Beer in Review 2013

FAVORITE LOCAL BREWERY
Beyond The Pale - this is everyone in Ottawa's answer, no? Very impressive first year.

FAVORITE BREWERY - OTHER
Bellwoods, GLB, Driftwood. Dunham when the bottles are good. Hill Farmstead, Cantillon. Founders in Ontario has been fun.

FAVORITE LOCAL BEER
Beyond The Pale Rye Guy - this is the one I drank the most, I guess, now that it's always on tap far out in the suburbs.

FAVORITE BEER - OTHER
Thanks to some nice trades, Heady was consistently in my fridge for a few months. So, that.

NEW LOCAL DISCOVERY
Ashton Brew Pub - the beer is very average, but it became a regular stop after golf out in that area. The building, atmosphere, people, food is also the closest I came across to my favourite local spot, The Cheshire Cat, which burned down last January (but is now back open so go check it out!).

NEW DISCOVERY - OTHER
Dunham - don't ask why I passed them over for so long.

NOTABLE BEER-CHIEVEMENT
Beer trips. I hit Belgium, Vermont, and Portland/Seattle in 2013. Also, Zwanze Day in Toronto!

LOCAL BREWERY TO WATCH
Beyond The Pale. There's a few new ones in Ottawa (and soon to be many more), but they're all still too young for me to have any idea.

BREWERY TO WATCH - OTHER
Nickel Brook / Collective Arts. Whatever Ryan Morrow does.

LOCAL BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED BEER
Everything that's not Beyond The Pale and Beau's, pretty much (and Beau's had a pretty poor year). Again, no disrespect to all those Ottawa breweries that opened at the end of the year or are about to open. There's so many below average breweries here.

BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED - OTHER
Pliny, glad I didn't go out of my way to trade for it. Amsterdam Tempest, second year in a row I'm left wondering why people love this stuff. Flying Monkeys, enough is enough with the overpriced bottles of diabetes.

MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO TRYING (OR HOPE TO TRY!)
I need to try more Hill Farmstead stuff that's not hoppy or a saison. I've still not gotten a chance to try any form of BCBS. Bourbon Peche. I've only had one beer from 3 Floyds. Lots of stuff. I'm off to San Diego next weekend, there's lots there I need to try (Alpine, Lost Abbey, etc), and returning to Belgium in February.

I tried to keep it as Canadian as possible.

 

FAVORITE LOCAL BREWERY
I want to say Four Winds because they've done some really awesome stuff that BC's never seen before. But they are a runner up to Driftwood, because Driftwood produced Belle Royale, Lustrum, Sartori, Naughty Hildegaard and others this year that have all been AMAZING.

FAVORITE BREWERY - OTHER
After considering a few Oregon breweries and other locals, I'm gonna say Cantillon. It's easy to take for granted their availability around BC, but it really is an amazing thing to be able to buy off the shelf.

FAVORITE LOCAL BEER
Four Winds Brewing Co's saison-brett. Delicious and possibly my favourite style of beer.

FAVORITE BEER - OTHER
Le Trou du Diable's Dulcis Succubus and Bourbon County Coffee stout are tied here for me. How can one compare those two beers? Both completely blew me away, I was wide-eyed the whole way through.

NEW LOCAL DISCOVERY
Brassneck opened its doors exactly 2 blocks from my doorstep this year. Best thing to happen to me.

NEW DISCOVERY - OTHER
New Belgium's introduction to BC is most excellent, and Le Terrior is one of my favourite beers of the year. I had no idea that a hoppy sour could be so amazing.

NOTABLE BEER-CHIEVEMENT
Hmmm, well I bought a cellar (4.7L wine cooler) in the spring, filled it within a month, and now I have more beers in a cabinet than would even fit in the cellar. So my cellar exploded. Had about 30 bottles, now have 130. I'm not especially proud though, trying to get back down to 75 or so.

LOCAL BREWERY TO WATCH
I am super happy to say there are a lot of local breweries to watch for 2014 in Vancouver. Four Winds has a black sour sitting in barrels currently, Brassneck is starting to experiment a bit more, and the big / established players continue to experiment and have winners consistently (Storm, Parallel 49, Driftwood). Bridge Brewing I think is starting to do interesting things too!

BREWERY TO WATCH - OTHER
Hmmm, maybe Logsdon. I am excited to see what they produce in 2014. I have a bottle of Cerasus and Far West Flaming but haven't drank them yet - but their saisons are so good.

