Category: whistler brewing company

legacy liquor store

new beers at legacy liquor store in vancouver:

Unibroue – Éphémère Cherry – $7.30

We’ve all had a number of offerings from the Quebec-based Unibroue, but Cherry Éphémère is certainly perfect for the season at hand. Peach in colour with a lovely pink head paired with wheat and cherries in the aroma followed by more of the same on the palate, this is a well-balanced and superior summer brew.

Tasted by Evan Doan Beer Team at Legacy Liquor Store

8 Wired Brewing – Rewired Brown Ale – $10.55

It’s a brown ale revolution! Hailing from New Zealand, Rewired aims to pull brown ale back from the precipice, pouring the same colour as a dark red brick with a nose of citrus hops, caramel, malt and chestnuts. All these flavours play their own roles on the palate, too, in combination with a medium body and delicious finish, to make for a truly exciting brown ale.

Tasted by Chris Bonnallie Beer Supervisor at Legacy Liquor Store

Whistler Brewing Company – Chai-Maple Ale – $7.25

A mild ale with springtime spice has arrived for these warm spring days. With maple syrup added to the mash and chai to the filtration process, this beer pours a dark bronze with notes of malt, maple and chai in the bouquet. Even more maple and chai are found on the palate to help create a solid brew for those long spring afternoons.

Tasted by Conor Marshall Beer Team at Legacy Liquor Store
Scaldis – Blonde Ale Tripel – $14.05

The Belgians know what they’re doing when it comes to beer, and this Scaldis is testament to that. Lemon in colour, this blonde ale shows citrus, spices (cloves and cinnamon) and a hint of Belgian yeast on the nose followed by more citrus, sweet spices and green fruit (pears to be precise) on the palate with a surprisingly dry and lingering finish.

Tasted by Chris Bonnallie Beer Supervisor at Legacy Liquor Store

Lakefront Brewery – Rendezvous Biere de Garde – $8.35

From the great state of Wisconsin, in the city of Milwaukee situated on the shores of Lake Michigan, comes a little piece of Northern France. This fine French-style ale pours a hazy dark orange while emitting an aroma of sweet malt and coriander. In the mouth, malt and honey fade into yeast and spice with a smooth palate-coating finish.

Tasted by Joel Wilson Beer Team at Legacy Liquor Store

Moon Under Water Brewery – Brewvic Maibock – $7.55

Victoria’s local home brewing club (BrewVIC) and Moon Under Water have come together to brew a delicious Maibock using malts sourced from the Skagit Valley and single-hopped with Meridian. Pouring a golden brown in colour with sweet malt on the nose, more malt follows through on the palate accompanied by a typical German-hop characteristic. A smooth finish rounds this beer out.

Tasted by Evan Doan Beer Team at Legacy Liquor Store

MOA – Pale Ale – $11.35

This New Zealand beer takes the idea of American Pale Ale and runs with it, utilizing famous Cascade and Nelson Sauvin hops in the brew. Orange in colour with aromas of tropical fruit, flowers and citrus that press through to make an appearance on the palate of this tasty Kiwi gem.

Tasted by Chris Bonnallie Beer Supervisor at Legacy Liquor Store

Brasserie du Bocq – Blanche de Namur – $12.55

A family-owned brewery first established in 1858 is responsible for this Belgian wit. Coriander, orange zest and spice dominate the nose of this cloudy yellow wheat beer, while on the palate even more orange zest and spice are found with subtle notes of wheat. Crisp, dry and refreshing.

Tasted by Conor Marshall at Legacy Liquor Store

American Brewing Co. – Flying Monkey – $7.55

Our friends across the border have been hard at work to bring you this particular brew. Hazy orange in colour when poured into a glass with a nose of citrus, pine and a touch of malt, aromas that show through on the palate with more citrus and pine to help complete the beer. A special release in honour of Emerald City Comicon, which should be on your radar.

Tasted by Mike Dolan Beer Team at Legacy Liquor Store

legacy liquor store

Refreshing BeersWhistler Brewing – Lost Lake Unfiltered IPA – $5.35
This refreshing unfiltered IPA has some real kick ringing in at 75 IBU’s (International Bitter Units). With notes of grapefruit and passion fruit in the nose, this complex, full-bodied beer keeps us coming back for more.

