beernesday

craftbeer.com traipses back through the highlights of craft beer in 2011 it was a damned fine year for craft beer here's to 2012 bringing us even more of a market share and more wonderfully innovative brews! cheers!

washington times delivers their top ten craft brew themes of 2011 buh bye 2011!

from the camra vancouver newsletter: Hello everyone, 2011 is coming to a close in a few days, but what a great year it's been for craft beer and real ale in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland! More and more liquor stores, pubs, and restaurants are beginning to carry a wide selection of craft beer, and it's even creating quite the buzz in the mainstream. It's not just beer bloggers typing away about the great beers in BC because we saw business magazines, to major newspapers, etc publish plenty of articles about the local craft beer scene. Vancouver Craft Beer Week was jam packed with events this year, and we even had BC Craft Beer Month! Last but not least there's been some great collaborations between brewers and breweries as well. As far as real ale goes, this year we saw more establishments on board with the weekly/monthly cask program. But what's really exciting is that we now have 6 different restaurants that serve real ale on a daily basis! This year The Wh...

what does millers coors have to do with craft beer ? brewbound finds out!

happy appropriated religious holiday day! the oatmeal, on beer

THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS (Rick Moranis / Dave Thomas) Bob & Doug McKenzie Bob: Okay, good day. This is the Christmas part of the album, you can play this at your Christmas parties, uh, or to yourself on Christmas Eve if there is nothing else to do. Doug: Good day, eh? In case you thought, like, I wasn't on this part. Bob: Oh, I guarantee ya, you'd be on. Doug: Okay, uh, this is our Christmas song, in case ya don't know what to get someone for Christmas. Doug: There's lots of ideas in here, so listen, and don't get stuck. By the way, that's me on the organ. Bob: Okay, jeez. Doug: You start. Bob: Okay ... On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: ~ Beer On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: ~ 2 turtlenecks ~ and a beer Bob: 'K ... On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: ~ 3 french toast ~ 2 turtlenecks ~ and beer Doug: ... 'K, that should be more there. Bob: Where? ...

stone brewing wants to remind you - yes you - to drink fresh beer !

more bons mots about how beer pairs well with alllll foods !

new belgium has an idea or two about what you should do with a fresh-hopped ipa

the onion has made me snort liquid out of my nose again! and because of the reference to labatts tequila, the article qualifies as beer-related and therefore totally legit to post here!!! oh happy day! and oh how i wish there really was a canada mexico overpass !

last minute gift ideas from the lovely folks at legacy liquor store in vancouver: Time for Merrymaking! In no particular order, we present our favourite gifts for the twelve days of Christmas: 3. Everyone Loves Champagne: A bottle of Champagne being popped is reason enough to celebrate. Our favourites: Lallier Blanc de Blanc ($99.95), Pierre Paillard Grand Cru Bouzy ($71.65), and Dom Perignon Andy Warhol Collection ($250). 2. For Wine Lovers: A case of wine personally selected by you for the recipient. Our staff can help you pick a well-rounded selection within your budget and we will even deliver! (12-bottle handmade wooden wine box $50, delivery within Vancouver from $10) 1. The Oldest Scotch in the Province! ($8,895): The Glenlivet 70 year old has arrived at Legacy. Distilled on the 3rd of February 1940, and aged in a first fill sherry butt. This is quite literally one of the most extraordinary creations we have ever witnessed! Cheers, ~The Legacy Team

upright brewing's fatali four should be winding its way to bc shortly! i must admit, i have not tried it before as it uses brett yeast and me, i'm just not able to do the brett...

who whoulda thought that the newly wed and nearly dead would be such big craft brew folks?? not i but i'm sure glad they are, cuz victoria is close to vancouver so ergo, i benefit! globe and mail on the southern vancouver island craft beer scene nice shout outs to moon under water, vancouver island brewing and phillips driftwood and spinnakers at least get a mention!

after some mix up about which campagnolo we were going to (the original on main street or the new roma on east hastings ) we ended up at the original for a friend's birthday the other night o.m.g. - the food is wonderful! i had the crispy ceci salad to start - flash fried chick peas - genius! i was totally in heaven! and the risotto as a main i wasn't wild about the hazelnuts in my squashy cheesy risotto, but otherwise it was heaven as well i shared both the salad and the risotto and found that to be the perfect amount of food others at my table had the pizzas which looked fabulous and tasted like real italian pizza, and the salumi platter, which they say was delicious beer-wise the choices are quite limited they do have r&b by the bottle and the tap though (bohemian lager and eponymous ale) i would like to see a larger beer menu as their wine list is a good size unfortunately the service was not amazing it took an hour for our food to arrive there was ...

i am not a big fan of earl's restaurants they just aren't my scene, you know? and there are so many other great indie places to plunk my hard earned dollars in vancouver... but occasionally i find myself being a sheep and following the herd to an earl's last night was one of those times work holiday lunch ended around 5 and of course that just meant we needed more to drink to their credit, the hostess did tell us they could only accomodate our party of 20 for about an hour and a half before they needed the table space for reservations sure, fine, whatever and yay for me, they had howe sound devil's elbow and pumpkineater on tap so i didn't have to settle for the mediocre in house albino rhino beer the dynamite roll was darned delicious too so far, so good however, when the manager comes over all in a huff to nastily chide us like we are little children for staying past the time we were to leave i get a really bad taste in my mouth perhaps you could ...

