I’m going to start off with something fairly self-evident and entirely banal: in BC, beer enthusiasts have it pretty good. We not only have a few serious beer agencies importing quality Craft brew from the States and the Old World, but we have some of the finest brewing talent in the country working in our backyards.
Still early on in the year there is a lot to say about the quality and diversity of the beer landing on our shelves but for brevity’s sake, I’ll focus on a few domestic surprises.
Mission Springs, long out of the Vancouver market, roared back with what was arguably one of the most flavourful Pumpkin ales available late last year: Mr. Brown’s Mashing Pumpkin only to follow that with the very good Strongman Ale in late January. It’s good to have Mission Springs back in circulation and their new recipes are placing them back in the imaginations of the beer crowd here in Vancouver.
Vancouver Island Brewing came onto my radar again last year after a long absence. Re-visiting their line-up I had to wonder why they’d let the ball drop in terms of their marketing here in the lower mainland. They had clearly been pre-occupied with government stores as their primary channel, but trying the beer again I was impressed how true-to-style their recipes were and would go so far as to say that they offer one of the strongest and most consistent beer portfolios in BC. Their latest offering Beachcomber Summer Ale is a knock-out of a German style wheat beer with a strain of yeast brought in from Munich that delivers the classic banana-clove aromas and flavours that fans of this style love. There’s nothing half-way about this effort.
Of course it came as no surprise that Driftwood Brewing would once again WOW us with their monstrously good Singularity Russian Imperial Stout. For those who’ve not had it, befriend someone who has a case squirreled away and then needle them until they agree to share a bottle with you. If you’re a beer fan, it may well be worth that much time and effort. Then a few weeks ago Driftwood drops another stunner on our doorsteps: Son of the Morning Strong Belgian Golden Ale. With a voltage of 10% abv it packs loads of punch with a deep complexity of spice/fruit aromas and flavours that makes you feel as if you’re falling endlessly through the rabbit hole.
Finally, Howe Sound Brewing rolled out their Gathering Storm Cascadian Dark Ale. CDA is a style specific to the Pacific North West meaning that it’s propped full with a variety of hops and the resulting IBUs making for a dark English style ale with the lacerating (to some only of course) bitterness of a West Coast IPA. I find the Howe Sound version to be the nicest example I’ve had with more balance and a gorgeous texture. You realize that the brew is aptly named as you watch the carbonation slowly rise and roll from the bottom of your glass to form a thick creamy Murphy’s-like head. It’s well worth your while stowing some away for the fall.
For more wine reports by Ralf Joneikies visit our drink section.
Viti Yaletown Liquor Store – 900 Seymour Street Vancouver
Viti Wine & Lagers
ph: 604.683.3806
info @ vitiwinelagers.com
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For bartenders the good news is that Hayman’s Old Tom Gin and Sloe Gin will be available in BC by as early as the fall. Recently given substantial coverage in Washington Post columnist Jason Wilson’s book Boozehound, these products are being brought to us courtesy of Ontario-based Lifford Agency. I had occasion to try these gins and they are very good with the Old Tom having a little more sweetness than an average London Dry gin but with such balance that it’s easy to see it as an ideal mixing gin.
And speaking of mixing gins, it turns out that Plymouth gin will be going up in price with rumours putting the price increase per bottle anywhere from 2 to 20 dollars. This being BC we can expect the worst but let us wait and be surprised. Chivas Brothers, the makers of Plymouth, rolled out the new package in Spain towards the end of 2011 with its new pricing. The new bottle is rounded in shape and sports a copper cap to indicate the copper pot stills used in its production.
