In the fall of 2012 CBC Music (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) Radio Host Grant Lawrence gave his listeners a challenge to come up with band inspired beer names.  This contest caused the hashtag #CDNbandbeer to trend in Canada for two days.  Eight of these inspired names were picked and labels were designed by CBC Music’s senior designer Ben Didier.  These labels are shown below courtesy of Canadian Beer News.

One local Craft Brewer caught wind of this contest and helped make it happen.  Jeremy Sibley of Old Yale Brewing recruited three other great BC breweries including Townsite Brewing, Cannery Brewing and R&B Brewing to bring the Canadian Band Beer Series to life!  Every Friday from May 17th to June 7th 2013 a new beer was released.  The series started with the Old Yale Brewing’s offering named the “D.O.Ale” inspired by D.O.A this was followed by R&B Brewing’s “You Say Party We Say Rye” inspired by “You Say Party” (Originally ‘You Say Party We Say Die’ but changed after the the drummer died after playing a show in Vancouver from a brain hemorrhage).  The next release was Townsite Brewing’s “Said the Ale” inspred by “Said the Whale” and finally Cannery Brewing’s “Pink Mountainhops” inspired by “Pink Mountaintops“.

Old Yale Brewing – D.O.Ale

From Chilliwack’s Old Yale Brewing comes the “D.O.Ale” a classic brown ale.  The beer pours a brown colour with a tan head.  The aroma consists of roasted malts, sweetness, chocolate, brown sugar  and coffee.  The flavour is of coffee, milk, roasted malts, chocolate, sweetness, bitterness and brown sugar.  The alcohol content of the beer comes in at 5% with an IBU of 28.  This is a great mix of flavours that come together and kick your but just like D.O.A does!

Old Yale Brewing
Our philosophy is that, when life gets too hectic, it’s sometimes best to take a step back and enjoy the simpler things in life. Since 2000 we’ve been dedicated to creating a true handcrafted beer, and we’re proud of what we do.

D.O.A.
For more than thirty-five years, hardcore punk pioneers D.O.A. have been happily slashing away at all manner of philosophical enemies. They’ve travelled the globe almost continuously since they formed in 1978, always wearing their politics on their leather sleeves.

R&B Brewing Company – You Say Barley! We Say Rye!

From Vancouver’s R&B Brewing Company comes their “You Say Barley! We Say Rye!” a Dark Rye IPA.  The beer pours a dark copper colour with an off white head.  The aroma consists of rye and barley malts, pine and floral hops.  The flavour is of rye and barley malts, pine, resin, hops bitterness with a semi sweet finish.  The alcohol content of the brew is 5.5% and the IBU is 55.  This is one tasty India Pale Ale and You Say Party would be proud to have this named loosely after them!

R&B Brewing
At R&B Brewing Co., we’ve been brewing finely handcrafted ales and lagers in the heart of East Vancouver’s historic Brewery Creek district for more than a decade, with a commitment to keeping things modest, independent and unique.

You Say Party
You Say Party (formerly You Say Party! We Say Die!) is a dance-punk band formed in Abbotsford, B.C., in 2003. Before their recent hiatus they toured extensively in support of their highly successful fourth album, XXXX.

Townsite Brewing Company – Said the Ale

From one of my favorite breweries Townsite Brewing tucked away in  Powell River comes their “Said the Ale” a Belgian Pale Ale.  The beer pours a deep red/copper colour with an off white head.  The aroma consisted of fruit, yeast and some great floral hops.  The flavour was of pine and hops up front with some sweet fruits and yeast.  The alcohol content came in at 5.8% with an IBU of 28.  The beer was super tasty and I would pick this up if it was a normal seasonal brew!

Townsite Brewing
At Townsite Brewing, we’re passionate about sustainability and community, but more than anything we’re passionate about great craft beer. Frankly, we are ecstatic that we get to make it in this beautiful place along the shores of the Salish Sea. Why not come visit us?

Said the Whale
Their hook-heavy pop rock sound has landed them a national CBC documentary, a Juno Award and a seemingly endless series of tours. Theirs is a true grassroots success story that has allowed the group to take its place among the Canadian indie rock elite.

Cannery Brewing – Pink Mountainhops

From Penticton BC’s Cannery Brewing comes the “Pink Mountainhops” a maibock or strong golden lager.  The brew poured a light straw yellow with a white head.  The aroma was of sweet apples, grains and grass.  The flavour consisted of sweet fruits such as apples and a nice mild hops bitterness.  The alcohol content of this brew was 6.5% and the IBU was 40.  Not the best of the band beer but very worthy of being in this company of 4 great beer!

Cannery Brewing
A microbrewery that produces individually handcrafted fine ales and lagers of unmistakable complexity and balance. We pay unrelenting attention to every detail of the brewing process — and it shows. We are the Small Brewery with Big Flavour!

Pink Mountaintops
Stephen McBean formed Pink Mountaintops as the slightly mellower counterpart to psych-rock juggernaut Black Mountain. The Vancouver band has featured a host of prominent guest musicians over the course of three albums.

I would like to finish by saying this may have to be the best Collaboration between a brewery (or 4) and any corporation.  All the beer involved were great tasting and it also sounded like some of the bands were actually involved in some of the planning of the brew!  This just sounds so bloody Canadian I can not believe it!