We missed a week of tasting notes, so we’re back with a vengeance! Lots of new brews arrived in the last two weeks, with an emphasis on big, malty brews (three coffee imperial stouts!), IPAs and sours. There were some really interesting, style-busting beers in this batch.
Speaking of such things, we have a new BEER MAIL available with a crazy selection of 12 tall cans from some pretty cool breweries from around North America. Cost is just $57.05 (+ shipping outside of Victoria area). If you live in Victoria, we’ll deliver this for free! Online ordering is easy and fast. Go here for details and to order.
And now, here’s what’s new!
Phillips Oro Blanco Grapefruit Sour 4.2% 473ml (Victoria)
Pours a cloudy pale orange colour. Bright grapefruit juice notes on the nose. Creamy mouthfeel, sour with juicy grapefruit notes. Dry, tart finish. Refreshing!
Backcountry Keep the Change Ya Filthy Animal Imp. Stout 9.7% 473ml (Squamish BC)
Pours a black coffee colour. Huge coffee/espresso notes with a hint of coconut on the nose. Sweet and boozy on the palate with notes of coffee, coconut and chocolate.
Powell Brut Dry Hopped Sour 6% 473ml (Vancouver)
Pours a clear golden yellow colour. Floral citrus hop notes on the nose. Fine carbonation, grainy malt and fruity hop notes on the palate. Light-bodied and finishes very dry.
Fuggles & Warlock Hikari 7.2% 650ml (Vancouver)
Pours a hazy rich yellow colour. Funk, and perfumed tropical fruit notes on the nose. Tart on the palate with big grapefruit, melon and stone fruit notes and spicy hints of cannabis and pine. Bitter on the finish.
Beere Dark Humour Coffee Milk Stout With Meyer Lemon Zest 5.4% 473ml (N. Vancouver)
Pours a black coffee colour. Strong notes of dark coffee and smoke with a hint of lemon zest in the background. Sweet, creamy and roasty on the palate, with notes of coffee and lemon. Unique and delicious!
Beere Very Cool, Very Chill Dry Hopped Pilsner 5% 4pk (N. Vancouver)
Pours a pale golden yellow colour. Bright, clean spice and citrus hop notes on the nose. A bit of sweetness on the palate with hop spice, a hint of fruit and a dry, bitter finish.
Persephone x Steel & Oak Holzhausen Festbock 8% 650ml (BC)
Pours a rich, clear copper orange colour. Notes of sweet caramel and malt on the nose with hints of earthy, toasted wood. Sweet and spicy on the palate with caramel, toffee and butterscotch and a hint of toasted wood. Bitter finish.
Persphone Hazy IPA 7% 4pk (Gibsons, BC)
Pours a cloudy orange-yellow colour. Notes of resin and ripe tropical fruit on the nose. Sweet, juicy and tropical on the palate with a soft mouthfeel and bitter finish on the palate.
Axe & Barrel Ride the Bock Strong Amber Lager 7.2% 650ml (Langford, BC)
Pours a rich caramel colour. Earthy, roasty and nutty on the nose. Sweet and creamy on the palate with classic caramel and toffee malt notes and a hint of bitterness on the finish. Robust and hearty!
Ground Breaker Gluten Free Dark Ale 4.7% 473ml (Portland, OR)
Pours a chestnut colour. Spicy and earthy notes on the nose. Sweet and roasty on the palate with nutty, earthy notes and a dry bitter finish.
Ground Breaker Gluten Free IPA No. 5 6% 473ml (Portland, OR)
Pours a copper orange colour. Notes of molasses, nuts and citrus on the nose. Citrusy and spicy on the palate, with a hint of tartness and a dry, bitter finish. Nicely balanced!
Steamworks Hazy Pale Ale 5% 473ml (Vancouver)
Pours a slightly hazy orange colour. Notes of bright citrus and ripe tropical fruit on the nose. Sweet and juicy with fresh citrus and mandarin notes and a bitter finish. Light and crushable.
Category 12 Compressed Data Juicy Pale Ale 4.5% 473ml (Saanich, BC)
Pours a cloudy orange-yellow colour. Sweet notes of citrus, spice and marmalade on the nose. Light on the palate, but with bright tropical fruit and citrus notes. Dry finish.
Mt. Arrowsmith The Sprut Spruce Tip Brut IPA 6.2% 650ml (Parkside, BC)
Pours a very pale lemon yellow colour. Yeasty/bready aromas aromas with a hint of citrusy fruit on the nose. Fruity, spicy, floral and a bit foresty on the palate. Dry, light and balanced with just the right amount of spruce notes.
Boombox Laser Illusion IPA 7% 473ml (Vancouver)
Pours an orange-yellow colour. It’s all about the big juicy citrus and hop spice notes on the nose. Fairly sweet on the palate juicy tropical fruit, citrus and spice notes. Soft finish, low bitterness.
Dageraad 10° 10.5% 650ml (Burnaby, BC)
Pours a chestnut colour. Notes of dried fruit, caramel, baking spice and a bite of booze on the nose. Big and boozy on the palate with complex notes of orchard fruit, caramel and Belgian yeast spice. Indulgent.
Driftwood Oumuamua Milk Stout 6.3% 650ml (Victoria)
Pours a black coffee colour. Rich notes of creamy chocolate, coffee and smoke on the nose. Intense sweet and creamy chocolate and coffee notes
Phillips Stave Us From Ourselves Barrel Aged Imp. Stout 10.5% 650ml (Victoria)
Pours a black coffee colour. Umami soy sauce aromas mingle with boozy bourbon and vanilla notes on the nose. Sweet and boozy on the palate with caramel, vanilla and chocolate notes. Rich and satisfying.
Twin Sails Day Blink Simcoe Pale Ale 5% 473ml (Port Moody, BC)
Pours cloudy gold. Aromas of freshly squeezed lemon juice, pronounced cannabis, light caramel sweetness. Flavours of light toffee, loaded with tropical fruit, pineapple and cannabis. Super smooth finish with a very refreshing and balanced bitterness.
Twin Sails Counting Sheep Imperial Coffee Stout 10.6% 473ml (Port Moody, BC)
Pours a black coffee colour. Aromas of coffee, espresso, smoke and soy sauce on the nose. Sweet and boozy on the palate with intense dark-roast coffee notes.
Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout (CBS) 11.6% 355ml (Michigan)
Pours a black coffee colour. Nose is dominated by intense coffee, chocolate and booze notes. Sweet and intense on the palate with boozy notes of coffee, chocolate, bourbon and maple syrup.