Tag Archives: BC beer

Hoyne’s Off The Grid Red Lager

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hoyne_off_the_gridHoyne’s is back with another seasonal release! And as luck would have it, this one has arrived in time to meet the hot, inclement weather we have been enjoying here in Victoria. So how appropriate is it that the brewery has decided to produce a nice, refreshing lager? But in keeping with Hoyne’s style of brewing, this lager comes with a twist.

On the one hand, it has a clean, Munich-style crispness, courtesy of the addition of Noble German Tettnang hops and lagering process. On the other, it has a creamy, smooth profile, courtesy of the darker roasted red malt. And as usual, the style and nature of the beer leads to the double-entendre that is it’s name. “Off the Grid” not only refers to the summertime activity of getting out into nature and setting up camp off the beaten path, it also honors the decidedly unusual nature of this lager itself.

Appearance: Deep red amber, clear, good foam retention and carbonation
Nose: Notes of Munich-style hops, slight sweetness, rich malts
Taste: Smooth, creamy malts, slightly syrupy, giving way dry, pilsner-like hop finish
Aftertaste: Slight tang, lingering creaminess and dry hops
Overall: 9/10

Having endured plenty of hot, sunny days and late evenings, and having now sampled this brew out of both a growler and a bottle, I can attest to this beers refreshing nature and its fine taste. I can also tell you it compliments the change of season quite well. Get yourself to the store, get some bottles, chill and enjoy! Preferably on the patio with some spicy barbeque. Congrats Hoyne, another winner. Hope everyone enjoys the heat!

Full Nelson Organic Imperial IPA

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And I’m back from another trip to the beer store with some new items to sample! And interestingly enough, amongst my latest score was a few tallboys from a brewery I rarely hear from these days. As I’m sure I’ve mentioned before, the Nelson Brewery quickly became a local favorite for me shortly after I moved to BC. And between their Paddywhack IPA, After Dark Lager, and Black Heart Stout, I was quite impressed. But since that time, they have kind of fallen off the grid for me.

Part of this seems to be that they don’t appear to do the limited release thing, and little outside of their IPA, dark lager and stout ever gets into my area. So it was a pleasant surprise to find their Organic Imperial IPA sitting at the store, looking all new and interesting. And given that the season of IPA is still on, it seemed like absolutely appropriate selection for my next review.

Appearance: Deep amber, clear, good foam retention and carbonation
Nose: Good dosage of floral, tropical hops
Taste: Immediate burst of passion fruit, rich malts, notes of citrus
Aftertaste: Sweetness giving way to coarse malt flavor, lingering bitterness
Overall: 9/10

In short, not bad at all! In keeping with the best traditions of an Imperial IPA, the Full Nelson boasts strong, rich malts and pairs them with a good, solid dose of hops. However, rather than being particularly overpowering, this hop profile is actually quite balanced. Rather than a big, citrusy bite, it is much more floral and fruity, which was both surprising and appealing. Good job Nelson! I really must find more of your products, and please feel free to do more in the way of limited releases!

Driftwood Belle Royale Sour Cherry

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driftwood_logoI have always been a fan of sour cherries, ever since I was a boy and my family planted one in our backyard. Another thing I am quite fond of is Flanders’ Red Ales, which are renowned or their sour and complex character. So you can imagine how pleased I was when I found out that their is a beer that combines these two sources of greatness into one whole. It’s called Driftwood’s Belle Royale, the latest in their Bird of Prey series.

bellelogo-sourEver since Driftwood began producing these limited releases, which started in 2011 with the Flanders Red and then followed up by their Mad Bruin this past fall, I have been hooked. And now, with their Belle Royale Sour Cherry, they have managed to tap into the stuff of my dreams. Whenever I drank one of their sours in the past, I was reminded of my favorite fruit and kept thinking how awesome it would be if they came as one. And thanks to this latest installment, now they do!

