Is there a beer in Canada worth tracking down?

Discussion in 'Canada' started by deepsleeper, Jul 15, 2015.

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  1. deepsleeper

    deepsleeper Initiate (0) Jun 21, 2015 California

    I'm visiting Canada, and wondering if there's anything there a beer hunter in the states would grab and bring back, if they had the chance. Something that gives the same sort of excitement, of trying something like a Pliny The Younger for the first time.
     
  2. JonnyBeers

    JonnyBeers Savant (1,211) Oct 24, 2012 Canada (BC)

    Which part of the 9,984,670 km² area are you visiting? Would help pin something down. Distro is not nation-wide for almost everything.
     
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  3. hoser

    hoser Initiate (0) Feb 17, 2003 Canada (AB)

    Well what part of Canada it is a very big country and how exactly to you plan on bringing Pliny the Younger when it isn't bottled.
     
  4. paulys55

    paulys55 Initiate (0) Aug 2, 2010 Pennsylvania

    I hear Cantillon is more available up there, but that could just be those silly Canadians messing with us American BA's.
     
  5. hoser

    hoser Initiate (0) Feb 17, 2003 Canada (AB)

    Please stop that rumour, it sells out as quickly as it does in the States and is just as rare.
     
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  6. Torontoblue

    Torontoblue Initiate (0) Jun 12, 2005 Canada (AB)

    It is now it's a valuable trading commodity!!! In days past we had 'Loons on most respectable stores shelves for many months. Now, folk from other provinces/states clear us out the minute arrives, leaving us who wanna actually drink it...... well rather parched!

    Stuff to search out would be most stuff from Bellwoods in Ontario, most beers from Driftwood in BC, some special releases from Half Pints in Manitoba, also from BC you have Four Winds. It all depends on what you're after, and where you're going.
     
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  7. Lurkaholic

    Lurkaholic Initiate (0) Jun 14, 2013 Canada (BC)

    If you're staying in a Vancouver hotel, bring a growler - we have a tri-tap system in all the 4-star plus establishments; and most rotate through the LPs and Fou. Other than that... there's nothing exciting up here whatsoever. Enjoy your trip!
     
  8. deepsleeper

    deepsleeper Initiate (0) Jun 21, 2015 California

    I mean the equivalent of that kind of amazing find.
     
  9. deepsleeper

    deepsleeper Initiate (0) Jun 21, 2015 California

    Yes, talking about west coast BC, Vancouver.
     
  10. hoser

    hoser Initiate (0) Feb 17, 2003 Canada (AB)

    Then there is a host of great BC breweries you will have no trouble finding great stuff, just check which stores are best in the travel section of Beer Advocate and hit them up. Sure trading partners will be beer mailing you. I always enjoy the Albi Room for a tap room while in Vancouver.
     
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  11. Mlkluther

    Mlkluther Initiate (0) Sep 22, 2014 Canada (AB)

    If you're in BC you will definitely want to get your hands on Driftwood stuff. Their Fat Tug IPA, imo, is as good as many of the big name IPAs. Their New Growth Pale Ale is outstanding. I really enjoyed their Naughty Hildegard ESB.

    All the beers I've had from Driftwood were solid...if not excellent.
     
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  12. JonnyBeers

    JonnyBeers Savant (1,211) Oct 24, 2012 Canada (BC)

    Breweries/Beers you should check out in Vancouver > Four Winds, Brassneck, Strange Fellows, Steel & Oak, Dageraad, Parallel 49, Powell, 33 Acres, Main Street, Storm and probably more than a few I've missed. I've had amazing beers from all of those, maybe not consistently but that's beer. New ones popping up all the time.

    Breweries/Beers from the Island > Driftwood, Lighthouse, Moon Under Water and a few others probably by now

    Imports > We get a whole crap load of Oregon and WA stuff (which you may or may not have access to). Lately we've gotten Cascade & Pfriem for example. We just got Szech & Brett too. Logsdon, Breakside, Commons etc

    If your only search is for Driftwood you'll be missing out big time. I love the Fat Tug IPA, but the scene has grown A LOT, and BA has not kept up at all in terms of BAers reviewing local beers here.
     
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  13. Mlkluther

    Mlkluther Initiate (0) Sep 22, 2014 Canada (AB)

    I keep hearing about Four Winds. I'd like to get my hands on some of their beer!
     
