We regularly post tasting notes from our Friday Staff Tasting, providing you with our take on all the latest craft beer arrivals. This week, we tasted a tonne of new beers since so much new stuff has arrive recently. The pumpkin beers are really starting to roll in. Look for more of those every week.
Pick up four pumpkin beer bombers (or any four bombers, for that matter) and you’ll get a free bomber carrier (pictured below). And if you bring it back and fill it up again, you get 5% off that purchase. Keep bringing it back and filling it up and keep saving.
And, remember, if you come in to the store and can’t find something we’ve written about here, please just ask. It’s probably still in the back, since we always seem to have more beer than we know what to do with.
Tod Creek Coastal Blue Blueberry Cider 6% (Victoria)
Pours a clear purple colour with violet & rose hues. Classic dry apple cider notes with a touch of wild berry on the nose. Sharp acidity on the palate is balanced by lightly softened blueberry skin notes along with notes of other ripe berries. Very refreshing.
Steamworks Pumpkin Ale 6.5% 650ml (Vancouver)
Pours a clear, pale orange colour. Ginger heat on the nose with vegetal funk followed by baking spices. Big ginger notes on the palate with light notes of pumpkin, baking spices, caramel & booze.
Phillips, Crooked-ER Tooth, 7.3% 650ml (Victoria)
Pours a clear, dark orange colour. Floral with heavy ginger notes and tropical fruit on the nose. Loads of ginger heat up front followed by a round, caramel booziness. Surprisingly dry with a lingering booze note.
Hearthstone American Pale Ale 4.5% 4pk cans (North Vancouver)
Pours a clear, light orange colour. Notes of dense pine with hints of oranges & sweet malt. Piney sweetness, punch of malt & a solid, lingering but refreshing bitterness on the palate.
Hearthstone Bohemian Pils 5% (North Vancouver)
Pours a clear yellow colour. Enticing notes of candied banana, bright & sweet citrus and a hint of funk on the nose. Loads of citrus upfront on the palate with a sweet, light, malt character with an astringent bitterness & spiciness on the finish.
Hopworks, Nonstop Hefe-Hop! Session Wheat Ale 3.9% 4pk cans (Portland)
Pours a hazy yellowy orange colour. Pineapple, citrus, lemon juice and light hop aroma on the nose. Notes of pineapple juice and fresh herbs on the palate. Clean and dry. Very sessionable and delicious
Le Trou Du Diable/Del Ducato Bella Ciao Oatmeal Saison 600ml 5% (Quebec)Pours a soft, hazy, pale yellow colour. Bright citrus & delicate spice with floral saison yeast notes on the nose. Soft on the palate with notes of orange & pineapple, followed by a perfectly bitter finish. Outstanding.
Persephone Imperial Pilsner 8% 650ml (Gibsons, BC)
Pours a sightly hazy golden orange colour. Herbal notes, bright citrus and hints of sweet malt on the nose. Round & creamy malt on the palate hides the booze very well. Delicious balance of juicy citrus & herbal notes with light bitterness.
Steel & Oak Jack Daniels Barrel-Aged Smoked Hefeweizen 7.5% 650ml (Vancouver)
Pours a dense, hazy golden orange colour. Notes of creamed honey, whisky, bavarian herbs & spices (clove) and a touch of smoke. Full-bodied on the palate with dense honey notes, smoked wood & classic banana and pineapple hefe notes.
Hoyne Wolf Vine Wet-hopped Pale Ale 5.3% 650ml (Victoria)
Pours a clear, dark orange colour. Notes of dense forest, ocean air, brine, earthy resin & pear on the nose. Juicy orange & lemon citrus with dense, earthy malt notes on the palate.
Driftwood Sartori Wet-Hopped IPA 7% 650ml (Victoria)
Pours a clear, yellowy orange colour. Big mint notes, fresh cut herbs & delicate resin with a touch of tropical fruit on the nose. Bright citrus & herb notes on the palate with round malt character with dank hop resins and a solid bitter finish.
Saugatuck Neapolitan Stout 6% 650ml (Michigan)
Pours a jet black colour. Loads of vanilla, with each Neapolitan flavour (chocolate, strawberry, vanilla) present on the nose. Very creamy, rich mouthfeel with a big hit of strawberry sweetness on the finish.