Postmark - Apple Cinnamon Pale Ale

Guess what? Postmark Brewing made a beer from one of my Twitter suggestions!

That, and life's been hectic since my last post. Switched jobs, and now I'm in school + working + craft beer tasting + spending time with my Irish princess. Life's good.

Right, onto this brew review:

I popped into Postmark with Tammy, and it was a LOT fancier than we anticipated. It's in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, and not in the most well-kempt area either. What we discovered was a collaboration between Belgard Kitchen, Vancouver Urban Winery, and Postmark Brewing.

It's Earls-like prices, in a way-higher-than-Earls class dining establishment. That, and they do growler fills straight from Postmark themselves! I met Tyler in the Growler station area, and he's going to be giving me two growlers full of beer for suggesting such an awesome beer (totally not bragging, hehe).

Postmark Brewing "Apple Cinnamon Pale Ale" @ Postmark Brewing, Vancouver BC
Photo: Brewji

The brew itself is a pale golden colour with a reddish hue. Tammy and I got a pint each. Sadly, each pint was $7.50 -- I'm lucky I'm getting some free or I wouldn't be back at those prices.

The ale smells like a homemade apple pie. You've got your scents of Granny Smith apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, and even something like a golden pie crust? Maybe it's just nostalgia. Full points for smell nonetheless.

On taste, it's half of what it smells like (up front), and a forward cinnamon flavour (in the middle). followed by a finish that consists of the first flavour, with a linger of hops. Not sure what kind of hops they used, but I quite like it!

I wish they didn't sell out so quickly, but it's their EXK (Experimental Keg) series. Be sure to follow @PostmarkBrewing on Instagram so you can have a chance at getting your suggestion made into a beer!

Overall, if this was available at a bar, and they called it the "Cinnamon Apple Pie Ale" - I'm sure everyone would at least try it once, if not in a pint glass, in a taster glass. Hell, I'd probably repeat it in my taster flights just to get something wacky, that I *know* will taste good.

Great job guys! Looking forward to more of the EXK series!

I give the Apple Cinnamon Pale Ale a Brewj-ified 8.0 / 10

Steamworks Frambozen Pricing!

Hey everyone! I popped by Steamworks on Wednesday night after work, seeing as the fireworks caused a zoo-like line-up at Waterfront Skytrain Station. As I sat down with Tammy and immediately ordered a pint of the delicious Steamworks Frambozen, I started to look at the menu.

The beer is delicious, don't get me wrong. I've reviewed it before (check it out here: Brewji - Steamworks Raspberry Frambozen ), and I would absolutely purchase one again. What I'm really confused about is the pricing. Take a look below:

Portion of the Steamworks Brewing Beer Menu @ Steamworks, Downtown Vancouver, BC
Photo: Brewji

You'd think that ordering a bigger glass of beer would cost either the *same* or *cheaper*, right? Well, if you're ordering at Steamworks, that bigger glass will (the case of the Frambozen) cost you more. If you take a look at the math below (trust me, I hate math, but if someone is screwing me over on my beer, I do care), you'll see that you're being charged extra per ounce of beer.

First off, we have the Oatmeal Stout. It costs relatively the same, but a pitcher will save you a ton! This is how selling beer should work.

Oatmeal Stout
10oz / $3.70 | You're paying 37 cents / ounce of beer.
18oz / $6.75 | You're paying 37.5 cents / ounce of beer
64oz / $17.25 | You're paying 27 cents / ounce of beer

I'm not bothered by this at all.

However, take a look at the beer I came here for: The Frambozen. Keep in mind, I'm not going to have just one!

Frambozen
10oz / $3.60 | You're paying 36 cents / ounce of beer
12oz / $4.95 | You're paying 41.3 cents / ounce of beer
16oz / $6.50 | You're paying 40.6 cents / ounce of beer

I regularly get together with groups of friends from work, let's say 10 people. I don't want to get all high-school math problem on you, but if we all ordered (let's keep it conservative) three 12oz sleeves of Frambozen, we would be paying $14.85 each person for 36oz of beer. That's an over-charge of almost $2 / person...which is $20/table. Think about that for a minute.

I don't mean to bring you guys down, but if I'm ordering more of your product, I'd think the prices should at least stay the *same*.

Let's just say, I'll be ordering my Frambozen in 10oz format from now on so my beer doesn't warm up + cost me more as I drink it. The "regulars" list (at the top) makes more sense for pricing...but let's not nickel and dime us, eh?

Here's the math for the remaining beers:

Gose / Pale Ale / Empress IPA / Lionsgate Lager / Pilsner / Killer Cucumber Ale

10oz / $3.60 | You're paying 36 cents / ounce of beer

18oz / $6.50 | You're paying 36 cents / ounce of beer

64oz / $16.75 | You're paying 26 cents / ounce of beer

White Angel IPA

10oz / $4.15 | You're paying 41.5 cents / ounce of beer

12oz / $4.95 | You're paying 41.3 cents / ounce of beer

18oz / $7.50 | You're paying 41.6 cents / ounce of beer

(Oatmeal Stout + Frambozen is up above!)

Gastown Saison
10oz / $3.60 | You're paying 36 cents / ounce of beer
16oz / $5.50 | You're paying 34.4 cents / ounce of beer

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So there you have it. To some people, this post might be irrelevant. To people like me, I don't like it when someone cheaps me out when I'm a paying customer. I'm going to order beer regardless; why charge me more for ordering more?

Thanks for reading, and here's a picture of that 16oz Frambozen that I really enjoyed. You can also see it on my Instagram, Brewji.

Cheers!