And like all of their Bird of Prey beers, this one comes unfiltered, is quite strong (8% alc/vol) and is matured for months in oak barrels – in this case, a good 18 months. However, I can attest to the fact that the wait is well worth it.

Appearance: Dark red, translucent, low foam and high carbonation
Nose: Dry sour scent, heavy on the oak and lactic acid
Taste: Immediate burst of sour flavor, giving way to tart cherry fruit and yeasty accents
Aftertaste: Lingering sourness, notes of heavy oak
Overall: 10/10

My compliments Driftwood on your best sour ale yet, at least in my humble, heavily nostalgic and biased opinion. You’ve made me smile and given my first taste of sour cherries since I moved to the West Coast. I wish they were just a little bit easier to procure out this way. I would kill for some sour cherry pie right about now, definitely with a scoop of vanilla ice cream! How perfect would that be with my current selection of beer?

Driftwood Old Barrel Dweller

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oldbarreldwellerHey beer drinker! As I might have mentioned in my last post, I finally decided to take the plunge on this whole barrel-aged beer trend. Yes, it seems that brewers in the South Island region are determined to turn the 2012/13 winter season into a time of bourbon-infused beer. So who am I withhold my opinions?

And so in addition to Howe Sound’s Wee Beastie, I was sure to pick up a bottle of Old Barrel Dweller, Driftwood’s contribution to the season. Since it bears a strong resemblance to Phillips Trainwreck, another barley wine that was re-released for 2012 after being aged in barrels originally used for storing bourbon, I was highly resistant to giving it a try. But of course, curiosity and my duties as a beer reviewer got the best of me. And so here we are…

As expected, OBD builds on last years barley wine by adding some discernible notes of bourbon whiskey. But interestingly enough, its slightly weaker than its predecessor, being 11.8% alc/vol rather than a full on 12. Hence, the only real reason Driftwood chose to perform this little crossover was to add a layer to the flavor and present a smokier, peatier, more complex palate.

Appearance: Dark ruby red, slight cloudiness, good foam and carbonation
Nose: Sweet barley malts, mild tang, hint of smoke
Taste: Immediate hint of bourbon, sugary malts, touch of peat
Aftertaste: Lingering peaty moss taste, strong notes of alcohol
Overall: 8/10

Granted, I did not enjoy this beer as much as I did its predecessor – Old Cellar Dweller. Much like Trainwreck, I feel a barley wine has no business crossing paths with bourbon! And yet, I approve of this one far more than anything else produced this season. For one, it managed to merge the bourbon infused flavor without overpowering the barley wine base. But make no mistake, I still say the two are better off on their own! Next season, more barley wine, less bourbon!

Phillips Instigator Doppelbock

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phillips_instigator_2012Winter beer is such a fun phenomena, mainly because it results in deep, rich ales that boast a lot of flavor but are still smooth and drinkable. And of course, they combine all this with a high alcohol content. Yes, winter beer reminds us of simpler times when the winter season was cold, windy, and people stayed warm by liquoring up with something which stuck to their ribs!

And in that respect, I have secured my latest winter seasonal, Phillips Instigator Doppelbock! In keeping with the Phillips tradition of limited releases and seasonal beers, Instigator is back for the winter of 2012. And much like its predecessors, it’s a dark, smooth, semi-sweet, and quite strong, everything one would expect from a Doppelbock!

Appearance: Dark brown/amber, transparent and mild foam retention
Nose: Rich malts, mild notes of caramel, brown sugar
Taste: Smooth malts, slight sweetness, hints of caramelized sugar
Aftertaste: Slight smokiness, tang, mild hop bite
Overall: 8.5/10

In many ways, I was reminded of Creemore Urbock and Hoyne’s Best Bock, and believe me, that’s a flattering comparison. Much like these other fine beer – both of which I look forward to drinking again very soon! – it boasted the right kind of smooth, semi-sweet flavor with a very clean, drinkable profile. Comparatively speaking, it was somewhat lighter, but still a winner in my book! Glad I picked it up at my local watering hole!

