Beers of British Columbia
I started off on the previous blog talking about “Beers of Vancouver” when in fact they were more beers of the world that were available for purchase in Vancouver. I plan to correct this inaccuracy now.
This time around, I’m only going to be talking about BC beers that I’ve encountered recently, and none of them are from Vancouver. I had been ignoring local beer after having the mediocre-at-best stuff from the Granville Island Brewery and Steamworks, as well as some better ones from filthy taps… I do know that there are some really good beers around Vancouver—at least one—but I’ll get to those some other time. There’s a brewery in Victoria that’s so good I’m going to have to dedicate an entire post to it.
Phillips Brewing Company Original India Pale Ale
This is about the best IPA that I’ve ever had. It’s absolutely beautiful. It’s hopped up impressively—right up there with Hophead. The difference is that this one actually has a memorable flavour. Underneath all of that bitterness is a sweet, almost citrus fruitiness. This is one of those beers where you have to stop every few sips and smile.
This was the first Phillips beer that I had, and it partially inspired my last trip to Victoria, despite the fact that I only tried one other Phillips beer there:
Phillips Brewing Company Draught Dodger
It’s a maple cream ale. My previous experience in the genre was Granville Island Brewery’s version, which is far and away their best but is still relatively plain. The Draught Dodger is anything but plain. It’s sweet, yes, but it’s also very complex and doesn’t have the thick finish that lots of other cream ales have.
It’s very good. I could see myself drinking too many of these, if they were easier to come by in Vancouver.
Phillips Brewing Company Black Toque India Dark Ale
Every once and a while, a beer comes along that just plants me on my ass. Conveniently, it arrived during the crappiest snap of winter so far, which is exactly when I like really dark beers. Describing this beer is tricky. It’s the spawn of an IPA, a stout and a nut brown ale, and in a very good way. It’s bitter and crisp like an IPA, but also big and malty.
This is one of those beers where every few sips your train of thought is interrupted by how bloody good your beer is. The only other beers I’ve experienced this with are Brasserie Dupont’s Moinette, Antares’ Imperial Stout, and:
Phillips Brewing Company Amnesiac Double IPA
The only words I have for this are expletives of delight. It’s everything I like about an IPA, but more. It’s bitter, it’s citric, it has a flavour like I’ve never encountered in a beer that wasn’t refermented in the bottle and it finishes in a way that only a well-raised 8.5% beer can finish.
This thing will put you down smiling.
