The best beer up here?

[Hog's Breath]

So, can any body tell me what a good craft beer is, thats sold in Western Canada?

What's everybody's preference?

[markaberrant]

Originally posted by Hog's Breath
So, can any body tell me what a good craft beer is, thats sold in Western Canada?

What's everybody's preference?

Alberta liquor stores have the best selection of imports and craft beer. However, if you are referring to craft beer made in Western Canada, these are the best I have sampled:

Anything made by Bushwakker
Tree Hophead IPA
Alley Kat Pale Ale
Alley Kat Olde Deuteronomy
Alley Kat Radiator Doppelbock
Wild Rose Industrial Park Ale
Yukon Artic Red
Paddock Wood Bete Noire
Paddock Wood Rye IPA
Paddock Wood Czech Mate

[Hog's Breath]

Thanks markaberrant! I will look for these, doubt they got'em around were I live but I will check it out. I have been looking for a better quality beer to drink. I thought Coors Light was a good beer before I found this forum and started to learn otherwise!!

[Randybo]

Its all about your personal taste (Just find a beer with taste first):D

ENJOY THE OBSESSION

[mmmBeer...]

Some of the big rock beers aren't bad. But stay away from grasshopper (a filtered wheat beer with no flavour IMHO) and Jack Rabbitt (their low carb beer).

[markaberrant]

Originally posted by mmmBeer...
Some of the big rock beers aren't bad. But stay away from grasshopper (a filtered wheat beer with no flavour IMHO) and Jack Rabbitt (their low carb beer).

Big Rock started using adjuncts a few years ago and the quality has gone down hill. The best of the lot is McNallys Extra, which is a Scottish Ale, but marketed as a "Strong Irish Ale." And their Traditional Ale is passable in a pinch.

[markaberrant]

Originally posted by Hog's Breath
Thanks markaberrant! I will look for these, doubt they got'em around were I live but I will check it out. I have been looking for a better quality beer to drink. I thought Coors Light was a good beer before I found this forum and started to learn otherwise!!

You are in for a treat, enjoy the path to better beer. To be honest, a lot of my personal favourites might a bit too much for a newcomer, I know I wouldn't have liked them when I was first getting into better beer. If you want to drink Alberta craft, just about anything by Maverick, Alley Kat and Wild Rose is pretty darn tasty, and they all make some good "introductory" brews (Maverick Lager, Alley Kat Charlie Flint Lager/Amber Ale, Wild Rose Velvet Fog/Brown Ale).

Not sure where you are in Alberta, but in Edmonton check out the Sherbrooke Liquor Store, and in Calgary go to the Willow Liquor and Wine main branch, which is right beside the South Hill Shopping Centre. Both stores will blow your mind, each carries 400+ different beers.

[Hog's Breath]

I'm in Northern AB, but I get to Edmonton a few times a year, I will deffinatly check out the store there! Thanks!

[mmmBeer...]

Originally posted by markaberrant
Big Rock started using adjuncts a few years ago and the quality has gone down hill. The best of the lot is McNallys Extra, which is a Scottish Ale, but marketed as a "Strong Irish Ale." And their Traditional Ale is passable in a pinch.

Hmmm didn't know that and haven't bought any in a while. Too bad becuase I liked warthog back quite a few years ago.

Do they still make buzzards breath? Tried it in the US and really liked it.

[markaberrant]

Originally posted by mmmBeer...
Hmmm didn't know that and haven't bought any in a while. Too bad becuase I liked warthog back quite a few years ago.

Do they still make buzzards breath? Tried it in the US and really liked it.

Buzzards Breath is only available in the US and at Bottlescrew Bills in Calgary. It is no longer contract brewed by Big Rock, they switched to Wild Rose last year.

I used to really like the Big Rock beers, but I find most of them to be sorta dull, and they all have a metallic/apple sort of finish that I find off-putting. They came out with an Espresso Stout at xmas, and it is easily the worst stout I have ever had, it makes Guinness taste good.

[BigE]

If you're in Ontario Hockley Valley Dark is an really nice dark ale. Also Mill St. makes a really nice hoppy Ale, Tankhouse Ale....they also make a decent coffee porter and believe it or not Magnotta (the wine maker) makes an ok IPA, at least you can pick it up in the beer store and it's much better then anything the big breweries try to pass off as an IPA (which is always garbage!).
Choices are slim here in Ontario sadly.....but my buddy and I just started home brew and I gotta say I'm impressed with some of the stuff we're making!