LOCAL BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED BEER
Probably the biggest disappointment was Parallel 49's attempt at a sour with Lil Red. It was so bad. I don't drainpour easily - I'll struggle my way through a beer I don't like most of the time. This I poured. I hope that Graham redeems himself on the sour front but as I understand it he's not a sour fan so it might just not be in the cards.

BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED - OTHER
I would say Russian River Supplication. It was good, but it didn't blow my mind like I expected it to. I think there are sours on the shelf in BC that are just as good or better.

MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO TRYING (OR HOPE TO TRY!)
I'm going with redundacy and say the BA black sour happening at Four Winds probably!

 

FAVORITE LOCAL BREWERY
Driftwood

FAVORITE BREWERY - OTHER
Still Hill Farmstead. Seems so cliche and unimaginative, but those saisons ...holy crap.

FAVORITE LOCAL BEER
Belle Royale

FAVORITE BEER - OTHER
Anchorage Bitter Monk - this year's top discovery for me. Maybe even better than the beer itself was discovering it with a great group during an awesome night of beer at Apex in Portland.

NEW LOCAL DISCOVERY
Brassneck - What little I've tried so far has been really nice.

NEW DISCOVERY - OTHER
Prairie Artisan - great stuff

NOTABLE BEER-CHIEVEMENT
Hosted a BA tasting that was a blast. Everyone there was an absolute pleasure to hang out with and I hope to do it again soon. It was also an amazing year for sours and was able to try some really great ones thanks to some truly awesome BAs. Some that come to mind: Blåbær, Armand and Tommy, Hommage, Doesjel, Intense Red and many more. (Not to mention a gluttenous amount of Le Terroir)

LOCAL BREWERY TO WATCH
4 Winds - seem like some creative and interesting brewers

BREWERY TO WATCH - OTHER
So many good ones, who can say who will surprise us with new and amazing beers.

LOCAL BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED BEER
P49 - Too many mediocre releases and a couple real dogs. An overhyped brewery among locals imo.

BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED - OTHER
Port/Lost Abbey - when they're on, they're amazing. They just have far too many dogs to spend the $$$ they demand on their beer unless I'm pretty sure it's going to be decent.

MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO TRYING (OR HOPE TO TRY!)
Looking forward to that next surprise that blows me away, be it a long awaited chance discovery or some sleeper that just hits the right notes for me. Always fun to keep trying new stuff.

 

FAVORITE LOCAL BREWERY
Parallel 49 (Vancouver, BC) - Their only beer I haven't really enjoyed was Ugly Sweater.

FAVORITE BREWERY - OTHER
Can I just say Parallel 49 again? The craft beers I tried in the Maritimes were all fairly disappointing. I hope to get a chance to try more non-local craft beers in 2014.

FAVORITE LOCAL BEER
Parallel 49 Gypsy Tears Ruby Ale, or maybe Parallel 49 Salty Scot.

FAVORITE BEER - OTHER
Pretty much everything I've really enjoyed this year has been either from within the Vancouver area or from BC, so I guess I'll say St-Ambroise Citrouille.

NOTABLE BEER-CHIEVEMENT
I joined Beer Advocate this year and started tracking my beers. Craft beer is a new hobby for me this year. I've learned a lot, and I still have lots to learn.

LOCAL BREWERY TO WATCH
I'm looking forward to seeing what new seasonals Parallel 49 puts out.

LOCAL BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED BEER
1. Whistler Paradise Valley Grapefruit Ale - I still have two bottles of this stuff left from the six-pack I bought in June that I should just pour down the drain. Blech. This was a big disappointment for me, as the Bearpaw Honey Lager is decent and I really enjoyed the Cheakamus Chai-Maple Ale.
2. Fat Tug is excellent, but to be honest, I haven't liked anything else I've tried from Driftwood.

BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED - OTHER1. Pretty much everything I tried from Pump House Brewery (Moncton, NB). Seriously, how did they win an award for 2005 Brewery of the Year?
2. Stiegl Radler - Sure, it's not bad, but why does this even count as beer? Why did it get published in a best beers for summer list in the Georgia Straight?
3. Pretty much everything I tried from Propeller Brewery (Halifax, NS). It wasn't awful, but it certainly didn't meet expectations.
4. Alexander Keith's Cascade Hop Ale - I foolishly hoped it would be reasonably close to an IPA, and that my Dad (who only drinks Keith's) and I would be able to enjoy it together. Neither of us liked it. I should have known better.

MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO TRYING (OR HOPE TO TRY!)
I don't have any beers in particular I'm looking forward to, but I'm definitely looking forward to finding and trying new beers. I'd like to try more things not available at the government stores.

 

FAVORITE LOCAL BREWERY
Wild Rose (Brian Smith has changed this for the better)

FAVORITE BREWERY - OTHER
Le Trou du Diable

FAVORITE LOCAL BEER
What ever the Wild Rose seasonal is

FAVORITE BEER - OTHER
La Pitoune as it the one drank the most this year.

NEW LOCAL DISCOVERY
Really cheap pints at both National locations for happy hour.

NEW DISCOVERY - OTHER
Vicaris great Belgian beers.

NOTABLE BEER-CHIEVEMENT
LOCAL BREWERY TO WATCH

The gang at Brewsters is making better beers every year and they sell inexpensive pints.

BREWERY TO WATCH - OTHER

Praire Brewing has some exciting beers.

LOCAL BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED BEER
BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED - OTHER

Village they just suck

MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO TRYING (OR HOPE TO TRY!)

more smoked beers

 

FAVORITE LOCAL BREWERY
Not to beat a dead horse, but Driftwood continues to impress me. On a personal level they also really came through and helped me out after I got a bit screwed over by another local brewery (well, their sales guy, more specifically).

FAVORITE BREWERY - OTHER
I've corrected this answer 4 times now as I keep switching. As of right now it's going to Upright, with Hill Farmstead an incredibly close second.

FAVORITE LOCAL BEER
In terms of consistency and sheer volume of consumption, it has to go to Driftwood's Fat Tug for me.

FAVORITE BEER - OTHER
My shortlist is Parabola, Hel & Verdoemenis 666, Special Herbs, Fantasia, Flora, Biere de Norma, Sosus & St Lamvinus. It's tough but I think it's St Lamvinus.

NEW LOCAL DISCOVERY
Brassneck for me. Their starting lineup was very respectable, but the second batches of beers they made previously have been improved too (passive agressive & inertia come to mind - both great, but better the second time brewed).

NEW DISCOVERY - OTHER
This year's been a bit of a blur... I've discovered more in the last 6 months than I've ever discovered previously. I think probably the greatest surprise was La Castor's Yakima IPA. So damned good.

NOTABLE BEER-CHIEVEMENT
Buying a second fridge, trading / CANBIF, finding some awesome local folks to open bottles with, making friends through BA and other sites... though probably realizing I worked with @dresden and having no idea he was such a beer nerd, all thanks to me opening my CANBIF box in the office, was quite memorable.

LOCAL BREWERY TO WATCH
Whilst I'm excited to see what Four Winds come up with, they aren't my pick. I'm actually going with Lighthouse. Every single one of their seasonal & new beers over the past year have been excellent, balanced, and great examples of the style. They aren't making BA saisons, BA stouts, or sours... yet. Imagine how good they'll be if / when they do.

BREWERY TO WATCH - OTHER
Dunham really impressed me, even with my Saison Reserve bottle being one of the uncarbonated ones - it was still delicious. Very much looking forward to trying some of their other beers.

LOCAL BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED BEER
Disappointments:
* Lil Red was so sad, and it's really become a bit of an albatross for Graham, which isn't fair. I look forward to trying their next sour.
* Brassneck Dixmas IPA. A local legend, certainly, but I think IPAs have moved on a bit since. Still yummy, but not as good as it used to be.
* Opening a cellared '12 Singularity to show off BA Stouts to some out of towners. It didn't impress... maybe it needed more time? I don't know.

Overhyped:
* Four Winds Saisons (Wildflower & Brett). Both are good (brett especially), and a milestone for BC, and and and. But I've heard people say it beats Logsdon... I don't think so.

BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED - OTHER
BCBVS. I haven't given up on Bourbon County variants, but it was a good lesson for me.

MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO TRYING (OR HOPE TO TRY!)
Very excited about Proprietors, SNR '10 & LP Framboise.

 

I just realized I didn't put vanilla Dark Lord as my top beer tried this year. That is it. The others are most definitely behind that.

Lurk - good points made on a few counts. Interesting on the Singularity, I don't have any left to try but I've come to realize nobody on the west coast seems to do a really huge BA stout. Like Dark Lord or BCBS size. And you are definitely right that Four Winds are not (yet) in Logsdon territory, though I have high hopes.

