Inspired by the Goose Island Brewery's popular 312 Urban Wheat from Chicago and Amsterdam's 416 Urban Wheat, Labatt will release many local beers including a 403 and 780 for Calgary and Edmonton.
Neat.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Labatt Local Series
As reported on Canadian Beer News, Labatt is set to launch its "local area code" brews throughout Canada.
Big Rock Brewmaster's Series
The new Beer in Big Rock's Brewmaster Series will be out in January and it's a Dunkelweizen Dark Wheat Ale. The press release states that:
Dunkewlweizen is a dark wheat ale comprised of a blend of 5 distinctive malts. This unique bavarian masterpiece has a wide spectrum of flavours & aromas varying from chocolate, coffee, vanilla and a few other surprises lurking in the background.
We are loving the new beers from Big Rock - welcome back!
Craft Beer Hits Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail did a nice article on the Canadian craft beer market and spanned the country. Great representation highlighted from the prairies.
Nice job Jim Gibbons from Ambers and Steve Cavan from Paddock Wood.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Prairie Picks
OK,
We were asked by a number of friends for advise on bringing various beers to holiday parties or to bring an "interesting 6 pack" as a gift for a host or beer lover more this year than ever before. The craft movement is here, my friends, roll with it.
Now we intended to blog and tweet and all that social stuff while we chatted about it but never got around to it - sorry. With more parties happening this week and NYE we have decided to post our picks.
Now in true Prairie Beer Blogging, we will give you our favourite prairie 6 pack. A great idea to bring a host is a sample of great beers from the prairies. So here we go ...
1 - Fort Garry Dark - I can be sure your host hasn't had a Fort Garry and we don't give this bee enough credit. It's dark, but they'll love it!
2 - Wild Rose Velvet Fog - depending on your recipient, this could be a tough sell when they pour it as it is VERY cloudy. But oh so delicious.
3 - Paddock Wood Bete Noire - Again, out of Paddock Wood's line-up, Bete Noire does not get the credit it deserves. A stout that all can enjoy.
4 - Alley Kat Charlie Flint - What a great beer and there hasn't been a person I've given this to who didn't like it.
5 - Half Pint Little Scrapper ipa - IPA's are tough gifts but to put together a sampler and not put one in seems wrong. This one is fun and a good taste.
6 - Grizzly Paw's Rutting Elk Red. Every Canadian loves a good red and this one is one your host will love!
Alternate - Brecknock Pilsner - ok we know we shouldn't but if if you're store is out of one these try a Brecknock pilsner. Your host will not have heard of it and will enjoy it. It's a great story beer.
OR - Great Western Pilsner. A lot of Great Western Beers sell but this is their best beer. Turn people on to it.
Enjoy putting together your Western Sampler (Hmm that would be a great name)
New TAPS finally here
Seems like I post this each time it FINALLY hits the west. That said, the winter issue of TAPS - The Beer Magazine is finally available in the west. Many great articles - a lot of international and food related ones this round. From the west, there's one on Festive Beers but there's a GREAT one on Ambers Brewing Co.
You know it's a great magazine - pick one up.
Maybe even write or email TAPS and tell them how much you love the articles that James Burla writes
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Oh Happy Day Thunder Bay!!!!
OK, so some of you might not count Thunder Bay, ON, as the prairies, but I do and it's our site. It is Northern Ontario and the point where the Canadian Shield meets the prairies (well sort of). Anyway it's my home town and I am so very glad to see craft beer will once again flow through the Kaministiquia River.
Sleeping Giant Brewing Company is set to open its doors in the spring and according to their facebook page post on tasting we may see the likes of a wheat ale, oatmeal stout, porter, vanilla porter - the likes to which TBay has never had.
Great job guys. It's a tough go starting and a tough city to crack - I wish you well and will be having friends bring some of your beers out west the first chance I get.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Raspberry Blonde in Blonde
No, not a hot girl we saw there, the new beer on tap at Banff Ave Brewing. Its gotta be good - it's a raspberry blonde.
Now if they have a raspberry blonde waitress serve it you, not that's marketing!
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Big Bulge Saison back at Brewsters
Yeah - French Saison is back. Known for the French area of Belgium where the battle of the bulge took place, the saison is spicy, lemony and orangey. Nice.
