The winter doldrums are starting to feel like a distant memory.
Now a full month into spring, parts of BC are enjoying sunshine and temperatures in the 20s this weekend, which means it’s time to enjoy some summer beers.
It’s not quite that nice in Fernie today, but that’s still where we’re headed for this week’s feature, as the popular brewery in the Kootenays has relaunched one of its most popular sours.
Fernie Brewing Company's Backpedal Raspberry Sour, formerly called Sundown, is everything you’d want in a sour to enjoy on a warm, sunny day.
The fruited sour comes in at 5.5% ABV (alcohol by volume) and is jam packed with juice to go with a nice tangy twist.
It features real raspberry juice added during fermentation, which gives it that red-ish colour that glows in the sun when you pour it into your favourite pint glass.
“Heavy on the juice, fruity in flavour and succulently sour, it’s medium-bodied with a clean, crisp finish, perfect for a spring post-pedal pint,” the brewery explains.
You’ll have to search your favourite private liquor stores that focus on craft beer to find this bad boy, and if you have no luck in that regard I have a little bonus Fernie feature for you.
Another type of beer that’s great on warmer days is a juicy, citrusy and refreshing hazy, which is exactly what’s written on the orange box of Fernie’s Headwall Hazy Pale Ale.
You’ve potentially seen or tasted this beer before, but it’s now part of the brewery’s year-round core lineup and is available in six packs at many BC Liquor Stores across the province.
“Expect a well-balanced and easy-drinking brew, with notes of tropical fruit flavour peeking out from a light, hoppy base,” the Fernie website says about this one.
“Brewed using Strata and Cryo Pop hops, this brew is the perfect combination of light, hazy and oh-so-hoppy.”
Headwall, which pays homage to Fernie’s iconic backdrop, comes in at a sessionable 4.8% ABV.
Josh Duncan is the NowMedia news director and a craft beer lover. Reach him at [email protected]. His beer column appears every Saturday afternoon in this space.