 

FAVORITE LOCAL BREWERY
Beyond the Pale. As has been already said, it's the standard answer for anyone in Ottawa. Only open a year and they've done a wide variety of unique styles including sours and barrel aged. I've yet to try a beer of their's that wasn't good or better.

FAVORITE BREWERY - OTHER
Dieu Du Ciel - Moralite, Peche, and Solstice d'Ete. Three top notch beers in three very different styles. I can't think of another brewery that I've tried that can say the same.

FAVORITE LOCAL BEER
If Rigaud counts as local to Ottawa, and it's not that far from Vankleek Hill the home of local Beau's, I'd go with Le Castor Yakima IPA. If not, give me Beyond the Pale Party Animal Belgian IIPA a beer that doesn't taste particularly Belgian or Imperial to me but rather like a good IPA.

FAVORITE BEER - OTHER
Since I've had it more than any of the other contenders, I'd go with Dunham Leo's Early Breakfast IPA.

NEW LOCAL DISCOVERY
l'Autre Oeil. Best selection of beer in the National Capital Region. By far.

NEW DISCOVERY - OTHER
Le Castor Yakima IPA. I've tried three different versions - two cask versions with different hops and the bottled version. All were really good but really demonstrated to me how different hops can change a beer.

NOTABLE BEER-CHIEVEMENT
Attending Mondiale in Montreal and trying a whole lot of good beers.

LOCAL BREWERY TO WATCH
Beyond the Pale

BREWERY TO WATCH - OTHER
Collective Arts in Ontario. Jukebox in Quebec.

LOCAL BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED BEER
Big Rig Brew Pub. A well financed brew pub that gets tons of press locally because of its ownership and it does mediocre versions of pedestrian styles.

BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED - OTHER
New Holland Incorrigible Berliner Weiss - tasted like pickles. Yuck!
DDC Isseki Nicho.
Dunham Imperial India.

MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO TRYING (OR HOPE TO TRY!)
Hill Farmstead. Cigar City Jai Lai. BtP Imperial Super Guy. Dunham Saison Reserve. LTM Double IPA.

 

I take it all answers should refer to Canadian products/breweries/events?

FAVORITE LOCAL BREWERY
Has to be Alley Kat, purely down to their Big Bottle Series/Seasonals

FAVORITE BREWERY - OTHER
Driftwood. Just keep on getting better

FAVORITE LOCAL BEER
Ally Kat 3 Bears Stout - When available

FAVORITE BEER - OTHER
Yukon's Midnight Sun Espresso Stout

NEW LOCAL DISCOVERY
'Discovered' the Accent Lounge in 2013.

NEW DISCOVERY - OTHER


NOTABLE BEER-CHIEVEMENT
Helping to run another successful EBGA Cask Day.

LOCAL BREWERY TO WATCH
In Edmonton? No one yet.

BREWERY TO WATCH - OTHER


LOCAL BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED BEER
Hogs Heads - shakey quality at the moment, which is a shame as the brewers can do good stuff.

BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED - OTHERBiggest overhyped beer? Heady Topper.................what's all the fuss about? But, as this isn't Canadian, than I'd have to say pretty much everything from Le Trou du Diable

MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO TRYING (OR HOPE TO TRY!)
Nothing really, I've done the hype train and it always end up on a side track.

 

FAVORITE LOCAL BREWERY
DDC

FAVORITE BREWERY - OTHER
Bellwoods, if going with Canadian Content

FAVORITE LOCAL BEER
Moralite

FAVORITE BEER - OTHER
Cigar City Jai Alai

NEW LOCAL DISCOVERY
Benelux Verdun. I love it there

NEW DISCOVERY - OTHER
Sucks and Nugget Nector

NOTABLE BEER-CHIEVEMENT
Vermont trip in June. HF, Alchemist, Ben and Jerrys, Lawsons

LOCAL BREWERY TO WATCH
Dunham

BREWERY TO WATCH - OTHER
Peekskill

LOCAL BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED BEER
Trou du Diable.

BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED - OTHER Everything Pumpkin related

MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO TRYING (OR HOPE TO TRY!)
I just placed an Order through SAQ for a case of Cantillon Iris

 

Going to keep my answers Canadian (wasn't that the point?)

