Keith’s Cascade Hop Ale

Posted on May 2, 2013 by storiesbywilliams

As a rule, I’m always encouraged when a major brewery decides to show a commitment to craft brewing. These days, most breweries seem to be doing this through the creation of small-batch limited releases. Not only do these show that quality is winning out over quantity, it demonstrates that people are once again looking for new and local beers that offer them an authentic drinking experience. And even the largest operations appear to be noticing the writing on the wall…

So I really wasn’t that surprised when I noticed that Alexander Keith’s was coming out with a new series known as the Hop Series Ales. And during one of our visits to the local pub, I saw the opportunity to try the first beer in the series – known as the Cascade Hop Ale. And considering that I have often used Keith’s as an example of everything that’s wrong in the world of brewing, my expectations were not very high, but were my hopes were. Here’s what I thought…

Appearance: Light amber, clear, good foam and carbonation
Nose: Slight notes of pine and citrus
Taste: Light malts, smooth, quick burst of citrus hops
Aftertaste: Relatively watery finish, mild malt and hop traces
Overall: 7/10

In short, this first item in their Hop Series was not bad. In fact, in the course of drinking it, I generally felt that it was a drinkable and somewhat pleasurable ale to have. However, these feeling were mitigated by my suspicion that what I was tasting was really just regular Keiths with some added hops thrown in. Hence my rating of a flat seven out of ten. Not bad, but not great either. Pretty much what I was expecting to find…

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Posted on March 17, 2013 by storiesbywilliams

Good morning folks and a happy St. Patrick’s Day to all! Not only is this day the perfect excuse to party, its also a time when people all over North America celebrate and honor their Irish roots. And what better way to do that than to tilt a glass of something craft made, local or foreign, that is done in the venerable tradition of Irish brewing. It doesn’t have to be all about Guinness, you know And so I’ve decided to mark this occasion by highlighting the many Irish-style brews that I’ve had over the years which were satisfying, appetizing, and just generally a pleasure to drink. But first, a note on beer styles that come to us from the Emerald Isle.

As part of the British Isles, Ireland shares many varieties and brewing processes in common with England, Scotland and Wales. But at the same time, Irish brewers have been very good at establishing signature styles and brands. And much like the other locales in the Isles, ales and stouts are favored over lagers and other “Continental” beers. Irish Stouts are very common, and are often associated with Ireland almost exclusively. Chock this up to a very successful marketing campaign by companies like Guinness and Murphy’s, both huge purveyors of Irish Stouts. Then there’s what is known as “Irish Red Ale”, a pale ale that is deep red in hue and quite malty. Here, it is companies like Smithwicks and Beamish Red that are most often associated with the style.

But of course, this is not representative of the entirety of Irish brewing. Today, there are no shortage of assorted Porter’s, Pale Ales, and other varieties to be found that bear the name “Irish”. And when it comes to the export market, there are far more than just the major brand names to choose from. And in my experience, these are the next best thing to actually going to Ireland and sampling locally. So I present my list of Irish-style beers that have made an impact on me over the years, all of which can be found right here in the Great White North.

Mill St. Valley Irish Ale:
Brewed with a combination of pale, biscuit, chocolate and caramel malts, American and British hops, and even a touch of Lanark County maple syrup, Mill Street’s take on the traditional Irish Ale is a creamy, syrupy, and slightly smoky drinking experience. And of course, it’s name honors the Ottawa Valley’s long-standing Irish population. The smooth, malty character and clean finish of it also calls to mind such British classics as Boddingtons and Kilkenny, though I sincerely prefer this one when all is said and done. In addition to being more balanced and complex, it also appeals to my patriotic side, having grown up in the Ottawa Valley and owing a good deal of my heritage to Ireland!

