Gastown's Holiday Beer and Wine Guide
Whether you are attending or hosting a festive gathering, having the perfect beer or wine is essential. We had a walking tour with the Wine Manager at Steamworks Wine & Beer Store to get her top picks for holiday beers and wines from British Columbia. If you’re looking for the perfect bottle to give your hostess or want to find out what you should drink to compliment with your dinner, check out her top picks for local beer and wine.
Local Beer Picks
Image courtesy of Scout Magazine
Four Winds Saison Brett
The Saison Brett is great gift-giving beer to store in a cellar. This beer was aged in Okanagan red wine barrels and contains wild yeast strain Brettanomyces to give an earthier taste. If you’re hosting a dinner, the Saison Brett has a malty, citrusy flavour with hints of spices that go well with savoury and spicy dishes.
Fernie Brewing Co Black Mammoth Winter Ale
If you’re looking for a beer that will pair well with dessert, try Black Mammoth Winter Ale. This is a rich winter black ale with chocolate malt, dark organic cocoa infusions and curacao orange peel, for a unique kick and perfect for a cold winter night in.
Whistler Valley Trail Chestnut Ale
The Whistler Valley Trail Chestnut Ale is equivalent to a dessert in a bottle. This bold, nutty ale is made with roasted chestnuts with hints of vanilla, as well as caramel and crystal malts. This ale is goes perfectly with roasted poultry, Asian noodle and braised pork or beef dishes. The Chestnut Ale is a limited release brew, so grab it while it is still on shelves.
Steamworks Oatmeal Stout
The Oatmeal Stout by Steamworks Brewing is the kind of beer that goes with everything. This stout has a warm, roasted nose with rolled oats and black roasted barley, in addition to a black body and dry finish.
Hoyne Winter Warmer Gratitude
Already dressed in a festive wrapping, Hoyne Brewing’s Gratitude is the perfect thank you gift to give your hostess. This warmer beer is full-bodied, luscious and malty with a hint of spice. Watch out, this beer does its job with 9% alcohol. Be sure to grab it while you can, this beer is a special limited release.
Local Wine Picks
Burrowing Owl Merlot
The Burrowing Owl Merlot is the perfect choice to entertain wine lovers. This full bodied merlot has a smooth palate with rich blackberry and cherry flavours and hints of licorice and black pepper. Pairs best with ahi tuna, roasted chicken, beef and veal dishes, as well as stews.
Therapy Vineyards Freudian Sips
This Okanagan white wine has tropical fruit and lemon palate with rich aromas of green apples, peaches, and citrus. The Freudian Sips is an pleasant sipping wine with a slightly off-dry finish that is fresh and easy to drink – perfect for entertaining guests that prefer a lighter type of wine.
Haywire The Bub 2011
The Bub is a perfect sparkling wine for more festive occasions. This wine is a bubbly blend with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes grown in a mountain vineyard site, made in the bottle-fermented, Champagne style. The Bub is full of fruity accents, and the perfect wine to bring to a celebratory dinner.
Joie Unoaked Chardonnay
Joie’s Unoaked Chardonnary pairs well with a turkey feast. This crispy chardonnary has pineapple and passion fruit aroma with red apple and mineral flavour found on the palette, with a round body and fresh, clean finish.
Local Cider Pick
Sea Cider Rumrunner
Rumrunner is a semi-dry sparkling cider with winter bananas, winesaps, and notes of brown sugar and spice. The Rumrunner is made using certificated organic apples grown by Sea Cider and are hand pressed and carefully fermented with Champagne yeast and aged in rum barrels. This cider is a perfect gift for a hostess or addition to a holiday basket and pairs well with salmon.
Steamworks Wine & Beer Store
375 Water Street
Tel: 604-689-8729
www.steamworks.com
