The Bare Food Co

Wandering Drogheda on a dreary-looking day, Tammy and I were fed up with banks and their sh!t policies and even worse customer service. I swear I feel like writing a rant on the obtuse policies of obtaining a bank account in Ireland at some point instead, but luckily our lunch stood out as a great alternative topic of conversation.

Off to the side, we saw a sign that said "Bare Food Co." and Tammy immediately said she'd recognized the name because a friend recommended it. Apparently they had some gluten-free and dairy-free options or something. So, we decided to take a gander and investigate for ourselves.

As we walked in, there was a small take-away section where you could grab a fresh-pressed juice, a sandwich, and coffee (among other things). It looked pretty Vancouver-hipster-esque, like a small shop in the Mount Pleasant area. Needless to say, it felt kinda like home.

We opted to sit in, and we each took a look at the menu. Tammy was feeling more like something handheld, while I was in the mood for comfort grab-a-spoon-or-fork-and-stuff-it-in-my-face kind of food.

Honey Chicken Sandwich @ The Bare Food Co
Drogheda, Co. Louth, Ireland
Photo: Brewji

Tammy ordered the Honey Chicken Sandwich, without cheese as we're both intolerant to dairy products. It's served on gluten-free bread, which is a plus because in Canada you'd normally have to pay a premium of 2 to 4 dollars for some store-bought crap bread. At Bare Food (as well as most of Drogheda so far), there is no premium for being born with the inability to digest something.

While her sandwich did arrive with cheese, we were too tired of dealing with things from the day to say anything about it. Lucky for her, Comte cheese is very low in lactose and didn't produce too much bloating. That, and it added extra texture and taste to the sandwich (yes, I had a bite) that made it taste absolutely delicious.

Red Curry, with added Chicken @ The Bare Food Co
Drogheda, Co. Louth, Ireland
Photo: Brewji

I on the other hand, ordered the Red Curry and added chicken to it. It ended up being a Thai curry, and it was both gluten and dairy free. I remember just the smell driving me wild with excitement. It had been so long since I'd had any sort of Thai curry. Let me just say, this dish is packed with flavour. I had so much going on with my taste buds, including a kick of heat. Lucky for me, the heat was just at my threshold for spice, which meant it didn't really hurt my Crohn's at all.

Tammy also ordered an Americano, which turns out was kind of blah. She said it wasn't anything special.

Now, let's fast-forward about a week. Yes, a week.

The two of us decided to meet up with Tammy's friend who she hasn't seen in years. Today, we each got the same dish. We initially wanted the smoked cod, served with coconut daal and Indian pesto, but the server came back after about 15-20 minutes (they were super busy) and let us know that the cod hadn't come in that day and they couldn't serve the dish. Instead, she offered us the other fish special that day which included haddock, served with a chorizo and bean casserole. We appreciated her letting us know, and double-checked that the special was gluten and dairy-free. Sold!

In addition, we each had an Americano. This time around, I thought it was quite delicious. Tammy agreed. She said this time was like a night-and-day difference. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt here; I'm sure their Americanos were always great and we just let the stress get to us the last day. They even gave us some almond milk with our drinks and didn't charge us for it! Vancouver, your shops could learn a thing or two from this place. Dear Vancouver: We shouldn't have to pay premiums for being born with food intolerances.

Back to the entrée -- I'm not really a fish person. Usually I get my fish deep-fried with a set of chips and gravy. However, this was moist, flavourful, and gone pretty quickly. We were so hungry I didn't even get a picture. Granted, it took like 45 minutes to eventually get our food because of the "no cod" situation, and they were in the middle of lunch rush. There's usually no time for pictures when the stomach becomes hangry.

 

Instead, I got some shots of the menu while we waited. Keep in mind, Vancouverites -- all these prices include tax, and people don't really tip in Europe. Why? Because they get paid enough to live by their employers; not the equivalent of €7.20 per hour, only to pay $1000 per month to share a small apartment with two other people. This means what you see is what you pay, case and point.

What else can I say? We'll be back.

We really enjoy this place. The food is delicious and affordable. The service is always friendly, even during a rush. The bathrooms are also very clean, which is a plus for the both of us. I'm really looking forward to trying one of their fresh-pressed juices next time. Either that or a steak sandwich...depends on how I feel I guess.

Tammy gives the Bare Food Co. a can't-wait-til-next-time 8.5 / 10
I give the Bare Food Co. a just-keep-putting-stuff-in-my-mouth-my-wife-is-okay-with-it 9.0 / 10

Dairy-Free Milk Alternatives - Almond

Since most of the world is lactose-intolerant, and in case you didn't know: the main protein in milk (casein) is linked to cancer growth, I've decided to task myself with finding the best options for dairy-free milk alternatives. Well, I'm also doing this because milk products cause myself and Tammy incredulous amounts of pain, bloating, discomfort, and other odd reactions.

After walking through shops in Ireland such as Tesco, Dunnes, Aldi, and Lidl, I've found more variety than I thought existed. Our Bettystown Tesco has more variety of gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan alternatives than the giant Brentwood Whole Foods from back home. And for my folks back in VanCity: Bettystown is like a classy, quaint version of Mission (in terms of distance and size from the city).

Today, I'll start with two unsweetened almond milks from Tesco, under their own brand name. In addition, I'll throw in the Alpro unsweetened almond milk.

In terms of breaking them down, I'm going to put each product through the three basic uses that I have for dairy-free alternative milks:

1. Pouring over cold cereal
2. Adding to hot cereal (Ready Brek or porridge)
3. Adding to hot beverages (coffee and tea)

Tesco: Almond - Alternative to dairy milk
Photo: Brewji

1. Tesco: Almond - Alternative to dairy milk (Unsweetened)

First up, we have Tesco's value brand (or so it seems). It's priced the cheapest at €2 for a 1L carton when it's not on sale. Now, we initially tried a few different brands before this one. This means we have comparison to make!

When pouring over cereal, it I get the most unmasked taste. It's sort of like a soy milk with a nutty flavour instead of the nasty soy taste. Not bad at all, but there are still brands in Canada that could knock this out of the park. Either way, I enjoyed it. What would I change? Add more almonds! There's not enough almond kick in it to convince me that I'm drinking almond milk.

Mixed into Ready Brek, this acts as a good alternative to milk, as it mixes well and doesn't cause any textural issues. However, it still has a lingering nutty taste that is just a little sub-par. It's a good choice for a budget dairy-free alternative.