Scotch-Irish Sergeant Major’s IPA:
Located in southern Ontario, the Scotch-Irish brewing company is one of the finest purveyors of ales, stouts and sessionals that I’ve ever experienced. And their Sergeant Major’s IPA stands out for me as the beer that familiarized me with what a real IPA should taste like. At once rich and thick in terms of its malts, it also packs a wallop on the hop front. The flavor here ranges from piney, to floral, to citrusy, and lingers on the tongue for quite some time. As a lover of hops, I was immediately charmed and sought this beer out whenever I could, especially when I returned to Ottawa to visit old friends. Imagine my disappointment then when I heard that the Scotch-Irish brewing company had been absorbed by the Kitchessipi operation. Though this sort of thing happens, it appalls me to see that the status of their traditional lineup is indeterminate at this time. I will have to investigate when I get back to Ottawa again…

Nelson Paddywhack IPA:
This beer I became acquainted with shortly after moving to BC. Crafted by Nelson Brewery, a purveyor of organic ales located in BC’s interior, this beer is not only the Gold Medal winner of the 2003 Canadian Brewing Awards but also the brewing staff’s favorite. Not hard to see why, since the beer is both heavily hopped but manages to achieve a good balance with a rather rich malt profile. Combining five varieties of American, British and German hops, the flavor is at once bitter, floral, citrusy and earthy, and stays with you long after your first sip.

Trafalgar Celtic Ale:
Ah, and old favorite, and another beer which I seek out whenever I’m back East. Brewed by Trafalgar Beers and Meads, the Celtic Ale is a prime example of an Irish pale ale that emphasizes clean, smooth, and complex flavor over bitterness. Auburn in color, the scent is gentle and reminiscent of toasted breads and biscuits, while the flavor is quite light, yet deceptively complex and layered. In the end, it finishes clean and without any real lingering bitterness. At first, I was a little put off by the its lack of hoppy flavor, but was drawn back to it due to its undeniable charm and subtelty. Whenever I was looking for a good beer to pair with spicey food, after a hot workout, or just in the mood for something smooth and refreshing, I’d pick up a case of four tallboys, which is how they are packaged. I tell ya, just about everything with this beer is unique!

And so I say to you, beer snobs and beer enthusiasts, seek these beers out if and when you can. You will not be disappointed. Now let’s all get out to our favorite watering holes, turn up the Celtic music, and enjoy a fine pint in honor of St. Patrick and our collective heritage, whatever that may be!

Mill St. Barley Wine

Posted on February 18, 2013 by storiesbywilliams

Me, outside of Mill St.’s new location in Ottawa, ON. Photo by Carla Jack

Ask, and ye shall find the beer ye be looking for! Or something like that… Yes, less than a day after I formulated my list of winter seasonal reviews, which came complete with the final three beers I wanted to try, I found the first amongst those final few. Yes, MIll St. Barley Wine now sits on my shelf, and the custom ceramic bottle is slowly emptying…

For some time, I’ve been generally lauding Mill St. for its creative endeavors. Their Tank House Pale Ale is one of the best I’ve ever had, and with few exceptions, their lineup is pretty impressive. And when it comes to barley wine, they release an annual batch that is contained in a ceramic, half-liter container and is very strong. This year’s comes in a black container and weighs in at a hefty 11.5 % alc/vol.

Appearance: Dark amber, touch of cloudiness, good foam and carbonation
Nose: Strong, syrupy malts, notes of citrus
Taste: Immediate touch of brown sugar giving way to coarse malts and slight bitterness
Aftertaste: Lingering coarse malt flavor, alcohol and slight hoppiness
Overall: 8/10

All in all, this beer was quite strong and I fear, somewhat overpowering. This is not so much a factor in alcohol content as taste, where the powerful, extra strong malt character leads to a coarse quality which pushes just about everything else to the side. The trace hops and sweetness are quite appealing, but they tend to get overshadowed, which is too bad. Still, this was a highly pleasurable beer and definitely a worthy addition to my winter lineup. And even though a single bottle can run you in excess of 20 dollars, I consider it a worthy investment.