Renaissance Brewing – Stonecutter Scotch Ale – $9.85
This brew comes to us from across the globe, New Zealand to be precise. Balanced and hearty, this Scotch Ale is a blend of nine malts that provide layers of toffee, liquorice and caramel. Balance these flavours with tart fruit, raisins and a dry finish and you’ve got a real winner.

Eviltwin Brewing – Ryan and the Beaster Bunny – $11.75
A Danish gem without a doubt, this saison is amber in colour with a nose of bananas and cloves, sweet malt and that saison funk. Belgian yeast, floral hops and more banana and clove rule the palate of this northern European beer.

beer column

these are my notes from yesterday’s beer column on cbc radio’s on the coast
topic:  the health benefits of beer

its February now, new year’s resolutions probably abandoned, but all is not lost, there’s still beer and it can actually be good for you!

this time of the year can be particularly hard with the grey and rainy vancouver weather. summer seems like it will never come, resolutions to lose weight and eat better are proving hard to keep… good thing that something you’re already doing is good for you!
we’re not doctors here, so this is not medical advice
that said, drink beer! its good for you!

beer drinking often gets a bad reputation – beer bellies, drunken frat boys, career limiting moves. this is unfortunate because there are many health benefits that come with beer.
some are undisputed and don’t change with the quantity of beer you drink
alas others you can only get through moderate drinking

we all remember the old advice guinness used to put in their ads “guinness is good for you”, “guinness for strength” and “have a guinness when you’re tired” because drinkers reported feeling better after a pint. Put down to being because of the iron content, Guinness used that as their advertising campaign for years. With changes in advertising laws Guinness now advises you drink in moderation and makes no health benefit claims at all. But – Guinness really IS good for you. A University of Wisconsin study found that Guinness “may work as well as a low dose aspirin to prevent heart clots that raise the risk of heart attacks” and strokes. Also, like red wine and dark chocolate, Guinness and other stouts also contain immune-boosting antioxidants, possibly strong enough to prevent cancer!

But that doesn’t mean we should all run out and drink pint after pint of Guinness. Many other health benefits have been connected to beer in particular and alcohol in general. But all the advice agrees that moderation is the key. Moderation being one beer a day for women and two for men. Having one beer has been linked to better bone density in women, but as soon as you drink more alcohol that benefit turns into a detriment as high alcohol consumption is linked to weakening the bones. For the best bone-building benefits, reach for pale ale, since a 2010 study of 100 types of beer from around the word identified these brews as richest in silicon, while light lagers and non-alcoholic beers contained the least.

Keeping in mind that we’re talking about drinking in moderation, these are the reported health benefits of drinking beer:

anticancer property
reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases
increased bone density
prevention of dementia and coronary disease
aiding digestive system
anti-aging properties
countering diabetes
gallstones
kidney stones and osteoporosis
hypertension
stress buster
diuretic
reduce chromosomal damage from radiation (x-ray) exposure

Some interesting studies:

A study in Finland singled out beer among other alcoholic drinks, finding that each bottle of beer men drank daily lowered their risk of developing kidney stones by 40 percent. One theory is that beer’s high water content helped keep kidneys working, since dehydration increases kidney stone risk. It’s also possible that the hops in beer help curb leeching of calcium from bones; that “lost” calcium also could end up in the kidneys as stones.

A 2005 study tracking the health of 11,000 older women showed that moderate drinkers lowered their risk of mental decline by as much as 20 percent, compared to non-drinkers. In addition, older women who downed a drink a day scored as about 18 months “younger,” on average, on tests of mental skills than the non-drinkers.

A Portuguese study found that marinating steak in beer eliminates almost 70 percent of the carcinogens, called heterocyclic amines (HCAs) produced when the meat is pan-fried. Researchers theorize that beer’s sugars help block HCAs from forming.

A 2011 Harvard study of about 38,000 middle-aged men found that when those who only drank occasionally raised their alcohol intake to one to two beers or other drinks daily, their risk of developing type 2 diabetes dropped by 25 percent. The researchers found that alcohol increases insulin sensitivity, thus helping protect against diabetes.

