I thought I had caught up with the beer releases this month. Each of the prairie breweries had rolled out, or announced, their fall/winter seasonals. But then Alley Kat and Half Pints go along and surprise us with a couple more offerings.

First up Alley Kat, unexpectedly, announced it was releasing Blue Dragon Double IPA, the sibling of Red Dragon Double IPA released earlier this fall. Given that they just released their latest in the Big Bottle series, their Cringer ginger beer, this one came as a surprise. I asked one of the Alley Katians about it and was told: “we felt like brewing it”. This is a pleasant turn of events for the normally very orderly Alley Kat. That makes 4 new beer released in the last couple of weeks for the Edmonton mainstays. Go for five! That’s what I say.

Over in Winnipeg, Half Pints has announced that, for now, it is putting its annual Burly Wine on ice and won’t be producing a new version this year. However, as solace to its suddenly mournful fans, it has produced something even more unique. Demeter’s Harvest is a Wheat Wine. Clocking in at 11%, and with the help of a generous addition of Manitoba honey, it will be a formidable beer. No word yet on whether it makes its way outside the city of Winnipeg.

Also, I just learned that tonight (Saturday November 19) there is a fundraiser for Wunderbar on Whyte Avenue in Edmonton. From 3:30 till closing it will offer a great sampling of beer, live music all night and a generous helping of friendliness. Why a fundraiser? I guess the Wunderbar boys have a few IOUs still owing to the taxman. And as we all know the taxman must get his due. It may seem odd to have a fundraiser for a pub, but they are more than that. They are creating a new space for beer drinking in Edmonton. A music-oriented, hipster, punk crowd are being exposed to an exclusive tap line up of local beer and a hand-selected range of quality craft beer. No one else in Edmonton is attempting this project. It is worthy of popping by for an hour or two and having a couple pints.