By Adam Dewji
Are you celebrating?
Photos by Mark Burnham
Costume provided by Karin’s Dirndl (Facebook.com/TheRealBavarian; 778 688 7648)
It’s October: season of crunchy leaves and scarves, Thanksgiving, Halloween, and Oktoberfest. Oktoberfest is the annual 16-day fair in Munich that celebrates the rich history of beer. Its roots date back to 1810, but since then, cities across the world have started celebrating it annually as well — the biggest celebration in North America takes place on our very own Canadian soil, in Kitchener-Waterloo.
If you’re a beer drinker, and you’re sick of the same old shit, or you want to try something new, but don’t want your wallet to cry about it, don’t worry, because I’ve done the work for you. Just read along! I’ve also had over 160 different beers, so I think it’s safe to assume I learned a thing or two along the way.
These are my top ten beers, all of which are brewed in B.C., and readily available at BC Liquor Stores and fine drinking establishments near you. I’ve taken into account that other microbrews might taste better, but they wouldn’t be available at a mainstream liquor outlet, so I haven’t included them in my list.
Let’s get that countdown started.
10. Garibaldi Honey Pale Ale
- Brewed by: Howe Sound Brewing Company, Squamish, B.C.
- Alcohol percentage: 4.5
- Rating: 8.5/10
- Price: $7.25 for a 1L bottle
Pop the top on this fancy looking bottle and make sure to pour this beer after it’s been chilled well. It has the noticeable taste of honey, along with the malt and grass of the pale ale; the flavours mix quite well together, creating a bit of a lingering honey taste afterwards.
It knocks the socks off of most pale ales, and in my opinion, outdoes the GI Pale Ale by at least one point on the scale, due to its taste and texture. If you’re looking to sample a new pale ale, specifically a honey pale ale, this one should be next on your list. It can be consumed on its own, as it’s moderately carbonated, and it even tastes relaxing.
9. High Country Kolsch
- Type: Lager
- Brewed by: Mt. Begbie Brewing Company, Revelstoke, B.C.
- Alcohol percentage: 4.5
- Rating: 8.5/10
- Price: $11.00 for a six-pack of cans
I’m not much of a lager guy myself, seeing as the best lagers always come out of Europe. But because I don’t discriminate, and I just had to do all the research to find a good lager (and, oh, how I enjoyed my research), I decided on High Country Kolsch. This lager is definitely light-bodied, goes down smooth, and has heavy flavourings of bready malts. One thing I didn’t expect was the slight grape malt hint at the end of the taste.
As is the case with Kolsch beer, it leaves your mouth dry afterwards. So, be warned, you’re going to want another sip, and another, and then another. I highly recommend playing beer pong or other drinking games with this beer. Lagers generally go down smoother, and this kicks the crap out of that Molson-like shit that people like to force-feed us during drinking games. This costs $11 for a six-pack, which is cheaper than Molson, and tastes way better.
8. Blackheart Oatmeal Stout
- Brewed by: Nelson Brewing Company, Nelson, B.C.
- Alcohol percentage: 5.7
- Rating: 8.5/10
- Price: $11.95 for a six-pack of bottles
The Blackheart Oatmeal Stout is the king of breakfast beers. If you’re hung over, this is the beer to drink. You’ll feel like you just ate a bowl of oatmeal, and you’ll delay the onset of your hangover just long enough to either get to McDonald’s, grab a Powerade, or make yourself a damn smoothie. Honestly, nothing goes better after a night of drinking than waking up to this oatmeal stout. It’s thick, rich, and full bodied. It’s like someone threw oatmeal, cocoa, and a bit of coffee into a Guinness, made it taste better, and bottled it.
This beer is not for the faint of heart. If you’ve had a stout before, such as a Guinness, and liked it, you will definitely enjoy this. However, there’s another porter on this list that might have your name on it (see #1).
7. Nut Brown Ale
- Brewed by: Dead Frog Brewery, Aldergrove, B.C.
- Alcohol percentage: 5
- Rating: 8.5/10
- Price: $12.25 for six-pack of bottles
I’ll admit it: I bought this one because it had a clear bottle and a cool sounding name. I was sick of regular beer, and I said “Hey, let’s support the local guys!” Damn, what a good choice. The nut brown ale pours a cola-like colour, with a one-half- to three-quarter-inch of head, and when I smelled it, I could definitely pick up hints of nuts and cocoa.
The tastehas a tiny hint of coffee in medium-bodied (but not too heavy) ale. I hate to call it a dark ale, but it’s got all the remnants of one, without the heaviness. This beer won’t break your bank, and it’ll make you want more. There’s a reason it comes in a six-pack; you’ll try the first one and won’t share the rest. Why buy shitty beer when you can buy this for the same price or cheaper? Maybe you like shitty beer, but hopefully this article will change your mind.
6. White Bark Ale
- Type: Hefeweizen (Wheat beer)
- Brewed by: Driftwood Brewing Company, Victoria, B.C.
- Alcohol percentage: 5
- Rating: 8.5/10
- Price: $4.50 for a 650mL bottle
I don’t like wheat beers. Well, I didn’t. White Bark Ale completely changed my views on hefeweizens, and I am no longer opposed to ordering one at a bar. I shared a pitcher of this at the Cambie, and I was amazed at all of the tastes and the texture of this beer. It doesn’t hit you until you’re halfway through your pint, and you realize there’s a great citrusy flavour amidst all the spices in it. The malt and hops are very well balanced, allowing for a smooth finish.
