October is craft beer month in BC, and for good reason! Some of the most creative craft beer comes out around this time of year. So we’re giving you a top ten to get you started.
Rather than just stick to the “best of pumpkin”, this list will show you the range of beer that is being produced right now to fit all kinds of taste buds.
1. Central City Patrick O’Pumpkin Barrel Aged Imperial Pumpkin Ale
Alright I know I said this post wouldn’t be all about pumpkin beer, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t include at least just one. This year, Central City has released an Imperial Pumpkin aged in Bourbon barrels. It’s a heafty beer with notes of vanilla, chestnut and of course bourbon. Not your typical pumpkin ale, so I’d check this one out.
ABV: 8%
IBU: 27
2. Bridge Brewing: Uganda Sipi Coffee Brown Ale
This is a smooth, rich, and malty brown ale from Bridge Brewing brewed with the addition of Uganda Sipi Falls coffee roasted by Moja Coffee. The beans were added after fermentation so you get a earthy and fruity aroma and a malt chocolate taste.
ABV: 6.1%
IBU: 28
3. Postmark: Winter Red Ale
Postmark has been playing around with some new styles of beer since their new brewmaster arrived. This Winter Red Ale uses a unique Belgian yeast strain that highlights the delicate fruit flavours and fragrant spicy aroma.
ABV: 5.5%
IBU: 23
4. Main Street: Fresh Hop Rye IPA
If you know anyone that is a craft beer nut, you may have noticed them buying a LOT of IPA lately. That’s because the hops harvest came in not too long ago, and all the craft brewers found some way to incorporate fresh hops into a wet hop beer. Now you may not have been lucky enough to grab a Satori Harvest IPA from Driftwood, but Main Street just released this Rye IPA which has 200 pounds of centennial fresh hops. As with all fresh hopped beer, this is extremely limited and best drank ASAP.
ABV: 6.5%
IBU:
5. Powell Street: Dunkelweizen
Oktoberfest may have come and gone, and the hangover from Harvest Haus may still linger, but that doesn’t mean the German spirit has to disappear. Powell Street released one of the few craft Dunkelweizens this season and it has a silky mouthfeel and rich chocolate malt flavours accented by notes of clove and banana.
ABV: 6%
IBU: 18
6. Dageraad: Wet Hopped Blonde Ale
Another fresh hop concoction that deserves to be mentioned. Dageraad Blonde is one of my favourite locally produced beers, it’s an excellent demonstration that Belgian style beer can be exceptionally made locally. For this experiment, Dageraad took the fresh hops that everyone was using for IPA’s and put them into their Blonde Ale. Absolutely fantastic, and a must have.
ABV: 7.5%
IBU: N/A
7. Dead Frog: Cold Brew Red Ale
For something a little more sessionable, and readily available, Dead Frog has released a cold brew Red Ale which is infused with cold brewed vanilla bourbon tea from the Tea Guy in North Vancouver. This is also the only one on the list you’ll find in a six pack.
ABV: 5.0%
IBU: 15
8: Strange Fellows: Blackmail Milk Stout
In the tradition of keeping things weird, Strange Fellows has released a Milk Stout this season. Originally advertised as a nutritional supplement for new mothers, milk stouts contain Lactose sugar which gives this beer a rich round and slightly sweet character. Blackmail has a soft roast and chocolate character, and is only available for growler fills and on tap.
ABV: 4.5%
IBU: 28
9: Cannery Brewing: Darkling Oatmeal Stout
From Cannery Brewing’s Artisan series, the Darkling Oatmeal Stout (named after a Lord Byron poem) is a hearty stout for those cooler days. The smooth mouth feel pairs with bittersweet roasted flavours for a nice robust beer. This is a limited release, so get it before it’s gone.
ABV: 5.5%
IBU: 30
10. Steel and Oak: Roggen Weizen
This beer was introduced by Steel and Oak last fall and was a huge hit, so naturally they’ve brought it back. With a distinct aroma of Banana Creme Pie that rises from the thick tanned head, high carbonation dances on your tongue with notes of clove, banana bread and Christmas cake. The rye and wheat create a chewy and malty finish perfect for the colder fall months.
ABV: 5.6%
IBU: 15
Ale/Sessions 