Organic beer aficionados will want to savour a new brew being presented Saturday by Crannóg Ales at Table 24 in the Podollan Inn.
Crannóg’s new seasonal ale, Organic Conspiracy Imperial IPA, will be released on Jan. 18 with a party that starts at 5:30.
The event will feature beer tastings, appetizers and music by popular local group, Elk Tribe.
There’s a $5 cover charge for the event and guests are then encouraged to stay for dinner, which will feature a $30, three-course pairing menu designed for the evening by Table 24 chef David Colombe.
“It’s a conspiracy of two organic breweries,” notes Brian MacIsaac of Crannóg Ales. “We worked with Big Spruce Brewing of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia to create the recipe, with hops from both our farms.”
Both breweries are certified organic, and both grow their own hops.
Big Spruce opened in 2013, after owners trained with MacIsaac and Rebecca Kneen to learn about brewing and hops growing.
Their beers are gaining a stellar reputation in Nova Scotia, as they make uncompromising beers with plenty of hops.
“We are very proud to have instigated this brewery,” says Kneen.
“They have a lovely hopyard, and it’s a real pleasure to brew with hops from another organic yard in Canada.”
Kneen says hops production across the country is taking off in response to the growing demand by craft brewers.
“It’s rare to see anyone else, besides us, commit to not just brewing organically, but growing their own organic hops,” she says. “Making this beer has been very exciting.”
Kneen describes the beer as having a malty body with a huge mouth feel, a solid Galena-hops bitterness and gorgeous aromas of pine and citrus from Chinook and Cascade finishing hops.”
Exhaling after a sip, she says, “brings the taste of the woods on a crisp winter day.”
