Driftwood Brewery has a new release that will available in all Liquor Plus stores tomorrow Oct. 1, 2009 by 3pm; Sartoria Harvest IPA.

Driftwood Sartori Harvest IPA

Jason Meyer, Brewmaster, Beer Geek and all round nice guy, has an incredible passion for expressing himself through his beer. After each conversation I have with him I can’t help but feel energized.

Jason’s approach is incredibly simple- he brews beer that he likes, and what he likes is beer that is a true expression of the four players in the band. Like great musicians, the combinations of sounds, harmony and rhythm that can come out 4 quality players is infinite if ignited by a common passion. The story of the Sartori Harvest IPA is a perfect example of this.

You may have noticed a few tweets from Jason a few weeks back. They were pretty simple: “walking lines of fresh hops” “stuffed the car full of Sartori hops; wow the smell is amazing.” But he was talking about the exact hops that he has now brewed into the Harvest IPA.

The Harvest IPA is a unique style of IPA as it can only be brewed upon the harvest of the hops. In many beers the hops are either dry or in pellet form, thus allowing them to be used throughout the year. In a Harvest IPA the hops are still wet and are at their most flavourful and pungent.

What distinguishes this brew further it the fact that the hops come from the Sartori Cedar Ranch hop farm south of Chilliwack. Like a wine, hops, and the resulting beer, will have a flavour that is unique to our region. So for a very short time you can have a beer that is a true expression of the time of the year and our region. Brilliant!!!

Price: $6.49 +deposit $77.88 + deposit case of 12

Availability: One Time Offer

Liquor Plus Douglas 120 bottles, Liquor Plus Royal Oak 120 bottles, Liquor Plus Saanich 84 bottles (not available in BC Government Liquor Stores)

Reservations: If you would like to reserve some bottles please send me a note via twitter at www.twitter.com/Rod_Phillips or via e-mail at askrod@liquorplus.ca. Reservations are only held for 7 days from date of release. In this case all reservations not collected by Thursday Oct. 8, 2009 will be released.

Cheers

Rod Phillips

Buyer – Liquor Plus

Right on the heals of the Hudson Light, Gentleman Jim, & Crazy 8’s, Phillips Brewing is releasing another limited release perfectly timed for blackberry harvest.

Read the label description - good chuckle

This past weekend was the Cowichan Wine Festival. One of the things that makes this festival so unique is all the expressions of blackberry wines. Some are made dry, some fortified like a port, and some fermented leaving some residual sugar for a dessert wine. These wines are quite unique on the world stage.

This week (Wednesday Sept. 23, 2009) sees the release of Matt Phillips’ celebration of our luscious blackberry bounty. Fresh, local blackberry puree is blended with a classic wheat beer in a way that Matt can do.

Every year this item sells out within days so get it quick. In fact if you would like to reserve some bottles drop me a line via e-mail, askrod@liquorplus.ca, please note the number of bottles and which Liquor Store is best for you to pick up from.

Price: $5.29/bottle + deposit or $63.48/case + deposit

Format: 650ml Bottle, cases of 12

Availability: Liquor Plus Douglas 180 bottles (15 cases), Liquor Plus Royal Oak 180 bottles (15 cases), Liquor Plus Saanich 120 bottles (10 cases). Not Available in Government Liquor Stores

On Thursday September 24, 2009 we all have the opportunity to experience Stag’s Hollow Merlot as guided tasting by the winemaker – Dwight Sick (www.stagshollowwinery.com).

This will be the first of its in kind in Victoria as the tasting will be guided by Dwight over twitter and include people from all over B.C.

Being the first of its kind I can’t really describe exactly what it will be like or if Dwight is able to respond to every tweet. What I do know is that getting together with friends and tasting wine, no matter what you think of the wine, is a great deal of fun and we all learn something.

Now I do know that all the Stag’s Hollow wines are superb, I particularily like the Sauvignon Blanc. The Merlot is competing in a category that has a plethora of stunning wines from B.C. and first tasting of the new vintage suggests that it will be a standout.

The experience will take place on Sept. 24, 2009 in our demonstration kitchen at our Douglas Street Location (http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&tab=wl) between 5 & 6pm with a Sauvignon Blanc reception starting at 4:30pm.

All the tweets will be posted on the big screen that is in the room, but you will have to bring your phone and/or laptop (I suggest both as the strength of the wireless in the kitchen is iffy) to send tweets.

There is no cost for the tasting, however donations will be accepted for the Greater Victoria Down Syndrome Society.

Please RSVP to rphillips@liquorplus.ca or on Twitter to www.twitter.com/Rod_Phillips

Cheers

8 years ago Matt Phillips (no relation) started the Phillips Brewing Company. For those of you that know Matt he is a very outgoing, driven, guy with a clear vision about what he wanted to do and what he wanted his beer to taste like – full flavoured.

Matt is also a shrewd entrepreneur who, like most entrepreneurs, needed financing to get his dream off the ground. Made sense to go the banks first right- right! They said no. Downtrodden but not beaten, Matt started working with some of the best silent partners in the world- Visa, American Express & Mastercard. Through juggling his credit cards the brewery was born, producing and selling beer.

Today the Phillips Brewery is held up as a shining example of fortitude, perservance, quality, and shrewd marketing.

In honour of the the breweries 8th anniversary, Matt has created Crazy 8’s Annu-ale. This is a big bodied hop-healthy ale of 8% alcohol.

Like the Gentleman Jim and Hudson Lite before this is a one time, or seasonal product. Once it is gone there may not be more until the brewery hits the age of 16.

Crazy 8’s will be available at Liquor Plus Douglas and Liquor Plus Saanich on Tuesday Sept. 8, 2009, and Liquor Plus Royal Oak on Wednesday Sept. 9, 2009

Price: $5.99 + deposit

Availability: Short production, Private Liquor Stores only

Liquor Plus Douglas: 180 bottles (15 cases)

Liquor Plus Saanich: 120 bottles (10 cases)

Liquor Plus Royal Oak: 180 bottles (15 cases)

Available in Liquor Plus stores as of Wednesday Sept. 2, 2009 is the latest from the Phillips Brewery- Gentleman Jim’s Ginger Ale.

As always this is an all natural ale that only uses water, malted barley, ginger, hops and yeast.

Gentleman Jim’s is a copper ale with 5% alcohol and the nuance of Ginger. It tingles the palate and would be perfect for anything with a little spice to it.

This is a short run product which means on one batch is made. Once it is sold out in stores you will have to wait for Matt to recreate it again. I recommend you get it on Wednesday.

Price $5.29/650ml bottle

Liquor Plus Douglas = 180 bottles

Liquor Plus Royal Oak = 180 bottles

Liquor Plus Saanich = 100 bottles

Send me a note on Twitter or via e-mail to askrod@liquorplus.ca if you would like to reserve some bottles. Please specific the quantity and Liquor Plus store of your choice. All reservations must be picked up by 11pm on Saturday Sept. 5, 2009

Cheers

Rod Phillips

Buyer- Liquor Plus