Before we get into this week’s tasting notes, we have a big announcement.
As we have done in the past, we’ll be putting together a 12 Beers of Christmas Craft Beer Advent Calendar this year, which we will be announcing the details for soon. This year’s will be different than what we’ve done in the past and we will be making it available to customers province-wide. It will contain 12 carefully selected 473ml tall cans and will be available for ordering via our online Beer Mail page, as well as in-store. Please note, however, that there will only 48 of them, so we’re anticipating it will sell out quickly. It will likely go on sale Nov. 30 and be available until they are all sold out.
Here’s what’s new:
Dominion Winter Cider 6.5% 500ml (Summerland, BC)
Pours a cloudy orange-yellow colour. Big cinnamon, clove and ginger spice notes on the nose. Tastes like a clove-studded apple, or very spiced up apple pie. Fine carbonation.
Russell Oatmeal Stout 4.7% 473ml (Vancouver)
Pours a black coffee colour. Notes of chocolate, roasty malt, molasses and chocolate on the nose. Creamy and rich with pleasant dark roasted malt notes like espresso and dark chocolate.
Persephone Nitro Dry Irish Stout 4.5% 473ml (Gibsons, BC)
Pours a black coffee colour. Dark chocolate, smoke/char notes on the nose. Soft and creamy on the palate, with notes of dark chocolate, espresso and smoke. Light bodied and sessionable!
Steamworks Nitro Stout 4.5% 4pk (Vancouver)
Pours a black coffee colour with good nitro cascading effect. Notes of dark fruit, coffee and dark chocolate on the nose. Cream, soft mouthfeel with a bit of tartness and pleasant notes of smoke, dark chocolate and espresso. Light bodied, but flavourful.
Ravens Hot Chocolate Porter 6.5% 650ml (Abbotsford, BC)
Pours a black coffee colour. Notes of rich chocolate, espresso and roasted grain on the nose. Big cocoa and chocolate notes, with a bit of tartness on the nice dry finish.
Dageraad 8° Belgian-style Brune with Date Sugar 8.9 % 650ml (Burnaby, BC)
Notes of rich, sweet candied fruit and booze on the nose. On the palate it’s sweet up front with notes of dried dark fruit, spice and booze. Bite of refreshing acidity on finish. Almost winelike.
Persephone Double IPA 9% 650ml (Gibsons, BC)
Pours an orange-yellow colour. Sweet citrus and booze notes on the nose. Sweet and balanced on the palate with notes of dried herbs, stone fruit and spice.
Also available: Four Winds Operis Brett Saison
Howe Sound Super Jupiter Mango ISA 4.5% iL (Squamish, BC)
Pours a hazy pale orange-yellow colour. Notes of mango and juicy tropical fruit on the nose. Light bodied with juicy tropical fruit and mango notes on the palate and a dry, bitter finish.
Also available: Howe Sound 2018 Wolly Bugger Barley Wine
Driftwood Limb From Rye IPA 7% 650ml (Victoria)
Pours an orange-yellow colour. Complex notes of spice, root beer and fruit on the nose. Sweet, spicy and fruity on the palate with pleasant bitter orange notes and a hit of booze.
Twin Sails Two Straws Milkshake IPA with Strawberry 6.5% 473ml (Port Moody, BC)
Pours a cloudy pink-tinged orange colour. Big notes of creamy fruit on the nose. Sweet with notes of creamy strawberry candy. Low bitterness.
Strathcona Headbanger Triple IPA 10.4% 473ml (Vancouver)
Pours a cloudy orange colour. Notes of booze, hop funk and ripe tropical fruit on the nose. Sweet and boozy with an abundance of big tropical fruit and a bitter finish.
Steel & Oak Cydonia Oat IPA 6% 473ml (New Westminster, BC)
Pours an orange-yellow colour. Funk, citrus and exotic fruit notes on the nose. Juicy citrus and grapefruit peel notes with a dry, bitter finish. Great IPA.
Twin Sails Single Whammy IPA 6.5% 473ml (Port Moody, BC)
Pours a cloudy pale orange-yellow colour. Notes of sourdough bread, tart tropical fruit and hop funk on the nose. Sweet on the palate with big ripe tropical fruit notes and a soft mouthfeel. Juicy!
Gigantic Endless Juicy IPA 6% 500ml (Portland, OR)
Pours a slightly hazy orange-yellow colour. Notes of candy and ripe fruit on the nose. Subtle carbonation, with juicy citrus notes. Easy drinking.
Category 12 Barrelholder Anomaly 8.9% 650ml (Saanich, BC)
Pours a dark chestnut brown colour. Huge boozy aromas of bourbon, caramel, smoke and chocolate. Boozy bourbon notes on the palate with hints of vanilla and complex, fruity Belgian yeast spice notes and a hint of roasty malt.
Lighthouse Depth Charge Oak Aged Whisky Doppelbock 8.7% 650ml (Victoria)
Pours a copper orange colour. Malty and boozy on the nose with notes of caramel and oak. Boozy and sweet on the palate with rich malt flavour and plenty of fruit and oak spice notes. Warming.
Hoyne Gratitude Winter Warmer 9% 650ml (Victoria)
Pours a copper orange colour. Notes of orange, spice and caramel on the nose. Boozy and rich on the palate, with notes of dried fruit, caramel, orange and roasted nuts.
Fuggles & Warlock DarXide Russian Imperial Stout 9.9% 650ml (Vancouver)
Pours a dark chocolate brown colour. Boozy, with notes of vanilla, caramel and molasses on the nose. Sweet and boozy on the palate with notes of chocolate, vanilla, bourbon and a spicy, bitter finish.