The Winter of Beer 2012/13

Posted on February 17, 2013 by storiesbywilliams

As February gives way to March, we in the beer snob community bid adieu to the winter brewing season and prepare for the spring lineup. And I have to admit, 2012/13 was a pretty interesting year for winter brewing. Some creative, questionable, and classic things were created and I feel like taking stock. From barley wine to barrel-aged, from Belgian darks to bocks and trappists. There was plenty to choose from and all of it enjoyable.

Of course, I would be lying if I said I got to try everything I wanted to, and there are still a few I want to squeeze in before the winter is over. But overall, I’m pretty pleased with the range of samples I got to try and think that it constituted a pretty good range of styles, be they regional or historical. From the Pacific Northwest to Central and Western European, from the medieval to the modern.

And so here they are, listed from the first of the season to the most recent tried, with a few slots reserved for those that have yet to make the list for this year:

Parallel 49 Christmas CDA – Dec. 1st 9/10
Spinnakers Festive Saison – Dec. 1st 7.5/10
Thor’s Equinox – Dec. 6th 9/10
Philips Trainwreck Barley Wine – Dec. 6th 7.5/10
Lighthouse Siren Red Ale – Dec. 9th 9/10
Dead Frog Winter Beeracle – Dec. 13th 8/10
Hoyne Gratitude Winter Warmer – Dec. 14th 9/10
Chateau Rogue Dirtoir Black Lager – Dec. 18th 9/10
La Rochefort Trappist 8 – Dec. 19th 9.5/10
Orval Trappist – Dec. 21st 9/10
La Rochefort Trappist 10 – Dec. 21st 9/10
Phillips Instigator Doppelbock – Dec. 27th 8.5/10
Howe Sound Wooly Bugger – Dec.31st 10/10
Moon Under Water Potts Pils – Jan. 22nd 8.5/10
Lost Coast Winterbraun – Jan. 26th 8.5/10
VIB Storm Watcher Winter Lager – Jan. 29th 7.5/10
Phillips Twisted Oak Scotch Ale – Jan. 29th 7.75/10
Phillips Leviathan Milk Stout – Jan. 31st 8.5/10
Parallel 49 Vow of Silence – Feb. 8th 7/10
Steamworks Heroica Stout – Feb. 12th 8/10
Howe Sound Wee Beastie Scotch Ale – Feb. 12th 7.75/10
Driftwood Old Barrel Dweller – Feb. 13th 8/10
Mill Street Barley wine - yet to try
Steamworks Blitzen – yet to try
Granville Island Barley Wine – yet to try

Perhaps it’s was simply to get a well-rounded list with 25 candidates, but the last three are ones I know I have access to and really want to try before it’s too late. And once I’ve finished with them, I will rate which one I enjoyed the most. The winner for the brewing season of 2012/13! Cheers, and here’s to the ongoing and venerated tradition of seasonal brewing!

Of the Rise in Craft Brewing

Posted on September 22, 2012 by storiesbywilliams

A long time ago, I did an article for this site addressing what I saw as a criminal trend in the brewing industry. Not just any crime mind you, but a crime against nature itself, as far as I was concerned! I was referring to the expansion of major brand names and how it seemed to be leading to an overall dip in quality.

To illustrate, I referred to how some of my favorite craft brewers from over the years had been altering their recipes, mainly so they could achieve mass appeal and expand their sales. Others, also personal favorites of mine, had closed down instead, unable to compete in a mass market dominated by major names and low standards. Not a happy article. But if I’ve realized anything in the past two years, it is that this trend has swung sharply in the other direction.

Yes, craft brewing is becoming more and more popular, and may I say that it’s about bloody time! Whether its an upsurge in the number of micro-breweries or the adoption of a craft beer line by major breweries, the trend seems consistent. Granted this is all based on my own anecdotal experience, but when you notice it happening everywhere, you have to assume you’re onto something!

