Hart & Thistle Unleashes Latest SMaSH, With A Monster To Follow

HALIFAX, NS – The Hart & Thistle Brewpub will be tapping the latest edition in brewmaster Greg Nash’s SMaSH (Single Malt and Single Hop) beer series inTuesday, April 20th at 5:00 PM.

Double Citra SMaSH is a 7.5% double IPA brewed with all Citra hops and Canadian Pale Ale malt. According to Nash, it’s “mash-hopped, 1st-wort-hopped and dry-hopped with massive amounts of the new Citra cultivar”, resulting in a calculated bitterness of 131 IBU.

Following in mid-May will be Hop Mess Monster, described as “a Triple IPA, the likes of which this country has never seen […] clocking in at a deliciously insane 533 calculated IBU’s and 11.0% ABV”.

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Halifax Microbrew Festival 2010 Cancelled

HALIFAX, NS – Tory Burtch has reported on his Great Canadian Pubs & Beer blog that the first Halifax Microbrewery Festival & Conference, planned to take place in Halifax this coming October, has been cancelled.

As originally announced last November, the event was intended to “bring together craft breweries, home brewers, industry experts, and beer lovers” from across Canada for a combination consumer tasting festival and industry professional conference.

The reason for the cancellation is unknown to CBN at this time.

Propeller Brewing Increases Capacity, Adds Hefeweizen To Year-Round Line-Up

HALIFAX, NS – Propeller Brewing has announced plans to increase their brewing capacity, in part to allow them to promote last summer’s popular seasonal beer, Propeller Hefeweizen, to a year-round product.

A new 6000 litre fermenter, as well as a new keg washing system, are expected to arrive this week. Over the past three years the brewery has added 6 fermenters totaling 27000 liters, as well as upgraded packaging equipment.

Propeller Hefeweizen will be available in six-packs at the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (NSLC) on May 1.

Garrison Announces Winners of Ultimate Brew-Off 2010, Launches Beer From Last Year’s Winner

HALIFAX, NS – This past Thursday, Garrison Brewing held an event to reveal the winners of their Ultimate Brew-Off 2010 contest of homebrewers. The names of the winners were announced in a tweet during the event:

1st place: Scott Tilford
2nd place: Brian Harvey
3rd place: Steve Trickett
runner-up: John Garland

The styles of the beers submitted by the winners have not yet been announced online.

The event also served as a launch for Harvey’s Bitter, a new beer brewed using the recipe that Brian Harvey used to win the 2009 competition. It’s described as “mild in maltiness and hop aroma, this highly sessionable beer delivers on taste and character.”

The Coast – The Beer Issue

HALIFAX, NS – This week’s issue of Halifax arts and culture paper The Coast is a special beer-themed edition, featuring several articles about beer and related topics including:

• Melissa Buote on beer and food pairings and the best pubs in Halifax.
• A profile of Hart & Thistle brewmaster Greg Nash (pictured) by Christine Beevis.
• Craig Pinhey’s investigation of the long lost recipes of Keith’s Brewery.
• A guide to St. Patrick’s Day festivities by Holly Gordon.

The Coast is distributed for free at many locations in and around Halifax.

Garrison Brewing Ultimate Brew-Off 2010

HALIFAX, NS – Details have been announced for the second annual edition of the Garrison Brewing Ultimate Brew-Off homebrewing competition.

Entrants will produce a 5 gallon/20 litre batch of this year’s chosen style – Belgian-Style Witbier – and submit it for judging & prizes. The grand prize includes a day with Garrison’s award-winning brewmaster Daniel Girard brewing a full batch of the winning recipe to be released in bottles as a limited edition seasonal, and there are also prizes from contest sponsor Noble Grape.

The registration deadline for entries is February 28th, with samples due for judging by March 15th. For more details, see the Ultimate Brew-Off website.

Garrison To Release Black IPA, Bringing Back Ol’ Fog Burner & Sugar Moon Maple

HALIFAX, NS – Garrison Brewing have announced that the newest addition to their line-up of rotating seasonals will be Garrison Black IPA.

Inspired by similar beers that have become popular in San Diego and other American craft beer hotbeds, Black IPA will be a blended beer (presumably a combination of their Imperial IPA and Martello Stout, although this has not been confirmed) that has been dry-hopped and conditioned for a further 2 weeks. The resulting brew is 6.2%, and will be bottled and released for sale on January 29th.

Garrison will also be bringing back two popular seasonals, Ol’ Fog Burner Barley Wine and Sugar Moon Maple, for another year. Originally released last April, the new batches will be available on February 17th and March 15th respectively.

Propeller Revolution Russian Imperial Stout 2010

HALIFAX, NS – Propeller Brewing will be releasing the 2010 edition of their winter seasonal Revolution Russian Imperial Stout this coming Friday December 18th.

From the press release:

Propeller brews this unique ale true to its traditional roots; in the 18th century the English sent their brews via the Baltic Sea to the court of the Czars, to reduce the risk of spoilage Russian Imperial Stout was brewed to very high gravities and allowed to ferment on the long voyage. The result? A dark, strong and bracing brew. Propeller’s version weighs in at a whopping eight percent alcohol content, with a deep, rich, black colour. The taste of alcohol is well masked by the intense hop bitterness, extreme roasted malt and dark fruit notes.

Propeller Revolution will be available at the brewery’s retail store, as well as select private liquor stores in Halifax.

Garrison Grand Baltic Porter

HALIFAX, NS – Garrison Brewing have brought back their Grand Baltic Porter for a second winter, this year adding dates as well as molasses to the recipe to enhance the flavour. Here are the notes provided by Garrison:

Coffee-black in colour. Aroma of molasses, nuts and caramel. A complex blend of dark malts, molasses & dried fruits (dates & prunes) create a rich, malty sweetness dominated by licorice and caramel notes.

Garrison Grand Baltic Porter is 9.0% abv, and is available now in 500 ml bottles at the brewery.

Halifax Microbrew Fest & Conference 2010

[Press Release]

HALIFAX, NS – East Coast Event Management announced today that it will launch the Halifax Microbrew Fest & Conference on October 22 through 23, 2010 at Halifax’s World Trade & convention Centre. The show will bring together craft breweries, home brewers, industry experts, and beer lovers who tilt their mug in support of the Canadian craft brewery industry!

The Halifax Microbrew Fest & Craft Brewery Conference will take place on October 22 through 23, 2010, at the Halifax World Trade and Convention Centre. The Halifax Microbrew Fest and Craft Brewery Conference is the first to celebrate, and showcase the craft breweries and brewpubs of Canada. This two-day event includes a showcase of different beers brought in from around the country. Attendees are encouraged to sample, learn, and participate in seminars led by key figures in the beer industry. Events taking place during the show include local bands, the chance to win prizes through beer games, contests and interactive ways to learn about the brewing process and craft brewery industry.