Holy Zythos, Green Dragon!

So, this post might be a little late to be of any assistance, since the beer in question is rapidly disappearing and may already be gone. I speak of Alley Kat’s latest Dragon Double IPA, Green Dragon. My lateness is… Continue Reading →

More Beer-y than a Barrel of Monkeys

I have been brewing for more than 20 years now, and I have attempted to brew almost every style under the sun (at least that don’t involve wild yeasts or bacteria such as lambics and Flanders Reds and Browns –… Continue Reading →

Taking that First Beer Step

In my latest Beer 101 (which you can read here), I give away some of my trade secrets. Okay, they aren’t secrets, per se, but they still do qualify as tips into how I do my job. I am not… Continue Reading →

A Little Pick-Me-Up With Your Beer

For most of the readers of this website, the notion of coffee in beer is old hat. You are well aware of the effect of adding some coffee to a dark porter or stout (or even the occasional IPA, right… Continue Reading →

Good Riddance Black Label Big Ten

Late on Friday, Molson announced that it was de-listing Carling Black Label Big Ten from Alberta. For those of you unfamiliar with this beer (and I expect that is most of you) this is a cheap, high alcohol (10.1%) beer… Continue Reading →

Ontario Comes West

For a number of years now, Alberta liquor stores have had a a good selection of craft beer from B.C.  (Howe Sound, Central City, Cannery, Nelson and, recently, Phillips) and Quebec (Dieu Du Ciel, Charlevoix, Trois Mousquetaires). Of course there… Continue Reading →

So Much for a Quiet Winter Beer Season

Winters are supposed to be the slow season for beer. Sales are down due to the weather. It is a chance for craft brewers to catch their breath, do some maintenance and clear out the backlog of paper work. Apparently… Continue Reading →

Feeling Confused about House Beer

A year or so ago, I was feeling rather hopeful about the state of craft beer in western Canada’s pub chains (as evidenced by this post). I was particularly bullish on Hudson’s Canadian Tap House, who had just initiated “Beer… Continue Reading →

How Old is Your Beer?

My column in the current issue of Planet S Magazine revisits a longstanding beef of mine – date codes. I have never understood why breweries feel the need to mask the production/best before date in a jumble of letters and… Continue Reading →

Metropolis: An Opportunity Lost

You will all be forgiven – even you Edmontonians – for not knowing about the Edmonton Metropolis Winter Festival. This new six-week long event was designed to draw people downtown during the cold winter months. Its big draw is supposed… Continue Reading →

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