Beau’s Releases Two New Beers, Repackages Lug Tread

VANKLEEK HILL, ON – Beau’s All Natural Brewing will be releasing two beers this week – the return of the seasonal Beaver River I.P.eh?, and the brand new Matt’s Sleepytime Stout.

Beaver River is a part of Beau’s on-going seasonals program, complimenting its flagship Lug Tread Lagered Ale with a rotating seasonal beer. It’s an authentic India Pale Ale, designed to appeal to hopheads, and this year the beer has been dry-hopped as well, to amplify the Pacific Gem and Summit hop aromas. Beaver River is named after the Riviere Castor which connects Ottawa to many Eastern Ontario towns and villages.

Matt’s Sleepytime Stout is the first of Beau’s new Wild Oats program,designed to explore some of the most challenging styles in beer to provide truly unique taste experiences. Sleepytime is an Imperial Stout (8% abv), fermented with Belgian yeast and aged with oak staves. Tastes of chocolate, coffee and vanilla are complimented with American hops and a true Belgian character in the finish.

In addition to this pair of new beers, Beau’s has also relaunched Lug Tread in a unique new package featuring four 600 ml bottles. The four-pack features more beer but less packaging than an average six-pack, and features labels are printed on treeless paper to help reduce deforestation, and a non-bleached cardboard box made from 100% post-consumer recycled material. The new four-pack is currently being rolled out to LCBO locations, replacing the 750 ml ceramic bottle which will now be used exclusively for seasonal releases.

Creemore Springs Kellerbier To Return

CREEMORE, ON – Originally released last July as a limited edition summer seasonal, Creemore Springs Kellerbier will be returning this year in larger quantities.

Kellerbier is a traditional unfiltered lager, with the following description provided by the brewery for last year’s batch:

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 will be available starting May 1st at a number of LCBO locations and at the brewery in 473 ml cans. It will also be available on draught at select bars and restaurants.

Barley Days Sugar Shack Ale & Loyalist Lager

PICTON, ON – Barley Days Brewery have just released this year’s edition of a returning seasonal beer, and also have a new beer planned for release in a couple of months.

The 2010 edition of Sugar Shack Ale is officially released today, and will be in the spotlight during the Maple in the County festival on March 28th and 29th. It’s described by the brewery as follows:

Brewed only in March with locally produced Vader’s maple syrup, this ale has a deep syrup-colour, and a flavour filled with early spring delights. With a bouquet of rich fruity aromas and maple goodness, this savoury beer has a thick, sweet body that is perfectly complemented by the moderately hopped finish. The careful carbonation results in a light and lofty mouth feel and makes every sip you take an inspiring experience.

The brewery also has another beer in the works, this one being a new beer with an old name. Loyalist Lager was first brewed by Barley Days several years ago during the initial transition from the brewery’s previous name (Glenora Springs) and ownership, but it was quickly dropped in favour of an all-ale line-up. Now the name is returning for a new lager crafted by Barley Days brewmaster Alex Nichols which is currently in the aging tanks, and will be released in time for the Victoria Day weekend in late May.

Sherbrooke Liquor Van Helsing’s All Natural Mouthwash

EDMONTON, AB – Sherbrooke Liquor, one of Canada’s best beer shops, has released the latest in a series of limited edition house brand beers, Van Helsing’s All Natural Mouthwash, which has been brewed for them by Alley Kat Brewing.

Here’s the description from the Sherbrooke website:

From the darkest reaches of the Carpathian Mountains comes an elixir concocted by a man who stared into the true face of evil and lived to tell about it. Van Helsings’ All Natural Mouthwash is the cure for what ails you. It helps to ward off things that go bump in the night, and goes great with pasta! Fortunately the kind and talented folks at the Alley Kat Brewing Company were able to reproduce this miracle liquid for us decent citizens of Edmonton. And yes, that’s a whole garlic clove sitting there in the bottle. So much for keeping secret ingredients a secret…

Wild Rose Czech Pilz Returns

CALGARY, AB – Wild Rose Brewery is set to release this year’s batch of their spring seasonal, Wild Rose Czech Pilz, this coming Friday, March 12th. This will be the second year that Czech Pilz is part of the brewery’s seasonal program after it’s debut last year.

