10 New Tasters @ Alibi Room

What better way to wipe the Green Leaf taste out of our mouths than to head to one of Vancouver's best watering holes? Hell yeah, Tammy and I took a trip (right after Green Leaf) down to the Alibi Room for some proper brews.

When we arrived, we had a very knowledgeable and happy server named Nadja. We originally ordered a taster flight that included the 2014 batch of the Thor's Hammer Barleywine from Central City Brewing (Red Racer), but since they were out of it, she brought us each a "sampler" taster to see what our fourth tasting cup would be. Do I ever say no to a free craft beer? Well, usually not.

Enough with the introductions! Let's get started on the brew reviews. Keep in mind, I only have pictures of 8 out of the 10 brews. I got a little excited and missed 2 of them. My bad.

Here is 1 to 4:

Yellow Dog - Coconut Smoked Porter
Brassneck - Passive Aggressive Pale Ale
Howe Sound - Total Eclipse of the Hops
Powell Street - Sour Saison (in place of Thor's Hammer)
@ Alibi Room
Photo: Brewji

1. Yellow Dog Brewing Co. - "Shake A Paw" Coconut Smoked Porter (ABV ?)
Okay, let me just say that I have been excited to try anything from Yellow Dog Brewing because they're pretty much the first craft brewery that's opened up in Port Moody. I used to live about a 10 minute drive from there, and I took Tammy to Rocky Point Park about a week ago (which is right near Yellow Dog).

The smell of this porter wasn't very strong, but there was some vanilla notes in it. I could hardly smell any roasted cocoa or malts...quite scent-less. On taste, it was like a watered down Guinness. I hate to be blunt, but after drinking Green Leaf, I was in the mood for a really good brew. A full-bodied smoky coconut-y stout was on my mind, and it just wasn't there. There was no coconut flavour, hardly any smoke to speak of, and in fact maybe had a little vanilla in there.

What I've learned through tasting classes at Purdys and Xoxolat, is that vanilla is used to cover "things gone wrong" in creation processes of chocolate and beer. Perhaps vanilla was used as a cover-up? If not, it wasn't an advertised taste, and there definitely wasn't any coconut. Not necessarily complaining, just curious.

I'm a huge porter and stout fan, and it just didn't do the trick for me. So sorry, Yellow Dog, maybe next time.

I give the "Shake A Paw" Coconut Smoked Porter an at-least-it's-better-than-GreenLeaf 6 / 10
Tammy gives the "Shake A Paw" Coconut Smoked Porter a 6 / 10


2. Brassneck - Passive Aggressive Pale Ale (ABV 7.0%)
Tammy and I have been to Brassneck in person, and we've both tried the Passive Aggressive Pale Ale, but damn did we ever need a real beer on our taster flight. Our wonderful server Nadja told us that the owner of Brassneck is also the owner of the Alibi Room! Well that makes sense, good beer at both locations, right?

The brew smells of hops with a little backfire of malts. It's an epic smelling pale ale, because you can smell the punch of hops but there is something more to it. On first sip, you get the initial roll-up of the hops, but instead of an IPA follow-through, you get a malt-y suede finish. It definitely deserves the name of Passive Aggressive, as its taste is just as such.

Finally, a beer that rocks my taste buds! It had been a long day of not-so-great tasters, and I think we just found our first great brew of the day.


I give the Passive Aggressive Pale Ale an slightly-super-delicious 9 / 10
Tammy gives the Passive Aggressive Pale Ale an 8.5 / 10


3. Howe Sound Brewing - Total Eclipse of the Hops (ABV 8%; 90 IBU)
This is Tam's first brew from Howe Sound Brewing, so I let her take the lead on this brew. She can smell the hops on scent, and describes it as floral, and it's probably going to be bitter.

On taste, she describes the floral notes of the hops, and then it leads to a bitter punch. But it's very flavourful and full-bodied, which is delicious. It lingers with a bitter after taste. The taste notes flow from floral hops to toffee to a bitter caramel-like flavour.

Tammy gives the Total Eclipse of the Hops an 8 / 10
I give the Total Eclipse of the Hops an I-agree-with-you-honey 8 / 10


4. Powell Street Brewing - Sour Saison (ABV 6.5%)
Well, you can kind of see it in the picture, but this brew pours a hazy amber-like colour. It has a light and flowing tea, grass, and maybe citrus on the nose? I don't know, it's sort of complicated to explain. It smells incredibly new and interesting to me through. Sours aren't my area of experience, but this just smells delicious.

On taste, you get tart fruits, a little lemon, and roasted malt. It is absolutely delicious. It's pretty much a flavour bomb with tart fruits. Definitely worth it, and highly recommended! Best beer of the night so far. Thank you Powell Street Brewing! It's too bad you guys are only open until 8 or 9pm during the week, because you're only a 15 minute bus ride away from home! I'd love to pop by and do some tasters with Tammy.

I give the Sour Saison an uniquely-flavour-packed 9 / 10
Tammy gives the Sour Saison a 9 / 10


-- The next picture contains the Yellow Dog Porter again, I'll skip as it has been reviewed above --

Yellow Dog Brewing - Shake A Paw Coconut Smoked Porter
Barkerville Brewing - Sternwheeler Scotch Ale
Steel and Oak - Oatmeal Stout
Bomber Brewing vs. Stone Brewing - Blood From a Stone Red Rye IPA (in place of Thor's Hammer)
@ Alibi Room
Photo: Brewji

5. Barkerville Brewing - Sternwheeler Scotch Ale (ABV 6.9%)
I've had Scotch Ales kind of spoiled for me, with Russell Brewing's version of a scotch ale. However, let's see what Quesnel, BC can produce! Barkerville's Sternwheeler is something to look forward to. On sniff it's got toasted malts and caramel notes. It's your standard "what-you'd-expect" smell from a scotch ale.

On taste, it's got a caramel and slight cocoa malt note, with a rustic sweetness to it. What does that mean? I don't know, those are the exact notes I made about the brew. Tammy compares this to the Salty Scot ale from Parallel 49, but without the salt-y notes, and a bit of a hard liquor note to it. Overall, it's decent, but not quite my type of brew.

I give the Sternwheeler Scotch Ale a good-for-a-change-up 7.5 / 10
Tammy gives the Sternwheeler Scotch Ale a 7 / 10


6. Steel and Oak - Oatmeal Stout (ABV 5.8%)
Everything I've ever had from Steel and Oak has been above average, so I didn't even feel the need to write a review for this one. However, I am a particularly picky porter person, and I won't let it just slide.

On sniff, I get standard cocoa smells, and some malts, but nothing really sweet that you'd get in most oatmeal stouts. I'm not saying I'd like it to be like other oatmeal stouts, but something smells rancid in the brew. On taste, I get exactly what I smell, but there is something sweet in there. It's rancid, but it's slightly sweet, and kind of complex. It's not the good kind of complex though. You can't break down the taste, and it tastes just a little off.

