Surgenor Brewing Launches Bottles

COMOX, BC – After having them available on draught for several months, Surgenor Brewing has released their two flagship beers, Red House Ale (Irish red ale) and Steam Donkey Lager (Czech pilsner) in unique aluminum bottles for retail sale.

The bottles are available at beer and liquor stores throughout Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland of BC, and a number of bars and restaurants in the same area are carrying one or both of the Surgenor beers on tap. The brewery website features a list of outlets where the beers are available.

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Greg Nash Leaves Pump House and Returns to Halifax

HALIFAX, NS – Greg Nash, known for creating award-winning beers for the brewpub side of Pump House Brewery in Moncton for the last couple of years, has left to return to Halifax where he was previously brewmaster at Garrison Brewing.

In the latest (and possibly last) post on his Pump House Brewers Blog, Nash writes the following:

I am moving on to work on a new venture in Halifax, NS. Myself and a partner will be opening a microbrewery (or trying damn hard to) in the coming months there. It’s been a great stay here in Moncton and I’d like to thank everyone for your ongoing and continued patronage.

He also notes that he may continue working with Pump House on an occasional consulting basis.

In addition to working towards opening a new brewery, Nash has taken on a brewing position at the Hart & Thistle, a new brewpub on the Halifax waterfront. His first two beers for them, 37hr Simcoe SMaSH IPA and Black Nitro Ale will be officially launched with a release party at the pub on Wednesday July 29th at 7:00 PM. Nash has also started a new Hart & Thistle Brewers Blog to share details about upcoming beers and other info.

Canada Malting to Release New Regional Malt

MONTREAL, QC – CBN correspondent Chloe Smith reports that Canada Malting is releasing a new pale malt next month.

Grown and malted in the province of Quebec, brewers in the east will now have a regional option when purchasing malt. The new malt will be available for sale as of August 4th.

In order to launch this new malt, Canada Malting has teamed up with Les 3 Brasseurs to brew a blonde ale using the malt and Hallertau hops. It will be available for tasting at the Montreal Old Port location (105, rue Saint-Paul est) starting August 7th, while supplies last.

Big Tide Brewing to Open in Saint John

SAINT JOHN, NB – In this week’s issue of New Brunswick’s arts and entertainment paper [here], Craig Pinhey reports that Big Tide Brewing Company is set to open soon in downtown Saint John.

The brewpub is being founded by owner Chris Vair, kitchen manager Tom MacArthur, and brewmaster Wendy Papadopoulos, all former employees of Tapps, a Saint John brewpub that closed a couple of years ago.

Papadopoulos promises that there will be four or five styles of beer available at all times, including a number of seasonals, while MacArthur states that the menu will feature a combination of North American bar staples (wings, nachos, etc.) and “modern versions of ‘old-school’ British pub food”.

Big Tide will open their doors later this month.

Steelback On The Brink?

TIVERTON, ON – It’s been slightly more than a year since Steelback Brewery was brought back from bankruptcy with new ownership and a renewed focus on brewing good quality beer, but two recent media reports make it appear that a second bankruptcy may be on the horizon.

Two weeks ago, the Kincardine News reported that president Ian MacDonald had left the company. No reason was given for his departure, but an official statement from the company stated that “Ian MacDonald and Steelback Brewery have decided to part ways”, and that owner Jon Sherman had taken over as president.

And this past week, the Owen Sound Sun-Times reported that 35 Steelback employees had been laid off, with only a bare bones staff of four retained to continue selling beer. According to Sherman, low sales forced the move, but he’s hopeful that the company will be able to regroup and become profitable in the future. He expects a decision to be made on the company’s future “within a couple of weeks”.

TAPS Magazine Summer 2009 Issue

TORONTO, ON – The Summer 2009 issue of TAPS Magazine, Canada’s only national beer publication, is now available on newsstands across the country.

Features and articles in this issue include:

• Joe Weibe on the 25th anniversary of Canada’s first microbrewery, Granville Island Brewing.
• Greg Clow’s “Beer Styles 101” column, this edition featuring Belgian witbier.
• Troy Burtch in conversation with Anders Kissmeyer of Copenhagen’s Norrebro Bryghus.
• Bill White’s visit to Weihenstephan.
• Regional reports from the east coast by Craig Pinhey, Quebec by Mirella Amato, and the west coast by Connie Proteau.
• and much more.

Subscriptions to both the paper and digital versions of TAPS are available via the magazine’s website.

Cannery Apricot Wheat Ale

PENTICTION, BC – Cannery Brewing is set to release a new summer seasonal, Apricot Wheat Ale. They describe it as follows:

This deliciously crisp beer is perfect for a hot summer day. The delicate taste of apricots gives a splash of sweetness to the crisp, clean wheat ale and results in a refreshingly pure flavour sensation.

Cannery Apricot Wheat Ale will be available in 650 ml bottles in select BC liquor stores.

Fort Garry Folklorama Returns

WINNIPEG, MB – The Winnipeg Free Press reports that Fort Garry Brewing have brought back Folklorama, an ale brewed especially for the annual Folklorama cultural festival:

Last year Fort Garry Brewery introduced a new Folklorama brew for the festival and in its inaugural year sold out all 26,000 pints. The beer has amber tones and light flavour, say Folklarama officials — it sells for $2.60 at the Liquor Marts and for $5.25 at pavilions.

Buyers of Folklorama beer can “Peel to Win” their collector can for a chance to win a trip for two with WestJet. Additional prizes include 10 pairs of Folklorama Tour Visas (unlimited access) for the 2010 festival.

Creemore Springs Kellerbier

CREEMORE, ON – Creemore Springs Brewery has just released a new limited edition seasonal beer. Creemore Springs Kellerbier is a traditional unfiltered lager with the following description provided by the brewery:

Since the Middle Ages, folks in rural Germany have enjoyed fresh locally brewed beers straight from the brewer’s cellar, known as Kellerbier. Creemore brews this beer in keeping with that same tradition, unfiltered, so the beer is naturally cloudy, distinctly flavourful and very refreshing. Special German whole-leaf hops are added late in the process, producing a beer that is wonderfully aromatic with a hint of citrus and spice on the palate.

Creemore Springs Kellerbier is available now in 473 ml cans at a number of LCBO locations and at the brewery. It will also be available on draught at selected bar and restaurants.

Le Bien, Le Malt Launches La Poule Dealcoholized Craft Beer

RIMOUSKI, QC – Brewpub Le Bien, le Malt has just launched La Poule, a series of dealcoholized (0.5%) beers that are the only dealcoholized craft beers currently being made in Canada.

The full press release:

La Poule: Canada’s One and Only 0.5% ABV Craft Beer

The microbrewery industry is growing well all over Canada, but only one brewery now produces a 0.5% ABV (alcohol by volume) craft beer. Le Bien, le Malt is located in Rimouski, in eastern Québec. Ever since the brewery opened its doors just over a year ago, brewer Ghislain Lefebvre has been thinking about producing a dealcoholized beer. “We’ve been looking for a way to create a unique product, a low alcohol beverage that our clientele could enjoy while keeping with the character of our craftbrewed beers” says Mr. Lefebvre.