Crannog Ales is a BC brewery that is unlike any other. While they’ve been around for twenty years, you wouldn’t be shamed if you have never heard of them. That’s because the brewery has intentionally remained small, local and sustainable; the end result meaning you’re only going to find Crannog beer on select tap menus, or at the Sorrento brewery itself.
Sticking to their roots is admirable, but it also means that many people are likely to have never tried Crannog, let alone know about their stellar stout Back Hand of God. As far as we are concerned, it’s one of the best stouts in BC (if not Canada), and we’re not alone.
Back Hand of God has some incredible accolades to its name. It won 1st place “Best Beer” at the Okanagan Fest-of-Ale in 2000 and 2007; 1st place At the Hops also in 2000 and 2001; and “Best Organic Alcoholic Beverage” at the Organic Harvest Awards in 2005. Not to mention it repeatedly wins Silver and Bronze for Best Beer in BC from the Campaign for Real Ale for a full decade between 2006-2016.
At 5.2% ABV and a low 16 IBU Back Hand of God is lean in body and powerful in flavour, making it easy to drink, rich and inviting. It is extraordinarily smooth and mildly hopped with a distinct coffee/chocolate presence. Think a much better Guinness, that also happens to be organic and sustainable.
Now if you don’t happen to live around the Sorrento area, which let’s face it, most people don’t, then you need to actively search out this beer. The easiest way to do so is with their helpful tap list which showcases where Crannog is available around BC. Granted, you can occasionally find it on rotating tap lists as well (we recently found it at Forage) but that’s few and far between.
Trust us when we say, if you do see Back Hand of God on a menu, you won’t be disappointed.
Ale/Sessions 