First, as I said, is the expansion in craft brewing. Of all the micro breweries that I’ve discovered since moving to BC, few seem to have opened their doors before the year 2000. For those that did, you’d be hard pressed to find one that’s been in operation since before the late 90′s. This is true of the Driftwood Brewery, the Cannery Brewery, Moon Under Water, Phillips, Old Yale, Hoyne, Dead Frog, Surgenor, Longwood, Swan’s, Spinnakers, and a host of others that I’ve sampled over the years. Back in Ontario, this is similarly true. It was only in the late 90′s and early millennium that the spectacular operations of McAuslan’s, Creemore, Scotch-Irish, Mill St., Heritage, Cameron’s, Muskoka, and a slew of others were established. And their ongoing success is a testament to fact that the popularity of craft brewing is on the rise.

As for the adoption of special, small-batch product lines adopted by larger operations, I am satisfied to say that this trend seems to be catching on, particularly with breweries that I noticed were watering down the wares. In recent years, the Vancouver Island Brewery, Granville Island Brewery, the Lighthouse Brewery have all began releasing signature or limited release beers that are not part of their regular lineups, and take advantage of the small batch production methods that ensure better quality.

This is also true of such giants as Keith’s, which has expanded its lineup by incorporating a white, an amber and a dark ale. This began in recent years, and represents a complete 180 from what they’ve been doing for the generations now – producing a single, watery ale that bears no resemblance to a real IPA. And Sleeman’s, a major operation in its own right, has even expanded its repertoire by introducing an IPA and a Porter to their lineup.

Granted, brewery ownership is still concentrated in the hands of a few major multinationals, and the vast majority of beer consumed today consists of mass produced, flat and flavorless numbers. Still, the trend towards authenticity and flavor seems to be clear. Consumers are demanding beer that is made locally, in small batches, and in accordance with traditional standards. And for beer snobs, who insist on authenticity over accessibility, this can only be seen as great news. Great news indeed!

So when you’re out next weekend, find yourself a local microbrew, a brewpub, and drink up! And be sure to tip your barmaid. Cheers!

St. Ambroise Citrouille

Posted on September 18, 2012 by storiesbywilliams

Fall’s here, and you know what that means… Pumpkin Ale! And much to my delight, St. Ambroise has once again released its seasonal, otherwise known as St. Ambroise Citrouille. For some time, I’ve been looking to get my hands on this one again so I could give it a more thorough review. And when it comes to pumpkin ales, there are few as deserving as this one!

As I’ve said before, pumpkin ales are becoming all the rage when it comes to craft brewing. Every year, more and more microbreweries seem to be producing their own variant of the pumpkin, and I was quite thrilled when St. Ambroise produced their own. More than most, they have captured the essence and appeal of this seasonal ale, which is basically pumpkin pie in a glass!

Appearance: Dark orange and transparent
Nose: Strong hints of clove and pumpkin
Taste: An immediate burst of sweet pumpkin, giving way to cloves and cinnamon spice
Aftertaste: Slight bitterness and lingering notes of cinnamon
Overall: 9/10

Unibroue Grande Reserve 17

Posted on July 21, 2012 by storiesbywilliams

Don’t I feel privileged! It seems that I came into possession of a bottle of Unibroue’s Grande Reserve 17. Back in 2007, Unibroue commissioned this specialty brew in honor of their 17th anniversary. Seems a bit random, but who am I to complain?

Having looked into this beer’s background, it was apparent that it was not widely distributed. How to explain then how I just found it in a Cowichan Bay Liquor Plus right outside of town? I guess they got that distribution problem licked! Needless to say, I was intrigued, bought myself a bottle, and began sampling as soon as I got home.

To break it down succinctly, this is an extra strong brown ale (10% alc/vol) that is refermented in the bottle (much like all of Unibroue’s products) and also aged in French Oak. In many ways, I was reminded of Trois Pistoles, another extra strong brown ale made by Unibroue which has been known to kick things up a notch! But of course, they go a step further with this special reserve, aging it longer, and in oak, which makes for a stronger, suppler taste.

