HOPPY HOLIDAYS
BY JOELLE KIDD
Craft pints are trending , and a new wave of creative brewers have Winnipeg beer lovers rejoicing . For those with visions of ales and hefeweizen dancing in their heads , these four breweries give local flavour to Christmas festivities .
BARNHAMMER BREWING CO
595 Wall St , barnhammerbrewing . ca Sip on site : Wed-Thu 3 pm-9 pm , Fri-Sat 12 pm-9 pm , Sun 1 pm-6 pm BYOB : Barnhammer beers are available on tap at several local restaurants and pubs including Barley Brothers , Blind Tiger , The Common at The Forks , Cornerstone , Yellow Dog Tavern , and Peg Beer Co . Growler filling stations are listed on barnhammerbrewing . ca .
Despite being one of the city ’ s newest brews , Barnhammer ’ s geometric logo has already popped up on taps across the city . The brewery itself , housed in a stylish industrial space in the West End of the city , opened Winnipeg ’ s first taproom in July of this year .
A welcoming room with beer hall-style communal tables , the taproom offers the brewery ’ s 6 signature beers and 2 experimental flavours , including winter favourites like “ Grandpa ’ s Sweater ”— a rich , velvety oatmeal stout — and “ Coffee Black ”, a strong and malty rye pale ale cut with cold brew coffee from local roaster Dogwood Coffee Co .
HALF PINTS BREWING COMPANY
550 Roseberry St , 204-832-PINT ( 7468 ) Sip on Site : Brewery tours offered most Saturdays . Call for details . BYOB : Half Pints beer is available at all Winnipeg Liquor Mart locations and on tap at numerous local restaurants and pubs .
A decade ago , Half Pints ushered in the craft beer movement in Winnipeg . The independently-owned brewery has gained national recognition and won multiple awards .
Four flagship beers are offered year round : the biting Little Scrapper IPA , malty and floral St James Pale Ale , nutty Bulldog Amber Ale , and a coffee-infused Stir Stick Stout . The brewery also makes regular forays into seasonal specialties , so look out for offerings like Encyclopedia Brown , a hoppy and malty brown ale set to be on tap at restaurants and Liquor Mart growler bars in November .
TORQUE BREWING
830 King Edward St , 204-941-1723 Sip on Site : At time of print , Torque plans to have a taproom open in early November . Call for details . BYOB : Find Torque products at all Winnipeg Liquor Mart locations and on tap at The Yellow Dog Tavern , The King ’ s Head Pub , Barley Brothers , the Grove , and Peg Beer Co .
Torque has been sending out beer since late August of this year , to a warm welcome : the brewery is on track to exceed a goal of putting out 1 million L of beer in its first year , recently purchasing 5 additional brewing tanks to keep up with demand .
A range of four tried-and-true brews please beer drinkers of all stripes : a dark stout with hints of roasted coffee , chocolate , and malts , an aromatic and hoppy IPA , a coriander- and citrus-scented Belgian wheat beer , and a Munich style lager . Construction of a taproom is underway at the brewery , with plans to be open early November for hop heads to try before they buy and sample special seasonal brews . Select styles of beer like Barleywine , Russian Imperial Stouts , and sour beers will be available only at the brewery .
PEG BEER CO
125 Pacific Ave , 204-416-2337 Sip on Site : Sun-Thu 11 am-11 pm , Fri-Sat 11 am-12 am BYOB : Peg Beer Co ’ s brews can be found on tap at Liquor Mart growler bars ( call for availability ).
Winnipeg ’ s first brewpub matches craft beer with a rustic menu focused on regional ingredients . Housed inside a former warehouse / skatepark in the east Exchange District , the rustic-industrial space boasts a brewery in the back and tables in the front , where beer connoisseurs can snack on anything from tart house made pickles to full Sunday-dinner style roast chicken or ham .
Four signature beers are now on tap , including a drinkable session ale , a hearty stout , a red ale brewed with rye , and an IPA . Rotating specialty beers branch out from the basics with more complex flavour . Berliner Weisse , a sour white beer , and Saison , a fruity , bottle conditioned variety , are in the works , both having gained growing popularity with beer enthusiasts . For those wanting a peek behind the scenes , the brewery is open for free tours every Monday at 7 pm and 8 pm .
8 where . ca NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016