Good excuse to go for dinner
Calgary's Minhas Brewery Finlly brewed in Calgary
According to the Calgary Herald, Minhas Beer will finally be brewed in Calgary. Minhas Brewery is spending 5 million on a facility in the NE and produce their Mountain Crest and Minhas beers. The beers have been produced in Wisconsin since a facility in the sate bought the company in 2006. Set to come back home, the brewery will now be renamed Minhas Craft Brewery.
There you go.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Half Pints Winter Harvest
Coming Soon - Demeter's Harvest. This a wheat wine with an 11% winter warmer. Another great endeavour of something different from the boys at Half Pints. Unfortunately for all you barley wine lovers, they are not producing their burly wine this year - making the Demeter's Harvest instead.
Hey change is good. Hope it makes its way out of the 'peg'
Calgary Beer Coming Home
We always thought it was weird that Molson's Calgary beer was still brewed, but only sold in Saskatchewan. It was very shocking to see it for the first time one day while visiting Regina. As a non-Calgary native I didn't know this as a Calgary staple, but those of you who have been missing it - it's back. Now brewed in Molson's Vancouver plant, Calgary beer has been brought back as a promotion but could return again for the century of Stampede this year.
Some History from Canadian Beer News: "Originally brewed by Calgary Brewing & Malting before that company was taken over by Carling-O’Keefe, the brand was withdrawn from its home market in the mid-1980s, but remained available in Saskatchewan. New parent company Molson brought it back to Calgary for two limited runs, the most recent in 1992, but it has not been seen there since."
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Trouble and Strife IPA at Grizzly Paw
Canmore's pub The Grizzly Paw tweeted today that they have their Trouble and Strife Black IPA on tap. I'm going to go with "dark ale". probably "hoppy". Why not head to mountains this week and tell us what you think of it.
Looking to Impress your Friends with Beer?
As you know we posted the prairie award winners from the Canadian Brewing Awards earlier, but did you know there are other winners that you can get in the prairies.
One way to impress your friends would be to bring over a couple of Canadian Gold Medal Winners from Ontario. Did you know that you can get the following Ontario based beers out here? Try them and show off your knowledge to your friends:
Creemore Springs Traditional Pilsner - Gold in European Lager category
Creemore Springs Kellerbier - Gold in Kellebier category
Millstreet Coffee Porter - Gold in Porter category
They're good - really
Sunday, November 20, 2011
New Alley Kat Big Bottle Series out
The Blue Dragon Double ipa is out in Alberta and is the yang to the ying that was their red dragon ipa. This ale is described as:
The Blue Dragon is dark gold with subtle flavours of citrus & tropical fruit and resin that backs lots of piney hop flavour and an in-your-face bitterness. At 100+ IBUs and single hopped with Columbus, there is no doubt this brew is intended for hop heads.
If you liked Red Dragon, clearly blue is better.
Big Rock Hosts Unity Brew
The third installment of Alberta Brewer's Unity Brew kicked off this weekend hosted by Paul Gautreau of Big Rock. Started three years ago with an initiative from Michele Lowney of Grizzly Paw in Canmore, and continued last year at Alley Kat, the brewers of Alberta get together to create a recipe and brew a special beer for charity. This year's endeavour, a spiced blonde.
Joining Paul and the boys at Big Rock were brewers from Grizzly Paw of Canmore, Wild Rose, Brew Brothers from Calgary, Alley Kat from Edmonton, Brewsters from both cities and Drummond from Red Deer and Banff Ave Brewing from Banff.
Great work brewers - can't wait to give my money to your charity.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Phillips of BC now in Alberta
A Happy Day!!!! BC based Phillips has announced a partnership with 49th parallel group to bring anumber of the Phillips brands into Alberta. Regular brews such as Blue Buck and Hop Circle will come in 6 packs and Ginger Beer, Amnesiac, Longboat Chocolate Porter and Hoperation Tripel Cross will appear in 650 ml bottles. Also, seasonals will arrive from time to time.
All great, but we got to say that the Longboat Porter - prairie beer blogger favourite.
