....the Beer Wars movie screening last night at the Hart & Thistle. I think most enjoyed the show and as witnessed by the discussion afterwards, it was a thought-provoking piece about what's going on in the craft brewing industry and where it's heading, I rather enjoyed it as did most of those in attendance. My gratitude goes out to everyone for their support and my apologies go out for the noise from the back of the room that made it a little difficult to concentrate at times, some people obviously weren't there for the movie.
Attendance wasn't as good as I'd hoped but that didn't stop those that came out from enjoying the show!
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Canadian Brewing Awards Rant
It’s not very often I voice my personal opinions online but today I’m making an exception. The gloves are off.
The results from the 2009 Canadian Brewing Awards have really caused me to give my head a shake. I certainly won’t speak for all categories in the competition but some of the empty n/a slots really have to make you wonder wtf is going on in the judging room. I think it’s time some of the Canadian judges realize the box they are in is larger than the cubicle upon which they sit. Or perhaps it’s a matter of prejudice in a feeble attempt at creating new categories. Beer is food, and I think it’s high time to start thinking of it that way. Food critics don’t scoff at a traditional béarnaise sauce that’s been broken down then reconstructed without eggs, nor do they scoff at a traditional southern gumbo with an Asian flare, the food simply needs to taste good. It seems to me judges at the GABF and World Beer Cup realize this, and some off-the-wall beers deservingly take home medals. Extreme India Pale Ales WIN medals, and within the IPA category no less! Why? Because they taste good! It’s that simple.
Now I’ve sat beside a slew of different BJCP judges over the years, judging beers alongside them at homebrewing competitions, I’ve had my own judging judged and succeeded where many have failed. Guidelines need to be taken with a grain of salt, this is not a box, they are exactly as they sound, guidelines, not rules.
Now let me get to the point of the matter – there is no such thing as a “Canadian IPA” least ways not by BJCP standards. As we all know there’s British IPA, North American IPA and Double IPA within the BJCP IPA category. I see online chatter here and there about Canadian IPAs being more ‘balanced’, fuller bodied, sweeter and less bitter than their American counterparts. I call bullshit. I am Canadian. I schooled, trained, apprenticed and brewed in California as well as other states before moving back to the same Canada from which I came to make MY IPAs here, MY American influenced IPAs. They usually aren’t ‘balanced’ but can be if the mood strikes when I sit down to formulate a new IPA, my creation of Imperial Pale Ale in 2007 is a decent example of said ‘balanced’ IPA. It won Canadian Beer Of The Year at the CBAs in 2007 and again in 2008. That said, I was a little more than disappointed with the results of the 2008 CBAs where I entered my Dementia Double IPA for the Pump House Brewery - it didn’t fetch so much as a bronze medal yet every local BJCP certified judge and beergeek that had so much as a mouthful were stunned by the mind-boggling delicious hop-porn and balance found within – that’s right balance, a different sort of balance, hops balancing more hops, layers and layers of complexity with a resinous, oily, sticky mouthfeel.
I have no idea which beers from across Canada weren’t entered into the 2009 CBA’s so I can’t comment on them, I can however comment on beers I know were entered within the IPA category for which there was no bronze medal awarded. Pump House Brewery in Moncton, NB entered their IPA as well as Dementia Double IPA and I entered 37hr Simcoe SMaSH from the Hart and Thistle here in Halifax, NS. These are three VERY solid IPAs and fine examples of the style, they are however, not ‘balanced’ in the true Canadian sense of the word to which I have previously referred. The judges scoresheets were emailed to me a couple weeks back for my entry of 37hr Simcoe SMaSH. I was slightly taken back with the results – one judge scored it very high, the other two trashed it stating that it was no IPA as I had submitted and labelled it, but rather a DIPA. These latter two judges went so far as to scratch out their initially given higher scores only to replace them with lower scores and even scratched out their final comments and replaced them with “this should have been entered as I2PA”. 37hr Simcoe SMaSH had an initial gravity of 1.069 and weighed in at 7% ABV, this obviously is no DIPA. Of course, it was a VERY hoppy beer, surely something the CBA judges couldn’t fit into the IPA category.
