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Famous Grouse 12 yr old
Why are we reviewing a blend? Well, we haven't actually tasted it yet, but Famous Grouse uses Macallan and Highland Park in the blend. We'll up date this review soon with our own tasting notes! One on-line review called it a "joy to drink" but also noted "for the price, you can do better". It is selling for $41.95 for 750 ml at BCLDB, SKU 571596.
Glen Ord 30 yr old
Glen Ord distillery was founded in 1838 making it one of the oldest in Scotland and is one of the few remaining Scotch distilleries to malt its own barley. Part of the Diego family of whiskies, this is the only Glen Ord currently listed in the BCLDB guide. It is selling for $341.95 for 700 ml. SKU 208108.
Auchentoshan Three Wood
Previously only available in the UK, this whisky has not been tasted by Dipsophilia. Jim Murray has the following to say: "Nose: Fruity. Raisins, especially dates, orange peel. Palate: Beautiful balance of dark, syrupy, fruity, maturation flavours and cedary, oily, marshmallow, characteristics from the spirit itself. Finish: Gentle, long, warming, lemon grass, spice. Comment: Matching Auchentoshan with Pedro Ximinez is like putting Benny Lynch in the ring with Marciano. What do you get? It’s unimaginable, but in whisky it works." He rated it 8.5/10. It is listed at $84.99 for a 750 ml bottle, SKU 138495.
Caol Isla 25 yr old
A favourite of Jackie and Aidan, this is a spectacular whisky. We unfortunately didn't make it to the Caol Isla distillery last January as it was closed to the public (see Road Trips) and there were issues with the buses! BCLDB previously stocked this whisky in November of 2005. Good to see its return to the stores. Highly recommended if you enjoy peaty whiskies. Gets a 9/10 from Jim Murray, "truly great". $279.25 for 700 ml, SKU 410035.
Highland Park 15 yr old
Historically we have seen the 12 yr old and the 18 yr old from Highland Park. With a new label and a new whisky, this is an exciting addition to the BCLDB stocks! Historically the 15 yr old (released in 2003) was available only in the UK. Tasting notes for the 15 yr old: Colour: Full golden, clear and bright; Nose: Aromatic smokiness with a hint of camphor; Palate: Rich, initially sweet developing into a dry smokiness; Finish: Rich, long medium sweet then medium dry. Jim Murray gives it 8.3/10. "The nose is surprisingly closed and the flavours never fully open on the palate". Dipsophilia review (Aidan & Jackie) - not as good as peaty as the 12 yr. old, but very enjoyable and much more affordable than the 18 yr. old. Selling in BC for $94.95 for 750 ml. SKU 748152.
Talisker 25 yr old
More subtle and teasing. Not as much a knock-out punch on the finish like the Talisker 10 and 18, but rather more steady intense blows to the abdomen for many rounds. An aging Talisker, but still with many redeeming qualities. It is drier than its younger siblings, with less fruit and more of a stony texture, with dried spices and lingering leather notes. This whisky requires more patience and demands more concentration, but it is still rewarding to the seasoned aficionado (with some extra pocket change). $309.95 for 700 ml, SKU 409441.
U'Lukuva Vodka, Poland
This is a delightful vodka. The story is that King Sigismund III commissioned the court alchemist to produce a spirit of exceptional style and quality. The Alchemist created this elixir of “legendary excellence”. The “court was delighted, and just enough was never again too much”. It comes in a beautiful bottle, and is distilled from Rye Wheat & Barley. ($69 at BCLDB). The U’Luvka is smooth, fresh and clean, traces of nuts and vanilla when tasted over ice. Slightly vanilla on the nose. Very drinkable indeed. They have an outstanding web site. http://www.uluvka.com/. It sells for $69 for 750 ml at BC liquor stores. It's not a vodka to mix with your favourite fruit juice, but will suit the "classic martin" drinker's tastes. BCLDB SKU #589523 / UPC #05060103020102
Boomsma Jonge Genever Gin , Holland
This is a Dutch gin that was introduced in the BC Liquor stores last summer. Fruity nose, smooth on the palate with juniper berries and spices. Wow, this is good. There needs to be more specialty gins available in BC! Sells for $27.99 – what a deal! BCLDB SKU #1594 / UPC #00791774100620
March 2007
Yaletown Brew Pub
Iain Hill's latest seasonal will be on tap at Yaletown Brewing starting March 16. It's a hoppy porter with Amarillo & Columbus hops in the finish. The new Yaletown Porter was the cask recently at Real Ale Sunday at The Whip starting. Aidan tried more-than-one pints of the porter - very enjoyable indeed. Nose: Light hops, chocolate/cocoa. Taste: Colour belies the flavour. Mild mannered, well hopped and flowery, roasted malt presents chocolate and cocoa notes. This is a light drinking ale, and not heavy at all. Cask ale was served a little colder than Aidan would serve it. Well defined swig rings.
Brewery Creek Beer and Wine Store, 3045 Main Street, Vancouver, BC
For those of you who missed
out on the first batch of Matt Phillips' new Blue Truck Ale,
Brewery Creek has received some more! They are open from 11am-11pm.
Brewery
Creek
will be selling Great Canadian Beer Festival tickets this year. We'll let you
know when they go on sale.
Brewery Creek is also sold out of all of their Rogue, except the American Ale.
Who knows how long it will take for the next order to grind through the LDB...
New Products to BC - April 2007
Granville Island Brewery - Vern Lambourne has released a new seasonal that's available now only at the Granville Island Tap Room and store. It's a Ginger Beer, although this year it's a lager. (Steamworks pre-empted Vern with their GIB-inspired ale.) Note, GIB is contributing a portion of its bottle and pint sales for the month of April towards the restoration of Stanley Park from last year's storm damage. Their goal is to raise $50,000. I'm sure we'll be happy to add to the pot, rather than just our waistlines. But if we are to expect an increasing amount of severe storms in the years to come due to global warming, we'll be drinking ourselves to oblivion in order to pay for the damage. Drinking locally, though, will help reduce GHG emissions, especially if you imbibe at a brewpub since it required no packaging and transportation to get the beer into your hand. Act globally, drink locally.
April 2007
There is nothing exciting coming in to the BCLDB these days, so little to post on this page. No new whiskies since January, no new gin or rum.
Vincent Van Gogh Pomegranate Vodka - not sampled/tasted by Dipsophilia. Comes in 750 ml bottle for $43.06. Product code N743799S.
Remy Martin Black Pearl - Well, at $11,545 per 700 ml bottle, I'm not sure we'll be buying a bottle of this to taste-test! But it must be good.....!!! SKU N103143S
Beer Notes:
Alexander Keith's India Pale Ale is now available in 355 ml cans, as is Cannery Brewing's Naramata Nut Brown Ale.
Granvillle Island has a limited release Killarney Stout available.
Molson has issued 750 ml cans of Canadian lager (won't that get kinda warm before you're through?!
Old Milwaukee cans (15-pack of 355 ml) are available for $18.49.
Tree Brewing has released an 8-bottle "Character Pack" for $14.16 and Rebel Original (also from Tree) is availalbe in 8 x 341 ml pack for $13.71.
McAuslan (brewer of St. Ambroise) Apricot Wheat Ale (6 x 341 ml for $10.99) is also now available at BCLDB.
Heineken Lager is now available in 710 ml cans for $3.95 each.
June 2007
Again, there is very little in the way of new products at our liquor stores (May and June). In fact, the BCLDB is no longer stocking Laphroaig 10 yr. (Dipsophilia (Jackie) bought the last bottle in BC for Aidan for Father's Day!) and there is no more of the Port Ellen 25 yr. (Dipsophilia bought the last bottle for the recent Whisky Bar at a fundraiser for a dyslexia learning centre). If you want any exciting new beers, the Brewery Creek Cold Beer and Wine Store 3045 Main St., Vancouver, BC 872-3373 always has a great selection of beer you can't get a the liquor store.
The liquor store has imported an Ale from England for Captain Vancouver's 250th Anniversary - it is aptly called "Captain Vancouver's 250th Anniversary Ale" and is brewed by Elgood & Sons at the North Brink Brewery which was built in 1795, the year Captain Vancouver completed his survey of the Pacific Northwest. 500 ml, 4.5 %, $4.50
July 2007
The BCLDB has blessed us with one new whisky this month - Isle of Jura Superstition, a vatted malt (possibly a highly-peated 3 yo and the standard 10 yo, but unconfirmned). This whisky unfortunately doesn't get rave reviews. In fact, one reviewer (link) commented it smelled like a Chinese restaurant and tasted like pork. Others loved it (link) - "heavily peated" and "jaffa cake orangeness". It goes to show that we are all different, as are our taste buds! Jim Murray's Whiskey Bible 2006 rates it at 85, a higher rating than the 10 yo, 16 yo, and 21 yo Isle of Jura Whiskies! His comments include: "a rare case where the whole is better than the parts. A malt that wins through because of a superb balance between peat and sweeter barley." (p. 132, 2006 edition). BCLDB SKU 772798, 750 ml, 43%, $64.99.
New beers include the Captain Vancouver's 250th Anniversary Ale, see June review below. Other new beers at BCLDB are as follows:
Erdinger Weissbier, 500 ml, 5.3 %, $2.99
Guinness Irish Beer Collection Pack (Guinness, Kilkenny and Harp) 10 pack of 418 ml, $22.50
Phillips Belgian Triple 650 ml bottle $4.60
Big Rock XO Lager (bottles or cans) - 6 pack for $11.29
Kokanee Glacier frost (cans) 6-pack or 15-pack ($9.95 and $24.40 respectively)
Coors Light 18-pack cans $28.75
Anchor Steam Beer 6 355 ml bottles for $12.99
New at Viti, 900 Seymour Street, Vancouver. If you enjoy Belgian beer, drop by for some Mort Subite Framboise, Gueuze and Rochefort 8.
At Brewery Creek Beer Store, 3045 Main St., Vancouver, British Columbia Canada V5T 3G6
Just in, an import from Halifax, NS:
Propeller Pale Ale 6 pack $15.95
Propeller Honey Wheat 6 pack $15.95
Propeller Porter 650ml $6.25
They also have pint bottles of Samuel Smith’s Taddy Porter.
August 2007
From CAMRA - Brewery Creek Beer Store, 3045 Main St., Vancouver, British Columbia Canada V5T 3G6
The BCLDB has brought in a Macallan 21 year old fine oak, selling for $349.95 (sells for $314.95 in Jasper, Alta at the Jasper Liquor Store and Wine Cellar). This whiskey scored very highly, as reviewed by David Broom of Whiskey Magazine.
The Laphroaig Quarter Cask is now available at the liquor stores. This is the only Laphroaig available in BC at the moment, as they discontinued selling the 10 year old. It is selling for $77.99 in BC (sells for $52-$53 in Alberta). It is much smoother than the 10 yo. Very enjoyable indeed.
New beers include a raspberry ale from Granville Island (650 ml, $4.90); a Kokanee promo pack 18x 355 ml for $28.75; Labatt have a giant Budweiser can (710 ml) for $3.69; Molson are selling a backpack 24 pack (355 ml) for $37.90; Molson are also selling a Rickard's Original White 6x341 ml for $10.95. There is also a new Canadian beer from the Mill Street Brewery - Original Organic Lager. It sells 6 x 200 ml for $10.99. This is an Ontario brewery, established in 2002. From the Czech Republic, BCLDB now offers Primator Weizeneier 500 ml for $2.60.
BCLDB is also now selling the Brooklyn Brewery Black Chocolate Stout 355 ml for $2.60.
September, 2007
BCLDB has no new whisky or gin this month. There is one new vodka - Absolut with pears for $24.45 for 750 ml. Heineken has introduced a 5 litre mini-keg which is fun for BBQs and parties! $32.95. And that is it from the liquor stores!!
Ok. So there is a lack of new products coming into the province....and actually the single malt whiskey selection appears to be declining. Dipsophilia has picked out our top four best value single malts - best bang for your buck!
1) Balvenie 15 yo Single Barrrel - $100.07 [Jim Murray gives it a score of 93]
2) Benriach 10 yo Curioistas - $80 [Jim Murray gives it a score of 94]
3) Longmorn 15 yo - $63 [Jim Murray gives it a score of 93]
4) Talisker 18 yo - $100 [Jim Murray gives it a score of 94, voted best whisky in the world 2007]
As of October 8th, 2007 you can no longer break open a 6 pack or case of beer for a single at the liquor store. No more singles will be sold at any liquor stores, other than those that are meant to be sold as singles.
Thankfully, at least we have the Brewery Creek Beer and Wine store:
Brewery Creek New Arrivals (from CAMRA newsletter)
3045 Main St., Vancouver, British Columbia Canada V5T 3G6
Brewery Creek are now stocking Phillips' latest seasonal, the Accusation Ale, which is an ESB. Garrett Oliver's Belgian-style Brooklyn 1 is also in stock. The next Rogue shipment is due mid-November. Appropriately, it will include Old Crustacean barley wine for the colder weather, along with two new beers to Vancouver -- Rogue Smoke Ale and Brutal Bitter. Gerry has sourced another rarity for us, Mill Street Tankhouse Ale from Toronto -- a five-malt, 5.2% pale ale hopped with Cascades. We all know about the Vancouver-Toronto rivalry. But when it comes to beer, I think we're above such pettiness and won't spurn an opportunity to sample an eastern microbrew. And don't forget to pick up some Phillips' Accusation Ale. If litigation leaves a bitterness in your mouth, this ESB will surely quash it.
And just arrived is the Brooklyn mixed 12 pack!
Viti New Arrivals (from CAMRA newsletter)
October, 2007
BCLDB has brought in a delicious gin - Daresbury's Quintessential. It is a good gin, lots of flavour, and a good deal at $27.99 for 750 ml (SKU N540419). We will be doing a full review in upcoming weeks on this web site!. The only new beer is Alexander Keith's Red Amber Ale......is it a red? or an amber? It is available for $21.00 for 12x341 ml, and is 5% alcohol.
As of October 8th, 2007 you can no longer break open a 6 pack or case of beer for a single at the liquor store. No more singles will be sold at any liquor stores, other than those that are meant to be sold as singles.
November, 2007
At long last....some new whiskies at the BC liquor store. There will be a Limited Edition Whisky Release on November 17th at the BCLDB Stores. The broadest selection of this release will be featured at the flagship BC Liquor Store located at 39th Avenue & Cambie Street in Vancouver. For the enthusiast, special tasting events hosted by Gerry Tosh, Global Brand Ambassador for the esteemed Highland Park distillery will also be offered at the 39th & Cambie store on November 15th and 16th . Tickets for this special event are $50 and may be purchased at the store. For more info: click here. To download a copy of the brochure listing the whiskies and giving descriptions and ratings, click here.
Some of these appear to already be available in select liquor stores. Check the BCLDB web site for availability near you!
HIGHLAND
Balblair 1989 - $169.99 for 700 ml SKU N194449 - scored 82 by Jim Murray in his 2006 Whisky Bible. From Royalmilewhiskies.com: Another release matured in ex-bourbon casks this has a richer, deeper palate than the 1997 with bananas, raisins, apples and lots of toffee-ish vanilla. A delicious easy-drinker.
Balblair 1979 - $365.99 for 700 ml SKU N811075 - From RoyalMileWhiskies.com: Bottled unchillfiltered at 46% and matured in American oak barrels. With a floral honey sweetness, and lots of deep, rich fruits and bananas. Deliciously easy-drinking.