Thanks Phillips
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Yukon Seasonals for Alberta Eyes Only
Yukon Brewing announced a plan to release three new seasonal beers for the Alberta market only.
The A.D.D. series will include:
Birch Marzen - an amber lager made with Uncle Berwyn's Yukon Birch Syrup
Spiced Winter Ale - a dark ale made with cinnamon, cardamon, anise seed and orange peel
Imperial IPA - made with Goulding, Glacier, Millennium and Cascade hops - whew!
The beers will have limited releases and will appear in 341 ml bottles presented in tubes.
You can get the Marzen now and the Winter Ale will appear in December with the IPA starting the new year.
Sherbrookes' New "Beer Gods" Series Beer
The newest in the Beer Gods lineup form Sherbrooke Liquor is out in Edmonton. Silenus Belgian Style Tripel is made with white wine juice and has been contracted out by Paddock Wood.
The name comes from the folk character and companion of Dionysus - Greek god of wine.
New Alberta brewery!
Very excited that Ribstone Creek Brewery has sort of launched in Alberta. This undertaking of four partners - a farmer, a lawyer, a municipal officer and an automotive tech, have the plan to bring beer to rural Alberta. Bringing in David Beardsell, owner of the Noble Pig in Kamloops to consult, this brewery will plan to operate out of Edgerton within the year. Currently contracted its first beer, Ribstone Creek Lager to Yellowhead in Edmonton, they plan to serve bars in the rural areas.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Chai Spiced Red Ale at Brewsters
Seriously.
Just started pouring this interesting ale. It's a little spicy, still hoppy, still has a malty sweetness.
There are a lot of cool and interesting flavours emerging in the beer world. How many of you thought one would be coming from Brewsters?
You should hit there more often. Cool stuff going on.
Imperial Pumpkin Ale tapped in Jasper
What a way to send October out! The boys at Jasper have an Imperial Pumpkin Ale on tap and I can't imagine it lasting too long. If you happen to be up there this weekend make sure you stop in.
Remember though - they're staunch Oiler fans.
They still make good beer, though.
Bushwakker Great Pumpkin Spiced Brown Ale
Regina's Bushwakker has its fall seasonal out now and it's a pumpkin spiced brown ale. I'm imagining pumpkin pie, carbonated and with a creamy head.
This year they made more of it. Last year, there were only kegs and it disappeared in record time. There's a tank of it this year, but alas, they are not bottling it. I know I won't make it to Regina fast enough to try this one, so we'd appreciate any feedback on its deliciousness.
If you want to send us one in the mail we'll reimburse you.
New TAPS final hits the West
I know I say it every couple of months, but I can't believe it takes so long to get these out here. Anyway, TAPS - the beer magazine is in the west and can be bought at most breweries (WR) as well as Sherbrooke Liquor as well as any Indigo. It's such a good beer read, but even better - it's Canadian - with a Canadian spin.
How else are you going to keep up with all the new breweries in Quebec and T.O.?
There's a GREAT article on Gulf Island Brewery this issue. Don't know why, but that James Burla does speak to me.
Go buy one - please.
It's Back You Crazy Cherry Porter Fans!
That's right, Calgary's Wild Rose has again released its famous cherry porter as the current seasonal. Rated as one of the 101 best beers to drink before you die, this is a great treat.
Brewed with BC cherries, this beer has a fantastic fruity aroma. It's like drinking a piece of black forest cake.
Really it's probably better. Can you imagine blending up a piece of cake, liquifying it and drinking it? Probably not as good. No beer-ness to it either.
Where was I, again?
Alley Kat - More beers released
WOW! Alley Kat is moving out new beers faster than I can type. In all fairness, I type really slowly.
The Edmonton brewery has re-released its Three Bears Oatmeal Stout as a seasonal now. Released formally as part of its Big Bottle series, this stout has great roasted flavours and creamy head. I like stouts and this is a gooder.
Secondly, actually as its Big Bottle release is the new Cringer Cranberry Ginger Ale. A ginger beer with a hint of cranberry. Sounds refreshing. With ginger ale this yummy, I can't wait to get sick this season.
- you know, because you drink ginger ale when you don't feel well. Not because this beer makes you sick.
no - not funny. It's tough to type humour you know. If you could match my facial expressions, you'd be laughing.
