New brews news

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/09/2023 (1073 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s been a while since any new brews, local or otherwise, have made their way to Liquor Mart shelves, in large part due to the strike by unionized employees, which started in mid-July and ended in late August.

That seems set to change, however, as the “new arrivals” page on the Liquor Mart website now features a bevy of new brews, local and otherwise, that are coming soon. It seems the processing of local beer has been expedited to get the product received and on shelves as quickly as possible — a relief for brewers, who obviously prefer their product be consumed fresh.

Meanwhile, some local breweries have added other booze to their tap-room lineups since recent regulation changes surrounding licences took effect in early September.

Brewery tap rooms were previously only allowed to sell alcoholic beverages made on site (as well as non-alcoholic options, which could be made anywhere). Both Oxus Brewing Co. and Barn Hammer Brewing Co., for example, have posted on social media that they’re now carrying a modest selection of wines and spirits for consumption in their tap rooms.

Speaking of Barn Hammer, the West End brewery (595 Wall St.) is firing up a new barbecue venture starting today. The project, dubbed Røg (the Danish word for smoke), has seen the brewery bring in a big outdoor barbecue from Georgia. If you can’t make it down there to try out some of the offerings today, there will be plenty of grilling and more going down on Saturday, Sept. 23, when Barn Hammer hosts an open house and collaborative brew in honour of its thousandth batch of beer. There will be giveaways and games, with brewers on hand to chat with guests about the brewing process.

Devil May Care, meanwhile, is hosting Kolschtoberfest on Sept. 22-23 at its 155 Fort St. tap room. For two nights (from 7 p.m. to midnight) the beer lineup will switch over to all German-themed — German-style brews, the return of its Perfektenschlag kellerbier and German food. Tickets are $30 plus fees and include a beer, a commemorative stein and some grub. To get yours visit wfp.to/6rK.

Kilter Brewing (450 Rue Deschambault) is celebrating German-style beer as well with the return of Berliner Fest on Sept. 22 and 23. The Vintage Schwarzbier has already been released (see review below), and will be served up alongside other German-style brews, some killer ‘90s music and more.

Kilter’s event is part of Nuit Blanche, which takes place in venues throughout the city (particularly in the downtown area) the evening of Sept. 23. Other breweries taking part in the all-night art party include Little Brown Jug (336 William Ave.), which is turning Hargrave Street into a big old beer garden for the event, starting at 6 p.m. with live music and food trucks, and Nonsuch Brewing Co. (125 Pacific Ave.), which celebrates its birthday every year at Nuit Blanche and will surely bring plenty of surprises.

Last but not least, Dauphin’s Obsolete Brewing Co. (24 2 Ave. NW) is holding a grand opening bash today, with special brews, food trucks, live music and more from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The brewery first opened its doors about two months ago and now has its lineup of beers sorted, with canned products now available at the tap room.

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Beers of the week

Expect most of the beers below to make their way on to Liquor Mart shelves in the coming days. In the meantime, they’re available at the breweries and at better beer vendors.

Nonsuch Brewing Co. Bend Your Ways Dry-Hopped New Zealand Pilsner ($4.50/473ml cans, brewery, beer vendors)

Pale straw in colour and clear, this pilsner is a collaboration with the Bend, a new apartment complex at 100 Alexander Ave.

Hopped with Motueka hops, the beer offers fresh malt, citrus rind, herbal and floral aromas.

It’s dry, light-bodied and crisp, with up-front citrus and herbal notes (without excess bitterness) as well as biscuit and fresh malt notes. It’s 4.8 per cent alcohol, and as a result the finish is crisp and clean. Tasty stuff. 4/5

Brazen Hall Vetur Vienna Lager ($4.69/473ml cans, brewery, beer vendors)

Copper in colour and mainly clear, there’s plenty of roasted malt, caramel, herbal and slightly doughy notes here aromatically.

It’s light-plus-bodied and dry, offering loads of roasted malt, caramel, yeast and doughy flavours, plus an underlying hops note and a subtle citrus component that work well. 3.5/5

 

 

Little Brown Jug Hazy IPA ($4.49/473ml cans, brewery, beer vendors)

Pale straw in colour and (obviously) quite hazy, the ripe tropical and citrus notes on the nose work well with the cracked malt and papaya notes.

There’s a hint of sweetness on the medium-bodied palate, with resinous hoppy notes showing well with fresh malt, grapefruit rind and grassy notes and a hint of spice before a medium-length, 6.5 per cent finish. 4/5

Oxus Brewing Co. Pale Blue Dot IPA ($4.40/473ml cans, brewery, beer vendors)

The resinous hoppy notes on the nose of this medium copper, hazy IPA are intense, with fresh malt, bread dough, lemon oil and herbal notes showing well.

On the light-plus-bodied, hop-driven palate, the underlying malt and lemon zest flavours work well together, with a touch of creaminess on the palate and a medium-length, six per cent alcohol finish.

It’s fresh and zesty and dangerously drinkable. 4.5/5

Kilter Brewing Co. Vintage Schwarzbier ($3.99/473ml cans, brewery, beer vendors)

This German-style dark lager is deep cola brown in colour with an off-white head, bringing Tootsie Roll, cola, roasted malt and fresh biscuit aromas.

It’s medium-bodied, robust and mainly dry, with roasted malt, mocha, molasses and toasted nut flavours, light hoppiness and a modest-length five per cent alcohol on the finish.

A delicious brew for cooler nights and sipping around the fire. 4.5/5

Fort Garry Brewing Co. Cosmic Horizon Dunkelweizen ($4.49/473ml cans, brewery, beer vendors)

Medium cola brown in colour, this dark wheat beer offers crème brûlée, roasted crystal malt and caramel aromas, as well as subtle clove and banana notes.

It’s medium-bodied with a creamy texture, a hint of sweetness and a chocolate-covered-banana component that shows well alongside Tootsie Roll, clove and roasted malt flavours before a 5.5 per cent alcohol finish. 3/5

uncorked@mts.net

@bensigurdson