NorthGeek

Fubar’s Back: Fubar 2

Fubar is back. Canada’s favourite headbangers with a movie have just released the sequel, in theatres October 1.

Trailer for Fubar 2:

Give’r.

Pro (outdoor) baseball lives in Canada!

UPDATE: I meant to say that pro OUTDOOR baseball lives in Canada – please forgive me, Jays fans. I’m not forgetting about Toronto’s MLB team, it’s just that this experience really gave me that “now, this is what sports should be like” feeling.

If you haven’t yet, go check out Nat Bailey Stadium for a Vancouver Canadians baseball game. This minor league club, currently at 11-11 and 4 games back of the first place Everett AquaSox, know how to put on a show for their fans. Nat Bailey Stadium, at Main and 30th in Vancouver, is a beautiful and well-maintained outdoor ballpark seating just over 5,500 loyal fans (I think – although Wikipedia disagrees). Tonight’s game, the third of five home games in a row against the Yakima Bears, was a special “fireworks” evening at the stadium – with ongoing entertainment following Vancouver’s 10-1 crushing of the Bears. The club didn’t disappoint – winning big for the first nine innings, and putting on a spectacular pyro show after the game.

Aside from being in a fun and energetic setting among the thousands of fans, in an open-air (packed) stadium, with the sun heating up the perfectly manicured natural grass field, there are plenty of things to keep the whole family entertained. Mascot races, animated beer and hotdog guys roaming the stands, and more – including a choreographed dance by the club’s grounds crew after the 5th inning at every home game:

I took this next video with my phone to send to my friends back home in Montreal, to show them how magical local baseball is:

Tickets to see the Canadians play are just $12.50 and less – depending on your student status, age, and whether you buy packaged deals. They also do a great job hosting groups in picnic or BBQ areas, and they even offer corporate boxes. The kids have a blast, too – even if they’re not into the baseball, there are plenty of activities and areas to keep them entertained.

While at Nat Bailey Stadium, be sure to check out the Canadians Baseball Hall of Fame – see who has worn the C’s uniform. It’s pretty impressive! Who knew Sammy Sosa once lived in Vancouver to play for the Canadians?? Also, keep your eyes open for General Manager Jason Takefman – he’s got a pretty amazing story!

Here’s a short clip from the fireworks show after the game:

GO CANADIANS GO!

Winners of the BC Beer Awards 2010

To cap off the enjoyable Vancouver Craft Beer Week, the first ever BC Beer Awards were handed out on Friday at Vancouver’s Heritage Hall. Each category was awarded with Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners in a blind-judged beer competition for local commercial brewers. NorthGeek was at Hoppapalooza to savour some of these very beers ourselves, including (Yaletown Brew Pub) Iain Hill’s Brick and Beam IPA, the big winner: “Iain Hill has this beer dialed in right now. HUGE tropical fruit nose from the addition of Amarillo & Simcoe hops in the dry hop. Delicate. Incredible” (in the words of the Alibi Room).

Session Ale
1st Saltspring Golden Ale
2nd Howe Sound Garibaldi Pale Ale
3rd Whistler Honey Lager

Wheat Beer
1st Yaletown Hill’s Special
2nd Driftwood White Bark Wheat
3rd Steamworks ipanema Wheat

Lager
1st Vancouver Island Herman’s Dark Lager
2nd Okanagan Springs 1516 Lager
3rd Longwood Pilsner

Amber/Brown
1st Granville Island Nut Brown Ale
2nd Canoe Beaver Brown Ale
3rd Tree Brewing Hophead 45 Red Ale

Pale Ale
1st Central City Red Racer ESB
2nd Driftwood Ale
3rd Central City Red Racer Pale Ale

Other Dark
1st Phillips Skookum Cascadian Dark Ale
2nd Okanagan Spring Black Lager
3rd Fat Cat Bunny’s Black and Tan

Fruit Flavored
1st Storm Black Currant Lambic
2nd Phillips Longboat Chocolate Porter
3rd Swans Coconut Porter

