Looking back, it’s amazing to me that in the early years of this blog I banged out two beer lists a year. Either I was drinking ten times the amount and variety of beer I drink now… possible, or I had far more disposable time to dedicate to writing as I have now.
Scrolling down my mid-2000s ubiquitous right blog sidebar it looks like I can barely get off my ass to do a blog post a year, which is a bit melancholy and also a tad misleading. It’s not for love… Food blogs didn’t die the way I was predicting back when I wrote this and I didn’t slow down due to work. In fact, I have MORE free time now that I’m not in a professional kitchen.
(Psssst… Hey kids, if your here for the beer list go ahead and scroll down to the end of this screed)
I transitioned that time from writing to recording which you can hear all of over here or on your podcast platform of choice. Every episode is also blog posts, but they don’t show up on the sidebar feed because it would be an ugly mess. Simon and I have published over forty eps, and as a result Eat | Drink | Breathe now has more traffic in one week than it ever did in a month of the early days. I guess we should have started podcasting earlier!
The funny things is the top posts on the site are still recipes and reflections! Before the site’s success funnelled us into a paid tier of analytics I learned that the top viewed post is (drumroll please) Bannock – First Nations Style! Which is a tad weird because I’m not First Nations.
My wife is and many of my past kitchen co-workers were and the recipe is from Chef Andrew George Jr’s book on First Nation cuisine, but it has always felt a little strange when people message me about it. This all takes me back to a beer-stained conversation I had with the dining room expeditor at the HBI years ago, the crux of which was his question to me, “What makes you think your an authority on cooking?”
I never thought I was an authority on much of anything…especially the cuisine of other cultures! I just loved food and wanted something for my family and friends to read that would fire their imaginations and make them think of me… Same with the podcast, I guess… Huh… Is it all just vanity? Could be… I’ll have to think on that for a bit.
And while I wander these inner labyrinths, I should have a couple thinking beers!
2025 OOPS ALL IPAS BEER LIST!!!!
Yeah, I did it again… I’m afraid all the best beers I enjoyed this year have been IPAs. I’m irrevocably “that” beer dude and I’m sorry, but I think I’m still worth listening to because all of these choices bend, twist and subvert the West Coast IPA recipe in some significant ways.
The Sprut: Spruce Tip Brut IPA – Mount Arrowsmith Brewing (Parksville, BC)
Dry as a bone and packed with striking, lemony spruce tip flavour this is the kind of “put it on the map” beers that every brewery dreams of. Mount Arrowsmith have a tremendous lineup, but the Sprut reigns supreme due to it’s simple sessionable flavour and mild aftertaste.
Best Enjoyed: While dodging cars and electric bikes back to the outdoor patio at Mount Arrowsmith. Seriously… Who designed this place?
Chilly Bin: New Zealand Hazy IPA – White Sails Brewing (Nanaimo, BC)
Just learned what a “New Zealand IPA” is and so I shall share: It is an IPA which is usually a little less boozy, more hazy and incorporates American and New Zealand hops varieties to create a balance of fruity and resiny flavours. This one is all of that and a bit more with pronounced aromas of pineapple and mango, a big fizzy, almost coconut-like body and orange peel-goodbye. Very new and exciting stuff from my favourite brewery on the island!
Best Enjoyed: Watching the opening ceremonies of the May Grand Sumo Basho. Starts Mother’s Day!!!
33 Acres Of Nirvana IPA – 33 Acres Brewing (Vancouver, BC)
I definitely bought this one for the trippy, minimalist label, but found a whole lot to love inside. Piney, sticky sweet flavour punctuated by citrus and grapefruit notes, slightly bitter aftertaste and big sherry-like warmth. Definitely the most “traditional” West Coast style of IPA on this list, but one of the best of those I’ve had, so it hangs.
Best Enjoyed: Watching the sun set over the mountains while eating Lee’s Famous Chicken… True story.
Party Hat Mosiac Hazy IPA – Red Arrow Brewing (Duncan, BC)
Simple and accessible may be the first words that spring to mind for this beautiful Red Arrow brew, but it also has layers of citrus and stone fruit flavours and a mild, luxurious finish that really keeps the party going. Both a great entre into Hazy IPAs and a perfect beer to impress the snob in your life.
Best Enjoyed: Breathlessly following the Giant Bomb saga.
Ghost Town Hazy IPA – White Sails Brewing (Nanaimo, BC)
It has been a vert long time since a drink truly surprised me and re-defined what I thought about drinking and pleasure and taste and terrior, etc. The last time was probably that Ortega I had back on Quadra Island fifteen years ago… made me see music and smell colours. This beer, once again from the fine fanatics at my official favourite brewery has re-sequenced my palate to expect different input than the usual IPA fruit/pine/hops/bitter/done and invited a whole new spectrum (hops pun!) of flavours. It is soooooooooooo good. So freaking good! Passion fruit, mangos, apricots and plums hit you first then a very minimal bitter body arcs into a wild, electric ladyfinger goodbye. The best beer I’ve drank in years.
Best Enjoyed: Sharing with someone you know loves beer… watch the look on their face!