FAVORITE LOCAL BREWERY
Keeping things in Greater Vancouver, I'd have to say Four Winds

FAVORITE BREWERY - OTHER
Driftwood (I don't consider Victoria to be local) But if I had to go outside of BC, Dieu Du Ciel for sure.

FAVORITE LOCAL BEER
Considering I bought the most of this out of any other local beer, Central City's ESB. I prefer it over their IPA.

FAVORITE BEER - OTHER
Fat Tug. Easy to find anywhere, and now that they bottle date it's even better! Outside of BC, I'd give a nod to Half Pints little scrapper because it's the only decent beer in Winnipeg where I have to travel for family often.

NEW LOCAL DISCOVERY
Maybe not completely new, but more and more local bottle shops are cellaring beers and releasing throughout the year. This kicks ass!

NEW DISCOVERY - OTHER
Elizabeth Station - it's not Canadian, but I don't think they'd be in business without a constant flood of Vancouverites going down across the border great shop, maybe expensive, but considering the price goughing/tax in BC I'll happily buy my American beers in America. I'm keeping my other Bellingham shop discoveries secret

NOTABLE BEER-CHIEVEMENT
Alibi Room hosted the first ever Zwanze Day in Vancouver. It was awesome to be a part of the draw process, regardless of many BAs came on here and complained when they couldn't make it or get a ticket

LOCAL BREWERY TO WATCHFour Winds. Brett Saison and numerous brews in barrels make me eagerly await each release! Central City should start doing some cool things now that they have more space, hopefully it doesn't just mean wider distro.

BREWERY TO WATCH - OTHERDriftwood. Some amazing releases this year, but also some of my biggest disappointments. I look forward to them getting things dialed in more.

LOCAL BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED BEER
BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED - OTHER
P49 lil red, even though I think I'm the only one who managed to finish a bottle. Local government as usual dragging their heals on changes but I guess that's always going to be the case. Fresh Hop and Pumpkin beers seemed to be everywhere this yr made by everyone, can't say any overly impressed.

MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO TRYING (OR HOPE TO TRY!)
Anything from Fourwinds, Brassneck, Driftwood, P49 to an extent. Hoping to see some more unique barrels used for aging!

 

Getting a growler filled with Imperial Biscotti Break was a highlight for me! They are definitely more money than further south options, but not once you factor in fuel.

 

FAVORITE LOCAL BREWERY
Driftwood, hands-down. The undisputed champ on the Island.

FAVORITE BREWERY - OTHER
Sierra Nevada, as always. Other great brewers this year: Cantillon, Firestone Walker, Epic (New Zealand), Great Divide, Stone, Logsdon, Tilquin, Bear Republic, Rodenbach, Weihenstephaner, Stillwater, Deschutes, Hair of the Dog, De Ranke, Founders, Het Anker (Gouden Carolus), Victory, Upright, Sound, Nøgne Ø, and Schneider.

FAVORITE LOCAL BEER
Driftwood Gose-Uh, the ultimate dark horse. I need more Gose in my life! Otherwise Clodhopper, Belle Royale, and Tofino Dawn Patrol Coffee Porter are my top picks.

FAVORITE BEER - OTHER
In no particular order, my best of 2013: Cantillon Gueuze 100% Lambic, Central Waters Brewer's Reserve Bourbon Barrel Stout, Brooklyn Black OPS, DFH Burton Baton, Het Anker Cuvee Van De Keizer Blauw, Epic Hop Zombie, Evil Twin Imperial Biscotti Break, Upright Gose, HORALs Oude Geuze Mega Blend, Parallel 49 Humphrey Biere de Garde, Stone Imperial Russian Stout, New Belgium La Folie, Le Terroir, Boulevard Love Child No. 3, Logsdon Oak Aged Bretta, Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard, Great Divide Old Ruffian, Tilquin Gueze, Quetsche, DFH Palo Santo Marron, Bear Republic Racer X, Lost Abbey Red Poppy, Bruery Sour in the Rye, Oskar Blues Ten FIDY, Unibroue 17, Firestone Walker Union Jack, Weihenstephaner Vitus, Firestone Walker Wookey Jack, Liefmans Cuvee-Brut, Epic Larger, Sound Brewery Monk's Indiscretion.

NEW LOCAL DISCOVERY
Tofino Brewing's beer is great and their brewmaster is a true baller (in spite of OR due to his systematic looting of my Cantillon shelf).

