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

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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