Main Street Brewing - Checkpoint Charlie

I've been on the search for my "Beer of Summer 2015" for awhile now, and I think I've finally nailed it down to a few. This summer is all about taking it easy, chilling on a patio, and not letting the stress of the world get to you.

I finally landed myself and Tammy at Main Street Brewing's tap room, at 261 E 7th Ave (near Main St. and Broadway) in Vancouver, B.C.

Reading up on the board, I saw Checkpoint Charlie Berliner Weisse (3.0% ABV; 10 IBU). Main Street making a Berliner Weisse? Sign me up!

Now, this isn't my first Berliner Weisse on this blog. I initially received and reviewed the Granville Island Brewing Pucker Meister Berliner Weisse (see it at http://brewji.blogspot.com/2013/09/gib-pucker-meister-berliner-weisse.html).

Back to this one; I initially had to get a taster, you know, just to prove that it's worth drinking. Nobody likes wasted beer. After that, well, I got a pint. And then another, and another (you get where this is going).

Checkpoint Charlie Berliner Weisse + Raspberry Syrup
@ Main Street Brewing Tap Room, Vancouver BC
Photo: Brewji

On first sniff, you get a light and crisp, floral lemon with some zest. It's very faint, and doesn't have too much of a scent.

On first sip, you get the same as the nose, but a bit of earth from the Aramis hops, and some lime on the tail end.

What's better? The lovely lady behind the counter offered me some raspberry syrup to go into the brew. I was a little put off at first...seeing as I'd never done this before. Guess what? It unlocked flavour elements I didn't know the brew had! It didn't taste like a cooler, but not like a Fruli either. It was distinctly sweeter, yet maintained a true drinkable quality in terms of still being a beer.

After one sip, it was clear to me. Checkpoint Charlie is it. This is my summer beer! In fact, at my next opportunity, I travelled an hour each way just to get my 1.9L growler filled up with the stuff and bring it home to surprise Tammy.

Overall, this is a brew you can sip slowly, a brew you can chug (if you really wanted to, but I wouldn't), or a beer you can fill in a growler and drink while you play video games at home. This is versatile, and absolutely delicious.

I give the Checkpoint Charlie a Berliner-Weisse-my-glass-empty? 9.5 / 10
Tammy gives the Checkpoint Charlie a 9.0 / 10

Hazelnut Brown Nectar - Rogue Brewing

Hey all! You guys ready for something new? I know it's in the middle of summer, but let's not forget to put down the hefe's, witbiers, saisons, lagers, and all the other summer guzzlers.

My good friend Spencer recently brought me a brew worthy of a review! He made sure I had a way to taste the Hazelnut Brown Nectar from Rogue Brewing Co (6.2% ABV).

Hazelnut Brown Nectar by Rogue Brewing @ Brewji Home
Photo: Brewji

I came home from work one day, opened up the fridge and decided to relax with a little nectar from the brewery. Popped the top on this beaut of a bottle, and it poured a bold, brown ale for me.

On first sniff, you get almost a hazelnut mixed with vanilla and roasted cocoa. There are small hints of malts but nothing overwhelming.

Hazelnut Brown Nectar by Rogue Brewing @ Brewji Home
Photo: Brewji

On taste, the vanilla powers over the hazelnut, while still retaining the nutty qualities. The cocoa lingers as an undertone and finishes with a slightly bitter malt-y flavour. It has a good transition in the flavours, and works its way back to square one.

If you're looking for something different this summer, check to see if any of your local liquor stores will still carry this charm around. Definitely worth the change-up on the patio if you're used to drinking hefeweizens.

Overall, it has characteristics of a good nut brown ale, with hints of vanilla and malty finish.

I give the Hazelnut Brown Nectar a this-can-be-a-summer-beer-too 8.0 / 10

Laurelwood Part 2 / 2 (I know, I know, LONG Overdue)

I know this post has been LONG Overdue...but I've been going through some "stuff" lately, but I have the best family, friends, co-workers, and girlfriend in the entire world :)

That aside, here's the long overdue post from the night of Laurelwood's launch party in Canada, along with my friends at BeerThirst! Better late than never, right?

Okay, so back on May 8th, I got to chill with the Laurelwood crew + BeerThirst crew and celebrate their launch into Canada!

Here are the other 4 beers that I promised:

Laurelwood Brewing (Part 2!) at the Hop and Vine Pub in Burnaby, BC
Photo: Brewji

5. Workhorse India Pale Ale (7.5% ABV; 80 IBU)

Like in the previous post, Laurelwood is known for their ability to brew and renew the IPA genre, while maintaining incredible results.

The workhorse is a grittier, hoppier, kick-in-the-mouth IPA compared to its counterpart in the Green Elephant. It's a true westcoast IPA, but kind of on steroids.

You get the pine, citrus-y grapefruit and orange peel, as well as a buttload of hops. There's a medium mouthfeel, and the bitterness lingers well into the next beer tasting.

Tammy isn't the biggest fan of IPA brews, as they're quite the acquired taste. However, I still think this stands up as a strong competitor in the class.

I give the Workhorse India Pale Ale an impress-your-friends-by-drinking-this 8.0 / 10
Tammy gives the Workhorse India Pale Ale a 6.5 / 10



6. Red Elephant IRA (6.8% ABV; 80 IBU)

Okay, don't get it twisted. IRA stands for India Red Ale...in this instance.

I had to ask, just to confirm, what I should be hoping for in this brew. Was it going to be hop-forward? Was it going to have a mix between hop and malt-powered tastes? Well, I'm about to find out.

On sniff, you get an array of everything from pine, citrus, to malts and sweetness. It seems like it's going to be a balanced beer. Not many breweries can pull that off.

