Life&Style.

Back to school beers Part II

By Laurel Borrowman,
Life & Style Editor

ongratulations! First
week is done, and
the worst part of

the year is over. Every day
and week that passes brings
you closer to the end of the
term, and a well-deserved
break. Until then, you have
somewhere between 13 and
16 weeks left until your
coveted December break. I
was there not long ago, and
while I know it’s not ideal,
it can be made easier. My
recommendation? Beer.
Last week, we
discussed four refreshing
and affordable beers to
take the edge off of the
back-to-school jitters, to
remind us that summer is
not over, and to encourage
folks to invest in your local
breweries instead of bowing
to the corporate a-holes.
This week, let’s talk
about India Pale Ales, or
IPAs. In light of the recent
trend of microbreweries
pushing these harder than
Budweiser pushes red
bikinis, it feels appropriate.
What's happening to
cause this spike? Last year
around this time, the only
reason most beer-drinkers
knew what an IPA was,
was because of Alexander
Keith. And have you tried
that stuff? It’s terrible. It
puts IPA to shame. Maybe
it’s more “accessible” (i.e.
watery and bland) to the
masses, but you must know
that IPA is so much more.
I’m sure the trend has
to do with microbreweries
being the black sheep of the
industry. For the number
of flavourless lagers and
pilsners out there, these
creative folks want to make
something strong, bold, and

different. A good IPA is all
of those things. It’s hoppy
as heck, it’s dark (usually
copper-red or brown),

and best of all, its alcohol
content is pretty high
(usually between six and
nine per cent).

When you feel like you
need a break from studying
equations, anatomy, or any
other subject this term for
that matter, scour your local
liquor store to brush up on
your knowledge of any of
these fine brews.

Bowen Island Artisan IPA:
Not only is it rad to buy this
purple-canned six pack for
the cheap-ass price of eight
to 10 dollars, it’s also local
and a great gateway IPA.

It’s got a medium hoppiness

to it, and the aftertaste is
only slightly bitter. The
alcohol content, at five and
a half per cent, is also not
so high that you can’t get
a few intro chapters out of
the way while having one
or two.

Philips Hop Circle IPA:
I’m not sure if it’s the pretty
label, the witty alien puns
in the beer’s ad copy, or the
fact that this is just a great
brew, but the Hop Circle

is hoppin’. This Victoria
brewery knows their stuff
and their popularity is
growing quickly around the
Lower Mainland, making

it easier to come by most

of their beers. Like many
IPAs, it’s hoppy, flavourful,
and slightly bitter. At six
and a half per cent, it won’t
eff you up badly, but first
timers, beware.

Spinnakers Blue Bridge
Double IPA: Another
Victoria brewery with their
IPA senses both in tact and
off the charts. This beer,

 

named after the soon-to-
be-replaced and infamous
Johnson Street Bridge in
Victoria on Vancouver
Island, is a heavyweight

at just over eight per cent
(read: don’t say I didn’t warn
you). You'll probably only
find this at select BCLs and
your local specialty beer and
wine proprietor, but when
you do, it’s totes worth it. At
about six dollars for a 650 ml
bottle, this beer is effective,
efficient, and delicious. It’s a
steal. Downfall: glass bottle.
No shotgunning these guys
during your first week, kids.

yea Ws

' 1 4 a 4 2 = “Lo

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oe
by A Sr aki

eas)

 

 

 

said they
did iton
the couch.

Do it your way.

Enrol anytime, complete your course
where and when you want and transfer

credits back to your on-campus program.

www.truopen.ca/yourway

Bren,

THOMPSON RIVERS UNIVERSITY

Flexible * Credible * Online and distance

 

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