The intrepid folks up at Yukon Brewing have for many years produced a variety of seasonal and one-off beer. Alas, they have always been reserved for their loyal local customers in the Territory. Which means those of us South of 60 could only read the press release and pine.
Which is fair enough, I say. The hardy customers in Whitehorse have made Yukon Brewing the only Canadian craft brewery that can claim to outsell the big boys on tap in their local market. Yup, Yukoners have made it clear they prefer their hometown suds rather than the corporate beer shipped from Vancouver or wherever.
However, last year due to the tireless lobbying of their Alberta-based Rep (whom everyone around here knows as “Yukon Dave”), the Yukon-based folks agreed to release the odd keg or two down to Alberta for special events, clients and such. So now, every once in a while, a keg of something special from Yukon pops up somewhere.
Combine that with Yukon’s new A.D.D. Series of one-offs, and Yukon has suddenly become quite the serious participant in the seasonal beer game on the prairies.
All of this is a longwinded lead-in to say that over the next few weeks a flurry of Yukon kegs will be coming to town. First up, in the next few days, are a couple of kegs of the latest A.D.D. beer, Spiced Winter Ale, at the Wunderbar. Pre-testers say it is quite different than the bottled version. Clearly another opportunity to do a keg vs. bottle taste test (see here and here for a couple previous examples).
Rumour also has it that a keg or two of Yukon’s latest seasonal release (out today), a Wee Heavy called Yer Gallus (apparently Gaelic for “you’re cheeky”), may make their way down, possibly to the Sugar Bowl. No confirmations from either end of the deal, but by publishing it here now, maybe the public demand that will inevitably build will lead to an official consummation – so that there may be official consumption. More rumour-y is that an upcoming seasonal – an Imperial Red Ale – may also breach Alberta’s borders in some fashion.
As it turns out Yukon has THREE different seasonals for sale in Whitehorse currently, not including the A.D.D. beer. The Wee Heavy, an English Mild and a dry stout they call Yukon Crude Stout (I assume with apologies to Wild Rose…). What might it take to get kegs of all of them down here?And that Imperial Red, which intrigues me immensely?
Just askin’. Ain’t no harm in that, is there?
February 2, 2012 at 7:46 AM
Hmm, I’d be curious to see how Yukon does a Wee Heavy & I admit more than a little curiosity about the English Mild(quite enjoy Tin Whistle’s Black Widow-from B.C., & the Hockley Dark from Ontario). Anxious to try Yer Gallus & the Yukon Crude…not to mention the kegged Spiced Winter Ale. Have to get back to Wunderbar for that then.
February 2, 2012 at 10:25 AM
Just a bit of a correction…Yer Gallus is an export scottish ale, not a wee heavy. Or, an 80 schilling vs. a 90 schilling, using the old scale. And, just to make that Yukon road trip a bit more tempting, in addition to several one-off beers in the works (what better way to fill our January spare time?) we have filled our firkins and will start a real ale program very soon. Can’t say exactly when, ’cause we have some internal quality assurance to take care of first. We can’t sell it to the public till we are sure we like it first, right?
February 3, 2012 at 3:09 PM
Thanks for the correction, Bob. You caught me in a rare moment of stylistic loosey-goosiness. I should have known better. Moving too fast, I guess. I promise it won’t happen again.
Keep brewing good beer!
February 21, 2012 at 10:39 AM
Hello Folks
This is good news for us Brits. We are planning to come to canoe down the Yukon this summer. Good to hear there is micro-brewery beer around. Is it available in Whitehorse and Dawson City? It will be very welcome!