Spinnakers in Victoria, Canada’s oldest brewpub (now over 25 years old), is one of the original trailblazers responsible for the timely revival of North America’s craft beer movement. One of their latest efforts is an homage to a classic strong Belgian blonde ale called Fog Fighter.
It started out innocently enough with a single bottle of beer; a nice drinking session with an alluring and tall vessel of Saltspring Island Ale’s dark porter. Not long after that, it was the last drops of their award-winning golden and pale ales that I had also brought home as well, that further prodded me out the door in search of more.
By then, I was fully swept up in the beginnings of a beer adventure that would have me driving, sailing and eventually flying my way right to the source, wanting to learn more about this self-described ‘cottage brewery’ located in the heart of the Gulf Islands.
I have a copy of John Lee’s latest book, Drinking Vancouver, up for grabs (a perfect book right about now!). The first person to solve the challenge inside wins. Good Luck! ~ PK
EDITOR’S NOTE: I will hold all comments until the correct one is given before revealing.
Driftwood Brewing, just outside of downtown Victoria, has been creating beers of distinction ever since their opening in the spring of 2008. While other micro-breweries were playing it safe by not straying too far from the centre of gravity of the beer drinking masses that default to mostly pedestrian lagers, the new kid on the block, Driftwood came out of the gate with a flavourful pale ale (Driftwood Ale) a Witbier (White Bark Ale), an Altbier (Crooked Coast Amber Ale) and a Belgian-style Saison (Farmhand Ale).
Pseudo right-wing pundit, genius shit-disturber, (and closet Canadian?) Stephen Colbert relentlessly mocks Canada for protecting our host nation advantage at the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics, labeling us “iceholes”, and what do we do? We make more beer.
Sometimes my long recessed and deeply hidden nationalist button gets dusted off and pushed, and today I will celebrate by doing the most Canadian thing I can do: play hockey and drink beer. Oh Canada, baby!
~ PK
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