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Happy Friday!
BC's breweries have been exceptionally productive. We have 22 new beer releases for you to enjoy this weekend, the largest release list we've ever had.
The list includes an Altbier, a style that is hard to find in BC, and one we explore further in our Beer School segment.
BC's breweries are also releasing a crop of beers that are Thanksgiving inspired, featuring cranberries and oranges. A Dill Pickle IPA even makes the list this week. So much to explore!
Geoff and I hope you enjoy a relaxing Thanksgiving long weekend.
– Joseph Lavoie
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FEATURED NEW BEER RELEASES
Drops of Jupiter Altbier
Mariner Brewing Company has dropped a limited-release Altbier. Drops of Jupiter promises to be a "well-balanced beer with rich maltiness." You can expect flavours of chocolate, toffee, and bread crusts. Brewed true to style, it features noble hops.
Available: On tap and in 4-packs at the brewery.
Location: 1100 Lansdowne Dr H, Coquitlam | Map
Heart of Darkness Stout
Once you have enjoyed a glass or two of Altbier, why not kick it up a notch and go even darker? Whistler's Coast Mountain Brewing has packaged Heart of Darkness, a stout with layers of chocolate, vanilla, caramel, espresso, and a touch of smoke. Yum.
Available: In cans in the Sea to Sky corridor. Ask for it at your favourite liquor store. Or pay the brewery a visit.
Location: 2, 1212 Alpha Lake Rd #2, Whistler | Map
Rhubarb and Passionfruit Sour
Field House Brewing has an interesting bottle release that uses the brewery's own farm-grown rhubarb. The rhubarb is complemented with passionfruit in a blend that was aged in foeders. You can expect sweet aromas, fruity combinations, and a slightly dry finish.
ADDITIONAL BEER RELEASES
White Sails Brewing is out with a new hoppy New England IPA with huge over-ripe stone fruit and mango notes and a dank backbone.
Red Truck Beer Company has released Golden Hour Cranberry Ale with light biscuit and malted wheat flavours and cranberry tartness.
Backcountry has brought back its Maple Bay IPA, brewed with hops fresh off the vine.
Boombox Brewing has a new IPA called Rad Seeker, and the label is very flashy.
Steel & Oak's Rainbow Shark hazy pale is dry hopped with Sabro, Citra and Ekaunot.
Farmhouse Brewing is celebrating its 2-year anniversary with two anniversary brews.
Dead Frog continues to produce intense fruit-forward kettle sours. The latest concoction is Blackberry Blast, a purple sour ale with blackberries and lemon juice. The new Cherry Lime sour also looks intense.
Luppolo Brewing has a new barrel aged sour brewed with Naramata Apricots, available on tap and in bottles.
Camp Beer Co. has the perfect beer for your Thanksgiving celebrations, Crimson Crush Cranberry Brut Ale, a dry, champagne-like beer brewed with Mandarina Bavaria hops, fresh cranberry juice and sweet orange peel.
Neighbourhood Brewing released a New Zealand Style Pilsner, a style that is becoming rather popular.
Dead Frog has also released a tart sour with splashes of cranberry and orange juice.
Storm Brewing is bringing a Dill Pickle IPA to Hoptoberfest this weekend. Yes, your read that correctly.
Field House Brewing has a dark green Tiger Tiger Smoothie Sour that looks a lot like Athletic Greens.
Details are fleeting, but Smuggler's Trail will soon have a beer that features cherries.
It's harvest season, and that means Russell Brewing has a fresh-hopped Northwest Pale Ale.
Driftwood is keeping the autumn vibes going by bringing back its London-style porter.
If you want a darker ale with an exotic twist, R&B Brewing has a coconut stout.
Or you could try a hot chocolate porter from Ravens Brewing.
Land and Sea used three different hop varieties in its latest Pacific Northwest IPA.
If you like a Kellerbier, Farm Country's Whippersnapper Young Lager is on sale now.
Brewhall has brought me back to my childhood with a Power Rangers inspired blueberry and açai super food ale. Healthy.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Day of the Dead Paint Workshop
On October 24, Steel and Oak is hosting a Day of the Dead workshop where you can explore the rich culture and history of Dia De Los Muertos and learn to paint a Calavera (sugar skull). Local artist Clarissa Banos will lead the 2.5-hour session
Tickets: $55 per person, which includes one beer.
Location: 1319 3rd Ave, New Westminster | Map
Moody's Monster Mash
Moody Ales & Co is putting on a Halloween party with DJ spinning all night long. There will be a special brew for the event, and you're invited to come in your spookiest and most creative costume to earn your chance at winning prizes.
Tickets: $15, which includes one drink.
Date: Saturday Oct. 29, 8pm-midnight
Location: 2601 Murray St, Port Moody | Map
HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND
Patina Brewing is hosting a Cornhole Tournament. $20 per entry (team of 2)
It's Hoptoberfest at Camp Beer Co. in Langley on Saturday. $55 tickets.
Persephone Brewing's founder Brian Smith is hosting a guided tour tonight at 6pm as part of the brewery's fundraising campaign.
Parallel 49 has had so much fun with its daily Oktoberfest celebrations that it has extended the party to October 9.
It's not too late to get your tickets for family dinner at Settlement Brewing.
LEARN SOMETHING NEW
What is Altbier?
Given how few Altibiers make it to liquor store shelves in BC, this amazing beer style can be a bit of a mystery. To understand Altbier, we need to take a trip to Düsseldorf in the Lower Rhine Region of Germany where the style was born.
"Alt" refers to the "old" style of brewing in which brewers used ale yeast before lager yeast became a thing. Ale yeast is known to produce fruitier and stronger flavours you expect to find in an ale. However, despite using an ale yeast, when you drink an Altbier, you could easily think you're drinking a lager because the fermentation flavours are very clean.
Altbier is a dark amber ale, but dark doesn't mean muddy. When you hold up a proper Altbier to the light, it should be clear, with its dark hues turning almost red. Despite its dark clear colour, it offers a clean yet rich malty flavour profile. Some versions will offer spicy, peppery, and floral notes without roasted malt flavours or harshness. It is a beautiful thing.
Pairs well with: Grilled salmon, emmental cheese, and apple pie. Perfect for Thanksgiving.
Further reading: The Oxford Companion to Beer definition of Altbier.
SOMETHING FUN
Never thought about it that way.
GAME TIME
Wordle
You wrote in to tell us that last week's World was too easy because our hints are too easy. We're still proud of Dan and Kyle for guessing Cold IPA correctly.
We'll make this one a bit tougher, but still doable. Do you know Altbier's golden alter-ego?
BEER LOOP PICKS
Since we've spent so much time on Altbier today, let's keep it going. When Courtney Iseman had a rough week, she found solace in a simple glass of Altbier. [Hugging the Bar]
Having spent the last week in the UK, where I sought a cask ale at every opportunity I could, and often found myself disappointed with the result, this piece struck a chord with me. Pete Brown wonders if pubs should start selling less cask ale to sell more cask ale. Obviously not a problem we have here in BC, we don't have nearly enough cash ale! But there may be a fine balance. [Pete Brown]
Joe Weibe lists the most anticipated new breweries in BC. [The Growler]