Caitlynn's Picks

6th Sense Syrah

2011-09-16T16:16:00.000-07:00

What can I say but I think i am in love!!!

This delicious Syrah from the Lodi, has to be one of my favorite wines currently to come out of California. With its aromas of black olives, hints of tobacco and bacon...yes bacon and who doesn't love bacon! Then your hit with this decadent plethora of fruit, black cherry, blueberry, blackberry and plums come to mind.

Then there is this fruit explosion when it hits your tastebuds, its like digging into a fruit filled cobbler, blackberry, black cherry and notes of vanilla.
The mouth feel is velvety and delectable and finishes with the typical syrah pepper.

This Navigation will lead you in the right direction

2010-12-03T14:28:00.000-08:00

This limited release from Lighthouse Brewing, is the second 650ml release by them and is a fantastic follow up to the Shipwrecked Ipa. This traditionally strong dark lager is perfect for the beer lover in your life this Christmas. Make sure you come in this weekend to get it will it lasts!

We're All Fat Cats Here!

2010-05-12T09:47:00.000-07:00

In our quest to keep the aisles here filled with the finest local and not-so-local malted products, we paid a visit up-island to the lucky metropolis of Nanaimo and found this yummy stuff!

Here's what they have to say about their beer:

Fat Cat Brewery uses no additives, ever. No sugar, no pre-gelatinized rice, no pre-gelatinized corn, no cornstarch, no molasses, no seaweed, no synthetic clarifiers, etc. Just Nanaimo water which happens to be just perfect for brewing beer, hops, malt and yeast, all made from scratch.

Our brew house is very “hands” on, no push buttons to this brewery. Our beer is not pasteurized so we cold micro filter our bottled beers. By doing this it helps extend shelf life. Fat Cat Brewery Beers are listed on the official Vegan list too.

Thanks for keeping the seaweed out, guys! (And I hope you got your fabulous Nanaimo water from west of the city and not to the east....)

There's lots more information on their website; we're bringing in their IPA, Honey, Black & Tan, Porter -- and for the adventurous among you, their "Old Bad Cat Barley Wine": 11.5% alcohol, and conditioned in oak bourbon barrels. (The labels of this last one are dated with the year of production as well, so it's plain that they expect it to age gracefully!)

Welcome to Spiritmerchants, Fat Cat! Is this a great island or what?!

Coming Soon: New brews from Upright Brewing

2010-04-30T11:00:00.000-07:00

Here's a heads-up on a new product that's in the pipeline right now but we hope will be in the store in no time flat -- Four new brews from Upright Brewing in Portland, Oregon! Here's what they have to say about themselves:

Upright Brewing specializes in farmhouse inspired beers rooted in France and Belgium but made with local ingredients and a Pacific Northwest twist. The name is a reference to Charles Mingus and his primary instrument, a musician whose compositions defy categorization. At Upright we use a special saison yeast and open fermenters to produce beers that are a true hybrid style, sharing Mingus’ spirit of exercising creativity and craft.

For a start, we'll be bringing in their "Sesame Street" group of products -- beers named Four, Five, Six, and Seven; all cleverly named after their approximate alcohol levels. It's time for us all to learn to count!

Phillips Double Barrel is Back!

2010-04-23T10:28:00.000-07:00

By now, we all know the secret of Phillips' Brewery's success: Take a great idea that's already out there; jack up whatever makes it great by about 50%; sell it at a reasonable price; repeat.

In this case the great idea is Innis and Gunn oak-aged beer from Scotland. Last year Phillips took a run at it, and the result was pretty good, but almost over-the-top in its oaky enthusiasm. This year, they've perfected the mix and the result is everything an Innis & Gunn fancier could want! We've got 16 cases of this limited release -- get 'em while they're cold!

New Brews from Russell Brewery!

2010-04-18T10:27:00.000-07:00

The label may look like it was designed by Goth Bikers, but it's what's inside the the bottle that counts! Rich, dark and bitter and yummy -- and I'm not looking in the mirror! We've just brought in four new beers from Russell Brewing -- try them all!

It's Here! Howe Sound Three Beavers!

2010-02-03T11:23:00.001-08:00

We've got about 100 liters for a start -- here's what the Vancouver Sun had to say a couple of days back:

VANCOUVER — They're cute furry Canadian icons proudly sporting gold, silver and bronze medals on a podium made of tree stumps.

They look like medal winners at some kind of wildlife hinterland Olympics but the Three Beavers are actually a clever marketing image behind today's launch of a new beer from Squamish-based Howe Sound Brewing.