Benriach Importanticus Fumosus 12 year old - $85.00 SKU922161 - From BCLDB brochure: Very delicate nose with fl oral/estery, pear drop, peppermint. Stewed apple, oak, lemon. Bubblegum. Seems young. Wood shavings. The palate is sweet and softly creamy, then fresh limey acids. Floral peachy notes in mid-palate. Has a piercing quality and real charm. The finish is chewy, into oak. Good balance. A great aperitif. 93 Points –Whisky Bible
Benriach 1975 Cask $300.00 SKU 951152 - From BCLDB brochure: Toffee apple dipped in exceptionally fine, dry sherry; coal smoke, various spices and vanilla play their part, as does moist cherry cake and slightly burned raisins. Fresh and mouth-watering, there are a few waves of puckering oak, fruitcake and sherry. Beautifully spiced and cleverly sweet with a long lashing of vanilla and custard and sprinkled with cocoa. The coal smoke returns to add further length. An entirely faultless style very rarely encountered today. A classic. 95 Points –Whisky Bible
Brora 30 year old $426.65 SKU 208116 - From BCLDB brochure: Beautiful structure, layering and harmony; Gosh! Perfect or what? How can something be this old yet offer such a gristy sweetness? Chewy, smoky, barely oaky but some late peat spice buzz adds a bit of bite to the smoke-fuelled serenity of this dram. Just like last year’s bottling, we have something of near unbelievable beauty with the weight perfectly pitched and the barley-oak interaction the stuff of dreams. As for the peat: an entirely unique species, a giant that is so gentle. This even better version is the perfect follow up. 56.4% 97 Points –Whisky Bible
Clynelish 14 year old $74.60 SKU 92585 - From BCLDB brochure: A lovely dram with a sweet malt dependency rather than the usual Clynelish complexity. 43% 86 Points –Whisky Bible
Convalmore 28 year old - $231.60 for 700 ml SKU N242503 - From BCLDB brochure: Convalmore has a cream soda sweetness punctuated by gluey hints on the nose with a smooth, slightly drying palate. Hot and a little salty with hints of pastis and mint. The finish is silky, warming and curiously reminiscent of mint imperials. There is a lot going on in this whisky. 8½ /10 – Michael Jackson Whiskey Magazine
Glen Elgin 12 year old - $71.05 for 750 ml SKU N287359 - scored 89 by Jim Murray in his 2006 Whisky Bible. From BCLDB brochure: Blistering, mouth-watering fruit of unspecified origin. The intensity of the malt is breathtaking; stunning fresh malt arrival, salivating barley that is both crisp and lush: then a big round of spice amid some squashed, over-ripe plums. Faultless mouthfeel; the spice continues as does the intense malt but is devalued dramatically by a bitter-toffee effect. Brilliant stuff nonetheless. This is 100% malt…and it shows. 43% 89 Points –Whisky Bible. It would have scored higher if Jim did not suspect a hint of carmel. Sounds like a good buy for $71.
Glen Ord 25 year old - $385.15 SKU N268839 - scored 95 by Jim Murray in his 2006 Whisky Bible. It sounds fantastic...and will go on Dipsophilia's wish list for Santa! From BCLDB brochure: The most narrow seams of peat offer backbone to deeply impressive arrays of fruits, including kumquats, unripe figs and greengages. The oak is firm, as is the malt; nectar-plus!! The astonishing mouthfeel is matched only by the perfectly presented fruit, mainly a citrusy affair, that battles for supremacy against grassy malt and spiced oak. Waiting in the wings is wonderfully gentle smoke. A faultlessly choreographed production; some stupendous vatting here: cask selection at its very highest to display Ord in all its far too rarely seen magnificence.
Glenlivet Cellar Collection 1972 $799.99 - From BCLDB brochure: Pleasing honeycombed fusion of oak and barley also encompasses spice; just a hint of oak detracts; monumental arrival with searing spices pressing home a slightly bourbony theme. Languid liquorice and honeycomb delight; dries towards cocoa and vanilla; there is a brilliance to this which will delight bourbon lovers every bit as much as Scotch drinkers. 52.3% 93 Points–Whisky Bible Allocated one per person.
Glenlivet Cellar Collection 1969 $999.99 SKU 184978 - From BCLDB brochure: Glenlivet 1969 has Sherry on the nose again, but this time fabulously clean and precise. Deftly smoked. On the palate it has a dry, oaky start; malty; saltiness shows quite early. Fruit-cake richness. There is lots of oak on the finish with an intense malt: bittersweet and chewy finale. This is a brilliant whisky with great age. 8½ /10 – Jim Murray Whiskey Magazine. Allocated one per person.
Glenrothes 1985 $132.41 SKU 851402 - From BCLDB brochure: Great complexity, offering salty, buttered crumpets and toasted hot cross buns; silky sultanas; the spices begin to bombard as the barley and oak jostle for supremacy; toasty and ever-drying; a lovely old whisky. 43% 88 Points –Whisky Bible
Macallan Fine Oak 21 year old $349.95 SKU 292862 - From BCLDB brochure: An attractive honeyed thread weaves through the oak and grape; some beautiful marmalade off -cuts toys with a ghostly peatiness; oily and sultry with some stiff oak softened by the barley which is yielding and mouth-watering; but the vanilla continues as does the marmalade on toast; by far the richest textured Macallan of all time with a fascinating distant peatiness. 43% 89 Points –Whisky Bible
Macallan Fine Oak 30 year old $975.95 SKU 544098 - From BCLDB brochure: Lots of nose-nipping oaky weight softened by crushed gooseberries and grape; a mild and deeply attractive bourbony character develops delicate spices, there is a quick fl ash of peat and then we are in a custard-sweet world of malty-oaky-grapiness; an improbable finale that is all about barley arm-in-arm with sherry and nut oil. Few whiskies of this maturity are quite so polite regarding the age. 43% 90 Points –Whisky Bible
Dumbarton 40 year old Clan Denny/Douglas & Laing - $288 for 700 ml SKU N694042 - From BCLDB brochure: If you adore sticking your nose in an over-ripe mango, then this is the one for you…some orangey-bourboney notes also bubble up as it oxidizes. Mouth-watering and fresh to start, the soft delivery is fruit accented and a near perfect sweetness. The corn offers enough oil to accept the growing, drier oak. This is a proud grain with no buckling at the knees to oak and a luxurious lift off . 44.1%
LOWLAND
Auchentoshan 21 year old - $159.99 for 750 ml SKU N827188 - scored 89 by Jim Murray in his 2006 Whisky Bible. Sounds light and crisp...good for those who don't like the heavily peated whiskies.
ISLANDS
Talisker 25 year old $309.95 SKU 409441 - From BCLDB brochure: For all its strength, relatively docile and shy with sweet vanilla to the fore and some peek-a-boo smoke and a strand of honey; sweet malt with more than a hint of exotic fruit, and then the most wonderful multiplying of smoke towards the middle, starting off as a suggestion and ending as a statement; oak also arrives in the first nanosecond but is controlled and adds structure; fizzing, buzzing spices on a bed of Old Jamaica fruit chocolate. Soft oils help ensure this is the most faultless of finales. Magical and enchanting. 57.8% 94 Points –Whisky Bible
Arran –Tokaji Aszu Cask $95.00 SKU 403451 In this limited edition bottling the award-winning Isle of Arran single malt was matured over eight years in traditional oak casks and then “finished” (secondary maturation) for a period of seven months in the finest Tokaji-Aszu wine casks sourced directly from Hungary. The influence of these casks on the Arran single malt is stunning with a new depth of sweetness emerging over the classic flavour profile. The aroma is rich and sweet with hints of Seville oranges and apricot preserve. Full-bodied and sweet on the palate cut with the classic Arran citrus notes. The perfect digestif. Try with a selection of soft cheeses. 55%
Islay
Bowmore 18 year old - $114.89 for 750 ml SKU N785832 - Bowmore 18 years with 700 ml. and 43 % Vol. The new release for the 17 years old Bowmore. In the nose with a creamy caramel toffee, with ripe fruit and smoke aromas. The palate is complex, with beautiful soft fruit and chocolate balanced with a light smokiness.
Caol Ila 25 year old $271.55 SKU 410035 - From BCLDB brochure: One of the best noses in many a year thanks to an oaky platform to reach those higher phenolic notes. Wonderful tangerine notes thin out the aroma beautifully; at first light, deft fruit, again to a degree on the citrussy side, then a rumbling, oily procession of peat; a wonderful Caol Ila in so many respects: truly great. Some genuine quality here, make no mistakes. 59.4% 90 Points –Whisky Bible
Bruichladdich Legacy VI $499.99 SKU 364620 - From BCLDB brochure: This is the final release of the Legacy Series. The Legacy bottlings come from some of the oldest and rarest casks from Bruichladdich’s vaults. Unusually, this bottling is not quite what it seems: legally a 34 year old whisky, being the youngest age in the bottle, it is actually a cunning mix of six venerable casks from the 1965, 1970, and 1972 vintages. The Legacy series bows out in style: it’s a suitably special dram, very creamy, all vanilla, crème caramel and butterscotch. Hints of banana, apricot, marzipan, maple syrup, and cinnamon –even pear and mint.
Bruichladdich–Redder Still La Fleur 1984 $299.99 SKU 789693 - From BCLDB brochure: Flavours of red cherry, pear, pomegranate, red pepper, cinnamon, ginger, plum and raisin. Released as a follow-up to “Blacker Still.” Matured in Bourbon casks for 22 years and then in rare Chateau Allure Pomerol Bordeaux wine casks. Deep red colour–exquisite, rich, dry, fruity flavours.
Orkney
Highland Park 25 year old $289.95 SKU 500249 - From BCLDB brochure: Highland Park 25 year old is an outstanding malt whisky imbued with richly satisfying qualities. Here, the very essence of Orkney is distilled–the peat, the sea breezes, the heather honey. These are allowed to mature until it has reached an unqualified perfection. There’s an exceptional finesse with additional dimensions of malty toffee, fudge and chocolate enriching the heather honey sweetness and aromatic peatiness. It is universally acclaimed, by the critics, as one of the great single malts. 93/100–Michael Jackson’s Malt Whisky Companion 5th Edition
campbeltown
Springbank Marsala Cask $149.99 SKU 807735 - From BCLDB brochure: On the nose, sugar and spice and all things nice! Rich, sweet and syrupy. Crème caramel, coffee creams and rum and raisin. Forget dessert, just have this instead! Thick and rich on the palate, the sweetness from the nose develops and stays at the front of your tongue. Hints of fruit and nut chocolate. There is a long and lingering finish. The Marsala and Springbank compliment each other without either being too dominant. A perfect balance!
Other
Johnnie Walker Blue Anniversary $4835.80 SKU 915264 - From BCLDB brochure: On the nose, even at full strength, this whisky is soft and mellow with subtle hints of rich fruit. Tasted at full strength or with a splash of water, intense, mouth-warming flavours unfold: rich raisins, chocolate, honey and orange zest. There is an impression of autumn: ripe fruits, hazelnuts, fallen leaves and smoke. The finish is long and balanced with hints of smoke and lingering oak. This is a gentle giant of a whisky. Total production: 4000 bottles. Cask strength: 61% Allocated one per person.
Smokehead $64.95 SKU 819318 - From BCLDB brochure: Smoky tea, ashiness like a fire grate on the nose, a little fruitiness, like black grapes on the palate with some sweetness too and a herb character (almost basil, but not quite). Finish with lots of smoke, masking a fruitiness. That Lapsang Souchong character is distinctive. Attractive youth, resolutely smoky but with a class. 9/10 – Arthur Motley Whiskey Magazine
For the beer lovers (and from the CAMRA newsletter):
Viti 900 Seymour Street, Vancouver noon - 11:00pm daily
New from Tree Brewing: Introducing the Winter Character 8 Pack - This season, we have created limited seasonal edition packaging of the one of our most popular sellers. The Winter Character 8 Pack showcases a beautiful winter scene and the micro-brew line up inside is sure to surprise and delight beer lovers. Included are Spy Porter, Cutthroat Pale Ale, Kelowna Pilsner and Rebel Original German Lager. Also, now on store shelves you'll find the limited edition Midwinter Spiced Ale available only in 650ml bottles. These limited edition products are now available at Liquor Stores and Cold Beer & Wine Stores across BC and Alberta. (If you don’t see it at your local store, please ask for it by name.)
December 2007
Seasonal Beers are here!!
Big Rock Variety Pack 12x341ml at $21.95;
Binchoise Speciale Noël 330ml bottle for $3.25;
Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout 330ml bottle for $2.60;
Fuller's 2007 Vintage Ale 500ml bottle for $6.99;
Granville Island Merrymonks Doppelbock 650ml bottle for $4.90;
Granville Island Winter Mingler 12x341ml for $20.75;
Howe Sound Father John's Winter Ale 1 L bottle for $7.95;
Mill Street Original Organic Lager 12x200ml for $10.99;
Nelson Faceplant Winter Ale 6x341ml for $10.83;
Nelson Faceplant Winter Ale cans 6x355ml for $10.95;
R&B Auld Nick Winter Ale 650ml bottle for $4.65;
Shaftebury Winter Nights Black & Tan 6x341ml bottles for $9.95;
Shaftebury Winter Solstice Ale 6x341ml for $7.85;
Tree Jack in the Bock, Midwinter Spiced Ale 650ml bottle for $4.95
Tree Winter Character Pack 8x330ml bottles for $14.20;
Unibroue Variety Collection 12x341ml bottles for $23.95;
Wychwood Hobgoblin shirt & bottle gift set 500ml bottle for $10.50
Alexander Keith's pack (12 IPA, 3 Red) 15x341ml for $28.75;
Big Rock Espresso gift pack (4 + 2 glasses) 4x341ml for $14.30;
Granville Island Merry Monks Doppelbock 650ml for $5.65;
Granville Island Winter Mingler 12x341ml for $24.65;
Mill Street Coffee Porter 6x341ml for $14.90;
Nelson Organic Wild Honey Authentic Ale 6x341ml for $11.95;
Phillips Instigator Doppelbock 650ml for $6.00;
R&B Auld Nick Winter Ale 650ml for $5.35;
Unibroue Collection Pack 12x341ml for $28.25;
Warsteiner verum keg 5L for $28.95;
Zeliv Castulus Mead Abbey Ale 330ml for $2.95.
Viti, 900 Seymour Street, Vancouver, noon - 11:00pm daily
Fuller's Vintage Ale;
Kelowna Double Chocolate Ale;
La Binchoise Special Noel;
McAuslan Premium Taster Pack (3x St-Ambroise Pale Ale, 3x Griffon Red Ale, 3x Griffon Extra Pale Ale, 3x St-Ambroise Apricot Wheat Ale);
Phillips Grand Barley Wine;
R&B Auld Nick Winter Ale;
Sleeman's Fine Porter.
August 2008
Brewery Creek 3045 Main Street, Vancouver
11:00am - 11:00pm daily
The shelves are slowly getting filled and the decorating completed in the new, expanded Brewery Creek. Just in is Augustijn (Jeroboam); Bard's Tale Dragon's Gold (gluten free); Brasserie de Silenieux Joseph; Brooklyner-Schneider Hopfen-Weisse; De Block Satan Gold, Satan Red; De Troch Chapeau Abricot, Chapeau Faro, Chapeau Kriek, Chapeau Oud Gueuze Cuvee, Chapeau Pêche; Green Flash Barleywine, Hop Head Red Ale (six-pack), Imperial IPA, Trippel, West Coast IPA (six-pack); Gulden Draak (Magnum); Hook Norton Double Stout; Oud Beersel Oude Kriek Vielle, Oude Geuze Vielle; Rogue American Amber, Dead Guy (growler); Schneider-Brooklyner Hopfen-Weisse; Thomas Hardy Ale 2006 (call for availability); Vanhonsebrouck St. Louis Premium Faro, St. Louis Premium Framboise, St. Louis Gueuze, St. Louis Premium Kriek.
Viti 900 Seymour Street, Vancouver
noon - 11:00pm daily
Bard's Tale Dragon's Gold (gluten free); Brasserie de Silenieux Joseph, Sara; Cooper's Vintage Ale; De Block Satan Gold, Satan Red; Hook Norton Double Stout; Oud Beersel Oude Kriek Vielle; Pike Extra Stout; Schneider-Brooklyner Hopfen-Weisse; Thomas Hardy Ale (call for availability); Tin Whistle Killer Bee, Peaches 'N Cream; Vanhonsebrouck St. Louis Faro, Gueuze. Restocks: Asahi (growler); Augustijn (Jeroboam); Gulden Draak (Magnum); Historic Ales of Scotland (four-pack); Lindeman's Framboise, Kriek; Rogue American Amber (growler), Brutal Bitter, Chipotle, Dad's Little Helper, Juniper, Kell's Irish, Mocha Porter, Morimoto Black Obi, Morimoto Imperial Pilsner, Morimoto Soba, Smoke, Younger's Special Bitter, XS IPA.
July, 2008
Well, what can we say. BCLDB is finally stocking Magellan Gin!! Quite possibly the world's best gin SKU 523951, $49.99 for 750 ml. There aren't many bottles, so get yours soon!
For single Malts, there are three new ones to try:
Glenfiddich 21 yo Gran Reserva ($132.99 for 750 ml, SKU 638627)
Arran Pineau des Charentes Cask Finish ($100 for 750 ml, SKU 547679)
Arran Sassicaia Cask Finish ($100 for 700 ml, SKU 072900)
The Alibi Room has a new selection of beer in from the Island. From Longwood, Nigel brought back Alt, Imperial Stout, and Schwarzbier; there's Spinnaker's Hefeweizen, Iceberg Strong Pale Ale, and Nut Brown Ale; and from Swans, Berry Ale, Extra I.P.A., and Smooth Sailing Honey Ale. I'm hoping Nigel may be able to get ahold of some Fernie's What the Huck limited release huckleberry wheat ale; it's only available in kegs. Otherwise, you'll only find it in the East Kootenays.
