It's Here! Howe Sound Three Beavers!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

* 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!