IPA
1st Yaletown Brick and Beam IPA
2nd High Mountain Wodward’s IPA
3rd Central City Red Racer IPA

Stouts / Porters
1st Phillips The Hammer Imperial Stout
2nd Lighthouse Keeper’s Stout
3rd Howe Sound Diamond Head Stout

Spiced / Seasonal
1st Yaletown Oud Bruin
2nd Tree Brewing Spiced Reserve
3rd Driftwood Farmhand Ale

Strong Beer
1st Driftwood Old Cellar Dweller Barley Wine
2nd Central City Thor’s Hammer Barley Wine
3rd Swans Scotch Ale

BEST OF SHOW
Ian Hill’s Yaletown Brick and Beam IPA

Iain Hill, Head Brewer Yaletown Brewing Company, via yaletown.ca

Beer can chicken – yummm!

Our good friends over at Broil King, the BBQ experts, have provided us with a delicious recipe for making beer can chicken. We hope to get some video footage of us making this recipe on a sweet new 2010 Broil King (I’m personally hoping for the Porta-Chef Pro – click on the image below for full-size).

The steaming beer keeps the meat moist while the high heat crisps the skin, delivering a perfect bird each time, every time. Genius Tip: Make sure that the bird is well balanced before closing lid. Otherwise your bird may tip, spilling the beer. When removing cooked chicken from grill, use oven mitts and be careful not to spill contents of beer can as it will be very hot. Let the bird rest 10 minutes before removing can.

1 whole chicken about 4 lbs. 1 can beer (16 oz – tall boy) 2 tablespoons salt 1 teaspoon black pepper 3 tablespoons of your favourite dry spice rub 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Remove neck and giblets. Discard. Rinse chicken inside and out; pat dry with paper towels. Rub chicken lightly with oil then rub inside and out with salt, pepper and dry rub. Set aside.

Preheat barbecue on HIGH.

Open beer can and pour off half of the beer. Place beer can on a solid surface. Grabbing a chicken leg in each hand, plunk the bird cavity over the beer can.

Turn one side of the burner completely off and the other side to MEDIUM. Place the bird-on-a-can on the side that is turned off to use the indirect cooking method. Balance the bird on it`s two legs and the can like a tripod. Make sure it is well balanced before closing the lid.

Cook the bird over MEDIUM indirect heat for aproximately 1 1/4 hours or until the internal temperature reads 170 degrees F (77 degrees C) in the breast area and 180 degrees F (83 degrees C) in the thickest part of the thigh.

Carefully remove from grill using oven mits. Let rest for 10 minutes before removing can. Becareful not to spill, contents will be hot. Carve chicken and serve immediately.

For more great BBQ recipes visit Broil King’s On the Grill website.

NorthGeek tour of R&B Brewing Co. in Vancouver

This week, NorthGeek went to the R&B Brewing Co. headquarters and master brewery for a free tour of the facility. As part of Vancouver Craft Beer Week, Rick (the “R” from R&B) gave us a great (and FREE) tour. Afterwards, we caught up with Aly, Rick, and Barry from R&B and discussed what’s next for the small Vancouver brewery, what VCBW means to them, and what advice they have for beer enthusiasts looking to start brewing their own masterpieces. Here’s the video:

R & B Brewing – Hoppelganger IPA (NorthGeek Beer Review Series)

We drank Hoppelganger earlier this week, from the bottle, then got to enjoy a tour of the brewery as part of the Vancouver Craft Beer Week. And then, yes, we had more Hoppelganger.

Name: Hoppelganger IPA
Style: Northwest style India Pale Ale
Brewery: R & B Brewing Co
Brewery Location: Vancouver, BC

Color: Amber, slight red
Apparent Flavours (according to DW & NB): Slight hoppy, orange, floral, some bitterness (fits with the slight hoppy)

NB Summary: Formerly called Hop Goblin, the Hoppelganger is a very drinkable IPA. It’s a nice combination of five hop varieties and premium english malt. For someone new to bitter IPAs, this is a great start and easily likable, as it’s well balanced and not overly bitter or hoppy. The first impression is that it’s sweet and pleasantly malty and would easily accompany lots of meals. It’s not as distinct or strong willed as some other Northwest style IPAs, but I will definitely drink this one again, especially considering the brewery is just a hop from where I live (support local).