NEW DISCOVERY - OTHER
Fremont. Big Rock actually brewing an interesting beer (Cuvee Bru). Central Waters. Some okay Hawaiian beers.

NOTABLE BEER-CHIEVEMENT
Acquired and drank a Westvleteren XII. Tried my first Loons. Attended Parksville Untapped, Nanaimo Beerfest, and GCBF. Had amazing, otherwise unavailable beers in Missouri, Illinois, and Florida. Found Sculpin. Ticked my 1000th unique brew on my honeymoon. Found more Gose and Oyster Stout. Received Zombie Dust. Successfully traded beer through the mail. Got more involved with my local beer-loving community and started actually contributing to BeerAdvocate in the BC Releases thread. Landed the Abyss.

LOCAL BREWERY TO WATCH
Tofino. Lighthouse's quality is steadily rising and the new Moon Under Water stuff is awesome. Congratulations to Clay and Chelsea at the Moon for getting married before the year's end, they brew great beer and are top notch people to boot. A lot of cool stuff in Vancouver too that unfortunately doesn't make it out to the Island much (looking at you, Coal Harbour, Four Winds, and 33 Acres).


BREWERY TO WATCH - OTHER
This is a bit of a conundrum. All of the breweries that I am watching or feel like I should be watching are new-ish American ones that certainly don't distribute to BC. That's why I'm watching them, not drinking them!
LOCAL BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED BEER
Most of the Parallel 49 offerings. Their gems are majestic, but everything else gets a disproportionate amount of love. Also their labels suck (exception: Humphrey Biere de Garde). BC pumpkin beers: there are too many of them, most of them aren't very remarkable, even old standbys like Pumpkineater were bad, and the only one that impressed me with innovation and true pumpkin flavor was Longwood's 9% Fullpatch Pumpkin Saison. Brewers, you could be spending your valuable time and resources brewing a nice Oktoberfest beer or literally anything besides pumpkin beer at the end of summer/beginning of fall. Of course non-craft beer types have a huge soft spot for a pumpkin beer in October so I assume it is a cash cow.

BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED - OTHER
Bruery Bois. What a hot mess. Innis & Gunn and Ninkasi continue to not justify their reputations. Both beer advent calendars were pretty boring. With Lagunitas Sucks, Firestone Walker Double Jack, Westy XII, Zombie Dust, Alesmith IPA, Speedway Stout, and Avery Maharaja, I either let the hype machine get to me and unrealistically heighten my expectations or my palate and taste in beer are just broken - they were very delicious but not everything I imagined they would be.

MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO TRYING (OR HOPE TO TRY!)
The next shipment of Cantillon is coming in January. So is FiftyFifty Eclipse. Timothy Taylor's Landlord. Looking forward to the totally unexpected beers that show up in my life due to a great network of friends and family who travel/trade to the States regularly.

 

Niagara 's close enough to Canada, right?

FAVORITE LOCAL BREWERY
If I'm going for something I can drive to in less than an hour then it's Nickel Brook or Southern Tier. For a bit more of a drive it's got to be Bellwoods

FAVORITE BREWERY - OTHER
Hill Farmstead. Had over 10 different Hills in 2013. All stellar.

FAVORITE LOCAL BEER
Really isn't anything local that blew me away this year. Collective Arts Rhyme and Reason probably takes this one in the less than an hour drive category.

FAVORITE BEER - OTHER
Too many to list, but the one that I get the most regularly when fresh is Flower Power. If I'm going to keep this Canadian however, Le Castor Yakima was very good. Otherwise I'm looking at a bunch of brewery-only beers I can only get in Vermont or Pennsylvania

NEW LOCAL DISCOVERY
Had a couple Nickel Brooks and a Collective Arts out of Burlington that were quite good. CBW's The IPA is pretty good but there are better options in the bottle shops.


NEW DISCOVERY - OTHER
Maumee Bay Total Eclipse. Received as a throw in on a trade and was very impressed. Would gladly buy a few more bottles next time I'm in Ohio.
Westbrook Gose - Hopefully this will make its way to Premier next year.

NOTABLE BEER-CHIEVEMENT
Knocking off another 30 or so beer in the BA top 250. Also a wooden crate in August

LOCAL BREWERY TO WATCH
I find CBW in Buffalo to be fairly overrated by the locals. and I've never been big on Flying Bison. I'll go with Collective Arts as they are kind of local and their first offering was pretty good. Don't see much new coming from Southern Tier.