YBC Yaletown Brewing Company Today, December 21st is Yaletown Brewing Companies 17th anniversary! Thank you for your continued support over all these years! to celebrate today we have a couple of special little treats up our sleeve, so come on by for a fresh beer and a small suprise :) DRINK FRESH BEER!

still looking for beer-related gifts? pike brewing has some ideas for you

craftbeer.com visits 21st amendment

new brewery to open in my 'hood!!! check out the urbandiner article about the soon-to-launch parallel 49 brewery cannot wait!!!

i wish i had seen this earlier, i might have joined in! taps magazine beer advent calendar: Dec 5 - Dead Frog Christmas Beeracle Dec 6 - Black Oak Nutcracker Porter Dec 7 - McAuslan St. Ambroise Russian Imperial Stout Dec 8 - Great Lakes Winter Ale Dec 9 - Wild Rose Cherry Porter Dec 10 - Muskoka Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout - Winter Beard Dec 11 - Microbrasserie Charlevoix Dominus Vobiscum Triple Dec 12 - Dieu du Ciel Peche Mortel Dec 13 - Garrison Baltic Porter Dec 14 - Propeller Russian Imperial Stout Dec 15 - Beau's All Natural Bog Water Dec 16 - Granite Brewery Gin Lane Barley Wine Dec 17 - Pump House Scotch Ale Dec 18 - Phillips Trainwreck Barley Wine Dec 19 - Vancouver Island Dough Head Dec 20 - Picaroon's Winter Warmer

the brewdog boys made it to forbes' 30 under 30 wine and food category

can i just tell you what a lucky gal i am? i went to not one but two christmas keggers on saturday! i love being a beer geek and knowing other beer geeks! the first party featured r&b's esb the second storm's scottish ale bliss!

saltspring island ales on cafepress  offers a whole schwack of beer-related gifts! and craftbeer.com has stocking stuffer ideas for the book loving beer enthusiast

yes please! i want this, who's gonna make it for me??? spicy shrimp - delicious add new belgium ranger ipa?  its gotta be ambrosia! ranger ipa shrimp dish

i was told the other night that deschutes is coming out with a new beer in march not a seasonal, a new staple beer now, i was drinking at the time... but i recall being told it was going to be a wheat ipa i think... maybe... don't you feel well informed now?

the globe and mail's report on business reports on 12 craft brewers shaking up the canadian beer industry including driftwood, flying monkeys and dieu du ciel

too late for yesterday's free beer tasting (which was krombaucher pils and dark) here's the word from legacy liquor store in vancouver listing their upcoming free tastings: KUCHH NAI WHISKY TASTING Friday 4 to 8 pm Dec 16, 2011 Kuchh Nai's full bodied aroma, blended with sweet Highland heather influences, lingers long on the palate, instantly displaying the whisky's fine heritage to the most discerning Scotch enthusiast In its purest form its nose is rich and rounded with good whisky identity and well-integrated aromatics. CHOCOVINE TASTING Saturday, 2 to 6 pm Dec 17, 2011 ChocoVine Original, the best seller. Also! Legacy now has the Raspberry and Espresso flavour - exclusive to us! JUAN SANTO CAFE LIQUEUR Sunday, 2 to 6 pm Dec 18, 2011 All-natural Colombian Coffee Rum is imported from a family business that has been making rum for over 25 years. STONEBOAT AND CALLIOPE WINE TASTING Monday, 4 to 7 pm Dec 19, 2011 We will be sampling the Stoneboat Pinota...

and the next instalment of legacy liquor store's 12 gift ideas: Time for Merrymaking! In no particular order, we present our favourite gifts for the twelve days of Christmas: 6. Glenfarclas Family Casks, Vintages 1952 to 1994 ($339.95 to $2195.95): How about a scotch from their birth year? The Glenfarclas Family Casks, a unique collection of the best single casks from the distillery's warehouse, is available exclusively at Legacy. We have a cask from every vintage dating back to 1952, all the way up to1994. 5. Riedel Gift Pack ($148.50): Beautiful crystal glassware from leading glassware producer, the Riedel Gift Pack includes: the XL Vinum Mixer, which includes a Chablis, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc glass. An outstanding value for crystal glassware. 4. Tickets to see Jim Murray ($125/ticket): Internationally recognized as probably the leading commentator on all of the world's whiskies, Whisky Bible author Jim Murray hosts a Whisky Seminar at L...

