Don’t fear the dark

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/10/2023 (779 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As we roll into spooky season, two local breweries are celebrating the dark and the macabre with big, bold beers that aren’t for the faint of heart.

Today from 1 to 9 p.m., Good Neighbour Brewing Co. (110 Sherbrook St.) adopts its sinister alter ego, Bad Neighbour, with no fewer than seven imperial beers on offer, including a stout, milkshake sour, IPA and more, four of which will also be available in cans. (“Imperial” typically means “big” in the beer world — think higher alcohol and intense flavours — although it’s typically only used in describing stouts.)

In addition to the imperial brews there will be some other small-batch beers, fire-poked stouts — where a red-hot poker is dipped in a mug of dark beer, causing it to foam up and giving it a richer texture and flavour — imperial-based cocktails and more.

On Saturday, Oct. 28, Sookram’s Brewing Co. (479-B Warsaw Ave.) delivers imperial stouts of its own as part of the annual Beastmas event beginning at noon. Always popular, Beastmas celebrates a new batch of the Star Beast imperial stout, as well as variants on the dark, bold beer, including a Trinidadian black cake Star Beast.

Mixed four-packs of Star Beast will be available starting at noon, Brizzy Boys BBQ will be on hand serving up all manner of grilled fare starting at 2 p.m. (while supplies last), non-stout test batches will be poured starting at 6 p.m. and music in the evening will be provided by DJ Tony 4QR.

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On a far less sinister note, local cider producer Next Friend celebrates its haul of more than 30,000 pounds of fruit — nearly all local and most foraged from backyard trees and plants — on Thursday from 4 to 10 p.m. at Low Life Barrel House (398 Daly St. N.), where Next Friend makes its cider.

The Next Friend Harvest Wrap Party will see Crumb Queen on hand with crullers and Andy’s Lunch serving up bianca sandwiches; there will also be door prizes and music by DJ $100, while one dollar from every cider pour will be donated to NorWest Community Food Centre. The event is family-friendly and free.

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Speaking of family-friendly, it appears minors will continue to be allowed in most local brewery tap rooms, meaning grown-ups can buy or enjoy a beer with kids in tow.

Producers were put in a bit of a bind when Bill 7, the Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Amendment Act, went into effect on Sept. 1. The bill saw brewery licences automatically converted to a category that prohibited minors from entering the premises — something which until that time had been permitted.

Breweries were able to apply for an exemption from the minors ruling, which it seems most did, based on social-media posts. If you’re considering visiting a brewery tap room with young ones, be sure to check the producer’s social-media sites or drop them a line to see if they still allow minors.

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The Manitoba chapter of the Canadian Association for Professional Sommeliers (CAPS) will host a Chardonnay tasting on Monday, Nov. 27, at Promenade Brasserie (130 Provencher Blvd.) in honour of Rebecca Lechman, a former CAPS member (and Jones & Co. employee as well as a fervent Chardonnay fan) who died suddenly in March 2020.

CAPS Manitoba created the Rebecca Lechman Memorial Bursary in 2022, a $1,000 prize awarded to an individual looking to further their knowledge in the wine or hospitality industry. The recipient of the award will be announced at the tasting, which runs from 6:45 to 9 p.m.

Tickets for the tasting are $45 for CAPS members and $60 for non-members, and can be purchased online at wfp.to/6M6. For those interested in applying for the bursary (and you don’t have to be a CAPS member to do so), information can be found at wfp.to/6Mj — the deadline to apply is Nov. 13, after which a group of Rebecca’s family and friends will choose the recipient.

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Drinks of the week

Sookram’s Brewing Co. Macguffin California Common (Winnipeg — $4.09/473ml cans, brewery, beer vendors, coming soon to Liquor Marts)

One of this brewery’s original offerings is back, and it’s as good as ever. Bright copper in colour and clear, this California Common is made with lager yeast but fermented at ale temperatures. Aromatically it brings big fresh malt notes with hints of hops, dried fruit and spice; it’s medium-bodied and balances the robust malt notes with caramel and crisp cracked oat flavours, hints of hops and apple, and a modest finish (it’s five per cent alcohol). Still a winner. 4/5

Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban (Tain, Scotland — $114.99, Liquor Marts)

This single malt Scotch whisky is aged in ex-bourbon casks for 10 years before being transferred to former ruby port barrels for an additional four years of aging. There are lovely notes of raisin, spice, plum and caramel that come through on the nose here; on the palate, meanwhile, it’s medium-bodied and quite smooth, with the caramel, toasted nut and raisin notes showing well flavour-wise before the warm, lengthy but smooth (and 46 per cent alcohol) finish. Delicious. 4.5/5

Cuvée des Galets 2021 rouge (Côtes du Rhône, France — around $20, private wine stores)

Medium-ruby in colour, this vegan red blend of Grenache and Syrah brings fun red licorice, earth, cherry and raspberry aromas. It’s a medium-plus-bodied red, with ripe red-berry flavours, hints of stewed cherry/cherry pie filling, modest tannins, a healthy dollop of acidity and a medium-length finish. Drink now, slightly chilled — available at the Pourium and Jones & Co. 3.5/5

Mazzei Ser Lapo 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva (Chianti, Italy — $29.99, Liquor Marts and beyond)

This sharp-looking Italian red is a 90-10 blend of Sangiovese and Merlot, and aromatically delivers tart raspberry, fresh earth, violet, red licorice and spice notes. It’s a full-bodied and dry but densely fruity Chianti, with almost-jammy cherry, raspberry, plum and cassis notes wrapped in chewy tannins and served with a dash of vanilla (from 12 months in oak barrels, half of which are new) before a modest but warm finish. Combines Old World rustic elegance with excellent depth of fruit; drink this impressive red now or hold for 4-6 years. 4.5/5

 

 

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