beernesday

Got a beer lover or two on your gift list? Lucky you! They're so easy to shop for! But if you're stumped, here are some ideas: Best Default Gifts for Beer Lovers : Gift packs from breweries! Most local breweries have swag and gift certificates available. Some also have gift packs – such as: Central City’s Thor’s Hammer Barley Wine Gift Pack, a combo-pack that includes a 2014 bottle-conditioned Thor’s Hammer, which won Gold at this year’s 2016 BC Beer Awards, and a 2014 Bourbon barrel-aged Thor’s Hammer, which won Bronze. Four Winds has a gift pack of Pomona and Pequeno Cabo, with 2 branded crystal Spiegelau beer tulips (to drink them out of, natch) and gift cards, all in a beautiful wooden box.  $75.  Please grab one of these for me! Strange Fellows has a gift pack of a bottle of Krampus, and a glass to drink it from. Moody Ales has a build your own gift pack – with prices ranging from $25 to $110, you start with a gift card and then add in additional swag. ...

Apparently I am over my seasonal denial and  willing to admit that it’s not summer any more.  So I guess it's time to talk about winter seasonal beers. As you may recall,  I’m not at all a fan of the heavy-handed use of vanilla in winter ales.  I find that cloying and annoying. Vanilla isn’t a traditional winter ale flavouring.  Spicing beers is fairly traditional – before the wide usage of hops to bitter beer it used to be herbs and spices and tree bark that were used.  It was a natural progression from there to add some spices to a nice winter ale, but these spices tended to be nutmeg, cinnamon, and allspice . Vanilla is a recent trend, and seems to have really caught on here in the Lower Mainland.  For those who, like me, aren’t big fans of the vanilla trend, there are more traditional winter ales, and other experimental ales around, in a variety of styles and flavours. One such beer is the Postmark Red Winter Ale.  The new bre...

a new beer release from bomber brewing and expansion news from bridge brewing BOMBER BREWING'S BARLEYWINE PROVES WELL WORTH THE WAIT Apex Barleywine : Aged for 9 months in French oak, single-use Cab Franc and Cab Merlot barrels, this American-style barleywine is both balanced and complex. Full-bodied, it shines a deep mahogany brown, punctuated by medium-high carbonation. Light notes of alcohol, treacle, and dark fruit fill the nose, hinting at the warmth within. A subtle, lingering bitterness  is accompanied by a rich maltiness thanks to the use of over 15 malts. Drink it now or cellar  it for months or years to come! About Apex Barleywine: Appearance: Dark, rich mahogany brown. Aroma: Carmel malts, sherry, raisin, subdued hops, light alcohol. Flavour: Softly bitter from both the start and fini...

Founded in 2002 by Gunnar Wiig and Kjetil Jikiun with one mission, to create fantastic full-bodied handcrafted beer. The name Nøgne Ø, which means “Naked Island,” is a poetic term used by Henrik Ibsen to describe the countless stone outcroppings that are visible off Norway’s southern coast. It also paints a symbolic picture of what two Norwegian homebrewers set out to do in 2002 in a country flooded with macrobeers. Uncompromising in their methods, Nøgne Ø creates gold from gold using malts and hops such as Maris Otter, Cascade, Centennial, Chinook and Columbus. Quality ingredients for quality craft beers, it’s as simple as that. Since their founding, Nøgne Ø has grown from a 300 hl production to an estimated 3500 hl with more than 20 different styles brewed regularly. This Grimstad, Norway-based brewery is a testament to what two bold homebrewers can accomplish with a quality craft brew. Nøgne Ø Imperial Rye Porter - $14.45 A collaborative brew for the rainy weather courtesy of Ter...

it's not too late to get those last minute beer gifts! new and tasty at legacy liquor store in vancouver: Big Rock Cuvee Bru Druivenbier - $13.85 A delightful and intriguing union of barley and grapes, pinot gris courtesy of Therapy Vineyards from Naramata, takes place in the resurrection of this esoteric beer. Golden in colour with notes of grain, biscuit and grapes in its aroma, while a palate of grapes, caramel, and bread all work together for a simple and enjoyable beer. Get your hands on this one of a kind beer from Big Rocks Alchemist series! Evan Doan | Beer Team | Legacy Liquor Store Driftwood Old Cellar Dweller - $13.55 It’s that time of year again; when big robust beers full of character brave the winter cold to warm us up from head to toe. Mahogany and ruby in colour, this particular barleywine has a huge nose of molasses, burnt sugar, dark chocolate, tobacco and a warming alcohol. All of these aromas translate beautifully in the mouth with an absurd smoothness at...