i began beernesday last night with two martinis i love the holiday season! anyway, after my after-work-schmoozey-do i dutifully headed off to st. augustine's to imbibe in craft beer i love craft beer! lagunitas sucks holiday ale - 7.9%  a "cereal medley" of barley, rye, wheat and oats.  full of complexishness from the 4 grains, and weighing in at 7.85% abv, then joyously dry-hopped for that big aroma and resinous hop flavor i love when they joyously dry-hop my beer! and i am in love with this beer - so much hoppy goodness, so many grains - i may have found my new breakfast of champions... seriously, loved it so much i had to have a whole pint after my taster tree spiced reserve ale - 7.5%  brewed using a special blend of brewer's spices special indeed! no vanilla in sight, just subtle spices all blending nicely on the tongue this is the tree winter ale i will choose to drink from now on (no vertical vanilla for me!) rogue yellow snow ipa - 6.2%  pale...

from camra vancouver: Tonight is Sunset Grill's first weekly cask! They've got a cask of Driftwood Brewery Blackstone Porter. 6pm. Thursday means Yaletown Brewing is Making It Real (Ale). They will tap a cask of BRick and Beam IPA with Columbus hops, 4pm. me, i'll be at the yaletown as usual! but that blackstone porter in the cask is very delicious stuff - try some if you have the chance! and a party tomorrow: Pivo's Christmas Party is tomorrow at 6pm. Come down for free snacks & Whistler lager plus enter to win Canucks tickets!

if anyone is going to be in the san diego area... this is what i would like for christmas please and thank you! Holiday Shopping at Green Flash! Need an excuse to come and sample some beers in the Tasting Room? How about crossing that craft beer lover off your holiday shopping list! Come check out our new merchandise and stay for the beer! If you aren’t able to make it to the tasting room? No problem! Check out our online store: http://www.storeconsole.com/DefaultStore/Default.aspx?StoreSID=10196 Gift Baskets Galore! We are making custom gift baskets for the holiday season! Choose any Men's T-shirt or Women's Tank top and two bombers of beer and we'll make you up an awesome gift! Included in the holiday basket: •Men’s T-shirt or Women’s Tank Top •Two 22oz bottles of beer (choose from West Coast IPA, Hop Head Red, Imperial IPA, Double Stout or Barleywine) •Two License Plate Frames •Two Pint Glasses •Limited Edition Pub Towel (not sold in tasting room/online...

i didn't realize that there were themed nights for the three 300 beer list celebration nights at the alibi room its true! monday night was "sour, belgian and european style, cider & experimental" tuesday night was "stouts, porters & wee heavys" tonight will be "hop forward ales, barley wines and winter ales" fortunately for me, when i attended last night's festivities, there was still some of the central city chipotle ipa left in the cask.  so i had me some! and it was delicious! not as peppery as the rogue chipotle ale, but just as smokey, and in my humble beer opinion, ipa is the perfect conduit for chipotle smelled amazing!  tasted great! of tuesday's casks i managed to taste tariq's imperial stout and vern's imperial stout 300 i had vern's early on when i still had taste buds tasted like a session beer, but lord, its an imperial - beware i couldn't really taste the cocoa nibs and curacao orange peel it...

tis the season... Shhh... you're reading too loud. Stop typing typing in in double double. It's that time of year again. It's the holiday season and the drinking is easy. Prevention may be better than a cure, but when that plan fails, Yelp's here to help. So stop spinning and focus on these sure-fire hangover helpers. Because we can't always be the sensible ones, now can we? After a night of heavy drinking, comfort food is key. Remedy your lethargy at La Belle Patate with Edward L, and order the all-you-can-eat poutine. He warns: "If you value your life, don't go for this. It's suicide. But at least you will die happy." For Aaron S, it's all about choice when battling a hangover: "What are you craving right now? Duffin's Donuts has it. Just looking at the menu makes your brain melt!" But Danny C had a few too many, but gets fixed up with a breakfast burger from Save On Meats where "the biscuit is off-the-chain!" He ...

more on the theme of beer gifts halfpint's gift giving guide for beer knurds

and don't forget the celebration of the alibi's 300th beer list begins today at 3:00 lasting three days all beers are $3 want to know what's on tap?  check here

the national post weighs in on women in beer and features howe sound's leslie fenn

ever wanted your own personal brewery? of course you have! well here's how you can get one

more from legacy on the subject of "what to get the libations appreciator on your holiday gift list" Time for Merrymaking! In no particular order, we present our favourite gifts for the twelve days of Christmas: 9. Kozaemon House Junmai ($35.85): Legacy boasts the largest selection of premium chilled sake in BC. We carry a variety of sizes and price ranges. Our sake enthusiasts' current favourite: Kozaemon House Junmai. With the beautiful goddess of sake on the label, this versatile sake is smooth and full-bodied. 8. Bittered Sling Bistro ($60/ticket): For the person on your list who has everything, nothing is better than creating memories. Pick up a pair of tickets to Bittered Sling Bistro, a bi-weekly food and cocktail pairing competition series dedicated to pushing the boundaries of cocktail craft. 7. The Stoic Stocking Stuffer ($32.35): For something a little different, stuff someone's stocking with the funky The Stoic, a prized and potent Belgian-style ...

