Funny thing about my latest Vue Weekly column, an overview of Garrison Brewing and a review their Hopyard Pale Ale. Before I left for Halifax, I wrote a bunch of columns to keep the paper supplied in copy during my absence. This particular piece was one of those pre-prepared pieces. It was originally scheduled to run sometime in May, but somewhere the order got mixed up. So I find it quite entertaining to have it appear just after my return home.
It is a decent enough piece (read it here), but I would have written it quite differently today. First, I would have been a bit more careful in proclaiming Garrison the oldest microbrewery in Nova Scotia. While technically true, I learned during my visit that the story is more complicated. Propeller and Garrison were basically twins – conceived at identical moments with one popping out moments before the other. And of course Granite Brewing – commonly considered a brewpub but they sell to other accounts as well as retail – predates both by a wide margin.
I think the story in general would read differently, given what I now know about the brewery and their development. They are late-comers to the hop thing, introduced to it, as it turns out, by Greg Nash during his short stint there. This is not a criticism, but it does make the story more interesting.
I guess that is my point. I should know better than to profile a brewery before talking to the people involved. An interview ALWAYS makes the story more interesting. Planning on filing that in my memory banks. Still, I stand by my take on the beer. I drank a fair bit of it during my stay and I found it a rather pleasant pint. It is sweeter than many pale ales, but I do like the hop character, and the overall balance is admirable.
My other observation is that I might have chosen a second beer to highlight as well – maybe the Nut Brown or the Imperial IPA, which is likely their best beer (another Nash creation). Oh well, such is the humbling craft of writing. One must always accept the moment for what it is. This is one of those times.
July 11, 2011 at 9:14 PM
I’m rather looking forward to a Garrison (Grand)Baltic Porter, “…smooth complex lager brewed coffee-black with a rich molasses & toffee profile balanced by specialty German hops.” At 9% abv I can see a couple of those going down quite nicely on a cool maritime evening. Waiting for a couple good diverse items to pair it with- I’m thinking …perhaps a gouda or havarti cheese, then after a palate-cleansing maybe a chocolate/caramel truffle. Although it Is a lager, so…molasses or possibly toffee cookie?? Coffee cake with a toffee drizzle?(thoughs? thanks in advance)
July 12, 2011 at 2:19 AM
aHa! Well I know what I’m using an ounce or two(oz & 1/2)of that Porter for. Just happened to read about a blend of porter, veal stock, herbs and garlic used for braising pork belly. I don;t think I’ll go quite That far, but I should’ve thought of pork…probably a marinade for slow-simmered pork medallions. Oh btw, the reading was in The Best Of American Beer And Food: Pairing And Cooking with Craft Beer by Lucy Saunders. Recently bought/downloaded-gift card*thumbs up*-the e-book for my Kindle. Lucy’s website is http://www.beercook.com/ . Suppose I might just skim the recipes on that site(I believe most are in the book).