Of the three IPAs listed above I simply cannot believe that NONE of them are worthy of at least a bronze medal or higher. According to BJCP guidelines the qualifying score for a bronze medal is 30 points, Simcoe SMaSH scores were 44, 37 and 35 from the three judges, an average of 38.66. No offense to the Gold and Silver winners this year, I haven’t tasted either of them and am sure they are fantastic beers so congratulations are in order to both breweries, I can’t wait to try them!
This however brings about several curiosities for me. Were the judges looking for a ‘balanced’ Canadian IPA for which no category exists? Are Canadian judges so narrow minded and attached to their guidelines that a hoppy IPA is just way too hoppy meaning it could only fit into the DIPA category no matter what the other specs are? Perhaps the Grand Master judge overseeing the judging is looking for that elusive all-Canadian ‘balanced’ IPA and asked the judges to reconsider their scoring? Is there a hidden guideline that states a Canadian IPA must not contain more than 2.5 lbs/bbl hops? Is a deliciously hoppy IPA just too much to be Canadian? Clearly they are for the CBA judging team.
Am I biased? Yes – all three of these IPAs are my creations. But what other category would I enter my hop-bombs into, the fruit and vegetable beer category with the winning chocolate stout perhaps? A likely candidate since they are too hoppy to be a 'regular' beer. Are hops a vegetable? Yeah that's it. I can say without doubt as a seasoned taster, brewer and beergeek that any of these three beers are score-worthy of at least a bronze medal requirement.
Something has gone seriously, and I mean seriously awry here.
End rant />
The results from the 2009 Canadian Brewing Awards have really caused me to give my head a shake. I certainly won’t speak for all categories in the competition but some of the empty n/a slots really have to make you wonder wtf is going on in the judging room. I think it’s time some of the Canadian judges realize the box they are in is larger than the cubicle upon which they sit. Or perhaps it’s a matter of prejudice in a feeble attempt at creating new categories. Beer is food, and I think it’s high time to start thinking of it that way. Food critics don’t scoff at a traditional béarnaise sauce that’s been broken down then reconstructed without eggs, nor do they scoff at a traditional southern gumbo with an Asian flare, the food simply needs to taste good. It seems to me judges at the GABF and World Beer Cup realize this, and some off-the-wall beers deservingly take home medals. Extreme India Pale Ales WIN medals, and within the IPA category no less! Why? Because they taste good! It’s that simple.
Now I’ve sat beside a slew of different BJCP judges over the years, judging beers alongside them at homebrewing competitions, I’ve had my own judging judged and succeeded where many have failed. Guidelines need to be taken with a grain of salt, this is not a box, they are exactly as they sound, guidelines, not rules.
Now let me get to the point of the matter – there is no such thing as a “Canadian IPA” least ways not by BJCP standards. As we all know there’s British IPA, North American IPA and Double IPA within the BJCP IPA category. I see online chatter here and there about Canadian IPAs being more ‘balanced’, fuller bodied, sweeter and less bitter than their American counterparts. I call bullshit. I am Canadian. I schooled, trained, apprenticed and brewed in California as well as other states before moving back to the same Canada from which I came to make MY IPAs here, MY American influenced IPAs. They usually aren’t ‘balanced’ but can be if the mood strikes when I sit down to formulate a new IPA, my creation of Imperial Pale Ale in 2007 is a decent example of said ‘balanced’ IPA. It won Canadian Beer Of The Year at the CBAs in 2007 and again in 2008. That said, I was a little more than disappointed with the results of the 2008 CBAs where I entered my Dementia Double IPA for the Pump House Brewery - it didn’t fetch so much as a bronze medal yet every local BJCP certified judge and beergeek that had so much as a mouthful were stunned by the mind-boggling delicious hop-porn and balance found within – that’s right balance, a different sort of balance, hops balancing more hops, layers and layers of complexity with a resinous, oily, sticky mouthfeel.