[thekulman]

Yes, choices in Ontarion have become very pedestrian in the last 10 years. Used to be that Upper Canada, Amsterdam and Sleemans had good beers. They seemed to have changed, although the Amsterdam beers are still OK. King Brewwery in King city has some good, but expensive beers.

For those who make their own, look to the grand opening of my homebrew store very soon. I'll be offering 2 and 6 row base malts as well as Munich, Black Patent, Chocolate, Roasted barely, cheap bulk LME, hops, Coopers and Danstar dry yeasts as well as have a whole catalogue of other ingredients that can be special ordered including Marris Otter, Biscuit malt, flacked grains etc...

I'm building the website and stocking the shelves.

Kul

...Coming Soon ...

[Cass]

Very nice! Would be worth the trip to Whitby (I'm in Ottawa right now but originally from Belleville area and moving back there at the end of the month).

Cass

[BigE]

Originally posted by thekulman
For those who make their own, look to the grand opening of my homebrew store very soon.

Good luck, I will check it out when you post the link! A little far for me to go from Kitchener but if shipping isn't too bad it's always nice to have options.

[thekulman]

Originally posted by BigE
Good luck, I will check it out when you post the link!

Thanks BigE. My philosophy is based on the fact that it's very hard to get quality homebrewing supplies in southern Ontario. Stores are either too far away or deal mainly in wine, so they only carry malt extracts and kits.

This has frustrated me for years. So I'm opening a web-based store where I'm going to leverage the fact that I have no lease, utilities etc... and try to offer the full range of brewing supplies at prices that can compete to a bricks and mortar store even after you factor in the shipping!

There is no reason why homebrewers without a store close by should have to travel great distances to get supplies or pay an arm and a leg to have them shipped to them.

Kul

[Cass]

Saw BigRock Dark Ale in the beer store yesterday, first time ever. How's that stuff?

[markaberrant]

Originally posted by Cass
Saw BigRock Dark Ale in the beer store yesterday, first time ever. How's that stuff?

Are you sure it wasn't Big Rock Black Amber Ale or Fort Garry Dark Ale? I don't really like either, but they could be a good introduction to the "dark side." Just remember to drink them a little warmer than ice cold; take a bottle out of the fridge and let it sit for 15-20 minutes before serving.

[Cass]

Nope it was Dark Ale im positive...

[BigE]

Originally posted by thekulman
Thanks BigE. My philosophy is based on the fact that it's very hard to get quality homebrewing supplies in southern Ontario. Stores are either too far away or deal mainly in wine, so they only carry malt extracts and kits.

This has frustrated me for years. So I'm opening a web-based store where I'm going to leverage the fact that I have no lease, utilities etc... and try to offer the full range of brewing supplies at prices that can compete to a bricks and mortar store even after you factor in the shipping!

There is no reason why homebrewers without a store close by should have to travel great distances to get supplies or pay an arm and a leg to have them shipped to them.

Kul

I totally agree man and it's frustrating for me as well...supplies are just so damned hard to find. I'm doing extracts right now and really want to try all-grain so please keep me posted!!!!!

[thekulman]

Originally posted by BigE
I totally agree man and it's frustrating for me as well...supplies are just so damned hard to find. I'm doing extracts right now and really want to try all-grain so please keep me posted!!!!!

The website should be launched by the end of this month, I'll post the URL on this site.

[shugalou]

Kul definitly keep us posted on when the site launches!!! Looking forward to seeing it and making some purchases!!!

[thekulman]

Well, all the stock has arrived and it should be soon! I'm just going through some legal ranglings with my graphic artist ... (lol!).

I think he'll settle for some cold home brewed pints though!

Kul

[shugalou]

LOL! Your Graphic Artist must like you to work for beers :)

I bottled the Yukon Red on Sunday so in a couple of weeks we'll have to hook up for a session.

[thekulman]

Originally posted by shugalou
I bottled the Yukon Red on Sunday so in a couple of weeks we'll have to hook up for a session.

I'm bottling the "Irish Red 3" this weekend, so why don't we say 2 weeks from this weekend?

I've been drinking the "Red River Ale" lately - don't think I'll make it again - it's not horrible, but definatley has the taste of the flax in it (an ingredient in the Red River Cereal along with Flacked Rye and Flacked Wheat).
Someone mentioned that Flax was an oily grain.
Oh well, it was an experiment.