In coffee, it does its job. Because of the coffee masking most of the taste, it's nothing spectacular. However, it allows me to have my coffee at a drinkable temperature and mixes well with sugar (if sweetened coffee is your thing). I'm just asking Tammy over my shoulder if she liked it in her tea. Her exact response was "Yeah, it was grand."

Overall, I give the Tesco: Almond a budget-friendly 6.0 / 10

Tammy gives the Tesco: Almond a yeah-it-was-grand 6.5 / 10

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Tesco Free-From Milk: Almond Drink (Unsweetened)
Photo: Brewji

2. Tesco Free-From: Almond Drink (Unsweetened)

Next, we have a product from the Tesco "Free From" range. Let me first say, the Tesco "Free From" range of products is an equivalent to the President's Choice range from Superstore back home, except the quality is much better. We prefer these "Free From" products to most expensive, brand-name products. It's not even that pricey, at €2.29 for a 1L carton.

If you've ever had Alpro almond milk, this tastes very similar. It might even be the exact same product with different packaging. But, you just don't get almond milk that tastes this good back in Canada.

Over cold cereal, it's like having milk with the flavour of slivered almonds in it. It's a great texture, not too thin, and thick enough to be a perfect companion to my cereal. In porridge, it works wonderfully and adds a nutty flavour that's quite pronounced and much enjoyed. 

Finally, my favourite use for this is in coffee. It works well in tea, too -- but it shines in coffee. It's better than adding milk and almond flavouring to a coffee. It's not as thick as cream, but adds that silky element to coffee while making it taste just right.

I give the Tesco Free-From: Almond Drink a why-doesn't-this-come-in-a-bigger-carton 8.5 / 10

Tammy gives the Tesco Free-From: Almond Drink a solid 8.0 / 10

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Alpro Roasted Almond Unsweetened
@Tesco, Drogheda, Co. Louth, Ireland
Photo: Brewji

3. Alpro Roasted Almond (Unsweetened)

Packaged in a similar container to the Tesco Free-From, the Alpro is also slightly more expensive at €2.49 for 1L. However, sometimes at Tesco it'll go on sale with a deal like 2 cartons for €3. This would be the time to stock up! 

I honestly can't tell much of a difference between this and the Tesco Free-From Almond milk. I haven't compared the ingredients from the back of the package...mainly because I accidentally already recycled the packaging. However, I'd consider this on par, or *slightly* higher than the previous. I may rate this slightly higher, but it may just be because this was the first truly great almond milk I tried in Ireland. 

On cereal, it seems to have a more almond flavour than the Tesco, slightly. I really appreciate this, as I love almonds in my cereal! In hot cereal such as Ready Brek, this is a no-brainer. Who wouldn't want nutty flavours in their porridge? Well, those allergic to it I guess. 

In coffee, I add two sugars and some of this almond milk...and I have no cravings for any fancy coffee. It's just that good. I'd love to get an espresso machine and see how this fares in a mocha or a latte.

I give the Alpro Roasted Almond (Unsweetened) a maybe-I'm-biased-but-my-heart-says-yes-please 9.0 / 10

Tammy gives the Alpro Roasted Almond (Unsweetened) a best-of-the-three 9.0 / 10

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Do YOU have any recommendations for a Canadian like me? 

Let me know! Comment below, or Tweet me @Brewji

Esquires Coffee in Drogheda

Well well, Tammy and I have our boots settled in (actually, I've yet to get myself a pair of boots of any sort), and we've started trekking through the nearest town of Drogheda. Situated on either side of the River Boyne, it's the nearest place where we can hit up a Penney's, Tesco, a chip shop, and grab a fancy coffee all at the same time.

After an unfortunate encounter at the bank trying to set up an account (because the guy working there was a moron), I spotted one of the employees looking stressed and drinking out of an Esquires cup. This made me want to pop into the cafe when we walked past it. Initially, we tried their Americano last week and it was incredible.

This time, we met up with one of Tammy's friends and we each had a large ("Grande") Caffe Mocha made with coconut milk, and a slice of -- get this -- Toblerone Almond Cake. How awesome does that sound? Best of all, it was gluten-free. The cake was definitely not dairy-free, which meant bloating was destined for us. However, it was a treat and a special occasion which meant we were willing to put up with a little pain in exchange for deliciousness.

Caffe Mocha with Coconut Milk @ Esquires Coffee
13 West St., Drogheda, Co. Louth, Ireland
Photo: Brewji

Let's start with the Caffe Mocha. First, it was honestly the biggest cup of coffee I've ever been served in a cafe. I'd say it was probably a 20oz mug, a proper pint. The frothy foam lead into a beautiful warm, sweet caffeinated home of coconut milk and oh-so-glorious chocolate.

It was served at a perfectly drinkable temperature, and was not overly-sweet or bitter. I'd give this a perfect ten, reminiscing about the mocha I had at the East Cafe back in Vancouver. The main difference was that in Esquires there's no extra charge for non-dairy milk, and the size of the coffee was twice as big while the price is comparable.

Toblerone Almond Cake (Gluten-Free) @ Esquires Coffee
13 West St., Drogheda, Co. Louth, Ireland
Photo: Brewji

Now, the gluten-free cake...Toblerone Almond Cake. I don't think I've ever imagined something like this being created. I'm almost at a loss for words. Layered like a deep dish pizza, the bottom is a crumb-like crust. The middle of the cake is layered like a lasagna, with crust in between sheets of a chocolate-y, nutty paste. Finally, the cake is topped off with what seems like melted Toblerone chocolate and crushed almonds. It's mouth-watering and absolutely delicious. If they ever have it again, I'm probably getting another slice for myself (it was worth the pain!).

Tammy and I both enjoyed ourselves here, and the quality of the products and service solidifies that we'll be back. It's our new favourite coffee shop, because Insomnia messed up our drinks twice and we've only been there twice. That, and we can't quite visit East Cafe back in Vancouver anymore.

I give Esquires Coffee a gluten-free-with-coconut-milk-in-heaven 9.5 / 10
Tammy gives Esquires Coffee a solid 9.0 / 10

Orchard Thieves Cider (Brewji Ireland!)

Since landing in Ireland, I've had many new challenges and opportunities as I begin to adjust to the lifestyle here. There will be posts about everything from groceries to Gluten-Free and dairy-free products, to cider and drinks and coffee.

I've yet to obtain a laptop adapter (should arrive in the mail in a few days!) so I'm writing this on my Nexus 5 smartphone.

That said, today I've gone for a new cider that was recommended to me by a former coworker at Clio, when she visited Vancouver from their Dublin office. I picked up a 660mL bottle of Orchard Thieves Cider (ABV 4.5%) while grocery shopping at Tesco! (Yes, you can buy liquor at grocery stores here.) Oh, and on the plus side it's gluten free, as it should be.