99 of bc's brews oh beer, how i love thee!

on the day after the blessed event that provided their name 21st amendment brewery wants your help they wanna win awards!!! vote for their cans whydontcha?! beer in cans, its the way of the future

i remember and i humbly request the powers that be to retain the gun registry down with bill c-19 canada, protect your citizens

i know its great beer you know its great beer and award givers know its great beer! Red Racer Beer Extremely honoured to have won two North West Brewing News medals on Sunday. Our ESB and Thor's Hammer Barley Wine won their respective categories in a field that included beers from Alaska, BC, Washington, Oregon, and Northern California! Thank you to everyone who voted...

i survived the beerthirst tour de richmond on saturday it was epic! i promised that i would have my photos and review out yesterday guess what! what? i lied... it was such a nice day out yesterday and weather in vancouver is so fickle... i spent the time i had put aside for blogging sitting outside in sun instead in my short sleeves! dude, i practically got a tan! sometimes i love winter in vancouver and that is how the dog came to eat my homework no word of a lie! maybe tomorrow?!?

i really wish i had received this advent calendar this year! aw, what the heck, if anyone wants to get it for me, i'll happily suck it up and catch up to the current date! no idea who to credit this photo to, it was sent to me via facebook

seasonal brews now available from deschutes: RED CHAIR NWPA Red Chair NWPA's meteoric rise from pub darling to seasonal celebrity is as legendary as its name. THE Red Chair is the oldest operating lift at Mt. Bachelor in Central Oregon. As the lift that the locals ride to catch epic untracked snow on powder mornings - it is an obvious path to glory. This is a hop-forward ale showcasing juicy Cascade and Centennial hops in perfect harmony with British Crystal and German Pilsner malts that highlight caramel flavors providing the perfect complement for this seductive brew. Don't miss one of the winter seasonal's most thrilling rides...Available in 6-packs, 12-packs and on draft where Deschutes beer is sold. 6.2% ABV / 60 IBUs SEASONAL (Available January-April) HOP HENGE EXPERIMENTAL IPA The 2012 version of Hop Henge examines the virtues of high alpha acid hops in concert with less malty sweetness. Cascade, Centennial, Columbus, Millennium, Citra & Simcoe hops were...

tomorrow is repeal day in america yup, the anniversary of the repeal of prohibition aka the 21st amendment from craftbeer.com:  "December 5 is a major holiday in the world of craft beer. Repeal Day commemorates the end of Prohibition, which made it possible once again to buy, sell and consume alcoholic beverages in America. Ginger Johnson takes a look at the 14-year history of Prohibition and shares some ideas on how you can salute craft beer on December 5 in Celebrate Repeal Day !"

apparently growlers are back in fashion silly me, i had no idea they'd gone out of fashion then again, i did get introduced to the concept fairly recently...

elysian winter brews are ba-ack!

phew!  all caught up now! november 2, 2011 big al harvest ale - 5.4% four pounds per barrel of fresh yakima sorachi ace hops offer big citrus and fresh lemon flavors and aromas which we paired with deeply refined malt flavors mark this rich and warming medium-bodied amber ale lovely!  love the sorachi ace!  very rich and full-bodied elysian bifrost winter ale - 7.5% taste is bold and balanced with a good amount of citrus and earthy hop bitters to offset the malt character yes, yes, yes! crannog insurrection ipa - 5.4% a pale amber malt body emphasizes munich and caramel malts, with enough sweetness to hold up the rather large volumes of fresh cascade and golding hops light malt with perfect hoppiness, not my favourite ipa but such a joy to drink! big al brougham bitter - 5.5% english-style pale and crystal malts combined with aromatic, floral english hops create a smooth, balanced medium-bodied beer very english, but nicely hopped big al ipa - 7.1% chinook, cas...

october 19, 2011 rogue chipotle ale - 5.5% roasted chipotle peppers produce an eye opening chile flavor in this deep golden ale with a malty, smoky aroma and smooth, crisp flavor i love chipotle!  so delish! howe sound devil's elbow ipa - 6% an assertive ale that is heavily bittered and dry-hopped providing an intensive aroma and brewed using selected english and north american barley and hops its a baby next to the imperial ipa, but its a lovely tasty baby! paddock wood loki double ipa - 8.7% double ipa weighing in at 80 ibus.  brewed using cascade, amarillo, willamette and ekg hops, giving the beer a strong hop character i dunno about this one... too boozey for me.  but everyone else likes it and isn't finding the booze in it rogue imperial younger's special bitter - 7.5% it has a triad of caramel maltiness, fruitiness and hop bitterness in aroma and flavor and a dry, hoppy finish too boozey for this little princess.  but again, everyone else loves it and c...