Not sure what to make next - either a porter, or Corky's Happy Wife Beer or start my Marzen for "Ack!Kul'sBeerFest" time come October.

Kul

[shugalou]

If nothing else the flax is good for you...so when you offer it up to guests you can pitch it on that angle. Trying new brews is the most rewarding part of this hobby...I like brewing beers you can't even buy....Yukon Red, Pumpkin Pie and Christmas Ales. Unfortunately not all of them turn our perfect....my IPA was a lesson learned.

Looking forward to comparing the Reds in a couple of weekends.

Not sure what I want to make yet either. I was thinking of a cherry Witbier and maybe a tame summer sipper for the guests something along the lines of Corona or Coors light.

Got to be ready for summer

[thekulman]

Shugalou;

Try Corky's Happy Wife beer for the summer. It's a simple cream ale. If you want it lighter a la those Mexican beers, you can always reduce the 2 row. If you're interested it's searchable in the recipe section or I can e-mail it to you.

Kul

[shugalou]

Nice,

I'll see if I can find it in the recipes section.

[Hog's Breath]

Has anybody else tried the Bow Valley Lager? I believe it is brewed out of Calgary. I had one last night and it was a little strong, but good with pizza!!

Another question: How about the Big Rock beers do they have adjunts? I found the Jack Rabbit Lite, to be very well, lite. Go figure.

[markaberrant]

Originally posted by Hog's Breath
Has anybody else tried the Bow Valley Lager? I believe it is brewed out of Calgary. I had one last night and it was a little strong, but good with pizza!!

Another question: How about the Big Rock beers do they have adjunts? I found the Jack Rabbit Lite, to be very well, lite. Go figure.

Bow Valley Lager is an adjunct lager contract brewed by Big Rock.

And yes, according to my information, Big Rock uses adjuncts and malt extracts in all of their brews. McNallys Extra used to be their only all-malt, but even that is no longer so.

[Hog's Breath]

Thanks markaberrant! Can you recommend a good brew that might be in my neck of the woods?

[markaberrant]

Originally posted by Hog's Breath
Thanks markaberrant! Can you recommend a good brew that might be in my neck of the woods?

Where are you in Alberta? You should be able to get most of these in the major centres:

Maverick Supreme Lager (Edmonton) - awesome lager, but there is a rumour that they are no longer in business, so buy up what you can.

Wild Rose (Calgary) - I really like their IPA called Industrial Park Ale. This does not taste like Keith's IPA - it is much darker, bitter and has a strong grapefruit character. They also make an unfiltered wheat called Velvet Vog (similar in style to Big Rock Grasshopper), a raspberry beer called Wraspberry, and a malty Brown Ale (Big Rock Trad would be somewhat comparable).

Alley Kat (Edmonton) - Their flagship brand is Full Moon Pale, which is comparable to the Wild Rose IPA. They also have an Amber (similar to Big Rock Trad), an apricot wheat called Aprihop, a lager called Charlie Flint, and a big barleywine called Olde Deuteronomy. They also make quite a few seasonal beers that I won't mention.

I would try these out first. Nothing like supporting quality local craft breweries. I can't say I personally enjoy all of the brands, but all are well made, and I'm sure you'll find something that suits your taste.

I'll also put in a plug for Paddock Wood from Saskatchewan. You'll only find their beer at the better stores in Edmonton/Calgary, but they make VERY good beer.

[Hog's Breath]

Well, I am 6 hours north of Edmonton. I will check out them brews when I get to the City (Edm)next. Thanks. Up here I know one of the owners of the two beer stores up here, so I will ask her to see if she can get in some of the ones you suggested, thanks!

[thekulman]

Originally posted by Hog's Breath
Well, I am 6 hours north of Edmonton.

Just curious. Where is 6 hours N or Edmonton? You're even N or the tar sands?

Kul

[Hog's Breath]

Ah, we're not by the tar sands, to tell ya the truth I don't even know where they are. (I think they are by Fort Mac) I live North of Grande Prairie.

[Jordan303]

i think most mill st. products are th best. My favourite being their tankhouse and pilsner. Unfortunatly you cant get their pilsner in bottles only at their brewery. They sell the organic lager which i have a 6 pack of and still have not yet tried. They said they dont sell the pilsner because the lager is basically the same. I'll get around to it but i'm enjoying the tankhouse to much at the moment. I will give the lager a shot tonight or tommorow and let you guys know what i think.