Viti
900 Seymour Street, Vancouver
noon - 11:00pm daily
Anchor Liberty Ale, Asahi in glass growlers, and Mort Subite Kriek. Restocks of the whole Brooklyn and Rogue lines are also in.
St. Regis Fine Wines & Spirits ( 604-331-6018), 30 - 678 Dunsmuir St, Vancouver, BC.
St Regis Liquors famous in Vancouver for providing award winning, outstanding and diverse wines and spirits, now stocks Russia's Smoothest Export Ikon True Russian Vodka for all of their martini perfectionist who love Ikon's smooth true Russian taste and purity. So explore for yourself St. Regis Liquors and discover for yourself a true Russian vodka which was rated BTI Best Buy, between the covers of playboy and playgirl magazine, featured on the fine live channel and poured by discerning drinkers and bartenders around the world.
Yaletown's Cassiopeia Wit and Raspberry Wheat are their latest seasonals -- both dry and crisp. Granville Island has switched over to their Whitecap IPA. However, it has a tendency to run out, so I recommend calling (604.687.2739) before you go if that is the sole intention of your visit. Dix now has a Hefeweizen to refresh your summer thirst -- plenty of brewer's yeast for a healthy dose of B vitamins.
Brewery Creek
3045 Main Street, Vancouver
11:00am - 11:00pm daily
Coopers Premium Lager, Vintage Ale; Pyramid Crystal Wheat.
The Met Hotel Liquor Store
411 Columbia Street, New Westminster
Sun-Thurs: 10:00am-10:00pm, Fri & Sat: 10:00am-11:00pm
Ayinger Altbairisch Dunkel, Celebrator Doppelbock; Chimay Red, White, Blue; Piraat; Rogue Chipotle ale, Dad's Little Helper, Spruce Gin.
June, 2008
Here’s what’s new at the Brewery Creek Beer & Wine Store,
3045 Main Street, Vancouver
11:00am - 11:00pm daily
Dead Frog Lager
Dead Frog Pale Ale
Dead Frog Nut Brown
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Sierra Nevada Stout
Sierra Nevada Porter
Sierra Nevada Wheat
Central City Lager
Central City Walley’s Wheat
Central City Pale Ale
He’Brew Messiah Brown
Rogue Dad’s Malt Liquor
Rogue American Amber in Growlers (1.89L)
Brooklyner-Schneider Hopen-Weisse
And new at the liquor store......well. if you are a tequila fan....you will be happy!
Cabo Wabo Uno (SKU N265579), 750 ml for $250
Corazon Reposado (SKU N866368), 750 ml for $90
Corzo Silver (SKU N772236), 750 ml for $90
Don Julio 1942 (SKU N291237), 750 ml for $149
Don Julio Resposado (SKU N698621) 750 ml for $80
Milagro Single Barrel Resposado (SKU N786442), 750 ml for $100
Patron Gran Burdeos Anejo (SKU N113183), 750 ml for $600
Nice to see some higher end tequila.....now if they would just bring in some high end gin for me!!
May 2008
Sorry for missing April. There was nothing exciting to report.
For May, we are pleased to let you know of a reasonably rare whisky available at the Granville Liquor Store, at
2658 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3H8 (604)-731-2669. It is a Bruichladdich special bottling - Celtic Nations. It is not available at BCLDB. Granville Liquor Store is selling it for about $85. For details on why it is so special please click here.
If you are pining for more Caol Isla, there are 2 bottles of the CAOL ILA WILSON & MORGAN - 15 Y.O. CASK STRENGTH - in Cranbrook!
For the 25 year old, your travel distance is shorter - as of May 8 there were three bottles at the 39th & Cambie store, and one in Surrey!
The 50-year old Macallan is also still available at the 39th & Cambie LS...for a small sum ($7,799)
Brewery Creek
3045 Main Street, Vancouver
11:00am - 11:00pm daily
Asahi Black; Pyramid Apricot Hefeweizen, Thunderhead IPA.
JUST IN at Brewery Creek:
Pyramid Hefeweizen
Pyramid Imperial Hefeweizen (limited)
Firefly
2857 Cambie Street, Vancouver
9:00am - 11:00pm daily
On Friday, May 9, from 4:00-7:00pm, there will be a Central City tasting of their Red Racer Pale Ale, Springboard Premium Lager, and Wally's Wheat. These are now available in mixed six packs with two of each.
Viti
900 Seymour Street, Vancouver
noon - 11:00pm daily
Central City mixed six pack; Lindemans Framboise, Kriek; Melbourne Brothers Apricot; Pike Naughty Nellie Golden Ale.
In addition to their ginger cream ale, Steamworks now has their 40%-wheat Hefeweizen on -- classic Bavarian; tasty and refreshing.
For those of you who may have caught Garrett Oliver's visit last August, you may remember the cask of Brooklyn Blast! that R & B was able to wrassle across the border for a Garrett groupie gathering at The Whip. It's baaaaaaaaaaack. Boneta has a keg of it on tap right now. Now that we have finally been told about it, it will likely go quickly. So don't delay. Who knows when it will be back, if at all as its from Brooklyn's Brewmasters Reserve.
Big Ridge will be putting on their new seasonal tomorrow. It's called Premium Gold -- a 5.2% golden ale, mildly hoppy, slightly fruity and spicy, with low, English-style carbonation. Tariq has also made some cask versions of this summer ale, so expect to see them around town.
Steamworks has now switched over both of their seasonals. Conrad's Ipanema Wit is back -- ideal for the warm weather whenever it decides to show itself. (Note that the staff are wont to put a wedge of lemon on the rim. You can save them the trouble and wastage by informing the server when you order to hold the lemon. Try having the Wit with a salad or calamari and you'll find out why you don't need the lemon.) The second seasonal is a Belgian-style Dubbel.
March 2008
I am pleased to see some new whiskies at BCLDB....although they all seem to be of the sweeter sherry cask type - we want more peat!!!
At BCLDB:
Glenmorangie Lasanta (750 ml) $78.99 SKU
817346 - Apparently Lasanta is Gaelic for warmth and passion. It is a
10-year-old Scotch matured for two more years in used sherry casks.
The Official Product Description from
Glenmorangie The sun scorched plains of Jerez de la Frontera in
Andalucia, southern Spain, produce the sensually smooth, creamy sherry
for which the area is famous. Sherry casks that retain the warmth and
nutty flavours of this fortified wine are imported to the Scottish
Highlands by Glenmorangie where they are filled with Original single
malt whisky until it takes on the delicate nuances of taste and a rich
golden russet clarity. From the Royal Mile Whiskies web site:
One of the new era of Glenmorangie bottlings, in a smart new bottle.
This has been 'extra-matured' in ex-sherry casks. Now unchillfiltered
and bottled at 46% Well rated by Whisky Fringers, and as with previous
bottlings the sherry character is not dominant, but balanced.
Glenmorangie Nectar D'Or (750 ml)
$86.99 SKU 169581 - Extra-matured in casks that previously held
Sauternes and released in September 2007. The Ofificial Product
Description from Glenmorangie
The Bordeaux vineyards of south western France lend their grand heritage
to Nectar D'or through Glenmorangie's use of Sauternes wine barriques to
'finish' The Original single malt whisky. Infused with the signature
honey, citrus and spice aroma of the Sauternes dessert wine that lingers
in the wooden casks, the result is a whisky of exquisite sophistication
and complexity. The resultant elixir takes on the pale, lemony, gold
transparency and honeyed taste that inspired it's name.
Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban (750 ml) $79.99
SKU 405084 - From the Whiskey Exchange web site: After much
hoo-hah and being sworn to secrecy (and I think we were the only people
who took that seriously, but you live and learn), Ladies & Gentlemen let
us present to you...(drum roll)...The Whisky Formerly Known As
Glenmorangie Port Wood Finish. In a fancy new bottle. The Official
Product Description from Glenmorangie:
Enjoy the bouquet of Quinta Ruban for the first time and be immediately
transported to the Mediterranean landscape of a Portuguese Quinta where
to escape the searing heat of the vineyard you take refuge in the dark,
cool cellars of the great port wine houses of the Douro valley. Still
resonating with the rich, velvety aroma of ruby port, Glenmorangie ships
Portuguese barrels to serve as further maturation for The Original,
imprinting the spirit with a lingering chocolatey mint aroma and ruby
glow. From the Royal Mile Whiskies web
site: Glenmorangie finished, ahem, I mean 'extra-matured' in port
casks. Now bottled unchillfiltered at 46% Of the new releases which
debuted at Whisky Fringe, this was the most popular and won quite a few
votes in the Spirit of the Fringe competition. The most heavily finished
of the new bottlings.
Glenkinchie 12 year old - (750 ml) $69.95 SKU 628636 - A replacement for the soon-to-be discontinued 10 Year Old. The distiller's say this version is 'richer, fuller' and the notes certainly sound like it has an extra creaminess over the 10. Official Tasting Notes: Appearance: Bright Gold; Nose: Very aromatic and flowery overall, like breathing in a country garden. Noticeable vanilla, cut flowers and beneath these, a clean, toasty note. Becomes increasingly sweet and creamy, with a lightly aromatic edge and fresh citrus, which all brings to mind lemon cheesecake. Water makes it still more creamy and scented.; Body: Light, smooth.; Palate: A sweet, soft start, like crème anglaise, soon becoming flowery again. A really smooth delivery, especially after adding a drop of water. The mid-palate is crisp and then the flavour settles into a tightly focused bundle of butter-icing, lemon cheesecake and freesias.; Finish: Herbal and drying slightly, as if it were pot-pourri.
Macallan Lalique II (750 ml) $12,000 (no,
it is not a typo!) SKU 588699. You can bet there is only one bottle in
BC! See Dipsophilia's write up on Macallan whiskies
here.
There are also two new Asian Spirits at BCLDB:
Chu Yeh Ching Chiew (375 ml) $17.84 SKU
636811 - this is a special ancient liquor made from
traditional Chinese herbal recipe. It has transparent golden and slight
green colour, and intense floral herbal aromas of dried apricot. It’s
off dry with a hint of anise and packs a lengthy finish. Chu Yeh Ching
Chiew (zhu ye qing jiu) is a liquor in the category of gin, absinthe and
chartreuse, says another site; they take a raw spirit and infuse it with
Chinese botanicals.
Guizhou Moutai Chiew - Flying Fairy (375 ml) $62.34 SKU 044537 - can't find any information except it is a herbal liquor??? Any info on this product - please email us!
From CAMRA Newsletter:
New Beer Arrivals/Restocks
Steamworks' current seasonals are Espresso Grand Stout, Pilsener, and Roggenweizen. Taylor's Crossing will be switching over their seasonal by St. Patrick's Day to a Strong Scotch Ale (6.5%); those who may have missed the ESB can expect a reprise in a cask at TC or DIX. Vern Lambourne's Granville Island Killarney Stout (the 'official beer of Celticfest') is now at the Tap Room on GI or in stores in 650ml bottles -- just in time for St. Patrick's Day! A lamentable development is the price of Flying Dog beer -- it's been raised by the importer and now costs over $19 per six pack retail!!
Brewery Creek
3045 Main Street, Vancouver
11:00am - 11:00pm daily
Seattle's Pike Brewing "Pike Pale Heirloom Amber Ale" (6x355 ml)
Denver's Flying Dog "Snake Dog IPA" (6x355 ml)
Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock (4 pack),
Greens Gluten Free Endeavour, Gluten Free Discovery;
Half Pints (Winnipeg!) Burley Wine,
Little Scrapper IPA,
Stir Stix Stout, The Father, The Son, The Holy Spirit.
Anchor Porter -- $16.00/6x355ml;
Ayinger Celebrator Dopplebock (4 pack);
Brooklyn Monster Barleywine -- $4.10/355ml,
Winter Ale -- $2.90/355ml;
Gulden Draak -- $3.90/330ml;
Lost Coast Downtown Brown, Great White Wheat, Indica IPA -- $15.90/6x355ml;
Traquair House Scottish Ale -- $4.70/330ml.
En route (hopefully arriving Thursday): Ayinger Celebrator Dopplebock 6.7% ABV, Bräu-Weisse 5.1% ABV, Ur-Weisse 5.8% ABV, Jahrhundert-Bier 5.5% ABV; Schneider Aventinus Doppelbock; Belgian fruit lambics
February 2008
There are no new whiskies, gins or vodkas at BCLDB this month. And no new beers to mention. The following is from our friends at CAMRA:
Brewery Creek
January 2008
Brewery Creek 3045 Main Street, Vancouver
Viti 900 Seymour Street, Vancouver
September 2008
The latest additions to the Alibi Room lineup:
* Brooklyn Blast: arrives Thursday
* Longwood Imperial Stout; followed by ESB
* Mission Springs Batch 400: on this week
* Spinnakers Blue Bridge Anniversary Ale
* Swans Extra IPA
Note: Lost Coast Indica IPA is gone.
Brewery Creek, 3045 Main Street, Vancouver, 11:00am - 11:00pm daily
Gerry informs me he is
expecting Moylan's to arrive by Thursday --
Hopsickle Imperial IPA, regular IPA, and Paddy's
Irish Red. Call, though, if you are only going there
for those.
Anderson Valley Boont Amber Ale, Barney Flats
Oatmeal Stout, Belk's ESB, Hop Ottin' IPA; Bear
Republic Big Bear Black Stout, Hop Rod Rye,
Racer 5 IPA, Red Rocket Amber Ale; Moylan's
Moylan's Danny's Irish Style Red Ale, Hopsickle
Imperial Ale, Kilt Lifter Scotch Ale, Old
Blarney Barleywine, Ryan O'Sullivans Imperial
Stout, Tipperary Pale Ale; North Coast Brother
Thelonius, Le Merle Saison, Old Rasputin Russian
Imperial Stout, Old Stock Ale, Pranqster, Red
Seal Ale; Pyramid Broken Rake; Russell BC Lions
Lager; Sacramento Brewing Red Horse Ale;
Salzburger Stiegl Lager.
Firefly, 2857 Cambie Street, Vancouver, 10:00am - 11:00pm daily
Asahi Super Dry (mini six-pack); De Block Satan Gold, Satan Red; Leute Bokbier; Lindemans Peche Lambic; Oud Beersel Oude Kriek Vielle, Oude Geuze Vielle; St. Sylvestre Gavroche; Samuel Smith Nut Brown, Oatmeal Stout, Taddy Porter; Silenieux Joseph (organic); Thomas Hardy Ale 2006 (call for availability); Vanhonsebrouck St. Louis Premium Faro. Anderson Valley Boont Amber Ale, Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout, Belk's ESB, Hop Ottin' IPA; Bear Republic Big Bear Black Stout, Racer 5 IPA, Red Rocket Amber Ale; Moylan's Moylan's Danny's Irish Style Red Ale, Hopsickle Imperial Ale, Kilt Lifter Scotch Ale, Old Blarney Barleywine, Ryan O'Sullivans Imperial Stout, Tipperary Pale Ale; North Coast Red Seal Ale; Russell BC Lions Lager.
Viti, 900 Seymour Street, Vancouver, noon - 11:00pm daily
Cannery Anarchist Amber Ale, Blackberry Porter, Naramata Nut Brown; Green Flash Barleywine, Hop Head Red Ale (six-pack), Imperial IPA, Trippel, West Coast IPA (six-pack); Lindemans Peche Lambic; Oud Beersel Oude Geuze Vielle; Phillips Longboat Double Chocolate Porter; Rogue Chocolate Stout; Samuel Smith Nut Brown, Oatmeal Stout, Taddy Porter. Arriving Wednesday: Anderson Valley: Boont ESB, Hop Ottin' IPA; Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye, Racer 5 IPA; Eugene City Brewery 100m Ale, Track Town IPA; Lost Coast Tangerine Wheat; North Coast Old Rasputin Imperial Stout; Rogue Dead Guy (growler), Double Dead Guy.
November 2008
The BCLDB have launched another single malt whisky release - November 1, 2008 was the kick-off date.
Featuring whiskies of interest for the collector as well as the whisky novice, the selection includes aged malt
whiskies, vintage releases, unique and limited cask offerings and a variety finished in casks from some of
the most esteemed wineries.
Recommended by Dipsophilia......the Highland Park 30 is phenomenal! If you are a fan of the 18 yo, you'll love the 30 year old. Also we recommend the Port Ellen....although you can get it for almost half that price at the New Brunswick government run liquor stores.....yup - we are gouged!