fabulous beers now available at legacy liquor store in vancouver: Le Trou du Diable Shawinigan Handshake - $10.05 A reflection of the sharp sense of humour held by our former premier, Jean Chrétien, and a comical event in Canadian political history, this rich, hazy gold Quebecois beer boasts aromas of orchard fruit, Belgian yeast and a sprinkling of malt. Orchard fruits pull through on the palate too in combination with grassy, citrusy hops (Chinook to be specific) with a dry spruce finish. This tasty brew is perfect for any political science geek or beer lover. Evan Doan | Beer Team | Legacy Liquor Store Hacker-Pschorr Münchner Kellerbier - $3.70 A classic German style beer from the heart of Germany, Munich, this naturtrüb (naturally cloudy) beer has all sorts of sweet grains and earthy hops on the nose, aromas that follow through on the palate with grains and earthy hops playing primary roles together with an almost bread-like characteristic. This classic German Kellerbier hits ...

new beers at legacy liquor store in vancouver: Deschutes Brewery - Class of ’88 Barley Wine - $12.55 25 years ago a beer renaissance occurred across the country and a passion for craft beer ignited. In honour of those 25 years of delicious beer, Deschutes, in collaboration with North Coast and Rogue, have opened a door to the past. Deep orange in colour with notes of caramel, pine and citrus on the nose, this brew offers more caramel, pine and citrus on the palate. A tasty treat from ’88. Conor Marshall | Beer Department | Legacy Liquor Store Old Yale Brewing - D. O. Ale - $7.55 In tribute to the Vancouver punk band D.O.A., this collaboration with CBC music and Old Yale Brewing Co. hits all the right notes (insert rimshot here). Pouring a deep brown in colour with sweet caramel, molasses and toasted malts on the nose, it follows up with honey, brown sugar and nut on the palate, with a little bit of smoke playing backup. Enjoy with your favourite D.O.A album. Jordan Cran | Floor Su...

new beer offerings at legacy liquor store in vancouver: Brooklyn Brewery - Silver Anniversary Lager - $18.90 Happy Anniversary, Brooklyn, 25 years of excellent brewing and many more to come! Brewed to the strength of a dopplebock, this lager uses four different malts in addition to Cascade, Willamette, and Hallertauer Mittelfrueh and Saphir hops. Pouring dark amber in colour with notes of citrus, toasted malt and butterscotch on the nose, aromas that carry through on the palate before fading into a spicy hop finish, this brew is an excellent way to celebrate 25 years. Tree Brewing - Hop Head Black IPA - $7.85 Nestled in the BC interior, Tree Brewing consistently churns out some spectacular seasonal beers, their Hop Head continuing the trend. Five hops and six malts can be found in this dark brown, nearly black beer. Biscuits, citrus (think grapefruit) and a little pine are all found in the aroma while smoke and chocolate lead the pack on the palate followed closely by citrus and pi...

and the few faux-toes i took in portland... awww crap, full sunlight makes me look old... at least my friends are totally cute! friday afternoon at the lucky labrador barleywine tastival   two of the three glassware choices at the lucky labrador tastival my breakfast beer experimental ipa at deschutes brewery beer and cheese soup at deschutes hair of the dog blue spot ipa (also brought a bomber of this back with me) gigantic ipa pretty pink bubbles at gigantic brewing vancouver loves gigantic brewing! a bevy of beautiful sours at cascade brewing apricot, raspberry, cherry, blueberry (i brought a bottle of the blueberry home with me)

i went to portland last weekend i love portland! these are all from other peoples' cameras i neglected to take many pics at all... can i blame the fabulous beer? this is us, just across the border, stopping at a gas station to get some cheap beer! (it was about 9:30 a.m. in case anyone is keeping track...) friday afternoon at the lucky labrador's barleywine and strong beer tastival breaking out the bubbles on a sunny saturday afternoon at gigantic brewing the canadians enjoying sitting outside, even after the sun left us saturday afternoon at gigantic brewing

new and exciting beers at legacy liquor store in vancouver: Double Trouble Brewing Hops & Robbers IPA - $5.60 Two Ontarians had a dream and this is the result: a clear straw-coloured IPA with notes of pine, herbs and tropical fruits on the nose with more of the same on the palate. Ringing in at 50 IBU's, this is a true east coast treasure. HaandBryggeriet 'Norwegian Wood' - $8.95 This little treat comes to you all the way from Norway. Brewed in traditional Norwegian style, this brew boasts smokiness all the way through with a touch of juniper for a little pep. Swans Legacy Ale - $7.25 Brewed to commemorate the legacy of Michael Williams and his ongoing support of the arts and Marine Sciences at UVic, this smooth, complex barley wine-style ale has aromas of orange peel, biscuits and molasses with lots of malt to back it up.     i love the hops and robbers - best part of my trip to onterrible was getting to drink it!  and its only 50 ibus... cr...

oh, my, [insert diety of your choice here] i went for a run this morning for the first time in (obviously) far too long this clean livin' is gonna kill me! that, after i sat through a beernesday at st. augustine's without drinking any of the fabulous beers on tap my virtuousness is nauseating, i know (day 17, 14 to go) anyway, the new and exciting beers at legacy liquor store in vancouver: Granville Island Brewing Barley Wine - $10.35 The folks down at GIB have decided to turn up the heat with this barley wine. Aged in bourbon barrels, this particular brew has caramel malt character, vanilla and oak flavours and a dose of Pacific Northwest hop. Parallel 49 Russian Imperial Stout - $13.75 Brewed dark and strong just like they did it in the 18th century, this Russian Imperial Stout is whiskey barrel-aged with flavours of smoke, vanilla and dried fruits. Pick up a bottle and drink like a czar. Phillips The Hammer Barrel Aged Imperial Stout - $7.85 The boy...