Tammy mentions something I didn't notice, that there's no middle taste. The porter has no body to it. That's a sad day, when a good brewery makes a porter / stout that lacks body. I'm sorry Steel and Oak, but maybe it's just a bad batch?

I give the Oatmeal Stout a maybe-next-time 6 / 10
Tammy gives the Oatmeal Stout 6 / 10


7. Bomber Brewing vs. Stone Brewing - Blood From a Stone Red Rye IPA (ABV 6.8%; 60 IBU)
Damn, the headline is almost as long as the review for this brew. Long story short, Bomber Brewing and Stone Brewing got together for a collaboration on a Red Rye IPA, and they named it Blood From a Stone.

You get some mild hops on smell, and some caramel notes as well. On first sip you get the hops combined with a dry caramel-like flavour. It has a lingering bitterness, but it's not too heavy. It's got a medium to lighter dry finish on it. A solid brew!

I give the Blood From a Stone Red Rye IPA an I-can-be-quite-wordy-too-ya-know 8 / 10
Tammy gives the Blood From a Stone Red Rye IPA an 8 / 10


8. Ninkasi Brewing - Transcendentale (ABV 5%; Not pictured, sorry!)
Tammy decided on the Ninkasi Transcendentale as her next brew, and damn, she hasn't been this excited since she met me! Hahaha, seriously though, she absolutely loves this brew. She didn't really smell it first, just kind of took a sip.

"It's like a HUG IN A GLASS!", she exclaims.

After taking a sip myself, it's pretty much what she said. It really is a warm, fuzzy hug in a glass! It combines floral notes, with sweet and citrus-y notes. It almost tastes like it has cinnamon hearts in the brew. Sounds a little weird, but it is absolutely delicious! Tammy said it best.

Tammy gives the Transcendentale a hug-in-a-glass 10 / 10
I give the Transcendentale a warm-and-fuzzy 9.5 / 10


9. Moon Under Water Brewing - Maxminer Altbier (ABV 5.4%; Not pictured, sorry!)
My next brew of choice was the Maxminer Altbier from Moon Brewing. If you've been reading my blog for awhile, you'll know that I always reference the Crooked Coast Altbier and the Vancouver Craft Beer Week 2013 collaboration brew when I reference Altbiers. They are just so flow-y and extremely well built on the west coast.

Caramel and hops on the nose. It's light, bread-y, and a bit nutty. It's not too complex on taste, but it does the job. I'm sorry that it doesn't compare to the crooked coast, but it's still quite solid. It all flows together like it should, but there's nothing special about it.

I give the Maxminer Altbier a cute-but-nothing-special 8 / 10
Tammy gives the Maxminer Altbier an 8 / 10


-- Got a picture of #10...read why... --

Storm Brewing - SSSOURRRR Flanders Red Ale
@ Alibi Room
Photo: Brewji

10. Storm Brewing - SSSOURRRR Flanders Red Ale (ABV 14%)
Good God, I don't even understand why I ordered this thing. I thought it was making me look like more of a man or something? We all make stupid decisions when we drink.

This has got to be the strongest "beer" I've ever ordered. It smells like cherry wine. It tastes like a carbonated cherry wine, but not in a good way (does wine ever have a good way? No.). My word for word notes on this beer:
- "Strong as F***"
- "Like a cherry wine with mild beer carbonation"
- "Vinegar wine with a hint of fruit before it turns sour"
- "Worse than a 4 year old bottle of open wine that tastes like you're drinking balsamic vinegar" - Tammy

DON'T. Just don't. Please, good god. Storm Brewing, I've had your stouts before, and they're delicious...but what were you thinking? Ugh.

I give the SSSOURRRR Flanders Red Ale a glass-full-of-regret 1 / 10
Tammy gives the SSSOURRRR Flanders Red Ale just-because-it-is-alcohol a 0.5 / 10

--

Well, I hope you found something you might like!

Cheers!

311 Helles Lager from Coal Harbour Brewing

I was feeling a little stressed from work, and wanted something that wouldn't taste like Green Leaf (they're the new butt end of my former Molson jokes), but still go down smooth. Seeing as most North American econo-lagers are tasteless and bleak, I decided to set my sights on the Coal Harbour Brewing - 311 Helles Lager (ABV 5%). In my past experiences, I've had Helles Lagers and they've been quite reasonable. So, what better choice than a new brewery I haven't explored, and something that might actually taste good?

I took a quick picture of the can, because taking a picture of the beer after it was poured into a glass just wasn't on my mind that day. I can tell you though that it appears a thin, golden yellow straw colour. It looks like every other watered down brew, and that's why I wasn't so excited to show a picture of it. However, one thing I've learned is to not judge a brew by its colour.

Coal Harbour Brewing Company - 311 Helles Lager
Photo: Brewji

On scent, I get hints of a little hops, that are slightly floral. Yes, a hops scent in a Helles Lager. Maybe some malt too? Not too sure, but it's quite pale so it could be anything.

The first sip reveals a thin, smooth, low carbonated, easy drinking beer. However, it's still got enough flavour to make me want another sip. This is pretty much exactly what I needed on that day. It's a solid, affordable Helles Lager, that isn't going to break your bank. It's sold chilled in an 8-pack for around $15. Overall, it's your choice whether you want a boring econo-lager, or this one for the same price.

I give the 311 Helles Lager a stress-relieving 8.0 / 10
Tammy gives the 311 Helles Lager a 7.0 / 10

Stanley Park Brewing - Ice Breaker Launch Party!

What do ya know? I was invited to the Stanley Park Brewing launch party for their Ice Breaker (5.5% ABV; 20 IBU) Winter Ale!

The night started off great, as I was greeted by Neesha and the gang at the door. I got to join a few SPB staff at their table, along with my girlfriend. There were a couple of "ice breaker" activities such as Bingo, and getting our picture taken in the Instagram cut-out. There was even a live-carved ice sculpture beer luge! Todd Fowler, the Brew Master poured an inaugural first pour down the luge and into people's glasses.

Todd Fowler, Brewmaster -- Celebrating with an inaugural "First Pour" into a lucky man's glass.
Stanley Park Brewing - Ice Breaker Launch Party @ The London Pub
Photo: Brewji

What was the brew like? Well, you can see I'm still in a happy mood. The brew starts off with a roasted malt-y cocoa, with a hint of sweetness like a maraschino cherry was dipped in dark chocolate. Now, I'm not plugging anyone here, but since my woman and I both hold seasonal positions at a ...local chocolatier... we were immediately reminded of their Cordial Cherries! Overall though, as Todd said best, it brings back memories of black forest cake. The finish leaves a nice, not too bitter (although I kind of wish it was) after-taste.

My first glass of the SPB Ice Breaker Winter Ale!
@ The London Pub
Photo: Brewji

The low carbonation and low bitterness make it a not-too-heavy but still drinkable brew. They say it's brewed in a porter-style, but it's nothing as heavy as any other porter I've tried. It's a nice change-up to the macro-brewed winters like the GIB and Whistler ales, seeing as they focus more on vanilla and caramel-based ales.

