We regularly post tasting notes from our Friday Staff Tasting, providing you with our take on all the latest craft beer arrivals. You can definitely tell that sours have become not just a seasonal offering, but a year-round beer that people are enjoying more and more. Along with more sours, we’re definitely seeing the rise of funky farmhouse ales, fermented or bottle-conditioned with brett from both Canada and the US. Great stuff arriving from Trinity (CO), Jolly Pumpkin (MI) and Le Castor (PQ). These are really exciting flavourful brews with tons of complexity. Try one!
And speaking of unique 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:
Hoyne Gratitude Winter Warmer 9% 650ml (Victoria)
Pours an orangey brown colour. Interesting notes of funk, malt and dried fruit on the nose. On the palate it’s a tasty mix of black cherries, root beer and spice. Very easy drinking and delicious for such a big beer.
Fuggles & Warlock Kakeru Equinox Dry-Hopped Sour 5.4% 650ml (Richmond)
Pours a hazy deep golden yellow colour. Floral cItrus, melon and vanilla/candy bar notes on the nose. Floral and very tart on the palate with notes of tropical flowers, grapefruit pith, ginger and spice.
Le Castor Colorado Wild Ale 6.2% 500ml (Quebec)
Rich orange-yellow colour. Aromas of medicinal funk, bright citrus and spicy hop notes on the nose. Very dry and like a brett IPA on the palate with major funk notes, spicy/fruity hop notes and a bitter finish.
Le Castor Citra Weisse 5% 500ml (Quebec)
Grapefruit and bright wheat aromas, candied oranges and tropical fruit on the palate with a very refreshing bitterness on the finish
Le Castor Farmhouse Cerise 6.5% 500ml (Quebec)
Pours a hazy, red-tinted orange colour. Notes of funky barnyard, sour pie cherries and spice on the nose. Medium bodied with delicious tart pie cherry notes and plenty of barnyard funk. Hint of acidity. 
Strange Times for Modern Fellows Brett Saison 6.5% 650ml (Vancouver/San Diego)
Pours a cloudy pale yellow-orange colour. Notes of orange Rockets, brett funk and citrus on the nose. Total citrus bomb on the palate with notes of orannge juice, tart mango and kumquat with hints of funk and a tart, dry finish.
Driftwood Clodhopper Local Malt Dubbel 7% 650ml (Victoria)
Pours a burnt copper orange colour. Spicy aromas of root beer and dried fruit with hints of raw grain. Sweet with root beer spice, dried figs/dates and grainy malt notes.
Dieu Du Ciel Route des Epices 5% 330ml (Quebec)
Peppercorn and pie spice aromas, with flavours of rye bread, toasted nuts and hints of stone fruit with a peppercorn heat on the dry finish
Tofino Dark Lager 4.5% 650ml (Tofino, BC)
Charred malt, dark chocolate and caramel aromas, with similar flavours of bitter dark chocolate, caramel finishing clean and dry.
Category 12 Excitation Cacao Nib Espresso Stout 6.4% 650ml (Saanich)
Smoky aromas of chocolate, black malt and coffee with a thick texture and flavours of cocoa husks, dark chocolate and coffee with a lightly bitter finish.
Ninkasi Sleigh’r Dark Double Alt 7.2% 650ml (Oregon)
Hoppy and earthy aromas with flavours of dark, dried fruit, chocolate, coffee and a smack of booze, finishing warm and slightly sweet.
Ninkasi Noir Cold Brewed Coffee Milk Stout 7.6% 650ml (Oregon)
Vanilla and cream aromas with flavours of milk chocolate, cream and vanilla finishing lightly sweet and smoky.
Jolly Pumpkin Incios Nuevos 5.7% 750 ml (Michigan)
Jolly Pumpkin Calabaza Blanca Witbier 4.8% 750 ml (Michigan)
Jolly Pumpkin Beaudelaire Beer: iO Saison 6.8% 750 ml (Michigan)
Diabla Red Sangria 7% 6pks (BC)
Pours a cranberry red colour. Sweet aromas of citrus fruit. Sweet on the palate with juicy fruit notes and good carbonation.