Showing posts with label Granville Island. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Granville Island. Show all posts

Monday, April 18, 2011

Imperial IPA (Granville Island)

I gotta be faster with these reviews. It seems this Damn Beer Blogger reviews most beers first. Often they are very quickly posted after their release. I'm sure he must follows brewery trucks around town waiting for their deliveries. Anyways back to my favourite subject: me. Any new release by Granville Island is worth a taste. Their Imperial IPA is certainly going to impress any hop head.

Imperial IPA (Granville Island) = 9/10

Ratebeer 3.55/5 (4 ratings)
Beer Advocate A-

The nose on this thing is massive: citrus (grapefruit rind) and floral. One can only hope this massive nose and 100IBUs are balanced with toasted caramel malts. It is close but the astringent and very full mouthfeel leans heavily towards the hop. The hop tongue tackle is fairly linear; just citrus (grapefruit rind, pineapple and Seville oranges), with a little pine and floral backup. You could claim to taste caramel, biscuit malts but the hop linger is too long. It is of no matter, hopheads will flock to this beer like {insert witty phrase here}.

Taste +4
Aftertaste +2
Alcohol Content +1 8.2% ABV
Value +1
Appearance +1

Previous reviews
Brew Free or Die IPA
Burton Baton
Half Pints Humulus Ludicrous

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Rogers Chocolate Stout (GIB)


Rogers Chocolate Stout (GIB)

Ratebeer 3.38/5 no percentile
Beer Advocate A 2 votes

Taste +3

The thin nose is just as you would expect; roasted barley stout with chocolate and cocoa. Up front there is a tingle from the carbonation, maybe a mild alcohol burn? You get a good dose of sweet, dark chocolate liqueur with each sip. This is followed with the dry, roasted flavours of the stout. Overall it has a creamy mouthfeel, but this is not a thick stout.

Aftertaste +1

There is a slow fading of sweet, creamy chocolate.

Alcohol Content +1 6%

Value +1

It was a little sweet, but I liked it. This would be a perfect beer to serve with a berry or chocolate dessert.

Ingame Enhancement 0

No online video games today; I just played with myself. Wait.. by myself..by myself.

Overall 6/10

This was an average chocolate stout. It was a sweet, roasted but a little thin. I thought it was pretty good.

Green Flash Stout and Frustration
Youngs Double Chocolate Stout
Rogue Chocolate Stout

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Lions Winter Ale (GIB)

Lions Winter Ale (GIB)

Ratebeer 3.3 70th percentile
Beer Advocate B

Taste +4

This was sampled on tap at the Penny Farthing in Victoria. The aroma is very sweet like a vanilla cream-sickle. It was quite effervescent on the tongue with a light to medium mouthfeel. There were lots of creamy sweet caramel and vanilla malts. The hops did not make themselves known. It tasted like a vanilla cream soda.

Aftertaste +1

The creamy vanilla slowly faded away.

Alcohol Content 0 5.5%

Value +1

This was a nice and different taste. A welcome change from the everyday brew. I don't think I could drink a lot of them in one sitting though.

Ingame Enhancement +1

It is always nice to sit at the bar and talk with a pretty tapgirl.

Overall 7/10

This is just the brew if you like them sweet and different.

Lighthouse Winter Ale
Stone Vertical Epic 9/9/9
Duckstein Ale

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Jolly Abbott 2009

Jolly Abbott 2009

Ratebeer 3.38 63rd percentile
Beer Advocate B

It is nice to try the same release next year. I was curious to see how my previous rating compared to this year.

Taste +4

With a vinous nose rich with tart apricot brandy, light fruit and rum, you know this brew will challenge your palate. There is a mild spiciness that helps the slippery malts go down.

Aftertaste +2

The alcohol warms you and the sweet pit fruits pleases you.

Alcohol Content 9.5% +1

It is a little bit stronger this year.

Value +1

It was just as good this year as last year. The price did go up by almost a full dollar.

Ingame Enhancement +1

Two words: L4D2 advanced. Actually the first one is not really a word.

Overall 9/10

Last year this beer got an 8. I must like strong, fruity and sweet beers.

Jolly Abbott 2008

Scuttlebutt Triple 7
Bornem Dubbel Double

Sunday, October 11, 2009

GI Bitter 2009


Granville Island Bitter 2009

Rate beer 3.16 56th percentile
Beer Advocate A-

This is one of the seasonal beers that was only available at the Granville Island Brewery. Almost every month they brew a limited release of beers in a variety of styles. I think this is an excellent idea, it keeps things fresh and gives brewers a chance offer new tastes to loyal drinkers. Phillips Brewing also does this, but they are not that good at announcing what is upcoming.