Anyway, let's get to the review!

Orchard Thieves Cider @Brewji Ireland HQ
Donacarney, Co. Meath
Photo: Brewji

The Orchard Thieves pours a clear golden colour, with an initial amount of golden-white head that fizzles away very quickly.

On sniff, I get semi-sweet and tart apple. Essentially, it smells like a proper, crisp and dry cider.

Orchard Thieves Cider @ Brewji Ireland
Donacarney, Co. Meath
Photo: Brewji

Taste is sweet, but not overly sweet in an artificial sense. It doesn't feel like one of the many BC “dry and crisp” craft ciders which were neither very dry nor very crisp.

However, as Tammy pointed out to me: If you let this cider warm up a bit, the taste disappears and you're left with remnants of a warm apple juice-like beverage.

If you're new to ciders, this might be a gateway. It's light-bodied and mellow at 4.5% ABV.

I'm not sure if this is available in BC, but I've sent a WhatsApp message to my crew and recommended it in case they see it. If you do spot this at the BCL or private liquor stores, pick one up!

The Orchard Thieves Cider gets a refreshing-and-harmless 7.0 / 10

Gluten-Free Epicurean & Matchstick Coffee

What are some of the best combos in the world? You've got peanut butter and chocolate, chicken nuggets and gravy, Sho-Ryu-Ken, whiskey and a glass, Tammy and myself...the list goes on.

Adding another epic combo to the list, Tammy and I traveled to the Gluten-Free Epicurean with one of our good friends, Becca! She seems to know the ins and outs of this city, and has some of the best recommendations for food and drink.

The GF Epicurean is a bakery that's completely gluten-free and serves up hot and cold baked goods. They also have a selection of take-and-bake essentials such as pizza shells, bagels, and cookies. But, what did it all taste like?

Before I can answer that question, let me tell you that while they don't serve coffee themselves, there is coffee available. A couple of doors down is a place called Matchstick. The two spots allow customers to bring coffee into the GF Epicurean, or bring baked goods into Matchstick. I love the collaboration and community feel going on in this hood! It's one of the few things I feel like I'm going to miss about Vancouver.

Matchstick Coffee + Cinnamon Bun + Peanut Butter Chocolate Brownie
@ Gluten-Free Epicurean, Vancouver BC
Photo: Totally Tammy

Down to the details -- I ordered a Peanut Butter + Chocolate Brownie, and Tammy got a Glazed Cinnamon Bun. Both were completely gluten-free, and I believe both were dairy-free as well. I'll be honest, I didn't get a taste of the cinnamon bun, although I'm sure she offered me a taste at some point. But, the brownie was incredible. The icing on top was creamy, sweet, and peanut-buttery. The brownie didn't taste much different from a normal glutinous brownie. It was rich, chewy, and took me to a whole new world for a little bit.

What about the coffee? Matchstick has a few pour-over coffees available, and I'm not quite sure which one I got now that I think about it. However, mine had more of an apple and fruit undertone to it, while Tammy's was a bit more complex flavour-wise. We both thoroughly enjoyed our coffees, and would definitely return. The pour-over wasn't quite as caffeinated as Revolver, but we got bigger cups with more coffee, and it tasted just as good. Plus, it wasn't priced at $5-6 a cup like Revolver, but rather a more modest $3-4.

I haven't tried any of the teas at Matchstick, but Becca did get some tea at the GF Epicurean (where we ultimately decided to chill out). Tammy also had a slice of gluten-free, dairy-free pizza, which was made with a cashew-based cheese. I didn't have a bite, because I can't digest some of the veggies that were on it. She swears it was delicious, and still talks about it even though it's been about a week since we've been there. That's a sign that they do a damn good pizza.

Would we come back? Absolutely.

But, I'll be in Ireland with Tammy within a week, so it'll have to wait until next time! We just wanted to get the word out there -- you gotta try these places! They both get Brewji's stamp of approval for sure.


I give the Gluten-Free Epicurean + Matchstick Coffee a should've-got-a-brownie-to-go 9.5 / 10

Tammy gives the Gluten-Free Epicurean + Matchstick Coffee a can-you-open-in-Dublin-please 9.0 / 10

Sante Gluten-Free Cafe - in Victoria!

I'm back in Victoria this weekend with Tammy to finish off one of my Provincial Instructor Diploma courses. It just happens to coincide with the royal visit - you know, those fancy people from England.

Well, class ended early one of the days. Tammy and I decided we wanted to grab some gluten-free cake and a coffee, as we've had such troubles with gluten lately. My crohn's has been especially affected, and her gut (undiagnosed, thanks to BC rejecting her 3 times for MSP) has been bothering her as well.

Google and Zomato both pointed to Sante Gluten-Free Cafe, on Quadra Street. With pretty good reviews, and a selection of non-dairy milks for coffee, we decided to take the 30 minute hike from our hotel for some warm, caffeinated goodness.

When we got there, we found a variety of baked goods in the glass cabinet, as well as a freezer full of goodies in the back. There's no shortage of options, that's for sure.

Tammy ordered an almond milk latte, and I ordered a coconut milk Mocha. We also got cupcakes; I got a chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting, and Tammy got a carrot cake cupcake with frosting. Keep in mind, all this is gluten-free.

Carrot Cake Cupcake and Chocolate Cupcake (Gluten-Free) @ Sante Gluten-Free Cafe
Victoria, BC
Photo: Brewji

Since this is my birthday weekend, Tammy treated me. However, the total before tip came to just under $18! That's about 2 hours of work if you earn minimum wage. Not only that, but the card machine buttons stopped working when it asked for a tip. That should have been our first clue.

We sat at a table by the window, and started eating our cupcakes while we waited for our drinks to be made. My chocolate cupcake had crunchy bits in it, sort of like rock candy or crystallized sugar chunks. I'm not sure if that's intentional, but I wanted Tammy to taste it to see what she thought.

I went to give Tammy a bite. However, she noticed a problem with the cupcake. It was a bit of a hair-y situation (see picture). It wasn't the only hair in the cupcake. This makes me wonder -- more than one hair means they're not using hair nets, which leads me to believe that they're probably not following FoodSafe protocols. With a gut as sensitive as mine or Tammy's, this doesn't fare well - especially with the price point. (As I type this, my stomach is turning. I'm trying to wash out the taste and calm my stomach with a Tim Horton's steeped tea.)