Initially on taste, I get a medium-bodied malty tone, followed immediately by a transition into a pine-y, hoppy, IPA flavour, which is mellowed by some winter-ale caramel-like flavours. Maybe it's just me, but I feel like we have a beer with an identity crisis...but that isn't stopping me from giving it a few more tastes.

The lingering after-taste is more citrus-y pine. However they may have brewed this one, it had me reaching for more. It definitely doesn't taste like you're drinking 6.8% ABV, and I am almost certain it didn't taste like it was 80 IBU.

I give the Red Elephant IRA a deceptively-indecisive 8.5 / 10
Tammy gives the Red Elephant IRA a 7.5 / 10


7. Organic Portland Roast Espresso Stout (6.3% ABV; 34 IBU)

This is the brew I've been waiting for! To me, Espresso Stouts are like the bacon of the beer world. It's really hard to screw it up, but also equally difficult to produce a perfect brew.

On sniff, this brew has distinct notes of roasted coffee, some dark cherry hints, and a bit of smoke. It smells absolutely incredible. If you love coffee, and you love beer, you'll be on this faster than a cat on a laser pointer dot.

The taste? Imagine a maraschino cherry, covered in dark chocolate (the good quality kind). Then imagine your favourite chocolate porter, and add roasted espresso beans to the mix. Sound difficult to picture in your head? Then give this brew a go!

Absolutely beautiful.

I give the Organic Portland Roast Espresso Stout a chocolate-dipped-cherry-with-espresso 10 / 10
Tammy gives the Organic Portland Roast Espresso Stout a delicious 9.0 / 10


8. Organic Tree Hugger Porter (5.8% ABV; 45 IBU)

This is it! The last brew of the party. I love myself some stouts and porters, and seeing as how the last one stacked up, I'm down to give this one a try.

On sniff, I get typical porter scents...roasted cocoa, malts, some coffee. Smells good!

On taste, I get the roasted cocoa, I get roasted malts, there is some coffee in there mixed in with some chocolate tastes as well. It's nowhere near being called a chocolate or coffee porter, but having a solid porter with the right mouthfeel, and having the undertones of those flavours is exactly on point.

Compared to the last brew (the espresso stout), this is a little more robust in flavour, and a little less dessert-like. Still delicious.

I give the Organic Tree Hugger Porter an I'll-hug-a-tree-for-another-glass 9.5 / 10
Tammy gives the Organic Tree Hugger Porter an 8.5 / 10





There you have it! Sorry for the long wait. I'm back in the game, and I look forward to blending life's tasks with the joy of bringing you the best in the brew world.

Cheers!

Laurelwood Brewing - Canadian Kick-off (Part 1 of 2)

Want to taste some of Portland's finest? You've come to the right post.

Laurelwood Brewing stopped by at the Hop and Vine Neighbourhood Pub this past Friday, and launched a fresh line-up of brews! They will now be available in Canada (particularly here in BC) for purchase!

Laurelwood Brewing - Tap Takeover List
@ Hop and Vine Neighbourhood Pub, Burnaby BC
Photo: Brewji

I was lucky enough to be invited by Andrew at BeerThirst, and joined by some great company as well! I brought Tammy with me, and also met the Founder of Laurelwood Brewing, Mike De Kalb!

Everyone was in good spirits as I was able to taste all 8 of their brews on tap that night.

Here are beers 1 to 4 from the taster flights:

Laurelwood Brewing - 4-Taster Flight
@ Hop and Vine Neighbourhood Pub, Burnaby BC
Photo: Brewji

1. Organic Free Range Red Ale (6.1% ABV; 60 IBU) 

What's first up? A red ale. I don't really know what to expect, seeing as one of the only red ale's I've really enjoyed was the older Elysian Men's Room from before they got bought by one of the big bad breweries. Let's see how this measures up!

On sniff, you get a little malt, with a little toffee. It's slightly sweet, with a hint of a hop finish. Nothing too strong, but nothing out of whack either. Smells like it should be sessionable.

On taste, you get the the malt, which slowly fades into the caramel-toffee sweetness, and finishes off with a crisp touch of hops. Its lightly transitioning flavours help make this one of the most balanced, flowing red ales I've yet to sample. To me, it definitely sets itself up as one of my favourite reds.

Well done as a first impression! I look forward to more!

The Organic Free Range Red Ale gets a really-damn-good 8.5 / 10
Tammy gives the Organic Free Range Red Ale a 7.5 / 10


2. Mother Lode Golden Ale (5.1% ABV; 25 IBU)

Now, when I read "Golden Ale" on the paper, I thought it might either be an improperly named econo-lager, or a weak wheat ale. Damn, was I wrong.

On sniff, you get nothing. Straight up. nothing. This could be a good thing...as it's supposed to be a really sessionable ale.

On taste, good God. Tammy and I just looked at each other with wide eyes.

Holy mother of sessionable-patio-drinking, beer-pong-qualified beers! This is something I would order a beer tower of, for myself. This is absolutely light, golden, and delicious. There isn't too much going on flavour-wise, but what there is, is delicious. You get a little bread-y taste, with a slight hint of fruit, at the most.

I absolutely found my beer of the summer. I'm just thinking, what would happen if I put a little raspberry syrup in this? This is definitely en par with the "Checkpoint Charlie" from Main Street Brewing. Both amazing, delicious brews.

I give the Mother Lode Golden Ale a pitcher-for-myself-please 9.5 / 10
Tammy gives the Mother Lode Golden Ale a delicious 8.5 / 10


3. Piston Pale Ale (5.6% ABV; 35 IBU)

Now for something a little more common out here on the west coast. This is a good old Pale Ale.