From the press release:

Once again, this lager has been crafted to satisfy. With a distinct hop aroma and flavour, Wild Rose Czech Pilz entices with its easy drinkability. Canadian Superior Pilsener malt cleverly mingles with a generous blend of Saaz and Vanguard hops to create a pure and natural European-style Pilsener. The alcohol is 5.5% alc./vol.

When asked about how this brew of Czech Pilz differs from last year’s interpretation, Wild Rose Brewer, David Neilly says, “This year we used Vanguard as the bittering hop compared to Hallertau hops.” Despite the success and popularity of last year’s brew, Neilly wanted to make the 2010 batch even better, “by using a new Bohemian yeast and by changing the hop profile our Czech Pilz will be drier and more crisp than ever before.”

The 2010 edition of Wild Rose Czech Pilz will be officially launched on Friday at the Wild Rose Brewery & Taproom. Two different cask versions of the beer will be available, both featuring the addition of a different type of hops, and it will also be available in the distinctive 500 ml swing-top bottles used by Wild Rose for all of their seasonal beers.

Lighthouse Fisgard 150

VICTORIA, BC – Lighthouse Brewing has just released Lighthouse Fisgard 150, a new beer commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Fisgard Lighthouse, located just outside of Victoria.

The beer is described by the brewery as a crisp and clean Bavarian-style lager, and is also the first Lighthouse brand to feature their new logo and packaging design.

Lighthouse Fisgard 150 is available now in Victoria, with distribution throughout Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland of BC to follow.

Alley Kat Smoked Porter Kicks Off 15th Anniversary Series

EDMONTON, AB – In celebration of their 15th anniversary in 2010, Alley Kat Brewing will be releasing a series of limited edition beers throughout the year.

The first is Alley Kat Smoked Porter, described as:

A robust porter using malt that we smoked at the brewery using applewood.  The result is a classic roasty porter with smoky notes throughout the aroma, flavour and finish.

Alley Kat Smoked Porter will be official launched with a tasting at the brewery on Friday March 12th from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. Only 250 cases of 650 ml bottles will be produced.

Half Pints Pothole Porter

WINNIPEG, MB – Named for Winnipeg’s infamous reputation for having some of the worst potholes in the country, Half Pints Brewing is bringing back their spring seasonal Pothole Porter for another year:

This year’s Pothole is aged with toasted oak spirals, and has a lovely dark chocolate finish. It’s just right for soothing your nerves after the drive home where it’s entirely possible you tried to jerk the wheel like a madman while avoiding your rush hour neighbour’s door panels by a half an inch.

And, if by chance you’re one of those tail-gating, cell phone yapping, text sending morons, now is the time the rest of us get our sweet revenge because you can’t see the crater sized opening in the earth below your soon to be replaced front axle. Victory is sweet so we raise this glass of black darkness to you!

Half Pints will be celebrating the release of this year’s edition with a party at The Lo Pub (330 Kennedy, Winnipeg) this coming Saturday, March 6th featuring two kegs of Pothole Porter – one that has been aged for 2 years, the other from the new batch.

Vancouver Island Sea Dog Amber Ale Coming Soon

VICTORIA, BC – Vancouver Island Brewery is getting set to release a new seasonal beer later this month.

Sea Dog Amber Ale is being brewed to commemorate the Centennial of the Canadian Navy, and will be available in 6 packs and on draught.

Railway City Fire Roasted Mocha Porter

ST. THOMAS, ON – The London Free Press reports that Railway City Brewing has teamed up with Fire Roasted Coffee Company of London for a new seasonal beer.

Fire Roasted Mocha Porter is brewed using Cafe Justicia, a fair trade and organic coffee from Guatemala, along with molasses and oatmeal. Railway City head brewer for Barbara Ziola describes it as having a distinct coffee flavour with notes of chocolate and a hint of sweetness.

Fire Roasted Mocha Porter is a limited edition winter seasonal available at the brewery in 500 ml bottles, and at select bars and restaurants in the St. Thomas/London area.