Tag Archives: organic malts

Dogwood Brewing – Vancouver

by Mike

Well who would have guessed a new brewery would open up in the Vancouver area?  Not me for sure I mean there isn’t a craft beer revolution going on here or anything!

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Ok so I am full of it.  South Vancouver now has a brewery to call its own just blocks off of Marine Way close to Knight Street.  Just to kick the trend in beer lately this brewery is helmed by a female head brewer!  Head Brewer Claire Connolly was formerly the head brewer at Big River Brewpub in Richmond and has worked at breweries in the UK also.  Not only have they kicked the trend of Male head brewers but they are also using different ingredients than most breweries.  Dogwood Brewing only uses Organic ingredients.  They get their malts from Gambrinus Malting Corporation in Armstrong BC and their hops from HOOH Hops Inc (Harvesters of Organic Hops) in Lillooet BC.  This is the first Organic brewery in Vancouver and only the third in the province with Nelson Brewing Company and Crannóg Ales being the other two.

When you walk into the brewery you find a nice big space with lots of table space and a bar where you can order your beer and growler fills.  Currently they only have the tasting room license but I would assume from the layout they will be going for their lounge license also.  There is just too much seating to not plan to have people stick around for more than one flight or 12oz glass of beer.

When you are in the tasting room there is a nice little peek-through window where you can see the brewery in all its small glory.

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I was lucky enough to run into Claire Connolly while I was at the brewery for my first visit and she was happy to give me a tour of the brewery.  She showed off the hops and malts that she is using that are certified organic and then took me though the brewery itself.

In my opinion being fairly in the know in the craft beer community in BC I think Dogwood Made a very good decision to get a space that was currently to big for their capacity.  It may currently look cavernous but thing always grow in Vancouver and they are already planning their next tank purchases and they just opened a few days ago.  If you look at the trend in Metro Vancouver you will see a massive growth in breweries be it Powell Street and  Bridge Brewing or even Central City Brewers & Distillers.  No matter your current space you will probably end up out growing it and depending now small you go your first brewery move may only be years away.  Unless Dogwood explodes like Parallel 49 Brewing I think this space should be great for years to come.  Dogwood may even be limited on growth depending on just how much Organic ingredients they can procure on a year to year basis.  But if you are into Organic ingredients I recommend that you head to Dogwood Brewing as soon as possible and check out what they are doing!  Well when it comes down to it I recommend everyone head out and try out their take on local craft beer really!

Check out full sized photos here.

Dogwood Brewing
http://www.dogwoodbrew.com
8284 Sherbrooke St, Vancouver, BC, V5X 4R6
604 325 3693
dogwood@dogwoodbrew.com

Current hours as of April 5th, 2015 are as follows but are subject to change:

TUESDAY          4PM   –  8PM
WEDNESDAY    4PM   –  8PM
THURSDAY         4PM   –  8PM
FRIDAY             4PM   –  9PM
SATURDAY       11.30  –  9PM
SUNDAY           11.30  –  5PM

Mongozo Premium Pilsener – Mongozo B.V.

by Mike

Gluten Free Beer

From the Netherlands Mongozo B.V. (Brewed at at the Huyghe Brewery) comes their “Mongozo Premium Pilsener” a gluten free, organic and certified fair trade beer.  This gluten-fee beer is unlike other as it still uses barley malts in the brewing process.  They then remove the gluten using an innovative technique that leaves less than 10ppm (parts per million) of gluten.  Being a gluten free beer they also use rice in the brewing process but it is Max Havelaar Fairtrade certified organic rice.  This beer pours a light straw yellow colour with a very small head.  The aroma of this brew is just as any other pilsner with light malts and grassy hops although it does finish with a slight fruity/sweet aroma.  The flavour, like the aroma smells like most pilsners with mild malts and hops but also contains a hint of rice.  The brew also displays a slightly fruity and fairly sweet aftertaste.  The alcohol content of this beer is 5%.  I would rate this Pilsner among my favorite pilsners to date regardless of the gluten free rating.  This is not a style I frequent to often but in the summer this would be a great patio beer for sure!

Commercial Description:  Mongozo Premium Pilsner is a Fairtrade, organic and gluten-fee lager with an alcohol content of 5%.  Mongozo Premium Pilsner is the first lager in the world brewed to combine three unique elements: Max Havelaar Fairtrade, organic and gluten-free in one bottle.  It is also the first fairtrade lager in the world and tastes uncommonly good.  The new beer has a mild, slightly bitter flavour of hops and is easy to drink.  The beer is brewed using only high-grade organic barley malt, organic hops and fairtrade certified-organic rice.

As of February 2013 this beer is available at The Brewery Creek, Viti Wine and Lager, Firefly Fine Wines and Ales and 16th Street Liquor Store in Metro Vancouver or can be ordered directly throught your local BC Liquor Store.

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