On smell, you get about your average west coast Pale Ale, done right. Notes of citrus, with a faint hops note.

On taste, you get what you smell. You get the notes of citrus-y grapefruit, a little note of hops, and a slight caramel taste to it as well. I'd actually call this a baby IPA. If you really want to see if your friend (or special someone) would like an IPA, I'd recommend this. As little as I write for this one, it's still quite well done. I'd just prefer something else from Laurelwood, but this is a necessary part of the west coast brewery puzzle.

I give the Piston Pale Ale a solid 7.5 / 10
Tammy gives the Piston Pale Ale a 7.0 / 10


4. Green Elephant India Pale Ale (7.0% ABV; 70 IBU)

From what I've heard, Laurelwood knows their IPAs.

I smelled this brew, and my eyes lit up. Tammy agreed right away as we dove into this one. On sniff, you get notes of herbs along with hops. It's almost a mellow citrus with a blend of hops.

On taste, you get hints of lemon, mild herb, and a sweetness in a fruit-like, not too hop-forward finish. For something that's 7% ABV, you don't taste it. This is a unique, and absolutely well-crafted brew. If you've gotten past trying a few IPAs in your beer drinking career, consider making the move to the Green Elephant.

I give the Green Elephant India Pale Ale a new-set-of-IPA-expectations 9.0 / 10
Tammy gives the Green Elephant India Pale Ale a great 8.5 / 10


There's still more to come!

Part 2 of 2 will be released very soon! There may even be a perfect 10 in Part 2...

Cheers!

Central City's Detective Saison

It's the start of May, and the middle of Spring! If you're enjoying the sunshine, why not grab a Saison that's brewed locally, by a former Brewery-of-the-Year?

That's right, I got a bottle of Central City Brewing's Detective Saison (6.0% ABV). There originally was a controversy with the label, as the artwork was deemed unoriginal. Central City thought they had received an honest piece of artwork, but it turns out it was an actual comic book character. They then promptly changed the label to something original. If you really want to read more into it, you can Google it. I'm here for the beer.

Seeing as I'm not the biggest fan of wheat ales, I wasn't expecting a whole lot, although I have been surprised by a few breweries like Brasserie Dupont, Driftwood, and Phillips. Central City is also big on the list, as I used to go to school right upstairs from there!

Onwards!

Central City Brewing "Detective Saison"
Photo: Brewji

The brew pours a pale golden colour, with a moderate amount of head. This already looks like something I'd want in a pitcher on a hot sunny day with my buddies (then again, it is a beer).

On first sniff, I get a wheat-grass and yeast-y overtone. Hidden beneath that, I get hints of citrus, like a lemon zest. I also get a bit of cracked pepper crackers (you know those triscuit-like things?). It's pretty interesting for a Saison.

On first taste, you get the typical wheat-like taste from a wheat ale, a bit of yeast, but definitely the pepper and lemon zest. The pepper becomes more apparent, and the lemon sits as a bit of a touch on the palate.

In a nutshell, this is a Saison with layers. It's a complex flavour for a simplistic brew, but it's done well in the way where it isn't offensive to the taste buds. I don't have to work to decipher the flavours; they're just present and flow together.

I'd still take a pitcher of this on a patio with my buds -- no doubt. This might not quite be my sunny day beer of the year, but it's definitely worth a go.

I give the Central City Brewing Detective Saison a fresh-start-to-the-Saison 8.0 / 10
Tammy gives the Central City Brewing Detective Saison a 7.0 / 10

18 Karat Ale - Barkerville Brewing

Hey all! Since Brewji just hit a milestone in views, I decided to celebrate with a brew from smaller-town BC! Although Barkerville Brewing Co. takes its name from an old gold rush town in BC, they brew their suds in Quesnel, BC. If you've ever driven up to Prince George from Vancouver, chances are you've passed through (or visited) this lovely place. Barkerville Brewing Co. hasn't been brewing for very long (just over a year now?), and they're just beginning to get solid ground as they develop in the craft beer industry.

Long story short, I picked up the 18 Karat Ale from my local BC Liquor Store, and headed home to see how it'll do. It's categorized as an "Amber Ale", and since we're in BC, I guess I can throw that into a Northwestern Amber Ale.

Barkerville Brewing Co. 18 Karat Ale @ Brewji Home
Photo: Brewji

On first sniff, I get some citrus, a little bread-y malt, and a tingle (yes, I said tingle) of hops. Smells like your average APA (American Pale Ale), with a little kick of sweet malt.

On first sip, the citrus-y notes start, and turn into a bit of caramel malts, which then finish off with the tingle of hops. It's a very beginning-middle-end beer, which is a strong first impression from Barkerville! It's nothing over-the-top in terms of great beer, but I would definitely pick this over quite a few other Northwest Amber Ales out there.

A solid brew as it may be, as it warmed up I expected to taste more flavours, and expected it to unravel more richness in the taste. However, I was met with unhappy taste buds as the ale warmed. It docks a little from the score, but let's be honest -- other than me, who drinks ale that isn't fully chilled?

I give the Barkerville Brewing 18 Karat Ale a good-first-impression 7.0 / 10
Tammy gives the Barkerville Brewing 18 Karat Ale a 6.0 / 10

Granville Island - Brash Knuckles!

My apologies! This post has been sitting as a draft for a couple of weeks! Please read as if I didn't forget to post it ;) I owe you a drink, GIB!

Last night, Tammy and I were invited to an intimate tasting and pairing of Vern Lambourne's last small batch brew! We went down to the Granville Island Brewing Taproom on Cartwright street, and were treated like royalty. Before the event started, Tammy and I had a pint each of the GIB Honey Lager, and just as they were finished, we were invited into a small glass-walled room that had some GIB memorabilia in it (old labels, bottles, cans, tap handles, etc.).

