We regularly post tasting notes from our Friday Staff Tasting, providing you with our take on all the latest craft beer arrivals. BC beers have been dominating our new arrivals of late, a testament to the growing robustness of our homegrown scene. We continue to get some interesting releases from Quebec, as well, and Brasserie Dunham is a brewery to watch for, with a Belgian-influenced aesthetic similar to their provincial peers at Le Trou du Diable and Dieu du Ciel. Really great stuff.
Steel + Oak Kataja Juniper Ale 5% 650ml (Vancouver)
Pours a deep burnt orange colour.Caramel, fruit and a hint of foresty juniper notes on the nose. Graham cracker and brown sugar malt notes on the palate with subtle hints of herbaceous juniper. Finishes bitter.
Brasserie Dunham Saison Rustique 6% 650ml (Quebec) Pours a slightly hazy orange-yellow colour. Enticing notes of mandarin, pine, lemon and a bit of funk on the nose. Definite brett funk on the dry palate. Big notes of tart citrus fruit & pine. Finishes bone dry with crips bitterness.
Four Winds/Trou du Diable Exil d’Eden Apple Oat Saison 5% (Delta)
Pours a pale, clear yellow colour with fine bubbles. Hard cider and saison spice notes on the nose. Pleasant crisp apple and tart fruit notes on the palate. A touch sweet, with a nice creamy mouthfeel. Finishes dry.
Brasserie Dunham Gouden Meyer 8% 650ml (Quebec)
Pours a clear orange-yellow colour. Ripe notes of melon, funk, citrus and spice on the nose. Piney and spicy on the palate with grainy malt notes for body. Solid.
Merridale Hoptimized 2.0 Dry Hopped Cider 6% 650ml (Cowichan Valley)
Pours a hazy, pale white/yellow colour. Notes spicy hops, funk and ripe apple on the nose. Juicy ripe apple notes on the palate, with some mint/pine hop spice.
Rogue Farms 6 Hop IPA 6.66% 650ml (Newport, OR)
Pours a pumpkin flesh orange colour. Gorgeous notes of pineapple, fruit salad, resin and funk on the nose. Sweet and fruity on the palate with some hop spice on the palate and a creamy finish. Amazing.
Moody/Ridge 1880 Export Stout 6.6% 650ml (Port Moody)
Pours a dark chocolate colour. Coffee, soy sauce and chocolate on the nose. Classic savoury porter notes of smoke and coffee on the palate. Solid.