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Not Just a Man's World

Posted on October 30, 2017

by Abigail Sayer

In the world today, we are constantly reminded of inequality between sexes and/or races. This is not new (unfortunately), but, what we are also seeing today is that people are focusing on the positive aspects of change that hopefully arise from the unfortunate negative situations people have been and still are put into, and honestly, we all need to do that a little more. Yes, we do live in a world where the political figures are continuously in battles against media accusing them of some sort of assault against women, only for that to get labelled as fake news, or many Hollywood executives now being shown for their low morals and monstrous behaviour. One thing that has come from this is the amount of women and people coming together to both shine a light on and also fight against all of this inequity.

This tasting was an opportunity to celebrate the positive evolution within the wine world. Not only did we all get to enjoy some delicious wines, but we also focused on how powerful and talented women are, especially within the wine scene. With the wines selected for the event, we ranged in style and in affordability. Not only was the wine delicious, but it was great to see everyone's reactions and the conversation about the amazing dedication these women have.



Marie Courtin Efflorescence 2012
Cote des Bar, France
In 2005, Dominique Moreau purchased 2.5 hectares of land in the small village of Polisot, in Southern Champagne. Fearless and determined, Dominique has created a name for herself in the wine world, producing some of the most elegant and terroir-driven wine in the area. Named Efflorescence (meaning 'something evolves in perpetuity'), this 100% Pinot Noir wine is hand-picked, fermented with native yeast for both primary and secondary fermentation, and is zero dosage. This wine has a fierce acidity, with notes of yeast, white peach and sour apple.
$96.99

Bench 1775 Sauvignon Blanc 2016
Naramata Bench, British Columbia
Located on the Naramata Bench in the Okanagan - Winemaker/Viticulturist Val Tait, along with Wine Consultant Alain Sutre beautifully capture the essence of the Okanagan. Believing that the natural expression of the grape should always be seen first and foremost in her wine, Val has become a household name in the Canadian wine scene. For years, Bench 1775 has been ranked in the top 20 wineries in Canada, and that only seems to be the start. This Sauvignon Blanc is a true representation of Val's talent as a winemaker, utilising the best grapes and fermenting in stainless steel to show the characteristics of Canadian grown Sauvignon Blanc. It showed tropical fruit, with a whole load of pineapple and mandarin.
$27.99

Venus La Universal Dido Blanco 2015
Monstant, Spain
Sara Perez and Rene Barbier Jr. are making waves in the Spanish modern wine world with their line of ...

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New Beers for Autumn 2017 (Part 1)

Posted on June 8, 2018

Howdy there all you beer lovers!
It's time once again for me to play catch-up! I have... just too many beers to talk about and brag about, and show off, and I want to do that now! However, there's always other things to talk about as well, so I guess I should go through that stuff real quick.
The Craft Beer Advent Calendars have started arriving in the store, and if you haven't pre-ordered one of these, then it'll be first come-first serve with the ones open to everyone. I've received more details on the theme for this year as well. The "Around the World" theme is also an "All Stars" sort of theme, where Craft Importers sources from their very best and most popular brewers from their portfolio, which in my opinion, makes it a touch more exciting!
Aside from that, I want to give a shout out to Outcast for their amazing fresh-hopped IIPA that is on the growler bar RIGHT NOW! Be sure to make some time to come have a taste and grab a fill!
Ok, I want to get right to it here because I'll have another post with even more beers after this delivery this week. So here are some new beers I've received in the past few weeks.
Ich Bin Berliner Blueberry by Mikkeller: Moderately crisp body, slightly fuller than your average Berliner, thanks to the added fruit. Dark purple in colour, and big notes of blueberry skins and general dark berries, along with a fairly mild tartness. ($6.19 for a 500mL tall can)
Ich Bin Berliner Mango by Mikkeller: Moderately tart and fruity Berliner Weise with mangos. Big mango aromas and flavours, along with a base of crackery wheat malt with lightly soured muddled fruit behind it all.($6.19 for a 500mL tall can)
Celebration Yuzu Sour bu Mikkeller: Fairly tart and funky brew with very notable zesty citrus aromas and flavours (but definitely distinct from your standard citrus). If you're a fan of Yuzu, you owe it to yourself to grab several cans of this limited beer! ($6.99 for a 500mL can)

