Everything in my instincts tells me I should hold off one more week before doing another news roundup. Yet, the balancing act is the beer that have been released stop being “news” while I wait for more new releases. So, I trade off, fully expecting a couple of announcements next week that I will have missed.

At any rate, on to the latest beer news. It has been a quieter few weeks since my last round up at the beginning of the month, telling me even more some big announcements are coming soon. Still, there is enough happening to make a quick update worthwhile. With the usual provisios (no order, etc.) here is what has happened recently around the prairies.

• Yukon Brewing has actually been fairly busy, releasing two new beer, both slated for early November arrival. Secret Service Imperial IPA clocks in at 8.1% alcohol and promises significant hop although I trust it will also possess the familiar Yukon balance and drinkability. Meanwhile, 39 1/2 Foot Pole Black Currant IPA is exactly as promised, an IPA with black currant added – and intriguing choice if you ask me. As the name implies, they are aiming it for the Xmas season (if you don’t get the reference, my friend, you really need to get out more…).

• Big Rock also has recently put out two new beer. A couple of weeks ago they put out their latest Brewmaster’s Edition beer, Abandoned Abbey, which is a Belgian-style quadruple. At 9.2% it packs this Belgian Dark Strong packs a whallop. Then this week they are releasing the second edition of Anthea Wet Hop Ale, their fresh hop beer, as part of the Alchemist Series. This year’s Anthea deviates from the first version in that it has not been filtered, which should impart a bigger hop aroma and flavour.

• Over in Manitoba, Fort Garry continues their recent practice of rotating seasonal releases with Das München Oktoberfest, their take on the classic German fall seaonal. This is (to my knowledge) their first seasonal release in 473-ml cans. Odds are it doesn’t make it out of Manitoba, however.

• Over in Saskatchewan, the news is not about new beer, per se, but more about new breweries. Black Bridge Brewing in Swift Current officially opened its doors earlier this month. At the moment they are doing growler fills and slowly increasing tap room hours as more beer comes on line. The first beer off their line is a Milk Stout, which they hope will be available in SLGA stores sometime next month, interestingly in cans. Coming soon are Centennial Rye Ale and IPA! – exclamation point included. [NOTE: This entry edited to correct hyperlink and add coming beer]

• And finally it is not really news, but I didn’t feel like it justified a full post, my profile of Nokomis Craft Ales and Rebellion Brewing came out earlier this month in Planet S and Prairie Dog Magazine (you can read it here). I, of course, did profiles on both breweries here at onbeer earlier (here and here) and the content in the magazine piece is a re-work of those interviews, but it is still worth nothing here, since they are/soon will be part of the growing Saskatchewan craft brewing movement.

• Finally, while it is not “news” anymore – having been announced the day after my last news post – in the spirit of fairness I mention that Grizzly Paw in Canmore released Jack O’Lantern Pumpkin Ale as their fall seasonal. We may be reaching the end of the pumpkin beer season, but at least you know it is out there if you feel like one last example.

I hereby predict someone releases something before Halloween, just to continue my streak of missing somebody by mere hours. But that is the latest news for now. Now, go find something to sip on while handing out candy to trick-or-treaters.