- The Beer Loop
- Posts
- A Giant of the Seas
A Giant of the Seas
Plus Super Bowl fun and our first crossword puzzle
Joseph Lavoie
February 10, 2023
Do you remember New Coke? If you’ve ever studied marketing, you’ll remember it as notoriously unsuccessful product launch. We had our own version of New Coke here at The Beer Loop—our premium membership program. Let’s just say…you just weren’t into it. So, eight days after launching our premium subscription, we’re shutting it down.
That means you’ll see us every Friday moving forward (once/week), with more content packed into each week’s issue.
Let’s move on to the fun stuff! In today’s issue:
18 new beers to try
Who you voted as top brewery on Vancouver Island
Super Bowl Sunday deals
An event that has me really excited
And our first crossword puzzle.
Enjoy the weekend!
— Joseph Lavoie
FEATURED NEW BEER RELEASES
Giant Stout
Container Brewing has just dropped its first barrel-aged Imperial Stout. Seawise Giant was aged in Woodford Reserve bourbon barrels for six months. This variation of Seawise promises to be “smoother and kissed with notes of sweet high-quality bourbon and charred oak.” It’s a robust 11.6%.
Available in cans at the brewery or online via Craft Co. Limited quantities.
Fir Tips
Faculty Brewing
Faculty Brewing collaborated with Mayne Island Brewing for this big showcase of local ingredients. The recipe’s grain bill features Skagit Valley Malting’s Talismann True British malt for an earthy and nutty maltiness. The hops include Centennial, Cascade, and Styrian Celeia hops. For a fun twist, the beer was fermented on fir tips foraged from Mayne Island, BC. Doesn’t get more Pacific Northwest than this, does it?
Available: This very limited release is out on February 22, in cans at Faculty Brewing, and on tap at both Faculty Brewing and Mayne Island Brewing.
A Rye Lager
@luppolo_brewing/Instagram
Dark lagers are having a moment right now, and this latest release from Luppolo adds a spicy twist to the style. It was brewed with distinct types of rye: rye malt, crystal rye, and chocolate rye. The result are “aromas of coffee, chocolate and baking spice” that make way for toffee and fresh baked cookie flavours. Being a lager, the finish is clean with a subtle roast character. It has also been naturally carbonated for a smooth and fluffy mouthfeel.
Available: On tap at the brewery and in cans. Available for home delivery via the Beer Van Collective. Coming to liquor stores later this week.
ADDITIONAL BEER RELEASES
Lagers
Backcountry’s new Czech Pilsner looks beautiful.
Backcountry also has a new lager hopped with Citra hops.
Dageraad is joining in with a dark lager of its own, Tanuki, which was brewed with wild rice.
Container’s new lager, Rambler features the clean sweet taste of barley and the bold gentle spice of rye.
Ales
Old Yale’s latest Trailblazer limited release series is a Blonde Ale with lavender and lemon.
Spinnakers has a new Chocolate Vienna Ale in time for Valentine’s Day.
The KPU Brew Lab is releasing its second student 2023 Signature Series beer today, Cherry Pie Hefeweizen, brewed by two second-year students. Meet them.
Dageraad has brought back Sterke Soelaas, with bold malts that are emphasized by a tangy sweetness of raisins.
Another Beer Co’s A Little is Fine pale ale is a light 2.8% ale brewed with limited Tango hops and promises a pillowy soft, brightly carbonated experience.
Small Gods has a new English Pub Ale with a golden colour and full-bodied malty flavour profile.
IPAs
Backcountry goes three for three this week with a new danky IPA brewed with Strata and Citra.
R&B’s new Hazy IPA features blood oranges and is surprisingly pink in colour.
Field House just dropped Citra Sabro Simcoe Triple IPA.
Fern and Cedar’s new experimental IPA was brewed with a lot of oats, some lactose and a massive dose of dry hops to create an “Oat Cream IPA.”
Moon Brewery’s new IPA was made from 100% naked barley from Vancouver Island.
AN APPEAL
Action Against Hunger Canada
Helping people in Syria and Turkey
Watching the footage out of Turkey and Syria has been absolutely heartbreaking. We can feel helpless from so far away. But there are people on the ground helping and we can do something about it. Consider making a donation to Action Against Hunger, who are providing emergency aid on the ground right now.