Overall, I'd say this is definitely a more-than-drinkable seasonal brew. I quite like the direction the brewery is headed, and I'd pick this up at the liquor store over most other competition. There's a picture below of the label, in case you want pick some up. They sent me home with a couple of brews, and one is in the picture.

Stanley Park Brewing "Ice Breaker" Winter Ale
Photo: Brewji

This isn't a plug for the beer or the brewery, but go and break the ice with someone special...if you know what I mean.

I give the SPB Ice Breaker a double-enrobed-cherry-in-dark-chocolate 8.5 / 10
Tammy gives the SPB Ice Breaker an 8 / 10

GreenLeaf Brewing - Taster Flight

I decided to take my girlfriend to Lonsdale Market on Saturday, seeing as she's from Ireland and she's never actually been there before. We were downtown, and all of a sudden I was feeling soup from SoupMeister (good God, best soups in Vancouver!). We had a delicious Coconut Chicken Curry soup each, and then walked around the market. All in good fun, we saw that Green Leaf Brewing had its own brewery and tasting area.

What better way to close off a trip to Lonsdale Market? With some craft beer, of course...or so I thought.

Green Leaf Brewing Co.
North Vancouver, BC
Photo: Brewji

We stepped up to the counter, got a tiny free sample of their 20L infusion of a Pineapple Pale Ale, which by my standards, was worthy of a "Let's get a full taster paddle each, dear." 

We ended up getting 4 pre-selected brews for our taster paddle. You can see their names in the picture. Let's review the four below (left to right):

Taster Flight @ Green Leaf Brewing Co.
North Vancouver, BC
Photo: Brewji

1. Hefe in Hiding (ABV / IBU: ?)

Let's dive right into this one. After the Pineapple Pale Ale that we sampled, I was pretty excited to get into this brew. On first sniff, I could smell hints of sweetness like caramel, and couldn't really detect any wheat ale scents. I guess that's why they would call it Hefe in Hiding.

On first taste, I get a little bit of caramel, like a watered down sweet pale ale. The straw like grass flavour of the wheat ale came in on the aftertaste. It wasn't very exciting at all. It sort of tasted like your average pale ale, with an average wheat ale tail end taste...but watered down. Not bad, but I'm hoping the next two will measure up a little better.

I give the Hefe in Hiding a mediocre-but-I've-had-better 6.5 / 10. 

My Irish woman (let's call her Tam) gives this a 6 / 10.

2. Lloyd's Lager (ABV 4.8%; 28 IBU)

Tam and I took a sniff of this one, and we kind of just looked at each other with blank stares. "I've never had an alcoholic beverage that I couldn't smell before," she said. I couldn't smell anything either. On first sip, it tasted like a watered down Molson Lager, except with no taste. There is a slight pilsner-like after taste, but nothing worthy of being called taste. 

The Molson 67 (oh yeah, I'm going there) had more flavour than this beer. I'm sorry, but 28 IBU is an over-inflated number. In Tam's words, she describes it best as "Dirty water". This isn't worth the purchase. Money shouldn't have to be exchanged for this. I'm sorry, but this is right down there with the bottom of the barrel. Moving on!

I give the Lloyd's Lager a dude-even-Molson-67-was-better 1.5 / 10

Tam gives the Lloyd's Lager a 1.0 / 10

3. Pie Hole Pale Ale (ABV 6.2%; 40 IBU)

Finally, something with some colour! Maybe I'll shut my pie hole if I drank this. Well, then it better be drinkable! Right now, the Green Leaf brand and Brewing Co. has itself in the dog house. 

I smell real notes of hops in this at first. There seems to be a slight hint of citrus in the scent as well. I go in for the first sip, with some good front and middle tastes. This appears to be okay at first, but then the end taste and after taste kick in. The end taste is a watered down pale-ale-meets-wet-dog taste. The after taste is pretty rancid. I'm not sure if this tourist hub leaves a good impression on the tourists as to what Vancouver's Craft Beer scene is all about.

Tam agrees, that the second (and further sips) get more difficult as we keep going. They start to taste like dirty water, only with more flavour.

I give the Pie Hole Pale Ale a you-got-the-flavour-wrong-and-I-want-real-beer 3.0 / 10

Tam gives the Pie Hole Pale Ale a 1.5 / 10.

Let's just say, this isn't the best impression I've left on her for our Craft Beer scene. It's a good thing I've given her 100 other craft beers in the last 2 months to make up for this!

4. Wyld Ryed Ryepa (yes, this is how they spell it, it bugs the crap out of me too) (ABV 6.2%; 80 IBU)

Okay, this HAD to be their saving grace. If anything, I was ready to walk out of here without finishing my brews. I've never left a brew behind, but I was actually thinking about it here.

The first sniff of this IPA revealed a malt-y Belgian Yeast, and not much else. I could barely smell any west coast flare to it. Barely any citrus as I recall on the sniff. 

On first sip, I'm confused. This tastes nothing like an IPA. This isn't a West Coast IPA, and this isn't an English Style IPA. This isn't even bitter. They call this a "Sessionable" IPA, but let's get started on the breakdown of what this really tastes like.

This "IPA" was described as "dry, and light-bodied". Let me give it to you straight. It had a rancid "OH GOD WHY DID I DO THAT" after-taste, and their lager had more body than this brew. I'm sorry, but this beer is offensive to my taste buds. I think my exact words to Tam were "This tastes more like a marshmallow cloud than an IPA."

I give the Wyld Ryed Ryepa a wrong-beer-wrong-category-wrong-wrong-grumpy-cat-wrong 0.5 / 10

Tam was a little bit more generous and she gives the Wyld Ryed Ryepa a 2.0 / 10

Sorry, Green Leaf, but you've started off on the wrong foot. I'm just your average Craft Beer appreciator, with about 2000 beers under my belt, and this has officially been the bottom of the taster paddle barrel for me. Maybe there's hope one day. If you decide to make the Pineapple Pale Ale a permanent addition to your line-up, I might be back. Aside from that, please brew better beer.

Don't worry everyone, I took Tam to the Alibi Room right afterwards and we had some solid brews (that post is coming next week!).

Cheers!

Windstorm Pale Ale by Stanley Park Brewing

Well, I'm back after a 3 month Brewji hiatus. I had to sort out things like how I'd pay the bills with a new job and all that jazz. In the meantime, I've sampled 100s of craft beers, and boy, do I have quite the line-up for you folks. I'd like to start my first with one of the brews I received courtesy of a kind courier (who didn't drink the beer like the last one did!). I received the Windstorm Pale Ale (5.7% ABV) from Stanley Park Brewing. 

Stanley Park Brewing - Windstorm Pale Ale
Photo: Brewji

It's got a solid-looking green coloured can, with the SPB logo. But what's this attached to the can? It's a tree! Do you remember the great windstorm of 2007 that wreaked havoc in Stanley Park? This brew has been created to commemorate the efforts of the rebuilding of Stanley Park.