so, if you're still convinced that you have to give holiday gifts and the recipient is under the legal drinking age making it not such a good idea to gift them with beer may i suggest one or all of these five top toys  of all time? if they are of age, legacy has these suggestions: "Time for Merrymaking! In no particular order, we present our favourite gifts for the twelve days of Christmas: 12. The PDT Cocktail Book ($30): Sold out at Chapters? Back order four months on Amazon? Not here. Come find out why this book is being hailed as "the cocktailing book of the decade". 11. Glenfiddich Gift Pack ($97): For the whisky lover in your life, this three pack makes an excellent stocking stuffer. Features 3 200 mL bottles of the 12, 15 and 18 YO. 10. Chimay Grand Reserve 1.5 L or 3L ($30.15, $68.95): Get the party started this year in style. The beer is capped with a Champagne style cork and cage, and will definitely let your guests know they're in for a fest...

not sure how i feel about this news mmmhop ipa by the hanson brothers ??? on the one hand i love the idea that ipa will be brought to the attention and hopefully tastebuds of many who didn't have the time of day for it before their idols made it cool but, on the other hand i'm worried that it'll be just a marketing gimmick and not a quality brew i do want to try it though... if only just to agree with this article from popwatch

late notice, but legacy's got a tasting on today from 4-7 in vancouver: STORM AND RUSSELL COLLABORATION BEER The beer is called the Big Smoke and this is a collaboration beer between Storm and Russell breweries. No RSVP necessary and free to join us!

i am very behind on posting reviews and tasting notes and i have no real excuse besides i don't wanna spend all my time on-line i wanna read six more books and meet the 50 book challenge oh, and i'd rather be out drinking the beer! october 5, 2011 rogue john john hazelnut - 5.6% ale with natural hazelnut flavor aged in hazelnut spice rum barrels blech, rum barrels! i thought i'd had this before (last year) but i don't remember booze in it, just nuttiness.  too boozey for me whistler valley trail chestnut ale - 6% dark amber colour with a tan-coloured head.  notes of chestnut, caramel and vanilla too much darned vanilla for my liking - why does everyone gotta put in vanilla?  too sweet, not nutty enough!  a vanilla hazelnut latte - not a chestnut beer dammit! storm imperial flanders red ale - 11% this full bodied monster of a sour has been aged in an oak barrel for a year oak, sure... but i'm getting a whole lotta vinegar.  i do love a sour and it did...

from camra vancouver's lasted newsletter: There used to be a time when craft beer enthusiasts in Vancouver would celebrate every time Nigel switched up the tap list. But the list began to change so frequently, we decided to give our livers a break and only celebrate the big numbers. Well, it's that time again. In a few more weeks it's going to be the Alibi Room's 300th beer list! On December 12, 13, and 14, the Alibi Room will be serving some special beers in a 10oz glass for $3. It's first come first serve, and the fun starts each day at 3pm. The wait is almost over. Russell Brewing and Storm Brewing's Collaboration Brew, The Big Smoke will be debuting Sunday December 4th at The Whip. The cask will tap at 4pm, and bottles of this smoky, wee heavy style ale will be available at select independent liquor stores. If you're excited about all the changes Trevor Kallies has made to many of the Donnelly Group locations, you have something to look forward to...

why are there so few brewpubs in vancouver? why are there so many songs about rainbows?

wanna do something different this holiday season? wanna occupy christmas? 1. give handmade gifts 2. give experiences not things 3. give beer!!! one way to accomplish numbers 2 and 3 are gift certificates to local beer establishments rogue offers you a bonus gift card when you purchase one that equals win win win by my math! or hit up biercraft for a $100 gift certificate for the low, low price of $60!!

save the oysters! drink beer! Inside a hard, sometimes rough, exterior is a layer of soft tissue capable of producing gleaming white spheres desired around the world. Our newest release, Pearl Necklace Oyster Stout, is a tribute to the magical mollusks that not only cultivate gemstones, but are also crucial to the Chesapeake Bay's fragile ecosystem. Proceeds from Pearl Necklace, a dry stout brewed with local oysters, benefit the Oyster Recovery Project. Why is oyster recovery so important? •Disease, habitat loss, and overfishing have reduced the Chesapeake Bay's oyster population to a mere 1% of its historical peak. That's right, one percent! •Oysters are filter feeders. They used to be able to filter the entire Bay in a matter of days; now, it takes years. •A healthy oyster population provides a habitat for other (delicious) Bay creatures, like striped bass, perch, and blue crabs. •Even oyster shells are a limited natural resource. They are a natural habitat f...