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  14. mjmcnns

    mjmcnns Aspirant (257) Jan 28, 2014 Canada (BC)

    The BC IPA scene right now is quite strong in my opinion. Fat Tug has been the king for a long time, but it definitely has a lot of competition right now, and some would say it's been surpassed. Other high quality IPAs worth checking out that are always around include: Yellow Dog "Play Dead", Central City IPA, Brassneck Passive Aggressive (a pale technically, but it's in the wheelhouse for my palette), Four Winds IPA, and others.
     
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  15. JonnyBeers

    JonnyBeers Savant (1,211) Oct 24, 2012 Canada (BC)

    +1 for Yellow Dog. Brewery is a bit out of the way, but they are easy to find in shops now, the Play Dead in cans is a thing of beauty!
     
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  16. Sathanas

    Sathanas Initiate (0) Sep 5, 2014 Canada (AB)

    It depends where you're going, man. There's a lot of amazing breweries in Canada; here are some worth checking out...

    Western Canada; Alberta has Tool Shed*, Alley Kat, Dandy, Village, Brewsters*. Saskatchewan had Paddock Wood (get their 'monkey' beers. Awesome imperial stouts). BC has Moon Under Water, Four Winds*, Bad Tattoo*, Lighthouse, Driftwood*.

    Eastern Canada; Ontario has too many great breweries to mention. Check out the Niagara region. Quebec has Dieu du Ciel!*, Unibroue, and tons of others.

    Hope this helps a bit
    *highly recommended!!!
     
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  17. Sathanas

    Sathanas Initiate (0) Sep 5, 2014 Canada (AB)

    Just read your post. Vancouver and surrounding area has Parallel 49, Four Winds, Storm, Powell Street. Definitely try to make it out to Four Winds, who focus on elevated European styles, and Parallel 49 who just make insane beers, check out the Rye the Long Face rye IPA and BBA RIS and the sours they've just started making. I'm headed out to Victoria in August and they have some amazing breweries and brew pubs. Cheers!
     
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  18. Beervana

    Beervana Initiate (0) Apr 15, 2014 Canada (BC)

    Contrary to what some of my Canadian brethren have said, I think a lot of the beer listed in this thread are not necessarily worth tracking down but are simply just examples of good Canadian beer. Few are likely to give you that mind-blowing, Pliny the Younger for the first time type experience you're after.

    In my opinion, there are probably three beers brewed here that would fit the bill of what you're looking for: BA Peche Mortel, 4W Nectarous, and Sartori Harvest.

    BA Peche you'd definitely have to trade for, small chance you could find an IP in Vancouver. Nectarous you might get lucky and find at the brewery or on store shelves if your timing is right, otherwise setting up an IP trade in Vancouver shouldn't be too difficult. Sartori Harvest will require you to get your timing right, it's a fresh hop beer which is usually released in mid September but could be slightly early this year since we've had an unusually hot summer.

    Good luck on your hunt!
     
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  19. mjmcnns

    mjmcnns Aspirant (257) Jan 28, 2014 Canada (BC)

    One thing the great things about BC's beer scene right now is I think there is a good amount of really great products out there. For example, I agree w/ Beervana that Nectarous and Sartori are great, tasty beers....and neither are my favourite beer that their respective breweries make!
     
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  20. Mlkluther

    Mlkluther Initiate (0) Sep 22, 2014 Canada (AB)

    I suppose you're right about a mind blowing beer in Canada. However, that got me thinking about the CDN beers I've had that did blow me away the first time I had them - in no particular order:

    Aphrodisiaque
    Peche Mortel
    La Fin du Monde
    Maudite
    Trois Pistoles
    Fat Tug
    New Growth Pale Ale
    Naughty Hildegaard ESB
    Yukon Brewing Lead Dog Ale
    Yukon Brewing Midnight Sun Espresso Stout
    St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout
    Alley Kat St. Portersburg Porter
    Alley Kat Full Moon Pale Ale (no longer brewed)
    Village Brewing Black Saison
    Rebellion Brewing Double Cherry Stout
    Ribstone Creek Great White Combine White IPA

    I'm surely missing others. These are the ones that came readily to mind.
     
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