Blueberry Muffin

Happy Friday!

🥳 We have reason to be happy this week: after a significant lobbying effort from the industry, the federal government is capping the tax on beer to a 2% hike instead of 6.3%. It’s given me a bounce in my step as I head into the weekend, which should be fun because...

A friend is visiting from the UK and we’re going to take a shuttle bus to Bellingham to take in the brewery scene across the border. I’ll report back next week on what we found, and if the shuttle bus is as seamless a border-crossing experience as I’m hoping for!

In today’s issue we:

• 🎧️ Drop the latest episode of the pod

• Share 20 new beers, including two that feature a new experimental “fuzzy peach” hop 🍑 

• Tally your votes on your affinity for brewing merchandise

• Ask how you if we should expand our coverage

• Have a huge truck festival to check out

Enjoy the weekend!

— Joseph Lavoie

☕️ If you like our work and want to give us an extra boost, you can fill up our coffee mugs. The boost keeps us energized to continue helping you enjoy BC’s craft beer to the fullest. Support us at buymeacoffee.com.

FEATURED NEW BEER RELEASES

Blueberry Muffin

The first time I had a blueberry muffin beer was at Portland’s Great Notion. I wanted to hate this beer because it sounded so ludicrous. Instead, I enjoyed it like a kid enjoys a candy shop. Naturally, I’m excited to try this new release from Superflux.

Blueberry Muffin was brewed with a loads of blueberries, Madagascar vanilla, oats, milk, sugar and yes, blueberry muffins. “Big, sweet and juicy up front but finishes surprisingly clean and dry.”

Available: At the brewery and Cabana, in cans.

Twice Forgotten

Container released a new IPA last week called Twice Forgotten. It’s a fitting name, given we forgot to include it in last week’s newsletter.

Never too late, right?! This one is a proper West Coast Double IPA with bright citrus, bitter grapefruit and earthy pine undertones. It promises a “style-appropriate bitterness throughout and finishing clean with a light malty sweetness.”

Available: In cans at liquor stores and in the brewery. Also available online via craftco.ca 

Lagers and Lagered Ales

• Studio Brewing’s new rice lager was brewed with yuzu peel and fresh pressed yuzu.

• Camp Beer Co. tossed in cucumbers for a refreshing spring-time Kölsch. 🥒 

• Barnside is pouring Johnny’s Corner Coffee Lager this weekend, a crisp and creamy coffee-infused lager with notes of toffee, cinnamon, and spice.

• Patina is bringing back its Thai Lager this weekend, a rice lager that features spicy ginger, lime leaf, lemongrass, and calamansi.

• North Point’s new dry-hopped Pilsner was brewed with a base of Pilsen malt and old-world hop varieties.

• Luppolo’s El Melecón is a corn lager with aromas of lemon, honeysuckle and dry spice, with undertones of biscuity graham cracker, cornbread and honey. 🌽 

Ales and IPAs

• Superflux dropped Experimental IPA #40, brewed with HBC 1019 and Citra Cryo. HBC 1019 is a new experimental hop with notes of peach fuzz, vanilla, and tangy orange. 🍑 

• Small Gods also brewed with HBC 1019 doubling down on the hop’s naturally peach-forward flavour by adding actual fuzzy peach candies to its new juicy hazy IPA. 🍑 

• Bomber Brewing leans into the sunshine with Beyond the Peel Juicy IPA, brewed with Amarillo, Sultana, Citra and Galaxy hops.

• Backcountry’s latest West Coast IPA showcases Mosaic hops.

• Barnside’s second new release of the week is a West Coast IPA with classic citrus and pine aromas with a hint of rye spice.

• Russell’s Pink Boots Hazy Pale Ale features Loral, Ekuanot and HBC 586 hops.

• Luppolo’s second release of the week also features corn. Maize Runner is a West Coast Pale Ale with fresh citrus peel and piney resinous character. 🌽 

• Beachfire’s seasonal Hazy IPA was refermented with strawberry, vanilla, and lactose.

• Field House’s latest experimental IPA has notes of peach, melon, and guava.

Saisons and Sours

• KPU released the last of its 2023 signature series, featuring beers brewed by students. Equinox is a Belgian-style Saison with subtle tartness and flavours of dark fruit and citrus.

• Dead Frog has a Strawberry Margarita Sour in its new Juice Box Mixer, a light red sour with strawberry, agave, and lime.

• White Sails took a heavy hand in hopping this sour with Cashmere and Simcoe hops to bring out lemon-lime and melon notes.

🎧️ PODCAST

In case you missed it

The latest episode of Beer Loop Talks is out, a conversation with Michael Poznanski, a lawyer at BTM Lawyers LLP in Port Moody. We explore:

• The challenges in choosing a legally-appropriate name

• Financing options and their legal implications

• Lessons he’s learned by helping a dozen breweries in BC

You can listen and subscribe here. Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Episode four drops in two weeks.