Bit of a hairy situation (hard to capture with a phone camera)
Photo: Brewji

I'm using my Nexus 5 camera, so it's not the greatest. But click the image and you'll see one of the few hairs that was entwined in my cupcake.

To be frank, they were polite and apologetic, and got another cupcake for me. Hair-free, thankfully. I'm not the type of person to send food back, as I've worked in a restaurant and seen some things I'd rather not. But with multiple hairs in one cupcake, we were both kind of put off. Tammy's cupcake was pretty decent, but nothing special.

Onto their drinks, which were probably in 10oz mugs. Tammy's almond milk latte was okay for the first sip with some almond milk and foam, but the espresso left a bitter and burnt aftertaste. She said the taste was so bad, she's currently washing it down with Tim Horton's coffee as I type this.

For $4.50, you can get a cup of burnt espresso too.
Photo: TotallyTammy

As for my coconut milk mocha...she didn't put anything sweet into it. It was essentially the same burnt-tasting espresso as Tammy's, with a little bit of coconut milk in it. I honestly don't mind the taste of the espresso as much, seeing as my craft beer tastes span to include burnt coffee stouts and such. However, a mocha is definitely supposed to have a sweet characteristic to it. To be blunt, I didn't get what I ordered, and I wasn't about to go up to the counter and ask them to fix this either.

As Tammy said to me "If it's going to be priced higher than Starbucks, it better taste better than Starbucks". Well, first they better make the right drink.

I don't mean to be rude, but if my wife is paying $18 + tip for 2 coffees and 2 cupcakes, I'd expect to get what we ordered, without the added hairs. I get the hair wasn't intentional, but if they intentionally refuse to follow food safety protocols, then it's their fault for sure.

If you have money to blow, and you're celiac or have a gluten intolerance, then by all means take your chances and pray you don't get sick.

In fact, here's my first Pros and Cons list I'm going to make about a place:


PROS:

• Gluten-free baked goods variety
• Non-dairy milk selection for drinks includes Soy, Almond, and Coconut
• Staff are decently polite
• "Free" Wi-Fi

CONS:

• Baked goods may include natural, hairy additives
• Drinks may not have all the ingredients you thought
• Your wallet will hurt
• Your stomach will probably hurt, too
• The toilet doesn't flush properly (I have Crohn's! And they're lucky it was just pee!)
• Credit/Debit card machine doesn't work properly (it won't let you tip, not that you'd want to)
• The Wi-Fi is password protected, and the password isn't given

Overall, I'd describe my experience here as a bad decision, and a learning experience.

We're washing this away with Tim Hortons. Let that sink in for a minute.

Tammy gives Sante Gluten-Free Cafe a 1.0 / 10 because their carrot cake cupcake wasn't awful.

I give the Sante Gluten-Free Cafe a recommendation-to-use-a-hair-net-and-make-my-drink-right-instead 0.0 / 10 -- never coming back. I'd rather wipe my ass with an owl, thank you very much.

DISCLAIMER: ** I understand this is a small, locally-owned business that works hard to make sure they have local, organic ingredients. However, we work hard for our money, too. We pay the premium for these ingredients and we obviously ran into an unfortunate situation. It doesn't change our opinion, and I want to make sure others are aware of this as well. Hopefully they see this and start wearing hair-nets and enforcing FoodSafe protocols. **

Hillside Coffee & Tea in Victoria

Well, since I'm enrolled in the Provincial Instructor Diploma Program (PIDP) at Vancouver Community College, it means I have to take one of my courses in-person. To get this done as soon as possible, I took the offering that's in Victoria for a couple of weekends this month.

Tammy came along with me for last weekend, and we decided to stop at one of the well-reviewed cafes near our AirBnB. We stayed near Hillside Shopping Centre, and decided to pop into Hillside Coffee & Tea before leaving for the ferry.

It's got a hipster-y, small-town cafe feel when you enter. It definitely wasn't empty either. We went closer to the end of the day, and it was still really busy. That's usually a good sign. They have options for Almond and Soy milk, but their prices were a bit outrageous. That, and our barista / service person was quite cold and rude -- contrary to the amazing and friendly people we encountered in Victoria.

Imagine ordering a Venti drink at Starbucks...maybe $5? That's the price of most drinks here. An iced coffee is about $4. That, and their baked goods are about $3.50 to $4 per piece. I mean, sure they've got bite-sized morsels of food for $2.50, but that's not enough for a snack.

Carrot Cake, Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte, and Iced Coffee
@ Hillside Coffee and Tea, Victoria, BC
Photo: Brewji

Tammy and I got a slice of carrot cake, and a drink each. I got an iced Pumpkin Spice Latte (because I can, so sue me). Tammy got a plain iced coffee (black). The total? About $13.40.

The Pumpkin Spice Latte was made with almond milk, and on the first few sips it tasted absolutely delicious. I don't know how or why, but after about 1/4 of the glass, it tasted like I was drinking plain soy milk. It tasted like that until the end...so I wasn't too enthused.

Tammy's iced coffee tasted like we went to Timmy's, bought a black coffee and chilled it in the fridge for a few hours. It wasn't really anything great.

The saving grace was in the carrot cake. The cake was moist, the frosting was delicious, and I could definitely see myself spending another $4 on this if I went to a cafe somewhere.

Either way...we probably won't be back. Sorry, but $13 is a lot for unfortunate service and mediocre drinks. Maybe a tea would've been better?

Hillside Coffee & Tea gets an I-wish-the-coffee-was-as-good-as-the-cake 3.0 / 10

East Cafe: VanCity's Hidden Gem.

Hey all! It's been awhile. My excuse? I've been sick. Really sick.

Since I went on hiatus, I'd developed both a gluten and beer intolerance. It turns out my Crohn's Disease had just flared up throughout my entire digestive tract, causing increasing resistance to food and drink of all types. I still do have lactose-intolerance; that is without a doubt (just sniff the air around me).

In other news, I'm married! YES, I married my dream Irish girl, Tammy :) and she has her own blog on hiatus, too.

I've been put on Prednisone, which means my stomach has become a bottomless pit, and I'm able to tolerate a lot more food now! I just have to stay away from alcohol during my treatment, and I should be on the road to recovery. Here's to some good luck in my future.

---

Besides all that, Tammy and I paid a visit to the East Cafe, near Nanaimo and Hastings in Vancouver. We used to live about 3-4 blocks from this place, and I'd sometimes wake up before Tammy and sneak out in the morning, only to return to her with a mocha or latte of some sort to wake her up with.

They also have the BEST freshly-baked muffins I've ever tasted. They come out of the oven when the cafe opens, and just watching them spoon them out of the tray like they're homemade makes my heart melt. My personal favourite? The chocolate chip muffin. Tammy always goes blueberry (can't blame her).