The microbrewery is not an official Olympic sponsor like Molson but the timing of its latest product — just three weeks before the 2010 Olympics — is clearly no accident.

“We really wanted to celebrate Canada during the Olympics and we figured telling a tale about beavers in Canada was a very Canadian thing to do,” brewery co-owner Leslie Fenn said in an interview.

The Three Beavers Imperial Red Ale label recounts the historical importance of beavers in Canada and notes the brewery won gold, silver and bronze medals for its beers at the North American Brewers Association awards in 2007 and 2009.

Ambush marketing around the 2010 Olympics — where non-Olympic sponsors try to associate themselves with the Games — has increased recently but Fenn is confident the upstart brewery has broken no rules.

“We've been very careful not to mention the Olympics or anything like that,” she said. “I don't think we're supposed to use the term gold medal but we have won gold medals at the brewery awards so we shouldn't be expected to hide that fact.”

While Molson is the official 2010 Games brewing company, Budweiser — a sponsor of the U.S. Olympic team — will host Club Bud parties at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver on five nights during the Games.

Molson will no doubt monitor that situation closely to ensure Budweiser doesn't cross any Olympic marketing guidelines but Fenn doubts the Canadian brewing giant will have a problem with Howe Sound Brewing's latest product.

“We're not presenting ourselves as the Canadian beer of the Games,” she said. “We're just a small microbrewery.”

Fenn said its latest beaver-imaged brew will be promoted with street-oriented marketing featuring people in beaver suits who will show up soon around Vancouver, Squamish and Whistler.

But the only info you really need is all on the label: it's big; it's malty... and it's yummy!

The Hammer is Back!

2010-01-15T10:36:00.000-08:00

Spring? Who needs it?

Rated an 'A' by The Beer Advocate, Phillips Hammer Imperial Stout is back at Spiritmerchants again for another limited run! Here's what one of the BA critics had to say about the last batch:

This is a world class RIS that ages gracefully. Dark and thick, this is pure sexy chocolate and roasted coffee malts. I have had bigger and even better impys but this has to be one of the best BC beers ever. The case for Matt Philips as one of the best BC brewers can be made from this beer alone.

Who cares if it's raining outside, when you've got something like this in the fridge?

Elysian Night Owl Pumpkin Ale -- It's not just for Thanksgiving anymore!

2010-01-04T12:52:00.000-08:00

For all you brokenhearted souls out there who missed the batch of Pumpkin Ales we brought in at Thanksgiving and Halloween, we've just taken a midwinter delivery of Elysian Night Owl Pumpkin Ale! (Word has it that pumpkins grow year-round in Colorado, where this was brewed, but we haven't chased the source of that rumor down yet.)

New seasonals from Phillips!

2009-12-07T10:10:00.000-08:00

It's back -- and in full bottles, too!
Phillips Instigator's 2009 edition has just been released, to fill that yawning gap in the Phillips release schedule between the Dirty Squirrel and the Hammer Imperial Stout. 8.5% alcohol and stiff enough that you can stand a straw up in it, Instigator is just the thing for the cold snap we're going through right now -- curl up in front of the fire with one while you wait for BC hydro to come and get your heat up and running again!

For the even more adventurous, there's Phillips Deadhead Barley Wine -- an ale with 10% alcohol, and in their words, "as gentle as a log to the bow."

Both of these fine products will be available for only a short time, so don't hesitate -- the weather may turn warm again!

Blackstone Porter is back!

2009-11-04T13:18:00.000-08:00

It's been almost a year since we've carried this great offering from Victoria's Driftwood Brewery -- and they've been 11 tough months! This time, Driftwood has sworn on a stack of Brewer's Guardian that this time they're going to keep it on our shelves a little longer; maybe for the entire winter season. For more details than you'll ever need to know, take a peek here! Otherwise, take a peek on our shelves just about any time after Nov. 6th!

The Hermannator is Back!

2009-10-26T15:12:00.000-07:00

It must be that time of year again! Vancouver Island Breweries has entrusted us with about a hundred and fifty precious six-packs of their staggeringly good (snicker!) once-a-year ice bock!

This year's version meets the potent standards set by last year's brew -- full-bodied and complex, with a whopping 9.5% alcohol seamlessly integrated into the mix -- the one beer to have when you're having only one!

Easter Seals Drop Zone -- Still time to donate!

2009-09-16T11:02:00.000-07:00

* Not exactly as illustrated

Spiritmerchants' Heroic Duo -- Caitlynn Crawford and Maria Natalia Perri -- will rappel down the face of Victoria's CIBC building to raise donations for Easter Seals on September 17th! It's never too late to donate! Come in to Spiritmerchants at Vic West, goggle at the Courageous Two, and make a donation!

