IPA NO5 – Collective Arts Brewing


From Collective Arts Brewing in Hamilton Ontario comes their “IPA NO5″ a New England style Double IPA.  The beer pours a mildly cloudy orange with a white head.  The aroma consists of tropical fruit, pineapple, sweetness and floral hops.  The flavour is of tropical fruits, pineapple, melon, juicy notes, sweetness, candi sugar, mild bitterness and some alcohol.  The alcohol content comes in at 8.2%.  This was a really good brew even if it is not the full murk of the style.

Commercial Description:  The 5th in our IPA Series. New England Double Dry Hopped Double IPA. Brewed with massive amounts of Simcoe and Citra hops, this IPA comes in at 8.2% ABV.

ART: MARIO CARPE
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC

Three Kings Tripel – Fernie Brewing


From Fernie BC’s Fernie Brewing comes their “Three Kings Tripel” a new limited release.  The beer pours an orange colour with a white head.  The aroma consists of orange, candi sugar, Belgian yeast, grainy, bready malts and an overall sweetness.  The flavour is of orange, citrus, Belgian yeast, candi sugar, sweetness, caramel, grain, mild bitterness and some low alcohol burn.  The alcohol content comes in at 8% with and IBU of 29.  Belgian style Tripel’s can border on to sweet but this one dances that line and makes for a tasty brew well worth picking up.

Commercial Description:  Three Kings Belgian-Style Tripel is named after one of Fernie’s most extreme, stunt-filled downhill bike trails, making it the perfect name for this spicy, strong Trappist Ale. A beer fit for a King.  A pale, somewhat spicy, dry, strong Trappist Ale with a pleasant rounded malt flavor and firm bitterness. Quite aromatic, with spicy, fruity, and light alcohol notes combining with the supportive clean malt character. High alcohol, yet very approachable to many a palate.

Not For Nazis Organic Nut Brown Ale – Boundary Brewing (Crannóg Ales)


From Boundary Brewing in Kelowna and Crannóg Ales in Sorrento comes their “Not For Nazis” Organic Nut Brown Ale.  This beer was born out of a digital attack that threatened the business and life of the brewer Oliver and his children for hanging an Anti Fascist flag in their brewery.  When Sorrento’s Crannóg Ales stepped up to say hey we have been hanging that flag for many months it moved over to them.  From this horrible situation this beer was born.  If you would like to hear more about the situation take a listen to the Pacific Beer Chat episode where we profiled Boundary Brewing.  The beer pours a deep chestnut brown with a brown head.  The aroma consists of a good nutty start with mild roasted malts, caramel and some residual sweetness.  The flavour was of nuts, caramel, roasted malts, some ash or smoke and a mild bitterness in the finish.  This Organic Nut Brown ale is a great example of what I look for in a Brown Ale.  So get off your couch and help fight hate by picking up a bottle of this brew!

 

Soothsayer Milkshake IPA – Parallel 49 Brewing


From East Vancouver’s Parallel 49 Brewing comes their latest beer “Soothsayer Milkshake IPA”.  The beer pours a hazy orange colour with a white head and good lacing.  The aroma consists of citrus, juicy hops, lactose, floral and just an overall sweetness.  The flavour is of lactose, orange, orange rind with a hint of both resin and bitterness.  The alcohol content comes in at 6.5%.  I have to say that this is a nice Milkshake IPA as it is sweet but not overly so like some of them.  One of the most true to style NE IPA’s that Parallel 49 Brewing has made to date to boot.

 

Renfrew Red Ale – Sooke Oceanside Brewery


From Sooke Oceanside Brewery in Sooke on Vancouver Island comes their “Renfrew Red Ale”.  The beer pours a copper colour with a tan head.  The aroma consists of caramel, fruity with a floral finish.  The flavour is of caramel, mild roasted malts, resin, grassy, mild bitterness and some fruity notes.  The alcohol content comes in at 5.1%.  While fairly standard this is a good red ale and you will enjoy it.

Commercial Description:  Port Renfrew has many names. Some for love, as only the sea could be loved. Some for the ships she has taken, wrecked over rock and wave, where dangerous waters run red. This Red Ale is the namesake of that love and danger. I prefer to call her Renfrew.