Mocha, made with coconut milk @ East Cafe
Vancouver, B.C. #nofilter

Tammy and I got their Mocha, mine with coconut milk and Tammy's with almond milk. This was the creamiest, smoothest, and most delicious mocha I've had in years. The espresso fluidly passed through the dark-but-not-too-dark chocolate and coconut milk combination.

I also got a maple-walnut muffin, and Tam got a blueberry...but those were eaten so fast we didn't get a picture. The cozy, warm and friendly atmosphere of this place reminds me of a Central Perk from Friends. We love to sit on the couch near the back. The staff are great as well!

A side note: Our visit back to the area was followed by a venture to Tacofino, where we inadvertently got sick after eating. No fault of their own, I'm assuming. Probably our digestive tracts screaming "THIS IS SPARTAAA" in sync.

In the end, if you ever have the privilege of being in this area, hit up this coffee shop! They are right on the corner of Nanaimo and Hastings. They also sell local jams, preserves, baked goods, and more. Much better than Starbucks. I wonder if they'll ever introduce a pumpkin spice latte?

I give the East Cafe a wish-this-was-my-local-again 10 / 10
Tammy gives the East Cafe a 10 / 10

Spud Shack - Round Two

My first time at Spud Shack was back in August 2014; I got the royal chance to be invited to Spud Shack Fry Co. in Downtown New Westminster. Dan, the head chef / owner / master poutine-guy, allowed me to sample some of the best items on his menu. I had the Effin' Good Burger, the Night Market Poutine, and some great craft beers in a food + beer pairing post.

A couple of weeks ago, I visited Spud Shack with some co-workers and got a few snapshots of our poutines before we wolfed them down.

My co-worker Robyn got the Night Market Poutine (as per my "skilled" recommendation). She said she loves Kimchi, and probably stopped listening after I mentioned it. As far as I can tell, it looks just as delicious as it did in 2014.

Night Market Poutine @ Spud Shack Fry Co.
New Westminster, BC
Photo: Brewji

As for myself, I got the Butter Chicken Poutine. Now, I've had the version from New York Fries, which I was moderately impressed with, and on the same level sickened with. However, this medium at Spud Shack had my foodie-senses tingling. I could smell the sauce, and the presentation was just beautiful.

Butter Chicken Poutine @ Spud Shack Fry Co.
New Westminster, BC
Photo: Brewji

On first bite, I'm immediately struck with a *real* butter chicken sauce. This seems like it was actually made from scratch. Heck, it's better than half the Indian restaurants' butter chicken sauces in the city! It's got such a rich, vibrant taste, with an albeit humble appearance. Dan, you rocked it again.

I give Spud Shack Fry Co. a poutine-revolution 9.0 / 10

Bump 'n' Grind Cafe

During this never-ending search for the best cup of coffee in Vancouver, we stumbled upon a little cafe tucked into the wall near Commercial Drive and Venables Street. After already making ourselves a pot of Kicking Horse in the morning, we shuffled our way up the drive and turned into this little slice of caffeine.

Menu and atmosphere @ Bump 'n' Grind Cafe
Vancouver, BC
Photo: Brewji, Totally Tammy

On entry, the place seemed cozy and comforting. It was lightly populated with what appeared to be students "working hard" on their laptops, along with a family with children. Not to mention some sensual smells of brain-boosting caffeine.


They had a decent selection of baked goods and edibles, but it seemed a little pricey so Tammy and I just opted for some coffee.

Baked Goods @ Bump 'n' Grind Cafe
Vancouver, BC
Photo: Brewji, Totally Tammy

Of course, we decided to drink our coffee black to see what it actually tastes like. It smelled delicious, as our barista ground the beans fresh for each cup.

When sipping this roasted, scalding concoction, many flavours flashed into the front of my mind. There were fruity notes, and nutty undertones with some acidic flavours. Best of all, this was a coffee with many characteristics but it all just worked together and simply tasted amazing!

My Coffee! @ Bump 'n' Grind Cafe
Vancouver, BC
Photo: Brewji, Totally Tammy

As the coffee cooled down, its flavours grew slightly more prominent. This is one of the many gems in our city!

I give the Bump 'n' Grind cafe a will-slow-dance-for-coffee 9.5 / 10

Tammy gives the Bump 'n' Grind cafe a next-time-I'll-try-the-peanut-butter-cups 9.0 / 10

The Cannibal Cafe

Ever since I discovered that ground beef, cheese, and toppings could be eaten between two pieces of bread (since forever), I've been on the hunt for the best burger in Vancouver.

I've had my fair share of burgers, ranging from Romer's to Steamworks (yes, their lamb burger is amazing), to Stackhouse, and Relish. I've also been to the main burger chains, like Red Robin, A&W, White Spot...you name it -- I've been there.

Then, one glorious day I decided to take Tammy out to The Cannibal Cafe (1818 Commercial Drive). We'd heard good things about the place, enough to entice us into the burger joint and give their menu a try. Keep in mind, the first time we were here I wasn't prepared to take photos. I just wanted my damn burger.

We were very impressed the first time around! I had the Kowabunga burger. This burger was grilled to perfection. First off, the patty is made from three different cuts of beef. The combination makes for a meaty, juicy patty with so much flavour! It had provolone cheese, marinara sauce, and I can't remember what else, but it was perfection in between burger buns. The only downfall is I didn't get a picture of this beauty.

So, I brought my best friend Mike and his girl Megs along with myself and Tammy for Mike's birthday. We both tried to order the Kowabunga (just a few weeks after I first had it), and they DISCONTINUED IT!! Now, I'm not complaining, but guys, please, bring back the Kowabunga!

Instead, I ordered the "Bacon Bad". Yes, it's a play on the show Breaking Bad, and I'd hoped that the burger would live up to the name. Oh dear lord, did it ever.

Bacon Bad @ The Cannibal Cafe
1818 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, BC
Photo: Brewji

This bad boy had everything you'd ever want on a burger. It had a solid patty (not sure how many ounces), but the patty is stuffed with bacon and cheddar!! On top of that, it had a serious helping of applewood-smoked bacon, a generous slice of Canadian cheddar, maple bacon bourbon jam, and roasted garlic mayo. On top of that, your usual lettuce, onion, tomato, and pickle.

If you're not drooling after the picture and the description, maybe the slightly-darker-than-golden battered onion rings will tickle your fancy. They're crispy and golden on the outside, topped with Parmesan cheese, and served with a delicious smoky red pepper mayo.

