We regularly post tasting notes from our Friday Staff Tasting, providing you with our take on all the latest craft beer arrivals. We got thrown for a loop by the long Thanksgiving weekend and an onslaught of new arrivals. Whoa! Was that a beer truck that just flattened us?!? Lots of fresh-hop beers arriving, as well as plenty of malty (and seasonally appropriate) dark beers showing up. So much good stuff, so little time!!
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:
Evil Twin Brett Yeast & Helles 5.5% 650ml (Brooklyn)
Pours a hazy rich golden yellow colour. Major funky barnyard notes on the nose. Lots of spicy/smoky brett funk on the palate with a hint of green olive brine. It has a light mouthfeel and body finishes with a crisp bitterness!
Also available: Evil Twin Imperial Doughnut Break 11.5% 650ml (Brooklyn)
Renaissance Stonecutter Scotch Ale 7% 500ml (New Zealand)
Pours a reddish chestnut colour. Deep malt notes of caramel, treacle and toffee on the nose. Similarly rich on the palate with chocolate, caramel and dried fig notes.
Howe Sound Devil’s Elbow IPA% 6pk cans (Squamish, BC)
Pours a burnt orange colour. A bit floral with a hint of fruit on the nose. Mostly malty with a hint of hoppy citrus and spice and a bitter finish.
Fuggles & Warlock Chrono Wet Hop IPA 6.9% 650ml (Richmond)
Pours a deep orange-yellow colour. Plenty of citrus and tropical fruit notes on the nose. Earthy with slight vegetal/grassy notes on the palate accompanied by bright orchard fruit and spice notes.
Dageraad Wet Hop Blonde 7.5% 650ml (Burnaby)
Pours a hazy orange-yellow colour. Juicy white wine and orchard fruit notes on the nose. Bursting with incredible fruit notes balanced with hop spice, clove notes and a soft bitter finish.
Merridale Apple Pie Cider 7% 500ml (Cobble Hill, BC)
Loads of powdered cinnamon, caramel green apple lollipop on the nose, with sweet apple juice flavours on the palate and some soft cinnamon spice notes on the finish.
R&B Enigma Sour 6.5% 650ml (Vancouver)
Funky nose with notes of lemon drop candies, cooked peaches and cooked malt. Acidified malt flavour backed by sour peach skin and a dry finish.
Ravens Farmers Ale 5.75% 650ml (Abbotsford, BC)
Loads of juicy citrus, coriander, freshly baked sourdough bread on the nose. The palate is zesty with layered, full-bodied, multi-grain flavours and citrusy spice notes, finishing dry.
Fuggles & Warlock Icarus Mosaic Saison 7% 650ml (Richmond, BC)
Nose is loaded with pineapple juice, funky tropical fruit and a slightly medicinal quality. Palate is full of tropical fruit flavours of pineapple, mango, prickly pear and definite mosaic hop notes – finishing bone dry.
Ravens Dark Mild 4% 650ml (Abbotsford, BC)
Aromas of cocoa, milk chocolate, light berry fruit. Flavours of fruit & nut chocolate bars, cocoa husks with a smoky, dry finish. Very well balanced and easy drinking.
Rogue Farms Fresh Roast Ale 5.7% 650ml (Newport, OR)
Aromas of dark chocolate, freshly roasted malts and medium roast coffee with similar notes on the palate while being very robust and full bodied. Deliciously roasty, dry finish.
Rogue Cold Brew IPA 7.5% 650ml (Newport, OR)
Fairly one-dimensional nose of cold brew coffee, with grassy and piny hints. Palate is robust with cold brew coffee flavour and a refreshing bitterness. One for a coffee and IPA lover.
Tofino Dawn Patrol Coffee Porter 6.5% 650ml (Tofino, BC)
Dark roast coffee, melted dark chocolate and hot chocolate on the nose. Flavours of rich, creamy dark chocolate and dark roast coffee with a smooth yet dry finish.
Ravens Fresh Hop ESB 5.75% 650ml (Abbotsford, BC)
Earthy, malty nose with hints of grapefruit, freshly cut herbs and citrus. Similar on the palate with earthy, roasty notes, fresh pine and an oily texture. Clean finish with a moderate bitterness.
Powell Street Fresh Hop IPA 6% 650ml (Vancouver)
Wonderful citrus aromas of mandarin orange, pineapple and lemon, backed up by fresh, grassy hop notes. Uber fruity flavours of orange and lemon and a round, malty mouth feel with a bright, refreshing bitterness. Delicious and really well balanced.
Hoyne Wolf Vine Wet Hopped Pale Ale 5.8% 650ml (Victoria)
Definite green, funky resin, vegetal notes on the nose with hints of mint, fresh cut grass and robust malt character to balance. Medium-full bodied malty and hoppy flavours of light caramel, wet hops and sticky resin.
Rogue 4 Hop IPA 4.44% 650ml (Newport, OR)
Light citrus notes with a light fruity, bubblegum aroma on the nose. Palate is juicy and light with flavours of green melon, grapefruit and lemon peel. Refreshingly bitter finish.
Rogue 8 Hop IPA 8.88% 650ml (Newport, OR)
Dense tropical fruit and resin on the nose with a boozy aroma. Heavy malty flavours of rich caramel and sweet malt, balanced by a bitter/sweet boozy finish.