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The Beer Loop's top 6 beers we drank in September
Pilsners, festbiers, and dark lagers make the list this month
Joseph Lavoie
October 04, 2022
Good morning!
Last week I got to enjoy Oktoberfest celebrations at the Munich Cricket Club in London with friends and fellow beer lovers and am now convinced that every brewery should have an oompah band doing killer renditions of Take on Me. Thank you to Beer Loop readers Percy, Andrew, and James for guiding me through a number of delicious lagers and sing-alongs.
With Thanksgiving only a couple days, you might be searching for a great beer to pair with dinner, or to enjoy while watching a football game. We have you covered with a look back at the best BC beers we enjoyed in September. This month's list is a bit shorter as I spent a good portion of the month in Toronto, Argentina, Brazil, and the UK.
—Joseph Lavoie
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Wildeye Brewing, Czech Dark Lager
Here's a rare style in BC. Dark lagers are fascinating beers. Smooth dark roast flavours with a clean fermentation profile. Done well, they are a beautiful thing. And this one fits the bill. Strong roasted malt aromas invite you in for a sip. Initial contact supports the aromas, with intense dark malt notes. It offers a clean fermentation profile supported by a robust structure. Perfect for the autumn months.
Wildeye Brewing, Czech Pilsner
We found this to be an exceptional version of a Czech Pilsner. It pours bright with a clear gold colour. Light malt aromas and beautiful cereal notes pop in the mouth. Unlike many attempts at this style, it is not overly sweet in the aftertaste. Instead it is assertive and appropriately hopped. Balanced and complex.
Hoyne Brewing, Appleton's British Ale
An Extra Special Bitter is a beautiful beer style. Done well, every sip reveals a slightly different taste, giving you something to ponder throughout the entire session. This was was brewed to honour Frank Appleton, one of the pioneers of BC's craft beer scene. For me, it was like taking a sip down memory lane—I felt like I was standing outside the Harp in Westminster enjoying an after-work pint. Caramel malt aromas support a beautiful copper colour. Mild fruitiness, strong hoppy bitterness make it pretty true to style. There is a touch of resin to add some additional complexity without taking away from the malt showcase.
Strange Fellows, Ludwig
You may have spotted a reference to this beer in our Oktoberfest guide as a great example of a Festbier. Strange Fellows hits all the right notes with this version of the famous Oktoberfest beer. Light amber in colour, with brilliant clarity. Light toasted malt aromas make way for a high malt intensity on first contact. Bread notes linger as the medium hop bitterness provides balance without drowning out the delightful malt finish. Smooth, clean, delicious.
Strange Fellows, Ferdinand
A classic Vienna style lager brewed with European malts and hops, this Vienna lager is traditional and loyal to the style, which is a nice treat, as Vienna lagers are not exactly an easy find in this province. This one is crystal clear with a reddish amber colour. Toasted malt aromas make it clear that this is a true Vienna Lager. Enticing malt complexity up front, with a firm hop bitterness that provides a balanced finish. Rich malt in the aftertaste makes this a wonderful beer.
Twin Sails, Dat Juice
This unfiltered pale ale is one of BC's flagship beers, often ranking high on beer lists and earning accolades. We love it as a showcase of Citra hops. It pours a cloudy pale straw colour and offers a sweet citrus and orange aroma that sustains itself in the flavours. The oat in the grain bill loners a nice mouthfeel with a light touch of bitterness to round out the experience. Delicious.
A guide to Oktoberfest in BC
With Oktoberfest ongoing, we thought we'd re-share our story last week on the big festival. What is it? Where's it happening? And what type of beer is popular? We break it all down in our Okctoberfest Guide.