New Beer, who dis? - New Arrivals #4
Author: Kathleen Mackinnon
Hi all, I’m back again to give you a quick rundown of some delicious new arrivals that hit the shelves in the last two weeks - Enjoy!
Starting us off strong is a perfect summer crusher from a killer local brewery - the Ol’ Beautiful “Abrazo” Mexican Lager! Initially released earlier this spring, it is a great representation of the style - crisp, clean, and just slightly sweet, you’ll definitely want to have a 6 pack on hand for those hot summer days and slightly less hot summer nights.
Next up we have the first of four new IPAs on our shelves, and the most classic in style of the bunch - the Annex Ales Focal Shift, a killer new small-batch offering from a much-loved local brewery. If the tried and true West Coast style IPA is your thing, then this one will be right up your alley. Perfectly balanced with clean bitterness and just enough of that signature resiny flavour, IPA purists are sure to love this one. Act fast if you want to get your hands on this one, though - it’s already going fast!
Continuing on with another local IPA, we have the ‘88 Brewing “Ring Pop” Kviek Double IPA. Juicy, hazy, and hopped to the max, fans of New England Style IPAs who are looking to try something just a little bit different will find this fits the bill perfectly, and for fans of hazy IPAs in general, well…you can never have too many.
Last on our list of new local IPA offerings is The Establishment’s “Food For Clouds” Double Dry Hopped New England IPA, a deliciously hazy hop-bomb perfect for a rainy day. I find this to be significantly more robust than many of the NEIPAs we see on the market typically, and it should appeal to fans of both NEIPAs and the lovers of more traditional West Coast styles, a total crowd-pleaser!
Not local, but still delicious, is the Île Sauvage “Brumeux” Sour IPA which rounds out the new IPA offerings for this edition. Tart and fruity, with a super hoppy backbone, this is perfect for any IPA lovers looking for a slightly more summery option, without sacrificing anything on the hops side of things. Île Sauvage seems to knock it out of the park every single time, and I can’t wait to see what they come up with next.
Shifting gears a bit, let’s talk cider. Now, personally, I don’t typically gravitate towards ciders. I appreciate them, and I know they’re widely beloved, but they usually are not for me. Any offering from Reverend Nat’s of Portland, Oregon, would be the exception to this. In particular, the “Viva la Pineapple”, is a truly mind-boggling pineapple flavoured hard cider that I never seem to tire of. Juicy, refreshing, and with a hint of spice to soften out the pineapple flavour, this is a definite must-have as it continues to heat up outside.
Closing out this week’s new arrivals recap, we have a collaboration between ‘88 Brewing and Confluence Distilling. Originally released as a taproom exclusive, this super pleasing vodka-based cocktail is finally available in cans for your convenience. Rounded out with soft flavours of raspberry, peach, and hibiscus, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who wouldn’t happily sip on this all summer long.
Thanks for reading, stay safe out there!