Tag Archives: beer

Subversion Imperial IPA – Category 12 Brewing

by Mike

From Victoria’s Category 12 Brewing in Victoria comes their “Subversion Imperial IPA” newly available in 4 pack cans.  The beer pours a copper colour with an off white head.  The aroma consists of tropical fruits, citrus, floral hops, grains and some alcohol heat.  The flavour is of tropical fruits, berries, citrus, citrus rind, bitterness with maybe a hint of caramel.  There is alcohol present in the flavour but at 8.2% that I expected.  The beer also has an IBU of 85.  Category 12 Brewing is celebrated locally for good reason as they do not make bad beer.  This beer is fantastic and a good example of what we can do on the Northern portion of the West Coast.

Commercial Description:  This year’s batch of Subversion Imperial IPA is off the charts! A 355 mL 4-pack and an all new dry hop brings our Imperial IPA into reach as a weekday go-to.  Subversion is a big, boldly flavourful IPA that balances a strong hop character with a medium-full body, making it the perfect, easy-drinking accompaniment to all sorts of scheming.  Upend the established order and enjoy all the power and complexity of our Imperial IPA in a new format.  Welcome to the lab.

Zombie Repellant Ale 2 (ZRA2) – Category 12 Brewing

by Mike

From Victoria’s Category 12 Brewing comes their “Zombie Repellant Ale 2″ or ZRA2.  This beer is their answer to the Pumpkin ale as they do not seem to like them.  The beer pours a deep copper colour with a tan head.  The aroma consists of caramel, toffee, dark fruity notes, candied sugar, earth and some floral hops.  The flavour is of Belgian yeast, spices, toffee, caramel, dark fruit, citrus, candied sugar, citrus rind, resin and some leafy hops.  The alcohol content comes in at 5.8% with an IBU of 24.  This Anti-Pumpkin beer is really tasty and I will have to get some more of it.

Commercial Description:   Our 2017 ZRA 2 is a Belgian-inspired red ale with a fruit forward aroma, full body and hints of spice from both our Belgian yeast and aromatic hop selections.  In the middle of the night, when all evidence of light has faded, that’s when they come. Be vigilant, be prepared. The throngs of pumpkin beer loving hoards can’t keep you from what you really want… Zombie Repellant Ale. Our ZRA will increase your resolve to fight through the zombie hoards.  Guaranteed to contain no pumpkin.

Dark Cherry Sour Saison – Kettle River Brewing Co

by Mike

From Kettle River Brewing in Kelowna comes their “Dark Cherry Sour Saison”.  This beer comes from the lot BR4.  The beer pours a very cloudy reddish brown colour with a tan head.  The aroma consists of cherry, tartness, oak and some tannins.  The flavour is of oak, red wine tannins, cherry, malts, earth and some bitterness.  The alcohol content comes in at 5.5%.  This is not a perfect Sour Saison but I would not hesitate to purchase more bottles if I was back in Kelowna.  It was definitely a tasty one.

 

Fortunello Farmhouse Ale – Four Winds Brewing

by Mike

From Four Winds Brewing in Delta comes their “Fortunello Farmhouse Ale” a beer aged in a Foeder for 6 months.  The beer pours a orange brown colour with a beige head.  The aroma consists of orange peel, anise, herbal, sweetness wood and a floral finish.  the flavour is of orange peel, kumquats, herbal, anise, candi sugar, generic fruit, wood, spices, mild bitterness, mild brett and some malts.  The alcohol content comes in at 8.3% with an IBU of 15.  This beer is one of the more unusual releases from Four Winds Brewing and may be challenging to some but is quite enjoyable.

Commercial Description:  This herbaceous farmhouse ale was brewed with dark Belgian candi sugar and bay laurel, then aged over kumquats and bitter orange peel in an oak foeder for six months. Delicate aromas of citrus and annise precede notes of dark pit fruit, settling into a mild Brett funk.

Jai Alai IPA – Cigar City Brewing

by Mike

From Cigar City Brewing in Tampa Bay Florida comes their “Jai Alai IPA”.  The beer pours a golden colour with an off white head.  The aroma consists of tropical fruit, citrus and floral hops.  The flavour is of tropical fruit, pineapple juice, caramel, resin and bitterness.  The alcohol content comes in at 7.5% with an IBU of 70.  This beer falls under the I wish I brought back more than one can category.  This stuff was really good!

Commercial Description:  Jai Alai, a game native to the Basque region of Spain, is played on a court called a fronton. Jai Alai players attempt to catch a ball using a curved mitt whilst the ball travels at speeds up to 188mph! Proving they have a sense of humor the Spanish dubbed this game, with its ball traveling at racecar speeds, “the merry game.” Tampa was once home to a bustling Jai Alai fronton but sadly all that remains of Jai Alai in the Tampa Bay area is this India Pale Ale that we brew in tribute to the merry game. The India Pale Ale style of beer has its roots in the ales sent from England to thirsty British troops in India during the 18th century. Pair Jai Alai India Pale Ale with beef empanadas, deviled crabs and other spicy dishes.