Here's the listing:
CHIVAS REGAL 25 YEAR OLD
Elegantly smooth and perfectly balanced, its rich character yields an abundance of flavour and aromas. Nose: Enticing fruity aromas of sweet orange and peach, followed by notes of marzipan and nuts. Palate: Hints of rich milk chocolate orange and a fondant creaminess. Finish: Smooth, rounded and luxuriously long. 102715 $321.95
BALVENIE 17 YEAR SHERRY WOOD LIMITED EDITION
Rated 8/10 – David Broom, Whisky Magazine – “Nose: Chocolate covered raisins, dried fruit. Heavily sherried. Varnish, black banana and toffee apple. Shows some power…Palate: Sweet start, melting dark chocolate. Firm enough grip which slightly mutes the mid palate and hides the sweetness behind. Finish: Long mixing light spice, dried fruit, drying tannin and a nutty honeyed note. Ultimately dry.” 667303 $119.99
BALVENIE 21 YEAR PORT WOOD
Rated 9/10 – Michael Jackson, Whisky Magazine – “Nose: Perfumey. Passion fruit. Nutty. Marzipan. Palate: Rich. Complex. Honeyed, creamy, winey, aniseed, almonds. Finish: Long, cedary, dryish. A wonderful digestif. Comment: The full, honeyed, richness of the malt combines beautifully with what seems to be a generous kiss of port.” 598573 $159.99
BALVENIE 30 YEAR OLD
92 points – Jim Murray, Whiskey Bible – “A fusion of fruits from grape to pears, all topped off with smoke and a hint of tiring oak; stand-your-spoon-in-the-stuff proportions and seasoned with a hint of spice; the oak which threatens on the nose erupts slightly on the finish, but still the malt offers an intensity that softens the blow; Balvenie is a rare Speysider that by and large manages to handle encroaching age with ease up to this type of vintage.” 584607 $454.99
BRORA 25 YEAR OLD
A very engaging, unusually subtle Brora that is savoury, slightly citric, and drying- an incredible journey from initial aromatic dryness, through oily sweetness and back again. Nose: . restrained and light, quickly developing wood-ash and citrus notes. Underpinning this, honey, dried fruit and marzipan… With water, immediately more floral and fragrant; as with dried flowers. A waxy note develops, becoming more fruity and scented. Palate: Attractively teeth-coating, oily and waxy taste, with light vanilla sweetness. Develops traces of smoke over nutty, sandy base notes. Drying, with more earthy tones in development…Warming overall, and quite vigorous. Drinks well straight. Finish: Medium length, considerably drying. Late smoky and herbal notes give way to resins and an oaky dryness. 683136 One bottle limit $479.95
CLYNELISH DISTILLERS EDITION
Nose: Immediate raisins and rum, dried orange peel. In time a clean walnut crispness appears. Water makes it softer, dried cherry, sultana, apricot and some honey. There’s still a slightly piercing quality – tangerine and chocoate. Body: Silky soft Palate: Very sweet with plumped up dried fruit/Sultana cake with thick butter and underneath a bowl of nuts; hazelnut and macadamia. A slightly salty quality cutting through the unctuous texture, finishing with a hint of nut-shell bitterness. 520197 $122.95
EDRADOUR 1983 24 YEAR OLD PORT WOOD FINISH
Matured: 19.5 years maturation in plain oak hogshead, followed by 4.5 years in a freshly dumped Port pipe. Notes: beautifully pinkish in color, the nose create a high expectation. Soft, delicate but complex on the palate, this whisky follows through with a very smooth long lasting finish. 763391 $333.00
GLENFARCLAS 15 YEAR OLD
95 points – Jim Murray, Whiskey Bible – “…intensity of the fruit and sugar-rich barley, there is an element of medium ester Jamaican pot still rum to this, a feeling intensified by an orangeyoak influence that seems greater than 15 years. The top-shelf sherry, though, is of a classical type rarely found these days, though common 30 years ago; succulent and stupendous. Barley sugar shows first then a sherry input that borders on intense but dissipates as the spicy oak digs in; long, chewy, a tad oily and fades with a wonderful coffee-vanilla combination and a late surge of something bourbony; Eureka! The 15 year old back to how I can remember it in the past… The quality of the sherry is astonishing; its interaction with the barley is a wondrous joy.” 828871 $86.90
GLENFIDDICH 30 YEAR OLD
Rated 8.5/10 – Michael Jackson, Whisky Magazine – “Nose: Notes of sherry, fruit, chocolate, and ginger. Palate: Sherry, raisins, chocolate, ginger. Quite luxurious. Finish: Unhurried, with chocolatey notes and gingery dryness. Comment: Salient house characteristics, especially the chocolate, at their boldest and most sustained.” 590554 $257.99
GLENGOYNE 21 YEAR OLD 1ST FILL SHERRY MATURED
93 points – Jim Murray, Whiskey Bible – “heavy, nutty, oily, slightly sweaty and not entirely faultless. When warmed the full, brooding oloroso gamut comes into play… much sweeter arrival than you might have thought possible from the nose, and less sticky too. The richness of the oloroso coats every crevice and a playful spice teases…not dissimilar to an excellent Demerara rum on the finish with no shortagee of coffee-tinted roasty notes on the death…the nose at first is not overly promising, but it settles at it warms and what follows on the palate is at times glorious. Few whiskies will match this for its bitter-sweet depth which is pure textbook.” 501270 $129.95
GLENMORANGIE ASTAR
It is a rich, silky and creamy malt. Savour these intriguing flavours, first at 100° proof, for a rich, toffee and crème-brulee aroma, balanced with a sweet elegance. With water, the luscious sweetness and delicious flavors of pineapple, coconut and almond are revealed, while the taste remains exceptionally well-rounded and balanced. 784900 $117.95
Glenmorangie Signet
Signet is created from a secret combination of the oldest and rarest Glenmorangie whiskies and from precious ingredients including high roasted ‘chocolate’ malted barley. This imparts depth and intensity to the spirit. Non chill-filtered, there is a rich colour and velvety texture, derived from the maturation that glides across the palate. The results are sublime! 502914 $268.80
GLENMORANGIE THE QUARTER CENTURY
92 points – Jim Murray, Whiskey Bible – “…complex, multilayered oak segmented by barley of varying sweetness… massive delivery with a threat of OTT oak dispelled by nuggets of lightly sweetened cocoa and soft barley serenade; chocolate honeycomb that must have taken every bee in Scotland to produce, as this goes on for a very long time; one of those great whiskies where the genius that shaped the picture becomes clear only on fifth or six time of viewing.” 201228 One bottle limit $520.70
GLENROTHES VINTAGE 1978
The Glenrothes 1978 Vintage has been voted the “Best Speyside Single Malt” at the World Whiskies Awards 2008, organised by Whisky Magazine. Rob Allanson from the Whisky Magazine describes the 1978 Vintage as having “bags of oranges and plenty of mint. Deliciously floral and thoroughly Glenrothes.” 237933 $399.95
MACALLAN FINE OAK 25 YEAR OLD
94 points – Jim Murray, Whiskey Bible – “…probably the first Macallan since ‘46 to show such little shyness with peat, though here it is more fleeing; the second wave is proud, clean sherry. The third is vanilla ice-cream with pears and peaches; the forth is pure bourbon…the oak offers a framework in which the sherry thrives while the barley punches its weight; an assortment of fruit also make an entrance as does an almost underground spiciness; back to vanilla for the undetectable touchdown…the blenders have obviously worked overtime on
this: what a star!” 191460 $549.95
ROYAL LOCHNAGAR DISTILLERS EDITION
The color is gold and the aromatic nose is marked by (slightly smoked) malted barley and by yeasts. The palate is elegant and smooth and confirms the malted hints of the nose. The finish is salted and sweet-bitter. 196378 $119.95
THE GLENLIVET 16 YEAR OLD NADURRA
94 points – Jim Murray, Whiskey Bible – “…caramelised ginger wrapped in bitter chocolate; enveloping, spellbinding, shocking…an immediate outbreak of Deremara sugar before the tastebuds are crept up on by stealthy malt and coshed by a voluptuous outbreak of Fox’s ginger chocolate biscuits; the middle arrival of faintly chilli-ish spice combines beautifully with the warming ginger; lengthier and with more ginger…in some respects one of the sweetest single malts of all time. It would be too sweet altogether except for a balancing ginger-led spice attack that drags the oak into action.” 290940 $86.95
GLEN FLAGER 1973
Rated 7.5 /10 – Dave Broom, Whisky Magazine – “Nose: Light and toasty with notes of fizzy orange drink, as well as some malt and floral notes. Palate: Gentle and nutty. Fine boned with decent grip. Finish: Medium length. Nutty. Comment: And another one bites the dust. Shame to see it go.” 97964 One bottle limit $1,246.62
GLENKINCHIE DISTILLERS EDITION
Complex with astonishing balance between sweet and dry. Firmer, drier notes from soft vanillins and crisp grape; sweeter, nuttier ones from malted barley and cask wood. Body: Firm, light to medium. Palate: Dry, biscuity-sweetness and broad malt character contrasts with the fruitiness of the grape. Finish: Long, dry, oaky with faint peppery notes adding spice. Caramel softens the sweet, dry nose, enormous malt palate, and long oaky, dry finish – the second maturation develops Glenkinchie’s enticing character. 244103 $112.95
ARDBEG AIRIGH NAM BEIST
A limited expression from very rare and finite whisky stocks. The Airigh Nam Beist tastes distinctively different from Uigeadail and the Ardbeg 10 year old. Color: Straw gold. Aroma: Smoky, ice cream, fennel, pine nuts and zesty limes. Taste: Peppery, oily mouthfeel, maple syrup, smoky bacon with some vanilla, smoked meats and barbeque spices. Finish: Zesty, smoky and intriguing. 51482 Two bottle limit $126.95
ARDBEG BLASDA
With peating level tamed to an average of only 8 parts per million, BLASDA unmasks the delicious sweetness of sherbet vanilla, chocolate lines and the ethereal floral fragrance that is inherent in all expressions of ARDBEG. Taming the peat and ‘chill-filtered,’ some might say we have challenged ARDBEG’S most sacred truths. But when the result is so light sweet and delicious, can you blame us? 830786 Two bottle limit $125.60
BOWMORE BLACK 1964
97 Points – John Hansell, Malt Advocate Magazine – “It consists of five casks, distilled November 5, 1964, 42 years old and 40.5% ABV. It’s from the same distillation (and stored in the same casks in the same warehouse) as the original three Black Bowmore whiskies. These are also the last of the Black Bowmore casks. There will be no more after this. The total yield is 827 bottles. In short, this is one of the most fascinating whiskies I have ever tasted! What I think impresses me most is how the whisky evolves. On the nose and palate, this is thick, viscous, whisky, with notes of sticky toffee, earthy oak, fig cake, roasted nuts, fallen fruit, pancake batter, black cherry, ripe peach, dark chocolate covered espresso bean, polished leather, tobacco, a hint of wild game and lingering, leafy damp kiln smoke. Flavors continue on the palate long after swallowing. This is what we all hope for in an older whisky!” 164459 One bottle limit $4,499.99
Bruichladdich 1970 35 YEAR OLD 125th ANNIVERSARY
Nose: Wow! At this age no whisky should be so intensely aromatic, it’s incredible. Nectarine, cantaloupe, honeydew, pawpaw, passion fruit, mango and guava all seem to have come together in a starburst of soft fruit. The mellowness of the American oak surrounds and embraces the fruit. Palate: Full bodied, full flavoured, well matured, mellow, generous with a rich raciness and the oak leading strong and trustworthy. The Islay maturation has also added a fresh citrus element which brings a sherbet fizz to the taste. Its single malt serendipity – the finish goes on and on. 578864 One bottle limit $439.99
Bruichladdich
The Bruichladdich First Growth series is a unique limited edition range that promotes the artisanal craft skills of the distiller, the wine maker and the cooper. It comprises a range of 16 year old Bruichladdich matured originally in American oak bourbon casks, with additional maturation in quality French oak casks used to mature one of the First Growth French Medoc or Premier Cru Supérieur Sauternes. This exclusive series allows the opportunity to contrast and compare the flavour influences these select wines and premium oak casks impart into the whisky, and at the same time pays homage to the Scotch whisky’s heritage as French wine casks were used for maturation long before sherry, port, Madeira and bourbon casks.
First Growth Range
16 YEAR OLD HAUT BRION 442293 $119.99
16 YEAR OLD LATOUR 952739 $119.99
16 YEAR OLD MARGAUX 218792 $119.99
16 YEAR OLD YQUEM 224204 $119.99
FINLAGGAN old reserve
94 points – Jim Murray, Whiskey Bible – “…big breakfast fruitiness, plus nuts and chocolate. What a start…fat mouth arrival, more chocolate and…oh, peat, lashings of it; back to fruit again, then a chocolate mousse; all interlocked by peat. Brillant; this is simply awesome. Someone has had access to one or two of the best casks the east coast of Islay has to offer. If you don’t get a bottle of this, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.” 752311 $64.95
LAGAVULIN DISTILLERS EDITION
Nose: Intense peat and vanilla. A raisiny sweetness checks the smoke, iodine-edged peat and crisp, roasty malt. Satisfying and enticing. Body: Full rich. Palate: Sweet and luscious; clear, grassy malt, then the peat attacks, smoke filling the mouth. A very salty tang at one point; the middle offers coffee and vanilla with a glimmer of fruit. Finish: Incredibly long, even for Islay. Fruit, peat, and long-lasting oak. Very chewable and more-ish. 449348 $159.95
LAPHROAIG OLD & RARE 20 YEAR OLD DOUGLAS LAING
Each bottle has it’s own numbered certificate one of 120 only! With a rich and golden colour in the glass, it carries an equally rich and full flavoured Islay nose with balanced smoke and coastal aromas of soft tar, iodine, rock pools, seaweed and “Arbroath Smokies”. The palate essentially replicates the nose with the expected Islay phenolic traits initially but displays incredibly sweet bonfire ashes later. The finish is long, smoky, still oceanic and still rather sweet. 753467 $360.00
PORT ELLEN 29 YEAR OLD
Nose: Elegant, compelling and mellow. Water doesn’t change things much, raising spent caps initially, before the comforting coal-tar smoke returns. Palate: Hot sweet and powerfully hot tar-smoky, at natural strength. Lulled into complacency as you are by the mellow nose, all this flavor comes as a big surprise, in a whisky that has been 30 years in cask. Rich fruit sugars are dissected by a cleansing acidity. A good splash of water makes things altogether smoother, sweeter and cooler, with some salt, then more smoke. Finish: Very long, with a coal-tar aftertaste. Sweet at first, gaining a salty tang in time. Then late, warm, lingering aniseed, cinnamon and wood smoke. 618082 One bottle limit $499.95
ARRAN SASSICAIA CASK FINISH
Sassicaia is regarded as one of the world’s finest wines, and is aged
for 24 months in small French Oak barriques. These same casks
are then used to create this special ‘finish’ for The Arran Single
Malt. Following a maturation of 8 years in traditional oak casks The
Arran Single Malt is matured for a further 9 months in Sassicaia
casks to add a new dimension to our whisky. 2008 Limited Edition
of 5,760 bottles. Colour: Crimson - copper. Aroma: Fresh and
fruity with vanilla and honey notes. Palate: A burst of fresh fruits
that are rich and wonderfully smooth in texture. Finish: The oak
emerges on the tail to end on a dry, spicy note.
72900 $99.99
ARRAN PINEAU DES CHARENTES CASK FINISH
The Arran Malt in this bottle has been finished in a selection of the
finest Pineau des Charentes casks for a period of 8 months. These
casks are made of the finest Limousin oak and have aged Pineau
des Charentes for an astonishing 25 years. Pineau des Charentes,
a blend of cognac and unfermented grape must, is normally
aged for a minimum of two years. This extended maturation has
imbued these casks with beautiful fruit and floral notes which have
dovetailed seamlessly with the classic Arran character.
547679 $99.99
ARRAN ROBERT BURNS MALT 250TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
This special bottling from the Isle of Arran Distillery
commemorates the 250th Anniversary of the birth of Robert
Burns, Scotland’s national poet. For this release, the Isle of Arran
Distillery Manager hand-selected 15 ex-Sherry Casks from
our 1998 Distillation. Limited to 6,000 bottles worldwide and
beautifully arranged in a presentation box, this superb single malt is
the perfect way to toast the life of Robert Burns.Taste: Aromas of
milk-chocolate and vanilla mingle with a fresh burst of citrus. This
is a beautifully rounded malt that dances on the palate. Notes of
heather honey, baked apples and cinnamon. Pure liquid poetry.
429605 $130.00
HIGHLAND PARK 25 YEAR OLD
Color: Natural color; dark red golden, clear and bright.
Nose: Very rich, mature oak; chocolate; fudge. Palate: Full,
rich burst of flavor; soft honey; nutty toffee. Finish: Rich, long
and surprisingly sweet for its age. Platinum Medal Winner,
“Exemplary” 98/100 Chicago Beverage Testing Institute. Silver
Medal winner, International Wine & Spirit Competition 2006.
Silve Medal winner, International Spirits Challenge 2006.
