Well, after a week with not a lot new arriving, this week was the opposite. Tons of stuff from BC, the U.S. and even Europe. Some really fun and tasty brews. We had a great time at the staff tasting last Friday going through these and picking out favourites and getting to know some of the really interesting new brews, such as the Fuggles & Warlock Saskatoon Berry Wheat Sour and the Mr. Pink Berliner Weisse (with lychee and guava) from To Øl. We even have a tasty little California rosé in a can from Big House (which is now $1 off)—a great picnic or beach wine.
Big House Siren Rosé 10.5% 250ml (California)
Pours a pale cranberry pink colour. Tart strawberry and cranberry notes on the nose. Granny Smith apple, cranberry and tart berries on the palate with some nice residual sugar. Pleasantly off-dry.
To Øl Mr. Pink Berliner Weisse 4.5% 500ml (Denmark)
Pours a cloudy orange-yellow colour. Hoppy tropical fruit aromas on the nose. Good acidity on the palate, with notes of tart lemon, lychee and guava and a hint of bitterness on the finish. Refreshing.
Fuggles & Warlock Takumi Saskatoon Berry Sour 5.8% 650ml (Richmond)
Pours a pie cherry pink/red colour. Earthy notes of tart berries and herbs on the nose. Nice acidity on the palate with big tart brambleberry notes and a dry finish.
Parallel 49 Bodhisattva Dry Hopped Sour 7% 650ml (Vancouver)
Bright and funky on the nose with notes of lemon peel, sour citrus candy and pineapple. Palate is full of funky, tart fruit, orange and pineapple with a balanced soft/sour finish.
Hearthstone Cool Hand Cuke Cucumber Sour 4% 6pk (Vancouver)
Pours a rich golden yellow colour. Subtle notes of fresh-cut cucumber on the nose. Savoury cucumber flavour balanced with a kiss of lemon juice and a hint of acidity on the finish. Tasty!
Tod Creek Coastal Blue Blueberry Cider 6% 4pk (Victoria, BC)
Pours a pink-purple colour. Fresh apple and blueberry notes on the nose. Nice sweetness with notes of blueberry pie and apple cider. Good acidity on finish. Tasty!
Hearthstone Black Pils 5% 4pk (Vancouver)
Pours a red-tinted black-brown colour. Notes of chocolate and soy sauce on the nose. Bittersweet chocolate notes on the palate with round malt and a bitter finish.
Paulaner Hefe Weissebier 5.5% 4pk (Germany)
Pours cloudy orange colour. Notes of clove, banana and lemony citrus on the nose. Refreshingly spicy, fruity and round with notes of banana and baking spice and a dry finish.
Modern Times Fortunate Islands Hoppy Wheat Beer 5% 473ml (San Diego)
Pours a bright golden yellow colour. Funky hop notes of resin, spice and pine on the nose. Citrusy on the palate with hop notes of resin, tropical fruit and spice. Crushable!
Hearthstone Atlantic Pale Ale 4.3% 4pk (Vancouver)
Pours a deep golden yellow colour. Notes of caramel, sweet fruit and spice on the nose. Similar round and malty on the palate, with notes of caramel, hop spice and a bitter finish.
Left Hand Braveheart Nitro Scottish Ale 5.5% 355ml (Colorado)
Pours a creamy rich mahogany brown colour. Sweet caramel and vanilla malt notes in the nose. Creamy and soft on the palate with sweet malty notes of caramel and chocolate.
Paulander Salvator Doppelbock 7.9% 500ml (Germany)
Pours a copper burnt-orange colour. Nose offers toffee, sweet caramel and dark fruit notes. Sweet and a touch boozy on the palate with rich, malt-forward flavours of caramel and nutty toffee.
Yellow Dog/Breakside POMO-PDX Brett IPA 6.7% 4pk (BC/OR)
Pours a cloudy orange colour. Major fruit, bubblegum and funk notes on the nose. Abundant tropical fruit notes on the palate with spice, some funk and a bitter finish. Killer beer.
Left Hand Wake Up Dead Imperial Stout 10.2% 650ml (Colorado)
Pours a dark black-brown colour. Sweet, rich notes of dark chocolate and dark fruit on the nose. Intense and rich on the palate with smooth notes of chocolate, caramel and booze. Sweet & decadent!