LAST WEEK’S POLL ON TASTING PASSPORTS
With the BC Ale Trail releasing 5 new tasting passports in Metro Vancouver, we asked you…
You can find details on these new tasting passport’s in last week’s update.
BREWERY CLOSURES
Too many craft breweries?
Toronto’s People’s Pint Brewing announced its immediate closure, just shy of its fifth anniversary. Having started as a homebrew collective that supported my homebrew club when I was living in Toronto, this closure stings. The brewery posted its reasons on social media, which included “the rising costs of everything, and lower than normal sales.”
I recently abandoned my own plans to open a brewery in Surrey because I couldn’t make the numbers work. I did so just as a long-time brewery in Surrey shut its doors for good.
So, I’m wondering, have we hit a saturation point in the craft beer market here in BC? Have your say and don’t be shy to leave a comment when you vote so we can share them next week!
THE BIG GAME
🏈 Super Bowl Deals and Viewings
Old Yale is offering 15% off flats now through Sunday so you can stop up before kickoff.
Steel & Oak is offering 10% off flats throughout the weekend.
North Point is showing the game with full sound, fun side bets and beer specials.
Fuggles has all-day happy hour on Sunday. A deal on nachos and $5 Gin and Lime Pilsner.
Old Abbey Ales has $20 pitchers, food trucks and a projection screen.
Alberni Brewing is taking $1 off bar drinks, all day Sunday.
EVENTS
If you only do one thing this weekend
Dageraad Brewing
🇧🇪 Cantillon Days at Dageraad Brewing kicks off tomorrow and runs through February 15. Seven rare kegs will be tapped, four at a time until the brewery runs out.
Last time Dageraad put on this event, there was only one keg and it ran out in 14 hours. More kegs this time around means a better chance of tasting world class lambics and Belgian ales.
I’m personally looking forward to the option of pairing a flight of Cantillon beers with award-winning chocolates hand-made by my favourite chocolatier, Chez Christophe. Belgian waffles will also be on offer.
These are some world class beers that are very difficult to get here in BC, so re-arrange your weekend plans if you need to.
Also happening this weekend
🥃As part of WassALE celebrations, Camp Beer Co is serving up Hot Scotchies now through Sunday. What’s a Hot Scotchie? It’s warm wort (unfermented beer) with a splash of whisky.
🍺 Another Beer Co is offering $5 Pilsner side pulls, all day Sunday.
Upcoming Events
💓 La Cerveceria Astilleros is inviting you to celebrate Valentine’s Day at the brewery with a new Margarita menu.
🧀 Coast Mountain Brewing is partnering with French’eese Whistler to create a beer and cheese pairing for a cozy Valentine’s date for two. 4 different seatings times. Tickets $65.
🍓 Ace Brewing has a live performance and a dessert + beer special for two.
🎤 It's comedy night at Container Brewing February 21. Tickets here.
🏃♀️ Steel & Oak hosts a run club every Wednesday night. Run 3km or 5km to earn that beer!
♟️ Container Brewing is hosting a regular games night, with the next sessions taking place on the first and third Tuesday of every month. Seating is limited, so you'll need to get a ticket.
🧘 Patina Brewing is hosting a mindful brewing tasting yoga class every month on Saturdays. The next sessions are on February 18 and March 11.
🎪More than 20 breweries are participating in the 2023 Sunshine Coast Beer Festival on February 25.
🧘 Container Brewing is offering a beer yoga session on February 25.
⚽️ Cumberland Brewing Co. has Foosball Tuesdays for the entire month of January and February, starting at 3pm. Bring a partner or come solo.
👢 Farm Country Brewing has a tap takeover on International Women’s Day (March 😎 featuring 9 beers and 1 cider brewed specifically for this one-day event. Proceeds will go to Pink Boots Society and the Ishtar Women’s Resource Society in Langley.
🎪 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
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.
It’s Romantic Comedies Trivia at Dead Frog in Langley on Feb 15.
VANCOUVER ISLAND’S TOP BREWERY
Last week’s Top Brewery Bracket Finals put on by BC Brews had us wondering which way The Beer Loop community would vote. A clear winner here, that also lines up with the bracket results.
GAMES
This week’s crossword will have you revisiting some of our style explorers.