DW Summary: As a fan of true (American-style) IPAs, I was quite pleased with R&B’s Hoppelganger. It’s a really easy-drinking bitter beer – not overly bitter, and the hops are not overwhelming – just right, in my opinion. Very refreshing. After seeing the brewing process at the R&B brewery (great tour led by Rick – the “R” in R&B), my appreciation for this beer in particular is stronger than ever. Looking forward to opening up another jumbo bottle soon.

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NB’s NorthGeek Beer Taster Ratings:

This beer is a: Casual drinking beer / Meal companion beer / Dessert beer

Taste 15/20
Smell 9/10
Goes down easy 8/10
Head consistency 8/10
Aftertaste 11/15
Bottle/Packaging 4/5
I would recommend this beer 9/10

TOTAL: 64/80

DW’s NorthGeek Beer Taster Ratings:

This beer is a: Casual drinking beer / Meal companion beer / Dessert beer

Taste 18/20
Smell 8/10
Goes down easy 8/10
Head consistency 6/10
Aftertaste 13/15
Bottle/Packaging 3/5
I would recommend this beer 10/10

TOTAL: 66/80

NORTHGEEK TOTAL: 65/80

What are your thoughts on this beer?

Phillips Brewing – Surly Blonde (NorthGeek Beer Review Series)

We drink beer. Mostly BC beer for now. We tell you what we like.

Name: Surly Blonde Big Belgian Triple
Style: Tripel (aka triple) strong pale ale
Brewery: Phillips Brewing Company
Brewery Location: Victoria, BC

Color: Golden orange
Apparent Flavours (according to DW & NB): Bananas, sweet, fruity, spicy, yeast

NB Summary: This Belgian style ale is very drinkable, probably because it is sweet and relatively neutral on secondary flavors. So I will definitely drink this again, but it’s not close to being my favorite Belgian style trappist/strong ale — those, like Orval and Leffe, have lots of rich, secondary, adventure-seeking flavors. Pros: cool (maybe generic) label, nice rich color, crisp taste, sweet, high alcohol content (9.1%) that is still easily drinkable. Cons: fleeting white head, simple flavors. Phillips is going to get some mixed reviews on this one!

DW Summary: A very “pretty-colored” beer, I really liked this one. Belgian ales are among my favorite brews, and this Surly Blonde did not disappoint – other than maybe the smell. I would have really liked it with a wedge (or piece? What’s it called when it’s round, has the rind on it, and a little slit to rest on the rim of your glass?) of orange, and probably would have REALLY enjoyed sipping it outside on a hot day with the sun burning my face. Either way, I’ll be drinking this beer again!

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NB’s NorthGeek Beer Taster Ratings:

This beer is a: Casual drinking beer / Meal companion beer / Dessert beer

Taste 16/20
Smell 9/10
Goes down easy 9/10
Head consistency 4/10
Aftertaste 11/15
Bottle/Packaging 4/5
I would recommend this beer 8/10

TOTAL: 61/80

DW’s NorthGeek Beer Taster Ratings:

This beer is a: Casual drinking beer / Meal companion beer / Dessert beer

Taste 17/20
Smell 5/10
Goes down easy 8/10
Head consistency 7/10
Aftertaste 13/15
Bottle/Packaging 3/5
I would recommend this beer 9/10

TOTAL: 62/80

NORTHGEEK TOTAL: 61.5/80

What are your thoughts on this beer? Are we being too harsh in our reviews? Don’t get us wrong, we’re proud of our local BC brewers! Share in the comments below.

Russell Brewing – Honey Blonde Ale (NorthGeek Beer Review Series)

Sorry, Russell, as much as we love your cream ale, this Honey Blonde Ale just didn’t cut it. Our review below.