Table of Hops @ Granville Island Brewery, Vancouver B.C.
Photo: Brewji

On the centre table, there was a display of three different types of malts, as well as different hops. We were lucky enough to be in the company of (here are their Twitter handles) @Miss604 herself, as well as @BCbrews, @BC_Traveller, @JohnBollwitt, and @CDBasso -- it was great meeting you guys in person!

To start, we were offered drinks. When I say drinks, I mean "What do you want? Here you go." Hence the word royalty mentioned earlier. We were also handed a list of food pairings that we were to taste with the beer.

Brash Knuckles Food Pairing Menu @ Granville Island Brewery, Vancouver B.C.
Photo: Brewji

When it came time to tasting the Brash Knuckles (6.2% ABV), we were excited as ever! It gave a smell of nuts and malts, smooth and dark. A cross between a Waterloo Dark and a Cannery Naramata Nut Brown Ale in terms of smell.

As you can see, it poured very well. It's got that beautiful solid inch of head, bubbly but smooth. From this point on, I was pretty much done taking pictures.

Brash Knuckles @ Granville Island Brewery, Vancouver B.C.
Photo: Brewji

On first sip, you get the malts, and a bit of nut. You get caramel, and a bread-y taste as well. It all bundled together like a satisfying dessert, but with the brawn of a solid brew. It's very drinkable, seeing as it's 6.2% (which is considered a "Strong Beer" in this part of the world).

Either way, this post has taken much too long to get up here, so go out and get yourself a pair of Brash Knuckles and see what all the fuss is about!

Cheers!

I give the GIB Brash Knuckles a them's-fightin'-words 7.5 / 10
Tammy gives the GIB Brash Knuckles a best-thing-I've-had-from-GIB-so-far 7.0 / 10

Parallelogram - Oatmeal Coffee Porter (w/ Special Cask Edition!)

Hey all! How was your Paddy's Day? I rocked a bright green beard in Downtown Vancouver...it was pretty awesome. After work, Tammy met up with me and we went down to Tap and Barrel for a couple of drinks. As a special cask for St. Patrick's Day, Parallel 49 decided to make a Jameson version of their Parallelogram Oatmeal Coffee Porter (ABV 6.0%)

Not only that, this is a double-brew-review! Tammy and I bought a bottle of this brew a couple of weeks ago, so we'll be throwing that into the review as well.

First up: Parallelogram (Bottle)

Parallel 49 "Parallelogram" Oatmeal Coffee Porter @ Brewji Home
Photo: Brewji

Parallel 49 "Parallelogram" Oatmeal Coffee Porter @ Brewji Home
Photo: Brewji

Just popping the top on this beer, I could immediately smell a deep, rich cocoa aroma. I think my first words were "It smells like heaven." Then, I poured the beer into a glass (as pictured), and it looks like any other porter. That's a good thing, because you shouldn't be able to see through a stout/porter, and it should have a decent amount of head. This poured with some head, but it dissipated after a minute or so (I had to fidget with my phone camera).

On first sniff, like I said, the overwhelming delicious aroma of deep roasted cocoa mixed with the distinct smell of coffee. At that point, if it tasted as good as it smelled, I'd be in for a treat.

Tammy and I raised our glasses and took our first sips, looking at each other in disbelief. This beer is just as good, perhaps even better, than it smells. It's got a medium-full body with just enough flavour pouring through in a fluid balance of cocoa, coffee, and a cooked-brown-sugar flavour. It might sound a little 'out there', but I swear by it. This is hands down, one of my favourite porters I've ever had. That's right, this rivals the Phillips Longboat (although comparing a chocolate porter and an oatmeal coffee porter to each other is another story)!

I give the Parallelogram (Bottle) a rectangle-with-angles 10/10
Tammy gives the Parallelogram (Bottle) an I'd-have-that-with-breakfast 9.5 / 10

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Okay, okay, now that we've got the bottle out of the way, what does the cask taste like?

Second: Parallelogram Cask (Infused with Jameson)

Parallel 49 "Parallelogram" Cask infused with Jameson @ Tap and Barrel, Vancouver BC
Photo: Brewji

Imagine the brew described above (or, if you're lucky, you're a genius and you're following along with a bottle of the stuff right now), infused with a little Jameson ("Good Irish whiskey", as Tammy says). Sounds a bit weird, doesn't it? That's what I thought, too. But hell, it was Paddy's Day!

On first sniff, you could smell a similar aroma as from the bottle. You get the cocoa, the coffee, but at the same time you get a resounding hint of something different. Hmm, I wonder what that could be. It didn't smell booze-y, but it had kind of a warm, fuzzy, spiced scent to it. Nothing off-putting, is what I mean to say.

On first sip, you get the same front and middle taste as the Parallelogram from the bottle, but it went down warm, and left us with a comfortable (familiar) feeling in our stomachs. Needless to say, it was a great rendition of the brew, but I still think I prefer the original if it were any other day of the year. Tammy agrees.

Either way, if you didn't catch it this year, you missed out! Better luck next year!

I give the Parallelogram Cask a magically-delicious 9.0 / 10
Tammy gives the Parallelogram Cask a Hey-look--Jameson! 8.5 / 10

Luck of the Irish Red Ale (Russell Brewing)

Everybody ready for St. Patrick's Day? The only correct answer is YES (or some form of it).

What did I come home to today? The day before St. Paddy's Day, Tammy had the Luck of the Irish Red Ale (ABV 5%) from Russell Brewing as a surprise brew, chilling in the fridge. Now, seeing as Tammy is Irish, I was intrigued to see what she would think about this brew.