Appearance: Dark brown and translucent with a thick head
Nose: Sugary with notes of spice and toffee
Taste: Sweat malty taste, notes of molasses and brown sugar and spice
Aftertaste: Lingering spiciness and mild bitterness
Overall: 9/10

Yeah, I’ve come to approve of just about anything Unibroue produces. But that’s only because they have never disappointed me with any of their products. This latest installment in the growing lineup of Unibroue products that I’ve sampled only adds to the ball.

Winners announced for the Canadian Brewing Awards 2012

Posted on June 11, 2012 by storiesbywilliams

Just the other night, the winners of the 2012 Canadian Brewing Awards were announced. It all took place in a gala ceremony in Montreal, the final event in a two day conference that also overlapped with part of the 19th annual Mondial de la Bière. As usual, the list is long and varied, but I’ve managed to procure the list with its many winners and honorees. Here they are, ordered by category and place. See if you can’t spot some of your favorites!

North American Style Lager
Gold: Brewhouse Pilsener, Great Western Brewing Co. (SK)
Silver: Sleeman Original Draught, Sleeman Breweries Ltd.
Bronze: Alpine Lager, Moosehead Breweries (NB)

North American Style Premium Lager
Gold: Vancouver Islander Lager, Vancouver Island Brewery (BC)
Silver: Muskoka Craft Lager, Muskoka Brewery (ON)
Bronze: Beach Blonde Lager, Tree Brewing Co. (BC)

European Style Lager (Pilsner)
Gold: Steam Whistle Pilsner, Steam Whistle Brewing (ON)
Silver: Red Canoe Lager, Canoe Brewpub (BC)
Bronze: Steamworks Pilsner, Steamworks Brewing Co. (BC)

North American Style Amber Lager
Gold: Buzz Beer, Cool Beer Brewing Co. (ON)
Silver: Blue Buck Pale Ale, Phillips Brewing Co. (BC)
Bronze: Barking Squirrel Lager, Hop City Brewing Co. (ON)

North American Style Dark Lager
Gold: Hermann’s Dark Lager, Vancouver Island Brewing Co. (BC)
Silver: Okanagan Spring Brewmaster’s Black Lager, Sleeman Breweries
Bronze: King Dark Lager, King Brewery (ON)

Light (Calorie-Reduced) Lager
Gold: Cracked Canoe Premium Light Lager, Moosehead Breweries (NB)
Silver: Moose Light, Moosehead Breweries (NB)
Bronze: Brewhouse Light, Great Western Brewing Co. (SK)

Bock – Traditional German Style
Gold: Deviator Doppelbock, Cameron’s Brewing Co. (ON)
Silver: Hermannator Ice Bock, Vancouver Island Brewing Co. (BC)
Bronze: Amsterdam Spring Bock, Amsterdam Brewing Co. (ON)

Kellerbier
Gold: Kellerbier, Creemore Springs Brewery (ON)
Silver: Bohemian Lager, R&B Brewing Co. (BC)
Bronze: Festivale, Beau’s All Natural Brewing Co. (ON)

Porter
Gold: Coffee Porter, R&B Brewing Co. (BC)
Silver: 25th Anniversary Robust Porter, Great Lakes Brewing Co. (ON)
Bronze: Coffee Stout, Phillips Brewing Co. (BC)

Strong Porter (Baltic)
Gold: Lost River Baltic Porter, Bellwoods Brewery (ON)
Silver: Grand Baltic Porter, Garrison Brewing Co. (NS)
Bronze: Okanagan Spring Porter, Sleeman Breweries

Cream Ale
Gold: Original 16, Great Western Brewing Co. (SK)
Silver: Portage Ale Cream Ale, Mill Street Brewery (ON)
Bronze: Begbie Cream Ale, Mt. Begbie Brewery (BC)