Drink’in Berliner Yuzu by Mikkeller: About as light and easy drinking as you can get! Throw all those Radlers out the window because this 2.7%abv Berliner is riddled with tasty wheaty tones and a ton of yuzu juiciness and is sure to satisfy your thirst. ($5.19 for a 330mL can)

Time For Dinner by Alley Kat: The first in a two-part beer. Brewed in the Parti-gyle method, the first wort runnings are to be released as the second beer in the future (a bigger body, higher alcohol beer), and the second runnings come to you now as this low alcohol, dry and lightly spicy table beer. ($8.59 for a 650mL bottle)

Symbiosis by Schmaltz brewing: Schmaltz brings you this pale Wheat Ale to commemorate 30 years of Star Trek. This bottle dedicated specifically to the TNG episode of the same name. Light and bready with hints of caramel and spice, hints of citrus and a good bitterness on the back end. ($5.09 for a 330mL bottle)

Wailua Wheat ale by Kona bre...

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Heading Back to AlBEERta

Posted on June 8, 2018

I seriously can’t keep track of all the new breweries opening in our fair province. It seems like every week there’s a new brewer coming out of the woodwork to show off its wares. I love the rate in which Alberta’s brewing culture is growing, but with so much happening all at once, we have to sit down once in a while and take a serious look at who’s doing what. So that was the purpose of this tasting. A bit of a free-for-all to see what some of the new guys(and older guys) are doing, who’s staying exciting, and who’s playing it safe!
So I’m pitting 7 beers, and 6 brewers against each other for this. Along with a dozen or so friends and some tasty Peasant Cheese snacks. The results were a little surprising, but definitely delicious. Have a look!



Hazy Horizon Hefe by Caravel Brewing: Classic but solid styles seem to be the starting lineup of Caravel. This very well done hefeweizen is not too heavy on the banana tones, but it still comes with nice clove tones to accompany the pillowy wheaty body. ($11 for 1L, $21 for 2L on the growler bar)

Multiverse Pale Ale by Zero Issue: A bright and citrusy pale ale be one of Calgary’s best new brewers. Light biscuit and toffee malt note with well-balanced bitterness and great complimentary citrus tones. ($15.79 for a 4-pack of tall cans)

Terminus #2 Hoppy Saison by Blindman and Steel & Oak: A lovely modern Saison that is heavily dry-hopped with fruity hops that accentuate and lift the spicy and banana notes of the yeast used. ($17.59 for a 4-pack of tall cans while supplies last)

The Senator WIPA by Village Brewing: A malt forward white IPA with nice cereal notes in the light wheaty base, with fruity hop aromas all over, and rounded all off with a moderate bitterness. Super easy to drink! ($9.29 for a 650mL bottle)

The Dandy Wild Sour by Dandy Brewing: A somewhat high test kettle sour by Calgary’s nano-brewing veterans. The sourced wild yeast give huge orchard fruits that go with the tangy lactic tartness like two peas in a pod. Pleasant malty sweetness accompanies the whole thing like an enveloping blanket. ($10 for 1L, $19 for 2L on the growler bar (while supplies last)

Dead Ahead Irish Red by Caravel Brewing: Another well crafted classic style. This dry Irish red has nice toffee flavours all over along with lightly toasted bread and generous crystal malt. Terrific for fall and the coming of the colder weather. ($7.19 for a 650mL bottle)

Bears Hump Nut Brown by Coulee Brewing: A medium bodied brown ale with a generous roasty character and semi-creamy feel. Toffee and bread, along with dried fruits and a touch of hazelnuts on the palate, and lead to a clean finish with soft and mellow bitterness. ($16.69 for a 6-pack of cans)
Ok… so who won? I guess winning, in this case, doesn’t mean THAT much. ...

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Once More Unto the Bottle, Dear Gin Fiends, Once More

Posted on October 13, 2017

Or:
Gin, the Ruin of Many a Mother
By Hunter

With the completion of another gin lecture, I realize I have reached the threshold of counting gin classes hosted on ten fingers. Though this may be a melancholy realization as I leave behind the best tastings of my life and reach gin middle age, I am also happy to ruminate on what I have achieved. What that achievement might be is perhaps I haven’t bored a collection of 150 people eager to taste the botanical spirit. Who among that number could say they instead received a two-hour seminar on gin history and roughly analogous personal anecdotes on gin. If I did do exactly that, posh, who’s counting. If any one of my many new friends (rightly considered so given the bonding experience of “tasting” glass after glass of gin) or more aptly named gin alumni (for if you take a gin class with me you have ascertained a level of gin knowledge unsurpassable and make sure to challenge your friends and foes on that) feels that my lectures on William of Orange and wooing stories in mother’s basement over glasses of Hendricks was boring they surely number in the few. If one is to find themselves firmly placed in my aide-de-camp, this one is for you.

