Just your typical beer selection at a CBC reception.

As we discussed in Part One of our preview, the Craft Brewers Conference (CBC) is always a great opportunity to sample the host city’s beers, bars and breweries (this year it’s San Diego, California). But the core reason brewers from all over the world come together is for the conference itself.

The CBC, organized by the Brewers Association, is the largest event of its kind in North America. It’s quite the event, where literally thousands of industry professionals including brewpub and bar owners, brewery owners and staff, beer writers, brewery suppliers and brewing hopefuls meet to learn, network and of course, drink. It is in effect just as much a conference for Canadians as it is American, as dozens of industry folk from north of the border make the trek to the CBC. It’s one of the few times Canadian brewers from coast-to-coast are together in one place.

The conference, which is taking place from May 2-5, is comprised of two main components – the conference itself and BrewExpo America. The conference consists of a diverse schedule of presentations and roundtables covering a wide array of issues in the industry, and BrewExpo America is a trade show for brewery and restaurant suppliers. For anyone in the beer industry, the CBC is a must-attend. In Part Two of our preview, we’ll highlight some of our choices for the seminars during the conference that you won’t want to miss.

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The next installment in the Canadian Beer News Dinner Series is set for this Friday, April 27th at 6:30 PM, and it promises to be a fantastic night of amazing food and beer.

The dinner will feature a selection of outstanding international beers from importers Roland + Russell paired with the stunning Canadian cuisine of Victor Barry, co-owner and Chef de Cuisine of Splendido (88 Harbord Street, Toronto), one of Canada’s most celebrated and acclaimed restaurants.

Amongst the eight beers being poured to match the canapé reception and six courses will be several rare and exclusive offerings, including the Ontario debut of Hitachino Nest XH, a Belgian-style ale from Japan that has been aged for three months in sake barrels; and an exclusive appearance by De Struise Double Black, a monstrous imperial stout from Belgium that is so rare only a single case was shipped to Canada.

Only 24 seats are available for this landmark event, so those interested in attending are encouraged to act quickly to avoid disappointment. Tickets are $150 per person (plus taxes and 18% pre-tax gratuity), and can be reserved by calling Splendido at 416.929.7788.

The full menu and other details are available after the jump.

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Last year we were happy to preview the Craft Brewers Conference in San Francisco with a look at some of the best beer spots and our picks for seminars. Well, that time is back upon us and we’re eagerly looking towards this year’s version, which is taking place once again in California from May 2 to 5, 2012.

This year the CBC, which is organized by the U.S. Brewers Association, is taking place in San Diego. For those who only know the city through Anchorman, you may not realize that San Diego is one of the top beer destinations in the U.S., if not anywhere. It has a staggering amount of craft beer to enjoy, and coupled with its ocean side setting and remarkable weather make the San Diego a real treat. In Part One of our CBC preview, we’ll look at some of the beer spots worth checking out if you’re fortunate enough to be attending this year.

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With summer just around the corner, there’s a few new wheat beers cropping up. The Okanagan Spring Brewery has their Hefeweizen, which does have some apricot flavour and a good dose of cloves. The Vancouver Island Brewery has the Beachcomber Summer Ale, which is also a traditional Hefeweizen, fermented with the miraculous Weihenstephan yeast. I’m really looking forward to trying this one!

Tree Brewing released a Hefeweizen last year, and this year they’ve added a Madcap Belgian White Ale. Tropical with a spicy finish, and at only 4.5% it should pair well with the Okanagan sun! In addition to the King Heffy, Howe Sound Brewing has added a draught-only 4 Way Fruit Ale. This wheat beer is brewed with passionfruit, mango, raspberry and pomegranate. At 4.4%, it’s sure to be a hit on the patio’s this summer.

I love traditional wheats and I’ll surely give the 4 Way Fruit a try, but this is the Pacific Northwest. We need something like a 3 Floyd’s Gumballhead or Great Lakes Miami Weisse!

The Nelson Brewing company has bottled their Old Brewery Pale Ale (SKU#198028), and it’ll be in the new mix pack from the BC Craft Brewers Association.

The Firehall Brewery has finally opened in Oliver. They launched with the Stoked Ember Ale, which was quickly followed by the Holy Smoke Stout. For their first appearance at the Okanagan Fest of Ale, they were awarded best booth! Congrats!

Don’t forget that Vancouver Craft Beer Week is coming up (and many tickets are already sold out).

Russell Brewing has released their first barrel-aged beer: Nectar of the Gods Wheat Wine. I tried this at the 2011 VCBW before it hit the barrel, and IMHO, it was the best of show. This brew is 50% wheat malt combined with Pilsner and Munich to create a 10% wheat wine. Columbus hops provide a firm bitterness and create a truly unique flavour when paired with the French Strisselspalt. I can only imagine the additional layers of complexity that the Tennessee Whiskey barrels have added. Available only at the better private liquor stores.

R&B Brewing have just released “Double Devil”, an extra strong version of their Red Devil, aged in Bourbon Barrels.

Phillips just released another batch of their Double Barrel Scotch Ale. This one “was aged in fresh Tennessee Whiskey barrels, then allowed to mature in cabernet sauvignon oak barrels from the sunny Okanagan Valley.”

Tree Brewing has also released Serendipty #4. This one is based on their recent Hophead Black IPA. I must admit that I was a bit skeptical about the combination of flavours, but I think this is actually the best thing they have ever brewed. The brewery has already sold out, but if you’re lucky, you might still find it at one of the better private liquor stores. They’ve also just re-released their award-winning Captivator Doppelbock as well.

Whistler Brewing will have a limited-release, Cheakamus Chai-Maple Ale for the spring.

Lighthouse Brewing has released a new Dark Chocolate Porter. This 5.5% robust porter is flavoured with cocoa nibs and will be available at both Government and private liquor stores.

Howe Sound has re-released their Gathering Storm Cascadian Dark Ale. Look for 1L bottles at the better private liquor stores.

Fernie Brewing has just launched their newest brew, Lone Wolf IPA. “This IPA has four select malts in combination with four classic hop varieties”. Soon they’ll have 650mL bottles in both BC and Alberta Liquor stores.

The Brewery Market returns for its final winter series instalment with an event entitled The Pints of March on Sunday, March 18th.  This one features Toronto’s Amsterdam Brewery and promises to be a great one.  At the Brewery Market, Amsterdam will be debuting two beers from their new pilot system: ‘Dam Horse Porter (made with Dark Horse Espresso) and Citra Pale Ale.  Also available will be the 2012 debut of Tempest Imperial Stout plus Boneshaker IPA and Amsterdam’s latest seasonal Spring Bock.

The Pints of March takes place from 1-5pm at The Stop’s Green Barn at the Wychwood Barns, located at 601 Christie Street in Toronto.  Along with Amsterdam beer available will be hot dogs from Buddha Dog, as well as hot chocolate and artisanal marshmallows from The Stop.

Tree Brewing has released a new ‘Occasional Rarity’, Hop Head Black IPA. At 8.8% abv, this one’s bigger than their Double IPA. Although it’s packed full of flavour, the dark malts bring some balance and make it seriously drinkable. You’ll currently find this at private liquor stores in BC, but in a few months it’ll also be part of the LCBO’s Tree Brewery Feature!

Howe Sound Brewing’s Total Eclipse of the Hop and Megadestroyer Imperial Licorice Stout are back on the shelves. Driftwood just released their Singularity again as well. With these two world class stouts, there’s really no reason to be drinking the macro-of-macro’s this St. Paddy’s day… though they’ll probably sell out by then.

The Dead Frog Brewery has introduced a new stout at this seasonal time as well. The French Oaked Stiff Stout is described as a full flavoured, smooth stout combining roasted barley and chocolate malts aged on toasted french oak to create a rich, textured beer with a finish so stiff you’ll never forget it! This one’s in the government stores, but availability seems to be limited.

Lighthouse Brewing is releasing a new IPA at the end of the month (great label!). Unlike their British inspired Beacon IPA, the new Switchback IPA is a serious Pacific Northwest brew with 80 IBU’s coming from Citra, Zythos and Falconer’s Flight hops!

And that Granville Imperial IPA did hit the shelves a few weeks ago. This one’s different than last year… and it’s one bold DIPA!

The LCBO’s popular Brewery Feature program, which has spotlighted specific breweries such as Dieu du Ciel!, Fuller’s, Nørrebro Bryghus, and Rogue, returns on January 29th with Garrison Brewing of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Garrison Brewing, which has seen their Imperial I.P.A, HopYard Pale Ale and Oktoberfest released over the past couple of years through the LCBO, arrives with a set of five special seasonal beers in this release.

The Brewery Feature will offer the following Garrison beers, available from January 29th to March 30th, or while stock lasts:

• Black I.P.A., $4.25, 500mL, 6.2% alc./vol. (Gold medal winner at 2012 Canadian Brewing Awards)
• Winter Warmer, $5.25, 500mL, 6.8% alc./vol. (Silver medal winner at 2009 Canadian Brewing Awards)
• Spruce Beer, $5.25, 500mL, 7.5% alc./vol.
• Grand Baltic Porter, $5.95, 500mL, 9.0% alc./vol. (Gold medal winner at 2011 Canadian Brewing Awards)
• Pils, $4.25, 500mL, 4.7% alc./vol.

Last month I mentioned a few new breweries opening this year, but then Hoyne Brewing actually managed to get a few growlers out the door before Christmas! Now they’ve got their Pale Ale and Pilsner bottled, and it’s starting to hit the Private Liquor Store shelves.

Old Yale Brewing has entered into a new partnership and moved to a larger location. Canadian Beer News is reporting that kegs and bottles of the Sasquatch Stout and Sergeant’s IPA are currently available, and we’ll start to see cans of the IPA and Old Yale Pale Ale in February. It’ll certainly be great to have some more hoppy brews available in cans!

Lighthouse Brewing Company has their 6th limited release from their Big Flavour Series. The official press release says this 9% “Belgian Black is fermented with a Belgian Ardennes yeast strain. Enjoy the rich malty features of plum and dark cherry backed with subtle spicy notes”.

Mission Springs Brewing Company is releasing another special brew in bottles on January 30th. “The Strongman Ale” is an 8% Cascadian Strong Ale… this should be interesting.

Phillips has iced a barleywine, pushing the alcohol up to 12%. Thankfully, this so-called Mass Extinction is available in (reasonably-sized) 341 mL bottles.

Granville Island’s Imperial IPA will be on tap next week, and hopefully we’ll start to see some bottles again soon!

Tree Brewing’s Hophead Double IPA is currently available at the brewery. Many Bartowelers will be happy to hear that it just shipped to Ontario as well! You can expect to see it on the LCBO shelves by the end of February. In the mean time, Ontario will have to get their west-coast hop fix from the regular Tree Hop Head, or perhaps Central City’s Red Racer, which just hit the shelves again.

Tomorrow is the Brewery Market‘s second event of their winter series, entitled Brew Year’s Day.  The event promises to celebrate winter in style, featuring only stronger alcohol beers from Great Lakes Brewery and Cheshire Valley Brewing.  The beers on offer range from 8.5% up to 12% and include some brand new brews.  The complementary food will continue, which includes Buddha Dogs, vegetarian chili, chili dogs, artisanal marshmallows and hot chocolate. And that’s not all, there will even be live music for the first time, with local artists Amy Nostbakken and Adale Dahli.

The Brewery Market runs from 1-5pm on Sunday, January 15th at The Stop’s Green Barn at the Wychwood Barns, located at 601 Christie Street, just south of St. Clair West.  You can stay on top of the latest updates by following the Brewery Market on Twitter.