Name: Honey Blonde Ale
Style: Blonde Ale
Brewery: Russell Brewing Company
Brewery Location: Surrey, BC

Color: Medium yellow
Apparent Flavours (according to DW & NB): Stale, chemical, cheese, lemon, carbonated water

DW Summary: I hate to say it, but I REALLY did not enjoy this beer. I find it tasted more like carbonated water than beer. To be fair, though, I did have it just an hour after drinking a VERY hoppy Devil’s Elbow IPA – but still, this beer just didn’t do it for me. I don’t have much to say – just that unfortunately, I wouldn’t drink it again (we have 4/6 bottles left in the fridge if anyone wants ’em), and I wouldn’t recommend it to friends. Sorry, folks.

NB Summary: I find this beer too light in taste, too lemony, too carbonated, and not robust enough. The aftertaste is cheese and slight honey, and very short. Overall, the palate is pretty thin and this beer isn’t very exciting to me. Sorry Russell.

DW’s NorthGeek Beer Taster Ratings:

This beer is a: Casual drinking beer / Meal companion beer / Dessert beer ( / Never drink it beer)

Taste 5/20
Smell 6/10
Goes down easy 4/10
Head consistency 5/10
Aftertaste 8/15
Bottle/Packaging 3/5
I would recommend this beer 2/10

TOTAL: 33/80

NB’s NorthGeek Beer Taster Ratings:

This beer is a: Casual drinking beer / Meal companion beer / Dessert beer

Taste 6/20
Smell 3/10
Goes down easy 6/10
Head consistency 7/10
Aftertaste 2/15
Bottle/Packaging 3/5
I would recommend this beer 4/10

TOTAL: 31/80

NORTHGEEK TOTAL: 32/80

What are your thoughts on this beer? Share in the comments below.

Howe Sound Brewing – Devil’s Elbow India Pale Ale (NorthGeek Beer Review Series)

Here were are kicking off our love of beers through some pre-Vancouver Craft Beer Week reviews. Stay tuned for more!

Name: Devil’s Elbow India Pale Ale
Style: IPA
Brewery: Howe Sound Brewing
Brewery Location: Squamish, BC

Color: Mid-dark golden brown
Apparent Flavours (according to DW & NB): Nutmeg, dry hops, bitterness, orange rind, grapefruit, grass, copper

DW Summary: This strong IPA sticks to its BC roots (or Western North American roots, really) by having a large amount of hops, and offering a very bitter beer that I find difficult to categorize as a “pale” anything. A great meal companion, this beer goes down easier with spiciness or saltiness, otherwise it is a bit of a harsh (yet very tasty) beer. The light but dense foamy head makes for a nice preview as you take your first sip!

NB Summary: Here’s a big bitter West Coast IPA from Squamish, in a big 1L “resealable” bottle. Actually, it’s made with English and North American barley and hops, so the IPA is a bit of a misnomer. It’s got a unique sweet aroma, not hoppy at all, but the taste is anything but. Good things: citrus, more than average hoppy, frothy head, local. Not as good things: a little too carbonated. I will drink this again.

DW’s NorthGeek Beer Taster Ratings:

This beer is a: Casual drinking beer / Meal companion beer / Dessert beer

Taste 16/20
Smell 8/10
Goes down easy 6/10
Head consistency 9/10
Aftertaste 13/15
Bottle/Packaging 5/5
I would recommend this beer 7/10

TOTAL: 64/80

NB’s NorthGeek Beer Taster Ratings:

This beer is a: Casual drinking beer / Meal companion beer / Dessert beer

Taste 15/20
Smell 9/10
Goes down easy 8/10
Head consistency 9/10
Aftertaste 13/15
Bottle/Packaging 2/5
I would recommend this beer 8/10

TOTAL: 64/80

NORTHGEEK TOTAL: 64/80

What are your thoughts on this beer? On bitter West Coast IPAs? Share in the comments below.