Most memorable beer of 2010

I’ve never quite understood the claim that certain things are “The Best of…” any given year. Unless we are talking about judging like against like, one can’t very well say that a certain Oatmeal Stout is better than a certain IPA. How about the latest collection of arias by Anna Netrebko against the newest Rihanna warblings? Or one of thousands of German Rieslings, beating out thousands of California Cabernets, as best wine? In what universe?

Yet these assertions are routinely made in various media and uncritically, we’re content to gobble them up. So to change things a little I present a more reasonable list of Most Memorable Beer that we carried at Viti Wine & Lager this past year. The list is in no particular order of preference but I hope it will provoke some pleasant memories.

Most Memorable Beer (Retail) of 2011

• Howe Sound Mega Destroyer (B.C.)
• Cheval Blanc (Quebec)
• Brasserie Charlevoix Dominus Vobiscum Lupulus 2010 (Quebec)
• Driftwood Singularity (B.C.)
• Driftwood Bird of Prey (B.C.)
• Howe Sound Woolly Bugger Barleywine (B.C.)
• Brasserie Charlevoix La Vache Folle Imperial Milk Stout (Quebec)
• Ayinger Weizenbock (Germany)
• Gulden Draak Vintage Christmas Ale (Belgium)
• Westvleteren 8 (Belgium)
• Rochefort 10 (Belgium)
• McAuslan St. Ambroise Scotch Ale (Quebec)
• Paddock Wood Loki Double IPA (Saskatchewan)
• Ommegang Three Philosophers (Belgium)
• Schneider & Brooklyner Hopfen-Weisse (Germany)
• Uncommon Brewing Siamese Twin Ale (California)
• Tenaya Creek Calico Brown Ale (Nevada)
• Mort Subite Oude Gueuze (Belgium)
• Cantillon Rose de Gambrinus (Belgium)
• Verdi Imperial Stout (Italy)
• Hebrew Bittersweet Lenny’s R.I.P.A. (New York)
• Mission Springs Mr. Brown’s Mashing Pumpkin (B.C.)
• Corsendonk Tempelier (Belgium)
• Unibroue Grande Reserve 17 (Quebec- this beer will be available in B.C. in March 2012)

Ralf Joneikies is the General Manager of Viti Wine & Lager in downtown Vancouver. Having trained at Niagara College he has a background in wine making, wine chemistry and viticulture and in 2008 was fortunate to assist in winemaking duties at one of Germanys pre-eminent family-owned estates. In 2009 he was invited to participate as a reviewer with the LCBO Vintages tasting panel and in November of that year assumed the role of GM at Viti. Viti proudly services a broad range of tastes and price considerations and is recognized as one of Vancouver’s premier destinations for Craft Beer and Single Malt Whiskies.
   

Viti Yaletown Liquor Store – 900 Seymour Street Vancouver

Viti Wine & Lagers
ph: 604.683.3806
info @ vitiwinelagers.com