Taste +3

There is an initial caramel and earth sweetness, with a good dose of carbonation. The nose is very pale with just a hint of bitterness. Your ending is a slight citrus bitterness that is not overpowering, but very refreshing.

Aftertaste +1

It is dry and lightly astringent. The citrus bitterness lasted for only a few seconds.

Alcohol Content -1 4.8%

This is meant to be a quaffing beer.

Value +1

This is the sad part with the seasonals; they do not last very long. I have an extra one in the fridge that was going to be a gift for my father. This plan might need to be altered.

Ingame Enhancement +1
After a few pitchers of beer at Canoe Club it was off to see Zombieland. It was definately worth the price of admission; I might even go back on see it again. BTW we had the dark cherry porter and their bitter. Both were nice and drinkable; but I have this thing against flavoured porters.

Overall 5/10

Sadly you will have to wait until next year to try this limited release again. I found it to be a very well balanced and mildly bitter. It was a very refreshing and easy drinking beer. Remember easy drinking does not have to mean flavourless.

Duchy Original Organic Ale
Bailout Bitter and Carbon Footprints
Redhook ESB

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Belgian Wit - Granville Island

Belgian Wit (Granville Island)

Ratebeer 3.18 47th percentile
Beer Advocate B

This is a Belgian Wit (white) style and nicely done too. These beers are unfiltered and contain wheat or oats which provides a cloudy appearance in the glass. They also are spiced, usually with coriander, orange peel or other ingredients. The classic example of this style is Hoegaarden and every big brewery seems to be getting into brewing this style.

Taste +4

The nose provides nice aromas of wheat, yeast and slightly spicy. Overall it is very crisp and refreshing with lively carbonation. Flavours of lemon, biscuits and coriander seep out of every sip. Oddly I am not picking up the orange.

Aftertaste 0

The finish is dry, crisp and vanishes straight away.

Alcohol Content 0 5%

This style is not meant to be a heavyweight, but a light refreshing beer.

Value +1

This beer is excellent. I wish it was available all the time.

Ingame Enhancement +1

With new L4D maps coming out all the time, life is good.
Overall 6/10

For anyone who thinks Rickard's White is a good wit beer, this one shatters that myth.

Swan's Witbier
White Bark - Driftwood
Widmer Hefeweizen

Friday, July 31, 2009

Brockton IPA (Granville Island)

Brockton IPA (Granville Island)

Ratebeer 3.06 43rd percentile
Beer Advocate B

Taste +4
The nose hints of hoppiness to come, but balanced with caramel and roasted malt. This is a very drinkable IPA. There is just enough pine and floral hops to slightly overpower the caramel sweetness.

Aftertaste +1

Only a trace of alcohol and carbonation tingle carries away the residue of hop bitterness. The pine and floral hints are not overpowering.

Alcohol Content 0 6%

Just on the edge.

Value +1

This is a very drinkable IPA. I have already bought 3 six pack so far.
Ingame Enhancement +1

It is hard to get electricity and WiFi while camping. I did learn that this beer tastes good slightly warm and dirty.

Overall 7/10

It may be argued that IPA's should have a knock-down hop bitterness, but I disagree. I enjoyed this IPA; it has a nice balance between the knock-downs and weakling IPA (Alex Keiths).

Racer 5 IPA and the bailout
Stone IPA
Broken Halo IPA

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Granville Island Hefeweizen


Granville Island Hefeweizen

Ratebeer 3.02 43rd percentile
BeerAdvocate B+
Taste +3

This draft brew came to me on the sunny patio of Swiftsure Restaurant in Victoria. I like a good hefe and this did not disappoint. The nose is as one would expect: yeast, light citrus and bananas. Light refreshing wheat and citrus taste with an after tingle from aromatic hops (liberty). You also get a heavy dose of carbonation and faint hints of honey. Yum.

Aftertaste +1

It was a clean finish with only a slight biscuit lingering.
Alcohol Content 0 5%
Value +1

It was a nice but average hefe.

Ingame Enhancement 0

Sadly it is not proper to discuss shooting virtual zombies while having lunch with your in-laws.

Overall 5/10

This was a good hefe; not outstanding but good.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Granville Island Ginger Beer


Granville Island Ginger Beer

Rate beer 3.06 39th percentile
Beer Advocate B+

Taste +2

The nose is similar to a strong, spicy ginger ale. Hiding behind the prominent ginger flavour is a nicely balanced ale; not to malty and not too hoppy. The ginger is spicy enough to warm, but not enough to burn.

Aftertaste +2

There is nice malt sweetness that carries the ginger spiciness all over the mouth and down the throat.

