Daughters of Beer

Hope all our friends celebrated Queen Victoria’s birthday...

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:50:47 -0700

Hope all our friends celebrated Queen Victoria’s birthday with a good craft brew. That’s how she used to do it! Special thanks to Zoë for sourcing this rare historical photograph.

Just a few friends we are hanging out with tonight. We will...

Sat, 18 May 2013 20:02:10 -0700

Just a few friends we are hanging out with tonight. We will start with Cantillon Grand Cru Bruocsella Lambic (aged in oak casks for three years) then proceed with Cascade Brewing The Vine (NW style sour ale aged in oak barrels with grapes). Later we will move onto Epic Brewing Brainless on Peaches (Belgian style ale brewed with peach and aged in oak barrels), and shift gears a bit with Central City limited edition collaboration ale with Flying Monkeys Red on Red (brand-new Mosaic hopped Imperial double red ale). For the goodnight beer, Scheldebrouwerij The Perfect Crime Hollow Point (10% quadrupel). That is the plan with stops, songs and session beers in between!

Just a few beer friends we made abroad and brought back home in...

Sun, 12 May 2013 08:39:00 -0700

Just a few beer friends we made abroad and brought back home in our luggage including original artwork by Keith Shore, the artist for Mikkeller. Happy travels! We look forward to reliving the trip with these tasty delights:

Cantillon: St. Lambvinus (merlot and Cab-franc grapes soaked in Bordeaux barrels with 2-3 yr old lambic) and Iris (made with pale ale malts using dry & fresh hops and cold hopping technique).

3 Fonteinen: Oude Kriek and Oude Geuze Golden Blend (25% 4 yr old lambic combined with 1, 2, and 3 yr old lambic).

Brasserie Lefebvre: Hopus Primeur.

Amager Bryghus: Gluttony (Imperial IPA) and Envy (IPA) from the Sinner Series.

Trappist Westvleteren: 12.

Mikkeller: Spontan Cherry Frederiksdal (oak aged sour made with cherry wine), SpontanKriek, Sally’s Field (Belgian Blonde aged in Chardonnay barrels), I Beat U (Imperial IPA), Funky e star, Drink’in the Sun (only 1.4%!), Belgian Tripel, P1 (pilsner), Kihoshk IPA and Doszt? (purchased at Kihoshk and specifically brewed and labelled for this amazing little corner store).

Brasserie de la Senne: Taras Boulba Extra Hoppy Ale (a favourite while in Brussels - Smeirlap!), Schieven IPA (collaboration with Pizza Port and Lost Abbey), and Brussels Calling (Belgian bitter).

To Øl: Sort Maelk (Whisky Barrel Aged Imperial Milk Stout) and Final Frontier Double IPA. Sadly, To Øl’s Fuck Art Series which we enjoyed at the Copenhagen Beer Celebration (CBC) was released in bottles just yesterday. *sigh*

Mountain Goat: From Australia, this IPA was also one we sampled at CBC.

De Struise Brouwers in collaboration with Three Floyds: Shark Pants (Belgian style Double IPA. Perhaps not surprising, but this beer’s name captured our imagination and was a hit back in the hotel room).

De Hopduvel: Blondine IPA.

In Brussels, we bought beer at De Biertempel and Beer Planet, which were both conveniently located around the corner from where we stayed in the Lower Town.

While in Copenhagen we picked up our supplies at the bottle shop at Mikkeller & Friends in Nørrebro and at Kihoskh in Vesterbro. At Mikkeller & Friends, the artwork by Keith Shore was part of an exhibition of the artist’s Mikkeller label paintings which was on while we were there. It was great to get to meet the artist, and learn that it is official that this work will grace Mikkeller’s Mosaic Imperial IPA, yay!

Beer and puppets at Toone - nothing brings us more joy!

Thu, 09 May 2013 10:47:33 -0700

Beer and puppets at Toone - nothing brings us more joy!

Beer and contemporary art @WIELS_brussels - nothing brings us...

Thu, 09 May 2013 04:52:46 -0700

Beer and contemporary art @WIELS_brussels - nothing brings us more joy!

One day in Antwerp is not enough! But it was just enough time to...

Wed, 08 May 2013 01:16:45 -0700

One day in Antwerp is not enough! But it was just enough time to visit a couple of museums, a cathedral, and the Kulminator, one of the coziest beer bars we’ve ever been to. Kulminator is known for their deep list of cellared and vintage Belgian beers, but they also had several interesting beers on tap. We tried the local Seef by Antwerpse Brouw Compagnie, Avec les Bons Voeux from de la Brasserie Dupont, Quercus quadrupel from La Trappe, Hof ten Dormaal, 3 Fonteinen Oude Geuze, Boon Oude Geuze Mariage Parfait, and Bush de Noel from Brasserie Dubuisson. Along with a very lovely Suede Vieux Bruxelles 48+ cheese, some chorizo and pistachios, and the company of several bar cats (who acted coy, but posed for our photos) it made for a very relaxing end to a day of discovering this new city.

