what am i looking forward to at gcbf???
well, drinking beer in the sunshine of course!
but more specifically, there are a few beers i have not tried before
and some casks/limited releases that have my antenna twitching
1. IPAs I haven’t tried before:
BANFF BREWING/JASPER BREWING – Banff, AB – Head Smashed IPA – This excellent brew is our flagship beer. Heavily hopped pale ale.
DOUBLE TROUBLE BREWERY – Guelph, ON – Hops and Robbers session IPA, golden, fruity aroma of lemon, pineapple, and toasty caramel malt flavour.
GREAT LAKES BREWING – Toronto, ON – Karma Citra IPA – Flavours of mango, grapefruit and lychee with a clean, crisp bitter finish.
MICROBRASSERIE CHARLEVOIX – Baie-Saint-Paul, QUE – Vache Folle RyePA – It’s red colour, spicy notes and silky body conferred by the use of rye set the table for an aromatic hop explosion!
MOON UNDER WATER BREWERY – Victoria, BC – Tranquility IPA – This intense, spicy and delightful IPA is extremely well balanced. Made with four specialty malts and Cascadian hops, this beer has a bold hop presence without being over the top.
NICKEL BROOK BREWERY – Burlington, ON – Headstock IPA – Very cloudy copper and small dense head. Refreshing, balanced: off-dry with good bitterness and a bright resin/pine, fruity finish.
WOLF BREWING – Nanaimo, BC – Red Brick IPA – This impressive West Coast style India pale ale is brewed with lots of Northwest hops to give a balanced, crisp, clean finish.
2. Limited release or cask:
BEAU’S BREWERY – Vankleek Hill, ON – Pan Ontario – Bourbon barrel aged blend. A blend of four beers from Wellington, Flying Monkeys, Grand River and Great lakes with Beau’s Beaver River.
CANNERY BREWING – Penticton, BC – “Drei” Hopped IPA – This cask is heavily hopped with locally grown hops.
DRIFTWOOD BREWERY – Victoria, BC – Old Cellar Dweller 2011 – Only available in cask once a year. Don’t miss out on the hop & malt monster of 2011!
LONGWOOD BREWPUB – Nanaimo, BC – India Pale Ale – Medium body with high hop bitterness, flavour and aroma keep this beer true to its original style.
GIGANTIC – Portland, ORE- Axes of Evil Pale Ale – Gigantic + Three Floyds unleash this true weapon of mass distraction. Citrus, floral and tropical hoppiness lead to full malt flavour from proper English malt, kilned over Welsh coal.
NOBLE PIG BREWERY – Kamloops, BC – ESB – A blend of five different malts from England. The medium carbonation and the sweetness of the malt are balanced by the generous addition of American and European hops.
SPINNAKERS BREWPUB – Victoria, BC – Hoptoria – Canadian superior pale and English specialty malts give the beer a smooth amber body that balances well with the four assertive additions of five hop varieties
TROU DU DIABLE – Shawiningan, QUE – La Mosure – Get bitten by the bitter taste of this American IPA. This version is cask- conditioned and dry hopped a second time for your pleasure.
3. Most intriguing sounding beer:
SALT SPRING ISLAND ALES – Salt Spring Island, BC – *Spring Fever Gruit Ale – Made without hops – using locally wildcrafted herbs and a little ‘magik’. A stimulating and refreshing beverage with bright, cider-like flavours, a floral/clover nose and a slight sweetness.
Beck's Beer Blog - test 