When the days get shorter, the weather gets colder and certainly if the snow starts to fall, nothing hits quite like a quality winter ale.
If you’re at the liquor store on a cold December night, there are a handful of BC-made winter ale staples that almost always stand out.
The Granville Island Brewing Lions Winter Ale is definitely one, while the Nelson Brewing Faceplant Winter Ale and Fernie Brewing Black Mammoth Winter Ale are widely available and popular as well.
Of course, there are usually options from smaller craft breweries from year-to-year, but when it comes to annual releases you know will be there every winter, there aren't as many options.
Well, Phillips Brewing has finally entered the winter ale picture and it sure looks like this one is here to stay.
Judging by its branding alone, the Lift Ticket Winter Ale jumps out as a beer that the Victoria brewery plans on bringing back each year.
It has the same kind of identity and pop as we’ve seen from their summer beers like Dinosour and Solaris or their fall beers like Crooked Tooth and Green Reaper.
Anyways, enough about branding and whether it’s going to be an annual release because only the fine folks at Phillips know the answer to that.
The only thing you probably care about right now is how it tastes. I've tried this one already and I can tell you it's a delectable winter ale.
It’s certainly rich, with smooth notes of chocolate and vanilla complemented nicely by caramel and maple.
What really sets it apart is the fruit-forward aspect, as the hints of berry and citrus provide a little more sweetness than you might expect from a winter ale.
"It’s rich, complex and built for those who like their winter beers with a little adventure," the brewery explains.
The Lift Ticket Winter Ale, which has an ABV of 6.8%, will be easy to find at either private or government liquor stores.
It's a nice price as well! BC Liquor Stores have it at $15.29 before taxes and fees, while private stores should only be a hair more than that.
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.