I have no idea which beers from across Canada weren’t entered into the 2009 CBA’s so I can’t comment on them, I can however comment on beers I know were entered within the IPA category for which there was no bronze medal awarded. Pump House Brewery in Moncton, NB entered their IPA as well as Dementia Double IPA and I entered 37hr Simcoe SMaSH from the Hart and Thistle here in Halifax, NS. These are three VERY solid IPAs and fine examples of the style, they are however, not ‘balanced’ in the true Canadian sense of the word to which I have previously referred. The judges scoresheets were emailed to me a couple weeks back for my entry of 37hr Simcoe SMaSH. I was slightly taken back with the results – one judge scored it very high, the other two trashed it stating that it was no IPA as I had submitted and labelled it, but rather a DIPA. These latter two judges went so far as to scratch out their initially given higher scores only to replace them with lower scores and even scratched out their final comments and replaced them with “this should have been entered as I2PA”. 37hr Simcoe SMaSH had an initial gravity of 1.069 and weighed in at 7% ABV, this obviously is no DIPA. Of course, it was a VERY hoppy beer, surely something the CBA judges couldn’t fit into the IPA category.
Of the three IPAs listed above I simply cannot believe that NONE of them are worthy of at least a bronze medal or higher. According to BJCP guidelines the qualifying score for a bronze medal is 30 points, Simcoe SMaSH scores were 44, 37 and 35 from the three judges, an average of 38.66. No offense to the Gold and Silver winners this year, I haven’t tasted either of them and am sure they are fantastic beers so congratulations are in order to both breweries, I can’t wait to try them!
This however brings about several curiosities for me. Were the judges looking for a ‘balanced’ Canadian IPA for which no category exists? Are Canadian judges so narrow minded and attached to their guidelines that a hoppy IPA is just way too hoppy meaning it could only fit into the DIPA category no matter what the other specs are? Perhaps the Grand Master judge overseeing the judging is looking for that elusive all-Canadian ‘balanced’ IPA and asked the judges to reconsider their scoring? Is there a hidden guideline that states a Canadian IPA must not contain more than 2.5 lbs/bbl hops? Is a deliciously hoppy IPA just too much to be Canadian? Clearly they are for the CBA judging team.
Am I biased? Yes – all three of these IPAs are my creations. But what other category would I enter my hop-bombs into, the fruit and vegetable beer category with the winning chocolate stout perhaps? A likely candidate since they are too hoppy to be a 'regular' beer. Are hops a vegetable? Yeah that's it. I can say without doubt as a seasoned taster, brewer and beergeek that any of these three beers are score-worthy of at least a bronze medal requirement.
Something has gone seriously, and I mean seriously awry here.
End rant />
Beer Wars Screening - Sat Sept 26th
We've still got a few tickets left folks. Come on down tomorrow evening (Sat Sept 26) for the 8:00pm screening - enjoy a beer, munchies and a great show all at the same time for $20!
More info, the Beer Wars trailer and online ticket purchase found below:
http://hartandthistle.blogspot.com/2009/09/beer-wars-movie-screening.html