We poured this out into our glasses, and I was immediately impressed by the pour, as the 1/8" of head stayed solid and didn't lace away. The copper-coloured ale looked impressive as well.

Russell Brewing - Luck of the Irish Red Ale @ Brewji Home
Photo: Brewji

On first sniff, there were malt-y notes, as well as hints of toffee. Seeing as it's 5%, I wasn't expecting a rush of overwhelming scented notes.

On first sip, we tasted the malt-y flavour right away, with a slight gesture of hops, and hints of toffee. It went down so smoothly, Tammy worded it as "Light, easy, and refreshing".

She compared it to a "Shandy", which I just learned is something very drinkable in Ireland. It's generally a Smithwick's mixed with lemonade, so you don't become inebriated too quickly, and it apparently goes down real smooth as well. I'll have to make sure to give one a try someday!

Overall, I have no real complaints about this brew at all. It's just tasty enough to not hit you too hard, is very smooth on the mouth-feel and carbonation, and is very session-able at 5% ABV.

I give the Luck of the Irish Red Ale a cula-bula 9.0 / 10
Tammy gives the Luck of the Irish Red Ale an 8.5 / 10

Unibroue - Éphémère Pomme (Apple)

Tammy and I were out and about on the drive, and our first plan was to head into St. Augustine's, but we didn't get a chance...seeing as it was a Saturday (hipster overload!). But, being the awesome guy I am, I had a plan B, C, and D for the night (there's always a place to get a good brew on the drive!).

After seeing Storm Crow was packed as well, and so was The Charlatan, we walked into Biercraft. Initially, the girl at the front said she'd call our name when she had space, so we stood just outside the door (as to not crowd the entrance). She skipped our name and said we weren't present. Not too impressed...she didn't seem very bright or attentive. After that, we weren't expecting much better.

However, we had the pleasure of being seated in an area where Paul, one of the most knowledgeable and kind staff members ever, served us. We had a few tasters, and then we got to the good stuff. While Tammy was on a smoke break, I got us a surprise bottle of the Unibroue Éphémère Pomme (ABV 5.5%).

Unibroue Éphémère Pomme @ Biercraft
Vancouver, BC
Photo: Brewji

As you can see, it pours a beautiful golden hazy yellow, with a slight smidgen of head that didn't lace away too quickly. What made the pour even better? Paul knew exactly what glassware to use, and it had the brewery logo stamped on the front.

On first sniff, we got hints of apple and Belgian yeast. That's pretty much it; it smelled delicious. If you're a fan of apple-flavoured things, this beer is for you. It's not overwhelmingly sweet, like a green apple drink, but it's also not too strong on the yeast. It's very drinkable.

On first sip, you get a mildly carbonated apple undertone in a bread-y brew. It really sets itself apart from other brews infused with fruits. It's nowhere near most fruit-infused brews; if you're thinking of something like a Fruli, this has more taste, more body, and is like a step up from a Fruli or Liefmans Fruitesse.

Tammy noted that this is similar to what a "proper" cider is supposed to taste like. I've never been a fan of ciders, and I think that's mainly because North American ciders taste like expired Grower's coolers (or nasty fruit punch).

That all being said, this should definitely be on your "I'd tap that" beer list.

I give the Unibroue Éphémère Pomme a new-use-for-apples 8.5 / 10
Tammy gives the Unibroue Éphémère Pomme a 7.5 / 10

Red Hook - Brand New in Canada!

Hey all! Guess who's back in the game? That's right. I reviewed GIB's 4-pack a couple of days ago, and I'm on board to kick the train over with the Red Hook 3-pack I got in the mail on Friday!

Red Hook is brand new in Canada, as they're from Seattle and they're launching some brews up north. I had a great referral from Andrew at Beer Thirst, and he was able to grab me a few brews to try. Of course, being the gorgeous gentleman that I am, I split the beers with my girlfriend Tammy. We both had some choice words about these brews.

What were they like? Here's a visual look at how the bottles and beers looked:





1. Red Hook Long Hammer IPA (6.5% ABV)

Red Hook Long Hammer IPA @ Brewji Home
Photo Credit: Brewji

On the nose, I get hints of hops (obviously), and not even that much citrus at all. We weren't able to smell much. To be honest, we weren't terribly impressed with the smell of the brew. However, on first sip, one of the first things Tammy said to me was that this would be nice on a summer's day. I agree, seeing as if it was a pint or shared pitcher on a summer patio, this could be passed, even being an IPA. It's smoother and easier drinking than most IPA's out there.

This is a much easier transition IPA. I mean, this ain't no Steamworks Empress IPA, but it's definitely one of the IPA's I'd throw into a pile that you could transition someone into.

I give the Long Hammer IPA a yeah-I'd-hit-it 7.5 / 10
Tammy gives the Long Hammer IPA a 7.0 / 10



2. Red Hook Audible Ale (4.8% ABV)

Red Hook Audible Ale @ Brewji Home
Photo Credit: Brewji

Okay, let's get straight to it. I smelled this thing and it really smelled dank. There wasn't much to this at all, as the smell of any kind of hints of flavour were narrow. The things we did smell? They were unpleasant. I wouldn't call this a pale ale, nor would I call it an amber ale. I'd call it a stank lager. Sorry guys, but this is just one of those un-stomachable ales that's out there. I was so disgusted I asked Tammy if I could pour it.

However, being the nice guy that I am, I can see where if this was served at a bar, this could rock a summer beer on the patio from people that want more than just a lager at the table. I'd much rather prefer a Keith's or Rickard's ale any day of the week. That says a LOT.

