The last few months have seen a flurry of new imports hitting the province. Beer from all over the world have found their way onto liquor store shelves. The quantity of new offerings is, frankly, beyond the capacity of a mere mortal to try them all (but I am trying!!). One brewery in the wave may have gone unnoticed by many. Anderson Valley. This is a Northern California brewery with a good reputation but not a widely known one.
I tried two of the beer they shipped into Alberta and found both to be decent. The more interesting of the two is Hop Ottin’ IPA. I decided to write a Vue Weekly review on it, as much due to its story as the beer itself. As I explain in the review (which you can read here) one of the most interesting things about Anderson Valley, the place, is that it has its own local dialect, called Boontling. Today Boontling isn’t spoken by more than a few dozen people, but 100 years ago, it was the dominant dialect in the area. It is an odd mixture of English, Celtic and Irish. It is something to behold (google some videos if you want).
As an IPA it is good. I wouldn’t file it under “best of…” but I certainly enjoyed my glass of it. I think the malt character is its highlight, both big enough to hold its own against the hops and complex enough to keep my interest. It could offer a bit more hop flavour and aroma to draw out that dimension of the beer.
Hop Ottin’, by the way, is Boontling for “hard working hops”. Makes sense. Keep ottin’, Anderson Valley brewers.
July 20, 2012 at 12:20 PM
It’s been out of stock for a while. Don’t know when it will be back…
July 20, 2012 at 12:24 PM
Shoot!! Didn’t know that. That is the problem of working ahead on my reviews. I wrote a bunch in the spring before heading off to Halifax. Back then it was available. Sorry, everyone.
July 20, 2012 at 12:54 PM
And now I do. Maybe next week.
July 20, 2012 at 4:40 PM
Hop Ottin has arrived in the warehouse last week and is awaiting the release.
this should (hopefully be) next week…
July 22, 2012 at 2:46 PM
Just my 2 cents worth(opinion-wise). EBGA/the Beer Geeks had Anderson Valley owner Trey White in last month to introduce samples of five beers, give a brief talk & do a Q&A. While I did enjoy my sample of the Hop Ottin'(& a can moreso a week later at The Next Act), the two that most impressed me-that evening- were the Summer Solstice Cream Ale & the Boontling Amber Ale. But very well-made beers overall!
July 23, 2012 at 9:53 AM
I’ve had the pleasure of visiting the brewery in Boonville and having their beers quite regularly when in lived in California. They are quite a nice operation in a small town in the coastal mountains.
They also run a top-notch craft beer festival that anyone should check out if they find themselves lucky enough to be in the area at that time of the year.
http://www.avbc.com/main/happenings/the-legendary-boonville-beer-festival/