Just go buy a bottle and be quiet
Fort Garry Brewmaster Series
It's finally hitting the shelves. Fort Garry has released it's first of its brewmaster's series with a German Eisbock. Brewed as a high gravity Dopplebock the beauty of the eisbock is that it's then frozen to remove water, leaving this beer a crisp 9.5%
I'm a fan of Fort Garry beers and am so glad to see them moving beers again. What flavour this will have.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Wild Rose Marzen
Marzens and oktoberfests are abundant, yes. Why not make it a goal to try them on and let us know which is the best in the city? Wild Rose has its seasonal on right now - its Marzen. A good reddish Munich autumnal beer.
I love WR and if you didn't know you can bring your kids there for lunch. So really have no excuse
Oktoberfest at Brewsters
The Prairie pub chain Brewsters has their oktoberfest as their seasonal on now. This German lager has a nice reddish colour and tastes good. You gotta eat; might as well head somewhere that has its own beer.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Happy Birthday Half Pints!!!
Half Pints turns 5 years old already this month! They are celebrating with an anniversary party at The Lo Pub
Great Westerns stays with Huskies
Saskatoon brewery, Great Western keeps things local by staying on as the official beer of Saskatchewan Huskies Athletics.
What else says university athletics like award winning beer!
Big Rock's Scotch Heavy - Oot and a Boot
The latest of Big Rock's Brewmaster's series is out in stores and it's their take on a Scottish heavy ale. Brewed with pale, caramel, peated and munich malts, it has that great balance of toffee and vanilla flavours and at 7% will warm you up.
Thanks Paul and your brewmasters series. Great things coming from Big Rock these days.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Alley Kat releases Fresh Hop Full Moon
The latest in Edmonton's Alley Kat's Big Bottle series is Fresh Hop Full Moon Pale Ale. This special edition of the full moon staple is special as it is brewed with fresh hops, not the pellets.
Get the big bottle series at Alley Kat and at specialty stores through Alberta.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
The Village Brewery Opening Soon
Slated to open in late fall, The Village will be Calgary's newest microbrewery. Soon to open on 12A st SE, The Village will be the first micro to open in 15 years. (One could argue WURST)
There are not too many details floating around that I can see, but the soon to be brewery was recently highlighted in the Calgary Herald and Fast Forward.
One of the 6 owners, Jim Button (who had previously worked with Big Rock) explains the brewery's philosophy:
The seemingly improvised setup isn’t accidental. Rather, it fits perfectly into the philosophy of the brewery, which will open in late fall. Jim Button, one of six owners, explains that as many things as possible — including the brewing equipment, beer glasses and tap handles — will be either re-used or built by local businesses.
The concept of creating community is central to the existence of the brewery. After all, the adage “it takes a village to raise a child” has been revised to serve as the unofficial mission statement of the brewery: “It takes a village to raise a brewery.” Ten per cent of the business’s earnings will be donated to community projects, predominantly in the sphere of the arts. Art installations will also decorate a wall or two of the interior.
(from FFWD article)
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Alley Kat Cask Night
Sept 22 will see Alley Kat's monthly cask beer nights open at Sugarbowl. The feature is a casked version of Full Moon.
Got to be the only time I'd rather be in Edmonton.
HomeBrew / Beer Clubs are up and running
As September hit, so did the first meetings of the homebrewers and beer enthusiast clubs around the prairies. If you've never been to one of these, seriously find the one in your area. You don't have to know anything about making beer, you just have to enjoy it and want to know something more about it than you already do.
Most memberships are cheap and the company enjoys beer so you know the people are good.
Here's a list:
Headhunters Beer Club of Saskatoon meets at Paddock Wood (first meeting was Sept 13)
Regina Ales of meets at Bushwakker (oktoberfest party Sept 24)
Edmonton Homebrewers Guild meet the first Monday of the month at Alley Kat
Calgary's Cowtown Yeast WRanglers meets the first Monday as well at Wild Rose (their the biggest in Canada - weird eh?)
