This meme account inspired a new BC beer

14 new beer releases to explore this week

Author

Joseph Lavoie
June 14, 2022

Hey Beer Loopers!

I "had" to kill time between my kids' soccer and basketball games, and enjoyed North Point's Lite Lager which we recommended last week. With the sun lighting up the beautiful taproom, the Lite Lager was the perfect beer for the occasion, featuring a more robust malt bone than I was expecting. I love it when our awesome craft brewers bring a twist to conventional styles.

This week, we have a couple more twists on conventions, including an imperial pilsner and a Helles lager from an unexpected source. If you get around to trying any of these (14! new releases), hit us up with a reply to let us know what you thought of them.

Also, we're prepping a huge beer giveaway. But before we do, we want to hit 700 readers. We're only 40 short of that goal - can you quickly forward this to a friend or share this link? 

— Joseph Lavoie

Give someone the love of beer by forwarding this to a friend. Did someone forward? Sign-up for free so you don't miss any BC beer news. 

NEW BEER RELEASE

Of memes and memelords

You may have caught a brief mention of this new release in our feature on Container Brewing on Friday, but if you didn't, we've got the details here. This limited release is a meme-in-a-can. This collaboration with Seabus Memes brings us an imperial pilsner.

Why a pilsner? To pay tribute to Driftwood's Fat Tug IPA, which is often featured in the memelord's content, while making something easier to drink. Container only brewed 2,000 litres (3,000 cans) with $1 from every can going to the B.C. Children's Hospital.

  • Where to get it: On tap at Container (if there are any left), as well as pickup, online home delivery, and in select liquor stores across the province. Last we checked, the online shop and the lounge were sold out, so you're best to try your luck at the liquor store.

NEW BEER RELEASE

An hommage to the sun

On Friday, Strange Fellows is dropping Heffios, a golden hazy wheat beer with a fruity spice character that pays tribute to the Sun's "everlasting brilliance." You'll get notes of banana and cloves with an easy-going 5.5% ABV. As I write this, the sun is blasting through my front window and I wish I could be taking in those rays with a can of this stuff.

  • Where to get it: Available at the brewery, dropping on June 17th. Follow the brewery's instagram for additional details this week.

  • Brewery location: 1345 Clark Dr, Vancouver | Map

NEW BEER RELEASE

Something unexpected

Here's something you might not expect from the masters of Belgian-inspired ales. Dageraad is releasing Helleraad, a Helles lager on Thursday.

Like a well-crafted lager, this one fermented at 8°C  for low and slow fermentation to bring out clean lager flavours. This one promises spicy and herbal hop notes to elevate the beer. Malt heads will enjoy the use of German malts for a touch of sweetness. 

  • Where to get it: At the brewery starting June 16, available for order online now

  • Location: 3191 Thunderbird Crescent #114, Burnaby | Map

NEW BEER RELEASE

Raspberry passion fruit

Field House Brewing released a fresh batch from its barrel room project and fortunately for the brewery, and unfortunately for us, it has already sold out. If you were one of the lucky few to get some, congrats! For the rest of us, we'll need a find a bottle at a handful of select liquor stores or on the black market.  

Otherwise, close your eyes and imagine this: "A sweet, medium body with tropical aromas of fresh passion fruit with raspberries to balance it all out." Yeah, never mind, that's not as good as actually tasting it.

  • Available: Call your local store and ask if they're carrying this.

NEW BEER RELEASE

Corny dad jokes

Back in time for Father's Day, Farm Country Brewing is re-releasing its Corny Dad Jokes lager. As the name implies, this is a light and crisp corn lager with an easy-going ABV of 5%.  It pays tribute to all the great dads and their corny jokes, and "definitely doesn't fall flat like some punch lines do."

  • Available: In 4-packs and growler fills at the brewery, starting tomorrow.

  • Location: 20555 56 Ave #5, Langley | Map

Even more beer releases

  • Backcountry Brewing is releasing Brawndo on June 17th. A douple IPA with a hop "flavour punch for your face".

  • Stratchcona Beer Company has a new sour ale, Love Buzz, made with generous amounts of guava, lemon juice and a touch of lactose.

  • Backcountry Brewing is also releasing a Czech Pilsner on the same day

  • Five Roads Brewing has a tart kiwi coconut sour called Get in the Pool.

  • Backcountry Brewing, not satisfied with having two new releases in one week is dropping a Citra IPA, Don't Let The Muggles Get You Down.

  • Parallel 49 is releasing a 10th anniversary brew, a version of its hazy IPA with new experimental hop varieties that don't even have official names yet.

  • Settlement Brewing has a fresh batch of its CBA silver medallist, Elder Moon Belgian Witbier.

  • Container Brewing has a summery Kveik Lager with notes of bread and honey, complemented by herbal hop notes.

  • Mariner Beer has a strong lager brewed with Sasquatch hops from Chilliwack, available Friday.

ONE FUN THING

It's a new BC beer list

Everyone' favourite Twitter personality Justin McElroy is back with some more rankings - this times it's the best breweries in southwest BC.

Honestly we cannot wait to read them all.

The first batch is what he's calling the mediocre breweries. The most high profile he mentions is Granville Island, which of course is owned by Molson Springs, who bought it through their subsidiary Creemore Springs. 

  • Geoff's thoughts on Granville Island: "As a 19-year-old just getting aquatinted to craft beer, Winter Ale will always hold a soft spot in my heart. Sadly after tasting it again this year, I can only shake my head at my 19-year-old self's taste in beer."

Geoff tells me he also tried visiting another on the list, A-Frame, but sadly only their beer store was open. He assures me his reason for stopping there at 12pm was for a bachelor party...

  • Justin's best take: Yaletown brewery being the perfect spot for "having a mid-life crisis in Yaletown".

LEARN SOMETHING NEW

What's a Helles Lager?

One of this week's featured new releases is a Helles Lager. You might have noticed in the last year that more and more breweries are showcasing this style in their taprooms. I'm personally delighted to see this trend because I think a Helles is a beautiful thing. 

Helles means "pale in colour" and is the maltier, rounder, softer cousin to Pilsner. The best versions of the style feature bread or biscuit notes and enough hop spiciness to balance the beer. In other words, a more nuanced, slightly sweeter Pilsner.

Its nuanced canvass also makes it a great pairing for so many different types of food. Want an appropriate beer to of with that salad, fresh shellfish, or even spicy dishes? Give Helles a try.

WHAT ELSE IS BREWING?

British Columbia

Canada

  • ‘We’re starting slow’: Q&A with Boston Beer cannabis chief Paul Weaver. (MJBizDaily.com)

  • Vancouver started something... Canadian cities are legalizing alcohol in parks. Some are celebrating, others worry it's a slippery slope. (CBC News)

International

CATCH UP

Brews you may have missed

  • Stratchcona's beer week and the Truck Stop Concert Series - read now

  • Dole Whip cherry, and a dependable lite lager - read now

  • All the Vancouver parks you can (legally) drink in - read now

  • Is it possible to have juicy and dry beer? - read now

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