More info, the Beer Wars trailer and online ticket purchase found below:
http://hartandthistle.blogspot.com/2009/09/beer-wars-movie-screening.html
Thursday, September 24, 2009
2009 Canadian Brewing Awards Winners Announced
North American Style Lager
Gold: Alpine Lager, Moosehead Breweries (NB)
Silver: Original Draught, Sleeman Brewing (ON)
Bronze: Rocky Mountain Pilsner, Russell Brewing (BC)
Honourable Mention: Carling Lager, Molson Canada
North American Style Premium Lager
Gold: Premium Lager, Lakes of Muskoka Brewery (ON)
Silver: Premium, Great Western Brewing (SK)
Bronze: Old Style Pilsner, Molson Canada
European Style Lager (Pilsner)
Gold: Stonehammer Pilsner, F & M Brewery (ON)
Silver: Pilsner, Mill Street Brewery (ON)
Bronze: Steam Whistle, Steam Whistle Brewing (ON)
North American Style Amber Lager
Gold: N/A
Silver: Buzz Beer, Cool Beer (ON)
Bronze: Red Leaf Smooth Red Lager, Great Lakes Brewery (ON)
Bock - Traditional German Style
Gold: Amsterdam Spring Bock, Amsterdam Brewing (ON)
Silver: N/A
Bronze: Hellesbock, Mill Street Brewery (ON)
North American Style Dark Lager
Gold: N/A
Silver: Fort Garry Rouge, Fort Garry Brewing (MB)
Bronze: Dark 266 Lager, Cameron's Brewing (ON)
Light (Calorie-Reduced)Lager
Gold: Sleeman Light, Sleeman Brewing (ON)
Silver: Premium Light, Great Western Brewing (SK)
Bronze: Alpine Light, Moosehead Breweries (NB)
Wheat Beer - Belgian Style White/Wit
Gold: Honey Thistle Wit, Bushwakker Brewing (SK)
Silver: Belgian Wit, Mill Street Brewery (ON)
Bronze: N/A
Wheat Beer - German Style Hefeweizen
Gold: Whistler Weiss Bier, Whistler Brewing (BC)
Silver: Hefeweizen, Tree Brewing Co. (BC)
Bronze: Hefe-Weissbier, Lakes of Muskoka (ON)
Wheat Beer - North American Style
Gold: Grasshopper Wheat Ale, Big Rock (AB)
Silver: Sungod Wheat Ale, R & B Brewing (BC)
Bronze: Dooryard Summer Ale, Northampton Brewing (NB)
Strong or Belgian Style Ale
Gold: La Fin Du Monde, Unibroue (QC)
Silver: Winter Warmer, Garrison Brewing (NS)
Bronze: Dominus Vobiscum Double, Microbrasserie Charlevoix (QC)
North American Style Amber/Red Ale
Gold: Yukon Red Amber, Yukon Brewery (NWT)
Silver: Auburn Ale, Cameron's Brewing Co. (ON)
Bronze: Devil's Pale Ale, Great Lakes Brewing (ON)
Honourable Mention: Big Wheel Deluxe Amber, Amsterdam Brewing (ON)
Cream Ale
Gold: Cream Ale, Cameron's Brewing (ON)
Silver: Cream Ale, Lakes of Muskoka (ON)
Bronze: KLB Cream Ale, Amsterdam Brewing (ON)
North American Style Blonde/Golden Ale
Gold: Gulf Island Brewing, Gulf Island Brewing (BC)
Silver: Honey Blonde Ale, Russell Brewing (BC)
Bronze: Picaroon's Blonde Ale, Northampton Brewing (NB)
Honourable Mention: Summer Ale, Granite Brewery (ON)
English Style Pale Ale (Bitter)
Gold: ESB, Mill Street Brewery (ON)
Silver: Black Oak Pale Ale, Black Oak Brewing (ON)
Bronze: Old Brewery Pale Ale, Nelson Brewing (BC)
North American Style Pale Ale (Bitter)
Gold: Old Yale Pale Ale, Old Yale Brewing (BC)
Silver: Chico Pale Ale, Bushwakker Brewing (BC)
Bronze: Tank House, Mill Street Brewery (ON)
Honourable Mention: Timberline Ale, Howe Sound Brewery (BC)
Barley Wine
Gold: 2008 Barley Wine, Mill Street Brewery (ON)
Silver: St. Ambroise Vintage Ale, McAuslan Brewing (QC)
Bronze: Swan's Legacy Ale, Swan's Buckerfield (BC)
India Pale Ale
Gold: Hop Head Double IPA, Tree Brewing (BC)
Silver: No. 9 IPA, Mike Duggan - Cool Beer (ON)
Bronze: N/A
Brown Ale
Gold: Nut Brown, Dead Frog Brewery (BC)