Depending on where you go to grab this beer, it will either be very carbonated, or not at all. Either way, it’s delicious. This is the beer that brought me back to the wheat beers. I wouldn’t recommend it for drinking games though; that didn’t end well for a few of my friends. See #9 if you’re looking for drinking-game beer.
5. False Creek Raspberry Ale
- Brewed by: Granville Island Brewing Company, Vancouver, B.C.
- Alcohol percentage: 5
- Rating: 9/10
- Price: $12.45 for a 6-pack bottles
This raspberry ale kicks ass. Holy crap, I watched the bartender at the Highland Pub pour me a pint of this and I was kind of scared seeing as it poured quite pink. I was iffy, as I thought it would be a hefeweizen, but it most definitely isn’t! It had a strong taste of raspberry as soon as I dove into this one; the taste was so surprising that I finished the pint in less than two minutes and ordered more. It’s Granville Island’s summer beer, but it’s still widely available in liquor stores in the lower mainland. I’m pretty sure I had the last of their supply at the Highland Pub.
I don’t recommend this beer for chugging, as tempting as it is. However, it would go really well with a light meal, a sunny day, and some friends. Then again, don’t most beers go well with those things?
4. Red Racer Pumpkin Ale
- Brewed by: Central City Brewing Company, Surrey, B.C.
- Alcohol percentage: 5
- Rating: 9/10
- Price: $12.45 for a six-pack cans
It’s that time of year again! It’s fucking October, people. That means it’s time for some Pumpkin Ale! This ale pours a delicious pumpkin, cinnamon smell that makes your taste buds crave beer like they’re virgins again. Walk into the Central City Pub in Surrey where they brew this stuff and serve it fresh, and you’ll probably need that safe ride home.
There’s nothing overpowering in this beer, and I swear I can taste pumpkin pie crust in it. It also pours a beautiful amber-orange with quite a bit of head. It’s so unbelievably well put together that if you don’t try this, you haven’t had a pumpkin beer. It’s available in cans as well as on tap, in the Central City Pub down by the SFU Surrey Campus (what a way to end a class, eh?).
This beer is a limited edition, and won’t be available all year round. That means take the copy of The Peak that you’re reading now, go down there and drink! It’s quite a quality brewery, so try some of their other stuff too.
3. Red Racer ESB (Extra Special Bitter)
- Brewed by: Central City Brewing Company, Surrey, B.C.
- Alcohol percentage: 5
- Rating: 9/10
- Price: $13.45 for a six-pack cans
Do you like really strong, bitter beer? I’m not talking about heavy stouts, I’m talking about a kick-in-the-mouth, overflow of hops. Yeah? Good. This is your beer. The best part is the first overall hit with the very hoppy taste, followed by a crisp, clean finish. This is definitely a beer you’ll want to pair with a strong-tasting food, or it can be had on its own. Again, much like the pumpkin ale, this beer is brewed right beside the SFU Surrey campus, and always has my taste buds watering. Share a pitcher with a friend, and make sure to bring gum, unless you enjoy smelling like you downed a 12-pack at dinner.
The flavours infused in this ESB range from ripe fruits like orange and grapefruit, to the solid malty and hoppy tastes that you can expect from such a beer. If you’ve never tried an ESB before, I highly recommend it. I never knew how much I appreciated the strong taste until I actually had it. The ESB will leave your mouth with a crisp, dry after taste, with none of that linger that a lot of other beers have.
2. Fat Tug IPA
- Brewed by: Driftwood Brewing Company
- Alcohol percentage: 7
- Rating: 9.5/10
- Price: $5.50 for a 650mL bottle
All the beer-lovers will call Fat Tug their favourite beer brewed in B.C., but I’m really a stout guy, so it comes in second place for me. Don’t let that distract you, though; Fat Tug is the motherfucking don of beers! This India Pale Ale will blow your mind with an assortment of flavours from grapefruit, melons, and delicious malt.
This is a very bitter, very strong-tasting beer. Drink it cold, and drink it carbonated. If you’re not a chocolate-porter fanboy like I am, then this is probably the best beergasm you’ll have from a B.C. beer. I initially tasted something that resembled mango, followed by orange (or orange peel), and it ended with a weird caramel-like bread taste. That’s as best as I can put it.
You know the best part? It’s available right here on campus at the Highland Pub! It’s probably the best beer they’ve put on tap, ever. Go get one! If you’re reading this while drinking a Fat Tug at the Highland Pub, then my job is done (tips, please?).
1. Longboat Chocolate Porter
- Type: English Porter
- Brewed by: Philips Brewing Company, Victoria, B.C.
- Alcohol percentage: 5.2
- Rating: 10/10
- Price: $4.77 for a 650mL bottle
If you’re a fan of stouts, porters, and flavoured porters, this is your beer (well, our beer). This, my friends, is the beer that gives me a mental boner and makes my taste buds drip wet. I have tried many a porter in my lifetime, from different countries, and this is the best beer I have ever had.
Right from the beginning, there is a cocoa-like, chocolate-y smell to this porter. Bask your nose in the glory that will be your favourite chocolate porter. What is a chocolate porter? Think of a rich dark ale, now blend in some cocoa and chocolate. That’s right. When I first tried a chocolate porter, I thought combining the tastes of beer and chocolate would be disgusting, but neither overpowers the other in this one.
As with most porters, it has a thicker consistency, and is definitely full-bodied. The porter goes down very smoothly, and has a cooked or burnt chocolate after taste. It looks like rich dark chocolate, and has a very appropriate amount of head after the pour (just enough for that foamy moustache).