Bacon Bad + Onion Rings @ The Cannibal Cafe
1818 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, BC
Photo: Brewji

On first bite, the burger is exactly what you'd imagine. It's like biting into all the little things that make up taste-bud-heaven. There's bacon, there's beef, there's cheddar, there's more bacon, there's the roasted garlic mayo, then bacon-bourbon jam, and oh yeah -- more bacon! It's like they invented someone's "last meal" and put it in between two buns. The onion rings make an awesome sidekick to this powerhouse.

If you love burgers, you'll love The Cannibal Cafe.


Bonus: BRUNCH!

Tammy and I were so happy with the burgers and our beers, that we decided to come back for Brunch! Unfortunately, the effects of alcohol and hunger and all other things made sure that I only got a poor-quality snapshot of the brunch we ate.

Hungry Man Breakfast + Caesar @ The Cannibal Cafe
1818 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, BC
Photo: Brewji

For a mere $9.95, we each got the Hungry Man Breakfast. It consists of 3 Eggs any style (we like them over-medium), fresh made hashbrowns, sausage, applewood-smoked bacon (the same as on the Bacon Bad), tomato, onion, mushrooms, and a biscuit.

Tammy also got a Caesar. I don't drink that stuff (yuck!), but if you do, she says they're great. She also wants to point out that they ask you what type of alcohol you'd like in your Caesar. Apparently they don't normally do that at places. She's happy about that!


Tammy gives The Cannibal Cafe a bring-back-the-Kowabunga 9.0 / 10

I give The Cannibal Cafe a jaw-dropping-full-mouth-of-drool 10 / 10

Gingerhead Gingerbread Stout by Central City

Well, I've officially broken in the new year with a new beer! I know, I've been hesitant to get back on the brew-wagon since that epic New Year's Eve.

Either way, Tammy and I picked up the Gingerhead Gingerbread Stout (ABV 6.0%) by Central City Brewing. It's classified as an Irish Dry Stout, but we'll see what my Irish girl and I think of this. Most beers I've had from Central City have been pretty spot-on, if not spectacular. I've mentioned before that I used to frequent their brew pub in Surrey when I was an SFU student. However, their food has become more "high-class" and their prices have reflected that (as of my last few visits...their nachos used to be killer!).

Gingerhead Gingerbread Stout by Central City Brewing
@Brewji HQ
Photo: Brewji, Totally Tammy

The stout poured well, albeit with little to no head. I know I don't have the "proper glassware", but I was still expecting some. It appeared to have more carbonation than most other stouts.

It smelled mildly sweet, with barely a hint of toffee and/or caramel. However, this was just after being taken out of the fridge. As a rookie mistake, I forgot to let it sit for a few minutes to warm up and let the flavours come out.

Gingerhead Gingerbread Stout by Central City Brewing
@Brewji HQ
Photo: Brewji, Totally Tammy

After 10-15 minutes of letting it warm up, I could really taste a hint of gingerbread cookies! The first sip was robust yet sweet, with notes of oatmeal, ginger, and cocoa (or chocolate). This is seriously a hit! If they released this in six-pack bottles, we'd probably pick up a few for friends and family when they visit.

All that being said -- if you're not a stout person, give this a go. It's smooth, tasty, and definitely puts a winter-y twist on an Irish Dry Stout without losing its merit. If you don't like gingerbread cookies or stout, then chances are you should be looking at some of my other posts.


Tammy gives the Gingerhead Gingerbread Stout a forget-the-cookie-gimme-a-beer 8.5 / 10
I give the Gingerhead Gingerbread Stout a no-wonder-Ron-got-Hermoine 9.0 / 10

Jules Cafe (Burnaby's Hidden Diner)

Now, don't get me wrong, there are a few places in Burnaby (and the Greater Vancouver area) that do a mean breakfast. But, what we're missing is a place that's close to home, that feels like home, and that doesn't kick the crap out of your wallet.

Tammy and I made the 35 minute walk to Jules Cafe (5205 Rumble Street; near Rumble and Royal Oak) last weekend, and were we ever surprised! From the moment we walked in the door, it felt like a small town diner. It seemed that everyone there were regulars, and she knew right away that we weren't from there. I'm not sure if Jules is the older Asian lady behind the register, or if the place was named after someone, but everyone there was so courteous and made our experience feel like home.

Coffee with Soy Milk @ Jules Cafe
Burnaby, BC
Photo: Brewji, Totally Tammy

We started with a cup of coffee each. Since we're both lactose-intolerant, we asked if they had any non-dairy milks available. We weren't expecting anything, as they're a diner and not a specialty coffee house (especially after Fondway sucked it hard by claiming they only have "real milk"). The kind lady behind the counter had no problem with providing us with soy milk. She even asked us to sit and get comfortable, and she walked the coffees out to us.

What we didn't expect was they had different types of coffee available as well (and our coffees were good!). I didn't get a good look at where they source their coffee from, but it looks like its either fair-trade, or something unique. The best I could make out with my glasses on was they had a medium roast, dark roast, and there was at least a third option. We'll figure it out eventually.

Super Traditional Breakfast with Bacon @ Jules Cafe
Burnaby, BC
Photo: Brewji, Totally Tammy

Since we'd pretty much just hiked through part of Burnaby, we were starving. After taking a look at the menu, we decided to each get the Super Traditional Breakfast. For $8.00, you really can't go wrong. It comes with 3 Eggs (any style), your choice of either 3 Bacon Strips, 3 Sausages, or Ham, alongside Hashbrowns and Toast.

The quality of the food was better than we'd expected. For the price, this even destroys IHOP and Denny's, not to mention in quality of ingredients and the service we received.

Super Traditional Breakfast (2) @ Jules Cafe
Burnaby, BC
Photo: Brewji, Totally Tammy

We will definitely be back to either have more breakfast, or to do lunch. They serve burgers as well, and have a daily special from the chef.

Jules Cafe gets a cozy-comfortable-and-affordably-delicious 8.5 / 10

Dinesty (on Kingsway)

Apologies for the loss of the post!

Blogger *sucks* and lost my entire post! So, I've had to re-write EVERYTHING. /end rant

These last few weeks, I've begun to realize how much I love food. It's a double-edged sword, with the amount of digestive issues I put up with. That aside, I bring you to a new-ish location of Dinesty Dumpling House, which has their main location in Richmond, and another location in Vancouver.

Tammy and I decided to take a walk along Kingsway, and we found ourselves at Dinesty Dumpling House. We didn't wait long to be seated - maybe five minutes or so. This was during a busy lunch rush, so we were appreciative of that!

