2016 Beer in Review

i'm also an ex-winnipegger. i remember the days of Two Rivers and Aggasis. those were pretty awful.
Half Pints is ok or good enough.
PEG was pretty bad when i went, but hey, 1 month in, so what to expect? (the answer? more)
Torque and the other one were disgusting.

give winnipeg 2 years and i think things will be better. more competition.

 

My 2016 in review based only on Canadian beers had this year.

FAVORITE BREWERY - YOUR PROVINCE
Bellwoods

FAVORITE BREWERY - CANADA
Driftwood

TOP 3 FAVORITE BEERS - YOUR PROVINCE
Half Hours on Earth - Dinosaurs will Die
Beyond the Pale - Aromatherapy
Bellwoods - Lost River

TOP 3 FAVORITE BEERS - CANADA
Driftwood - Raised by Wolves
Auval - Arcane 17
Driftwood - Blackstone Porter

NEW DISCOVERY - YOUR PROVINCE
Half Hours on Earth and Stone City Ales

NEW DISCOVERY - CANADA
Auval. I had the chance to have Arcane17 which was quite nice and have their Guerilla stout aging in the cellar. The hype and some of what I've read concerns me but a new discovery all the same.

NOTABLE BEER-CHIEVEMENT
While not Canadian, returning to Het Anker to have lunch with my 97 year old grandfather. Enjoyed Flemish stew and Gouden Carolus classic. It was a perfect afternoon.

BREWERY TO WATCH - YOUR PROVINCE
Tooth and Nail

BREWERY TO WATCH - CANADA
For whatever random reason I'm curious on what Le castor and Trou du diable will do next year.

BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED - YOUR PROVINCE
The local brewing was a disappointment this year, really hoping it picks up next year. Lots of brewers but very little quality. The LCBO quality and availability took a nose dive in my opinion. I'm thankful for the good friends that lend a hand here and there with brews.

BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED - CANADA
The quality of Quebec brews has disappointed me, especially when it comes to their shelf life. There are a few exceptions of course however in general I was very let down by what I had. If anyone from Montreal or Quebec wants to change my opinion in 2017 let me know!

MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO TRYING (OR HOPE TO TRY!)
Anything from the west coast

 

FAVORITE BREWERY - YOUR PROVINCE
DDC mainly based on how consistently decent, affordable and easily available they all are.

FAVORITE BREWERY - CANADA
Bellwoods and Dunham (just to mix it up since I assume DDC would qualify here as well). I was really lucky to finally try Bellwoods and the ones I tried were very good, like Dunham's. Also, like Dunham, they could all perhaps be better in certain ways but they are all on another level regardless. I'm pretty sure Dunham is easier to get, though.

TOP 3 FAVORITE BEERS - YOUR PROVINCE
Based on my ratings and how frequently I re-bought stuff:

• Vox Populi Citra IPA (all the way at the tail end of the year)
• LTM IPA
• Pit Caribou American Brown Ale

Honorable mentions to Auval Super A, Dunham No Tahoma and Le Castor Éclipse.

TOP 3 FAVORITE BEERS - CANADA

• Juxtapose (holy fucking shit!)
• Aromatherapy
• Éclipse

NEW DISCOVERY - YOUR PROVINCE
Brouerie Sutton is awesome from what I've tried and I look forward to trying more from them.

NEW DISCOVERY - CANADA
The strange and exotic world of beers from other provinces (finally!) Thanks to awesome people from other provinces--or one's that just live near them.

NOTABLE BEER-CHIEVEMENT
I went on a beer-cation of epic proportions (for me) that managed to include family and friends and was kick-ass in every way despite it raining most of the time.

BREWERY TO WATCH - YOUR PROVINCE
Sutton (with anticipation), Vox Populi (with measured optimism), Auval (just watch the hype like a car crash and enjoy a tasty beer--likely from someone else since it's easier to get lately).