It's Here: Phillips Crazy 8's!

2009-09-11T11:04:00.000-07:00

You think you're crazy? Phillips Brewing Company is celebrating it's eighth anniversary in business with with "annu-ale" (their phrase, not mine) number eight: Phillips Crazy 8s -- 8% alcohol and 100% fabulous.

The idea is that with each passing year, they'll bring out a celebratory beer that's 1% higher in alcohol than the beer from the year before. Style will evolve with alcohol content; pretty soon it's going to be a fortified malt product! Stick around for the 50th anniversary and we'll all learn something!

10% Off Craft Beer Products with Beerfest Spinnakers Coupon!

2009-09-09T11:23:00.000-07:00

Save that Beerfest program! On the back of it you'll find coupons for a host of Spinnakers products -- including as the jewel in the crown, a coupon worth 10% off any craft beers purchased before October 31st at either our James Bay or Vic West Spiritmerchants stores!

Last Chance for Phillips Gentleman Jim's!

2009-09-09T10:36:00.000-07:00

Our already-limited supply of this glorious Phillips one-shot is getting down to the bendin' end -- we've got only about 5 cases left and they're fading fast! Here's what the brewery had to say about it:

This copper ale will hit you with a few flavourful jabs of ginger before walloping you with the full spectrum of taste. This new seasonal is named after legendary prizefighter Gentleman Jim Corbett who changed boxing from a primitive pursuit into the scientific sport it is today. Like Gentleman Jim, this fiery ale is not a heavy puncher, however it can still put you down for the count, but will graciously shake your hand when you come to.

Who am I to argue with eloquence like that? Gome and get it before it's gone!

Gone out; back soon....

2009-09-06T11:01:00.001-07:00

Stay tuned -- We'll be back up with a host of new products in a day or two!

Coming to Spiritmerchants: Phillips Double Barrel!

2009-04-22T13:33:00.000-07:00

Mark Tuesday the 28th of April with a big X on your calendar, because that's when Phillips delivers its first few dozen boxes of their newest to Spirit-merchants: Phillips Double Barrel!

Innis and Gunn fanciers take note---this is another case of Phillips doing what they do best: taking a great idea and running with it. Double Barrel is just that, a beer aged first in bourbon barrels; then in wine barrels from the Okanagan.

We're looking forward to our first bottle; we know you will be too!

April 3: Jacob's Creek tasting at Spiritmerchants Vic West!

2009-03-24T11:43:00.000-07:00

(Not exactly as illustrated.)

Spiritmerchants presents an encounter with the many and varied wines of Australia's Jacobs Creek winery!

We'll be pouring between 3:30 and 7:30 PM on April 3rd---see you then!

Joie and Bliss!

2009-03-24T10:35:00.000-07:00

The first of this years release from JoieFarm Wines arrives at Spiritmerchants this week! Need we say more?

Well, we will---whether we need to or not! Joie's are among the most popular whites and rosés we've ever carried at Spiritmerchants, and we're bringing in a full complement this year. Their Noble Blend and Reisling especially stand out this vintage, although there's not a weak link in the Joie chain We're just blissed-out to have them back in the store---for as long as they last!

March 12, 13 and 17th Tastings at Spiritmerchants Vic West!

2009-03-01T10:01:00.001-08:00

March 12th from 3:30 to 6:30 PM, the hop-heads from Russell Brewing will get their product poured for the multitudes at Vic West. Russell produces Russell Cream Ale, Pale Ale, Honey Blonde Ale, Extra Special Lager, Lemon Wheat Ale, Winter Porter and Lions Lager---and anyone just off the train from Winnipeg will immediately recognize Russell as the sister operation of their renowned Fort Garry Brewery.
March 13th, it'll be Tinhorn Creek's turn in the spotlight---we'll be pouring an exhaustive (and exhausting) selection of their wares between 3:00 and 6:00 PM

St Patrick's Day, March 17th, sees a four hour marathon pouring of Jameson's Irish Whiskey at Vic West! Better than Single Malt? We'll let you decide!

Marley Farm Kiwi Solera ---Fruit Wine was Never Like This!

2009-02-26T11:28:00.000-08:00

We'd never tasted anything like Marley Farm's Kiwi Solera before and neither will you! Made in a solera fashion like sherry (that is, with bits of previous years' vintages finding their way into the final mix), Marley's Kiwi has been going from strength to strength with each passing year, but this year they've reached a new plateau! Wonderful fruit backbone; crisp, perfectly balanced (and we mean perfect) acidity; (16.8%) alcohol in the sherry range... this is the perfect desert wine! (Its maker recommends it with spicy asian food and we agree---only provided you don't mind too much of a great thing!)