I give the Red Hook Audible Ale a please-try-again 3.0 / 10
Tammy gives the Red Hook Audible Ale a 2.0 / 10



3. Red Hook ESB (5.8% ABV)

Red Hook ESB @ Brewji Home
Photo Credit: Brewji

Tammy and I took a whiff of this beer too, not expecting the greatest, but not judging before a good whiff / taste. Not surprisingly, this one didn't have the greatest smell, either. We could get a whiff of malts, not much hops at all (to be expected), but nothing outstanding that would make us want to dive in. However, we did just that.

We were surprisingly pleased with the taste, as it had hints of toffee, nuts, and roasted malts. It was quite delicious actually, in my opinion. Tammy is a little more hesitant to give a stronger positive vibe on this one, but I would actually pick and choose this on a menu if at a bar. This would be one of those "beers of choice" if I was going anywhere.

Way to go, Red Hook! You should establish yourself in Canada with this brew for sure. Compare this side by side with some of our competing BC products, and you should have some heads turned and taste buds converted.

I give the Red Hook ESB a surprisingly-good 8.0 / 10
Tammy gives the Red Hook ESB a 7.0 / 10


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Cheers all!

GIB 4-Pack!

Hey all, I know it's been awhile since I threw a post up here, but I've been in the process of getting a new place and a new job -- you know, real life stuff.

I had the pleasure of having the fine folks at Granville Island Brewing sending me a crate of 4 brews, ready and good to go for some tasters! It's a sample of their re-branded beers that they already have, but I figure it's worth a go.

Crate of Beer from Granville Island Brewing, courtesy of Jive Communications
@ Brewji Home
Photo: Brewji

The crate is pretty rad...I'm re-using it to store things around the house. But let's get a closer look at the brews I was sent, shall we? The photo below shows the beers I will review in order:

Maple Shack Cream Ale; Swing Span Amber Ale; Hey Day Hefeweizen; Infamous IPA
from Granville Island Brewing
@ Brewji Home
Photo: Brewji

1. Maple Shack Cream Ale (5% ABV)
I'm guessing this is the Kitsilano Maple Cream Ale, but re-branded to make it look like it's something new. Well, It pours the same, smells the same, but it's new alright. I split this with Tammy into two taster glasses, and we couldn't detect any maple on the nose. We don't know if the maple was reduced, or the recipe was changed, but unfortunately there was no maple scent.

From there, we took our first sips and tasted a plain-like cream ale. There wasn't much flavour or bite to it. It kind of tasted like a mildly-flavoured cream ale. I miss the Kitsilano Maple Cream Ale! I'm sorry, but this didn't have much of anything to it...and Tammy seemed to agree.

I give the Maple Shack Cream Ale a they-don't-make-it-like-they-used-to 5.0 / 10
Tammy gives the Maple Shack Cream Ale a 3.0 / 10


2. Swing Span Amber Ale (5.6% ABV)
Here's one I remember from awhile back! The GIB Amber has been around for awhile, and has always been a go-to brew if there's not much selection around. Tammy and I poured a taster of these, and we were pleased with both the nose and the flavour. There was a mild hop presence, some malt, and a slight hint of toffee. This beer had some promise and flavour to it! Tammy seemed to like this one the best out of the four.

I give the Swing Span Amber Ale an I-quite-like-this 7.0 / 10
Tammy gives the Swing Span Amber Ale a 6 / 10


3. Hey Day Hefeweizen (5% ABV)
I've never had their Hefeweizen outside of the summer season, and I wasn't really in the mood for one seeing as it was the winter. However, a cold hefe never gets refused from me (unless it's from Green Leaf). So, I poured a taster each with Tam and she was turned off immediately by the taste. Granted, it's no White Bark or glory-hefe from a brewery like Phillips, but it did have alcohol in it. Not to sound harsh, but it's an average hefe. It's something along the lines of what I'd expect to get as your standard wheat beer if I went to a dirty bar that had "some craft beer" on tap.

I give the Hey Day Hefeweizen a mildly-boring-and-out-of-season 5.0 / 10
Tammy gave the Hey Day Hefeweizen a 4.0 / 10


4. Infamous IPA (6% ABV)
This was the last beer of the pack, and it's the IPA that GIB has been making for awhile. I really don't understand the name change. Most of the brews don't taste any different, and I would always look for the older name if I was out anywhere. Besides that, this IPA pours a see-through light copper colour. It really tastes like carbonated hoppy-water. It's not a true, real west coast IPA, but it is definitely a good one to introduce and transition people into.

If you have friends that drink nothing but econo-lager piss-water, and they want something with more flavour (or actual flavour), then this is definitely a stepping stone into the world of real beer.

The Infamous IPA gets a hey-I-think-I-had-you-in-my-mouth-once-but-it-was-just-okay 5 / 10
Tammy gives the Infamous IPA 2.0 / 10

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I'll say this: I had much higher expectations from GIB, seeing as their previous samplers have been much better. If you're a newbie to craft beer, I might recommend you sample some of these, but I really hope they step up their game back to a reputable level! I'll stick to my Phillips for my dollar vs. value for now.

Cheers!

VICTORIA TRIP! Vancouver Island Brewery + Phillips Brewing Company

Okay, this post comes out a little bit...well, long overdue. I booked a surprise brewery tour at Vancouver Island Brewery for Tammy and I to go on when we went to Victoria. Needless to say, she was just as excited as I was. Being a 20 minute walk away from our hotel room, we grew thirsty as we approached the brewery. Seeing as I love the Hermann, Hermannator, and other brews from them, this seemed like an excellent opportunity to get in on the game. Finally, we arrived at our destination. We snapped a picture of the logo outside, and that's actually one of the highlights.