BREWERY TO WATCH - CANADA
I don't really know, but I'm hoping to get to try any that are worthy of being watched. I'm also willing to conduct extensive research on the subject.

BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED - YOUR PROVINCE
Farnham. They suck and their beer is bad. I'm through trying to be polite. I have given them more chances than someone in an abusive relationship and have gotten similar results.

Auval for the sheer clusterfuck of it all. I have had great luck getting their beers without trying too awful hard, but it nuts how much it has amped up in the last couple months. Don't think I'll be putting myself out for it in the future. Its good, but come on...

BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED - CANADA
I guess this is one that I am happy to not know an answer to.

MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO TRYING (OR HOPE TO TRY!)
Anything and everything!
I feel like I can see the market in Quebec blowing up daily. It's nuts and the quality and culture around storage, presentation, access and more is really getting better. It was already great so I'm really excited to see what 2017 has to bring.

 

Amsterdam is a pretty good choice for biggest disappointment. At one point they were in the top 3 (or at worst a solid number 4) for the province. They seem to be stuck in reverse the last couple years.

 

BOYD is 2015, non?
Outliers#2??
All Barncat's IPAs are hazy

 

FAVORITE BREWERY - YOUR PROVINCE
(tie) Four Winds Brewing and Yellow Dog Brewing

FAVORITE BREWERY - CANADA
Dieu du Ciel!

TOP 3 FAVORITE BEERS - YOUR PROVINCE
Yellow Dog Offleash Sour Cherry Bruin
Bomber Brewing Bike Route Best Bitter (I'm not usually a fan of Bomber's beers but this changed my mind!)
Category 12 Disruption Black IPA (Another surprise because I'm typically not a fan of Black IPAs)

TOP 3 FAVORITE BEERS - CANADA
Dieu du Ciel! Derniere Volonte
Dieu du Ciel! Hibiscus Wheat
Dieu du Ciel! Herbe a Detourne

NEW DISCOVERY - YOUR PROVINCE
That I like Dageraad beers much more in the bottle than on tap at their tasting room.

NEW DISCOVERY - CANADA
Les Trois Mousquetaires (QC)

NOTABLE BEER-CHIEVEMENT
Getting to try more and more great craft beer from Quebec and Ontario

BREWERY TO WATCH - YOUR PROVINCE
Category 12

BREWERY TO WATCH - CANADA
Les Trois Mousquetaires ... only because I've only tried one beer and it was delicious

BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED - YOUR PROVINCE
Too many to mention. The tide is not rising with the beers I've tried from many of the new breweries in BC. Luckily the good breweries get better and better.

BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED - CANADA
I was really disappointed with the beers from Saint Bock (QC)

MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO TRYING (OR HOPE TO TRY!)
More craft beer from Ontario and Quebec

 

Love your Farnham comments.

 

Slick marketing can do amazing things

 

The bottled stouts I assume? Or on tap at the pub?

 

Have you been able to try their hoppy stuff in the last 6 months or so? They've really up their game. At this time last year, I thought Bellwoods hoppy beers were some of the most over hyped beers in Canada. Some even had mild diacetyl problems. Now though, they are super dialed in......Jutsu, Roman Candle, Witchshark. Previously, I've never really liked Boogie Monster, but I had a new bottle just a couple of days ago that knocked my socks off. Whatever tweaks they've made, they've been awesome.

 

Silly Goose! Everyone knows you go to Saint Bock to drink their Cantillon, not their beers!

 

1. all the years roll into one another. there have been 2, if not 3 BOYD releases. i think it was released this year. would have to check.
2, Outliers #2 was a one-off stout they release on tap only. it was incredible. very under the radar. was a stout in fresh oak barrels and the oak was magnificent. i literally had the last pour of it.
3. all barncat IPAs are hazy? that's perfect.

 

On tap at the pub. Had 6 tasters and all were average to below average IMO except for the Saison Seigle Rose et Brett which was not nice at all.

