Torque takes gold at brewing awards

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This article was published 18/05/2019 (2664 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba breweries nabbed a whole whack of hardware at the Canadian Brewing Awards earlier in May.

Torque Brewing had a banner night, earning two gold medals; its Witty Belgian took top spot in the wheat beer — Belgian-style category, while its Red Line IPA was best in the North American-style amber/red ale category.

Brazen Hall Kitchen & Brewery nabbed a silver in the barley wine-style ale category for its Bjorninn Barley Wine; Nonsuch Brewing Co., meanwhile, won a silver in the Belgian-style strong ale category for its 350 Orange Chocolate Belgian rye ale. Last but not least, Half Pints Brewing Co. earned a bronze for its Cherry Barn Belgian-style sour ale.

For a full list of winners, see canadianbrewingawards.com.

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Beer fans who have been enjoying the beer growler program in the province will soon have far fewer options when it comes to (re)filling those brown jugs.

Earlier this month, Manitoba Liquor Marts announced they’d be bringing their growler program to a close, meaning growler bar taps at 10 Liquor Marts will be dry as of July 1. Citing the success of local brewers over the past few years (most of whom fill growlers themselves), Liquor Marts have decided the growler program is no longer required in their stores. (A half-dozen beer vendors also provide growler-filling services.)

For a list of all growler bar locations in the city (including breweries and beer vendors), see liquormarts.ca/growler.

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The proprietors of Barn Hammer Brewing Co. have spun a new line of beers out into the world via their Wall Street taproom.

Low Life Barrel House is a project spearheaded by Tyler Birch, Sable Birch and Brian Westcott of Barn Hammer, as well as their friend Adam Carson. The focus and philosophy of Low Life is notably different from Barn Hammer’s, with an emphasis on sour beers, oak aging and brewing using the brettanomyces (or “brett”) yeast strain, which can impart some wild, funky notes in beer (and wine, for that matter).

For those with adventurous palates, the first couple of Low Life beers, including the Blood Cut brett pale ale, are available at Barn Hammer (595 Wall St.) as well as a handful of select beer vendors.

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Some local scientists and researchers want to chat about what they’ve been working on over a tall glass of something cold and frothy.

From May 20-22, Winnipeg will be one of 25 Canadian cities to host Pint of Science events at a handful of venues. The event gives curious minds the chance to hear from researchers in fields such as genetics, robotics, neurology, food science and more.

The Pint of Science events take place at the King’s Head Pub (120 King St.), One Great City Brewing Co. (1596 Ness Ave.) and Fionn MacCool’s (1180 Grant Ave.) beginning at 7:30 p.m., and while there’s no charge for admission, tickets are required.

To obtain a free ticket and for information on all sessions, including the presenters, visit wfp.to/pintofscience.

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Looking to grab some beer, wine or spirits this Victoria Day long weekend? Fret not — all Liquor Marts (except the Cityplace location) are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the holiday Monday, while beer vendors and private wine stores can open as well.

 

uncorked@mts.net

Twitter: @bensigurdson

 

Drinks of the week

While the temperatures this Victoria Day weekend don’t exactly look to be scorching, here are some summer-y radlers, fruit-infused beers and a light and cheerful wine to get you in the long weekend/lake/summer mentality:

The Fort Garry Brewing Co. Lemon Radler (Winnipeg — $3.45/473ml can, select beer vendors and Liquor Marts) is dubbed a “malt forward lager infused with lemon juice.” It’s pale gold in colour and clear, and aromatically brings a lemon-driven nose, with secondary malt and slightly herbal notes. It’s mainly dry, and the malty notes emerge more prominently on the light-bodied palate, working well with the slightly more mellow lemon flavours. While it’s more shandy than radler, it’s a refreshing drink to help beat the heat (if there is any) regardless. Also available in 6x355ml can packages. ★★★

A pair of local brews are bringing grapefruit-infused goodness (both with bicycle-influenced art, no less) in a big way. The Stone Angel Brewing Co. Onkel Georg Radler (Winnipeg — $3.71/473ml can, brewery, select beer vendors and Liquor Marts) is back again for the coming warmer months; it’s medium straw and hazy in colour, and brings grapefruit candy, fresh malt, oat and a slight creamsicle note on the nose. On the light-plus bodied palate the bubbles are soft and restrained, and the malt and slightly sweet grapefruit flavours work well together both in texture and flavour. At a modest three per cent alcohol, this will certainly be a hit on patios and at barbecues. ★★★1/2

Meanwhile, the Half Pints Brewing Co. Bikey McBikeFace (Winnipeg — $3.88/473ml cans, brewery, select beer vendors and Liquor Marts) is making its first appearance in cans this spring. Dubbed a “grapefruit lager” rather than a radler, it’s medium-gold in colour and hazy; on the nose, meanwhile, it brings a more pronounced grapefruit-rind note that works well with the toasty oat and malt aromas. That grapefruit pith bitterness comes through on the racy, light-plus bodied and slightly off-dry palate, while the malty component manages to hold court. More intensity than your typical radler (and the alcohol’s a shade higher at 4.5 per cent), and plenty tasty. ★★★★

If you’re looking for something light, fresh and just a little salty and very sour this weekend, the Torque Brewing Mangoza! Gose (Winnipeg — $3.99/473ml can, brewery, select beer vendors and Liquor Marts) is medium-straw in colour and quite hazy, with a frothy white head. There’s a hint of briny saltiness on the nose, with bright malt and oat notes and something that comes across as a touch nutty. It’s crisp and quite sour — far more so than any radler-type brew — with racy acidity delivering a salty tartness over top of underlying doughiness and just a hint of mango. It’s four per cent alcohol; consider this another candidate for warm-weather sipping that will also leave your mouth watering. ★★★1/2

If it’s berries you’re after, the Doan’s Craft Berry Time (Vancouver — $2.75/355ml can, select beer vendors) brings them in spades. This raspberry kölsch is medium cherry-red in colour; aromatically the fresh raspberry notes work in tandem with the malt and violet component. It’s predominantly dry, but the raspberry flavours come through in a big way here, with just a hint of bitterness that keeps things racy and some subtle malt notes emerging on the palate. The raspberries bring an almost tannic-like note that’s slightly mouth-drying, while the acidity brings great raciness. Very tasty; picked up at the Quality Inn beer vendor at 685 Weatherdon Ave. ★★★★

If it’s an easy-drinking patio wine you’re after, the Home of Origin 2018 No Monkey Business Moskato (Western Cape, South Africa — around $12/500ml bottle, private wine stores) is a good bet. This Moscato is pale straw in colour, with a hint of effervescence that creates some soft, white bubbles. The fresh tropical fruit notes on the nose — think papaya, mango and pineapple — are intense, and the underlying chalky and floral notes pleasant as well. It’s a wine with just 5.5 per cent alcohol, and as such is fairly sweet, with bright stone fruit, pineapple and lemon candy flavours and that chalkiness that adds a layer of complexity — but not so much that you couldn’t fill up for the patio or make a killer mimosa/sparkling cocktail. ★★★1/2