Tag Archives: indy beer

Canoe Chase IPA – Smugglers’ Trail Caskworks Ltd

by Mike

From the new Smugglers’ Trail Caskworks Ltd brewed out of Factory Brewing in Vancouver comes their “Canoe Chase IPA”. The beer pours a copper orange with a light tan head. The aroma consists of big floral notes, citrusy, tropical with some caramel notes. The flavour is of some resin and citrus rind, with citrus, tropical fruit, maybe a hint of melon with some caramel and a medium hops bitterness.  The alcohol content comes in at 6.8% with an IBU of 53.  I can get behind this first release form Smugglers’ Trail for sure.  Lots of flavour to be found all around.

Commercial Description:  Inspired by the true story of audacious 19th Century bandits who outran local authorities by racing upstream on the Fraser River.  Bright. Juicy. Smooth. Refreshing.  Try some before we smuggle it past you.

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.

Stone Fruit Hibiscus Saison – Old Yale Brewing

by Mike

From Chilliwack’s Old Yale Brewing comes their “Stone Fruit Hibiscus Saison”.  The beer pours a cloudy orange colour with an off white head.  The aroma consists of stone fruits like peach, overall fruity esters, hibiscus and some sweetness.  The flavour is of stone fruit, hibiscus, citrus rind, yeast, mild spices, low bitterness and wheat.  The alcohol content comes in at 6%.  This is not your typical saison but it is really well crafted and full of flavour.

The Fraser – Steel & Oak Brewing (Four Winds Brewing)

by Mike

From Steel & Oak Brewing in New Westminster in collaboration with Delta’s Four Winds Brewing across the river comes “The Fraser” a pale ale fermented with Saccharomyces Trois.  The beer pours a cloudy orange colour with a white head.  The aroma consists of light tropical fruit, yeasty, mild funk and some floral hops.  The flavour is of mango, stone fruit, tropical fruit, citrus rind, yeast, mild funk with a dry not sweet finish.  There is very little bitterness in this brew.  The alcohol content comes in at 5.2% with an IBU of 24.  This beer is not going to punch you in the face with flavour but it is an excellently executed collaboration brew from two great breweries.

Commercial Description:  Fermented with Saccharomyces Trois yeast this Pale Ale was brewed with Amchoor (Green Mango spice) and hopped with Citra, Mosaic, and Azacca, as well as some fresh Cashmere for good measure. The Fraser is fruity, tropical, and funk. Not as funky as the people who brewed it but still pretty funky.

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.