500249 $289.95
HIGHLAND PARK 30 YEAR OLD
Gold Medal Winner – Best in Class, International Wine & Spirit
Competition 2006. “Import Malt Whisky of the Year,” Malt
Advocate, 2005. “An exemplary Highland Park…Whiskies like
this one remind me why I fell in love with whisky in the first place”
John Hansell, Malt Advocate. Color: Naturally rich copper and
amber. Nose: Spicy, aromatic with notes of nutmeg and the darkest
chocolate. Palate: Force 9 flavor with toffee, dark chocolate orange
and peat. Finish: Complex, rich, long and smokey.
415356 $414.95
HIGHLAND PARK 40 YEAR OLD
A rich, coppery, amber appearance is followed by perfumed
spicy, nutmeg aromas, dark chocolate and dark fruit in the
background. Refilled casks and 40 years maturation allow balance
between the smoky and toffee notes leading to flavours of sundried
orange zest, heather, chocolate and peaty suggestions that
are layered in the rich, long and slightly sweet finish.
105932 One bottle limit $2,000.00
TALISKER 30 YEAR OLD
91points – Jim Murray Whiskey Bible… “the smoke has
drifted off over time to leave soft fruits; but the spices have
stayed behind…and some! A shattering attach of peppers
while elsewhere the barley displays a lovely gloss and latent
sweetness; as everything else dies the spices remain and gets
warmer still; this was the first distillery I ever visited – way back
in 1975…It was a distillery which changed my life. Taste this at
30…and you can see why.”
679654 $566.95
DUMBARTON 1964 42 YEAR OLD MURRAY MCDAVID
Nose: The initial aromas are very sweet – maple syrup, roasted
cashew nuts in honey, marshmallows melting seductively over an
open fire…40 years in oak does not lay a heavy burden on the
spirit, rather a vitality and crispness remains with beautiful malty
notes appearing… Palate…we would expect to be washed away
in a harmony of bourbon like sweetness and yet a fantastic purity
of spirit is revealed, it is tight, refined and elegant. The oakiness
is subtle and balanced with soft, ripe tropical fruit…The flavors
gently coat the tongue never overpowering just gently teasing the
senses. Finish: This proves the adage that fools shout while wise
men listen, this dram has the quiet confidence that draws you in
again and again.
265371 $314.99
GREENORE SINGLE GRAIN 15 YEAR OLD LimiTeD EDITION COOLEY
The oldest bottling of Irish grain whiskey ever released, this
latest addition to the celebrated Cooley collection of whiskeys,
is bottled from a small batch of casks hand picked by Cooley’s
Master Blender Noel Sweeney. The whiskey is aged in single use
bourbon oak casks imported from Kentucky…The extra aging
of the Greenore 15-year-old produces a more complex robust
whiskey with new depths and layers of flavours that compliment
the smooth sweet buttery vanilla notes…Double Gold winner
at the 2008 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
691816 $125.00
JAMESON REDBREAST 15 YEAR OLD
94 points – Jim Murray, Whiskey Bible – “…seductive soft
fruit wrapped in a hard barley shell. A slight soapy blemish, but
minor; such enormity and depth fair takes the breath away;
soft hints of citrus amid the pulsing grain. Stunning clarity and
delicate spice. Extraordinary; multi-layered, panning out with
barley-edged cocoa; what we have here is a truly great Irish
whiskey and my pulse races in the certain knowledge it can get
better still.”
356790 One bottle limit $119.95
PENDERYN PEATED CASK
92 points – Jim Murray, Whiskey Bible – “…just so delicate
and gristy: the smoke almost makes an apology on its aromatic
arrival; subtle, mouthwatering and quite stunningly crafted, the
malt works on two levels in that the barley is clear and clean,
yet the smoke gives much to chew on. The middle, in which
some spicy oak interaction takes place…not too long, with a
gentle, pulsing smokiness; this low level of peating absolutely fits
the shape of the whisky like a glove: inspired stuff! You would
never in a million years believe its youth.”
170134 $135.00
Howe Sound has released a Bailout Bitter, currently on draught at the Squamish brewpub at a reduced price and will soon be available in bottles -- a "bitter ale for bitter times." There's a good reason why Americans, in particular, should have this; allegedly, Canada has "solid fundamentals," so we have less reason to be bitter and may enjoy this more, rather than cry into it. Howe Sound is also offering Depression-era Blue Plate specials in its pub and restaurant, accompanied by 1930s-era music. There will be monthly Dirty Thirties movie nights too -- best to call Howe Sound for details.
R & B has released its Auld Nick winter ale, which is now available in 650ml bottles in liquor stores and on draught in select establishments, including the Alibi Room. Also new to the Alibi lineup is Central City Empire IPA, Driftwood Farmhand Ale, Longwood Imperial Stout, Phillips Longboat Double Chocolate Porter, Rogue Morimoto Soba, and Swans Lederhosen Lager.
Iain Hill's Wild Belgiain Bruin is now on draught at Yaletown Brewing. It's a Belgian-style sour brown beer brewed with two bacterial strains and two yeast strains, including Brettanomyces. It was brewed last February and has since undergone a considerable evolution to become a complex, sour, and slightly acetic beer. He will be putting half of the batch on now and reserving the rest for later. This first release was blended with a small amount of Muscat grape must to balance and give depth to the beer's sour richness. If you love Belgian beer, you absolutely must not miss out on this.
Brewery Creek
3045 Main Street, Vancouver
11:00am - 11:00pm daily
Drftwood Ale, White Bark Wheat Ale; Dubuisson Scaldis Strong Amber; Fort Garry Dark; Granville Island Jolly Abbot; Jacobsen Saaz Blonde; Lost Coast Winter Braun; Moylan's Dragoon Dry Irish Stout, IPA; Unibroue Mix Packs; Vancouver Island Brewing Pod Packs.
Firefly
2857 Cambie Street, Vancouver
10:00am - 11:00pm daily
Cannery Maple Stout; Cobra Lager; Fat Cat Old Bad Cat Barley Wine; Jacobsen Original Dark Lager, Saaz Blonde; R & B Auld Nick; Tree Raspberry Porter; Vancouver Island Hermannator, Pod Pack; Wychwood Hobgoblin Glass & Bottle Gift Set.
Viti
900 Seymour Street, Vancouver
noon - 11:00pm daily
Fuller's Vintage Ale 2007 (another cellared beer); Granville Island Oktoberfest.
October 2008
Serious about beer, just CLICK.
Click Wholesale Distributing, Inc
Nominated as one of America's top specialty beer wholesalers in 2008, Seattle's Click Wholesale Distributing Company has added Pike Ales to the list of distinguished beers in its portfolio effective Friday, October 10, 2008.
Click only represents craft brands. Their knowledge, love of beer and hands-on selling is an ideal match for our family owned brewery.
Founded in 1991 Click, owned by two beer lovers, Jim Florio and Rick Steckler, has grown exponentially through the years. They have established a well deserved reputation as the most professional beer specialist despite competition from much larger distributors. After the repurchase of Pike by the Finkels in 2006, Click let it be known that they were great fans of their beers and that changes were being made, and expressed interest in distributing Pike. Since Pike had been distributed by ADCO since its founding in 1989, Pike citing their history and allegiance to the larger company told Click, thanks but no thanks. Click responded by saying they admired Pike for taking the high road and "should the road ever turn, they would continue to have an interest." As often happens in business, the road did take a different direction with the consolidations and mergers that are taking place in the market. When Coors merged with Miller, ADCO made a decision to sell its assets and close.
New Beer Arrivals/Restocks/Seasonals
Driftwood Brewery in Victoria is now in operation. While they are mostly distributing in the Victoria area, The Alibi Room and The Whip will be carrying their beer in Vancouver. Christmas beers from them to look out for are a barleywine and a porter. Speaking of which, for inquiring minds that want to know, Tin Whistle is working on getting their Chocolate Cherry Porter out by mid-November. Fat Cat's 2008 Old Bad Cat bourbon-barrell-aged barleywine should also be out around the same time.
Speaking of new arrivals, in addition to the Central City Empire IPA, Phillips Longboat Double Chocolate Porter, and Rogue dry-hopped St. Rogue Red at the Alibi Room, Nigel Springthorpe's wife gave birth yesterday to an 8lbs, 11oz. daughter -- Izabella Paula Andrea; mother and daughter are doing well. Needless to say, Nigel will not be at the pub until probably Saturday; be sure to stop by some time for a toast to wish him well.
Brewery Creek
3045 Main Street, Vancouver, 11:00am - 11:00pm daily
Gordon Biersch Hefeweizen $14.25-6pk; Howe Sound Father John's Christmas Ale; Lost Coast Alley Cat Amber Ale $17.15-6pk; Phillips Crooked Tooth Pumpkin Ale $5.55-650ml; Rogue Eugene City Brewery Tracktown 200 Meter Ale $7.45-650ml; Zatec Czech Lager $4.05-500ml
Firefly
2857 Cambie Street, Vancouver, 10:00am - 11:00pm daily
Granville Island Lions Winter Ale; Oktoberfest; He'brew Bittersweet Lenny's R.I.P.A.; Howe Sound Father John's Christmas Ale; Phillips Crooked Tooth Pumpkin Ale; Samuel Smith India Ale; Swans Lederhosen Lager.
May 2009
New Gins and a new Vodka
Not available at the BCLDB liquor stores, but available at Brewery Creek : Rogue Gin for $69.95 - This is going to be reviewed on our gin page very soon......Aidan just bought me a bottle
Also relatively new are the Phrog gin and vodka distilled on Hornby Island http://www.islandspirits.ca/home.html. They are selling at $50 per 750 ml bottle, and are available at :
Vancouver:
Brewery Creek Beer & wine Store - 3045 Main St (604-872-3373)
Viti Wine and Lager - 900 Seymour St (604-683-3806)
Victoria:
Spinnakers Spirit Merchants - 130-176 Wilson Street (250-360-1333)
New Arrivals/Restocks/Seasonals (From CAMRA)
April 2009
For people in Kits, good news -- a quality selection of craft beer is now in your neighbourhood:
2001 MacDonald Street, Vancouver
Tel: (604) 731-0617
Hours: 9:00am – 11:00pm daily
At the other stores:
3045 Main Street, Vancouver
11:00am – 11:00pm daily
Swans Coconut Porter, Legacy Ale (limited quantities); Whistler Honey Lager, Weiss Beer. Arran Gold Single Malt Cream Whisky.
2857 Cambie Street, Vancouver
10:00am – 11:00pm daily
Anderson Valley Brother David's Triple, Poleeko Gold Pale Ale. Restocks: Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye, Red Rocket; DogFish Head 90 Minute IPA, Midas Touch; Moylan's Tipperary Pale Ale; North Coast Brother Thelonius, Old No 38 Stout, Rasputin.
962 West King Edward, Vancouver
10:00am – 9:00pm daily
No update at time of publishing.
900 Seymour Street, Vancouver
noon – 11:00pm daily
Complimentary beer and whisky tasting, Fridays from 4:00-7:00pm
Howe Sound Diamond Head Oatmeal Stout, Devil's Elbow IPA; Swans Coconut Porter, Legacy Ale. Restocks: Flying Dog Road Dog Porter, Moylan's Hopsickle (super limited supply!).
March 2009
New Beer Arrivals/Restocks/Seasonals (From CAMRA newsletter)
Current casks at the Alibi Room are Taylor's Crossing India Arm IPA, Driftwood Farmhand Ale (saison), and Swans Pod Porter (vanilla porter). Upcoming casks include: Central City Empire IPA, Dix Irish Stout, Granville Island Ginger Beer, Longwood ESB, R&B Hoppelganger IPA, Yaletown Mélange à Trois Oud Bruin. Draught highlights: Craig Street Irish Red, Dix Steam Beer, Longwood Batch 1000 Doppelbock, Lost Coast Indica IPA, Spinnakers Blue Bridge IPA, Swans Legacy Ale barley wine, Taylor's Crossing Roggenweizen, Yaletown Hefeweizen.
3045 Main Street, Vancouver
11:00am – 11:00pm daily
Granville Island Ginger Beer.
2857 Cambie Street, Vancouver
10:00am – 11:00pm daily
Granville Island Ginger Beer. Sales/Promotions: Fat Cat Old Bad Cat Barley Wine -- $2 off; Howe Sound Father John’s Christmas Ale -- $1 off; Rickards Taster Packs -- $2 off plus receive a Rickards Red pint glass; Swans -- $1 off: Oatmeal Stout, Old Towne Bavarian Lager, Pandora Pale Ale, Pumpkin Ale, Witbier; Vancouver Island Pod Pack -- $3 off.
962 West King Edward, Vancouver
10:00am – 9:00pm daily
No information at time of publishing.
900 Seymour Street, Vancouver
noon – 11:00pm daily
Complimentary beer and whisky tasting, Fridays from 4:00-7:00pm
No information at time of publishing.
WV Liquor Store
220 16th Street, West Vancouver
9:30am – 11:00pm daily
Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye; all Driftwood styles; Dupont Saison; Fishtale IPA; Gordon Biersch Maerzen; Howe Sound Mettleman Copper Ale; Moinette Brune; Moylan's IPA; Pike Tandem Double Ale; Pilaarbijter Tripel; Piraat 10.5; Rochefort 8. Be sure to check out WV's 250+ single malts including very rare single cask releases.
TREE ADDS WEIZEN BOCK WHEAT ALE TO OUR PORTFOLIO OF UNIQUE BREWS (from Tree news letter)
As always, our brewmaster has been hard at work coming up with a new creation, and this spring he has taken it up a notch with Weizen Bock -- a stronger wheat ale than its cousin Hefeweizen. Working with the best ingredients and within the German Purity Law in the brewery in Kelowna, Brewmaster Buhl is able to experiment with different recipes and feed his passion for creating great tasting beer. Weizen Bock is the latest addition to the Tree portfolio -- a more robust flavour with subtle banana and clove undertones make this full-bodied 7% ABV perfect for sipping alone or after dinner. Purists will recognize the cloudy presence as an unfiltered beer. So if you’re a fan of the award-winning Hefeweizen, be sure to try this bolder brew starting in March at select liquor stores across B.C. and Alberta in a special limited edition 650ml format. Watch for Tree’s Hefeweizen coming to beer stores in April.
February 2009
New to the BCLDB for February -
Glenfarclas 40 yo (SKU 664979, 700 litres for $3999.02)
From the Whisky Exchange: Packed with Glenfarclas's signature flavours - dried fruit, Christmas cake, rich sherry influence - this came out on top of the whole industry in a special competition between the distillers to pick the best malt for the Millennium. A tour de force in the classic Glenfarclas style.
Talisker Distillers Edition (SKU 776955, 750 ml for $85.90)
From Forpeatssake.com : Like all CLASSIC MALT Distillers Editions, this Talisker has been double-matured in a second cask after the original maturation period (in this case in an Amoroso Sherry cask). The experience is older, sweeter and richer than the regular bottlings. This Edition has a very special bitter-sweet harmony where the peat softens on the palate to a rich, sweet, juicy fruit finish. (score 92)
Auchentoshan 12 yr old (SKU 667014, 750 ml for $63.01)
From the Whisky Exchange: This new Auchentoshan 12 yrs expression is replacing the old 10 year-old in this market, and arrives as the range gets a funky new look. Some may say that the new bottle looks a lot like the new Highland Park presentation, but we reckon they've done a better job than HP. But it does look a bit like a bottle of Teacher's.
Auchentoshan Classic (SKU 766832, 750 ml for $53.02)
From the Whisky Exchange: A new Auchentoshan (not sure how something new can be Classic, but we won't nit-pick) with no age-statement, this seems likely to be aimed at drawing in new drinkers to malt whisky, and has the style to make a decent fist of it. Well done Auchie.
Producer's Tasting Notes: The Classic is soft, rich and creamy with a pale gold appearance. It has a rich vanilla and coconut smell with a hint of green apple and a tang of citrus zest. To taste it has a sweet vanilla cream, fresh green apple skin and a little mint. It has a wonderful fresh floral zesty finish.
Bruichladdich Bourbon Cask 16 yr old (SKU 600387, 700 ml for $109.99)
Bruichladdich Links Torrey Pines (790634, 700 ml for $94.99)
New Beer Arrivals/Restocks/Seasonals
The Whip has updated its beer offering. New on draught is Central City Red Racer ESB and Howe Sound Diamond Head Oatmeal Stout. Expect to see a couple taps rotating. Packaged products are -- Domestic Bottles: Paddock Wood Black Cat, Phillips Amnesiac Double IPA, Phillips Blue Buck, Phillips Longboat Double Chocolate Porter, Phillips IPA, Phillips Seasonal, R&B Hoppleganger IPA, R&B Raven Cream Ale, Unibroue Don De Dieu, Unibroue La Fin Du Monde, Unibroue Maudite, Vancouver Island’s Pipers Pale; Imported Bottles: Anderson Valley ESB, Green Flash Hop Head Red, Grolsch, Mickey’s Big Mouth, Pacifico, Peroni, Tyskie; Tins: Cannery Naramata Nut Brown, Guinness, Kokanee, Lucky Lager, Strongbow.