We are in beer heaven at Mikkeller & Friends. Call us beer...

Sun, 05 May 2013 08:11:28 -0700

We are in beer heaven at Mikkeller & Friends. Call us beer geeks (everyone is called that here) but there is something otherworldly about the Belgian Boon Mikkeller Bar Calva Lambic made in Calvados casks and Mikkeller’s American Dream, a lovely floral hoppy lager. The excellent beer list aside, the interior design at Mikkeller & Friends is beautiful and we are thinking of painting our bedrooms Mikkeller blue.

Copenhagen Beer Celebration @mikkellerbeer session one was just...

Sat, 04 May 2013 02:35:52 -0700

Copenhagen Beer Celebration @mikkellerbeer session one was just the beginning. Now we go back for back to back sessions today.

@Mikkellerbeer bar and Friends is a funhouse for beer geeks....

Fri, 03 May 2013 05:35:55 -0700

@Mikkellerbeer bar and Friends is a funhouse for beer geeks. It’s a place where children play with coasters, friends try the latest hardcore collaborations, and where visitors like us attack the menu like the beers won’t be there in a few minutes and like we won’t be here for very long! (Both which are true.) Last night many gathered there on the eve of the Copenhagen Beer Celebration to sample the special beer on offer for the occasion. With 40 taps to choose from and a generous range of sours and lambics, we made a good dent and warmed up our palettes for CBC. There’s no time for detailed notes at the moment as we rush out the door for the start of the first session.

We want to live at Mikkeller & Friends.

Thu, 02 May 2013 10:37:07 -0700

We want to live at Mikkeller & Friends.

Hello Milkeller @mikkellerbeer! At long last we are here to...

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 07:19:16 -0700

Hello Milkeller @mikkellerbeer! At long last we are here to taste you in person. Warming up the taste buds with Vesterbro Pils, Spontanale Lambic and Viktoria APA. Cheers Copenhagen!

We return to @MoederLambic after field trips to Cantillon and A...

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:02:46 -0700

We return to @MoederLambic after field trips to Cantillon and A La Becasse. To re-energize ourselves we are having Taras Boulba (Brasserie de la Senne), X-ray (Brewfist), #100 (Nogne O). Life is good in Brussels.

With our base camp at @MoederLambic, augmented by samples at...

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 16:10:32 -0700

With our base camp at @MoederLambic, augmented by samples at Bier Tempel, we are on our way to experience the best of Brussels, Belgium and beyond. So far nothing has disappointed; Brasserie de la Senne, Jandrain Jandrenouille, Loverbeer, Cantillon, De Ranke, Duvel, and much more yet to taste on cask, tap and in bottles. To end this day we celebrate with Duvel Tripel Hop special edition ale 2012 which includes the third guest ‘Citra’ hop alongside the returning Saaz Saaz and Styrian Golding. This elegant brew presents a fine balance of citrus and fruit with pine, spice, herbs and yeast with a lovely bittering and flourishing finish.

Look how beautiful the Danish currency is. We feel so rich yet...

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 20:50:52 -0700

Look how beautiful the Danish currency is. We feel so rich yet 200 DKK will buy us only four beer! Luckily we have prepaid our ticket to the Copenhagen Beer Celebration so we can drink our way freely through the 270 + beer. The list is capacious and includes creations from the following brewers: Mountain Goat (Australia), Cervejaria Way (Brazil), Amager Bryghus, Mikkeller, TO ØL, Xbeeriment (Denmark), Brouwerij de Molen (Holland), Baird Brewing (Japan), Boxing Cat (China), 8 Wired (New Zealand), Lervig Aktiebryggeri (Norway), BrewDog, Brodie’s Beers, Siren, Kernel (UK), Against the Grain, Anchorage, Cigar City, Cycle Brewing/Peg’s Cantina, Firestone Walker, Founders, Hoppin’ Frog, Jester King, Kuhnhenn, Lagunitas, Stillwater, Surly, Three Floyds, Westbrook (US). Our journey to CBC begins tomorrow with stops in Belgium along the way.

We love a beer that commands you to drink it by a certain date....

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 07:44:00 -0700

We love a beer that commands you to drink it by a certain date. But what if you drink it past its sell by date - we will never know. What we do know is that this beer is good, damn good. Everything you need to know about this beer is in the nose - take it in, drink it up and wish you had another. Stone Enjoy By 04.20.13.