Silver: Rail Ale Nut Brown, Howe Sound Brewing (BC)
Bronze: True North Copper Altbier, Magnotta Brewery (ON)
Scotch Ale
Gold: N/A
Silver: Scotch Ale, Phillip's Brewery (BC)
Bronze: Iron Duke, Wellington Brewery (ON)
Stout
Gold: St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout, McAuslan Brewing (QC)
Silver: Keepers Stout, Lighthouse Brewing (BC)
Bronze: Traditional Irish Stout, Hockley Valley Brewing (ON)
Honourable Mention: Midnight Sun Espresso Stout, Yukon Brewery (YT)
Strong Porter (Baltic)
Gold: Grand Baltic Porter, Garrison Brewing (NS)
Silver: N/A
Bronze: N/A
Imperial Stout
Gold: Russian Gun Imperial Stout, Grand River Brewing (ON)
Silver: Imperial Stout, Wellington Brewery (ON)
Bronze: N/A
Porter
Gold: Palliser Porter, Bushwakker Brewing (SK)
Silver: Black Toque, Phillip's Brewery (BC)
Bronze: Coffee Porter, Mill Street Brewery (ON)
Fruit & Vegetable
Gold: Chocolate Porter, Phillip's Brewing (BC)
Silver: Raspberry Weizen, Pump House Brewing (NB)
Bronze: Jalapeno Ale, Garrison Brewing (NS)
Special Honey/Maple Lager or Ale
Gold: Special Honey Maple Lager, Old Credit Brewing (ON)
Silver: Winter Ale, Great Lakes Brewing (ON)
Bronze: Honey Brown Traditional, Dead Frog Brewery (BC)
Canadian Beer Of The Year - Best of Show
Yukon Red Amber Ale
Brewery of the Year
Mill Street Brewery
Gold: Alpine Lager, Moosehead Breweries (NB)
Silver: Original Draught, Sleeman Brewing (ON)
Bronze: Rocky Mountain Pilsner, Russell Brewing (BC)
Honourable Mention: Carling Lager, Molson Canada
North American Style Premium Lager
Gold: Premium Lager, Lakes of Muskoka Brewery (ON)
Silver: Premium, Great Western Brewing (SK)
Bronze: Old Style Pilsner, Molson Canada
European Style Lager (Pilsner)
Gold: Stonehammer Pilsner, F & M Brewery (ON)
Silver: Pilsner, Mill Street Brewery (ON)
Bronze: Steam Whistle, Steam Whistle Brewing (ON)
North American Style Amber Lager
Gold: N/A
Silver: Buzz Beer, Cool Beer (ON)
Bronze: Red Leaf Smooth Red Lager, Great Lakes Brewery (ON)
Bock - Traditional German Style
Gold: Amsterdam Spring Bock, Amsterdam Brewing (ON)
Silver: N/A
Bronze: Hellesbock, Mill Street Brewery (ON)
North American Style Dark Lager
Gold: N/A
Silver: Fort Garry Rouge, Fort Garry Brewing (MB)
Bronze: Dark 266 Lager, Cameron's Brewing (ON)
Light (Calorie-Reduced)Lager
Gold: Sleeman Light, Sleeman Brewing (ON)
Silver: Premium Light, Great Western Brewing (SK)
Bronze: Alpine Light, Moosehead Breweries (NB)
Wheat Beer - Belgian Style White/Wit
Gold: Honey Thistle Wit, Bushwakker Brewing (SK)
Silver: Belgian Wit, Mill Street Brewery (ON)
Bronze: N/A
Wheat Beer - German Style Hefeweizen
Gold: Whistler Weiss Bier, Whistler Brewing (BC)
Silver: Hefeweizen, Tree Brewing Co. (BC)
Bronze: Hefe-Weissbier, Lakes of Muskoka (ON)
Wheat Beer - North American Style
Gold: Grasshopper Wheat Ale, Big Rock (AB)
Silver: Sungod Wheat Ale, R & B Brewing (BC)
Bronze: Dooryard Summer Ale, Northampton Brewing (NB)
Strong or Belgian Style Ale
Gold: La Fin Du Monde, Unibroue (QC)
Silver: Winter Warmer, Garrison Brewing (NS)
Bronze: Dominus Vobiscum Double, Microbrasserie Charlevoix (QC)
North American Style Amber/Red Ale
Gold: Yukon Red Amber, Yukon Brewery (NWT)
Silver: Auburn Ale, Cameron's Brewing Co. (ON)
Bronze: Devil's Pale Ale, Great Lakes Brewing (ON)
Honourable Mention: Big Wheel Deluxe Amber, Amsterdam Brewing (ON)
Cream Ale
Gold: Cream Ale, Cameron's Brewing (ON)
