beer
A salute to you, fair carpenter…
This is cute one. Baird Brewers in Japan have released the Carpenter's Mikan Ale. Not only is this beer gorgeously unique, but it comes with a darling story to boot. They received the mikans (a Japanese tangerine-like fruit) as a gift from the Heda orchard of their carpenter friend, partner and mentor – Mitsuo Nagakura. "It would not be an exaggeration to say that he (Mitsuo Nagakura) is the complete embodiment of the dedicated, uncompromising and passionate Japanese craftsmen whom we so respect and whom we strive to emulate. The Carpenter’s Mikan Ale is our modest attempt to pay tribute to Nagakura-san as well as to all great Japanese craftsmen..."
Aw shucks, why can't everything be like that? In honour of beer & carpenters & Japanese humilty we offer you a video of a young Schwarzenegger eating huge mouthfuls of noodles...
Falling in love…
Met a girl from Quebec one summer's day,
A fine pinkish lass with a lovely bouquet.
Hibiscus like hair, a wind swept ballet,
Stole my heart at first sip, my darling Rosee.
This beer is bottled sunshine. A soft spoken wheat with hibiscus flowers added during the brewing process. Lovely aroma, lovely colour & taste. Just beautiful. We are happy to be BC's only purveyor of Rosee D'Hibiscus, so make your acquaintance while supplies last...
Just a touch of gold…
So, we got in a few bottles of Dogfish Head's Midas Touch last week. It part of the breweries Ancient Ales series and, I have to say, its pretty exotic stuff (flavours of honey, saffron, & sweet melon happily under a 9% roof).
The recipe for Midas Touch - which actually contains saffron and honey amongst other exciting oddities - is based on archeological evidence from the tomb thought to be that of King Midas. It sounds a little far-fetched, I know, but coming from a brewery like Dogfish, far-fetched is the norm.
Beers ahoy!!
Lots of delicious beers (and cider... oh, how could we forget you, Pipsqueak) have come in this week. A few favorites from the past couple months are back (lovely Acme IPA, beautiful Pike IPA, and the radiant Cantillon Kriek), and lets not forget to mention this years edition of the Schneider Brooklyner Hopfen-Weisse!!!!
If you missed it two (two!!) years ago, the beer is a collaboration between Garrett Oliver (brewmaster at Brooklyn) and Hans Peter Drexler (brewmaster at Schneider) and, as you would expect, the result is a beautifully crafted and completely unique brew: an 8.2% hefe-weizen, amazingly complex, and way (way, way) too drinkable. Really, this beer is surprisingly refreshing for 8.2%.
Anyway, those of you that are fans of either brewery or hefe-weizens in general will definitely be into this (its liable to make a few converts too).
To international diplomacy!! Prost!!
ooo la, la!
Loki Double IPA
Just arrived from Paddock Wood in Saskatoon!!! These guys are making excellent beer and have honestly outdone themselves here. There are lovely plays between the caramel malt flavours and bold, zesty hops, with little of the 8.7% abv showing through.
Dangerous, but with the richness of this beer you are best taking it as a sipper. Nice label too!!
Berries and Cerise!!
More exciting beer news this week at the Acreage, as we have just gotten in two amazing fruit beers from Europe!!!
Brasserie Cantillion's Kriek Lambic is a real cherry lambic. This is the last independent brewery in Brussels and they are known worldwide for exceptional quality. There is everything you want in a lambic: decidedly crisp dryness, earthiness, exquisite carbonation, and, of course, beautiful overtones of tart, casked cherries.
Also in this week, the sweet and delightful Samuel Smith's Organic Strawberry Beer brings full, ripe strawberry flavours and aromatics. I tried this for the first time with friends a few weeks ago and it really is unimaginably good - not to mention organic all the way down to the yeasts used in brewing!!
Exciting stuff.
Strawberry Fields Forever. Cherry Orchards too.
where bottle caps go
here is one good use... if you have patience
Anyone up for a Bock Party?!?!
Just in time to finish a week of fun we have one last treat... Hot off the presses from the island is Phillips Springbock!!!
Traditional German style Maibock: light and crisp with distinctive hops and characteristic finish. Good thing its all sunshine this weekend, because this brew is meant to go with May flowers and nice Gastown patios.
bock party... can't stop, won't stop.
Vancouver Craft Beer Week!!
Next week is the very first Vancouver Craft Beer Week and we are really excited! To celebrate, we'll be bringing in a couple B.C. microbrews that we have never had at the acreage before. I'm not going to say exactly what they are until next week - hush, hush sort of stuff - but I'm sure you are going to like em'!!
Cheers to all the great B.C. microbreweries!
Hooray Craft Beer!!
A Eulogy for Green Beer
Well, we have once again made it past the Ides of March, and enjoyed the fruits thereof - green beer. Now, as the Chicago River flows back to its normal colour, let us take this time to remember fine beers of other colours and creeds.
Hitachino Nest White Ale has made its way from Japan to the Acres and is here for you to enjoy. It's cute, unique, refreshing, and won't turn your mouth strange colours.
ps: there are also a few bottle left of the Paddock Wood Double Double. If you haven't tried it yet, it is certainly worth your time.
cute!