gcbf

what am i looking forward to at gcbf???
well, drinking beer in the sunshine of course!

but more specifically, there are a few beers i have not tried before
and some casks/limited releases that have my antenna twitching

1.  IPAs I haven’t tried before: 

BANFF BREWING/JASPER BREWING – Banff, AB - Head Smashed IPA - This excellent brew is our flagship beer. Heavily hopped pale ale.

DOUBLE TROUBLE BREWERY – Guelph, ON - Hops and Robbers session IPA, golden, fruity aroma of lemon, pineapple, and toasty caramel malt flavour.

GREAT LAKES BREWING - Toronto, ON - Karma Citra IPA - Flavours of mango, grapefruit and lychee with a clean, crisp bitter finish.

MICROBRASSERIE CHARLEVOIX – Baie-Saint-Paul, QUE - Vache Folle RyePA – It's red colour, spicy notes and silky body conferred by the use of rye set the table for an aromatic hop explosion!

MOON UNDER WATER BREWERY – Victoria, BC - Tranquility IPA - This intense, spicy and delightful IPA is extremely well balanced. Made with four specialty malts and Cascadian hops, this beer has a bold hop presence without being over the top.

NICKEL BROOK BREWERY – Burlington, ON - Headstock IPA - Very cloudy copper and small dense head. Refreshing, balanced: off-dry with good bitterness and a bright resin/pine, fruity finish.

WOLF BREWING – Nanaimo, BC - Red Brick IPA – This impressive West Coast style India pale ale is brewed with lots of Northwest hops to give a balanced, crisp, clean finish.

2.  Limited release or cask:

BEAU’S BREWERY – Vankleek Hill, ON - Pan Ontario – Bourbon barrel aged blend. A blend of four beers from Wellington, Flying Monkeys, Grand River and Great lakes with Beau’s Beaver River.

CANNERY BREWING - Penticton, BC - “Drei” Hopped IPA – This cask is heavily hopped with locally grown hops.

DRIFTWOOD BREWERY – Victoria, BC - Old Cellar Dweller 2011 – Only available in cask once a year. Don’t miss out on the hop & malt monster of 2011!

LONGWOOD BREWPUB – Nanaimo, BC - India Pale Ale – Medium body with high hop bitterness, flavour and aroma keep this beer true to its original style.

GIGANTIC – Portland, ORE - Axes of Evil Pale Ale - Gigantic + Three Floyds unleash this true weapon of mass distraction. Citrus, floral and tropical hoppiness lead to full malt flavour from proper English malt, kilned over Welsh coal.

NOBLE PIG BREWERY – Kamloops, BC - ESB - A blend of five different malts from England. The medium carbonation and the sweetness of the malt are balanced by the generous addition of American and European hops.

SPINNAKERS BREWPUB – Victoria, BC - Hoptoria – Canadian superior pale and English specialty malts give the beer a smooth amber body that balances well with the four assertive additions of five hop varieties

TROU DU DIABLE – Shawiningan, QUE - La Mosure – Get bitten by the bitter taste of this American IPA. This version is cask- conditioned and dry hopped a second time for your pleasure.

3.   Most intriguing sounding beer:

SALT SPRING ISLAND ALES – Salt Spring Island, BC - *Spring Fever Gruit Ale - Made without hops - using locally wildcrafted herbs and a little ‘magik’. A stimulating and refreshing beverage with bright, cider-like flavours, a floral/clover nose and a slight sweetness.