 

1. There have been quite a few BOYD releases for sure. I still have the last one which is dated 2015 but was released in December so the delineation is a bit foggy...especially after drinking one.
2. I did have the Outliers #1 which was pretty exceptional. So good!
3. I've had the Green Out, The Juice and Eminence and all have been mega hazy. Really enjoyed them all too!
Cheers!

 

I believe this has a lot to do with some dialing in of recipes but also in big part to a load of new steel and a state of the art system.

 

FAVOURITE BREWERY - YOUR PROVINCE
This was a tough one; I had to think long and hard. I think I'll have to go with Sawdust City. Everything they've released to the LCBO in 2016 has been pretty solid. I just wish Long Dark Voyage was available more often. Honourable mentions to GLB and Collective Arts.

FAVOURITE BREWERY - CANADA
Four Winds. I haven't had all that many beers from them, but they keep blowing me away every time I try a new one.

TOP 3 FAVORITE BEERS - YOUR PROVINCE
1. Immodest (DIPA, Nickel Brook, 4.39)
2. The Oracle (WWBA Tripel, Forked River, 4.34)
3. Ransack the Universe (American IPA, Collective Arts, 4.34)

TOP 3 FAVORITE BEERS - CANADA
1. Nectarous (Four Winds Brewing Co., BC, 4.63)
2. Fat Tug IPA (Driftwood Brewery, BC, 4.58)
3. Doppelbock Grand Cuvée (Les Trois Mousquetaires, QC, 4.47)

NEW DISCOVERY - YOUR PROVINCE
Barncat

NOTABLE BEER-CHIEVEMENT
Finally completed my first couple of trades, including an awesome CANBIF experience. With time and money to spare, I could see how it could become addicting

BREWERY TO WATCH - YOUR PROVINCE
Half Hours on Earth. The only thing holding them back at the moment is distribution. If they can get shelf access and/or ramp up production, look out for these guys in 2017.

BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED - YOUR PROVINCE
Mill Street. Overhyped definitely isn't the term to use here, but most of their new releases in 2016 were overpriced and mediocre.

MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO TRYING (OR HOPE TO TRY!)
- New stuff from American brewers like Stone, Boulevard, Lagunitas and Smuttynose. The LCBO has been doing a better job of bringing these sorts of products in and I hope to see the trend continue.
- Still want to try that McAuslan Scotch Ale Barrique. Speaking of McAuslan, why does their RIS never show up around here anymore?

 

FAVORITE BREWERY - YOUR PROVINCE
Bellwoods

FAVORITE BREWERY - CANADA
Bellwoods

TOP 3 FAVORITE BEERS - YOUR PROVINCE
Bellwoods Grandma's Boy 2016
Bellwoods Cherry Farmageddon
HHOE Yalla Yalla (Nelson or Citra)

TOP 3 FAVORITE BEERS - CANADA
Other than Ontario...
Four Winds Nectarous
Dunham Oro Zuur
Trou de Diable Dulcis Succubus

NEW DISCOVERY - YOUR PROVINCE
Half Hours on Earth

NEW DISCOVERY - CANADA
Dunham

NOTABLE BEER-CHIEVEMENT
Meeting a lot of great people here on BA that share my enthusiasm for good beers!

BREWERIES TO WATCH - YOUR PROVINCE
Godspeed, Half Hours on Earth and Bench.
HM - Barncat

BREWERY TO WATCH - CANADA
Any of the list of breweries with the intent of moving towards utilizing a coolship.

BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED
My greatest disappointment is not getting more of a great release before it's gone....

LOOKING FORWARD TO TRYING (OR HOPE TO TRY!)
More BA sours from across Canada.

 

Ya I've had a few, but they're still not as good as BC which is just killing it right now with the hops.

 

Half Hours is worth the hype. Bellwoods have picked it up a notch. Quebec is more or less only the same, with the addition of Auval. BC lots of ups and downs so forget them for a while.

Top beers had in 2016, Crooked Stave, J Wakefield