Silver: Cream Ale, Lakes of Muskoka (ON)
Bronze: KLB Cream Ale, Amsterdam Brewing (ON)
North American Style Blonde/Golden Ale
Gold: Gulf Island Brewing, Gulf Island Brewing (BC)
Silver: Honey Blonde Ale, Russell Brewing (BC)
Bronze: Picaroon's Blonde Ale, Northampton Brewing (NB)
Honourable Mention: Summer Ale, Granite Brewery (ON)
English Style Pale Ale (Bitter)
Gold: ESB, Mill Street Brewery (ON)
Silver: Black Oak Pale Ale, Black Oak Brewing (ON)
Bronze: Old Brewery Pale Ale, Nelson Brewing (BC)
North American Style Pale Ale (Bitter)
Gold: Old Yale Pale Ale, Old Yale Brewing (BC)
Silver: Chico Pale Ale, Bushwakker Brewing (BC)
Bronze: Tank House, Mill Street Brewery (ON)
Honourable Mention: Timberline Ale, Howe Sound Brewery (BC)
Barley Wine
Gold: 2008 Barley Wine, Mill Street Brewery (ON)
Silver: St. Ambroise Vintage Ale, McAuslan Brewing (QC)
Bronze: Swan's Legacy Ale, Swan's Buckerfield (BC)
India Pale Ale
Gold: Hop Head Double IPA, Tree Brewing (BC)
Silver: No. 9 IPA, Mike Duggan - Cool Beer (ON)
Bronze: N/A
Brown Ale
Gold: Nut Brown, Dead Frog Brewery (BC)
Silver: Rail Ale Nut Brown, Howe Sound Brewing (BC)
Bronze: True North Copper Altbier, Magnotta Brewery (ON)
Scotch Ale
Gold: N/A
Silver: Scotch Ale, Phillip's Brewery (BC)
Bronze: Iron Duke, Wellington Brewery (ON)
Stout
Gold: St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout, McAuslan Brewing (QC)
Silver: Keepers Stout, Lighthouse Brewing (BC)
Bronze: Traditional Irish Stout, Hockley Valley Brewing (ON)
Honourable Mention: Midnight Sun Espresso Stout, Yukon Brewery (YT)
Strong Porter (Baltic)
Gold: Grand Baltic Porter, Garrison Brewing (NS)
Silver: N/A
Bronze: N/A
Imperial Stout
Gold: Russian Gun Imperial Stout, Grand River Brewing (ON)
Silver: Imperial Stout, Wellington Brewery (ON)
Bronze: N/A
Porter
Gold: Palliser Porter, Bushwakker Brewing (SK)
Silver: Black Toque, Phillip's Brewery (BC)
Bronze: Coffee Porter, Mill Street Brewery (ON)
Fruit & Vegetable
Gold: Chocolate Porter, Phillip's Brewing (BC)
Silver: Raspberry Weizen, Pump House Brewing (NB)
Bronze: Jalapeno Ale, Garrison Brewing (NS)
Special Honey/Maple Lager or Ale
Gold: Special Honey Maple Lager, Old Credit Brewing (ON)
Silver: Winter Ale, Great Lakes Brewing (ON)
Bronze: Honey Brown Traditional, Dead Frog Brewery (BC)
Canadian Beer Of The Year - Best of Show
Yukon Red Amber Ale
Brewery of the Year
Mill Street Brewery
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Beer Tasting on the Darkside
A friend dropped by my temporary diggs in Dartmouth last night - a few short hrs after returning from Portsmouth NH with a load of beers to try out and he wasn't messin' 'round - he wanted to taste them NOW. I couldn't help but to oblige and of course, broke out a couple bottles from my cellar to complete the session. 
Some of the dead soldiers (definitely not all) we laid to rest are posted in the photos. I must say there were some stunning world class beers in the line-up but I think the best of the best was almost certainly the Gravitation Quad from Smuttynose, fantastic stuff. Big kudos to the guys for yet another impromptu tasting (you know who you are!). Beerlist: Gravitation, Black lager, Beergeek Breakfast, Schlenkerla Marzen, Punkin, Palo Santo, Allagash Dubbel, Bottle Rocket IPA, Portsmouth Hefe Weizen, Revolution RIS, Maltitude RIS, Chateau Jiahu, Hurricane Harvest and a few others.
My head still hurts. Good times.
