After months of snow, cold and icy roads, prairie drivers look forward to the arrival of spring and the beginning of pothole season, where we can test our evasion skills as we try to swerve around the cavalcade of suspension-killing… Continue Reading →
Tonight was the Release Party for Alley Kat’s latest 15th Anniversary release, and I decided to drop on by for a sample and a visit. The place was hopping as the Kats poured tasters of their version of Belgian Tripel,… Continue Reading →
My latest Vue Weekly column came out today: a review of Victoria Bitter. This is Australia’s biggest selling beer, but is much less ubiquitous here in Canada. As I mention in the review, there is reason to be hesitant with… Continue Reading →
Every culture has its own brewing tradition, each morphing beer to fit its own tastes and desires, fitting it seamlessly into its cultural life. That is why we see such a diversity in beer. Each tradition concocts its own approach… Continue Reading →
Alley Kat’s just released latest seasonal is an interesting departure: a blueberry wheat ale called Brewberry. Now, normally fruit beers are not my favourite beer. I find they tend to be the “eye candy” of beer – all prettied up… Continue Reading →
Few people know that some beer can be aged for many years, just like good wine. To be age-able, a beer needs to have (most of the time) a higher alcohol content and a recipe that creates flavour complexity. If… Continue Reading →
One of my first posts reported that to launch its 15th birthday celebrations, Alley Kat just released a smoked porter in VERY limited quantities. I got my hands on a bottle the other day and had a chance to try… Continue Reading →
My latest missive in Vue Weekly was posted this afternoon, so I thought I would share it with you. I review Saskatoon micro Paddock Wood’s Winter Ale. Winter?? But it was 11 degrees today, you say. True, but we all… Continue Reading →
The other morning my spouse, after hearing the expected clatter, stepped outside to get the mail, which in most houses is ordinarily a mundane task. However, not at my house. This particular morning, there was something special for me in… Continue Reading →
This past week saw my latest Vue Weekly review run, on Squamish B.C. brewery Howe Sound Rail Ale Nut Brown. I like their imposing 1-litre swing-top bottle, which will come in handy when bottling my next batch of homebrew. I… Continue Reading →