Enough about the packaging and extras...let's get to the brew itself!

It pours a golden orange copper, with a little bit of lacing along the top. The scents I picked up were hops, pine, and a little hint of citrus. It's got the right characteristics of an American-style Pale Ale. On first sip, it's stronger than its scents. It has a mild sharpness to it, with a bit of orange peel, bread-y malt, and has a little floral hops to it as well.

Stanley Park Brewing - Windstorm Pale Ale
Photo: Brewji

Overall, the flavours swing well together and create a well-rounded few sips. The beer itself, outside of the Stanley Park rebuilding effort, is worth a go. If you see this in the liquor store, grab a couple of cans and support the rebuilding effort while enjoying a drink or two! It's a solid pale ale that meets the expectations, with a little extra flavour.

The Stanley Park Brewing Windstorm Pale Ale gets a rebuilding-my-blog-posts 8.0 / 10

Beer and Food Tasting / Pairing @ Spud Shack!

You know that moment in your life when you get to one of your favourite restaurants and they treat you like royalty? Oh, well I do now!

I normally don't blog about food. Why? Because I'd look like a disgusting pig if I did. However, this food post has to do with Beer + Food Pairings. So sit tight, drool, and then go get some food + brews this weekend.

I had a meeting to discuss a possible event in the near future, where we may pair the wonderful foods from Spud Shack (yes, different poutines, burgers, sandwiches, dipping sauces, etc.) with different *local* craft beers!

First off, I'd like to say that there is a poutine at Spud Shack that isn't on their menu yet (officially)! Want to try it? Ask for the "Night Market Poutine"!

What's on it? Well, from what I remember, it's Spud Shack's signature Belgian fries, with their house gravy and cheese curds to start. Loaded on top, is a mix of kimchi, spicy mayo (if I remember correctly?), ginger beef, green onions, and topped off with crispy wontons.

If you think Spud Shack just a poutine place, are you ever mistaken! I mean, all I ever really tried there was a few kinds of poutines (I'm a stick-to-my-favourites type of guy). However, as pictured, you can see the colossal "Effin' Good Burger" as the owner Dan called it. And that's exactly what it was.

Night Market Poutine; Effin' Good Burger @ Spud Shack Fry Co.
Bridge Brewing Hopilano IPA
Dead Frog The Classic Nut Brown Ale

The brew I had been given to pair the Night Market Poutine with, was from Bridge Brewing Company in North Vancouver. It's the Hopilano IPA (6% ABV; 59 IBU). On first sniff, the Hopilano brings a pine-y, malty, citrus note. A little more malty than hoppy for an IPA. On taste, the smells are confimed. Although I do agree that this would be a decent pairing for craft beer lovers, I also suggested perhaps an ISA to go along with the poutine.

The Hopilano IPA gets a solid, poutine-pairing-worthy 8.0 / 10


Next up, the EffinGood Burger (was it ever!). I was given the Dead Frog (from Aldergrove) Classic Nut Brown Ale (5% ABV; 20 IBU). If you've never had it, this should be your bar that you set for all other brown ales. The aroma is caramel-malt, with a touch of hops and nuttiness. The taste follows suit, with a little more of a cream-ale mouthfeel than most brown ales I've tasted. It's a good pairing, but I also suggested something along the lines of a dark ale (not quite a stout), or perhaps a coffee porter. Dan mentioned the Whistler "Valley Trail Chestnut Ale" goes well with it too, as it's a sweeter, nuttier winter ale. I completely agreed.

Unlike the Uber Nutter, the Dead Frog "The Classic" Nut Brown Ale gets a still-good 7.5 / 10

If you think you'd be interested in an Beer + Food Pairing event, tweet me @Brewji

4 Brew Tasters - "All-Star" Line-up

Hey all, I went back to visit my good friends at the Hop and Vine Neighbourhood Pub in Burnaby, and just needed to try something good. They've always got something I like, and something I've never tried. This time around, I decided to try 4 new tasters with a good friend of mine.

The brews will be reviewed from Left to Right (as pictured below).

Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales - Oro De Calabaza (8% ABV)
New Belgium - Spring Blonde Ale (6% ABV)
Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye IPA (6.6% ABV)
Phillips Bottle Rocket ISA (5% ABV)
@ Hop and Vine Neighbourhood Pub, Burnaby BC
Photo: Andrea

Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales - Oro De Calabaza (8% ABV)
The first one I tried was the Oro De Calabaza from Jolly Pumpkin. Before ordering it, I'd never even heard of Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales. Well, there's a good reason why. They're based out of Michigan, which is more than just a stone's throw away.

The smell is initially sort of sour, with little or no hops detected. I guess that's the best way to describe it, as there are definitely some tart fruit notes. I think I definitely pick up apples, sour cherries, and perhaps something citrus-y. Either way, this is something I never would have expected. It smells delicious!

On first sip, the first thing I noted before the taste was how light-bodied this brew is. The fact that it's 8% is masked so well by the flavouring. It stands out as a fruity ale to me, as there is so much packed punch in this beer, it's impossible to resist it. With every sip, the flavours become a little different and a little stronger, in a good way.

Overall, this brew is phenomenal. I had no idea a name like Jolly Pumpkin could carry such magnitude. Thank you guys, and if this is what the norm is for you guys, I can't wait to try more of your brews!

The Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales - Oro De Calabaza gets a taste-bud-ovation 9.0 / 10


New Belgium - Spring Blonde Ale (6% ABV)
Next on the list is a name I've heard again and again in the craft beer world. Everyone is going nuts over Fat Tire from New Belgium (which is actually quite delicious), but then you get the brand-loyal people (just think of any over-indulgent Apple worshipper). So I'm here to set the record straight. Did New Belgium really pull it off again this time?

This is a bit funny because I had to check the markings on the taster platter just to see what was what. The Spring Blonde Ale is almost the same colour as the Oro De Calabaza. But, onto the nose of the beer, notes of citrus and a standard blonde ale smell. Nothing too special yet.

On first sip, this brew puts up a small front of initial tartness, but continues with a smooth and delicious follow-through, topped off with a crisp finish. I think they've done it again. Albeit I do like their Fat Tire much better as it's a more heavier-bodied ale (two completely different brews). The blonde ale is actually quite good here.

If you're not a fan of darker beers, and you just got off work, pick up a pack of this and relax on the patio.

The New Belgium - Spring Blonde Ale gets a maybe-blondes-do-have-more-fun 8.5 / 10


Sierra Nevada - Ruthless Rye India Pale Ale (6.6% ABV)
Out comes the Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye IPA. Everything I've had from Sierra Nevada before has been quite good, so I had some solid expectations for this brew. Think it followed through?

The smell of this IPA brought me back to the reason why I love IPA brews so much. You know that Team America theme song (from the movie)? That's pretty much what was going through my head. I smelled earthiness and orange peel, with a hint of pine. I'm guessing the earthy smell was from the rye.

