Calgary YeastWranglers Homebrew Competition Decided

Last week the Calgary Homebrewers and enthusiasts group, the Cowtown YeastWranglers hosted their third annual homebrew competition. There were over 200 entries and some wonderful homebrews. The YeastWranglers have many BJCP judges (prairiebeerblogger included) and was recently highlighted in TAPS magazine by James Burla (a prairiebeerblogger?).

The Best in Show prize went to Ari Giligson of VanBrewers for his Blue House Lager, a Premium American lager. Runners up were Eric Johnson and Ray Duperron of VanBrewers and Edmonton Guild repectively.

Eric Johnson took home YeastWrangler Homebrewer of the Year as well, dethroning two time champ, Cory Clayton, who did present very well in many categories.

For complete list of winners go to: http://www.yeastwranglers.ca/NMP/Roundup11/tabid/353/Default.aspx

Paddock Wood joins North American Craft

This new company has formed in Toronto with a 'focus on representing smalls craft breweries from North America at the retail level in Ontario'. Industry vet, Claude Lefebvre, started this company to "support the out-of-province small breweries and eventually, American craft brands" sell in Ontario.

If you don't know, The Beer Store (that's what it's actually called) is the only place in Ontario to get beer. Sorry, you can get some at the LCBO, but the retail beer outlet is The Beer Store. A leftover from prohibition, this store is primarily owned by Labatt, Molson and in smaller shares Sleemans and although craft beers do appear in the store, each time I go in, they are often hard to find.

Paddock Wood began selling 606 and Czech Mate in Ontario last year, but only in liquor stores.

http://www.northamericancraft.com/

reported on Canadian Beer News earlier today

Great Western to release Pale Ale

Great Western of Saskatoon will release Great Western Original 16 Pale Ale next month to commemorate the sixteen founders of Greta Western in 1990. These employees found themselves out of work when Molson closed the doors of the brewery so they purchased in and began their own independent brewery.

The press release describes it as:

'Original 16 is made with 100 per cent two-row prairie barley (widely considered to be the best in the world) and produced via a double-aging process through which the beer is matured for seven days, then chilled to minus 1.5 Celsius and held for a 24 day (minimum) cold-aging period. The beer then undergoes final filtration at this temperature to ensure maximum clarity.

“The result is a perfectly-balanced, exceptionally smooth-tasting Canadian Pale Ale with a delicate citrus hop flavour and fruity aroma,” said Viv Jones, Brewmaster, Great Western Brewing Company. “This pale ale is refreshing and highly drinkable and will leave a sparkle on your tongue.”'

News was posted on Canadian Beer News Feb, 16

New Beers at Sherbrooke Liquor

Firstly, a month into sales already is their Chinese New Beer. A Belgian wheat beer designed to be paired at Edmonton's Lingnan Chinese restaurant. The orange and coriander should work well here.

Secondly, is a Bavarian dark wheat brewed with vanilla extract adn described as "bananas foster dunkelweizen". With notes of caramel, vanilla and banana, this one will taste differently that your regular brew.

Both beers are available at Sherbrooke Liquor in Edmonton and some restaurants around Edmonton.

This release was posted on Canadian Beer earlier this month

Alley Kat's Oatmeal Named

As reported earlier, Alley Kat was holding a contest to name its newest brew - an oatmeal stout.

The contest resulted in Three Bears Oatmeal Stout which will be released toward the month's end but will be introduced at the next cask next. If I was only in Edmonton.