< >

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.

Brewery Creek

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.

Darby's Liquor Store

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.

Viti

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, Vancouver
noon - 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

New releases from Pretty Things, a small artisanal Massachusetts brewer, will be on the shelves in the next week or two. First up is Pretty Things Fluffy White Rabbits, a hoppy triple. Fluffy White Rabbits, their spring seasonal release, is a 8.5% triple hopped with Saaz, Styrian Goldings and Amarillo hops. Also from Pretty Things is their February 27th, 1832 Mild Ale. This is a recreation of a strong (10.5%), hoppy mild ale originally brewed in 178 years ago in London. While a strong, hoppy beer may seem like the opposite of a modern mild ale, the term 'mild' was originally used to describe beer sold young rather than aged.

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.

Brewery Creek

3045 Main Street, Vancouver
11:00am - 11:00pm daily
Cannery Squire Scotch Ale; Dogfish Head Chicory Stout.

Firefly Fine Wines and Ales, Vancouver

2857 Cambie Street, Vancouver
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.

Firefly Fine Wines and Ales, Maple Ridge

21755 Lougheed Highway, Maple Ridge
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).

Libations Liquor Store, Shaughnessy

962 West King Edward, Vancouver
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

Firefly's Maple Ridge location is now open. The Maple Ridge location has over 200 of the "craft/micros" from BC and around the world, including: Central City Red Racer, Paddock Wood, Howe Sound, Tree, Anchor, North Coast, Phillips, Rogue, Granville Island, Brooklyn, Half Pints, Dead Frog, and more.

Brewery Creek

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.

Darby's Liquor Store

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.

Firefly Fine Wines and Ales

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.

Libations

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

From CAMRA - Tree Brewing is about to release their latest limited release, Black Tree Dark Ale. A combination of Tree's Spy Porter and Cutthroat Pale Ale, this limited edition beer has been brewed to help reforest urban and rural forests destroyed by this summer's wildfires. Also, be sure not to miss Driftwood's Sartori Harvest IPA, an IPA brewed with fresh hops from the Sartori Cedar Ranch hop yard in the Columbia Valley (just south of Chilliwack). Both beers should be hitting the shelves in the next week or two.

Whistler Brewhouse's latest seasonal is a double IPA. At 8.5% and 70 IBUs it is a stronger, hoppier take on brewmaster Dave Woodward's single IPA. Dave has brewed this exclusively with Cascade hops. Also, there are new craft beer offerings at Compass Point Inn in Surrey. Amber Jack's Tap House now has Cannery Wildfire Dark IPA, Russell Marzen, and Tree's Amber Ale on tap, and Jake's Steakhouse now has Deschutes Black Butte Porter!

Lastly, Wild Hop Gael Ale, the next seasonal release from Crannog Ales should be available in Vancouver by the end of the month. As the name suggests, this ale has been brewed with wild hops found growing around an abandoned wellhouse on Left Field Farms.

Brewery Creek

3045 Main Street, Vancouver
11:00am - 11:00pm daily
Phillips Blackberry HeiferBison; Russell Marzen.

Darby's Liquor Store

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.

Firefly Fine Wines and Ales

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.

Libations

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.

Viti

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.

Brewery Creek

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.

Firefly Fine Wines and Ales

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.

Libations

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