The service was quick and polite. We had our tea poured for us, and we decided to share three items. The first dish to come to our table (within five minutes of ordering!) was the Shanghai Fried Noodles. The noodles were perfectly cooked, tossed in a savoury seasoning sauce, with some stir fried vegetables. They were addicting, and the plate was cleaned up pretty quick! They were only $9.95, and a portion of these could satisfy (close to) my entire appetite if I was super hungry. Okay, maybe it would satisfy everything-but-dessert. Either way, decent portion for the price.

Shanghai Fried Noodles @ Dinesty Dumpling House
Burnaby, BC
Photo: Brewji, Totally Tammy

Next up, we received our Xiao Long Bao (XBL) soup buns. They were smaller than I was expecting, but they looked delicious. We decided to get the steamed chicken XBLs, as most people get the pork -- I wanted to make sure they could do chicken well too!

Steamed Chicken Xiao Long Bao (XBL) @ Dinesty Dumpling House
Burnaby, BC
Photo: Brewji, Totally Tammy

I'd eaten XBLs with chopsticks once before in my life. Using that previous "experience", I attempted to try and teach Tammy (with assistance of the guide in the menu), how to approach the XBLs. First step is to pinch the top of the buns with your chopsticks, and place the XBL in the soup spoon. Then, poke a hole into the XBL and drain the broth into the spoon. From there, enjoy the broth and then eat it! These dumplings were delicious. The broth was on point, and the filling was tasty as well. At a price of $7.50, I've been told it's steep, but it satisfied us both.

Pan-Fried Beef Dumplings @ Dinesty Dumpling House
Burnaby, BC
Photo: Brewji, Totally Tammy

Pictured above were the Pan-Fried Beef Dumplings. These guys were the star of the show! Golden, fried and crispy outside, filled with juicy beef and more pastry. Who doesn't love fried pockets of beefy goodness? We could have easily ordered a few more of these, but we were stuffed after the first two courses. Two of these babies cost a mere $4.25. 

Overall, a restaurant that can serve up tasty, sizeable portions at a price my wallet doesn't cry over, makes for a good review! The service was quite pleasant as well, which bumps this up on the rating scale.

Dinesty Dumpling House (on Kingsway) gets a so-good-it-needs-to-be-re-written 8.5 / 10

Fondway Cafe (Near Metrotown)

Well, we've been getting sick of all the coffee shops around Metrotown really sucking it big time lately.

There's a Waves near Patterson station - let's be honest, nobody likes Waves. There's a Starbucks every time I open my eyes, and a Tim Hortons around every corner. There are a few non-chain coffee shops around Metrotown, but they've all lacked a particular lustre, character, quality of product, or service.

With my cell phone in one hand, and Totally Tammy's hand in my other, we walked over to Fondway Cafe (4462 Beresford Street) and hoped for the best.

Fondway Cafe (Entrance)
Burnaby, BC
Photo: Brewji, Totally Tammy

We entered the cafe, and nobody else was in line, but it took about a full minute for the guy behind the counter to acknowledge us being present. Not kidding - he just stood there, knew we were standing there, and proceeded to ignore us.

He never greeted us, so we had to ask if we could place our order. So we're off to a grrreeeat start - they're not very courteous, nor do they have personalities. It was hard to find any passion for their products whatsoever. Trust me, if you go into EVR (East Van Roasters) in Vancouver, they know passion, because they love their product.

Caramel Nut Tart @ Fondway Cafe
Burnaby, BC
Photo: Brewji, Totally Tammy

One of our first questions was "Do you have any lactose-free or non-dairy milks for coffee/tea/lattes?" - The answer was "No, we only have real milk." Big time failure on their part. How do you open a non-chain coffee shop in the Greater Vancouver area and not understand that 90% of coffee shops (outside of Timmy Ho Ho's) carry at least Soy or Almond milk?

I don't mean to be "one of those" people, but both of us are lactose-intolerant. Actually, more than half of us are lactose-intolerant, but the dairy/meat/wheat industries run the food business...and that's another rant in itself.

Menu @ Fondway Cafe
Burnaby, BC
Photo: Brewji, Totally Tammy

If you're a rich, indecisive tea-drinker, this place might tickle your sack. They've got a wall of tea that looks pretty intimidating. Definitely not as friendly as David's TEA, but you might get that one weird tea you've been searching for. They've got printed details of each tea as well.

Tea Selection @ Fondway Cafe
Burnaby, BC
Photo: Brewji, Totally Tammy

Detailed Tea Description @ Fondway Cafe
Burnaby, BC
Photo: Brewji, Totally Tammy

The only real up-side to this place, is the decor. But even that looks like they bought it out of a "how-to-look-hipster-and-vintage-without-being-cool" catalogue. It just felt so...fake. So pretentious and "upper class".

Did you want a regular coffee? Sorry, you'll have to order pour-over or Americano only. Not only that, but it'll cost you upwards of $3 after tax (and tip, if you can afford it).

Well, my coffee fix usually involves hard, dark, and cold brews (just like my beer). I got a large cold brew, which wasn't very big. Tammy got a hot Americano, because they didn't serve regular coffee, and she didn't want to pay $5 for a pour-over. I also got a cookie, because I'm awesome (who doesn't like cookies?).

Overhead Hipster Foodie Shot  (Cold Brew, Americano, Cookie) @ Fondway Cafe
Burnaby, BC
Photo: Brewji, Totally Tammy

Cookie, Americano, Cold Brew @ Fondway Cafe
Burnaby, BC
Photo: Brewji, Totally Tammy

The cold brew was poured on tap with Nitrogen so it has a smooth, velvety stout-like mouth-feel to it. It wasn't very bitter, and there were some fruity undertones to the brew. It was quite nice, and had a nice caffeine punch to it. It wasn't quite strong enough for $5, but it did its job.

Tammy seemed to enjoy her Americano, but you can read more of what she thought here.

The cookie would have been better left as a Toonie. Tim Horton's makes better cookies, as does Subway. This felt like one of those stale, Blenz cookies that looks like it's suppose to be chocolate-y and chewy but falls short on every aspect of being a cookie.

I don't mean to tear these guys a new hole, but it shouldn't feel like I've been screwed in mine.

Fondway Cafe gets a stop-opening-these-fake-coffee-shops-with-these-new-condos 4.5 / 10

Saffron Indian Cuisine! -- Wait, isn't this food? Why am I reviewing food?

Yes, Brewji has to eat, too! So, why not show off all the delicious grub while I'm at it? I already have my Zomato Profile.

