Take flight! Have a Beer

Not into wine tasting? How about a beer tasting? Many craft breweries, pubs, and even some restaurants now offer “beer flights”. A beer flight is a tasting experience that allows beer enthusiasts to explore various beer styles, flavours, and aromas in a single sitting.

Origins

Beer flights actually harken back to the beginning of beer brewing, when beer was often consumed in small quantities to quench thirst or as part of a meal. The craft beer movement of the 1970s and 1980s brought beer flights to the forefront as a popular way to sample different types of beer.

The craft beer movement began with the desire to create unique and flavourful beer that was different from the mass-produced lagers and ales that dominated the market. Craft breweries were a local phenomenon often attached to the sustainability movement. Brewmasters began to experiment with different brewing techniques, ingredients, and styles, creating a wide variety of beer, each having unique flavours and characteristics.

To introduce their new beer and allow customers to sample them, craft breweries began offering beer flights. A typical beer flight consists of as few as three or as many as eight small glasses of beer. The number of beers included in a flight varies depending on the establishment. Customers can choose from a selection of beers and the samples are served in a specially designed wooden paddle or tray with small holes to hold the glasses securely.

Flights are often served with tasting notes or descriptions that provide information about each beer’s style, ingredients, and flavour profile. This helps drinkers understand and appreciate the various nuances and characteristics of each beer they are sampling.

Benefits of Beer Flights

Beer flights are now widely available in a variety of settings, providing an opportunity for customers to taste new beers without committing to full-sized servings.

Flights allow you to sample a variety of beer and discover new flavours and styles. This can be particularly beneficial if you are new to craft beer or if you are looking to expand your palate.

Beer flights also allow you to compare and contrast different beer types. By trying several beers side by side, you can pick up on subtle differences in flavour, aroma, and the feel of the beer on your tongue. This can be a great way to develop your beer tasting skills and become more knowledgeable about beer.

Finally, beer flights can be a fun and social way to enjoy beer with friends. By sharing a beer flight, you can try a variety of beers together and discuss or debate their flavours and characteristics. This can be a great way to bond over a shared interest in beer and to learn from each other’s perspectives and tasting experiences.

Creating Your Own Beer Flight

1. Select your beer

To create your beer flight, start by selecting beer in a variety of different styles, such as pale ales, stouts, lagers, or sour beers. This will allow you to compare and contrast and develop your understanding of beer. Be mindful of the alcohol content of each beer you choose, selecting a range of lighter through heavier beers.

Alternatively, you can choose beers from different breweries or regions to compare their unique characteristics.

2. Arrange your glassware

Once you have made your selection, pour a small amount (around 2-3 ounces) of each beer into a separate glass. Be sure to label each glass with the name of the beer and any other relevant information, such as the style or ABV (alcohol content).

3. Taste the beer

Start with the lightest or lowest ABV beer and work your way up to the heaviest or highest ABV beer. Starting with a lower ABV beer will help you pace yourself and avoid becoming too intoxicated.

When tasting your beer flight, it’s important to take your time and savor each beer. Take a sip of each beer and try to pick up on subtle flavours and aromas, and how the beer feels in your mouth. Pay attention to any other characteristics that stand out to you.

4. Take notes

You can use a tasting sheet or notebook to record your observations for each beer you’ve tasted so you can remember the individual beers and compare them later.

Again, start with lighter beer, such as lagers or pilsners, and work your way up to heavier beer like stouts or porters. This will help prevent your palate from becoming overwhelmed by strong flavours.

Beer tasting notes are an easy Google search away and easily created at home.

Whether you’re a seasoned beer drinker or new to the world of craft beer, sampling beer flights will greatly enhance the pub crawl experience or provide a unique twist on adult birthday gatherings.

Cheers!

When is a Pub not a Pub?

Remember when, if you wanted to go out for a drink you just went to a local bar? Well, welcome to the age of choices! Now you and your best pals can be shuttled to bars, pubs, brew pubs, craft breweries, microbreweries, and gastropubs. Confusing, right? Let’s see if we can clear this up.

Bars, Pubs, or Taverns

Ale as a drink predates the occupation of Great Britain by the Roman Empire in the first century AD. The construction of the system of Roman roads led to the appearance of the first taverns (known as “tabernae”) serving food and drinks.

A Taphouse is a tavern consisting of a building with a bar and public rooms; often providing light meals.

Bars typically do not serve food and you go to the counter or bar to order drinks, hence the name. There is an age limit for patrons and bars can be attached to other businesses such as hotels.

Pubs, short for “public houses”, became established around the beginning of the 19^th century and have been the social centre of the villages and towns of England and those countries once part of the British Empire ever since.

Pubs generally occupy their own building and serve casual food and drinks with a focus on beer and wine although they also provide non-alcoholic drinks. Pubs provide a social gathering place for locals as well as those just passing through.

Microbreweries or Craft Breweries

A brewery, sometimes called a beerhouse, is a commercial establishment that creates and sells beer. It can produce millions of barrels of beer per year.

As its name suggests, a microbrewery produces much less annually – no more than 15,000 barrels. It must be licensed by the Government of Canada, and be independently owned. Microbreweries make specialty beers and most are sold and drunk on site.

Trying to pin down a definition of a craft brewery or microbrewery is difficult as there is no consistency across Canada. Most craft breweries are small and locally or family owned. According to the BC Craft Brewers Guild, member brewers must be majority owned in BC and produce less than 200,000 hectolitres of beer per year.

Brew Pubs

Brew pubs gained popularity in recent years as an extension of the movement towards supporting local businesses using locally-sourced ingredients sustainably. Essentially, a brew pub is a combination of a brewery and a restaurant.

The beer is brewed on the premises and often served directly from the brewing tanks providing a unique look at the technical skill and methods used to create a top-quality beverage. Food offered is typical pub fare.

The Cowichan Valley has become a popular center for the craft beer industry. Take a pub crawl through these local brew pubs:

1. Red Arrow Brewing Company: Located in Duncan, the Red Arrow brews small batch high quality beer taking every opportunity to use locally sourced ingredients. The food menu features classic pub fare with vegetarian and gluten-free choices.
2. Small Block Brewery: A family-run brewery with a cozy atmosphere, Small Block even features live music on the weekends. The menu features craft beer, cider, and snacks.
3. Craig Street Brew Pub: Offering a range of handcrafted beers brewed on site, the pub has a cozy fireplace for winter and an outdoor patio for warmer weather. Food on offer covers the range of appies to desserts.
4. The Oak Taphouse: Fostering community and connections, The Oak serves up local craft brews and delicious home-grown eats.
5. Riot Brewing Co.: Located in Chemainus, the Riot Brewing Co. offers a full lounge license, outdoor patio, sleeves, and sample flights. It’s kid- and dog-friendly.
6. Bayview Brewing Company: Locally owned and operated in Ladysmith, Bayview offers wonderful craft beer and appies, bowls, and sandwiches sure to please anyone.
7. Sawmill Taphouse and Grill: Another reason to stop in Chemainus, the Sawmill features Pacific Northwest craft beers and forno oven pizzas. Authentic farm-to-table tapas and appetizers complete the incredible atmosphere.

Gastropubs

Gastropubs first made an appearance in England in 1991 when the new owners of The Eagle pub decided to offer “restaurant quality” food in their pub moving the focus away from a purely drinking establishment. The word gastropub was created by combining “pub” and “gastronomy” to emphasize the inventiveness and quality of the food on offer.

Whether you’re a connoisseur of beer, a foodie, or just want to hoist a few and kick back with good friends, the Cowichan Valley offers a diverse range of establishments for visitors to explore.