Friday, September 18, 2009
'Cocoa Hops' - India Brown Ale
Born on Sept 19th 2009
Our new India Brown Ale, 'Cocoa Hops' will be on tap tomorrow (Sept 19th) at the pub. It's tasting nice with a huge hop presence and a nice malt backbone sporting notes of chocolate that really shine through from the hefty dose of dark chocolate malt. Come on down and try it on for size.
Vital Stats:
Gravity - 15P/1.062
IBU's - 73
Hop Rate - 3.15 lbs/bbl
ABV - 6.2%
Colour - 22 SRM
Malts - Pale Ale, Melanoidan, Crystal 60, Cara-Pils, Chocolate
Hops - Amarillo & Cascade Leaf, Simcoe Pellets
Our new India Brown Ale, 'Cocoa Hops' will be on tap tomorrow (Sept 19th) at the pub. It's tasting nice with a huge hop presence and a nice malt backbone sporting notes of chocolate that really shine through from the hefty dose of dark chocolate malt. Come on down and try it on for size.
Vital Stats:
Gravity - 15P/1.062
IBU's - 73
Hop Rate - 3.15 lbs/bbl
ABV - 6.2%
Colour - 22 SRM
Malts - Pale Ale, Melanoidan, Crystal 60, Cara-Pils, Chocolate
Hops - Amarillo & Cascade Leaf, Simcoe Pellets
At the Taps....
....Hoppin' Vice has sold out! Thanks for droppin by folks, that's all she wrote! The delightful little beer will be sadly missed but on its heels will be a more than worthy replacement, and soon.
Friday, September 11, 2009
India Brown Ale is....
...in the tank fermenting. It's a hoppy brown ale brewed to India Pale Ale specs with a shitload of crystal and chocolate malts added along with lots and lots of hops. I use whole hops in 2'x3' nylon bags with 1kg in each bag, I used 7 bags in 560 L wort @ 15 P today. A good day all around.
The Beer Mapping Project
The beer mapping project is something every beergeek should know about. Check it out here
Sunday, September 6, 2009
'Black Nitro' black pale ale....
.... is gone, dead, kaput, sold out, drained, done and done! And the poor little beer was just starting to develop its own personality!
Thanks for drinking.
Thanks for drinking.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I'd like to send a HUGE shout out to everyone for coming down to the H & T last night for the Hurricane Harvest DIPA release party! There were a lot of familiar faces there as well as a lot of new ones, all in all it was a great show of support and I hope to see you all back for more, and soon. Our beer is not worthy!
An even larger thanks go out to the hop harvest volunteers who were on hand last night for the invitation only dinner in appreciation for all the assistance they provided to help make this beer happen. Chef Colin Stone treated the crew to a spicy Thai pasta dinner paired with pints of Hurricane Harvest DIPA shortly before the official release party. I thoroughly enjoyed the dinner, the conversation and the beer, I hope you all did too.
An even larger thanks go out to the hop harvest volunteers who were on hand last night for the invitation only dinner in appreciation for all the assistance they provided to help make this beer happen. Chef Colin Stone treated the crew to a spicy Thai pasta dinner paired with pints of Hurricane Harvest DIPA shortly before the official release party. I thoroughly enjoyed the dinner, the conversation and the beer, I hope you all did too.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Beer Wars Movie Screening
Canada's first official screening of Beer Wars Movie will take place at the Hart and Thistle in beautiful downtown Halifax on Sat, Sept 26th 2009 @ 8:00pm in the Dunnottar Room. Run-time is approximately 2 hours.
Tickets are $20 (tax included) and includes one Hart & Thistle beer as well as lots of popcorn, nacho chips and salsa. Tickets can be purchased below via Paypal- no account required.
Get your tickets now to avoid disappointment as this will surely be a sell-out event. You will be added to the list and ID will be required at the door to verify your purchase, you may also print your Paypal receipt. No hard copy tickets will be sent out.
***Paypal sales have now been suspended, the few remaining seats still available can be purchased at the door***
Come on down to show your support for the craft brewing industry, enjoy a great film in great surroundings with good beer and food!
The Movie:
With some of the biggest names in the craft brewing industry appearing in the film, it is a must see. You'll see interviews and hear opinions from the likes of Charlie Papazian, Sam Calagione, Greg Koch, Jim Koch, Todd Alstrom, Michael Jackson, Kim Jordan and Garrett Oliver to name a few. You'll learn how some of the massive conglomerate powerhouse brewers attempt to crush craft brewers to keep North Americans drinking their mainstream, bland corn and rice beers.