The initial taste reveals what the nose detected. However, I didn't get an overload of anything. I'm used to being steam-rolled with flavour in most IPA brews. Although it caught me by surprise, the lack of smack, I quite enjoyed it. The flavour notes were present, and the lingering after-taste was quite pleasant.

If you're a fan of craft beer, and want to get into a good IPA that won't scar you for life, this one's for you.

The Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye India Pale Ale gets a big-bark-without-the-bite 8.0 / 10


Phillips Brewing - Bottle Rocket India Session Ale (5% ABV)
Now, a turn from one of my favourite BC breweries. If you don't know what an India Session Ale is, you would have been in the same boat as me. In a nutshell, an ISA is essentially the "light" version of the IPA. It is supposed to still be flavourful, but with less of a punch. I'm not sure if this is a new trend, but I'm going to give it a go anyway.

The smell of this brew holds some citrus, and some pine, with a little bit of hops. It doesn't smell like it'll do any damage to me whatsoever.

On first sip, the notes of citrus and pine come across more, mildly flavoured with some bitterness of hops. It's a great mix of flavours, and a new style of brew to savour, that's for sure. There's not a lot to say about this brew. I've described the smell, the general taste (similar to the smell), and it's just a good, easy-drinking beer with real flavour to it.

If you want to step out of your econo-lager comfort zone, this is probably the way to go. I give this bonus points for being that transition beer that we can finally get all of our "Vitamin-P" drinking friends into.

I think the folks at Phillips Brewing did an excellent job hitting the target of the ISA. Whether I like it or not determines my score, though.

The Phillips Brewing - Bottle Rocket India Session Ale gets a we-could-drink-this-all-night 8.0 / 10

GIB - False Creek Raspberry Ale!

Now I know you're going to bug me about this one, seeing as GIB is owned by the big guns of the beer industry, but if you're a newbie to craft brews, this one's for you! Plus, I don't think I've ever reviewed this one before on Brewji :)

This is a little something different, if all you're used to drinking is "whatever's cold". Granville Island has sent me stuff in the past, but seeing as I can't get a hold of their PR people anymore (maybe it's because I like beer too much?), I decided to go out and order a pint of their False Creek Raspberry Ale (ABV 4.5%; IBU 11).

Those of you who've tried this brew before know damn well that it's a hit. There's a reason why they brew it year after year. It's not going to be at the top of the chain of summer beers like the Steamworks Raspberry Frambozen, or even along the lines of the Helles Lager from Central City Brewing, but this is a stepping stone into the world of discovering new brews.

Granville Island Brewing - False Creek Raspberry Ale
@ Boston Pizza, Coquitlam B.C.    Photo: Brewji

Aside from the picture, which was taken at a dimly lit Boston Pizza in Coquitlam, it pours a pink-ish copper hue. It sort of looks like someone squirted syrup in the beer. But don't worry, I don't think they did. It also pours well with a slight quarter inch of head.

It smells like raspberry mixed with a bit of different sweetness, perhaps honey? There's also a little bit of hops to the nose. On first sip, you get a bit of sweetness and slight tartness from the raspberry taste. It's nothing super special, but a definite splash of colour if you're using to drinking Canadian. On the end taste, you do get a slight linger of raspberry and a grain-y taste. It still tastes like an ale, which is great, because a lot of the fruit-y beers out there taste more like coolers.

Overall, this brew is a solid patio beer. It's a brew where I wouldn't mind splitting a pitcher with someone, on a hot summer day, outside on the patio. Right now as I look outside, it's raining in Rain-couver, but there's sun in the distant forecast.

In the end, grab these while they're still in season! If you've never had one before, it's a no-brainer. Easily a repeat-purchase brew, as it's consistently good and well-liked during the summer.

The GIB - False Creek Raspberry Ale gets an I'll-have-another 8.0 / 10

Double Brew Review from Big River!

So I went bowling the other night with a few friends, and what do ya know, they serve craft beer! I called Dibs on not driving (I made Mike do it), and got some serving staff down to our lane. I tried to order their stout, but apparently they had run out.

So I kind of gave them the "I love beer", and "What do you have, I'm thirsty" spiel. The server that we got said he usually works behind the bar, and his beer knowledge was impressive. I eventually told him I'm Brewji, and after ordering the River Pilot ESB (ABV 5.5%; 40 IBU) from Big River Brewing Co., he brought me a couple of tasters!

The tasters were impressive, so I decided to order something that wasn't on the menu yet -- the Shiva Session White IPA (ABV 5%; 64 IBU). What does that mean? That means a double brew review, on Brewji!

I apologize in advance for the quality of the pictures. It was "Cosmic Bowling" which means black-lights (that are actually blue-ish in hue). I tried to do a quick colour-correction job, but seeing as my dinky old iPhone 4 can't take pictures to save its rotten core (see what I did there, Apple?), I just work with what I got.

First up, the River Pilot ESB!

Big River Brewing Company - River Pilot ESB @ The Zone Bowling Centre, Coquitlam B.C.
Photo: Brewji

In reality, the Pilot ESB poured a beautiful glowing amber colour, copper-y if you will. It had a full half inch of head, and smelled like malt, toffee, and some floral hops. This is definitely one of those rich kind of beers that you like to savour before you sip.

On first taste, it was actually not so bitter. I expected more of a punch, but instead it was like watching a Sedin twin throw a body check (come on now, they're skilled, but none of them have ever thrown a solid body check in their careers).

Of course, the flavours were all there, delicious like the smell. There wasn't anything that stood out aside from what the nose brought it. However, the lack of oomph from the ESB might bring this down a notch. Otherwise, a delicious repeat for sure! A definite transition brew for anyone looking to step onto the ESB playing field.

The Big River Pilot ESB gets a two-pins-short-of-a-strike 8.0 / 10

__

Okay, so I was a little disgruntled that the ESB didn't pack enough of a punch, so then I ordered the Shiva Session White IPA (ABV 5%; 64 IBU). Now that I look it up, it's apparently made by "Fuggles &Warlock Craftworks" but brewed at Big River Brewing Co.

This was something to savour in a bowling alley. I've never in my life had the opportunity to do any sort of craft beer tasting while bowling before. This is a feat that I can always mention in games of Never-Have-I-Ever (you know, before the dirty stuff kicks in).

Back on topic, the brew poured a pale yellow-ish blonde colour, with a little bit of head. The nose is fresh, citrus-y, hoppy, and sort of like someone spilled a couple drops of Five Alive juice somewhere near me.

Fuggles & Warlock Craftworks - Shiva Session White IPA - Brewed at Big River Brewing Co.
@ The Zone Bowling Centre, Coquitlam B.C.  --  Photo: Brewji

The taste is very citrus-y and hoppy. Oh, and it finishes with a violent hop-rush. It's quite overly bitter near the end, but it's a solid brew. I don't think I'm enough of a hop-head to take this much citrus and hops all at once. However, I do get some Belgian yeast flavour...I think.