Yikes! Only a month left and I’ve still got 6 books to go… NOVEMBER 44. Elizabeth Gilbert – Eat Pray Love 43. George R.R. Martin – A Game of Thrones OCTOBER 42. A.J. Jacobs – My Life as an Experiment 41. Michael Connelly – The Fifth Witness SEPTEMBER 40. Michael Connelly – The Reversal 39. Stieg Larsson – The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest 38. Margaret Atwood – Oryx and Crake 37. Jilly Cooper – The Man Who Makes Husbands Jealous AUGUST 36. Lisa M. Morrison – Craft Beers of the Pacific Northwest 35. Sarah Graves – Crawl Space 34. Jeff Lindsay – Dexter is Delicious 33. Noah Boyd – Agent X 32. Jon C. Stott – Beer Quest West 31. Khaled Hosseini – A Thousand Splendid Suns JULY 30. Kelley Armstrong – The Reckoning 29. Kelley Armstrong – The Summoning 28. Kelley Armstrong – The Awakening 27. Michelle Moran – Cleopatra’s Daughter 26. Michelle Moran – The Heretic Queen 25. Kelley Armstrong – Frostbitten 24. Michelle Moran – Nefertiti 23....

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!

let's go lions! i am very delighted that the bc lions won the 99th grey cup! and i was there to see it! woot! there were even beer choices other than budweiser for the game which almost makes up for choosing nickelback for the half time show

never did learn the periodic table in high school due to having to drop science over that whole dissecting animals thing but always enjoyed the concept of it and riffs on it (like the sexiodic table t-shirt i own)

woohoo!  i'm back from anaheim and disneyland it was a whirlwind five days of rides, junk food and good beer i hit three of my four intended beer targets and found delicious beer in california adventure so it was all kinds of win! proper reviews and gloating to come in the meantime, tomorrow at legacy: WHISTLER BEER TASTING Friday, 4 to 7 pm Nov 25, 2011 First established in 1989, the Whistler Brewing Company is an originator in the BC craft brewing movement. Proudly 100% BC owned and 100% BC brewed.

happy u.s. turkey day!

so many beers, so little time to write about them! i had lofty intentions of posting this week but i have failed oh well, one day i'll tell ya all about the stout day beer pairing dinner at rogue, my mini-bellingham-pub-crawl to chuckanut and boundary bay, and all the beernesdays and other tastings i've been doing in the meantime i bid you adieu for a few days i'm taking a wee vacation in disneyland! hello mickey mouse! hello nobel ale works and anaheim brewing hello out of the park pizza and j.t. schmid's hello california sunshine and warmth!! catch ya late next week!

odell's isolation ale spice cake recipe from craftbeer.com who's gonna make me some??

now available in bottles is the uber blonde ooooh, aaaah: and soon to be in stores (november 24th dontchaknow) is the festive saison "A belgium style Saison Mildly spiced with coriander & orange peel, this unique brew is perfect for the holiday season!"

oooh, me likey! i want this dogfishhead water bottle !! the gift-giving holidays approacheth... anyone?

this has nothing to do with beer (except for being something you could do with a beer in your hand) the television show i co-host has its debut on shaw tonight! yes, they choose beernesday to debut the show! tune in on the shaw channel at 10:30 tonight and see me as a talking head! the show repeats: Fri 5:30am Sat 1:00am Sun 1:30am Tue 2:30am set your pvrs, grab a beer, and prepare to make a drinking game out of mocking me on television all the cool kids are doing it!

well, its not beer, but wine is pretty good stuff too... here's some yelp advice about good places to get yer wine on in vancouver: Why Doesn't Yelp Wine About It? This Weekly Yelp brought to you by Make It Vancouver It’s that time of year, Vancity... that cold time of year when all we want to do is curl up beside a fire with a big, bold, smooth, elegant, full-bodied… glass of wine. And because not all of us have the knowledge of a sommelier, this Weekly is about finding a way to vin your oenophilic heart. Meet Scott P's latest crush over at Liberty Wine Merchants, where “they have a great selection from throughout the world. If you want a nice bottle of BC wine, the staff will take care of you.” Yunn A sips over to Taylorwood regularly “to pick up a bottle or two because of the friendly service, great BC wine selection, and knowledgeable staff.” As someone who’s seen her fair share of stores, Kimberley B toasts the manager at Village Wines. “He never judges me if ...

i don't drink the coffee much myself but i can get behind the sentiment!!

oh to be in san diego this coming weekend stone is pouring it black: This Sunday we'll be wrapping up an epic San Diego Beer Week with a brand new festival: Pour It Black, an incredible celebration of dark beer. And lucky for you, we've still got a few tickets left. If you've ever longed for a beer festival featuring nothing but stouts and porters, then your wish has just come true. "Dr." Bill Sysak has rounded up over 100 of the planet's best dark beers--imperial stouts, porters, maybe even a few black IPAs-- for a day celebrating the world of flavors to be found in the blackest of brews. Join us at the newest member of our festival family and revel in the dark side! This festival is happening rain or shine! In the event of rain, we'll have a very comfortable set-up indoors, so you can stay dry and drink these amazing beers in warmth and comfort. If you haven't seen the incredible beer list, behold this amazing collection of rare & delic...