Alcohol Content 0 5%

Value +1

It was nice; just gingery enough. I will probably get it next year.
Ingame Enhancement 0

Nope no zombies tonight, sorry

Overall 5/10

If you like ginger, you will like this one.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Granville Island Nut Brown Ale 2009


Granville Island Nut Brown Ale 2009

Ratebeer 3.3 not rated
Beer Advocate B+


Taste +2

Great nose consisting of cashews, pecans and malt. This is a very drinkable brew; the cashew sweetness and roasted barley flavours are pleasantly carbonated. The barely tasteable hop bitterness only appears at the end. More of the bitter flavour became apparent as the beer warmed up.

Aftertaste +1

There was only the slightest of roasted malt left, with just a bit of woodiness.

Alcohol Content 0 5%

Standard for a seasonal beer.

Value +1

Too bad this is a limited edition, I would buy it often. The price was under $5 for a 650ml bomber.

Ingame Enhancement 0

No gaming tonight. I have heard rumours of an expansion pack for L4D.

Overall 4/10

This was a nice drinkable beer. Not very challenging on the palate.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Granville Island Porter and Real Life

Meterman: So lets try again. How did the real life shire meet go?
Flavius: I never know; I always get nervous around new people and do stupid things.
M:Can't imagine that. Did you tell your personal alien abduction story?
F: Only to one person.
M: You restrained yourself from repeatedly smelling your wallet.
F: Only when someone was looking.
M: Good, no one wanted to really look at you anyways.
F: I also complimented someone on their appearance.
M: Great, that is a perfect way to break the ice and make people feel comfortable.
F: I said that he had nice legs and too bad he only had two of them. I like to collect wooden legs.

Granville Island Porter
(2009)

This is the monthly limited release from Granville Island. You can check out their yearly limited edition release list.

Ratebeer 3.6
Beer Advocate B

Taste +3

Very nice nose of bitter chocolate and roasted malt. The taste is just like the nose, no surprises here. There is a slight tongue tingle from the bitter chocolate, that is balanced nicely by the roasted malt sweetness. You can also pick out a slight espresso bite.

Aftertaste +2

You are left with a lovely bitter chocolate tingling on the tongue and in your mouth.

Alcohol +1 6%

There is just enough to give the tongue tingle and stomach warmth.

Value +1

This comes in the standard 650ml format for $5. I would certainly buy this one again and recommend it to anyone who likes a good porter.

Ingame Enhancement 0

No L4D tonight, boo hoo. Perhaps I need therapy; in RL I often set off car alarms in hopes that hoards of zombies will come running.

Overall 7/10

This is a great porter. Sadly it will only be available for a short period of time.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Jolly Abbot Abbey Ale (Granville Island)


Jolly Abbot Abbey Ale (Granville Island)

Rate beer 3.54 no percentile
Beer Advocate B+

Taste +4

This has got a lot of complex flavours going on. The nose is similar to alcohol (rum) soared cherries or prunes. The taste is identical the nose, with some added dark fruity sweetness. The flavour starts off with the malt sweetness, then the wave of fruit flavour follows.

Aftertaste +1

It finishes clean and leaves a nice residue of dark fruit and malt.

Alcohol Content +1 9%

Quite impressive alcohol content for a local seasonal brew, you can taste the alcohol just enough.

Value +1

This brew is a great value and flavour at $4.90 for 650ml. Get them quick before they are all gone, or you will have to wait until next year.

Ingame Enhancement +1

I tried to play CSS on the shire, but none of the regulars were around. Decided to make zombies run in fear instead. Nightware helped a little bit too.

Overall 8/10

This is another great beer from Granville Island. Sadly this one is only seasonal, so look for it next year.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Granville Island Lager


Granville Island - Island Lager

Ratebeer 2.6 19th Percentile
Beer Advocate C+

Granville Island is a great example of quality brewing. They produce several lines of standard brews (lagers, pale ales, cream ales, etc). All of which are above average. At regular intervals they send out 650ml seasonal beers (stouts, abbey ales) which are usually excellent.

Taste +2

There is nothing new here; usual nose of a pale lager with corn, grain and ice. The aromatic hops and pine was a nice change. The very hollow taste showed very light, bready malt and slight hop bitterness. At the end was a nice alcohol and carbonation bite.

Aftertaste +1

The finish was a mild grain and corn that finished fast and clean.

Alcohol Content 0 5%

Value +1

Granville Island brews can be found anywhere and are priced on par with other mass produced beers. A standard glass 6 pack will set you back about $11.50.

Ingame Enhancement 0

The Zombies were safe this night.

Overall 4/10

This a good but not exciting beer. A very safe choice is someone asks you to bring the beer.