It wasn’t the beer; the real treasure was the friends that we made along the way.
by Peter Bailey
Don’t get me wrong—sometimes, most times it is about the beer, but looking back at this year of beer it’s the people and the places that come to mind. Sharing a glass or two of great craft beer with family, friends or fellow beer fans is truly one of the great joys of life.
My 2023 Faves
Annex Metes and Bounds XPA. My son got married in Canmore this summer and he and I spent a day shopping for beer and spirits in Calgary just before the wedding. I’m so glad we paused at Annex Ales for a burger and a beer on the sunny patio. Father and son talked of everything and nothing and it was delightful.
Bellwoods Jelly King Dry-Hopped Sour. I’m very proud of my daughter, making her way in Toronto as an artist, writer and baker. But as a beer guy I’m tickled about her working at Toronto’s Bellwoods Brewery. My wife and I got to see her in action in February and to see how Bellwoods treats their employees (and their families!) with care and respect.
Sheepdog Kelsey’s West Coast IPA. My son married into a Canmore skiing family, and I’ve been honoured to go on some backcountry ski trips with his in-laws. In March we skied 12 kilometres uphill to Lake O’Hara, staying at the Alpine Club’s Elizabeth Parker Hut. No beer ever tasted better than the Sheepdog IPA schlepped in by the man I called ‘The Beast’.
Small Gods Rascal King Hazy IPA. My Dad has never been a beer guy, so it was a pleasant surprise on a visit to Vancouver Island in July for him to suggest a walk downtown for lunch and flights at Sidney’s Small Gods Brewery. And stops at the bookstore and the library too!
Russian River Pliny the Elder. Touring wine country is very romantic, they say. Maybe less so when you roar through Napa and Sonoma in one day, all a prelude to getting to Russian River Brewing in Windsor and then Santa Rosa too. But that first sip of iconic Pliny the Elder Imperial IPA was totally worth it. Thank you to my wife for indulging my obsession.
Anchor Steam. Beer and baseball are a great match, and when you’re talking the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park and a tall can of Anchor Steam beer, it’s a perfect pairing. Sadly, Anchor Brewing closed indefinitely just before we visited San Francisco in August, but there remained a supply of it around town. Kudos to the Edmonton Riverhawks for featuring Alley Kat beer at their games this summer.
Pilsner Urquell. Slow Pour Beer Bar in Oliver has been a great addition to the Edmonton beer scene. My men’s book (and beer) club met there and drank the Pilsner Urquell keg dry.
Whistler Brewing Grapefruit Ale. Vancouver Folk Fest had a near-death experience, so my wife and I supported it by attending the Fest in July. So many wine drinkers at the beer tent.
Longroof Glimmer of Hop Pale Ale. Happiness: a sunny day riding your e-bike through the river valley, stopping for a pint at any of the Happy Beer Street or Hop Pocket breweries.
Sea Change The Wolf. Many Fridays I’m at Original Joe’s Glenora with pals I’ve known for 40 years. But once a year we travel somewhere and meet up with other old pals. In May we met in Montreal and hit Pit Caribou, Brasserie Mellön, Cheval Blanc and a blur of others!
Happy New Beer! I hope 2024 finds you among the people, places and the beer you love.
Beers of the year six pack
Great beers of the year, chosen by six of the best beer people in Alberta.
Click images to zoom
Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Märzen, Bamberg, Germany
Stephen Bezan, the purchasing manager at Sherbrooke Liquor notes “I took a small step back from the constant barrage of new releases to revisit the classics this year. With its deep, rich, complex, and intensely smoky flavours, Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Märzen is one of those brews that reminds us why beer is so special in the first place.”
Ale Architect: Balsam English Dark Mild, Edmonton
Andrew Ironmonger, publisher of the Alberta Craft Beer Guide, says “Don’t let the dark facade intimidate you, this beer is all about balance. The right amount of roasty character dances alongside the light, creamy, refreshing body. A beer you can drink three of and enjoy thoroughly from top to tail. At 3.8 per cent you can have a pint for lunch and move on to a productive afternoon.”
Bent Stick: Hay-Maker Wheated Pilsner, Edmonton
Owen Kirkaldy is a Master Ranked BJCP beer judge, 28-year homebrewer and co-founder of the Alberta Beer Awards. “My regular taproom is Bent Stick, ever since they moved to the 99 Street/Happy Beer Street brewery district, and Hay-Maker is probably the beer I have drank the most of this year. It is just a perfect easy summer beer to enjoy on a hot day.”
Bruery: Mallow-Dramatic Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout, Placentia, California
Don Tse, aka The Don of Beer, is a Calgary beer writer who has sampled over 27,000 beers. “Bruery has been a favourite of mine for many years. They ride that fine line of being creative without tipping into weird. Mallow-Dramatic was a limited-release, 15.3 per cent stout that knocked my socks off. The aroma was so wonderful. Any Bruery beer will be sure to amaze.”
Establishment: Left My Wallet in El Segundo, Calgary
Jason Foster is a beer writer and educator, creator of Onbeer.org and CBC Edmonton beer columnist. Jason notes “This beer is brave and delicately balanced. Lichtenhainer is a rare historic German style, here with pineapple added. Quietly tart with a soft pineapple fruitiness on a light pilsner malt sweetness. It has a wisp of smoke in the linger to round out the experience.”
The Monolith: Spontaneous Manifesto, Edmonton
Jason van Rassel, beer writer for Edify magazine, notes “Spontaneous Manifesto is lush and bright with apricot, peach and lemon aromas and flavours, moderate acidity, and subtle tannins. Impressive in that it’s the product of spontaneous fermentation, relying entirely on airborne microbes to start it on its way to becoming beer. Brewer Doug Checknita tamed these wild, microbial beasts by blending several barrel-aged batches into a delicious and complex beer.”