BREWING MERCH

Last week we wanted to know if you’re a big consumer of brewery merchandise, or whether you would rather spend the money on beer.

What type of merchandise consumer are you?

🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ (12%) 👕 🤠 🍺 Compulsive

🟨 🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ (24%) 👕 🤠 Occasional

🟨 🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ (24%) 👕 Rarely

🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 (40%) 🍺 I’d rather spend the money on beer

Your perspective:

• H.J: “Beer on a T-shirt - I gotta have it.”

EXPANDING OUR COVERAGE MAP

Since we launched The Beer Loop last year, we’ve been focused on covering the craft beer scene in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. This means we’re not bringing you beer news from the Interior and Northern BC. We’re curious to gauge your interest level in getting news from these parts of the province.

If you only do one thing this weekend

Food trucks and a beer garden? Practically heaven on earth. Plus, portions of proceeds will benefit the BC Children’s Hospital. This event features 45+ food trucks (menus here), artisan vendors, live music, and craft beer. Tickets available here.

Also happening this weekend

NEW! 🎸 Jennifer Hershaman, singer songwriter from Vancouver, is performing at Persephone tonight, 6-8pm. $5 in advance, $10 at the door.

🎚️ Beats, beers, burritos…it’s Frequency Fridays at Russell Brewing, 7-9pm.

🎸 Red Truck has live music Friday and Saturday from 730-9pm.

NEW! 🎸 Farm Country hosts Steve Halfnights on Friday and Anotonio Larosa on Saturday. You can reserve your table by calling the taproom.

🎶 Deadfrog has live music every Sunday from 230-6pm.

🪕 Smuggler’s Trail also has live music this Sunday, 3-6pm.

🎤 Open Mic Sundays at Container Brewing. Grab a beer, get on the mic, bring your fans. Sign-up is at 6pm, mic opens at 7pm.

Upcoming Events

NEW! 📚️ Small Gods is putting on volume 2 of its Storyteller Series on April 2, an eveningof literary readings from visiting authors, including Alessandra Naccarato, Sonnet L’Abbé and Sophie Crocker. $5 to reserve your seat.

NEW! 🌟 Main St. Brewing is marking Autism Awareness Month on April 3 by releasing a limited-edition Alsatian Pilsner and hosting a gala to raise funds for the Canucks Autism Network. Reserve your spot.

🤣 Five Roads Brewing is hosting comedian Ed Hill on April 15. Tickets $23.

NEW! 😂 Farm Country is hosting Brewhaha, a night of comedy on April 16th. Tickets $15.

🎪 Kelowna Beer Fest will feature 30+ breweries on May 13, 1-7pm.

🎪 Brewhalla is back in Fort Langley on Saturday, May 20th for the 6th annual craft beer and music festival.

🤯 Trivia Nights

• Every Monday at Smuggler's Trail in Langley

• NEW! Every Monday at Mariner in Coquitlam

• Every Tuesday at Old Yale in Chilliwack

• Every Tuesday at Farm Country in Langley

• Every Wednesday at Moody Ales in Port Moody

• Every Thursday at 3 Dogs Brewing in White Rock, it’s music trivia.

• Every Thursday at Small Gods is full deck games night.

• NEW! Every Thursday at Persephone in Gibsons.

• Container hosts game night on the first and third Tuesday of every month.

🏃‍♀️ Run Clubs

• Steel & Oak hosts a run club every Wednesday night. Run 3km or 5km to earn that beer!

• Small Gods invites you to join the Small Gods Production Team every Tuesday evening. Meet at the brewery at 6pm, run around Sidney and return at 7pm to enjoy $1 off the latest beer release.

GAMES

• Last week’s clue: “An ale from this English town has made its way to

• Answer: Burton

• This week’s clue: This hop is not named after the famous fur trading company…

Zinnhaus Vienna Lager

• Brewery: Tinhouse Brewing

• Location: Port Coquitlam

Tasting Notes:

A surprisingly dark amber colour for the style, but absolutely beautiful with a head that holds. The nose is packed with rich medium-roast malt aromas. The flavours are incredibly rich with bread, biscuit, light caramel, and roasted malt tannins. Slightly sweet with medium mouthfeel, this is one smooth and delicious beer.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Beer Loops you may have missed

• Last week saw a number of new beers with springtime vibes - read more

• This beer was conditioned on potatoes - read more

• A whole bunch of new IPAs were released earlier this month - read more

• The Mix-Pack: Cole Staughton’s curated 4-pack of BC Beer - read more

Thanks Sam!