A Harvard study of 70,000 women ages 25 to 40 found that moderate beer drinkers were less likely to develop high blood pressure—a major risk factor for heart attack—than women who sipped wine or spirits.

And that beer belly myth? A study by Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital followed 19,000 women over the course of 13 years and charted their weight gains. The moderate drinkers gained less weight than the tea-totallers and the heavier drinkers. So if you have a belly, blame it on a sedentary lifestyle and eating too much pub grub!

If all of the above isn’t enough reason to have a pint tonight, there is also my favourite of the beer ingredients, hops! These little babies are jam-packed with health benefits (as well as being so darned tasty!):

– hops are a soporific, so if you suffer from insomnia, hops can help you sleep. my preferred method is through drinking an ipa, but also putting hops in a sachet and putting that in your pillow will work.
– the sedative properties of hops also help with nervousness and anxiety, promoting a sense of well-being and relaxation.
– hops can help with digestion and associated issues.
– hops contain two chemicals (humulone and lupulone) that can kill bacteria that cause spoiling.
– beer may also help reduce cancer risk. Studies suggest that Xanthohumol, a plant compound found in hops, may help prevent cancer, as well as reduce menopausal hot flashes

Tea is a more effective method of delivering the hops to your system than beer, but hey, if you’re going to be drinking a beer anyway isn’t it nice to know that it is working for your health and happiness?

Finally, the best news is the stuff I saved until the end.  Beer benefits that are not limited to those who exercise restraint and stop at one delicious beer a day:

– beer drinkers have 30% higher levels of Vitamin B than non-beer drinkers and TWICE the amount of wine drinkers.
– beer also contains vitamin B12, riboflavin, niacin, zinc, potassium, calcium, phosphorus and folic acid.
– beer and wine contain about the same levels of antioxidants
– beer is fat-free, cholesterol-free and low in carbohydrates
– beer is a source of dietary fibre – 5% of your recommended daily fibre intake per beer

i found this site particularly comprehensive


my beer picks:

from Epic Brewing Company in Auckland New Zealand: hop zombie ipa, with glow in the dark labels, and a mystery combination of new zealand and america hops
from Moon Under Water brewery in Victoria: potts pilsner – this is an unfiltered pilsner, so don’t be alarmed that its a little cloudy – 38 ibus of saaz and cascade hops. at 5.2% its getting a little high for a session beer, but you’re going to want more than one!
from Ninkasi Brewing Company in Eugene, Oregon: several styles will be arriving in lower mainland specialty liquor stores this week:  total domination ipa, believer double red ale, oatis oatmeal stout and renewale esb are not to be missed!

if you find yourself in Whistler stop by Whistler Brewing in Function Junction for a brewery tour and tasting
and the Brewhouse in the village where you can drink award-winning craft beer by the fireplace

legacy liquor store

new and exciting beers:

Elysian Dark O’ The Moon Pumpkin Stout – $12.55
Stout brewed with pumpkin and pumpkin seeds with cinnamon added. Spookily smooth and chocolatey with a touch of cinnamon. It won 2010 GABF Silver Medal in the Field Beer category.
Phillips and Great Lakes Brewery Puzzler Belgian Black IPA – $6.35
This beer is the collaborative result of two Canadian craft breweries three provinces apart coming together in Victoria to combine yeast from Belgium with hops from the Pacific Northwest in a rich Black Ale.
Whistler Chestnut Ale Limited Edition – $6.50
This limited release is a true reflection of Fall. Blended robust caramel and crystal malts to give the brew deep brown amber hues, for an almost warming appearance. However it’s the roasted chestnuts that impart a unique and bold nutty character, complemented by a light level of hops, for a clean yet crisp finish.

legacy

new and exciting beers at legacy vancouver:

Whistler Brewing Pineapple Express Wheat Ale A perfect excuse to kick back and enjoy a few. This golden beauty’s just the ticket. This one’s as fresh as a warm breeze – straight from the shores of Maui.