Lighthouse Siren Imperial Red Ale

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Frosty glass of red beer isolated on a white background. File contains a path to cut.Hello and welcome to another installment in the Winter Beer series! Today’s feature is Lighthouse’s Siren Imperial Red Ale, a winter seasonal and the latest in their “Big Flavor” series. Since its inception, I’ve had mostly good things to say about the this expanded lineup, mainly because of the dedication it shows to craft brewing and experimentation. In fact, pretty much everything that has been coming out of the Lighthouse brewery in the last few years has been demonstrative of this commitment, including the Switchback IPA and Tasman Ale which have become part of their regular lineup.

But it’s really with the Big Flavor series that the brew masters at Lighthouse have been especially experimental and bold, combining various traditions and a wide array of ingredients to create distinct, challenging beers. And, consistent with the other members of the series – Deckhand Belgian Saison, Shipwrecked Triple IPA, Navigator Doppelbock, Overboard Imperial Pilsner, and Uncharted Belgian IPA - this beer has rich malts, generous hops, and at 8% alc/vol, packs a good punch!

Appearance: Dark red-amber, clear and low foam retention
Nose: Rich, floral and citrus hop aroma
Taste: Immediate burst of citrus, giving way to rich malts, viscous, semi-sweet
Aftertaste: Bitter finish, coarser malt taste and citrus rind
Overall: 9/10

Congratulations, Lighthouse. Of the eight beers in your Big Flavor series I have now sampled seven and highly approved of six. Only the Belgian Black was not my speed, and I plan to try the Dark Chocolate Porter soon. In the meantime, stay tuned for more winter beers, including some new reviews from Hoyne and Tree Frog!

Phillips Trainwreck Barley Wine

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Trainwreck-2012Next up in the winter beer series is a seasonal release by Phillips, one of their many, many limited releases that have graced the shelves of your local watering hole over the years! And it’s one that, I have to admit, this is one I have somehow neglected to sample thus far, in spite of the fact that it’s been available for what seems like a few years now.

And to boot, the 2012 vintage of the Trainwreck has the added surprise of being barrel-aged in bourbon casks, providing an extra layer of peat moss and whiskey flavor to what is already a dark and malty beverage.

*Sidenote: I should mention that they advise serving it at cellar temperatures, meaning just slightly chilled. However, I can tell you that served cold, the flavors of bourbon and barley still come through in spades, so decide for yourself how it will be served. I will be sure to procure a second bottle and be sure to indicate how that alters the overall profile.

Appearance: Dark brown/amber, transparent, good foam retention
Nose: Immediate notes of bourbon whiskey
Taste: Immediate burst of whiskey flavor, combined with slightly sweet malts
Aftertaste: Peaty finish, coarse malts, deep and lingering
Overall: 7.5/10

While I’m not a big fan of bourbon barrel-aged ales, I have to admit that this beer has some serious cajones! It might just be my imagination, but the alcoholic nature of the beer also seems just the slightest bit enhanced thanks to the infusion of bourbon flavor. Definitely a rib-tickler and heart warmer, and a winner if you love the taste of whiskey!

Parallel 49 Salty Scot

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It wasn’t long ago that Parallel 49 Brewing first came to my attention. And after trying their combo pack, which provides a pretty good sampling of what they do, I came to two tentative conclusions. One, the brewers at Parallel 49 tend to experiment with some pretty interesting combinations. And two, the result is really quite good.

But I was decidedly unprepared for some of their latest releases. First, there was the Bad Sweater Milk Stout, which I have yet to try, and their Salty Scot Scotch Ale, which I just finished drinking for the first time. And true to form, this beer is pretty damn experimental, combining caramel and sea salt with a “Wee Heavy”-style scotch ale. And also true to form, the end result was quite pleasing…

Appearance: Dark amber brown, slightly cloudy and good foam retention
Nose: Distinct caramel nose, sugary and sticky sweet
Taste: Light, sweet malts giving way to notes of salt water toffee, viscous and chewy
Aftertaste: Slight tang, giving way to more toffee and touch of smoke
Overall: 8.5/10

What can I say? As far as Wee Heavies go, this is one oddball of a beer! But its taste, nose, and good mouth feel make it a pleasure to drink. At 7.5 alc/vol, it’s certainly deserving of its basic designation, and the sea salt and caramel are a very nice accompaniment, providing some balance to what would otherwise be a heavy ale.

