This has been a crazy month for beer on the prairies. I feel like I have been moving from one event to another and from one new beer arrival to another. And it seems to keep going. So I thought I should pause briefly and update you on the new beer releases in the region over the past and coming weeks. I admit I have fallen behind a bit, and so it will be good to catch up.
Alley Kat: On November 12 the Kats will be releasing two new beer on the same day. The first is their latest seasonal, a Coffee Porter. I had a sneak preview of it last weekend and it has big roasted coffee notes. It will also be the day they release their 2010 edition of Old Deuteronomy barley wine. I find the Old Deuts to be fantastic keepers and I always look forward to their release.
Wild Rose: The Cherry Porter has been out for a couple of weeks, but I have been remiss in reporting it. It is one of their best selling seasonals , as its black forest cake impression leaves people wanting more. It comes in one-litre swing top bottles that are fantastic for re-using.
Big Rock: Their annual Winter Spice beer is out. It is a mellow, accessible version of the spiced Xmas ale style. What is intriguing about it is that it changes every year. Two years ago had a lot of ginger, while last year leaned toward cinnamon. So far my small taste would argue it is drier and more balanced than previous years.
Paddock Wood: Our Saskatoon mainstays are re-releasing their Winter Ale again this year. This big, dark , hearty ale screams prairie winter. This year made as a Belgian Dubbel style. It will be available in Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Half Pints: If you are in Winnipeg, mark your calendars for December 4, as that is “Burly Wine” Day! The annual release of Half Pints barley wine is coming fast. Not only is it one of the best names for a barley wine ever, it is an uncompromising, hoppy, bold version of the style. What I like to do with this beer is buy 3 bottles. I drink one right away and cellar the other two for sampling a couple years down the road – not that I have actually cracked any of the cellar versions yet.
So there you have it, the latest beer releases on the prairies, as far as I am aware. I will do my best to offer reviews of some of these beer in the coming weeks, as time and liver allow. For now, my work is done here.
November 8, 2010 at 9:09 AM
Just a heads up that the Paddock Wood Winter Ale has been changed to an 8% Belgian Dubbel for this year.
Also, Bushwakker in Regina has released their Procrastinator Doppelbock, and it is exceptional this year. As well, their Blackberry Mead is set for release on Dec 4th (lineups, same day sellouts, and local media coverage of the event have become the norm, same as the HP Burlywine release).
Anyone know if Brewsters Merry Monks Barleywine is out? Website says Oct release. Don’t think the Regina locations have brewed it in years, but pretty sure Edm and Cgy locations always offer it. I sent them an email a few weeks back and got no response (same as last year).
November 8, 2010 at 11:08 AM
Mark,
Thanks for the info.
Yes, the Brewster’s Blue Monk Barley Wine (which is what it is called in Alberta) is out. I have only had one glass so far and it seems a bit young at the moment. I always like it later in the cycle.
I realize I neglect the brewpubs – both Brewsters and Bushwakker – in my updates. That is not really intentional. It is just harder to keep up with them as they rotate their seasonals quite a lot. Thanks for filling us in.
Jason
November 8, 2010 at 9:16 AM
Any idea when the Alley Kat 15th Anny Black IPA will be released?
November 8, 2010 at 11:09 AM
No word yet, but will be seeing them at the Next Act cask event tomorrow – so I will ask.
Jason
November 8, 2010 at 7:03 PM
Sorry, I did in fact mean Blue Monk Barleywine. Merry Monk is an ok doppelbock from Granville Island. My bad. I don’t even expect to enjoy it all that much, it just ticks me off that they put it on the menu here, but never, ever brew it.
Yeah, the brewpub seasonals are a lot harder to keep up on, but thought I’d mention some of the “major” seasonal releases.
Anyone readng this should definitely try to get your hands on the Bushwakker 20th Anniversary beer which will be released sometime in January. Tried a carbonated sample last week, it might just be the best Bushwakker beer ever, and I have tried a few of them, including the legendary Strathdee Old Barleywine, Centennial Wheatwine and Falkenstein’s Imperial Stout.