Russell 626 Anniversary Scotch Ale This strong, dark ale was brewed with Scottish specialty peated malts for a slightly smoky character, then skillfully aged in Bourbon barrels – a beer to celebrate Russell’s 17th Anniversary!

Hofstettner Granit Bock 2011 The Granit Bock is brewed in large granite open troughs. The granite stones are then heated to be white hot and added to the wort. This causes the sugars in the malt to caramelize around the stones and gives the beer lovely caramel and roasted flavors. It also gives the Granit Bock a unique smoked flavor.

beernesday

too many beers i wanted to try at beernesday at st. augustine’s last night!
had to have me two samplers to fit them all in

look how well my iphone camera works when there is light

whistler brewing cheakamus chai maple ale – 5%  this dark bronze ale is made with real maple syrup, added right to the mash.  then, a trace of chai tea is added during the filtration process.  the result is a highly complex, mildly spicy palette structure
hoooo boy that is sweet!  it would be awesome in pancake batter or over ice cream
a bit too much maple sweetness for me in a beer though, the chai notes were subtle, but appreciable

chuckanut brewery pilsner – 5%  in 1842 a bavarian monk smuggled lager yeast from munich to the bohemian town of pilsn where they used the yeast with british pale malt, crafting a beer golden in color.  chuckanut pilsner is truly mouthwatering, deeply satisfying, and refreshing!
i do love me a pilsner, and this one did not disappoint
chuckanut is good at the german-style beers, yes indeed

tofino brewing tuff session ale – 5%  a bright copper coloured pale ale with toasty malt base balanced with wast coast hops.  its light to medium body and clean, dry finish gives this full-flavoured ale dangerously inviting drinkability
there’s a flavour in there that i don’t like
wish i could discern what it is, but i can’t, so there

green flash brewery double stout – 8.8%  an old-world style, done the green flash way
its very yummy, but what is that malt flavour?  its not chocolate or coffee or licorice or chicory…
whatever it is, i like it!  i like it a lot!

when there is no light, my iphone camera takes horribly dark photos!

coal harbour vienna lager – 5%  a vienna-style lager which uses substantial amounts of german malt and specialty malts and german hops
quite a nice little lager!

tree brewing hop head double ipa – 8.3%  packs in the hoppy bitterness with five different varieties of superior hops.  similar to its award-winning best-selling little brother, hop head ipa, also boasts citrus aromas and sweet malt undertones with a slightly darker copper colour
oh yes!  this is a lovely little number
hit all the right double ipa notes for me!

red truck sticke alt – 6.2%  darker in colour and higher abv than traditional alts.  it has a restrained fruit aroma and flavour, a light caramel and burnt sugar malt sweetness, and distinct, herbal, hop bitterness
i’m not a fan of the alt style, but this one i like
not too sweet, not too fruity, not too bitter… it worked for me!

crannog ales gael’s blood potato ale – 5.2%
a coppery red caramel malt lies beneath a forceful hop presence in both bitterness and aroma.  crannog’s spring season ale is made with mt. hood hops grown organically on their own farm
yum!  this year’s brew is lovely!  yes!

gwen showing off her sampler, in the dark

job love

sometimes the whole working for a living thing is a-okay
and i don’t just mean on pay day!

today the office field trip was to the liquor store
i love getting to stock the office fridge with beer!

now keep in mind that i am slowly indoctrinating my work peeps
so no judging the choices – the fridge looks so much better than when i started here!

total eclipse

i love jet-setting!
okay, well, my version of it anyway
freshly back from mexico last week, i jumped on over to whistler this weekend
outlook tv was covering the winter pride celebrations so i got me a free trip to whistler
woo hoo!
i love hitting a ski slope with a tan

while i was there i stopped in at whistler brewing for a post-snowshoeing whiskey jack ale
which i also managed to find on tap at the garibaldi lift company where a couple of parties were held

into each life a little corona must happen
its unavoidable really
and can you blame a gal for having one when it comes in a double margarita??

finally, on the drive back to vancouver the lovely outlook crew stopped in for dinner at howe sound brewpub
i had a delicious devil’s elbow ipa with my 4 cheese penne
and picked up 3 litres of total eclipse of the hops to bring home with me
i love the total eclipse!