I am intrigued and kind of frightened to know what they might come out with next. Might I suggest something run of the mill; perhaps a nice, simple pale ale? No fruit, no dairy, and no particular variety of candy? No dice, huh? Ah, do what you like. You’re five for five so far ;)

Hoyne’s Voltage Espresso Stout

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It’s here! The other limited release that Hoyne and company promised has been released! And as promised, it is an espresso stout, known by its full name Voltage Espresso Stout. And this time around, unlike that little misfire with the Wolf Vine Pale Ale, I arrived in time to get some fresh from the tap! No bottles for me… not until the growler is finished I mean.

And as usual, the beer is pretty fantastic. As I learned from the staff while getting my growlers filled, the espresso which gives Voltage Espresso it’s character comes from the local coffee shop known as Habit. As a Victorian, I can attest that it too is an awesome operation, and it’s good to see independent businesses coming together like this. The Espresso beans are also roasted right up the road from a brewery, and then infused into the beer on site. Talk about a local operation!

Oh, and the name, I imagine, requires some explanation. It goes without saying that the people at Hoyne like to give their beers meaningful monickers. Dark Matter Dark Lager, Devil’s Dream IPA, Summer Haze Hefeweizen, and now this. Apparently, the name is a tribute to the beer’s “polarity”, meaning it’s ranking on the color, hops and malt scales Hoyne employs with all their beers. On the one hand, it is at the far end of the spectrum when it comes color and malts, but at the other end when it comes to hop content. So basically this is a “bipolar” beer, kind of like an electrical current? Interesting…

Appearance: Very deep brown, clear and slightly transparent, mild foam
Nose: Strong notes of coffee and roasted malts
Taste: Slight tang and bitterness giving way to notes of real espresso coffee
Aftertaste: Lingering notes of espresso, mild bitterness
Overall: 9/10

You know, this kind of success rate is beginning to get annoying, Hoyne. If I keep doing reviews like this, people are going to think I’m getting kickbacks or something. Speaking of kickbacks, I wouldn’t be averse to being plied with plenty of free beer. But of course, that willingness might be interpreted as a sign of quality… Quite the conundrum! ;)

Parallel 49 Lost Souls Chocolate Pumpkin Porter

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Welcome back to another installment in the Fall beer series! Today, I’m fortunate enough to deliver a double-whammy! Not only is this next beer a pumpkin seasonal ale, it’s also the first brew from Parallel 49 that I have ever tried. A Vancouver based operation, this craft brewery has been making waves of late with such items as its “Seed Spitter” Watermelon Ale, and their variety pack that includes samples all of their regular lineup.

And when it comes down to it, Lost Souls was a pretty creative addition. Combining the elements of a seasonal pumpkin with a chocolate porter, they essentially created a beer that is both Halloween and Thanksgiving desert in a glass. Smooth, toasty, and slightly sweet, it is a well rounded beer with plenty of appeal.

Appearance: Deep, dark brown, thick, high gravity, low foam
Nose: Rich notes of coffee and cocoa
Taste: Immediate burst of toasted, tawny malts, slight sweetness of pumpkin
Aftertaste: Mild bitterness, lingering notes of espresso and chocolate
Overall: 8/10

In truth, this beer really didn’t possess that much of a pumpkin flavor to it. Nevertheless, the balance it struck between coffee, chocolate and sweet malts was quite pleasing. In addition, I can see it going well as a final course in a Thanksgiving meal, accompanying pie and/or a range of chocolate desserts. Check it out while it’s still available.