and the next one added. One thing Stillwell is arrange the taps number one to twelve with the beers going for light to dark.


The snack fare was varied and different from the usual pub grub, the dozen items varied widely and is changed often they tell me. I got the oysters and fries with "atari" sauce and both were absolutely delicious.

The staff and owners were very friendly and attentive and kept us satisfied. My first experience there was extremely positive and I will be back again soon.