Looks like Spring might actually be on its way! With the sunnier, (slightly) warmer temps, we’ve seen an increase in the lower-alcohol brews. More sours, more session ales. Two sours you should definitely check out are from Victoria’s own Ile Sauvage, their first outside-the-brewery tall can releases: Yuzu Gose and Raspberry Sour Golden Ale. We’re also starting to see some old favourites from the golden era of 650ml bombers showing up in tall can format. One tasty example is Moon Brewery’s This is Hefeweizen, which is true to the style and expertly brewed. And definitely pick up a can or two of Cannery’s Ceres Hazy ISA, which is a collab with the Pink Boot Society, which assists, inspoires, and encourages women beer professionals.
Lonetree Rosé Dry Cider 5.5% 473ml (Okanagan)
Pours a pale clear pink colour. Sweet floral berry and apple notes on the nose, with a hint of spice. A touch sweet up front on the palate with exotic berry, spice and apple notes. Finishes with some welcome acidity.Tasty!
Ile Sauvage Yuzu Gose 5% 473ml (Victoria)
Pours a grapefruit juice colour. Bright, fresh yuzu citrus notes on the nose. Big, juicy acidity on the palate with notes of exotic yuzu citrus and a hint of salt on the dry, tart finish. Refreshing!
Ile Sauvage Raspberry Sour Golden Ale 5.5% 473ml (Victoria)
Pours a cloudy pink colour. Big juicy raspberry notes with a hint of minerality on the nose. Big juicy acidity on the palate with sour raspberry notes, good body and a puckeringly sour finish.
2 Crows Hollywood Foedre-Aged Sour 4.6% 473ml (Halifax. NS)
Pours a slightly hazy pale pink orange colour. Notes of brett funk, oak and sweet citrus on the nose. Juicy acidity, brett funk and a hint of oak, with pleasant blood orange notes on the palate.
2 Crows Waltz German Pils 5.5% 473ml (Halifax. NS)
Pours a bright, clear yellow colour. Sweet honeyed graham cracker and grainy malt notes on the nose. Creamy mouthfeel with grainy/biscuity malt notes, some citrusy hops and a nice snap of bitterness on the finish.
Moon This is Hefeweizen 5.5% 473ml (Victoria)
Pours a hazy golden yellow colour. Typical traditional Bavarian hefewerizen notes of fruit, clove, spice and citrus on the nose. The palate is a bit light-bodied with flavors of spice/clove, tart fruit, bubblegum and a nice dry finish. Very drinkable and pleasant.
Cannery Ceres Hazy ISA 4.75% 473ml (Penticton, BC)
Pours a very pale hazy yellow colour. Bright, juicy tropical fruit, cannabis and resin notes on the nose. Good body—not too thin—with luscious fruit and spice hop notes on the palate. Dry finish. Crushable!
Steel & Oak Seasonal Appeal West Coast ESB 4.6% 473ml (New Westminster, BC)
Pours a burnt orange colour. Citrus, dried fruit, rich malt and caramel notes on the nose. Dry and earthy on the palate with nutty malt notes, hints of citrus and fruit and a bitter finish.
Steel & Oak x Superflux Boomerang 2 DIPA 8% 473ml (Vancouver)
Pours a cloudy pale orange orange colour. Notes of pineapple, sweet tropical fruit and blueberries on the nose. Soft mouthfeel, loaded with tropical fruit and spice hop notes with a dry finish and crisp bitterness. Hides the ABV well.
Twin Sails Flex Mex Aztec Imperial Stout 11% 473ml (Port Moody, BC)
Pours a rich black coffee colour. Savoury umami notes as well as spice and vanilla aromas on the nose. Sweet and boozy on the palate with rich dark chocolate and savoury soy sauce notes and a bit of chili heat on the finish.
Dieu du Ciel Rigor Mortis Abt Quad 10.5% 355ml (Quebec)
Pours a chestnut colour. Deep fruit notes with hints of Belgian yeast spice on the nose, no noticeable booziness. Sweet and a bit boozy on the palate with rich dried fruit and Belgian yeast spice notes and a bitter finish.