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