Vancouver Island Brewery
@ Victoria, BC
Photo: Brewji

Don't get me wrong, we did get a couple of samples, but they're not licensed to serve more than a few samples in their tap room. What did we want? We arrived about 30 minutes early, and were hoping for a pint to sit down and wait with.

After that, we started our tour with a few other people, and got a couple of samples in. No, I don't have any pictures of the samples because the guy who was running the tour sounded like Charlie Brown's teacher, and we moved so quickly between beer samples, there were no photo opportunities. Fast forward through the building and seeing different things that we didn't get to hear about (wah-wah-wah voice), and we ended up back at the tap room. Here is where we had our second helping of samplers (thank goodness).

If only I could be the guy running the tour...

Once the tour wrapped up, we grabbed our VIB pint glasses, and headed next door to Phillips Brewing Company (did I mention that these guys are my FAVOURITE brewery in the whole world?).

We walked into Phillips, explained our situation (and who this special customer was ;) ), and they were more than happy to provide us with a sample of pretty much everything they had on tap!

The Entire Tap Line-up @ Phillips Brewing Company
Victoria, BC
Photo: Brewji

They gave us a sample of everything they had to offer, and seeing as it was Tammy's birthday (yes, the actual day of), they gave her a little gift too! I don't remember what order the pours were in, but I'll go by the tap order above.

Four Delicious Samples @ Phillips Brewing Company
Victoria, BC
Photo: Brewji

Elsinore Czech-style Pilsner (5% ABV)

Finally, this is what a REAL pilsner is supposed to taste like! Tammy wasn't the biggest fan of this one, as she's generally not into Czech-style pilsners. However, if you're looking for something that's a bit light on hops and malts, but still relatively balanced and easy to drink, you're looking for Elsinore.

The Elsinore from Phillips gets an import-style-worth-savouring 8.0 / 10


Slipstream Cream Ale (5% ABV)

Looking for something a little more bodied than a pilsner or a lager? How about this cream ale? It's got a bit of a roasted malt flavour, and gets slightly nuttier as it sits. Definitely a good alternative if you're looking to recommend something different to your average econo-brew.

The Slipstream Cream Ale gets a medium-bodied, malty 8.5 / 10


Phoenix Gold Lager (ABV 5%)

This is a staple of the Phillips line-up. Every brewery needs a solid lager, and this doesn't disappoint. To me, lagers are like practice beers, so I apologize in advance if any of you are turned off. But, this beer does everything right, everything that a lager should. It's smooth, easy drinking, and doesn't taste like rotten corn. If only they had their 78 Kolsch on tap...haha. Still a good beer that I'd pick over most other lagers out there.

The Phoenix Gold Lager gets a you'll-do-in-a-pinch 7.5 / 10


Amnesiac Double IPA (8.5% ABV)

Seeing as I like my IPAs bitter, hoppy, and citrus-y, I figured I might as well grab a sample of the Phillips Amnesiac Double IPA. On the nose, it's quite hop-forward, has notes of citrus peels, and on taste includes a hint of pine as well. It's very taste-heavy, and definitely highly recommended for anyone that's looking to dive deeper into the IPA spectrum. Well done, Phillips. Oh, we got a half-growler of this baby to go after we had our samples.

The Amnesiac Double IPA gets a that's-a-beer-I'm-gonna-take-home 9.0 / 10


Hop Circle IPA (6.5% ABV)

Ready for another IPA? You'd better be. This, compared to the Amnesiac, is much, much more citrus-y. It tastes like many sweet citrus fruits were added to this batch. I get hints of pineapple, maybe some other fruits like apricots. Either way, it's a brew that can be perceived from many directions on each sip. It's a complex, but well-balanced beer. I think that's the key here. It's still a great sipper beer.

The Hop Circle IPA gets a well-rounded 8.5 / 10


Blue Buck Pale Ale (ABV 5%)

Ah, one of my pale ale staples. I've been drinking Blue Buck for years, and I could probably have reviewed this by heart...but Tammy couldn't so I'm glad we both got some input on this. On smell, there are notes of caramel and a slightly nutty smell. On taste, you get a caramel-toffee and chestnut breakdown. It's still bitter enough to balance out the sweetness and nutty flavours, and it just leaves a great after-taste. It's a classic; you can't go wrong with this beer.

The Blue Buck Pale Ale gets a have-we-met-before 8.0 / 10


Longboat Chocolate Porter (ABV 5.2%)

Oh hell yeah. I'm pretty sure most of my friends know that I'm a sucker for porters and stouts. Not only that, I'm a sucker for flavoured porters (especially chocolate and coffee porters!). They gave us the best for last. This is truly a dessert beer. Naw, it can be had any time of year. It's a delicious, chocolate-y sweet breakdown of the most delicious roasted cocoa malts, combined with what I'm guessing is love, and roasted caramel malts and maybe some toffee (or vanilla?). Hands down one of my favourite beers of all time.

The Longboat Chocolate Porter gets a put-a-ring-on-it 10 / 10


Here's another picture of some more samples, just because.

4 More Samples, and Tammy's Birthday Gifts! @ Phillips Brewing Company
Victoria, BC
Photo: Brewji

What did we end off with? Well, I bought a purple "Electric Unicorn White IPA" t-shirt, which I'm wearing as I type this post. Yes, I love the shirt! We also bought a bottle of the "Black Jackal Imperial Coffee Stout" (review on its way).

Overall, buy Vancouver Island Brewery beer from a store. The tour, sad to say, wasn't as good as we'd hoped. Just enjoy the brews and be happy. However, stop by Phillips and taste their beers!! They still are my favourite brewery in the world.

Cheers!