Overall, this brew is definitely for the hop-head out there who wants a little something different. I personally would recommend to try it once, but I can't see myself with a full pint any time soon. I'd definitely take it in a taster session though!

The Shiva Session White IPA gets a you're-not-ugly-you're-unique 7.5 / 10

Belle Royale Sour Cherry Wild Ale - Driftwood Brewery

This is a limited edition brew from the wonderful folks at Driftwood Brewery, in Victoria. They're famous for producing one of Canada's best IPA brews, called Fat Tug. However, this time they went a little sour...in a good way.

I got my hands on a 650mL bottle of the Belle Royale - Sour Cherry Wild Ale from Driftwood Brewery (8% ABV). I was so excited to dive into this one, because after trying such champion brews like Fat Tug, Crooked Coast, and Farmhand, I was tempted to see if they'd finally produced a beer I might not like, or if they continued their strength.

Keep in mind, this is a sour brew, and it's 8% ABV. This is probably going to hit like a slap in the face, but I'm down if it's from Driftwood.

Belle Royale Sour Cherry Wild Ale from Driftwood Brewery
@Brewji

On first pour, it's a deep, dark red colour while pouring, but settles into the glass looking like a dark ale. The aroma smells like cherry. Straight up big hits of cherry, but there are also sour notes looming among the cherry.

The taste is very sour -- it hit me harder than I thought it would. But it balanced out right away with just enough sweetness to balance the tart. It sort of tastes like one of those Sun Rype fruit leather things infused in a fruity dark ale, in a good way. There's a sweetness of fruits, perhaps not just cherries. There are some wood-like notes (maybe oak?) in it as well. However, it did have a slightly funky taste to it.

Does that make sense? Just be careful, it's a strong brew, so one glass will probably be good for sipping. Definitely not a "hey-look-at-how-fast-I-can-drink-this!" type of brew.

There's a moderate carbonation to the brew, and it's really a side-step to most beer produced by any major brewery in Canada. If you're new to taking a step away from an econo-lager, I'd recommend something else first. This might be too much for a newbie to handle. However, if you're really game, go for it!

I'm not sure if this is still available anywhere, but if you find it, go for it. It's a unique brew experience that any craft beer appreciator should enjoy.


The Belle Royale - Sour Cherry Wild Ale gets a sour-and-satisfying 8.5 / 10


P.S. I used the last table-spoon or so of my brew, and mixed it with Cherry Vanilla Ice Cream that I found in my freezer. It was incredible.

Stanley Park Brewing Wit

A couple of months ago, Stanley Park released their Wit beer, and I was going to receive a sample to review. However, their third-party courier service decided to brew-block me and it mysteriously "disappeared". However, thanks to the fine staff at SPB, they hand-delivered this beautiful package to my door! I'll start this review by thanking them for this.

Stanley Park Brewing Wit (Belgian Style Wheat Beer) @ Brewji

I've been looking forward to putting something up from Stanley Park Brewing, seeing as I really enjoyed their Amber, and their Pilsner is up to par as well. I received an entire 6-pack of the Stanley Park Brewing Wit (Belgian Style Wheat Beer) (5.0% ABV; 16 IBU). The first thing I want to point out is that they have a little neck-tie of a guide around a couple of the bottles in the package.

Stanley Park Brewing Wit (Belgian Style Wheat Beer) @ Brewji
"Witual" Label

It explains their "Witual" (witty!), whereby you pour in 2/3 of the beer as per usual, do a little swirl with what's left on the inside, and pour the rest in. I'm guessing that this is so you don't leave any ingredients left behind. Then again I was never a big fan of wheat beers, so perhaps I should do my research on that?

Nonetheless, I can happily say I followed their "Witual" to achieve the desired pour.

Stanley Park Brewing Wit (Belgian Style Wheat Beer) @ Brewji

On first sniff, I get mild yeast-y banana notes, and a hint of orange zest. I think I have to give them props on that, I haven't had such a distinct, polite nose in a long time. Diving in to the first sip, it starts with a mouth full of wheat-y yeast goodness, followed by a hit of banana (kind of like those dried banana chips), and just a slight touch of orange and spice at the end. This is one brew that follows through, from nose to taste.

Folks, this is my new summer beer! Until someone else can prove me wrong, this is a solid wheat ale. Remember when I didn't use to like them so much? This is a resounding reminder of when I got lured into wheat ales. Its flavour palette is complex, but not too much; it leaves just enough to dissect easily and distinguish the ingredients.

That, and the price point at BC Liquor Stores is $11.99 for 6. That's cheaper than most corn-water that a lot of people buy! So plain and simple, I highly recommend this brew. If you liked the White Bark from Driftwood, or even if your only Wheat Beer experience has been a Rickards White, you gotta give this one a go.

The Stanley Park Brewing Wit gets a cold-brew-on-a-sun-drenched-patio 9.0 / 10

Around the World - 6 Brew Taster @ Vancouver Craft Beer Market!

Another trip to Vancouver Craft Beer Market? I think so! With the limitless possibilities of delicious inebriation, there isn't a way I would hesitate to return here. The tasters are great, the selection is impeccable, and the staff are...easy on the eyes.

My buddy Mike and I returned for another set of tasters. The line up this time looked much more promising than last time, as you can see below:

Around the World 6-Brew Taster @ Vancouver Craft Beer Market
Brewji

"Around the World" 6-Brew Tasters @ Vancouver Craft Beer Market
Photo Credit: Mike

From LEFT to RIGHT:

Kroenenbourg 1664 (5.9% ABV)
Ah, this is a classic which I haven't had since my summer days in Ontario in 2011. I remember this being one of the smoothest Euro lagers at the time. It smells hay-like and grassy / bread-y. It's got an okay on the sniff test, and diving in for the sip, it's got a malty barley taste, with some grassy notes and surprisingly a little tartness. Is that a hint of lemon? I don't know, but it's not bad. I'd probably pick this one up at a bar by choice.

The Kroenenbourg 1664 gets a this-is-what-I-call-a-lager 7.5 / 10


North Coast PranQster Belgian Style Golden Ale (7.6% ABV)
Mmm, a Belgian-style ale on the menu! Not just that, but with a reputation from North Coast, you know we're talking delicious. A sniff reveals Belgian yeast, and a slightly sweet touch as well. On first sip, I get a bit of citrus with the yeast, some fruit, and some spice. Its bitterness is not too apparent, and it finishes clean. I really think this is a go-to brew. You can't even tell that it's 7.6%, it tastes about 6 at the most. Incredible job by North Coast once again!

The North Coast PranQster Belgian Style Golden Ale gets a you-could-get-my-number-with-this 9.5 / 10


North Coast Blue Star Wheat Ale (4.5% ABV)
I'm not normally a fan of the hefeweizen variety. I don't mean to be biased, but there's a definite reason why I bring Mike along, he's down for the wheat ales. The nose brings wheat and citrus, and on first sip, you get a crisp wheat-like taste with a hint of citrus. It's actually quite pleasant. What's this, North Coast making a style I normally don't like, into something more-than-palatable? I'm starting to love this brewery. This wheat ale is nearly flawless. But since I still can't get used to the mouth-feel of a wheat ale, it's not exactly flawless in my opinion.