Kolsch
Gold: Lug Tread, Beau’s All Natural Brewing Co. (ON)
Silver: Swans Arctic Ale, Swans Brewery (BC)
Bronze: Harvest Moon Organic Hemp Ale, Nelson Brewing Co. (BC)

North American Style Amber/Red Ale
Gold: Red Racer ESB, Central City Brewing Co. (BC)
Silver: Thirsty Beaver Amber Ale, Tree Brewing Co. (BC)
Bronze: Lighthouse Race Rocks Ale, Lighthouse Brewing Co. (BC)

North American Style Blonde/Golden Ale
Gold: Boreale Blonde, Les Brasseurs du Nord (QC)
Silver: Picaroons Blonde, Picaroons Traditional Ales (NB)
Bronze: Kichesippi Natural Blonde, Kichesippi Beer Co. (ON)

Brown Ale
Gold: Iron Horse Brown Ale, Prince Edward Island Brewing Co. (PEI)
Silver: Beaver Brown Ale, Canoe Brewpub (BC)
Bronze: Nelson After Dark, Nelson Brewing Co. (BC)

American Style Black Ale
Gold: Terrestrial India Brown Ale, Wellington County Brewery (ON)
Silver: Black IPA, Brasserie Dunham (QC)
Bronze: Houblon Libre, Microbrasserie du Lac Saint-Jean (QC)

Scotch Ale
Gold: Swans Scotch Ale, Swans Brewery (BC)
Silver: Iron Duke, Wellington County Brewery (ON)
Bronze: St. Ambroise Scotch Ale, McAuslan Brewing Inc (QC)

English Style Pale Ale (Bitter)
Gold: Pale Ale, Yaletown Brewing Co. (BC)
Silver: St. Ambroise Pale Ale, McAuslan Brewing Inc (QC)
Bronze: River Rock Bitter, Canoe Brewpub (BC)

North American Style Pale Ale (Bitter)
Gold: Steamworks Pale Ale, Steamworks Brewing Co. (BC)
Silver: Crazy Canuck Pale Ale, Great Lakes Brewing Co. (ON)
Bronze: Naughty Neighbour, Nickel Brook, (ON)

Wheat Beer – Belgian Style White/Wit
Gold: Cheval Blanc, Les Brasseurs RJ (QC)
Silver: Dominus Vobiscum Blanche, Microbrasserie Charlevoix (QC)
Bronze: Mons Abbey Witte, Brasserie Belgh Brasse (QC)

Wheat Beer – German Style Hefeweizen
Gold: N/A (no beer had high enough points to receive gold)
Silver: Beachcomber Summer Ale, Vancouver Island Brewing (BC)
Bronze: Hefeweizen Unfiltered Wheat Ale, Tree Brewing Co. (BC)

Wheat Beer – North American Style
Gold: Sungod Wheat Ale, R&B Brewing Co. (BC)
Silver: Sir John A’s Honey Wheat, Prince Edward Island Brewing Co. (PEI)
Bronze: Dooryard Summer Ale, Picaroons Traditional Ales (NB)

Belgian Style Abbey Ale
Gold: Don Juan, Broadway Microbrasserie and Pub (QC)
Silver: Tchucke, Broadway Microbrasserie and Pub (QC)
Bronze: Dominus Vobiscum Double, Microbrasserie Charlevoix (QC)

Belgian Style Strong Specialty Ale
Gold: Tripe a Trois, A la Fut (QC)
Silver: Buteuse, Microbrasserie Le Trou du Diable (QC)
Bronze: 17 Grande Reserve, Unibroue (QC)

Barley Wine Style Ale
Gold: Woolly Bugger Barleywine, Howe Sound Brewing Co. (BC)
Silver: Thor’s Hammer Barleywine, Central City Brewing Co. (BC)
Bronze: Gaz de Course, Brouhaha (QC)