In Mark James Group territory, BigRidge will have its Wrath of Khan IPA on as their new seasonal. Dix's new offerings are an ESB and Derrick's signature Texas Brown, in addition to a new English IPA.
3045 Main Street, Vancouver
11:00am – 11:00pm daily
Antares Barely Wine; Ayinger and Edelweiss beer glasses.
2857 Cambie Street, Vancouver
10:00am – 11:00pm daily
Brooklyner-Schneider Hopfen-Weisse (under 2 cases left); Driftwood Ale, Blackstone Porter, Farmhand Ale, White Bark Wheat; Fishtail Organic IPA; Gordon Biersch Märzen, Winter Bock; Hook Norton Old Hooky; Koningshoeven Quadrupel; Pyramid Thunderhead IPA; Rochefort 8; Rogue St. Rogue Red, Santa's Private Reserve (6-pack); Samuel Smith's All Brewery Pale Ale.
962 West King Edward, Vancouver
10:00am – 9:00pm daily
Driftwood Brother Bart Belgian Brown Ale; Green Flash Imperial IPA; Moylan's Dragoon Irish Stout; North Coast Brother Thelonious
900 Seymour Street, Vancouver
noon – 11:00pm daily
Brooklyner-Schneider Hopfen-Weisse (under 2 cases left); Driftwood Blackstone Porter, Driftwood Ale, Farmhand Ale, White Bark Wheat; Fishtail Organic IPA; Gordon Biersch Märzen, Winterbock; Hook Norton Old Hooky; Koningshoeven Quadrupel; Pyramid Thunderhead IPA; Rochefort 8; Rogue Santa's Private Reserve (6-pack), St. Rogue Red; Samuel Smith's All Brewery Pale Ale.
Salt, Blood Alley, Gastown (604) 633-1912
Sean Thackrey
Pleiades VII
For anyone with any doubt what the aromatic description "barnyard" means, this
is a lesson in a glass. Stewed cherries, pot-pourri, dried hay, and a flood of
sweaty leather. Made by the Californian mad wine scientist Sean Thackrey, this
wine is a field blend of various grapes from various vintages grown on old vines
(Syrah, Barbera, Carignan, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel and Sangiovese plus a dash of
Viognier). Come in and try a glass of this extremely rare wine for $18 (Salt is
the only place you'll find it in BC!)
For Chinese New Year, BCLDB is promoting:
WULIANGYE
SKU #123497/ UPC #06901382103355 $96.85 for 500 mL
Brewed with 5 grains including broomcorn, glutinous rice, rice, wheat and corn. Characterized by lasting aroma, a mellow and luscious taste. This spirit comes packaged in a red wrap and makes a impressive and beautiful gift.
SICHUAN JIANNANCHUN - JIANNANFU
SKU #44040/ UPC #06901434006061, $39.90 for 500 ml
|
Aged
for 8 years, this richly coloured, elegant Chinese Sake
is smooth and well-balanced. Delicate floral aromas
blend with hints of plum and almond give this slightly
sweet Chinese Sake a mellow Sherry-like finish. Serve
warm with asian inspired fish and pork dishes.
|
BC Liquor Distribution Board (in partnership with the Craft Breweries Association of BC) has released a booklet on BC Craft Beer. The booklet features a number of craft beers for the winter season of beer drinking. All the beers featured are available at BCLDB stores. If your store doesn’t stock something, request it be brought in form another store! They also supply recommended food pairings for each beer. Links to most of these breweries' websites can be found on our BC Breweries page.
The beers presented in the booklet are summarized below (we weren’t able to find it electronically to provide you with a link):
Tin Whistle Brewing, Penticton, BC – Chocolate Cherry Porter (772616, $4.90 650 ml). A dark beer made from cherries and Belgian dark chocolate, barley, and subtle hopping. Pair with wild game, goose, melons, strawberries, dessert
R&B Brewing, Vancouver, BC – Dark Star (898619 $4.65 650 ml)
An oatmeal stout made with rolled oats, roasted barley and a variety of malts including chocolate, Munich, pale and crystal. Dark star has a cappuccino coloured head, ruby black body with roasted coffee aromas, followed by a complex chocolaty, malty bitterness and a long dry finish. Paired with BBQ ribs or beef stew, or a plate of oysters.
Nelson Brewing Co., Nelson, BC – Faceplant Winter Ale (22481 $11.45 6 x 341 ml)
A rich malty character with hints of brown sugar, and molasses. No food pairings given.
Vancouver Island Brewery, Victoria, BC – Hermannator (172213 $12.99 6x341 ml). Deep copper brown colour with ruby highlights. Full body complexities that are not overly fruity but overtones of plum and raisin are present with dry port-like notes. Pairings recommended: French onion soup, steak and mushroom pie, cheeses, and dark chocolate.
Old Yale Brewing, Chilliwack, BC – Sergeant’s IPA (730754, $4.85 650 ml)
British style IPA uses pale and crystal malts and loads of hops! This is a Dipsophilia-recommended beer! Pair with roasted meat, steak, strong cheese, Irish Stew
Philips Brewing Co., Victoria, BC – Slipstream (201905 $11.25 6x341 ml)
Dark amber coloured cream ale. Flavour combines woody notes with smooth malty textures and a nice crisp finish. Pair with braised venison, roasted vegetables, strong cheese.
Cannery Brewing, Penticton, BC – Blackberry Porter (92098 $4.95 650 ml)
Rich traditional porter using five malts and three hop varieties. Addition of blackberries provides complexity. Pair with ribs, steaks, also great after-dinner beer with chocolate, or pour the porter over ice cream!
Russell Brewing, Surrey, BC – Russell Cream Ale (156349 $10.98 6x355 ml)
A smooth, dark, full-bodied beer made with Canadian barley, specialty malts for the UK, and aroma hops from Washington State.
Fernie Brewing Co., Fernie, BC – First Trax Brown Ale (268623 $10.75 6x355 ml)
Complex aroma, hints of berries and Kent Golding hops. Large chocolaty flavour derived from 8 different malts from UK and Belgium. Pair with roast beef, burgers. Also pairs well with chocolaty desserts.
Granville Island Brewing, Vancouver, BC. – Lions Winter Ale (731893 $10.95 6x341 ml). Combines premium malt with aromatic specialty hops. Pure vanilla added to give beer a smooth and unique finish. Pair with meats and the distinct flavours of the holiday season.
Mt. Begbie Brewing Co., Revelstoke, BC – Selkirk Stout (722223 $4.95 650 ml)
Dry Irish Stout with subtle cherry chocolate flavour and smooth creamy texture. Pair with oysters, smoked salmon, French brie, chocolate.
Tree Brewing, Kelowna, BC – Spy Porter (550137 $4.95 650 ml)
A smooth dark English style ale with a prominent roast malt character, accented by chocolate undertones. Pair with anything chocolate, or use to cook meats or as a steak marinade.
Whistler Brewing Co., Whistler, BC – Black Tusk Ale (192690 $11.95 6x341 ml)
English style mild ale brewed with a blend of imported chocolate and roasted malts. Obsidian black with creamy head. Expect a mild bitterness with notes of chocolate and a hint of coffee. Pair with smoked cheeses, Paella, grilled salmon.
Brewery Creek
3045 Main Street, Vancouver
11:00am - 11:00pm daily
Coopers Lager, Stout, Vintage Ale; Gordon Biersch Marzen; Moylan's Dry Irish Stout
Firefly
2857 Cambie Street, Vancouver
10:00am - 11:00pm daily
Gordon Biersch Winter Bock; Fat Cat Old Bad Cat barley wine; Swans Pumpkin Ale.
December 2008
New Beer Arrivals/Restocks/Seasonals
BigRidge has just released their latest seasonal, a 5.5 % Espresso Stout made with Continental Coffee Organic Dark French Roast. Tariq Khan also used Caramalt, Maris Otter malt, roasted barley, flaked barley, and East Kent Goldings hops. Now you've got a beer that will both wake you up in the morning and feed you.
For those of you in New West, Moonrakers Pub (525 Seventh Street) has a small keg of Howe Sound Father John's Christmas Ale, to be followed by a keg or two of Brooklyn Brown Ale.
Brewery Creek
3045 Main Street, Vancouver
11:00am - 11:00pm daily
Anchor Christmas Ale; Aventinus Weizen Eisbock; Fuller's Vintage Ale 2008; Guinness Irish Beer Collection; Rogue Santa's Private Reserve, Yellow Snow IPA; Saint Martin Noel.
Cannery Indian Rock IPA; Desparados Tequila Flavoured Beer; Karmeliet Tripel; Lindemans Cassis Lambic; Pike XXXXX Extra Stout; Tin Whistle Cherry Chocolate Porter.
Firefly
2857 Cambie Street, Vancouver
10:00am - 11:00pm daily
Anchor Christmas Ale; Hell's Gate Lager, Pale Ale; Innis & Gunn Rum Cask Finish; Gulden Draak 750ml/1.5L; Nelson Faceplant Winter Ale; Phillips Barley Wine, Instigator Doppelbock; Rogue Yellow Snow IPA; Tin Whistle Chocolate Cherry Porter; Unibroue Collection Pack.
Lindemans Cassis Lambic; Moylan's Dragoons Dry Irish Stout; Pike XXXXX Extra Stout; Rogue Dad's Little Helper, Kells Irish Lager, Santa's Private Reserve; St. Martin Noel; Scaldis Amber 12; Yukon Cranberry Wheat Ale.
BCLDB
Benriach 15 yo Madeira Finish (700 ml for $93.99, SKU: 460311)
Benriach Authenticus 21 yo (700 ml for $143.99, SKU 069617)
Glenmorangie The Original 10 yo ( 3L for $343.85, SKU 045930)
Glenkinchie Distillers Edition (750 ml $115.56, SKU 244103)
Bruichladdich 21 yo (700ml $199.99, SKU 692897)
Finlaggan (reviewed below, but now available 700 ml for $71.55, SKU 752311)
Caol Ila Distillers Edition (750 ml for $113.54, SKU486910)
Tree Hophead Double IPA is also available (although in limited quantities at select BCLDB stores....check out the web site before heading out! This beer has been reviewed by Dipsophilia (CLICK HERE)
uly 2009
Dix has rotated both of
their draught seasonals. In place of the Scottish Ale, Derrick is now pouring
his Blanche de Franche, a 6.8% ABV Belgian-style wheat beer. Replacing the Dark
Wheat Ale is a 4.6% Dunkel.
Darby's pub will be rolling out a new craft beer menu in the coming weeks.
Look out for Green Flash West Coast IPA; Phillips Blue Buck Pale Ale, IPA,
Slipstream Cream Ale; Pyramid Audacious Apricot Ale; Steam Whistle Pilsner;
Surgenor Red House Ale, Steam Donkey Lager; Tree Cutthroat Pale Ale. In 650ml
bottles, they will have Cannery Blackberry Porter; Driftwood Ale; Lost Coast
Raspberry Brown, and Tangerine Wheat Ale.
3045 Main Street, Vancouver
11:00am - 11:00pm daily
Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye (4 pack), Red Rocket (6 pack); Brasserie d'Ecaussinnes
Archiduc, Cookie Bier, Pennefois, Ultramour; Innis & Gunn Blonde Ale; Karmeliet
Tripel (1.5l); Loubecoisse Maple Syrup Beer; Pauwel Kwak (750ml); Pike Monk's
Uncle Tripel; Silenrieux Sara Brune organic; Surgenor Red House Ale, Steam
Donkey Lager; Wye Valley Dorothy Goodbody's Whollesome Stout; Wye Valley Dorothy
Goodbody's Wholesome Stout.
2001 MacDonald Street, Vancouver
9:00am - 11:00pm daily
Granville Island Raspberry Wheat; Lindemans Framboise, Peche; Mill Street
minglers; Paddock Wood Double Double 2009 Vintage; Phillips Raspberry Wheat;
Steam Whistler ( 12 pack).
2857 Cambie Street, Vancouver
10:00am - 11:00pm daily
Paddock Wood Double Double 2009 Vintage, Saison (6 pack); Phillips Raspberry
Wheat. Restocks: Augustijn (330ml); Bear Republic Racer 5, XP Pale Ale; Cobra
Lager; Dogfish Head Festina Peche; Innis & Gunn Oak Aged Scottish Ale; Lost
Coast Indica IPA, Raspberry Brown, Tangerine Wheat; Moylan's IPA, Moylander;
Pyramid Audacious Apricot Ale, Curve Ball, Thunderhead IPA.
900 Seymour Street, Vancouver
noon - 11:00pm daily
Brasserie d'Ecaussinnes Pennefois, Ultramour; Brew Dog Hardcore IPA, Punk IPA;
Coney Island Albino Python; Karmeliet Tripel (1.5l); Pauwel Kwak (750ml);
Paddock Wood Double Double 2009 Vintage, Saison (6 pack). Restocks: Edelweiss
Weissebier; Erdinger Dunkel Weisse; Hebrew Lenny's RIPA; Lindeman's Framboise;
Lost Coast Great White; Pyramid Apricot Wheat Ale; Westmalle Tripel.
June 2009
New Beer Arrivals/Restocks/Seasonals (From CAMRA Newsletter)
Derrick
Franche put on a double IPA at Dix today. It isn't as big as last year's
"Pissing Contest" IPA, but it still has some heft at 8.3% ABV and 91 IBU.
For fruit beer lovers, Steamworks Frambozen is imminent as the Sour Cherry
is almost finished. Dave Varga also has a new seasonal at Taylor's Crossing.
It's a 5% ABV Belgian-style Witbier with Curaçao orange peel and Indian
coriander. You could do a comparative crawl, starting out at Taylor's
Crossing, stopping off at Steamworks for their Ipanema, then ending up at
the Granville Island Tap Room to try Vern Lambourne's GIB Limited Release
Witbier.
Note: Comox's Surgenor Brewing is now shipping their six packs of
distinctive aluminum bottles, a first for a BC brewer. They should start
hitting the shelves of the stores below this week.
16th Street Liquor Store
220 16th Street, West Vancouver
9:30am - 11:00pm daily
Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA, Festina Peche; Granville Island Belgian Wit;
Pelican India Pelican Ale; Surgenor Red House Irish Red Ale & Steam Donkey
Lager (6 pack aluminum bottles).
3045 Main Street, Vancouver
11:00am - 11:00pm daily
Lindemans Cassis, Cuvée René, Framboise, Pêche, Pomme; Paddock Wood Double
Double, Saison; Pelican India Pelican Ale; Pike IPA, Kilt Lifter, Naughty
Nelly; Pinkus Jubilate, Munster, Urpils, Weizen. Restocks: Anderson Valley
Hop Ottin' (6 packs and 650ml); Brooklyn Brooklyner Weisse; Dogfish Head 90
Minute IPA; Green Flash: Imperial IPA, West Coast IPA; Moylan's Double IPA,
Celts Golden Ale, Hopsickle, IPA, Kilt Lifter Scotch Ale; North Coast Acme
IPA; Rogue Captain Sig's Deadliest Ale, Dead Guy (growlers), Juniper; Samuel
Smith's Organic Lager.
Brewery Creek still has Rogue Gin, and the Hornby Island gin, Phrog.
2857 Cambie Street, Vancouver
10:00am - 11:00pm daily
Lost Coast Raspberry Brown; Pelican Doryman's Dark, India Pelican Ale; Rogue
Captain Sig's Deadliest Ale. Restocks: Green Flash Imperial IPA; He'brew
Bittersweet Lenny's RIPA; Lost Coast Tangerine Wheat.
962 West King Edward, Vancouver
10:00am - 9:00pm daily
Alhambra Reserva 1925; Granville Island Belgian Wit; Russell Cactus Lime
Lager; Swans Old Towne Lager; Tin Whistle Peach Cream Ale.
900 Seymour Street, Vancouver
noon - 11:00pm daily
Lindemans Cassis, Cuvée René, Framboise, Pêche, Pomme; Pelican Doryman's
Dark; Pinkus: Jubilate, Munster, Urpils, Weizen; Tree Hefeweizen. Restocks:
Anderson Valley Hop Ottin' (6 packs and 650ml); Cooper's Pale Ale; Dogfish
Head 90 Minute IPA, Raison D'Etre; Green Flash West Coast IPA; Lost Coast
Alley Cat Amber, Indica IPA, Tangerine Wheat; Moylan's Double IPA, Celts
Golden Ale, Hopsickle, Irish Style Red, Kilt Lifter Scotch Ale; North Coast
Acme IPA, Old Rasputin, Red Seal Ale; Pike IPA; Rogue Captain Sig's
Deadliest Ale, St. Rogue Red; Westmalle. Scotch: Bruichladdich Rocks
Collection; Johnnie Walker Blue Label; Laphroaig Quarter Cask; Talisker 25.