Vinyl and Beer - Mikkeller and Ring Them Bells

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 12:01:03 -0700

Vinyl and Beer - Mikkeller and Ring Them Bells:

It’s fun to keep coming across examples of brewers and musicians and record labels collaborating. We’re not surprised to see the creative gypsy brewer Mikkeller has released a limited edition porter, custom made to drink while listening to the debut EP of Danish noise rock band, Ring Them Bells. This band has covered all their bases by releasing their music on vinyl, beer and download, and the cool bonus: the B-side of the record has Mikkeller’s beer recipe engraved on it. More details of the project can be read here on the band’s site where you can also watch the video for ‘Nowhere For Me To Get Lost’. Better leave room in our suitcases to bring one of these vinyl/beer souvenirs back from Copenhagen.

The kind folks from Steamworks offered a taste of what the...

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 08:19:40 -0700

The kind folks from Steamworks offered a taste of what the season has to offer with their new bottle release of Saison. We thought we had already sampled this at the Alibi Room during their 400th tap celebration in February but this is a new release created by their Brewmaster Caolan Vaughan. For those who like a bit of sweet in their beer, this will appeal. Citrusy sweetness dominates in aroma and taste with a bit of spice and bitterness to round it out. What makes this beer even more distinct is the beautiful artwork on the bottle and glassware.

Spring has sprung in Seattle and it looks a bit different than...

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 17:53:38 -0700

Spring has sprung in Seattle and it looks a bit different than in the East. Every time we visit there is something new to enjoy and this time it was The Noble Fir and Reubens Brews. Noble Fir is a cozy neighbourhood tavern in Ballard with a carefully curated beer and cider menu. The owners bring their love of the Pacific Northwest to us in one room complete with Douglas Fir and Western Hemlock interior, maps and guides of places travelled, 18 rotating taps of craft beer and cider from the region and small plates of local meats, fish, cheese and veggies. This is the kind of place that makes you feel good about life. Here we enjoyed Sound Gaarden Belgian Wit, Bainbridge Island Eagle Harbor IPA and Prohibition Sea Cider which all paired well with our charcuterie and cheese. It was the perfect spot to sit down after a wander through the Ballard Farmers Market which is at its doorstep. Just a short distance away we paid a visit to Reuben’s Brews, a small family owned/operated brewery. For having been open for less than a year the taproom was comfortably populated with friends, families, dogs and two musicians who provided the perfect accoustic music for our Sunday afternoon session. Here we sampled their Nitro Imperial Stout and IPA, the Belgian Pale Ale and Robust Porter. This is a nice addition to the neighbourhood and we would now like to relocate to Ballard!

Of course no trip across the border is complete without a reup at Bottleworks, Super Deli Mart, Pear Delicatessen & Shoppe, Wholefoods and Elizabeth Station. Our over-the-limit booty made it safely through customs.

DoB C

March went out like a lion in parts of Quebec leaving snowbanks...

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 20:26:00 -0700

March went out like a lion in parts of Quebec leaving snowbanks fit for chilling beers and making maple syrup taffy. I enjoyed both on a recent trip to Montfort where I travelled with my Mom to visit her brother, and my uncle, Eddy. Montfort is in the township of Wentworth in the foothills of the Laurentian Mountains with a population of around 500. So you can imagine my delight when my uncle took me to a store in nearby Morin Heights to show me their beer selection. The Marché Vaillancourt is a modest sized grocery store with two aisles dedicated to mostly craft beer from Quebec. I had hit the motherlode and was unprepared for the selection. My family waited patiently as I studied the beers of Quebec and made my purchases. Later that evening we sampled a few including: Brasseurs Du Monde Houblonnière a hoppy blonde ale; Brasseurs Illimités India Pale Américaine, a milder version of an American IPA; and Dieu Du Ciel Corne Du Diable, a lovely immersion of French with English IPA. This one had lots of malt and hops and was my uncle’s favourite. After a great visit and a spectacular Easter brunch at La Grange, I packed a few special travellers to share with my friends back home. I look forward to sampling Le Castor Wee Heavy Bourbon, Brasseurs du Monde Saison Impériale, A l’abri de la Tempete Corne de Brume (scotch ale), and Dieu du Ciel Equinoxe du Printemps (maple scotch ale).

Thanks Eddy for a wonderful visit and for introducing me to so many amazing Québécois beer!

DoB C

Happy Belgian Beer Day! Cantillon Rose de Gambrinus came highly...

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 21:24:53 -0700

Happy Belgian Beer Day! Cantillon Rose de Gambrinus came highly recommended by the staff @Viti_Wine_Lager. This lambic with its lovely pink-red colour and tartness from fresh raspberries was appreciated by our wine loving friends.