Paddywack IPA (Nelson Brewing)

Ratebeer 3.34 70th percentile
Beer Advocate B

Taste +3

The nose is a nice balance of aromatic piney hops, but with a little subdued malt/bready sweetness. The gulp starts off with a tame toasted bready sweetness, that is quickly followed with a non-standard hop bitterness. Usually stronger IPAs have a grapefruit and pine resin to them; this brew adds an astringent lemon rind to the mix.

Aftertaste +2

Very long lasting astringent grapefruit and lemon residue that coats the whole mouth.

Alcohol Content +1 6.5%

Value 0

This is a nice IPA but hard to place. If I wanted a nice drinkable IPA, I would get an Brocktons. If I wanted something to smack the palate, I would get a Green Flash. This one sadly falls in the overqualified and under appreciated category.

Ingame Enhancement 0

No game, no witty comments, it's over.

Overall 6/10

This is the beer I got because there was nothing else worth getting at the Queen's Cross CBAW in North Van. Keep on driving to Edgemont Village, much better CBAW there.

Blackheart Oatmeal Stout - Nelson Brewing

Rate beer 3.06 48th percentile
Beer Advocate B

Every brewery needs a specialty. Nelson Brewing does nothing but organic beers; nice! Everything I have tried from them is nice; usually nothing spectacular but most certainly above average.

Taste +3

The nose shows hints of smoked grain, coffee and campfires. The first taste is a little watery and hollow for a stout. Showing here is my own bias; I like my stouts thick. There was a little roasted chestnut and smoked toast. This went well with the usual flavours of bitter chocolate, roasted malt and oatmeal.

Aftertaste +2

The finish was all smoke and was nice and long.

Alcohol content 0 5.7%

Well we almost got somewhere. This is little above the norm for a regularly produced light stout.

Value +1

This is a great deal on a bottle six-pack ,$12 for an organic stout that tastes great!

Ingame Enhancement 0

I don't think I did anything this night. Hopefully those Zombies were preparing their living wills.

Overall 6/10

This is very drinkable beer, even for a stout. If you like your stouts a little on the light side, this one is for you. There are still two in my fridge right now. Writing this review is making my mouth water. If you want to try the next step up, go for the St. Ambroise oatmeal stout.

Meterman: Flavius why is every single light on in your house are you are cowering in the basement?
Flavius: GET AWAY FROM ME!! ZOMBIE!! WHERE IS THE AMMO.
M: Wait, I'm not a zombie because.... I have a medkit!! Here I will heal you.
F: Thats not a Medkit, its beer can.
M: Whatever, it makes you feel better, doesn't it.
F:Yes! Yes it does. Good you are not a zombie.
M: How long have you been playing that Left 4 Dead Demo.
F: Not sure, what time is it now?
M: Wrong answer, you are cut off. Even your oven light is on.

FacePlant Winter Ale (Nelson Brewing Company)

I like this BC Brewery, everything they make tastes great. Their Nelson Afterdark Ale is especially good.

Taste +4

This is one easy drinking beer. Just enough flavours of malt and brown sugar to keep things interesting. Only the slightest of hoppy bitterness.

Aftertaste +2

The sweetness lingers on and has an almost bran flake taste to it.

Alcohol content 6% +1

Be very careful with this one. The cans are stacking up on the table one after the other. This is a very easy drinking beer. Not the kinda drinking where you think it is like water, but the kinda drinking where you look forward to the next sip.

Value +1

For $12 a six pack, well worth it.

Ingame Enhancement +1

I cracked open one of these brews to calm my nerves after trying the Left 4 Dead Demo. MOMMYYY. I'm so glad I prebought; I plan to take the 19th and 20th off work.

Overall 9/10 BOOM ZOMBIE HEADSHOT

This is good all around beer, sure to be a regular in the CLAN ARC beer fridge. It might even replace the Holsten Festbock.