here are my notes from yesterday’s beer column on cbc radio one’s on the coast
wherein i explained to matthew lazin-ryder what all the fuss is about:
Category: pint
link love
for the love of radlers
including a make it yourself radler recipe
ninkasi brewing has a space program
yes, you read that correctly
a space program
and they recently launched a rocket full of yeast into the outersphere
stateside on the drive is fuss approved!
but half of the bars surveyed by the vancouver sun are not
(you’ll note that the craft beer serving establishments were the ones closest to serving a full 20oz pint… quality and quantity – yay!)
light beer is on its way out according to washington post
yummy dung smoked beer is coming to the u s of a
beer column
these are my notes from yesterday’s beer column on cbc radio’s on the coast with stephen quinn
wherein i waxed poetic about the (un)happy hour laws in british columbia and sipped some furious friar belgian ipa
if you missed it, you can listen here (just fast-forward to 10 minutes from the end)
Is the new happy hour really a happy rule change for British Columbians? CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale) says no. And so will most beer drinkers when they do the math.
The new rule sets the minimum price for draught beer and cider at 25 cents per ounce, before taxes. If you multiply that out, a 20oz pint is going to cost $5 before taxes. And those places who serve less than a 20oz pint will have to charge at least $3.50 for a 14oz pour and $4 for a 16oz pour, again before taxes. These prices may be slightly lower than what you are currently paying for your beer in Vancouver, but they are actually higher than what people in smaller communities are currently paying for beer. Yup, you heard that right – in many places the new minimum price for beer will be higher than current pricing. That seems like the exact opposite of a happy hour to me. As Paddy Treavor, former president of CAMRA Vancouver and now President of CAMRA Powell River says in his blog: “ My local in Powell River, for example, charged, before [June 20th], $4.50 a pint (yes a real pint), tax included, for craft beer on a regular basis. Now that price will have to increase to hit the new minimum standard. I will now pay more for my pint at the minimum “happy hour minimum” price threshold, before tax, than I was on a regular basis, with tax included, in my local and many other establishments in my town.”
The fact that beer will cost many consumers more than it currently does is the biggest concern for CAMRA and other beer advocates. But they are also not pleased that 2 for 1 offers are prohibited due to health and safety concerns over the appearance of encouraging intoxication. It feels like we are moving backwards instead of forward in allowing the adults of British Columbia the opportunity to act like the grown-ups that they are. The government appears to have caved in to pressure from industry and health groups to make a toothless change to the liquor laws.
Beer tasting:
55 IBUs, 9% alcohol, made with wheat as well as the four traditional ingredients.
Beer picks:
Let’s keep with our theme here – hoppy wheat beers:
link love
just a wee one this week as i’m on vacation!
craft beer by the number?
is it really the way you should choose which beer to order?
five perfect pints in vancouver
nothing you didn’t already know in this one
but it’s nice to see non-beer specific publications espousing craft beer
not a link
just some news from spinnakers:
“Not long now until you can get your Spinnakers fill at the Victoria airport. You’ll find us just past security in the departure hall. We’ll be the ones with 12 taps of Spinnakers beer, a locally focused wine and spirits menu and a full menu infused with our signature Spinnakers’ style, as well as Grab and Go items to take on board.”
cheap craft beer in vancouver
vancity buzz offers this list of cheap craft beer in vancouver
it is a pretty good list,
but it does not correctly identify that a pint is 20oz
and doesn’t list serving sizes of a lot of the sleeves
however, i figure if you’re looking for a beer bargain, its a great list of places to try and you can figure out for yourself where the best deal is
(and when you do, tell me please!)
on a related note
i handed out my first camra fuss card last night
what’s a fuss card you ask?
well, its a card that camra vancouver members can use to inform beer sellers that they are not living up to their provincially mandated duty to properly list serving sizes for their beers
last night’s card giving was at windjammer on commercial drive
who advertise on their sandwich board and their menu that they serve 20 oz pints
when the beer arrived, it was in a branded sleeve, not a pint glass
this is not the first time i have been served less than 20oz there
the beer is cheap at $5
and the fish & chip special is cheap at $6
so i will probably go there again
i do think they need to either get 20oz pint glasses or change their advertising though
and will continue to inform them that short pours / false advertising is not okay with me
you can print your own fuss cards
or pick some up at the next camra beer event you attend
beer geekery
brewdog vs the guardian
its a several-months-old guardian article about women in beer
but it sure got brewdog’s knickers in a twist!
link love
sustainable uses for spent grain
(besides ryan’s amazing spent grain ipa bread!)
a pint of beer is every woman’s right
yup, more on women and beer
but this one from the uk guardian is right on!
campaign for culture wants to bring happy hour to vancouver
and that’s a movement i could get behind!
and lastly, a top 8 canadian microbreweries list that i disagree with
but what can you expect with an article that starts out saying
“Kokanee, Canadian, Sleeman’s, and Alexander Keith’s (all great beers)…”
and thinks that granville island and okanagan springs count as microbreweries?