December 2010
BCLDB - they've brought back the 10 year old Laphroig. But get 'em quick, they are selling fast!
Driftwood beer is available on tap at the Refinery on Granville.
New Beer Arrivals/Restocks/Seasonals
Brewery Creek
3045 Main Street, Vancouver
11:00am -
11:00pm daily
Dogfish Head Pangea;
Driftwood Old Cellar Dweller; Lighthouse Navigator Dopplebock. Restocks:
Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout; Dogfish Head Chicory Stout; Rochefort 10
13450 102 Ave, Vancouver
9:00am -
11:00pm daily
Driftwood Old
Cellar Dweller. Restocks: Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout; Propeller IPA.
Firefly Fine Wines and Ales, Maple Ridge
21755 Lougheed Highway, Maple Ridge
10:00am -
11:00pm daily
Abbaye Des Rocs Speciale Noel;
Anchor Christmas Ale; Binchoise Speciale Noel; Cooper's Vintage Ale;
Deus Brut des Flanders; Driftwood Old Cellar Dweller; Eel River Climax
Noel; Golden Pheasant Premium; Hitachino Nest Ginger Ale; L'Abbaye de
Val Dieu Brune; Moneuse Speciale Noel; Nogne O God Jul, Imperial Stout;
Phillips Instigator Doppelbock; Tripel Karmeliet; Zatac Bright Lager.
Restocks: Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout; Cooper's Best Extra Stout;
Southern Tier Unearthly IPA.
Firefly Fine Wines and Ales, Vancouver
2857 Cambie Street, Vancouver
10:00am - 11:00pm daily
Anchor
Christmas Ale; Ballast Point Calico Amber Ale; Driftwood Old
Cellar Dweller; Granville Island Imperial Chocolate Stout; Lost
Coast Indica IPA; Nogne O #100, Imperial Stout, IPA, Pale Ale,
Porter, Winter; Phillips Instigator Doppelbock, Trainwreck
Barley Wine; Pike IPA; Pyramid Thunderhead IPA; Salt Spring
Island Fireside Winter Ale. Restocks: Brooklyn Brewing Black
Chocolate Stout; Green Flash Imperial IPA, Le Freak, Trippel;
Rochefort 8, 10.
Tasting: Friday, December 17, 4:00 - 7:00pm -- Howe Sound
Brewing
1633 Manitoba Street, Vancouver
10:00am -
11:00pm
daily
Granville Island Imperial Chocolate Stout; Driftwood Old Cellar
Dweller; R&B Spirit Chaser Coffee Porter.
900 Seymour Street, Vancouver
10:00am to 11:00pm Mon-Sat, noon to 11:00pm Sundays
Central
City Winter Medley Packs; Driftwood Old Cellar Dweller; DogFish Head
Chicory Stout, Punkin Ale; Lagunitas (5 different beers); Unibroue
Blanche de Chambly, La Terrible, Raftman; Weihenstephaner Hefeweizen.
Restocks: Cantillon Rose de Gambrinus
BCLDB whisky release 2010
Ardbeg Supernova
“Moody, atmospheric; hints and threats; Lynchian in its stark black and white forms, it’s meandering plot, it’s dark and at times indecipherable message and meaning…”97 Points – Whisky Bible 2010
842815 2 bottle limit $141.00
The Arran Amarone Cask Finish
Perhaps the best Arran nose of all time: dry rose-petaly Turkish delight moistened with grape and toasted almond…then it starts getting really complex…!” 96 Points – Whisky Bible 2009
199489 $88.88
Balblair 1975
“One of the most complex noses in the Highlands with just about everything you can think of making a starring, or at least guest, appearance at some time. That’s not a taster’s get-out. Nose it and then defy me…. For starters, watch the clever bourbon edge alongside the crème brûlée and ground cherry topping…hunt the smoke down, also…silk. No, wait …it could be velvet. No, definitely silk.”
94.5 Points – Whisky Bible 2010
139873 1 bottle limit $347.99
Balvenie 17 Year Old Madeira Cask
“A harmonious marriage of fruit and spice. In fact this is one of the most deftly balanced whiskies I’ve tasted this year. Bramble, ripe nectarine, caramel apple, honeyed vanilla, and golden raisin, spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg. Soft (for Balvenie), lingering, warm, dried spice finish.” 90 Points – Malt Advocate July 24, 2009
134551 $135.99
Caledonian Single Grain Clan Denny 45 year old
This is one of Scotland’s “lost” distilleries. This, the largest of Scotland’s grain distilleries, was located in the Lowlands and closed in 1988. This unique aged grain offers a glimpse into the past. Tasting Note: On the nose it is fresh, clean, fruity and spicy – with an added fruit box style that warms to old fashioned hair dressing and toffee smells. The palate continues to carry macerated fruit, barley sugar and late vanilla flavour highlighted by some dried spice on its finish.
01545 $295.00
Caol Ila 28 Year Old – Cooper ’s Choice
The Vintage Malt Whisky Co. won independent bottler of the year for the Islay category. Coopers Choice bottling company has a proven track record for choosing only the very best single cask whiskies as endorsed by Whisky Magazine in 2008, 2009. This brand line appeals to the connoisseur presenting rare and unique bottlings to taste.
131953 $238.00
Edradour 1997 SFTC Chateax Du Pape
Following initial maturation in ex-bourbon casks this whisky has spent a further 31 months in a single Chateauneuf Du Pape Cask. This is the newest edition to the SFTC (straight from the cask) range. Tasting Note: An explosion of berries on the palate, dark chocolate and vanilla characters are also much in evidence.
127126 (500 ml) $115.00
Finlaggan Cask Strength
Big brother to the famous Finlaggan Old Reserve comes from a mystery distillery in Islay, mystery amount of years aged. The vintage Malt Whisky Company has crafted a good value Islay malt with lemony-yellow highlights, a full and pungent nose of earthy smokiness and fresh hints of ozone. Dry, smoky and fresh flavour with a clean and big bodied taste. Long and smooth finish with a smoky-burnt oakiness and slight edge of richness.
486852 $91.00
Glenfiddich 40 Year Old
“A depth of honey aromas. Beeswax. Finally, a balancing flowery dryness and faint smokiness. Palate: very
slow emergence of flavours. Firm, dryish, honey, biscuity maltiness. A hint of bitter chocolate. A surge of soft smokiness with peat. Extraordinary flavour development. An astonishingly complex whisky.” 92 points – Michael Jackson, Whisky Magazine.
300442 1 bottle limit $1,529.99
Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX
“Now this works: has that heavy-handed feel of a sweet sherry butt (or five) at work here, usually the kiss of death for so many whiskies. But an adroit praline sub-plot really does the trick. So with the malt evident, too, we have a three-pronged attack which somehow meshes in to one. And not even the merest hint of an off-note…goodness gracious: a new experience …!!!” 96.5 Points – Whisky Bible 2010
225029 $89.95
Glen Scotia Old Malt Cask 19 Year Old – Douglas Laing
On the nose there is toffee and shortbread, dried fruit and a buttery sweet character. The palate opens sweetly, then warms to spice and a dry oak, and the finish is long, dry, running to a nutty/late herbal (chamomile) quality.
154484 $175.00
Lagavulin Distillers Edition – Pedro Ximenez
A really distinctive and distinguished dram, full of peat and brine, while the sherry wood naturally has a big say. A more mellow Lagavulin, not quite as deep or intense as the 16 year old. Double Gold Medal 2009
San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
364356 $144.95
Laphroaig 18 Year Old
“This is Laphroaig’s replacement to the woefully inadequate and gutless 15 year old. And talk about taking a giant step in the right direction. Absolutely brimming with character and panache, from the first molecules escaping the bottle as you pour to the very final ember dying on the middle of your tongue. This is as noisily Islay as a sky-blackening invasion of Whitefronted Geese or rain pelting against your cottage windows. elentlessly first class.” 94 Points – Whisky Bible 2010
136580 $179.95
Laphroaig Cairdeas
The inception of this annual release was made specifically for friends of the distillery. “This year’s release is tagged ‘Master Edition’ because it’s created by the Master Blender Robert Hicks. The recipe is 50 percent bourbon hogsheads (11 years old) and 50 percent of first fill bourbon (15, 17 and 19 years old).” Whiskynotes.com
136598 $89.95
Macallan 25 year old
The Macallan Sherry Oak 25 is a highly allocated whisky. It has been exclusively matured for a minimum of 25 years in Spanish oak casks, handcrafted and sherry seasoned in Jerez, Spain. This delivers a classic Macallan style, wonderfully rich in colour with dried fruits, spice and chocolate orange.
283283 $ 699.95
Old Pulteney 17 Year old
Nose: Charming. Perfumy. Almond milk. Raisins soaked in sauternes and coated in milk chocolate. honeyed peaches. With a citrus note hovering. Palate: Silky, caressing. The same luscious combination of fruit with additional spices. Finish: Drying on spices. Ginger with a delicious nutty comeback. An absolute cracker. Delicate, elegant.” 90 Points – Martine Nouet, Whisky Magazine
132480 $137.99
Springbank – Longrow CV
“A beautifully balanced smoke alternating between light, top-soil peats and coke; some praline ups the ante; sublime: quite faultless.” 95.5 Points – Whisky Bible 2009
896019 $89.99Talisker Distillers Edition Amoroso
There’s near perfection in the bitter-sweet harmony which is such an enthralling feature of this truly classic whisky, as its crisp peat softens, not to pepper, but to rich, sweet, juicy fruit. Double Gold Medal 2009 San
Francisco World Spirits Competition.
776955 $85.99
New Beer Arrivals/Restocks/Seasonals
Six Acres has just added Dieu du Ciel's Peche Mortel to their bottle lineup.
They've ordered directly from the brewery so you won't find this at any other
establishment around town.
Granville Island's latest seasonal, an Imperial Chocolate Stout, will be
released November 18th. According to brewmaster Vern Lambourne this is a a
bigger, stronger, more flavourful version of the Chocolate Stout launched last
year. Created in partnership with Rogers' Chocolates, this stout was brewed with
organic fair-trade chocolate and four different malts.
Dead Frog's Mandarin Orange Amber Ale, their winter seasonal offering, is
out now in their winter mixed packs.
Brewery Creek
3045 Main Street, Vancouver
11:00am - 11:00pm daily
Abbey Des Rocs Noel; Binchoise Speciale Noel; BrewDog 5am Saint, 77 Lager;
Karpackie Super Mocne; Phillips Dr Funk Dunkel; Pretty Things Hedgerow Bitter,
Once Upon a Time KK; Scaldis Noel Premium.
Firefly Fine Wines and Ales, Maple Ridge
21755 Lougheed Highway, Maple Ridge
10:00am - 11:00pm daily
Driftwood Fat Tug IPA; Lighthouse Variety Pack; Phillips Dr. Funk Dunkel;
Vancouver Island Hermannator. Restocks:
Cannery Wildfire IPA; Gulden Draak; Lakefront Brewery New Grist; Propeller
London Porter.
Firefly Fine Wines and Ales, Vancouver
2857 Cambie Street, Vancouver
10:00am - 11:00pm daily
Collesi Imperiale Ego; Coney Island Freaktoberfest; Elysian Night Owl Pumpkin;
Fullers Vintage 2010; Phillips Dirty Squirrel.
Libations Liquor Store, Shaughnessy
962 West King Edward, Vancouver
10:00am - 9:00pm daily
He'brew Rejewvenator 2010; Howe Sound Father John's Winter Ale.
411 Columbia St, New Westminster
10:00am - 9:00pm daily
Howe Sound Boomers Legacy Red Ale; Pretty Things Once Upon a Time Hedgerow
Bitter, KK; Phillips Dr. Funk Dunkel.
Restock: Cannery Brewing Maple Stout.
Tasting: Natureland Organic -- Friday November 12th, 5:00 - 8:00pm
SEPTEMBER 2010
New Beer Arrivals/Restocks/Seasonals
Central City Brewing will debut their latest seasonal this weekend at
Victoria's Great Canadian Beer Festival. Red Racer Belgian Tripel is a
Belgian-style tripple brewed with imported Belgian malt, rock candy sugar, and
Styrian Golding hops. Look for it at GCBF and on tap at Central City starting
next week.
Firefly Cambie received their private order from Lagunitas last week. Stop
by to check out their stock of Lagunitas Hop Stoopid, IPA, Little Sumpin Sumpin,
Maximus IPA.
Darby's also has Laguintas in stock, with their IPA, Maximus Ipa, and Pale
Ale.
Kingfishers have recently updated their feature and seasonal taps. Their
feature tap is now pouring Cannery Apricot Wheat Ale, while the seasonal tap is
pouring Central City Raspberry Wheat Ale.
3045 Main Street, Vancouver
11:00am - 11:00pm daily
Dogfish Head Theobroma; Howe Sound Pumpkineater; Nelson 20th Anniversary Ale.
Restocks: Flying Dog Tire Bite.
2001 MacDonald Street, Vancouver
9:00am - 11:00pm daily
Baird Angry Boy Brown, Dark Sky Imperial Stout, Red Rose Amber, Rising Sun Pale Ale, Shizouka Natumiku The Carpenter's Mikan Ale; Hitachino Ginger Ale, Espresso Stout, Extra High (XH); Howe Sound Pumpkineater; Phillips 9 Donkeys of the Apocolypse; Rekorderlig Swedish Cider; Tullibardine 1488 Blond Ale, Strong Ale, Traditional Ale, Whiskey Beer. Restocks: Deshutes Green Lakes Organic, Hop in the Dark, Inversion IPA; Lagunitas IPA, Maximus IPA, Pale Ale; Spinnakers Our Emily Summer Ale; Stone Runiation IPA.
Firefly Fine Wines and Ales, Vancouver
2857 Cambie Street, Vancouver
10:00am - 11:00pm daily
Howe Sound Pumpkineater; Lagunitas Hop Stoopid, IPA, Little Sumpin Sumpin, Maximus IPA; Phillips 9 Donkeys of the Hopocalypse; Pretty Things American Darling, Field Mouse's Farewell; Southern Tier Big Red, Heavy Weizen, Mokah; San Miguel Dark. Restocks: Green Flash West Coast IPA; Hitachino Japanese Classic Ale, White Ale; Southern Tier UnEarthly.
Libations Liquor Store, Shaughnessy
962 West King Edward, Vancouver
10:00am - 9:00pm daily
Alhambra Reserva; James Boag Premium Lager; Quilmes Cerveza.
411 Columbia St, New Westminster
10:00am - 9:00pm daily
Bowen Island Sampler Pack; Howe Sound Pumpkineater, Total Eclipse of the Hop;
Southern Tier Bug Red, Mokah, UnEarthly; Restocks: Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye;
Fruli Strawberry; North Coast Old Rasputin.
900 Seymour Street, Vancouver
10:00am to 11:00pm Mon-Sat, noon to 11:00pm Sundays
Howe Sound Pumpkineater, Total Eclipse of the Hop; Lighthouse Brewing Race
Rocks, Riptide, Stout; Mill St. Brewing Summer Mixer. Restocks: Samuel Adams
Lager.
June 2010
BCLDB
New whiskey at BCLDB is "Big Peat" - a vatted malt from Islay that is pretty good. I want to do a side-by-side taste test comparing it to my other favourite vatted malt from lslay - Clan Denny
New Beer Arrivals/Restocks/Seasonals
Kingfisher's in Maple Ridge have updated their taps list. Their seasonal tap
is now pouring Tree's Hefweizen, and their feature tap is now pouring
Driftwood's Driftwood Ale.
The first seasonal at the new
BigRidge location will be on tap starting Friday July 2nd. Brewmaster Tariq
Khan has brewed a hop-forward Belgian ale, entitled "Wrath of Khan II". This
Belgian IPA comes in at 6.9% ABV and is brewed with Magnum, Amarillo, Palisades,
and Czech Saaz hops.
Also on the horizon is
Red Truck Brewing's Blueberry Ale. According to brewmaster David Varga the
blueberry ale is a 6% blonde ale fermented with blueberries. watch for it in
early July.
Lastly, the good people over at
Beerthirst have been working hard to bring you more great craft beer. Look
for Stone and Mikkeller at you local bottle shop in the next week or two.
Brewery Creek
3045 Main Street, Vancouver
Fernie Belgian White Ale; Fernie 'What the Huck' Huckleberry Wheat; Hitachino
Nest Red Rice Ale, Weizen; Howe Sound King Hefey Imperial Hefeweizen.
