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- Rich and cozy winter ales
Happy Friday!
I've spent the week on the road with stops in Tillsonburg, Toronto, Ottawa, and Calgary and if you're ever in these towns, here's my quick list of recommendations:
Tillsonburg: A night at the divey Copper Mug. It's the town's main pub, and it's the perfect place to meet locals, do trivia, and feel like you're in a small-town Cheers.
Toronto: Bar Volo. Without a doubt, one of the best beer bars in the country. Tucked away in an alleyway, an incredible beer list, and a beautiful interior.
Ottawa: Tooth and Nail. The beers are all solid, but the Pilsner stole my heart.
Calgary: I spent an evening with Tracy who launched Bitter Sisters during the pandemic, and her team makes a mean pilsner.
– Joseph Lavoie
LAST CALL
We'll keep this short: our inaugural premium membership deal of 40% off expires on February 8. That's $9 per month $5 per month. For half the price of a pint, you'll get access to all of our premium content including curated mix-packs, style explorers, a tasting guide, and new features we'll roll out throughout 2023. Don't miss out!
FEATURED NEW BEER RELEASES
Seven years of patience
Foamer's Folly Brewing is celebrating seven years with a sour aged in an oak foeder that was aged on red currants. The currants "lend this beer their bright balance of fruity, berry sweetness and tart acidity."
Available: In select liquor stores. Full Map.
A Big Barleywine
Burnside Brewing is celebrating its third birthday with this limited special release. Batch 200 Estate Barlerywine is a single malt, single hop showcase aged in blackberry brandy ex-Bourbon barrels for 12 months. The result is a beer that pours a deep copper colour with a robust body that hints of blackberry, date, toffee, caramel, vanilla and oak.
This being a barleywine and weighing in at 11.8%, you'll want to enjoy it between 10-12ºC.
You can also age this for up to 5 years.
Available: To go and on tap at the brewery.
It takes two to cozy up
Strange Fellows has dropped two new beers for to help us warm up for the balance of the cold months.
The first, Velvet, is full-bodied porter with rich malty aromas that evoke chocolate, coffee, vanilla and hints of bourbon. It was conditioned in Woodford Reserve Bourbon barrels for five weeks and is an approachable 5.3%.
The second, Snowbird Boris with Coconut, is also a bourbon barrel-aged stout with a twist: tropical notes with aromas of coconut, chocolate and bourbon. It was aged with "piles of freshly-toasted coconut." This one's a slow slipper, coming in at 10.3%.
Available: At the brewery and online
ADDITIONAL BEER RELEASES
Lagers
Category 12 is launching a gluten-free Pilsner in what is the first of a new series gluten-free styles.
Ales
Foamer's Folly is releasing a Lavender Earl Grey ESB at the end of the month, promising flavours of rich bergamot and herbal lavender, complemented by biscuit and caramel malt.
Bright Eye has a new pale ale hopped with BC Cascade hops and fermented with a West Coast yeast strain for a crisp thirst quencher.
Back Country's Daffy Twister Spread Pale Ale is now in stores.
Phillips has a new non-alcoholic beer in its iOTA line. This one is a blackberry lemon ale with hints of tart lemon. It's an experimental beer that you get as a free gift if you buy a 4-pack of any other iOTA beer at participating liquor stores.
Trading Post is bringing back its Blood Orange Wheat Ale which was packed with real blood orange purée. Out today.
Strange Fellows is bringing back Wickerman, a West Coast IPA with a fruity and spicy profile.
Camp Beer Co.'s latest collaboration cream ale features freshly roasted coffee.
Stouts
House of Funk's new double bean stout was brewed with a range of dark malts and conditioned on vanilla and tonka beans for chocolate, cinnamon, vanilla, and coffee aromas.
Tonka Beans? Yeah, I had to Google it. Its strong smell has been coveted by the perfume industry.
Sours
Field House has a new smoothie sour to celebrate its seven-year anniversary. It features seven fruits—blackberries, blueberries, cherries, guava, lingonberries, pineapple, and peaches. The perfect post-workout smoothie.
Luppolo brings us a Gose with black lime, with aromas of citrus and white pepper with subtle Brett funk.
QUICK HITS
Four Winds has opened up its 2023 Beer Club. A curated box of beers sent out 4x/year with limited releases.
La Cerveceria Astilleros has a winter deal, Monday to Thursdays, 5pm until closing where you save $20 on a combo of 4 tacos, guac and chips, 2 churros, peanuts and 2 beers for $48.
Four Winds has a couple promos that might catch you eye: 10% off flats of beer until the end of January, and a free $20 gift certificate when you buy $100 in gift certificates.
Ever wonder what a spontaneous fermentation in a cooling vessel looks like? Strange Fellows has an Insta Reel for you.
GET UP TO SOMETHING GOOD
This Weekend's Events
🍽️ Dine Out Vancouver is in full swing and many local breweries are participating.
🏴 Kilt Night Caskets makes a return to Smuggler's Trail on January 29.
🍽️ Luppolo Brewing is offering a 3-course dinner until February 5 in partnership with Mordimi Bite of Italy. Here's a peak at the menu. Resos are encouraged.
🥳 Field House is turning seven years old and is celebrating.
🎶 It's Sunday Funday at Langley's Smuggler's Trail.
🧠 If you're in Chilliwack, can you name that tune at Old Yale?
✨ Dragged Out Sunday makes its return to Farm Country.
Upcoming Events
🏃Steel & Oak hosts a run club every Wednesday night. Run 3km or 5km to earn that beer!
🎤 It's comedy night at Container Brewing on January 31 and February 21. Tickets here.
♟️ 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 beer tasting yoga class monthly on Saturdays. The next sessions are on January 28, February 18, and March 11.
🎨 Deep Cove is hosting Paint Nite on February 6. Tickets are $39.
🍽️ Il Centro is hosting a beer tasting event on February 9, featuring Luppolo, Container, Powell Brewery, and East Van Brewing Company.
🎪 More than 20 breweries are participating in the 2023 Sunshine Coast Beer Festival on February 25.
🧘Container Brewing is also 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.
🎤 Container Brewing has open mic every Sunday
🤯 Trivia Nights
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🕹️ GAME TIME
Last week, we asked if you knew what a naturally carbonated keg is? The answer: Cask.
This week, we wonder if this Belgian style can get more international recognition than Lambic.