Hey folks. Wanted to take a moment to write about a few craft beer related events coming up in the immediate and near future. This won’t be a long post but I hope that people will take advantage of the opportunities to get out and try some new craft beer/support local establishments.
First, tonight (March 31st, 2016) at 7pm, PEG Beer Co. will officially open its doors to the public.
This has been a long time coming and it is so satisfying to see them open their doors. Almost a year ago I first wrote about the plans behind this brewpub and more recently gave an update on where they are at. With all the delays and all of the hard work put in by the team, to have them open is very exciting indeed.
I hope that this will just be the start and we will be welcoming Barn Hammer, Torque, Oxus Brewing and others over the next year. As I’ve said before, I’ll say again, Winnipeg’s craft beer scene is going to be vastly different next year at this time.
Second, on April 18th at Barley Brothers Stadium, The Parallel 49 Brews Bros Vol. 2 Launch Party is happening.
All 12 beers from this collaboration pack will be on tap down at the Stadium location of Barley Brothers (Pembina Highway location). As this is a launch party for the collaboration pack, it means we will be seeing this 12 pack show up in liquor marts here in Manitoba. The list price is $29.99 ($5 cheaper than last year) and more details about quantities at Liquor Mart locations will be coming on the Liquor Mart website as we get closer to the date.
If you’re wondering, “what beers are going to be in this 12 pack?” Well, here is your answer:
| Axe and Barrel – Paranoid (Oat Wild Pilsner) Not your typical beer. Start with an Imperial Pilsner recipe, throw in some rice and Sorachi Ace hops, add Sake yeast and Brettanomyces clausenii, and just for good measure put in some oak spirals aged in Chardonnay and Sake. Don’t forget to finish it with lager yeast. Seem too complicated? No comment. IBU: 68 ABV: 8.5% |
Doan Brothers – Thunderstruck (Sticke Alt) With origins in Northern Germany, this dark cool fermented ale has been turned up to 11 with some chocolate malt notes and a prominent noble dry hop. Continental Pilsner malt ensures a refined and highly drinkable beer that is deceptively strong. IBU: 43 ABV: 6.0% |
| Barkerville – Run for the Hills (Golden Strong Ale) A traditional Golden Strong Ale. Spicy and fruity yeast derived notes add a rush of Belgian character to this golden elixir. A healthy addition of sugar to the pale malt base results in a deceptively light body for a higher alcohol beer. IBU: 31 ABV: 8.0% |
Fernie Ridge – Spirit in the Sky (Havana Club Stout) Inspired by Export Stouts and rum, the dark crystal malts and touch of molasses serve to remind the drinker of the later. Oak spirals aged in Havana Club 7-year old rum add another level of complexity to this surprisingly smooth drinking dark tawny ale. IBU: 30 ABV: 6.5% |
| Bridge – Bat Outta Hell (Dark Helles Bock) A Helles Bock that would infuriate any German beer traditionalist. A core of Continental pale malts book-ended with a touch of black malt to give it an imposing colour and a hearty dose of Hallertau Blanc hops to add a bright gooseberry aroma. A fruity malty lager that is surprisingly dark. IBU: 28 ABV: 6.3% |
Four Winds – The Boys Are Back in Town (Nectar-Face) The love-child of Jerkface 9000 and Nectarous we’ve been waiting for. A wheat malt base kettle soured a la Four Winds, and late hopped with Mosaic and Ahtanum hops in the Parallel 49 style. A true marriage of techniques and ingredients results is a pungent dry-hopped sour. IBU: 12 ABV: 6.0% |
| Cannery – Gimme Shelter (Apple IPA) A snakebite inspired beer, using a witbier base fermented with a Saison yeast. Spicy yeast and floral citrus notes sit atop a light apple tinged wheat malt base. Dry hopped with Motueka and Citra because… well… why not? IBU: 22 ABV: 7.0% |
Hearthstone – Sympathy for the Devil (Black I.P.A.) A rustic and uncomplicated Black IPA. Simcoe hops are made for a beer like this. A moderate malty base, a touch of Roasted Barley flavour, and a restrained ABV make this a beer you’ll be coming back to again and again. IBU: 52 ABV: 6.5% |
| Category 12 – Comfortably Numb (Rye Old Ale) A rich and malty ale with a substantial rye note was fermented with Brettanomyces lambicus to add a cherry funk. This all-malt beer uses earthy hops to balance. This beer doesn’t hide its alcohol or the spicy cherry character that it developed. IBU: 44 ABV: 8.9% |
Moody Ales – Purple Haze (Black Currant Sour) Playing off of the woodsy resinous flavour of Black Currants, this American sour wheat ale hints at the summer to come. Brace yourself for this tart fruity treat that has perhaps the most stunning colour of any beer we’ve ever seen. IBU: 8 ABV: 8.0% |
| Crannog – Suspect Device (Gruit) A gruit spiced with organic heather flowers, juniper and dry “hopped” with fresh ginger. This mild rye ale focuses on the spicy ginger and juniper, reserving the heather for a background note to support the rich organic Munich malt base. Maybe hops aren’t necessary in every beer. IBU: 0 ABV: 5.5% |
Strange Fellows – People Are Strange (Hoppy Saison) A classic Saison with a dose of rye malt to throw in some complexity. Taking advantage of the fruity herbal aroma of Opal hops and the spicy pepper notes from the farmhouse yeast. This is sure to be a thirst quencher. IBU: 32 ABV: 6.5% |
This is just the start of the beers that we will be seeing come into Liquor Marts from the 49th Parallel group.
They’ve got Rogue 4 hop coming out later this week and it looks like it might be getting bulletined as one of their new core products. As well, waiting to come into Manitoba is Phillips Sax (Dark Sour Brown Ale aged on grape musts), Rogue Sriracha Stout, Rogue Brutal IPA as well as a taste of my home town, Picaroon’s Timberhog Stout. Not sure on the date these will be coming out, so watch the Liquor Marts new listing section.
It also looks like Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries will be doing the Coast to Coaster again and there are a couple of new breweries on board for this event. Fuggles & Warlock from BC as well as a German Pilsner and a French Schwartz Beer. Keep your eyes open for this.
Finally, for those who homebrew, there is a Pros vs Schmoes competition coming up on May 28th.
This is put on by Grain to Glass and Le Beau Café. The best of show beer will have their beer brewed at Barnhammer after it opens. There will be some great prizes and it’s a great opportunity to get your beer judged by certified BJCP judges. It’s a great way to get some feedback on your homebrew and to have an opportunity to win some great prizes.
Not all beer styles are being judged. According to the website only the follow styles will be judged:
1(D) American Wheat beer, 10 German wheat beer, 18 Pale American Ale, 19 Amber and brown beer, 20 Porter and stout, 21(B) Specialty IPA, 25(B) Saison, and 34(C) Experimental/other
You can get all the details you need by clicking here. You can also register by clicking here.
That’s it for now. Thanks for reading.
-Beer Winnipeg
Beer Winnipeg 