new and exciting beers at legacy liquor store in vancouver: Driftwood Old Cellar Dweller 2012 Barley Wine - $13.45 Three times the malt bill and five times the hops of a normal strength beer, this Barleywine tests the limits of our brewhouse and our backs! But the real struggle is in getting this massive brew to completely ferment, a true test of our skill and the vigor of our yeast. Central City Thor's Hammer Barley Wine 2011 - $15.75 Our limited edition bottle conditioned Thor's Hammer is matured for almost 1 full year. Mahogany in colour, this award-winning barley wine is crafted from fine barley malt exuding deep, rich notes of dried fruit, plum and candy with a walnut ester. Phillips Trainwreck Barrel Aged Barley Wine 2012 - $7.05 Here's a little something to stoke your boiler. This year's barley wine is full of rich malt flavours and aged in bourbon barrels. Mildly carbonated, Trainwreck should be served at cellar temperature (8C). Careful not t...

Instigating a Trainwreck Just in time for the Holidays December 3rd, 2012 -- As the calendar turns to the darkest month of the year and the mercury continues to plummet, craft beer lovers are looking for something to help insulate from the extremes of the season. To that end the Instigator Doppelbock is crawling out of his snowy mountainside cave after a year of hibernation. He's ready to toast the season with a beer packed with full-roasted flavour and featuring a proud, deep amber body. Trainwreck Barley Wine is also rumbling down the tracks back to your local liquor store. Lightly carbonated and full of rich malt sweetness to warm you from the inside out, this year's vintage was barrel-aged in Kentucky bourbon oak, adding even more warmth and complexity to a brew as dark as your late afternoon walk home from work. Both releases can be found at your favourite craft-friendly private liquor store while quantities last, and there will be a free tasting at the brewer...

new beers at legacy liquor store in vancouver: Adnams Gunhill Brewery of the Year 2011 - A traditional dark ruby ale, delivering full flavour at just 4% abv. Full aromatic barley malts and an exquisite blend of hops combined to create a wonderful balace. Adnams Tally-Ho Traditional Dark Ale Tally Ho is a limited edition barley wine style beer. Dark mahogany red with a rich, fruity aroma and a heart warming sweet raisin and biscuit palate. Brewed and bottled only once a year, it can be laid down like a fine wine. Mactarnahan's Spine Tingler Golden Belgian-Style Triple A surprisingly sublime Belgian-style triple offering an electrifying blend of spicy aromatics balanced with a lively malt palate that is so good it's scary. also at legacy, a tasting of r&b's pride ale: R&B BREWING G'ALE TASTING 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM     Tuesday, Jul 31, 2012

Trainwreck Barley Wine in Crash Course with Your Local Liquor Store Trainwreck is once again chugging down icy rails towards your local liquor store just in time for the holidays. Providing a boxcar of big malts and carrying a rich caramel aroma, this ale will run you around the corner on two wheels. At 10% abv, this lightly carbonated monster is best served at cellar temperature. Trainwreck Barley Wine is due at your local liquor station on November 28th. It’s available for a limited time only so don’t miss the train!

last week i had the distinct good fortune to eat at rogue kitchen for their beer pairing dinner with greenflash brewery four courses of fabulous food paired with four different greenflash brews in a private room delightful! the beerthirst guys brought the beers and talked about them cory the chef made courses that made me want to make happy noises all the way through! first course: goat cheese flan with roasted beets, granny smith apple, hazelnuts, microgreens, nut brown vinagrette and puff pastry paired with green flash nut brown ale (english-style ale with rich caramel malt flavours and drying nutty characteristics in the finish.  british and belgian specialty malts with mild hops - 5.5%) the goat was mild and fluffy, the hazelnuts magic, puff pastry, beets, reduction - all divine!  the nutty beer was a perfect pairing and cleansed the goat right outta my mouth.  i could eat this every day and not get bored! second course: pan roasted halibut with ch...

i began and ended last wednesday's beernesday at st. augustine's with hopworks' abominable winter ale i love this beer! just can't get enough of it too bad i'm cleansing now and won't be done until its gone... boo! i had two samplers one a winterish ode the other an ipa off rogue ales mogul madness:  6.3%  hoppy, caramel aroma, burgundy in colour with an off white head.  intense flavours of citrus, and complex notes of nuts, berries and mocha. howe sound woolly bugger barleywine:  11%  a rich dark amber barleywine brewed in extremely limited quantities dead frog mandarin orange amber ale:  5%  combines the aroma and flavour of a fresh mandarin orange with a light amber ale salt spring fireside ale:  7%  with a rich ruby colour, and a complex fruity nose.  low hop bitterness allows notes of fresh fruit to come through backed by a flavourful malt i had the mogul madness the week before, but it was my final pint and i took n...