The North Coast Blue Star Wheat Ale gets a wow-it-tastes-better-in-person 8.5 / 10


New Belgium Fat Tire Amber Ale (5.2% ABV)
I've already reviewed this one on a previous post, so I'm going to let Mike take the reigns for this one. He describes how it appears like a normal pale ale, smells like a normal pale ale (actually, there is a sweetness to it). He takes the first sip, and says he can taste a fruity subtlety among the malty ingredients. He thinks this beer is the best thing since sliced bread. Overall, he's not far off. This is one of the most delicious brews!

Mike gives the New Belgium Fat Tire Amber Ale a can-you-not-add-this-part 9.5 / 10


Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale (5% ABV)
On first sniff, there are roasted caramel notes, citrus, and a nutty smell which separates this pale ale from most. On first sip, it's pretty much what it smells like, but with a crisp finish. It's a bit hoppy, but definitely comes together in the end. A high-ranking pale ale that I would recommend to anyone looking for something new. I'd definitely order a full pint of this at a bar.

The Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale gets a solid-tasting 8.0 / 10


Sierra Nevada Pale Ale (5.6% ABV)
Last up for bat, we have the Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. With a reputation that Sierra Nevada holds, I'm hoping for some good suds. The nose is a citrus-y pine, with caramel and malt. It smells like something I would definitely order. Mike and I both noted grapefruit-like bitterness Citrus and pine come across in the taste, which is somewhat bitter and somewhat sweet, but delicious. Very crisp and clean finish. I think tonight has been the pale ale night! It makes up for the last round of tasters for sure.

The Sierra Nevada Pale Ale gets a that-name-sounds-familiar 8.5 / 10

6 Brew Review at Vancouver Craft Beer Market

Well well, we mark a big night with Brewji hitting a new record number of views! Thanks to all of you who either mistakenly landed on my Craft Beer review blog, or those of you who actually enjoy reading.

My buddy Mike and I decided to head down Vancouver Craft Beer Market, and see what their rotation of tasters was for the week. He doesn't really remember if he's ever "tried craft beer" before. So, what better place for a grand introduction?

On the menu tonight, aside from the cute German tourists sitting next to us who, for some reason didn't like beer (yet I got them to try and like a Maple Cream Ale), were:

"6 Pack Sampler / Around the World" Beer List @ Vancouver Craft Beer Market
Brewji, 2014

Now, I wasn't particularly excited to try ANY of these, mainly because the first three sounded like they would be awful. I'm not one to trust any "lager" or "pilsner" descriptions any more. To me, those words (unless they come from Europe, or I get proven wrong) mean bland or gross, overpriced corn-water.

But then they poured the glasses so nice for us, all 6 of them. So maybe they wouldn't be so bad. Well, take a look, and see what's what. From left to right in the glasses, are the menu items in order (top to bottom).

"6 Pack Sampler / Around the World" Beer Tasters @ Vancouver Craft Beer Market
Brewji, 2014

Skagit River Cold Beer Lager (ABV 3.5%) from Mount Vernon, WA

First on the list, the Skagit River Cold Beer Lager. What did I tell you about overpriced corn water? Well, this isn't really overpriced, per se, but it is definitely corn water. The colder it is, the smoother it will go down. Contrary to the menu description, I wanted more beer, but not this stuff. It's better than Canadian, but that doesn't say much. You know what? Now that I think about it, this doesn't taste right for a lager. **Takes a moment to look this up** So this is actually the "Cold Beer Pilsner" according to Skagit. I'm not the biggest North American Pilsner fan  Mike thought it was alright, but he seemed bored and uninterested. I think I yawned in agreement...next!

The Skagit River Cold Beer Lager (Pilsner!) gets a light, bland-but-still-drinkable 5.0 / 10

Steam Whistle Pilsner (ABV 5%) from Toronto, ON

Further into the list, the Steam Whistle Pilsner...not a fan. You know that "Vitamin P" cheap pilsner that comes in that green can? Yeah, the one with the t-shirts available at Walmart? You're probably better off buying that. After the first two, you won't be able to tell the difference. Not going to lie, other people like this stuff but I honestly don't care for the Steam Whistle Pilsner. This taster paddle seemed to be going downhill. Mike wasn't a big fan either; he was kind of turned off.

The Steam Whistle Pilsner gets an "I-don't-get-why-it's-so-popular" 3.5 / 10

Big Rock Grasshopper (ABV 5%) from Calgary, AB

Up next was another red flag, and I really didn't want to drink this. I smelled it and it smelled worse than the Steam Whistle. Was it? Oh yeah baby, oh yeah. This one got me talking to the German tourists, they gave me a sip of their G.I. Kitsilano Maple Cream Ale -- leagues better than the Big Rock Grasshopper. The description reads that I will taste some hops and citrus. There were hardly any hops, and no citrus. This is actually a wheat ale, and it tasted really skunky, making it even more gross. Sorry, Big Rock, but unless you pull it off with your Scottish Style Ale, I can't trust you with another brew. Maybe it was a bad keg?

The Big Rock Grasshopper gets a skunky-grasshopper's-behind 3.0 / 10

Hilliard's Chrome Satan (ABV 5.7%) from Seattle, WA

Finally, we get into the brews with some spunk. Hilliard's Chrome Satan -- that's just a bad-ass name on its own, isn't it? This had to have some merit to it. Fourth from the left, this hazy, copper-y coloured brew with an off-white frothy head smelled like a true ale. It had a floral aroma, where you can smell and distinguish that real ingredients were put into this brew. The taste, albeit not complicated, is well-rounded and flows smoothly. Easily my favourite beer of the night at this point. Mike seemed to quite like this as well. A brew with some flavour gets things going!

Hillard's Chrome Satan gets a finally-something-worth-drinking 8.0 / 10


Big Rock Scottish Style Heavy Ale (ABV 7%) from Calgary, AB
After shaking off three disappointments, and landing a good one, I'm ready for the next one. Oh crap, it's another Big Rock ale. The Scottish Style Heavy Ale better not make me feel like heaving up a heavy. I sniff just above the glass, cautious of the last Big Rock brew, and the German girls beside me giggle and watch intently (and almost curiously). The nose of this brew is malty, nutty, and slightly sweet. The smell better not deceive me, because people start looking at me funny at this point. The first sip is a big one, go big or go home right? I get a strong first taste of malt, followed by an overwhelmingly strong flavour rush, finishing off with a caramel note. This beer is delicious! Well done, Big Rock. I won't be ordering any more brews with insects in the name, nor any of your wheat ales, but this one is truly remarkable. Thank you. Mike also enjoyed this quite a lot.