Firefly Fine Wines and Ales, Maple Ridge
21755 Lougheed Highway, Maple Ridge
10:00am - 11:00pm daily
Eel River Blond Organic; Fruli Strawberry Beer; Howe Sound Whitecap Wheat; Innis
& Gunn Canadian Cask; Lost Coast Tangerine Wheat; Phillips Wheat King Hefeweizen;
Phillips Raspberry Wheat; Propeller London Porter; Pyramid Audacious Apricot
Ale; Rogue Double Mocha Porter, John John Ale; Upright Brewing Four. Restocks:
Anderson Valley Boon Amber Ale; Cannery Brewing Scotch Ale; Central City ESB;
Eel River IPA Organic; Estrella Damm Inedit; Flying Dog Old Scratch Amber Ale,
Pale Ale; Phillips Sampler Pack; Weltenburger Hefe Weissbier, Pilsner.
Firefly Fine Wines and Ales, Vancouver
2857 Cambie Street, Vancouver
10:00am - 11:00pm daily
Fruli Strawberry Beer; Hitachino Weizen, White ale; Howe Sound King Hefey
Imperial Hefeweizen; Rogue Chatoe Single Malt Ale.
Libations Liquor Store, Shaughnessy
962 West King Edward, Vancouver
10:00am - 9:00pm daily
Central City ESB; Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale; Half Pints Little Scrapper IPA; Spinnaker's Brewpub Honey Pale Ale, IPA; Rogue Chatoe Single Malt Ale, Double Mocha Porter.
Viti
900 Seymour Street, Vancouver
noon - 11:00pm daily
Brooklyn Pilsner; Coopers Premium Lager; Fernie 'What The Huck' Huckleberry
Wheat; Fruli Strawberry Beer; Lake Front Fuel Cafe Stout; Phillips Raspberry
Wheat, Wheat King Hefeweizen; Trois Mousquetaires Doppelbock, Maibock,
Weizenbock. Restocks: Fullers London Pride; Hitachino Classic Ale, Red Rice Ale,
White Ale, Weizen; Mt. Begbie High Country Kolsch
May 2010
New for BCLDB - Pinky Vodka. Sells for $59.99 for 750 ml. See Dipsophilia's review here.
3045 Main Street, Vancouver
Bowen Island IPA; Brooklyn Black Ops; Cantillon Gueuze, Kriek, Rosé De Gambrinus;
Granville Island Bitter; Lakefront Fuel Coffee Stout, IPA, New Grist (Gluten
free); Mt. Begbie Kolsch; Samuel Smith Fruit Ales (Cherry, Raspberry,
Strawberry); WeltenBerger Hefe-Weizen Hell, Pils.
2001 MacDonald Street, Vancouver
9:00am - 11:00pm daily
Cantillon Gueuze, Kriek, Rosé De Gambrinus.
Firefly Fine Wines and Ales, Maple Ridge
21755 Lougheed Highway, Maple Ridge
10:00am - 11:00pm daily
Central City Red Racer ESB; Pretty Things Triple Hoppy; Weltenburger Hefe-Weizen
Hell, Pils. Restocks: Chapeau Apricot Lambic; Fischer Tradition; North Coast
Scrimshaw Pilsner.
Firefly Fine Wines and Ales, Vancouver
2857 Cambie Street, Vancouver
10:00am - 11:00pm daily
Granville Island Bitter; Lakewood Brewery Fuel coffee stout, IPA, New Grist
(gluten free); Mt. Begbie Cream Ale; Pike Kilt Lifter; Russell IP'Eh, Wee Angry
Scotch Ale; Samuel Smith Fruit Ales (Cherry, Raspberry, Strawberry); Yukon lead
Dog Strong Ale. Restocks: Merridale Ciders House, Merri Berri, Scrumpy,
Traditional; Moylans IPA.
Libations Liquor Store, Dundarave
2472 Marine Drive, West Vancouver
10:00am - 11:00pm daily
Phillips Double Barrel Scotch Ale, Springbock; Spinnaker's Blue Bridge, Fog Fighter, Mitchell's ESB; Wychwood Hobgoblin Ruby Ale.
Libations Liquor Store, Shaughnessy
962 West King Edward, Vancouver
10:00am - 9:00pm daily
Bowen Island Extra Pale Ale; Spinnakers Blue Bridge, Fog Fighter, Mitchell's ESB;
Weltenbuger Kloster Hefe-Weizen Hell; Whistler Weissbier.
900 Seymour Street, Vancouver
noon - 11:00pm daily
Mt. Begbie Nasty Habits IPA, Power House Pale Ale; Weltenburger Kloster
Hefe-Weizen Hell, Pils. Restocks: Chimay Blue, Red.
Point Grey Beer and Wine
3338 West Broadway, Vancouvernoon - 11:00pm daily
Brooklyn Black Ops; Dogfish Head Chicory Stout; Driftwood Belle Royale; Phillips Double Barrel Scotch Ale; Pretty things Jack D'Or
April 2010
New Beer Arrivals/Restocks/Seasonals
Red TruckIPA is now on tap at the Alibi Room, Caffe Barney, and the Village Taphouse in West Vancouver. St. Augustine's has Red Truck Ale and their seasonal (currently a Belgian golden ale) on tap.
11:00am - 11:00pm daily
Cannery Squire Scotch Ale; Dogfish Head Chicory Stout.
10:00am - 11:00pm daily
Brew Dog Tokyo; Cannery Squire Scotch Ale; Central City Summer Medley Pack; Dogfish Head Chicory Stout; Tree Captivator Doppelbock, Summer mixed pack. Restocks: Ballast Point IPA; North Coast Acme IPA, Acme Pale Ale, Old Rasputin; Pretty Things.
10:00am - 11:00pm daily
Belhaven Wee Heavy; Samuel Smith Imperial Stout. Restocks: Konig Ludwig Weissbier; Old Speckled Hen; Pinkus Munster Ale; Rogue Dead Guy Ale (Growler).
10:00am - 9:00pm daily
Howe Sound Brewing Pothole Filler Imperial Stout; Lindemans Cassis Lambic, Pomme Lambic; Rogue Hazelnut Brown, Juniper Pale Ale
January 2010
Brewery Creek
3045 Main Street, Vancouver
11:00am - 11:00pm daily
Russell Brewing BlackDeath Porter. Comming Soon: Eel River (California),
Hitachino Nest (Japan), Pretty Things (Massachusetts).
Darby's Liquor Store
2001 MacDonald Street, Vancouver
9:00am - 11:00pm daily
Restocks: Central City Pumpkin Ale, Winter Ale; Dog Fish Head Midas Touch; Granville Island Jolly Abbot; Rogue Captain Sig's Deadliest Catch, Santa's Private Reserve; Tree Black Tree Dark Ale, Spiced Reserve Ale.
Firefly Fine Wines and Ales (Vancouver)
2857 Cambie Street, Vancouver
10:00am - 11:00pm daily
Coney Island Sword Swallower Lager; Fullers London Porter; Propellor Porter; Saltspring Island Pale Ale, Porter. Restocks: Swans Berry, Brown Ale, ESB, Extra IPA, Legacy Ale, Oatmeal Stout, Pandora Pale Ale, Scotch Ale.
Firefly Fine Wines and Ales (Maple Ridge)
21755 Lougheed Highway, Maple Ridge
10:00am - 11:00pm daily
Stanley Park 1897 Amber Ale; Swans Berry, Brown Ale, ESB, Extra IPA, Legacy Ale, Oatmeal Stout, Pandora Pale Ale, Scotch Ale.
December 2009
From: Artisan SakeMaker
Subject: KAMPAI!! A new batch of JUNMAI SPARKLING SAKE is in!!
Dear Customers:
We have just bottled a new batch of OSAKE JUNMAI SPARKLING SAKE ($24.00) just in time to celebrate the coming festive season. It's lightly sweet and bubbly with 13.5% in alc. vol., a perfect drink for holiday gatherings with your family and friends !
Our business hours in December and January are:
à For the balance of this month, we will open our retail store EVERYDAY except on December 25. Our tasting counter is also open from 11:30 am until 6 pm.
à We will close on the New Year’s day and after January 2, we will close on Tuesday and Wednesday until the end of January.
Thank you for your continued patronage throughout the year. We wish you a happy holiday season and all the best in the coming year.Sincerely,
Masa Shiroki, Sakemaker
Artisan SakeMaker at Granville Island 1339 Railspur Alley, Vancouver, BC. V6H 4G9
Tel: 604-685-7253 www.osake.com (www.artisansakemaker.com)
New Beer Arrivals/Restocks/Seasonals
Brewery Creek
3045 Main Street, Vancouver
11:00am - 11:00pm daily
Abbaye des Rocs Noel; Driftwood Old Cellar Dweller Barleywine (08 and 09
vintages); Fuller's Vintage Ale; Rogue Yellow Snow (Growler); Scaldis Premium
Noel; Southern Tier Oat Imperial Stout. Restocks: Brooklyn Local 1; Southern
Tier Unearthly Imperial IPA.
Firefly Fine Wines and Ales (Vancouver)
2857 Cambie Street, Vancouver
10:00am - 11:00pm daily
Driftwood Old Cellar Dweller (08 and 09 vintages); Green Flash Barleywine; North Coast Old Rasputin XII; Rogue Mogul Madness, Yellow Snow (Growler); Salt Spring Island Pale Ale, Porter; Southern Tier Iniquity Imperial Black Ale, Oat Imperial Oatmeal Stout. Restocks: Granville Island Jolly Abbott.
Firefly Fine Wines and Ales (Maple Ridge)
21755 Lougheed Highway, Maple Ridge
10:00am - 11:00pm daily
Brooklyn Local 2; Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale; Konig Ludwig Weiss; Lighthouse
Brewing Winter Ale; Pyramid Snow Cap; Rogue Mogul Madness, Yellow Snow (Growler)
Libations
962 West King Edward, Vancouver
10:00am - 9:00pm daily
Driftwood Old Cellar Dweller Barleywine; Phillips Deadhead Barleywine,
Instigator Doppelbock.
Viti
900 Seymour Street, Vancouver
noon - 11:00pm daily
Phillips Deadhead Barleywine, Instigator Doppelbock
November 2009
BCLDB Whisky Release (October 31, 2009) (from BCLDB web site)
With enthusiasm for premium whisky growing each year, BC Liquor Stores continues to seek global selections of rare and highly recommended whiskies. The products presented in this release are chosen for rarity, accolades, variety and appeal.
Featuring whiskies of interest for the collector as well as the whisky novice, this release includes aged malt whiskies, vintage releases, unique and limited cask offerings and a variety of cask finishes and price ranges from around the world - Scotland, Ireland, America, Japan, Welsh, and India.
For the enthusiast, a special tasting event featuring special guest Gerry Tosh, brand ambassador for Macallan and Highland Park, will take place at the 39th & Cambie Signature Store (Vancouver) on Tuesday, October 27th. Seating is limited, tickets may be purchased at the store while supplies last. For more information about the event, check out Events page.
The release begins Saturday, October 31 at Signature and select BC Liquor Stores for participating locations. The broadest selection of whiskies will be featured at our flagship BC Liquor Store located at 39th Avenue & Cambie Street in Vancouver.
Bottle restrictions will apply to the rarest whiskies with limited supply. We recommend shopping early to avoid disappointment.
For more information about the whiskies available, download the brochure or pick one up from Signature stores today
From CAMRA:
New Beer Arrivals/Restocks/Seasonals
3045 Main Street, Vancouver
11:00am - 11:00pm daily
Central City Medley Pack, Winter ale; Estrella Damm Inedit; Noël de Silenrieux;
Tenute Collesi Rossa Amber, Chiara Kolsch.
2001 MacDonald Street, Vancouver
9:00am - 11:00pm daily
Anchor Christmas Ale; Driftwood Blackstone Porter; Southern Tier Hoppe Imperial Extra Pale Ale, Iniquity Imperial Black Ale.
2857 Cambie Street, Vancouver
10:00am - 11:00pm daily
Anchor-Christmas Ale; Central City Medley Pack; Howe Sound Father John's Winter
Ale; Innis & Gunn Triple Matured Ale; R&B Auld Nick Winter Ale; Samuel Smith
Organic Cider; Tree Black Tree Dark Ale; Unibroue Sommellier Selection; Whistler
Brewing Winter Pack. Restocks: Moylans Double IPA, Hopsickle, IPA, Irish Red.
962 West King Edward, Vancouver
10:00am - 9:00pm daily
Phillips Dirty Squirrel Hazelnut Brown; Pyramid Snow Cap Winter Ale; Tree Black
Tree Dark Ale.
Viti
900 Seymour Street, Vancouver
noon - 11:00pm daily
Central City Winter Ale; McAuslan St-Ambroise Pumpkin; Phillips Dirty Squirrel
Hazelnut Brown; R&B Auld Nick Winter Ale
October 2009
3045 Main Street, Vancouver
11:00am - 11:00pm daily
Phillips Blackberry HeiferBison; Russell Marzen.
2001 MacDonald Street, Vancouver
9:00am - 11:00pm daily
Ecaussinnes Maple Syrup Beer; Phillips Blackberry HeiferBison; L&L Cognac
X.O. Restocks: Brasserie de Blaugies Biere Darbyste; Coney Island Lager;
Driftwood Brother Bart's Belgian Brown Ale; Ecaussinnes Cookie Beer;
Granville Island Blonde Ale.
2857 Cambie Street, Vancouver
10:00am - 11:00pm daily
Phillips Blackberry HeiferBison Wheat Ale. Restocks: Anderson Valley Amber
Ale, ESB, IPA; Dogfish Head 60 minute IPA, 90 minute IPA; Green Flash Le
Freak; North Coast Red Seal.
962 West King Edward, Vancouver
10:00am - 9:00pm daily
Ballast Point Calico Amber Ale, Yellow Tail Pale Ale; Phillips Blackberry
HeiferBison Wheat Ale. Restocks: Swan's Appleton Brown Ale, Berry Ale,
Coconut Porter, ESB, Extra IPA, Legacy Ale, Oatmeal Stout, Old Town Lager,
Pandora Pale Ale.
900 Seymour Street, Vancouver
noon - 11:00pm daily
Restocks: Half Pints Bulldog Amber, Little Scrapper IPA, St. James Pale,
Sweet Nicky Brown; Phillips Crazy 8's Annu-Ale; Swan's Berry Ale, Tessier's
Wit.
September 2009
Phillips limited
edition Crazy8's Annu-Ale, celebrating their eighth year in business, should be
hitting the private liquor store shelves this week. Also on the horizon is
Brooklyn Local 2, a Belgian-style strong, dark ale. I recommend comparing it
with
Anderson Valley's Brother David's Double. Rumour has it that
The Bruery's products are also coming.
This will be the first year that we will see BC fresh-hop IPAs. At least two
will be available from Victoria breweries. Driftwood will be brewing a Sartori
Harvest IPA using fresh Centennial hops from Sartori Cedar Ranch in the Columbia
Valley, south of Chilliwack. It's also rumoured that Phillips will be making one
as well. With a number of small local hop growers now having their crop nearing
or ready to harvest, this is a good opportunity for brewers to take the
opportunity to brew a batch of this wonderful ale.
Speaking of IPAs, Mt. Begbie will be coming out with their winter seasonal
around Halowe'en. Called Nasty Habit, it will either be an English-style IPA or
a dark IPA.
3045 Main Street, Vancouver
11:00am - 11:00pm daily
Ballast Point Big Eye India Pale Ale, Calico Amber Ale, Yellowtail Pale Ale;
Spire Apple Cider, Dark & Dry Apple Cider.
2857 Cambie Street, Vancouver
10:00am - 11:00pm daily
Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale; Green Flash Trippel; Half Pints Bulldog Amber,
Little Scrapper IPA, St. James Pale Ale, Sweet Nikki Brown; Phillips Crazy8's
Annu-Ale. Restocks:
Anderson Valley Boont Amber, Boont ESB, Hop Ottin' IPA; Brooklyn Local 1; Coney
Island Human Blockhead; Flying Dog Doggie Style Classic Pale Ale, Road Dog
Porter; Green Flash Double Stout, Imperial IPA; MacTarnahan's Blackwatch Porter;
North Coast Acme IPA; Paddock Wood Double Double.
962 West King Edward, Vancouver
10:00am - 9:00pm daily
Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA; Coopers Pale Ale; Dogfish Head 60 minute IPA; Half
Pints Bulldog Amber, Sweet Nikki Brown; Phillips Gentleman Jim's Ginger Ale;
Propeller IPA; Steam Whistle Pilsner. Tastings: Central City Brewing -- Friday
4:00 - 7:00pm; 50 cents of every purchase this month goes toward the Canadian
Cancer Society