We regularly post tasting notes from our Friday Staff Tasting, providing you with our take on all the latest craft beer arrivals. After an onslaught of new arrivals at the beginning of October, things slowed down a bit. Oh we’re still getting new brews at a break-neck clip, but there was a brief pause so we skipped the blog update last week. Two big announcements, as far as new stuff goes. If you’re a fan of saisons, sours, wild ales and barrel aged brews, check out the special new arrivals from Trinity in Colorado and Upright in Oregon that are listed at the bottom of the post. We received limited quantities of all of these, so if you want one, grab them now!
And speaking of great craft beer, do you know about our Beer Mail program? Every two weeks we put together a new and different selection of 12 large-format beers (2 bottles each of 6 different beers), which we can send to any city in BC. So, if you’re reading this from someplace that doesn’t have good access to a killer selection of craft beer like we offer, think about ordering a case from us. Or maybe you live here in Victoria, but you want to send a gift or a beery care package. Ordering is easy, safe & secure and your beer arrives well-packed and in great shape. Just click here for details: BEER MAIL.
And without further ado, here’s what’s new:
Twin Sails Dat Juice Citra Pale Ale 5.2% 4pk tall cans (Port Moody, BC)
Pours a hazy orange-yellow colour with green tint. Dank citrus, cannabis and pine notes on the nose. Cannabis, juicy citrus and pine spice on the palate with a zesty finish. Chuggable!
Phillips Citricty Grapefruit Zest IPA 6.2% 6pk cans (Victoria)
Pours a deep golden yellow colour. Notes of fresh-cut grapefruit and dank hops on the nose. A touch sweet on the palate with notes of candied grapefruit peel and a hit of grapefruit zest bitterness on the finish.
Doan’s West Coast IPA 6.5% 650ml (Vancouver)
Pours a deep golden yellow colour. Subtle notes of sweet malt and floral hops on the nose. Sweet and round on the palate with a touch of hop spice and light fruit. Not too bitter.
Bomber/Stone Blood From a Stone Red Rye IPA 6.8% 4pk tall cans (Vancouver/US)
Pours a chestnut orange-red colour. Notes of caramel and spicy rye on the nose. Rich caramel notes backed by rye spice and tangerine and orange hop notes. Excellent body, big bitter finish.
De Molen Hemel & Aarde Smoked Imperial Stout 10% 330ml (Netherlands)
Pours a dark chocolate black-brown colour. Notes of iodine, smoke, molasses and dark rye on the nose. Sweet and rich on the palate with notes of peat smoke, ocean brine and chocolate.
De Molen Mooi & Meedogenloos 10.2% 330ml (Netherlands)
Pours a deep mahogany colour with red tints. Notes of molasses and boozy raisins on the nose. Sweet with oxidized notes of honey, caramel, dried figs and dates and a hint of smoke.
Coal Harbour Blackwing Baltic Porter 7.5% (Vancouver)
Pours a black coffee colour. Boozy on the nose with notes of creamy molasses and brine. Deep grainy malt notes, with hints of raisins, chocolate and molasses.
Powell Street Idaho 7 Sour 6% 650ml (Vancouver)
Pours a golden yellow colour. Bright white wine, stone fruit, kiwi and spice aromas. Good hop spice on the palate with notes of sour peach, tart kiwi, white wine & lemon.
Townsite Shiny Penny Belgian IPA 8.5% 650ml (Powell River, BC)
Pours a caramel burnt orange colour. Notes of clove-studded orange, bubblegum and booze on the nose. Nutty, with notes of caramel, figs, dark dried fruit, spice & booze on the palate. Sweet, not bitter.
Ravens IPA 7% 650ml (Abbotsford, BC)
Pours a deep golden yellow colour. Faint notes of caramel, bubblegum and grainy malt on the nose. Orange, pine and spice notes on the palate. Big bitterness, crisp bite.
Persephone Fresh Hopped Imperial Red Ale 8% 650ml (Gibsons, BC)
Pours a chestnut brown colour. Notes of nutty caramel malt, floral hops & booze on the nose. Rich, sweet and earthy notes of caramel, dried fruit & booze.
Trinity Swing Se Pliser Sour IPA 4.1% 375ml (Colorado)
Trinity Pappy Legba Cherry Saison 13% 375ml (Colorado)
Trinity TPS Report Wild Brett Wit 4.8% 375ml (Colorado)
Trinity Blow Up Your TV Saison Grisette 3.8% 375ml (Colorado)
Upright Flora Barrel Aged Saison 5.5% 750ml (Portland)
Upright Heart’s Beat Oak Fermented Cherry Ale 7% 750ml (Portland)
Upright August Brett IPA 7% 750ml (Portland)
Upright Special Herbs Barrel Aged Saison 5.7% 750ml (Portland)
Upright Oregon Native Wild Ale Brewed with Pinot Noir Grapes 7.75% 750ml (Portland)