I'm intrigued by the notion of the public palate, the way in which "normal" people grow into and adopt new ideas, as opposed to the geekery into which most of us food and wine types fall because we're immersed in it every day.
Story that's not going away any time soon is the boom in craft breweries. It's one that appeals to me on several levels, from local artisans, sustainability and history, if you will, a definite maturing of the public palate.
A Fire up your time machine to flash back 20 years or so and you'll find that Canada's major brewers, smugly content in their stranglehold on a market dominated by bland homogeneity, paid little heed to the handful of smaller competitors starting up.
They were convinced that the Canadian drinker had little appetite for such as hops and malt, or serious flavour. Let alone adopt the notion that drinking less and better was an option.
Happily, times change. And there's no better measure of that than this cool celebration upcoming in August where a major Vancouver pub group is offering its patrons the chance to taste a different, freshly tapped IPA every day.
Thirty Days of IPA is the brainchild of Trevor Kallies, beverage director at Donnelly Group, which will tap a new keg every day throughout August at one of its 10 draught locations. Of note is the fact they've chosen to go with IPA, an assertive, usually quite hoppy style that's gained tremendous popularity in the last few years.
Kallies says it was the success of events such as Vancouver Craft Beer Week that convinced him to get on the phone with producers and see what he could find. The result is a wide array of IPAs from here and abroad (Portland, for example) poured at pretty appealing prices. Plans are also being finalized for an IPA Finale, Aug. 31. More info at: donnellygroup.ca.
Keeping it local in the spirit of B.C. Day, here's a grab-bag of stellar drops that you might still have time to hunt down to celebrate where we're lucky enough to live in true style:
Nk'Mip Pinot Noir 2012: Up-front cherry and herbal notes, followed by plush red berry and a touch of spice wrapped in easy tannins. Think barbecued sockeye (BCLS $21.99, 90 points).
Lake Breeze Seven Poplars Sauvignon Blanc 2013: Very varietally correct and appealing, with lifted citrus aromas followed by a crisp, clean grapefruit-toned palate. Think chilled chicken or cracked Dungeness crab (VQA stores $22, 90 points).
Wild Goose Autumn Gold 2013: This remains a perennially popular, easy drinking, off dry blend (one-third each Gewurz, Riesling and Pinot Blanc) and arguably one of the worthiest in the valley. Plenty of mouthfeel, with apple and pear notes with appealing fruitiness but just enough acidity to keep it interesting. Try with lightly spiced honey mussels or just on its own ($19 -$20, 89 points).
Tinhorn Creek Gewurztraminer 2013: Look for that classic varietal rose petal, with tropical and peach tones, with a lively freshness and juicy acidity: Barbecued leg of pork with apple sauce? Why not? (Everything Wine $18.99, 90 points).
Road 13 Syrah Mourvedre 2012: A well-balanced wine from one of the valley's best blenders. Up-front, vibrant black fruit with a well-structured and superbly balanced palate of cassis and mocha notes with silky tannins and generous mouthfeel ($35 PWS, 91 points).
Tim Pawsey writes about wine for numerous publications and online as the Hired Belly at hiredbelly.com. Contact: [email protected].