Gin is a definitive spirit that is constantly soul searching, what a conundrum. How can one make a splash these days with simply “Locally Harvested Botanicals” and “Grain to Glass”? Perhaps reinventing the category isn’t the answer, but instead finding out how to make a really good spirit. And I don’t mean botanical wise. What if, and hold onto the seat of your armchairs fellow critics, the distilleries made a really quality base spirit? Don’t take me for rhetorical, I am merely stirring the pot and asking a question in earnest. The broken record is back on the player and it is ready to repeat verbatim what was said in last post. Be quick and jump the needle before it starts. Ah, you are too late and for some reason the needle is now stuck with impossible gravity. Also, this analogy is bad. So be it.

White spirit as the foundation for what spirit is to be in its end product is so woefully overlooked when it comes to gin. As I have mentioned in the past gin is the most cash of cash crops. Make your money and get on with the stuff that you actually want to make. You know, the good stuff, the brown stuff that makes you sing of its merits while being careful to promptly refer back to the age-old saying, “but whisky will always reign supreme,” or something like that. This doesn’t matter all that much in the end game as distillers ought to do what they like. But gin, the sacrificial lamb, is overlooked in favour of achieving said goal. I feel that more frequently distillers are simply using the most convenient grain bill available looking at gin merely as means to an end. This is not enough; if North American Gin is to b...

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Scotch Malt Whisky Society Outturn for October 2017

Posted on October 6, 2017

The weather is slowly turning as we are into fall full-time and even seeing some part-time winter creep in as well. As is always the case, there is no better time for cask strength whisky - and the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of Canada supplies this to us in droves. This October's Outturn provides a wide variety of flavours from an eclectic mix of distilleries. Some of these we had seen featured in other recent Outturn but this month also includes a few distilleries that we have not seen in SMWS bottle form in quite a while - hailing respectively from the Lowlands and Campbeltown. Welcome additions to the lineup they are, but then there are not many unwelcome additions to any SMWS tasting in my humble opinion.

This also marks our first sighting of the new look Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottles, which add splashes of colour and tweak the label layout of the iconic green bottles. Four out of the seven bottles in the October 2017 Outturn are in the new style. We will continue to see some of the older bottles in future months but the new look is here to stay and are now the de facto style for the Scotch Malt Whisky Society.



Curious about the seven new bottles? Read on below - but first I would like to thank the always wonderful Peasant Cheese for providing the small bites to go along with our monthly pilgrimage up cask strength whisky mountain.

Cheers,
Evan



5.53  - EXOTIC FRUITS AND EASTERN SPICE
This 16 year old Lowlander spent 14 years in ex-bourbon wood before being transferred to a second-fill Sauternes hogshead for the remainder of its maturation and it comes in at 60.1%
Flavour profile:  Sweet, fruity & mellow
Outturn:  240 bottles
Panel's tasting note:  "The nose had perfumed tropical fruits (peach, raisins, lemon bonbons, pineapple, passion-fruit) and polished wood. The palate combined those fruits (orange, papaya, banana) with toffee donut sweetness and some wood tannins; the finish found curry, wasabi and chili. The reduced nose detected cinnamon buns, Peshwari naan, cigarette packets and a Spanish bodega wine note. In reduction, the palate was now full of pleasant intrigue, any previous tensions were completely reconciled – exotic fruits and Eastern spice, sherbet straws and chocolate raisins – all wonderfully integrated – an eminently enjoyable dram. After fourteen years in ex-bourbon wood, we transferred this to a second-fill Sauternes hogshead."
Drinking tip:  "While planning adventures" $173.99

9.118 - EXPANSIVE AND VOLUMINOUS
Matured in a refill hogshead, this 19 year old Speysider comes in at 56%
Flavour profile:  Spicy & sweet
Outturn:  270 bottles
Panel's tasting note:  "An expansive horizon of aromas lay before us, ranging from orange and apple blossom, dried rose buds, custard creams, syrup sponge cake, ...

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