Synopsis:
http://beerwarsmovie.com/
Trailer:
Tickets are $20 (tax included) and includes one Hart & Thistle beer as well as lots of popcorn, nacho chips and salsa. Tickets can be purchased below via Paypal- no account required.
Get your tickets now to avoid disappointment as this will surely be a sell-out event. You will be added to the list and ID will be required at the door to verify your purchase, you may also print your Paypal receipt. No hard copy tickets will be sent out.
***Paypal sales have now been suspended, the few remaining seats still available can be purchased at the door***
Come on down to show your support for the craft brewing industry, enjoy a great film in great surroundings with good beer and food!
The Movie:
With some of the biggest names in the craft brewing industry appearing in the film, it is a must see. You'll see interviews and hear opinions from the likes of Charlie Papazian, Sam Calagione, Greg Koch, Jim Koch, Todd Alstrom, Michael Jackson, Kim Jordan and Garrett Oliver to name a few. You'll learn how some of the massive conglomerate powerhouse brewers attempt to crush craft brewers to keep North Americans drinking their mainstream, bland corn and rice beers.
Synopsis:
Director Anat Baron takes you on a no holds barred exploration of the U.S. beer industry that ultimately reveals the truth behind the label of your favourite beer. Told from an insider’s perspective, the film goes behind the scenes of the daily battles and all out wars that dominate one of America’s favourite industries.
Beer Wars begins as the corporate behemoths are being challenged by small, independent brewers who are shunning the status quo and creating innovative new beers. The story is told through 2 of these entrepreneurs - Sam and Rhonda - battling the might and tactics of Corporate America. We witness their struggle to achieve their American Dream in an industry dominated by powerful corporations unwilling to cede an inch.More info and previews at the Beer Wars Movie website:
http://beerwarsmovie.com/
Trailer:
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
'Hurricane Harvest' - Double IPA Release Party
Born Sept 4th 2009
Ladies and Gentlemen,
You are all invited to our Hurricane Harvest Double IPA release party.
It will be held Friday September 4th 2009 @ 7:00 pm At 1869 Upper Water St Halifax, NS @ The Hart & Thistle Gastropub & Brewery in the Dunnottar room. This is a very casual event.
You'll be the first to taste the Hurricane Harvest Double IPA wet-hop beer which will be released to the general public directly afterwards around 8:00 pm. You'll also be snacking on some free munchies and taking part in all sorts of beer and brewing discussion with fellow beer lovers so come on down and help us celebrate the fruits of our labour from this years hop harvest!
The beer...
Vital Stats
Gravity - 17.0P/1.070
IBU's ~ 75 - 95(?) (no lab analysis for Alpha acid content)
Hop Rate - 3.5 lbs/bbl
ABV - 7.5 %
Malts – Canadian Pale Ale, Crystal 75, Cara-pils, Melanoidan
Adjuncts - Cane Sugar
Hops - Fresh wet Cascade flowers
Hope to see you all there.
NASH
Ladies and Gentlemen,
You are all invited to our Hurricane Harvest Double IPA release party.
It will be held Friday September 4th 2009 @ 7:00 pm At 1869 Upper Water St Halifax, NS @ The Hart & Thistle Gastropub & Brewery in the Dunnottar room. This is a very casual event.
You'll be the first to taste the Hurricane Harvest Double IPA wet-hop beer which will be released to the general public directly afterwards around 8:00 pm. You'll also be snacking on some free munchies and taking part in all sorts of beer and brewing discussion with fellow beer lovers so come on down and help us celebrate the fruits of our labour from this years hop harvest!
The beer...
Vital Stats
Gravity - 17.0P/1.070
IBU's ~ 75 - 95(?) (no lab analysis for Alpha acid content)
Hop Rate - 3.5 lbs/bbl
ABV - 7.5 %
Malts – Canadian Pale Ale, Crystal 75, Cara-pils, Melanoidan
Adjuncts - Cane Sugar
Hops - Fresh wet Cascade flowers
Hope to see you all there.
NASH
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