yup its true, beer has gone to the dogs well, okay, one beer has been brewed for dogs but, um, aren't hops poisonous to dogs? and um, who wants a lurching lurcher? "The concept of a beer brewed for dogs sounds potentially dangerous since hops, alcohol and carbonation are all bad for canine tummies, but Brown insists her pooch pilsners and labrador lagers are safe for dogs and their owners." "Bowser Beer is currently available in more than 40 states and Brown has a team of taste-testing terriers -- among other breeds -- to ensure quality control."

who are you calling old?!?

i love rosie!

on remembrance day i give you a post about fat tug vs sartori oh sartori, i remember it fondly and will miss it profoundly until next fall oh fat tug, i love that you're always around reminding me how much i love an ipa "One thing is for sure, they’re both incredible."

bwahahaha! this is fabulous!

if only i wasn't going to be out of town this weekend (or better yet, if they'd picked a different date!) YBC Yaletown Brewing Company ‎"The Gumboot Salute" is November 10th, 11th and 12th! Its a celebration of beer, our culture and you our valued guest. We love you so much, that we are selling you massive 32oz "boots" (for $10) to drink out of. You can pre-buy the boots now, but they are only filled on the "Gumboot Salute". Included in the minimal $10 price tag is a free fill on every day of the Salute. Thats 96oz for free, or ...6 of our normal sized beers! After your one free daily fill, we fill up the boots for our regular prices, ultimately making it a 2 for 1 deal! This, plus an amazing Feature Sheet that week showcasing our chefs creative genius (in a sinful marriage of beer and fresh ingredients). Do not be denied fun, do not be denied "The Gumboot Salute"! also: Lighthouse Brewing Company Today is Yagger's Downtow...

why oh why has no one told me of the existence of drinkify before now? does no one love me? does no one care?

keeping in mind drinking at work is not the same as drinking on the job kegworks makes a good argument for having beer at work

only toronados in s.f. made it to the top ten list representing the west but hey, if you're travelling in the u.s. any time soon you should check out this list of the best bars for beer geeks

vancouver's newest craft beer establishment is still in the works but bitter tasting room must be opening soon as they've put out a call for servers... servers who eat sleep and breathe beer this is a very good sign!

lord, how misguided can 20 year olds be? more proof that they can be totally and completely off-track! gender equality in beer is sure as hell not gonna come from pink fucking beer oh, and what a poorly written article or poorly edited, tomatoe, tomato geesh! i hope this trio did not get an A on this project and that there isn't anyone out there stupid enough to give them funding to start up distribution of their feminine strawberry tasting "equalizing" beer i throw my hands up in the air!

like chowder? wanna have some with craft beer? go to the vancouver aquarium on november 23rd!

Beerthirst & CAMRA Vancouver are pleased to present: Tour de Richmond! Date: Saturday, Dec 3rd, 2011 Time: Pick up at 11:45am at Brighouse Skytrain Station in Richmond (just look for the yellow school bus!) Details: Come experience how Richmond is fast becoming one of the ultimate destinations for craft beer in BC! Our classic school bus will pick us up at Brighouse Skytrain Station in Richmond at 11:45 sharp and whisk us off on a journey filled with fun, friends, prizes, craft beers and appetizers at each stop. Tickets include a pint and appies at each location $40 for CAMRA Members (valid card required) $50 for non-members Not yet a CAMRA member? Be sure to sign up here http://bit.ly/amKEO5 Tickets will be available for purchase at 11am on Friday, Nov 11th http://www.tourderichmond.eventbrite.com/ Participating locations include: Fogg N Suds Kingswood Pub Hog Shack Cook House Blue Canoe Waterfront Restaurant O’Hares Gastropub Pumphouse Pub Need to stoc...

last night was allll about driftwood's sartori ipa the fresh-hopped deliciousness was on cask at st. augustine's it sold out in 38 minutes i was a glutton and had two pints of it! and more nachos than any one person should ever eat in one sitting (that pre-mexico diet is working out great, thanks for asking) very happy-making sad-making was the fact that this was the final cask of the sartori for 2011 but!  in addition to it being cask night, i got a text from my lovely friend sarah, who was visiting the wilds of victoria, telling me that she came across a whole cache of sartori bottles over there because she is delightful, she is bringing me back a couple yay!  there will be a bit more sartori in my depressingly grey november! getting more of a previously-thought-sold-out limited release beer makes me feel like i've pulled one over on the universe i feel powerful! need a favour from me?  now would be the time to ask!

the last cask of sartori is being tapped tonight at st. augustine's you know i'm going to be there with bells on! conveniently camra vancouver will also be there to renew memberships offer new ones and give you a pint glass for signing up! cask gets tapped at 6 camra is there from 6 until 7 cask will sell out quickly so be there for six

today, from 4-7 at legacy in vancouver: RICKARD'S BEER TASTING Friday, 4 - 7 pm Nov 4, 2011 Starting on November 4th (Rickards Tasting), Legacy customers can take their Polaroid picture and stick it on the Legacy/Rickards "Movember Wall of Fame". Each picture will be designated a number. Customers can use this number to vote for their favorite mustache. The winner will receive a Rickards prize pack!

i sure do wish i was going to be in bend or portland, oregon on november 15th the abyss is being released and there will be a vertical tasting dagnabbit!