Since Zomato doesn't make it easy to link your blog posts to their reviews (I still can't get my blog linked after hours of effort), I'm going to post it all here! Besides, what goes better with beer than food (or more beer?), right?

To kick off the year, I started with my post on Russell Brewing's holiday brew package. Now, I'm going to show you what my city has to offer! By "My city", I mean the Greater Vancouver area.

Tammy and I were at Saffron Indian Cuisine near Metrotown on New Year's Day. It was one of the only places open, and we finally decided we didn't want a grease-fuelled hangover cure (for dinner).

Before we got our appetizers or our mains, we were treated to some complimentary Papadum (chickpea flour cracker). I thought every table got some, but it turns out we were special :)

Papadum (Complimentary)
Saffron Indian Cuisine, Burnaby, BC
Photo: Brewji

We opted for an order of Vegetable Pakoras to start.

Vegetable Pakoras with Tamarind Chutney
Saffron Indian Cuisine, Burnaby, BC
Photo: Brewji

Then, our mains -- a Thali, each. What's a "Thali"? I dunno, but it sure is a ton of food!

Thali (Regular) - There is a vegetarian option as well
Saffron Indian Cuisine
Photo: Brewji

Tammy's Thali is pictured above.
Here's a breakdown of what it contains:

• Butter Chicken
• Lamb Curry
• Daal Curry
• Chicken Tikka (just a couple of pieces)
• Rice
• Naan
• Dessert (Kheer - Rice Pudding, or Gulab Jamun - like an Indian "Timbit" with sugar syrup)
• Salad (what am I, a rabbit?)

The Butter Chicken is your standard Indian restaurant butter chicken, taken to the next level. It's one of the better ones I've had in Vancouver, and I believe it's Tammy's favourite.

The Lamb Curry was my distinct favourite. The Lamb was perfectly cooked, and it melded in with the spices and created a flavour that my palette didn't know existed. I'm pretty sure I would destroy this if it was ever in the buffet. Who needs rice when you have a spoon?

The Daal Curry was good, but the Lamb Curry stole the show for me. Daal is a mung bean curry, cooked with spices. It's definitely a staple if you're going to have a variety of dishes and aren't sure what to go with.

Oh, and the Chicken Tikka was delicious. You get the spices, which envelop the savoury juicy chicken pieces, and that little tiny bit of char to remind you of the home-cooked feel.

Tammy's Kheer? She loved it. She was stuffed full and still demolished it.

My Gulab Jamun? I didn't get a chance to take a picture...more like "What Gulab Jamun?"

The rice was on point (as you'd expect), and the Naan was soft, fluffy, and so, so useful in eating my Lamb Curry.

I didn't touch my salad. I don't like salads. Mainly because with Crohn's, digesting anything raw that has tons of fibre will hurt like hell (plus, I'm mildly allergic to some raw, uncooked veggies like raw bell peppers and stuff, so I'm not risking it).

---

The Veggie Pakoras were $5.95

The Thalis were $18.95 each

We definitely got our money's worth.

Overall, I'd give Saffron Indian Cuisine a flavourful-and-repeatable 8.5 / 10

Tammy gives Saffron Indian Cuisine a let's-try-more-types-of-curry! 8.5 / 10

A Russell Holiday Experience (late, but awesome.)

Just before the Christmas holidays, the Russell Beer Genie stopped by my apartment and granted us a wish for beer with some amazing creations! I promised him (and Russell Brewing) that this would kick-start the blog back into action!

What exactly did I receive? Check out this sweet picture -- I received 3 bomber bottles and a six-pack of Russell's Angry Scotch Ale! I took my time enjoying them, as there were other spirits which induced inebriation over the holidays. Either way, it's a new year with new posts! I've got a new job, which allows me the free time to actually have a life, and enjoy it too!

Below, you'll find the Punch Bowl IPA (6.5% ABV; 65 IBU), the Farm Fresh IPA (6.5% ABV), and the Timbertrain Coffee Stout (6.5% ABV; 50 IBU). I've previously reviewed the Wee Angry Scotch Ale.

A Wee Angry Scotch Ale, Punch Bowl IPA, Farm Fresh IPA, & Timbertrain Coffee Stout
 by Russell Brewing, @ Brewji Home
Photo: Brewji

The last few weeks have been tough, being the household (and general family) tech support guy, not having a computer that "works". Likewise, there's a bandage solution that allows me to post this!

Let's kick it off with the one I was most eager to try - the Timbertrain Coffee Stout (6.5% ABV; 50 IBU). As many of you already know, coffee stouts get me wet with excitement (salivary glands, obviously...). This stout smells like it's a dark ale (maybe a Rickard's Dark?) infused with coffee. On taste, you get a more medium-bodied mouthfeel with a roasted cocoa malt in the middle taste, which stands out the most. It's a bit more robust and a little less full-bodied than a "stout", but it still ranks as one of my favourite beers from Russell. Great collaboration on this one!

I give the Timbertrain Coffee Stout a two-heads-are-better-than-one 9.5 / 10
Tammy gives the Timbertrain Coffee Stout a those-must-be-some-magic-beans 9.0 / 10

Next up, we have the Punch Bowl IPA (6.5% ABV; 65 IBU). Now, Tammy isn't necessarily the biggest fan of IPAs, but I've had my phase of "my beer is cooler than yours because I can hold my bitterness gag reflex". IPAs are definitely a category I won't let go of, but it takes a good IPA to wow me. The Punch Bowl sets off notes of citrus and particularly grapefruit in the scent. On first taste, I got orange notes, followed by some sweetness and then the tartness of the grapefruit and bitterness of the hops kicked in. It's like the fruit medley of IPAs. I'd probably pound a pint at my local taproom.

I give the Punch Bowl IPA a not-my-type-but-totally-do-able 7.0 / 10
Tammy gives the Punch Bowl IPA a surprisingly-impressed 6.0 / 10

Finally, to end the magic wishes granted by the Russell Beer Genie, we switch over to the Farm Fresh IPA (6.5% ABV). Now, judging by the smell, it's your standard IPA with a little citrus and a little hops. On first taste, however, it feels like a mix between a Berliner Weisse and an IPA. I know, it sounds kind of weird, but maybe that's where the Farm Fresh terminology comes in. It initially reminded me of the Thirsty Farmer Saison from Granville Island, but then it tasted like someone poured that directly into a hoppy Northwest Pale Ale. Not quite my glass of ale, but I can see the flavour combinations and the intention behind the brew. I commend that.

I give the Farm Fresh IPA an honest thanks-but-I'll-stick-to-the-stout 4.0 / 10.
Tammy didn't get a chance to try this one...she wasn't home!