Ross ventures out of the house to meet up with Ian Smith, owner and occasional brewmaster of Tapestry Beer Bar, 833 Sackville Drive in Sackville, NS. On this particular occasion, Ross visits on the night of a New Brunswick Tap Takeover event, so we try some NB Beers before enjoying the Flat Black Jesus Stout from Unfiltered Brewing.
Ian and Ross are joined by the new co-general manager of Wayfarer’s, Matt, as well as the new brewmaster, Matt. Together they try three new recipes brought in by their team in Brewce’s Valley Lager, Southbound Lemon Wheat Radler, and the Muddy Big Stout.
Ian and Ross are BOTH back from vacations away, so we put our faces to some blonde ales we’ve been ignoring for too long: Rare Bird’s “Party Dove” Blonde and the “Tidal Bore” Blonde from Hill Top Hops.
Ian remains on vacation, so Ross invites Mike Butler to join this week. And due to completely convenient circumstances, they discuss pride month and what NS craft breweries have done for pride in general. All while sampling the Queer Summer Brew from Garrison Brewing and the Thembot Sour from Good Robot.
Ian is away on vacation, so Ross dips into the backup stash of beers to try two Rye Ales, both currently available. From Tanner & Co, the ‘Wild Rye’ ale (from the Sauvage series) and from Annapolis Brewing Company, the W&A Railway Rye IPA.
In fact, we had to wait several months even to get a second, but both are available! Ian and Ross compare the “Not Your Bock” Maibock from Lunn’s Mill Brewing Company with “The Doppler” Doppelbock from Hill Top Hops.
Ian and Ross are joined by Todd Beal, ‘The Beer Dude’, admin and moderator of the Maritime Craft Beer page and the Maritime Beer Report. Chatting over all things NS beer and slightly beyond, we also try the new Prickly Pear Lager from Propeller, the award-winning Puck-Off Blonde Ale from Boxing Rock, and Todd’s current favourite: the Double Orange DIPA from Unfiltered.
Ian and Ross discuss the recent Canadian Brewing Awards 2024, where Boxing Rock took home Brewery of the Year, and we also get to try Saltbox Brewing’s Bronze-Medal dry stout: “Old Foundry”. We then compare it with another dry stout we had in the “Classic Dry Stout” from 2 Crows Brewing. Oh, and Ross messes up the audio a bunch again.
Ross is joined by Jeremy (of Where-It’s-At Tours) to discuss the local wine industry and tourism in the Annapolis Valley. And wouldn’t you know, even the wineries offer up some local craft beer, on tap or in cans. Including the new Summer Crush blonde, from Sea Level Brewing, the Malt House from Horton Ridge, and the ‘Married to the Sea’ Porter from Church Brewing.
Ian and Ross try to clean out the dusty beer cupboard by finding two pale ales that celebrated anniversaries from 2-3 years ago. 1st, Garrison Brewing Company’s 25th anniversary pale ale, celebrating their 25th anniversary in 2022. Second, Saltbox Brewing Company’s Commemorative Bluenose 200th Anniversary Pale Ale, celebrating 2021. Better late than never?
