From the category archives:

BC Brew

Comox Welcomes Craft Beer

by Rick Green 03.31.2009

^ From left to right, Ken Snyder of RBC, Mayor Paul Ives, Bob Surgenor, and John Watson, Executive Director of the Comox Economic Development Society toast the opening of Surgenor Brewing.
Seven years and $2 million dollars later, Bob Surgenor’s dream has come true. On March 21, family, friends, and local dignitaries gathered at Surgenor Brewing [...]

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Bière avec Fromage

by Rick Green 02.24.2009

Beer and cheese pairing is growing in popularity amongst the craft beer crowd and is starting to trickle into the local culinary scene. In Victoria, Spinnakers has their B.C. Artisan Cheese Taster appetizer course and Ottavio hosted a tasting with Phillips Brewing. Chef Lee Humphries of Vancouver’s FigMint Restaurant has hosted a number of pairings [...]

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BC Brew Review: Phillips The Hammer

by Rick Green 02.11.2009

Valentine’s Day inevitably leads to the anguish of proper wining and dining. And when it comes to that other arrow in Cupid’s quiver — chocolate — I’m rather amused by all the hand wringing that goes on in finding a suitable beverage to couple with that most amorous edible. The answer? Why it’s beer, of [...]

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BC Brew Review: Fuller’s Vintage Ale 2008

by Rick Green 01.29.2009

Beer and patience aren’t words you would normally associate with one another. With an old ale like Fuller’s Vintage Ale, however, controlling your impulse to open this beer will pay dividends like a maturing investment. Its high alcohol and the yeast added to the bottle mean that you can cellar this ale for years after [...]

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CAMRA Vancouver Recognizes Beer Excellence

by Rick Green 01.22.2009

The Vancouver chapter of the Campaign for Real Ale announced the results of its annual members poll recognizing local and regional excellence in brewing and beer service. More inside…

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BC Brew Review: Old Cellar Dweller

by Rick Green 01.11.2009

Barley wine is not your run-of-the-mill beer. It’s challenging to make well. There is a lot more sugar the yeast has to chew through than a conventional beer. If the yeast is not sufficiently robust, it can stall from exhaustion before the beer is adequately fermented. That also represents a financial risk as a lot [...]

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Fuel Tuesday Night Braise and Beer

by Rick Green 12.30.2008

According to chef Robert Belcham and his team, cold weather comfort food is meat braised in beer. To share that sentiment, Fuel is featuring throughout the winter a different dish each Tuesday evening prepared with a beer from R&B Brewing, a local, award-winning craft brewery.
More inside…

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BC Brew Review: Rogue Yellow Snow IPA

by Rick Green 12.29.2008

Yellow Snow IPA was originally introduced in 2000 by Rogue, the legendary Oregon brewery, for the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. They now offer it as a seasonal tribute to winter sports with a thematic appeal to dog-lovers. (Note: their public houses are dog friendly with free water and a separate food menu for [...]

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BC Brew Review: Anchor Christmas Ale 2008

by Rick Green 12.22.2008

This is Anchor Brewing’s thirty-fourth annual Christmas Ale, also known as “Our Special Ale.” Since 1975, it has been brewed with a unique secret recipe each year, which provides a perennial built-in purchase impulse. Each year its label sports a different tree as, according to Anchor, “trees have symbolized the winter solstice when the earth, [...]

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BC Brew Review: R & B Auld Nick Winter Ale

by Rick Green 12.12.2008

Scottish Ales are noteworthy for their pronounced malt character since, unlike barley, hops do not readily grow in Scotland. The Scottish preferred other bittering agents in order to avoid the cost of expensive, imported hops. The 1707 Treaty of Union joining England and Scotland also precluded the Scots from having to pay a hefty malt [...]

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Cheers to Winter Beers: Bock Beer

by Rick Green 12.08.2008

Lagers aren’t just light and golden. They can be dark, strong, or dark and strong. Falling into the strong category is Bockbier, a smooth, malty, moderately-hopped beer with an alcohol content of 6.3-7.2% ABV. Originally brewed in the northern German city of Einbeck during the height of the Hanseatic League, Einbeck exported this beer throughout [...]

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BC Brew Review: Gaymers Original Cider

by Rick Green 12.03.2008

A taste for traditional cider (not the cloying, over-carbonted varieties) seems to be making a slow comeback in B.C., reflected in a growing number of imports and domestic brands. Given the province’s history of apple production, there is certainly room for growth and the development of greater variety.
More inside…

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