Beer and cider lovers unite!

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 15/07/2023 (1193 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Beer and cider lovers in Manitoba have plenty to look forward to this summer, with all manner of range of tastings, beer-and-food pairings, brewery concerts and more coming over the next couple of months…

Morden’s Rendezvous Brewery and Taproom will be serving up brews in Carman today at the Carman Fair, which started on July 13 and runs through to the end of today. The beer gardens open from noon to 2 a.m. and feature performances by Daniel Desorcy and others. For more on all the fun on tap, see carmancountryfair.ca.

Back in the big city, the Beer Can at the Granite (1 Granite Way) is hosting Ciderday, featuring Manitoba cideries Next Friend, Wooden Gate and Dead Horse, today from 2 to 6 p.m. The trio of cider producers will be sampling a range of their products; $25 gets you a cider passport, which will get you six four-ounce pours — they’re available at the Beer Can bar the day of the event.

The second edition of Ballpark Brewfest takes place next Saturday (July 22) from 1 to 5 p.m. at Shaw Park. A total of 24 local craft breweries, brew pubs and contract brewers (plus one cidery) will be on hand to pour their wares all afternoon, rain or shine (booths are set up under the roof of the concourse area). Tickets are $60 plus fees and include all samples, a miniature souvenir mug and your choice of a hotdog, burger or slice of pizza. See wfp.to/NaF for details.

If you’re in Brandon next Saturday and can’t make it into Winnipeg for the big beer fest, you could always pop by Black Wheat Brewing (402 10th St.) and catch L.A.-born, Winnipeg-based Drew Wolitarsky — who is also a wide receiver for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers — slinging his tunes alongside Black Wheat’s brews from 7 to 9 p.m.

If you’re free on Wednesday, July 26, One Sixteen (116 Sherbrook St.) is hosting a collaborative beer pairing dinner featuring food by Two Hands (the culinary brains of One Sixteen) and beer from pals at Good Neighbour Brewing Co. The tasting takes place in the courtyard between the two spots; each of the courses in the sharing menu will be paired with one of Good Neighbour’s beers, with the chef and brewmaster on hand to explain. Tickets are $125 plus fees and are available at wfp.to/NaW.

The following night (Thursday, July 27), enjoy an evening of art, food, music, games and, of course, beer. The Artspace Alley Fair runs from 7 to 11 p.m. and will feature food by Bahay Kubo as well as a pop-up bar that will be pouring, among other things, the limited-edition Summer Dandy Belgian Ale, a collaborative brew between Nonsuch Brewing Co. and Artspace. Music will be by DJ Konjo, and there will be art prizes by Julian K for winners of carnival games. Tickets are $65 plus fees and include food and beverages as well as a piece of art; as it’s a fundraiser for Artspace, you’ll also get a charitable tax receipt. Grab your tickets at wfp.to/Nae.

And while Fort Gibraltar may be currently out of commission, organizers of the Winnipeg Beer Festival have moved their event over to Le Patio at 340 Provencher Blvd. (adjacent to the Centre culturel franco-manitobain) for the Saturday, Aug. 12, event. More than 20 producers (mainly breweries, with some other options available as well as non-alcoholic beverages) will be on hand for the event, which features two separate time slots — 5-7 p.m. or 7:30-9:30 p.m. Tickets for each slot (which features all samples) are $50 and are available at wfp.to/Nag.

Beers of the week

Stone Angel Brewing Co. Onkel Georg Margarita Radler (Winnipeg — $4.20/473ml cans, brewery, Liquor Marts, beer vendors)

Pale gold in colour and slightly hazy with modest carbonation, this light brew has some subtle lime and almost-salty notes on the nose.

It’s mainly dry and light-bodied, with the citrus and saline notes showing well along with mild malt flavours before the short finish (it’s a modest three per cent).

It’s tasty, but could use more pep in the form of carbonation. 3/5

Nonsuch Brewing Co. Limeade Cherry Sour (Winnipeg — $4.80/473ml cans, brewery, Liquor Marts, beer vendors)

Medium reddish gold in colour and hazy, this brew’s lime and cherry aromas successfully walk a fine line between fresh fruit and candied notes.

It’s light-bodied and dry, with a healthy dollop of lime and sour cherry flavours that are quite tasty, a slight salty note coming with moderate acidity and a medium-length 5.5 per cent finish. Lively and fresh. 4/5

One Great City Flamingo Crossing Fruited Sour (Winnipeg — $4.29/473ml cans, brewery, beer vendors)

Prickly pear, guava and passionfruit have all been infused into this sour beer, which is medium copper in colour and hazy.

There’s a nice sour note aromatically, with tart citrus rind with a hint of tropical fruit in there as well. It’s dry and light-plus bodied, with loads of tropical and peachy ripeness coming through on the chewy palate, with plenty of depth and intensity of fruit.

The medium acidity cuts through, lingering on the medium-length finish (it’s 5.5 per cent alcohol). Well done. 4/5

Good Neighbour Brewing Co. Strawberry Guava Sour Ale (Winnipeg — $4.60/473ml cans, brewery, Liquor Marts, beer vendors)

Strawberry and guava purée both land in Good Neighbour’s new sour, which is pale straw in colour and hazy.

Aromatically neither strawberry or guava bring excess ripeness, instead lingering behind an almost-leafy herbal and citrus note.

On the light-plus-bodied palate, the fruit’s neither wildy sour nor overly ripe — it’s a touch on the timid, subtle side relative to some other fruit sours. Alcohol lands at 4.5 per cent. 3/5

Little Brown Jug Philly Sour (Winnipeg — $4.24/473ml cans, brewery, Liquor Marts, beer vendors)

Little Brown Jug’s summer sour features passionfruit, orange and guava purée; it’s pale straw and hazy in appearance, while aromatically the orange and passionfruit are particularly expressive, with a subtle floral note coming with some saltiness.

There’s good intensity on the light-bodied palate, with that salty note working well in contrast to the ripe tropical fruit and orange notes. The 4.5 per cent alcohol seems just right. 3.5/5

Barn Hammer Brewing Co. Outsider Raspberry Pale Ale (Winnipeg — $5.59/473ml cans, brewery, beer vendors)

A collaboration with Hike Manitoba and featuring art by Kal Barteski, the Outsider is pale pink in colour and hazy, with bright, fresh raspberry aromas that come with lovely malt and subtle hoppy notes.

It’s light-plus bodied and dry, with the raspberry flavours front and centre, supported by malty flavours and, unlike the rest of this group, some bitterness.

The alcohol’s 4.5 per cent — for those who like fruited beer without the salty tartness. 3.5/5

uncorked@mts.net

@bensigurdson