What's new in BC beer: Dole Whip, cherry and a dependable lite lager

Hello, and welcome to our new subscribers!

I hope you had a great start to the week. It's about to get better as you contemplate which new beer releases to try.

We have an interesting mix with salted lime lagers, beers brewers with cola gummies, and one inspired by Dole Whip. Lager heads, don't worry, we also have a lite lager if you're looking for something easygoing!

— Joseph Lavoie

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New Beers in the Lower Mainland

Title-a-whirl

To celebrate its sixth birthday, Parkside is releasing Tilt-a-whirl tomorrow, bringing us to Disneyland where the Dole Whip originates. No idea what a Dole Whip is? You're not alone. I had to google it. It's a pineapple soft-serve dairy-free frozen dessert created by the Dole Food company in 1984 and achieved a cult following at Disneyland.

• Public Service Announcement: If you pop by the brewery tomorrow, you might find some Dole Whip beer floats. You're welcome.

• Where to get it: In the tasting room tomorrow, in single and cans at the brewery, starting Friday June 10th.

• Brewery location: 2731 Murray St, Port Moody | Map

Cherry Cola Sour

Backcountry Brewing is back with its crowd favourite, Might as Well Go for a Soda, which was brewed with cherries and cola gummies. ⁠The beer purists (raising my hand) may be horrified at the concept, but fans are already screeching with delight and profusely thanking the brewery for bringing it back. No doubt this will sell out quickly!

• Where to get it: Available at the brewery tomorrow, shipping out to retailers in the following days and weeks.

• Brewery location: 405-1201 Commercial Way, Squamish | Maps

A salted lime lager

Here's a new crisp lager from Strange Fellows, All & Sundry, which is refreshingly bright, dry, salted lager. You get delicate citrus, dried lime, some brininess, and a clean finish. Perfect for a sunny day. Plus $4 from every 4-pack sold goes directly to @qmunity.

• Where to get it: In the tasting room at the brewery

• Location: 21345 Clark Dr, Vancouver | Map

A Lite lager

If you're looking for a summer beer but don't want lime or salt, this one might be up your alley. North Point Lite is an American lite lager brewed with Munich malt, which means the beer will have some wonderful character. It's the kind of beer you want after playing a game of soccer or ultimate frisbee.

• Strength: 4.2% ABV

• Description: "Brewed to maximize crispness, coolness, and deliciousness."

• Where to get it: Available in 355mL 6 packs, 12 packs, and on tap at the brewery

• Location: 266 1st St E, North Vancouver | Map

It's Called What?

Munich Malt

The North Point Lite Lager above is made with Munich Malt. But what does that mean, exactly?

Let's go back to basics: beer is made with grains like malts, wheat, and oats (plus water, hops, yeast, and adjuncts). Malted barley serves as the backbone for nearly all beer styles. Each beer has its own composition of malts, but all beers require a base malt that will provide the sugars yeasts need to ferment the beer. Many beers use pale malt, or pilsner malt as their base beer because they're semi-neutral in taste and let the brewer use additional specialty malts to add colour and flavour to their liking.

But certain styles also use Munich malt as a base malt because it adds the sugars yeasts need while also adding a depth of flavour. We're talking malty, light caramel, honey, and bread, all wrapped up in one. You'll often taste it in Munich-style lagers, bocks, and German festival beers like Märzenbier, Festbier, and Märzen.

What else is brewing?

British Columbia

• Augmented reality beer? Yes, that's a thing over at Field House brewing out in Abbotsford. [Vancouver is Awesome]

• Is it beer? Is it mead? It's called braggot and it's somewhere in between, made from honey and grains. You can find Braggot Brewing over in Longsdale, North Vancouver. [NS News]

• Victoria has a huge number of breweries with patios you can chill at (once the weather finally warms up). [Victoria City Buzz]

Canada

• The Prairie beer awards were just announced and Rebellion Brewing won Brewery of the Year. Here's the entire list of award-winning beers.

• Czech-style beers are gaining popularity with North American brewers. It's got a distinct pour, tap and glassware, and Aberta is becoming a great place to find them. [Globe and Mail]

International

• Pilsner? Lager? Here's how to tell the difference. [The Takeout]

• Craft Beer & Brewing highlighted a breakout brewer called Métier, which you can visit if you're down in the Seattle suburb of Woodinville. [Beer and Brewing]

One fun thing

Brews you missed

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

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

• Forget your IPA and embrace the malt- read now

• 15 Essential BC IPAs- read now

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