Happy International Stout Day!! hit the railway club tonight for a pint of cask r&b mayan chocolate stout why don't ya? tapped at 5 i'll be there before heading to rogue for the stout pairing dinner wanna know what else is happening around the world for #stoutday ? or what you should bake/cook with stout ?

it is international stout day tomorrow!! to celebrate i will be attending a stout pairing dinner at rogue!

another best of list this time from draftmag the best beers of 2011 only one of my faves made the top 25 cut: Hop Crisis - 21st Amendment Brewery

women in beer i like how this article ends:  "She looks forward to a time where the modern heirs to Ninkasi will be recognized solely as great brewers, not for their gender. The return of women to brewing is bringing fresh ideas and perspectives, which can only mean more new and exciting beers. And that’s something women and men alike should toast." cheers! if we're spending less over all, why are we buying expensive beer? survey says:  "Because we’re cutting out even more expensive luxuries. As Americans eat out less, we’re willing to spend more for variety, convenience—maybe even health. The seemingly endless flavors, textures, and shapes of Greek yogurt, artisanal cheese, and craft beer make us feel like we’re choosing from a new menu each time we go to the store—while we spend less time choosing from actual menus."

wanna know who won the 2011 world beer awards ?

i would never have thought to combine all three of beer, zombies and running now i can't imagine why i didn't

happy birthday to the fabulous paige! how is this beer-related? she's 19 today!!!

occupy this!

more on the antiquated liquor laws in british columbia beware, movies and alcohol are a dangerous mix? please change that stupid law now! i love having me a beer with a late-night double feature picture show (in the back ro-o-ow)

i have not cracked this book yet but i have already heard from many fronts that this eagerly anticipated tome is not living up to the hype incomplete and incorrect are two of the words that i have heard the beer wench weighs in on what she thinks about the oxford companion to beer and she's actually read the book!

in case you haven't yet had your fill of the fresh-hopped sartori get your ass down to the whip for the penultimate vancouver cask tapping at 4 today! the new oxford one tapped out in an hour... just sayin' oh, and its dockside's 10th anniversary party tonight (at dockside of course!)

great cbc article about some of our favourite micro-brewers , central city and steamwhistle still lots of room for growth in craft brewing they say! and in a related article, the cbc wants to know if you buy locally crafted beer i do!

the bc craft beer boxes have arrived in liquor stores! a mixer pack of 6 bc craft breweries and 6 styles of beer! cannery brewing's naramata nut brown ale lighthouse's race rocks amber russell cream ale mt. begbie's high country kolsch central city's ipa fernie's first trax brown ale

the driftwood sartori cask at the new oxford last night was awesome! there were a whole gaggle of beer geeks there not so patiently waiting for 5:30 and the tapping thanks ian!! alas, the service at new oxford left a lot to be desired amanda thankfully took it upon herself to fetch us all our glasses of cask as ian endeavoured to get it poured as quickly and foam-free as possible on the upside, ian says that there will be another cask of the sartori at the whip he's not sure when they'll be tapping it and... another cask coming to vancouver no word yet on who will get it or when they will tap it, but keep yer ears peeled if you're a sartori lover (and if you're not, what's wrong with you???)

okay, who wants to make this for me? pumpkin beer pretzels with two different dipping sauces ! heaven!

i broke my camera at oktoberfest... so no photos of recent casks last week's rail ale tuesday at the railway club featured vanilla bean oatmeal stout from r&b brewing i was scared by the "vanilla" aspect but it was subtle and barely discernable - which made me happy! delicious!  made having to go to the dentist beforehand feel like it happened to somebody else! last week's cask at the yaletown brewpub was an unadulterated nagila pale ale and it was delicious it really is quite nice to have an unadulterated cask from time to time! and happy birthday to matt! this week i will be heading over to the new oxford on tuesday evening because driftwood has gifted them with a cask of the sartori fresh-hopped ipa and i simply cannot miss that!

the beer wench weighs in on the whole black ipa vs cda name debate

whatcha doing monday evening? will you be on commercial drive, vancouver? want some free beer and nibblies? hit up the charlatan - oktoberfest lives on!

in case you want to know what i'll be doing at 1:00 a.m. sunday morning and the rules i'll be enforcing: