Halifax is a great town, with a really great pub scene. Cass reported on a few of the establishments back in 2006. Two noteworthy additions are the Hart & Thistle and the Rockbottom Brewpub, both under the hand of Greg Nash. Nash trained at the American Brewers Guild and then spent some time in California before returning back home to the Maritimes, where he has become known for his hoppy creations.

The Hart & Thistle is located at the Historic Properties. It’s right on the waterfront and has one of the best patios in town. They offer a few craft brews and usually have a couple of their own on-tap. While I was there they had the Hop Rock Candy Mountain, which you can read about at The House of Nash. I had a few drinks, and just as I was leaving I crossed paths with Nash. He said he was brewing at the Rockbottom the next day, and that I was welcome to join him.
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The retail side of Duggan’s Brewery opened today, so Torontonians will have another option for buying take home beer. As of this moment, only the Number 9 IPA is for sale, but plans are to increase this to a variety of styles in the coming weeks.

In other news, the newest release on tap at the brewpub is a Czech Pilsner, weighing in at 4.2%.

Duggan’s is located at 75 Victoria Street between Richmond and Adelaide.

Pepperwood Bistro & Brewpub (1455 Lakeshore Road, Burlington) have announced the details of their special beers of the month for July:
Pepperwood Monthly Feature –
German Style Wheat Beer
Available Friday, July 3rd
Moderate banana and clove flavor. The soft, grainy flavor of wheat is complementary, as is a slightly sweet Pils malt character. Hop flavor and bitterness is very low. A tart, citrusy character from yeast and high carbonation is present. Well rounded, flavorful palate with a relatively dry finish.
Pepperwood Cask –
English Mild
Available Friday, July 24th
A malty beer, with flavors including caramel, toffee, toast, nutty, chocolate, coffee, and roast. Low bitterness, enough to provide some balance but not enough to overpower the malt. Fruity esters moderate.

Pepperwood Bistro & Brewpub (1455 Lakeshore Road, Burlington) have announced the details of their special beers of the month for June:
Pepperwood Monthly Feature –
Ginger-Lime Summer Ale
Available Friday, June 5th.
Loosely based on a Cream Ale style, this beer is neither dominated by malt nor hops. A generous amount of ginger with a hint of lime makes this a refreshing beer for easy summer drinking.
Pepperwood Cask –
English Ordinary Bitter
Availability to be announced – hopefully mid-month.
A low gravity, low alcohol level and low carbonation makes this an easy-drinking beer. Noticeable malt with complementary hopping makes this a session beer. Enjoy!

Pepperwood Bistro & Brewpub (1455 Lakeshore Road, Burlington) will be releasing West Coast Pale Ale their Feature Beer of the month on Friday, April 3rd.
A Dry Stout will follow later in April as their Cask Ale of the month. The date the cask will be tapped is to be announced.
Brewmaster Paul Dickey is also looking for some feedback on Pepperwood’s monthly cask ales:

The last Cask “Mild” was well received but nevertheless I had to empty 1/3 of the keg on Monday because I was not willing to serve it beyond its prime.
I need your input to make Cask viable at the Pepperwood.
Are you interested in Cask Ales?
What night is best for you?
Is there a particular style you are looking for?
How can this be framed as an event you would interested in attending?
Do I need to be present for this to be successful?

If you’d like to offer your thoughts, feel free to contact Paul with your answers.

Pepperwood Bistro & Brewpub (1455 Lakeshore Road, Burlington) released their Feature Beer of the month on Friday, March 6th, and will be releasing a Cask Ale of the month on Monday, March 16th.
The Feature Beer is Chipotle Ale, previously available at the Pepperwood Beer Fest last month.
The Monthly Cask Ale will be an English Mild, with the following notes from brewmaster Paul Dickey: “A malty beer, caramel, toffee, toast, nutty, chocolate, coffee, roast. Finish tends to dry. Low bitterness, yet enough to provide some balance but not enough to overpower the malt.”
Also, coming soon to the Pepperwood’s craft beer guest tap is Black Oak Double Chocolate Cherry Stout.

Pepperwood Bistro & Brewpub (1455 Lakeshore Road, Burlington) will be releasing their Feature Beer of the month on Friday, January 2nd, and a Cask Ale of the month on Friday, January 16th.
The Feature Beer is Scottish Export 80 Shilling brewed in honour of Robbie Burns. Brewmaster Paul Dickey provides the following notes: “Malt is the primary flavor, but isn’t overly strong. Hop bitterness is low, but the balance is towards the malt. Has a grainy, dry toasty finish.”
The Monthly Cask Ale will be an American Pale Ale brewed with Centennial hops.
Also, the annual Pepperwood Beer Festival will take place on Sunday February 22nd. More details will be announced soon.

Pepperwood Bistro & Brewpub (1455 Lakeshore Road, Burlington) will be releasing their Feature Beer of the month on Friday, December 5th, and a Cask Ale of the month on Friday, December 19th.
The Feature Beer is a Winter Warmer with the following notes from brewmaster Paul Dickey: “Winter warmers are a more modern style of the English Old Ale and are generally maltier, fuller-bodied, often darker beers. Because we have had a run of darker beers lately, this winter warmer is very light in colour, aroma, and flavour, however it is anything but light in alcohol. It weighs in at 7% – with a light refreshing malt character, some yeast overtones with just a hint of cranberry befitting the season.”
The Monthly Cask Ale will be a Pale Ale brewed with Centennial hops.
Pepperwood’s Ontario Craft Brewer guest tap for December will feature Mill Street Coffee Porter.

Pepperwood Bistro & Brewpub (1455 Lakeshore Road, Burlington) will be releasing their Feature Beer for November on Friday, November 7th.
Pepperwood Dunkelweizen is described by brewmaster Paul Dickey as being “a moderately dark, spicy (clove), fruity (banana) , malty, refreshing wheat-based ale. Reflecting the best yeast and wheat character of a hefeweizen blended with the malty richness of a Munich dunkel.”
Paul will also be brewing his first monthly cask ale, although it will be available exclusively for the Canadian Amateur Brewers Association AGM & Bus tour on November 8th. This cask is an Imperial Pale Ale and the style was voted upon by CABA members. In December there will be a cask available to all on a date to be determined.
Pepperwood’s Ontario Craft Brewer guest tap for November will feature Mill Street Coffee Porter.