Lethbridge Wert Hogs meet the third Sunday of the months
Banff Beer Club meets at Banff Ave. Brewing
Check 'em out
Paddock Wood Winter Ale a comin'
Saskatoon's Paddock Wood announced on Twitter that they have their Winter Ale "in the tank" now so we will be expecting that out in the months to come. In the past this slightly sweet ale has had the spiciness needed for all of us who like those winter/holiday beers.
We're not look forward to the snow, but now maybe at least the winter beers.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Wild Rose turns 15
The 15th Anniversady Celebration for Wild Rose will be on September 20th. They will have four ONE DAY ONLY beers available at the taproom.
Nectarine Saison with Ginger
Belgian IPA Dry Hopped with citra hops
Irish Red Ale with fresh hops from the WR garden
Dark Scottish Ale aged with oak and whisky
I'm going to be there. I hope your not so there'll be more for me.
Paddock Wood drunk at Canadian Embassy
As tweeted today, Paddock Wood has sent its Melon Head Loelsch, 606 ale and Loki to Germany today for a "gathering" at the Canadian Embassy.
Very Cool. At least they'll be able to get some good beer in Germany now.
Congrats Prairie CBA Winners!!!!!
The results of this year's Canadian Brewing Awards were recently released and the Prairies were showed some love.
With Great Western Brewing Co, taking a silver and a bronze in the North American Premium Lager for their Great Western Pilsner and Brewhouse Pilsner respectively.
They also too silver in the Cream Ale category with their Original 16.
Big Rock, took silver in the Wheat Beer - North American Style, with their Grasshopper
and BUSHWAKKER TAKES GOLD in the Imperial Stout category with their Tartan Tsar Russian Imperial Stout.
Congrats everyone!!!
Half Pints Smoktoberfest announced
Yesterday, on twitter, Half Pints from Winnipeg announced it will release its Smoktoberfest brew October 11. Lucky Manitobans.
I don't think I've ever said that before.
Thank goodness you guys have Half Pints.
Also, in the Winnipeg Free Press, two Manitoba politicians, favour Half Pints St. James Ale. Neat.
One was a Fort Garry fan
One was an MGD fan - Iguess he just lost the election
Wild Rose Marzen now on tap
Launched with a cask conditioned version last Friday, the Wild Rose Marzen is a classic Bavavarian oktoberfest beer. It's copper, full bodied and delicious. Get to quonset!
Grizzly Paw label the pop competition
OK, it' s not beer, but the Grizzly Paw in Canmore is holding a competition to create the label for its new pop: Swamp Water. The winner of this Charity Pop label will win a case of the pop and cool hundgy! Get drawing.
Amber's Zombie Apocalypse Red Lager
I know this Vienna styled red lager has been out for a while, but I haven't come across it. The Amber's Brewing Co, always has interestingly named beers and this is no different. If you find it, let me know what you think.
Yellowhead Brewery Website finally up
Those of you, like me, who have been trying to access this website since it launched will be pleased to know that their website is up and running. Now you can read about the beers and find out where to find Yellowhead beers. To date, you still have to be in Edmonton or the area to get some, but I bet Calgary will get some soon.
New Fruit Hog on Tap at Brewsters
The brewpub chain, Brewsters has released its latest in its fruit hog series: Fat Rabbit Raspberry Kristallweizen. This "crystal wheat" beer is a filtered German pale Weiss bier, or Hefeweizen wiht the sweetness and tart of fresh raspberries. A good late summer patio beer.
Two New Beers from Alley Kat
Alley Kat in Edmonton has released its new fall seasonal as well as its newest of the big bottle series.
Ein Prosit! Oktoberfest is, of course, an oktoberfest styled beer using German malts and leaving a toasty, bready note.
The new Big Bottle brew is Red Dragon Double IPA. With lots of piny hop flavour this beer reads at an 100+ IBU. Here you go Hop Heads!
Both beers are available throughout Alberta.
Sherbrooke Release beer for the gods
OK, OK, I know we've been out of the loop for a while and have probably lost the two people who were following, but we're back, so tell your friends.
If you're up in Edmonton, see if Sherbrook liquor store still has any of the Ragutiene Baltic Porter left. Made for their new "Beer Gods" series, this porter was made by Paddock Wood and is named for Ragutiene, the Slavic goddess of beer.
Each Beer God release will fall on a seasonal solstice or equinox, so mark your calendars.
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