The Big Rock Scottish Style Heavy Ale heavily redeems itself with a powerully-delicious 9.0 / 10


North Coast Red Seal (ABV 5.5%) from Fort Bragg, CA
Last on the list is the North Coast Red Seal ale. I've heard a few good things about this brew, as it was available for awhile on tap at the Hop and Vine Neighbourhood Pub in Burnaby. The brew looked a dark amber-orange colour, and the head didn't hold up for long at all (contrary to the photo). The aroma is like roasted caramel, but has a spicy tone to it as well. On taste, it's sort of hoppy, sort of fruity, and finishes with bitter caramel malt. That's the best I can do in terms of describing it. It's not too complex, but it's worth taking more sips to figure it out until it's all gone. Absolutely my favourite beer of the taster paddle. Mike agrees.

The North Coast Red Seal ale tops off the night with a save-your-best-for-last 9.5 / 10


So there you have it! I'm looking forward to another taster line-up! I'll definitely be back to Vancouver's Craft Beer Market.

Dead Frog's "Uber Nutter"

I was down at Hops the other day with my buddy Danny, and decided to try a new brew, in the hopes that it would be worthy of posting on the blog. Lately, things just haven't measured up -- I haven't had anything really motivating to make me want to write about it.

I looked at the draught list, and thought to myself "Had it, had it, had it, oh gross, Canadian", etc. Then, I came across the Uber Nutter Imperial Nut Brown Ale (9% ABV, 22 IBU) by Dead Frog Brewery. I had no idea at the time that it was 9% -- I just wanted to drink something that didn't taste like corn fountain pop (these econo-lager jokes never get old).

So my glass arrived, and I took a deep whiff, and it really didn't seem like too complex of a nose. I got malt, and it sort of smelled like a black death of malt, with some cocoa / nutty scent.

Uber Nutter Imperial Nut Brown Ale by Dead Frog Brewing @ Hops A Northwest Pub, New Westminster BC
Photo courtesy of Danny

The first sip was much different than I anticipated. It was overwhelmingly malty, as I expected more of a nutty palate, but it wasn't overwhelming to the point of disappointment. After that first sip, the taste really grew on me. The mouth-feel is textured almost like a stout, except it tastes like a burnt roasted nut ale. There isn't really much nutty flavour to it until the end-taste, but you can get a hint of dark cocoa-like espresso notes as well.

Overall, this is definitely worth a taste if you're into darker brews, or if you'd like to get into the "Imperial" side of things. This is quite an amazing tasting beer for 9%. However, I don't know if I'd jump for joy just by seeing it on a menu. Definitely on my recommended "must-try" list, but not something I'd rave too much about.

Food pairings? Gee, something to soak up that 9% ABV. How about a fresh cinnamon bun with delicious frosting? Yeah, I think that would actually go pretty well with this brew.

The Uber Nutter Imperial Nut Brown Ale gets an uberly-nutty 8.0 / 10

New Belgium's "Fat Tire" Amber Ale

Beer hipsters in the US have claimed for some time now that the Fat Tire Amber Ale (ABV 5.2%) from New Belgium Brewing is the coolest, best beer in the USA, and that I have to try it. Well, now that I see it's available in BC, I went out and bought some. It's apparently one of the most well-travelled brews in the states, and it's been well-received.

Time for your average beer appreciator (AKA Brewji) to take a sip and tell you what it's really like.

New Belgium Brewing "Fat Tire" Amber Ale @ Brewji

Here's a closer look at the label. Look for this at your local store!
New Belgium Brewing "Fat Tire" Amber Ale @ Brewji

On first sniff, the aroma reminded me of biscuits, sweet biscuits...not in a bad way. It had almost a bready-biscuit aroma, if I may. Biscuit and malt? I'm not quite sure, but definitely not a bad aroma.

So I went in for the first sip (note that I didn't snap a picture with the beer in a glass -- the first one I drank was straight out of the bottle), and was surprised at how well the flavours work together to make this a solid amber ale. The aroma of the biscuit-bread translates into a rustic, amber ale taste with a hint of sweetness and malt to brush all of the necessary taste buds on my palate.

Why was I surprised? Beer hipsters (AKA snobs) generally annoy me, and the fact that a lot of them recommended this beer to me made me have slightly lower-than-average expectations. However, New Belgium has done well with this one. I've had a couple of other brews from them as well, and have never been disappointed (yet).

Either way, take a good look at the label, and see if you can find this at your local liquor or beer store. It's definitely worth the pick-up. It stands out against most ambers on the market, and at $14 for a 6-pack (in Canada, beer is expensive), it's quite the steal.

So there you have it, the Fat Tire from New Belgium Brewing. I recommend this to newbies who are trying to transition out of the econo-lager phase and into ales. This, and the Blue Buck from Phillips are great transition-ers.

New Belgium Brewing's Fat Tire gets a surprisingly-not-so-hipster 8.5 / 10

Green Flash - BarleyWine!

Why go for a BarleyWine? Because I'm feeling festive. Do you need to be feeling festive to try a new barleywine? No, not really, but it helps influence my taste buds' decision to purchase a barleywine. Danny and I headed to our local watering hole at the Hop & Vine Tap House to celebrate the job I got a few months back (we haven't had time), and crack open a special bottle for a new brew review.

We decided on the Green Flash Brewing Co. BarleyWine (ABV 11%), because I wanted a good buzz with a little bit of beer, so I could order food and be ultra-satisfied. Now, I didn't order food to pair with the beer, because my stomach was feeling like salmon, but my taste buds wanted barleywine. So, I finished my beer first, and then proceeded to eat my grilled salmon burger (which was delicious).

Green Flash Brewing Co. BarleyWine @ Hop and Vine Tap House
Photo courtesy of Danny Yan

On first pour, it glows with a rich, reddish amber colour, and a lacy white head top. I sniffed this beer like some people sniff flowers (I unfortunately am allergic to pollen). I took in a lot of deep malty scents, and hops, and...that's about it. But not in a bad way, this brew smelled righteous, knowing ahead of time that something big was going to happen. It's like a referee calling a penalty shot in overtime, going in for the big sip was the shot, and the overall taste determined whether or not the deke attempt worked.

Taking the first sip, I expected a train wreck of malty hops. However, I was greeted by a strong, pleasant malty tone, followed by a nice transition into an intense malty flavour, and a crisp, clean after taste. I was so impressed by the after taste, the clean-ish feeling that I got, that it made me want more. This is finally a brew over 10% that will leave you wanting more! Imagine Datsyuk with a highlight reel goal on a breakaway...naturally you'd want more (so long as he's not scoring on your team).

The first, middle, and end tastes are phenomenal. There are no complaints, as everything flows together, while still leaving a memorable taste that would definitely make me want to order this again. If you (or your friends) are new to barleywines, this is a definite first step into the world of 10%+ beers.

Danny really liked the beer, and he gives it a very strong and reputable 9.2 / 10. Overall, I agree with his decision, but as I base my ratings on 0.5 increments, I might have to round up on this one.

The Green Flash Brewing Co. BarleyWine gets a phenomenal penalty-shot-goal-in-overtime 9.5 / 10