Burrowing Owl is Back!

2009-02-08T13:40:00.001-08:00

Finally, it's here again!

We've just received our allocation of Burrowing Owl 2006 Chardonnay and 2005 Meritage, and it's already flying off the shelves! Here's what its maker had to say about the Chard:

This wine displays classic stone-fruit aromas of white peach and white nectarine along with hints of orange blossom and rich toasted oak. The flavours continue onto the palate with the stonefruit and oak melding to transform the wine into a complex expression of Okanagan Chardonnay. Texturally, the wine is big and round in the mouth with a soft, viscous mouthfeel and a nutty, warm finish. Drink now through 2010.

And the Meritage:

Aromas of heady, smoky, mixtures of violets, cassis, blackberry, plums, vanilla, cloves, and toasty oak. On the palate, the wine is firm yet subtle, offering big, rich flavours, seamless texture and tremendous persistence of flavours.

Come and get yours while the gettin's good!

Kermode's fabulous fruit wines!

2009-01-21T10:41:00.000-08:00

They've won medals at the All-Canadian Wine Championships, but their website has about as much information on it as a tombstone. Somebody has to start promoting Dewdney, BC's Kermode Fruit Wines---so it might as well be me!

Kermode's Fritz and Bob Spreiszl are either content to let their wines speak for themselves, or are so busy expanding their portfolio and collecting their prizes they haven't time to let the world know how fabulous their product is.

All-Canadian Wine Championship winners:

Glacier Bear Apple Dry
Himilalayan Blackberry Port
Alpine Blueberry

Spiritmerchants carries a respectable whack of Kermode's ever-expanding line of products (Fritz and Bob have said in the past that they have ambitions to try and make wine from all 40 or so of BC's native wild berries, so we may have to buy some more shelving) and our patrons pay them the kind of compliment we take to heart: When they try them, they come back for more!

New from Driftwood Brewery!

2009-01-07T12:31:00.001-08:00

Two new beers from Victoria's Driftwood Brewery turned up on our doorstep this week!

Brewmeisters Jason Meyer and Kevin Hearsum have this to say about their new Blackstone Porter:
"With just enough dark malt to be black this Porter leans toward the dry side in its malt profile. The addition of a partial sour mash (not uncommon in pre-Industrial Revolution Porters) lends a subtle tartness to the bittersweet chocolate flavour that dominates."

Jason and Kevin recommend pairing it with oysters, smoked foods, cheese and chocolate; we'd suggest pairing it with a couch and a TV set playing either NFL playoffs or a good movie.

Old Cellar Dweller is made of even sterner stuff: At 12% alcohol, it's more of a barley wine than a mere Ale:

"Three times the malt bill and five times the hops of a normal strength beer, this Barleywine tests the limits of our brewhouse and our backs! But the real struggle is in getting this massive brew to completely ferment, a true test of our skill and the vigor of our yeast. Consisting of 98% Pale Malt (with a bag CaraMunch thrown in for color) and just one hop variety, Columbus, this beer showcases these two basic ingredients in their most concentrated state."

Jason and Kevin recommend pairing it with blue cheeses and nuts.

We say, treat it reverently!

Back from Phillips Brewery!

2009-01-06T12:00:00.000-08:00

Who cares if it's raining outside, when you've got something like this in the fridge?

News Flash---Bundy is Back!

2008-12-13T11:12:00.000-08:00

Demand has been huge; the phone has been ringing off the hook; but finally we got another ten cases of the Bundaberg back in the store---we're down to 99 bottles of Bundy in the wall as I write this. If one of the bottles should happen to fall, let it fall under your Christmas tree!

Finally---New Amsterdam is here!

2008-12-07T10:52:00.000-08:00

Remember How I rhapsodized in this space a while ago about a Gin interesting enough that you could make martinis without the vermouth? Well, here's another one! Fabulous flavour and a modest price make New Amsterdam unbeatable---pass the olives!

"The Sortilege is back" is back!

2008-11-17T12:23:00.000-08:00

That didn't take long---we ran through the last of our ten cases of Sortilege this last weekend! But fear not, maple fanciers: 20 more cases will arrive this week, just in time for your Grey Cup party, your Hockey Night in Canada party, or your It's-Friday-Night-and-We're-Gonna-Eat- Pancakes party!

