W hether you’re a beer fanatic or not, it’s impossible not to get caught up in the romance of the craft beer movement. With craft breweries opening up left and right, they're not only capturing a bigger percentage of the market, but the hearts and loyalty of beer drinkers old and new. With experimental ingredients, bold new flavours, and a whole lot of passion, local beer makers are proving that craft beer is no passing trend.
What is craft beer?
Pilsners - As much as craft brewers like to push the envelope and experiment with new beer styles, some aim to pay tribute to age old brewing traditions. Pilsners are light golden lagers that have been a European favourite for centuries, and have made their way to North America through the efforts of craft brewers who appreciate its rich history and enjoy the easy- drinking qualities of the beer. Upstreet Craft Brewing’s Commons is a traditional Czech- style pilsner that uses floor-malted pilsner malt sourced directly from the Czech Republic.
unique flavours ranging from citrus and fruity to chocolate and vanilla. These beers are typically more bitter and have higher alcohol content, so they may be an acquired taste, but craft beer fans and brewers alike relish the distinct characters that can be created with these brews. Barnone Brewery in Rose Valley grows a hop yard on-site and is constantly experimenting with this style, while Upstreet Craft Brewing produces a very popular wheat IPA called White Noize.
The term “craft beer” is popping up a lot these days. Seen by some as a millennial buzzword and by others as a sign of the shifting trend in consumer values, it represents a movement away from mass-produced, single-style beers that have dominated the market for decades and towards more traditional brewing methods and beer styles. Truth be told, it can mean many things since craft breweries come in all shapes and sizes and no two beers are the same. Ultimately, these brewers share a common trait: a dedication to their craft. Craft brewers seek out the highest quality ingredients and look to new ways to create new and exciting flavours with them. This emphasis on quality and creativity is at the heart of the skyrocketing popularity of craft beer.
GREAT BEER FOR: Pairing with a hearty home-cooked dinner.
GREAT BEER FOR: Pretty much any activity
Fruit Beers - Fruit beers become extremely popular as people start flooding the patios looking for a light summer refreshment. Belgium was the first country to experiment mixing beer with fruit, and today Belgian wheat beers remain the most popular styles in the category. Upstreet’s Rhuby Social is a strawberry rhubarb wheat beer that offers a subtle strawberry flavour balanced nicely by the wheat, making it a smooth and refreshing patio beer. The PEI Brewing Co. also has a very popular blueberry beer.
Craft Breweries on PEI
Upstreet Craft Brewing 41 Allen St., Charlottetown
Choosing the right beer
Copper Bottom Brewing Company 567 Main St., Montague
If you’re new to craft beer, it can be a little overwhelming at first. Craft brewers pride themselves on offering a wide selection of beer styles that cater to a variety of palettes. Upstreet Craft Brewing in Charlottetown, for example, offers 10 different beers on tap at any given time. With so many options to choose from, it’s a good idea to start with styles that you are familiar with, but don’t be afraid to get a little adventurous. Here is a quick breakdown of a few common beer styles to help you make the right choice:
PEI Brewing Co 96 Kensington Rd., Charlottetown
GREAT BEER FOR: Spending a summer evening on a patio with some friends
Barnone Brewery and Hop Farm 4248 Route 225, Rose Valley
IPAs - India Pale Ales are possibly the most common beer style in the craft beer industry, which each brewery taking their own unique approach. IPAs are brewed using a significant amount of hops, which come in a number of different varieties and can produce
Moth Lane Brewing 101 Mickie Allen Shore Rd., Ellerslie
Summer 2017 pei-living.ca
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