Stout
Gold: St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout, McAuslan Brewing Inc. (QC)
Silver: Bete Noire, A La Fut (QC)
Bronze: Midnight Sun Espresso Stout, Yukon Brewing Co. (YT)

Imperial Stout
Gold: Stout Imperiale Russe, Brasserie Dunham (QC)
Silver: Fort Garry Kona Imperial Stout, Fort Garry Brewing Co. (MB)
Bronze: Hammer Imperial Stout, Phillips Brewing Co. (BC)

English Style India Pale Ale
Gold: Powell IPA, Coal Harbour Brewing Co. (BC)
Silver: Tranquility IPA, Moon Under Water Pub and Brewery (BC)
Bronze: Devil’s Elbow IPA, Howe Sound Brewing Co. (BC)

American Style India Pale Ale
Gold: Karma Citra, Great Lakes Brewing Co. (ON)
Silver: Rye Pale Ale, Cameron’s Brewing Co. (ON)
Bronze: Swans Extra IPA, Swans Brewery (BC)

Imperial India Pale Ale
Gold: Central City Imperial IPA, Central City Brewing Co. (BC)
Silver: Diable au Corps, Les Brasseurs du Temps (QC)
Bronze: Amnesiac Double IPA, Phillips Brewing Co. (BC)

French and Belgian Style Saison
Gold: Deliverance Saison, Great Lakes Brewing Co. (ON)
Silver: Nit Wit, Garrison Brewing Co. (NS)
Bronze: Patio Saison, Beau’s All Natural Brewing Co. (ON)

Special Honey/Maple Lager or Ale
Gold: Royal York Stinger, Mill Street Brewery (ON)
Silver: Boreale Doree, Les Brasseurs du Nord (QC)
Bronze: Cypress Honey Lager, Granville Island Brewing Co. (BC)

Fruit Beer
Gold: Mandarin Orange Amber Ale, Dead Frog Brewery (BC)
Silver: Pepper Lime Lager, Dead Frog Brewery (BC)
Bronze: Moose Light Lime, Moosehead Breweries (NB)

Fruit Wheat Beer
Gold: Amsterdam Framboise, Amsterdam Brewing Co. (ON)
Silver: Ephemere Pomme, Unibroue (QC)
Bronze: Crique, A La Fut (QC)

Pumpkin Beer
Gold: St. Ambroise Pumpkin Ale, McAuslan Brewing Inc. (QC)
Silver: Highballer Pumpkin Ale, Grand River Brewing Co. (ON)
Bronze: Pumpkineater, Howe Sound Brewing Co. (BC)

Wood and Barrel Aged Beer
Gold: 25th Anniversary Bourbon Barrel Aged Robust Porter, Great Lakes Brewing Co. (ON
Silver: Amsterdam Leipziger Gose, Amsterdam Brewing Co. (ON)
Bronze: Red Truck Ruby, Red Truck Beer Co. (BC)

Wood and Barrel Aged Strong Beer
Gold: Thor’s Hammer Bourbon Barrel Barley Wine, Central City Brewing Co. (BC)
Silver: Nectar of the Gods, Russell Brewing Co. (BC)
Bronze: Singularity Russian Imperial Stout, Driftwood Brewery (BC)

Wood and Barrel Aged Sour Beer
Gold: Co-Hop V, A La Fut (QC)
Silver: Bird of Prey-Flanders Red, Driftwood Brewing Co. (BC)
Bronze: Vent d’Anges, Broadway Microbrasserie and Pub (QC)

Experimental Beer
Gold: Dark Snout Bacon Stout, R&B Brewing Co. (BC)
Silver: Honey Lavender, Garrison Brewing Co. (NS)
Bronze: Harry Porter and the Bourbon Soaked Vanilla Beans, Great Lakes Brewing Co. (ON)

Beer of the Year – Co-Hop V, A La Fut (QC)
Brewery of the Year – Central City Brewing Co.

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