From the category archives:

BC Brew

BC Brew Review: Russell Märzen

by Rick Green 10.24.2009

A Märzen is a lager traditionally brewed in March (März) that was stored in cellars or cool caves during the summer, then served during autumn festivals, such as Oktoberfest. It is an amber-red adaptation of a Vienna-style lager credited to Josef Sedlmayr in 1871. As a beer brewed for special occasions, Märzen is typically higher [...]

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BC Brew Review: Howe Sound Pumpkineater Imperial Pumpkin Ale

by Rick Green 10.15.2009

In both American and Belgian brewing traditions, there is a history of stronger spiced ales that are normally associated with Christmas. Before malt was available in America, pumpkin was one substitute ingredient that was used to make ale. However, spiced pumpkin ale is a more recent phenomenon in craft brewing that is becoming increasingly established [...]

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The Barley Trail: Home Run in the Emerald City (Part I)

by Rick Green 09.24.2009

Living large means crossing the 49th parallel where everything is bigger and in greater abundance. For fans of Major League Baseball and craft beer, a Mariners game in Seattle is a good excuse for a fun-filled weekend excursion and offers a distinct contrast with a ballgame at Nat Bailey Stadium. With a number of options [...]

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Layton Wins Whistler Beer Cocktail Challenge

by Rick Green 09.01.2009

Give 15 bartenders a mixed case of beer each and what do you get? Some amazing creativity. As a judge in Canada’s first beer cocktail competition, sponsored by Whistler Brewing Company and hosted at The Refinery, I was privileged to be able to sample each entry—a challenge not only to decide the best one but [...]

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Gastown Real Ale Pub Crawl

by Rick Green 08.26.2009

CAMRA Vancouver is hosting a Real Ale pub crawl in Gastown this Saturday, featuring cask-conditioned ales from R&B Brewing at four of the neighbourhood’s best locations dedicated to craft beer.
Participants will break up into four groups and hit the Alibi Room, The Irish Heather, Six Acres, and Steamworks. Each person will receive, respectively, a pint [...]

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Whistler Brewing Cocktail Challenge

by Rick Green 08.10.2009

Canada’s first beer cocktail competition will be held at The Refinery on August 17, featuring beer from Whistler Brewing. Come see what our local bartenders have concocted as successors to the Black Velvet, Irish Car Bomb, and Ogre Juice.

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The Brewmaster’s Table

by Rick Green 07.20.2009

^R&B Brewer, David Bretherick, and Diva at the Met Executive Sous Chef, Jeff Van Geest, collaborated to celebrate Father’s Day with a special brewmaster’s dinner.
When it comes to fine dining, there is a common fallacy that beer has no seat at the table beyond, perhaps, drinking as an aperitif. This is understandable, given that our [...]

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BC Brew Review: Tin Whistle Peach Cream Ale

by Rick Green 06.30.2009

With summer upon us, lighter, fruity beers are natrually popular. Of the lineup available from Pentictons’ Tin Whistle Brewing, the Peach Cream Ale is their top-selling beer. Given their location in the heart of BC’s fruit-growing region, this is fitting. They could carve out a niche for themselves producing fruit beer or classic styles enhanced [...]

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BC Brew Review: Granville Island Brockton IPA

by Rick Green 05.20.2009

India Pale Ale is a style of beer that evolved from the “need” to successfully ship ale via a three- to five-month sea voyage to India in the 18th century. Today, we have a modern English interpretation of the style and an American version, using “American ingredients and attitude.” Consequently, there can be quite a [...]

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Chicago Scores Rare Vancouver Beer

by Rick Green 05.16.2009

^– Storm brewer, James Walton, with Mayor Robertson.
When the Blackhawks won 7-5 against the Canucks in Game 6 of the playoffs, little did Chicago know that they would score something as rare as a Stanley Cup win. And the competition between the two cities isn’t necessarily over just yet…

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BC Brew Review: Tree Weizen Bock

by Rick Green 04.28.2009

With the arrival of warmer weather, it’s just a matter of time before the Hefeweizens become more popular. Before releasing its version, Tree launched this month, for the first time, a stronger variant of their popular wheat ale for spring — the Weizen Bock. If you are expecting something like Schneider Aventinus, this is not [...]

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BC Brew Review: Granville Island Ginger Beer

by Rick Green 04.10.2009

In North America, we are less likely to let tradition get in the way of creativity than other parts of the world. This is certainly the case with craft brewing, given the no-holds-barred approach our brewmasters are increasingly taking, i.e. “extreme” beer. If we were to rigidly adhere to the Bavarian Purity Laws of 1516, [...]

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