For those of you who blinked and missed the Phillips Crooked Tooth....

2008-11-03T11:43:00.000-08:00

It's coming back! In fack, it's here!! For a limited time only! Phillips Dirty Squirrel Hazelnut Brown is worth all the exclamation points we can throw at it!!

Renowned on Vancouver Island from coast to coast---and even farther afield---for its sweet hazelnut-and-chocolate flavor, Dirty Squirrel returns to Spiritmerchants for what may turn out to be the mere blink of an eye---last year we had trouble keeping our patrons from unloading the truck themselves!

Just in from Bermuda---Gosling's Family Reserve Rum!

2008-10-24T09:23:00.000-07:00

Looking for a prestige gift for the rum-fancier on your list? Looking for a terrific bottle for yourself? Well, we've just taken delivery of a couple of cases of the nicest rum anybody here's seen in a month of Tuesdays---Gosling's Family Reserve! But don't take my word for it; have a look at what Bilgemunky.com has to say:

"To the nose, Gosling's Old Rum strikes of duality - cool light overtones counterbalanced with warm spicy undertones, along with a hint of plums beneath (a fruity, pleasant smell that I couldn't quite place, but once a neighbor identified it as plum, it was truly unmistakeable.)

"On the tongue, Gosling's Old is sweet and heavy. Like many fine rums, it carries as much sensation as flavor, tingling through the mouth and providing a surprisingly instant feeling of comfort to the throat and chest. It tastes of oak and aged fruit, while still clinging tightly to its core rum heritage.

"Gosling's Old is more refined and approachable than Gosling's Black Seal. But - unlike with so many other rums - this premium option doesn't reduce its market-level cousin's standing so much as it offers a refreshing alternative. I will continue to enjoy Gosling's Black Seal on a regular basis without pining for the technically superior Gosling's Old. Rather, Black Seal will continue on as a beloved staple in my rum collection for ordinary consumtion, while Gosling's Old will be untouched save for special occasions."

Who am I to argue with that? The line forms on the left.

Don't worry - the Crooked Tooth is coming back!

2008-10-22T13:21:00.000-07:00

Our first shipment of Phillips Crooked Tooth disappeared so quickly that it hardly had time to hit the floor! But don't despair---we're getting 10 more cases on October 30th! Be there early, or be there disappointed!

Now Playing at a Spiritmerchants store near you: Bundaberg Rum & Cola!

2008-10-16T10:34:00.000-07:00

It was bound to happen---Spiritmerchants' most requested rum, pre-packaged in its most popular final form! Available to even the most modest Australian since 1985, we've only just received a huge order of Bundaberg Rum & Cola, which we're offering up in either singles or 6-packs! A Spinnaker's exclusive!

Victoria Gin is here again!

2008-09-20T14:09:00.000-07:00

It's finally back! After months of our waiting by the window with a hurricane lamp, we can just catch sight of Winchester Cellars finally coming into view with a load of their fantastic, locally-made Victoria Gin!

Here's what its maker has to say about it: "Victoria Gin blends ten organic and wild botanicals, from juniper berries to rose petals, and balances the characteristic evergreen flavor of juniper with notes of citric, floral and spice"

Now, you may disagree as I do with the use of "floral" as a noun, but there's no disagreement about the quality of the product! But wait, there's more--- "Victoria Gin is distilled in small batches in a gleaming handmade wood-fired copper pot-still. Only the middle part of each run, the 'hearts', is saved for bottling. The result is an intensely-flavored spirit that is as full-bodied and complex as a fine single-malt whiskey."

I'm not sure I like the switch from singular to plural ("middle part" to "hearts") in that last bit, but once again, the quality of the product silences all complaint about its promotion! This is great stuff, and it's going to fly off the shelves now that it's here! Come and get it!

The Sortilege is Back!

2008-09-17T13:24:00.000-07:00

What more can I say about this delightful concoction of Canadian whisky and maple syrup?

This Spinnaker’s exclusive was brought to my attention a couple of years ago by a friend who had to fly home to Quebec to get his beloved Sortilege. With a little hard work we were able to get some into the store, but with word-of-mouth it didn’t take long for a fan base for this beautifully exotic beverage to develop, and the 10 cases we'd picked up didn't last long. Even non-whisky drinkers loved it, with its subtle aromas of vanilla and spice cake---and of course, whiskey and maple.

So months later, the wait is over and Sortilege is back in the store! But with only 10 cases coming in the time to jump on the bandwagon is now---it hasn’t even hit the floor yet and I already have a list of people waiting…. So hurry up and get some Maple Whisky today!