Posts Tagged ‘IPA’

Alley Kat captures the fire of another dragon in a big bottle

- May 8th, 2013

JadeDragon

Alley Kat has another dragon on the loose.

Jade Dragon, the latest in the Dragon Double IPA series, is hitting the streets this week, bringing tropical notes in time for summer.

For hop heads out there the Dragon DIPA series brings 75+ IBU of hoppy goodness — where the Red Dragon was flavoured with Simcoe hops, Jade is single hopped with Citra variety hops.

“We wanted to brew a Dragon Series DIPA with hops that would honour the season. Citra hops have flavours of grapefruit, passionfruit and even lychee, which are perfect flavours for spring,” Alley Kat co-owner Neil Herbst said. “It’s an exciting new addition to the Dragon Series.”

Alley Kat Brewer Brian Westcott says the hops varieties are fun to experiment with.

“The goal is to take hoppiness to a bold new level, but in the end still have a highly drinkable beer,” he said.

“Jade Dragon DIPA achieves this and we’re excited for it to hit the shelves.”

The Dragon series is part of the Big Bottle series from Alley Kat. Look for it through your local liquor store, or search liquorconnect.com

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This week in drinking: Big Rock Swinger Pack

- May 8th, 2013

We are finally, FINALLY, getting warm weather in Alberta.

And with warm weather comes a desire to drink outside.

Big Rock has its own summer mixer that I think will work well on the patio and around the campfire.

Grasshopper is one of the best-known Big Rock offerings, and the Saaz Pilz proved popular enough for the brewery to add it to the regular line-up.

As for the other three:

IPA: This was added to the Big Rock lineup in 2011, and went un-noticed by yours truly until I saw it on tap somewhere. It’s brisk and hoppy, but not overbearing. An approachable IPA.

Purple Gas Ale: I was quite excited when I heard Big Rock was doing a berry ale, using one of Alberta’s best local fruit: The saskatoon. Not as fruity as I would have liked, on the nose or the palate, it is a sweet, easy-drinking ale that I found reminiscent of Pumphouse’s Blueberry Ale.

Paradox Dark Light Ale: I was skeptical of this one. I don’t typically drink light beer because they lack in flavour or have an off taste. And, admittedly, I wasn’t much a fan of Big Rock’s Jack Rabbit light beer. But I quite liked the Paradox. After the IPA was all gone, this would be my first choice in the Swinger Pack. Medium bodied with decent hop characteristics, it’s a light beer that tastes like it’s not.

If you’re sharing with friends, this is a good pack. But save me the IPA.

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Alley Kat releases the Dragon — again

- March 7th, 2013

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It’s nearly spring, the time of year when the Red Dragon comes out of hibernation to wreak fire on the landscape.

OK, not really, but it’s is the time of year when Alley Kat Brewery is once again releasing its Red Dragon Double India Pale Ale to quench Alberta beer lovers’ desire for a hoppy brew.

Edmonton-based Alley Kat started up the Dragon series little over a year ago with the DIPA, and brewery owner Neil Herbst said they wanted to give fans another chance to try it, “in case they missed it the first time around.”

“The response for the Dragon Series has been overwhelming, so revisiting those first Dragons is a great way to expose new fans to the series.”

Red Dragon is single hopped Simcoe variety hops and is “golden in colour, with notes of pine, passionfruit and mild breadiness.”

Initially part of Alley Kat’s Big Bottle Series, which currently features St. Portersburg Baltic Porter, the Dragon Series will now be a seperate release, says Brewmaster Brian Westcott.

“There’s so much momentum towards very hop-forward beers in North America right now.” Westcott said.

“After we released the first two Double India Pale Ale’s it became clear that we could make the Dragon Series and showcase different hops bi-monthly.”

The most recent, the Plaid Dragon DIPA sold out in a month, Westcott said.

More information about the Dragon Series can be found on the Alley Kat website.

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This week in drinking — all hopped up

- February 17th, 2013

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Wild Rose Brewery’s tasty Hoptimal Imperial IPA

Admittedly, I was late to the IPA party.

I didn’t get the appeal of super piney, citrusy wallops when you sit down for a pint.

But one day, I finally got it. And I’m always curious to taste a brewery’s interpretation of the style.

Both Big Rock and Wild Rose offer up pretty good IPAs in their lineups, while Village gets dark with its Blacksmith IBA.

One of my favourite entries was last spring’s seasonal from Wild Rose, the Hop Smashed In Belgian-style IPA. It was bold and hoppy, with sweet and spicy notes.

Sadly, Wild Rose didn’t offer up a second helping of Hop Smashed In this winter, but they did come up with a Hoptimal replacement.

Hoptimal Imperial I.P.A.: The latest Wild Rose seasonal was released in late January, though I didn’t spot it until earlier this month.

Coming in at a solid 8% ABV, Hoptimal is a dark amber colour, and cloudy, with big flavour.

The beer is definitely sweet, with deep caramel notes, but it packs a hoppy punch, using a blend of Summit, Newport, Cascade and Columbus hops. I picked up mostly grapefruit, while my better half tasted a lot of orange. But for a beer this hoppy to get the approval of the wife, Wild Rose is doing something right.

Tree Brewing Hop Head: This is Tree Brewing’s flagship ale for hop lovers, though they do bolster their lineup with a Double IPA and a Black IPA from time to time.

Tree jumped on the IPA bandwagon back in 1999, when they started brewing Hop Head year-round.

This is easily Tree’s best offering (though I am also partial to Thirsty Beaver), and it’s a bold hoppy ale that makes for easy drinking during cold Alberta winters. It may not have the same distinct grapefruit sweetness of Wild Rose’s Hoptimal, it’s here to stay, and a good IPA to get to know.

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Craft beer fans can race to, er, Craft for Red Racer on tap

- February 1st, 2013

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Red Racer IPA may still have a cult following, but the award winning craft beer can be found at many liquor stores around town.

That said, beer lovers in Calgary haven’t been able to enjoy a freshly poured pint of the Central City Brewing flaghship ale in city establishments.

But that changes this month, as Craft Beer Market has nabbed an exclusivity deal with Central City to pour Red Racer until the end of June.

Craft owner PJ L’Heureux said he’s “excited to bring an award winning beer from such a great Canadian brewery to Calgary and share that with the beer community here.”

“Central City could really choose any establishment to pour their product so we are very honoured that they have chosen us as an exclusive partner for Red Racer.”

Craft is hosting a launch party on Tuesday to celebrate the partnership, with brewery reps on hand to talk up the beer, from a company that won Canada’s Brewery of the Year in 2010 and 2012.

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