BREWERY TO WATCH - OTHER
Had a few Dunham's that I really enjoyed this year. I wrote this brewery off a couple years ago. Logsdon is another brewery I've been impressed with, though none of their stuff is available locally.

LOCAL BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED BEER
Oast House - Decent enough stuff but not worth the dollars they are charging imho.

BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED - OTHER
Three Floyds Dark Lord. Finally had a bottle and it was ok, but not much better than that.

MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO TRYING (OR HOPE TO TRY!)
Duck Duck Gose, Prairie Bomb

 

answers are in terms of what 'went down' in 2013. pun intended:

FAVORITE LOCAL BREWERY
Alley Kat

FAVORITE BREWERY - OTHER
Tie: Beer Here and Le Trou du Diable

FAVORITE LOCAL BEER
Alley Kat - double ipa series

FAVORITE BEER - OTHER
Tie: LTM Porter Baltique grand cuvee and Mikkeller/3 Floyds Boogoop on tap at Underground

NEW LOCAL DISCOVERY
Wild Rose's improvements
Phillips Bottle Rocket sipa

NEW DISCOVERY - OTHER
Upright Brewing

NOTABLE BEER-CHIEVEMENT
drinking freshly tapped Alley kat hopped up Full Moon pale Ale with Don the new Edmonton Mayor last month

LOCAL BREWERY TO WATCH
Wild Rose

BREWERY TO WATCH - OTHER
wait and see...

LOCAL BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED BEER
1. Red Racer doesn't taste the same anymore
2. I would list Hogs Head and Tool Shed here but won't because they are just getting started and look forward to future.

BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED - OTHER
the flood of new new zealand beers

MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO TRYING (OR HOPE TO TRY!)
1. a double ipa that isn't a sweet hot mess
2. more sessionable ipas

 

FAVORITE LOCAL BREWERY
Paddock Wood
FAVORITE BREWERY - OTHER
Half Pints

FAVORITE LOCAL BEER
Paddock Wood Saskatcheweizen
Paddock Wood 1,000 Monkeys
Paddock Wood Winter Ale
Bushwakker Saskadian Black IPA

FAVORITE BEER - OTHER
Half Pints Old Red Barn
Half Pints Le Temps Noir

NEW LOCAL DISCOVERY
Lancaster Taphouse - they have 4 pretty good rotating taps, though rest are tame
Regina German Club - keep getting better and better (and still cheap), various Hacker-Pschorr on draft, and various bottles of Schneider and Weihenstephan.

NEW DISCOVERY - OTHER
Premium Canadian Whisky (there is a lot of incredible whisky out there, and extremely affordable)
Lighthouse Brewing
the 2 National Beer Halls in Calgary

NOTABLE BEER-CHIEVEMENT
- Judged at 3 of the biggest homebrew comps in Canada (Regina, Calgary and Winnipeg), head judge at 2 of them
- Lobbied the SK govt, resulting in updated liquor laws, and an SLGA Summer Seasonal Limited Release program (28 different beers over 3 months).
- All 12 of my BJCP students passed the exam
- Won 3 golds and 3 silver medals, as well as Runner Up and 2nd Runner Up Best of Show at ALES Open competition. I only entered 10 beers, and am now officially retired from homebrew competing.
- Toured Deep Ellum brewing in Dallas, TX, and attended Arizona Strong Beer Festival in Phoenix.

LOCAL BREWERY TO WATCH
Stay tuned

BREWERY TO WATCH - OTHER
Prairie Sun Brewing in Saskatoon

LOCAL BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED BEER
The new SK "craft" breweries and beers that are entirely built around "not offending" the mass market lager consumer...

BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED - OTHER
The continuing trend of grossly overpriced seasonals that are little more than R&D experiments that should have never left the confines of the brewery.

MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO TRYING (OR HOPE TO TRY!)
Stay tuned

 

FAVORITE LOCAL BREWERY
Bellwoods

FAVORITE BREWERY - OTHER
Trou Du Diable, Evil Twin, Ommegang, Dupont

FAVORITE LOCAL BEER
Bellwoods- 3 Minutes to Midnight
Nicklebrook- Kentucky Bastard

FAVORITE BEER - OTHER
New-England Brewing Company- Gandhi-Bot
Maine Brewing Company- Lunch
Evil Twin- Imperial Biscotti Break Natalie

NEW LOCAL DISCOVERY
Indie Ale House
Block 3

NEW DISCOVERY - OTHER
The Blue Monk Bar
Premier Gourmet

NOTABLE BEER-CHIEVEMENT
First successful all grain home brew
First beer consignment order

LOCAL BREWERY TO WATCH
Nicklebrook

BREWERY TO WATCH - OTHER


LOCAL BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED BEER
Railroad City- Overall poor quality, poor balance, Generic
Oast- good beer, just way overpriced
Trafalgar- Constant disappointment, too many drain pours
Lake of Bay- Generic, overpriced

BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED - OTHER
Sam Adams- barrel room collection

MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO TRYING (OR HOPE TO TRY!)
Any Hill Farmstead Saison
BCBS
FFF Zombie Dust, Alpha King

 

FAVORITE LOCAL BREWERY
Driftwood , Lighthouse , Phillip's

FAVORITE BREWERY - OTHER
Sierra Nevada , Lagunitas 'Sucks' my spring beer in 2013

FAVORITE LOCAL BEER
Driftwoods 'Naughty Hildegard' & 'Sartori Harvest' enjoyed both via *cask & many bottles

FAVORITE BEER - OTHER
Phillip's 'Longboat Choc Porter' easily the leader in growler purchase's , also my Mom & Sis fav

NEW LOCAL DISCOVERY
Victoria Beer's / Local Beer Museum , click on the growler link and presto all of the 9 local brewers/beerpubs list what their pouring
http://victoriabeers.com/

NEW DISCOVERY - OTHER
Spinnaker's fall seasonal 'Spiced Pumpkin Ale'

NOTABLE BEER-CHIEVEMENT
2013 was good to me , won a draw prize 'Guinness' Jacket in February ,
enjoyed Island BEERFest , Hopoxia , voluntered for GCBF , joined CAMRA &
apparently had my 500th beer/300th review and have a 50 bottle cellar to enjoy

LOCAL BREWERY TO WATCH
Moon Under Water , did some funky things in 2013 , and as always Phillip's

BREWERY TO WATCH - OTHER
probally P49

LOCAL BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED BEER
At this year GCBF , Driftwood says there pouring 'Singularity' on*cask , even some print publication's mention this
instead they pour 'Old Cellar Dwellar' Friday & Old Barrel Dwellar' Saturday

BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED - OTHER
Central City 'Imperial Porter' , I not sure if it will make it here to the Island , or if I want too pay $15

MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO TRYING ,
something from my cellar

(OR HOPE TO TRY!)
possibly in the fall Southern Tier 'Pumking' or 'Warlock'

 

FAVORITE LOCAL BREWERY

Dunham & DDC


FAVORITE BREWERY - OTHER

Bellwoods

FAVORITE LOCAL BEER

Haven't had a bad bottle of Leo's yet, Castor Yakima, DDC Herbe a Detourne, many others


FAVORITE BEER - OTHER

Abyss, Cherry Adam From the Wood, BCBS, Siren Red Ale, Pit Caribou Brown Ale (when done right, i love'em)


NEW LOCAL DISCOVERY

Lagabiere


NEW DISCOVERY - OTHER

Powell Street comes to mind

NOTABLE BEER-CHIEVEMENT

Able to have BCBC, BCBCS, ABYSS, Enjoy By; got media pass for Le Mondial & Bieres et Saveurs, finally completed the Canada Top 50 (for now), first taste of Cantillon (want more!)

LOCAL BREWERY TO WATCH

Lagabiere

BREWERY TO WATCH - OTHER

Alchemist, new retail store opening with possibility of new canned beers, yes!


LOCAL BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED BEER

DDC Solstice d'ete, not a huge disappointment but not as good as 2 years ago. I wouldn't age this year's vintage though second batch is supposed to be an improvement / TDD regular offerings are ...well...regular. Barrel-aged beers are top notch (except Imperatrice) but their year round line-up doesn't stand out as much as you would think among the others (IMO of course)

BEER DISAPPOINTMENTS / OVERHYPED - OTHER

Funky Buddha, had just one beer so far, Nib Smuggler. Again not a huge disappointment as it was good but not transcendent as the forums would have me believe. Still want to try the Maple Bacon though

MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO TRYING (OR HOPE TO TRY!)

Hoping to plan a road trip to Philly to try Pliny the Younger, maybe DLD?