The only cask ale in Vancouver

Cask Ale is a type of beer easy to find in the UK, but nigh on impossible to get here in Canada. It's unfiltered, unpasteurized, and only comes from hand-pumped casks at a pub. Cask Ale is generally served a bit warmer than North Americans are used to, and since there's no added carbonation, it's a bit less fizzy as well.

Ever hear someone in a British TV show refer to a "pint of bitter"? Chances are, they were talking about this stuff.

And as you've probably guessed by now, there's somewhere you can buy it in Vancouver.

The Irish Heather is a Gastown gastropub, often praised for its "authenticity." I won't speak to that, but they do have the only Cask Ale I've ever seen in Vancouver. In fact, the bartender told me that she'd be surprised to find another cask ale consistently served in all of Canada.

They were serving Red Devil Ale, which is an English style ale produced by local brewery R&B Brewing. The beer itself was slightly above average, though largely unremarkable. Pleasant mild flavour with a bitter finish, good hoppy aroma.

Grade: A- (points for cask conditioning, though an otherwise unremarkable ale)

Vital Beer Stats

Name: Red Devil Ale
Brewery: R&B Brewing, located in Vancouver, BC

Style: English Pale Ale
ABV: 5.2%
Serving Size: Hand drawn, cask conditioned pint.

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Light amber, more yellow than red. Low, light head, slightly off-white.
Smell: Aroma not very strong, faint odor of hops. Some citrus notes.
Taste: Mild flavour with a bitter follow up.
Feel: Light body, clean feeling.

Review: Phillips Double IPA

I've decided to start things off with a decidedly West Coast beer: the Phillips Brewing Amnesiac Double IPA. This is a relatively recent style of beer with even more hopping than a traditional IPA and a higher alcohol-by-volume to boot.

Review
This beer tastes pretty much the same as it smells: like a delicious forest. Add a few woodland creatures, maybe a druid circle or two, and you've got a good thing here.

The hops are strong with this one, but I expected something a little stronger. I wanted to be ashamed at inevitable shivers resulting from excessive bitterness. Perhaps that's a tad masochistic.

As it warmed, the flavour actually sweetened. A disappointment, to be sure. At 650ml bottles, these would be tough to finish before the bitterness fades.

Grade: B+

Vital Beer Stats

Name: Amnesiac Double IPA
Brewery: Phillips Brewing, located in Victoria, BC
Awards: Silver Medal (Canadian Brewing Awards, 2007)
Style: Double India Pale Ale
ABV: 8.5%
Serving Size: 650ml bottle.

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Rich amber. Almost opaque. Sticky head.
Smell: Hoppy. Strong hints of pine. Earthy.
Taste: Initially bitter. Strong evergreen flavour finishes. Sweetens as it warms. Not as hoppy as expected.
Feel: Crisp and clean when cold, begins to acquire a stickiness as it warms.

Welcome to Beer Fancier

Beer Fancier is the gentleman's guide to malted barley, flavoured with hops -- also known as beer.

Whether you're an avid beer snob, a weekend taster, or a curious newcomer, Beer Fancier will have something for everyone.

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• Battle of the Beers. Two similar brews face off against each other in no-holds-barred cage matches. Which beer will reign supreme? Which will be relegated to the back of the fridge?
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