Nigel Kirk
@beerweab.bsky.social
Beer specialist, Prud'homme, Certified Cider Guide, anime and cozy gaming fan. Also: Wrestling and Hockey fan.
The head settled quicker than I could get my phone out, but tonight I'm enjoying Chapter 6, from Cabin Brewing. A Baltic Porter that's been aged in Maple Syrup barrels. Strong and tannic this delicious brew might be my Thanksgiving recommendation.
October 4, 2025 at 6:19 AM
The head settled quicker than I could get my phone out, but tonight I'm enjoying Chapter 6, from Cabin Brewing. A Baltic Porter that's been aged in Maple Syrup barrels. Strong and tannic this delicious brew might be my Thanksgiving recommendation.
Sometimes it's the small things in life that being me joy. Like putting this pic in the replies of all the people insisting Metallica should do the halftime show.
October 2, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Sometimes it's the small things in life that being me joy. Like putting this pic in the replies of all the people insisting Metallica should do the halftime show.
Last beer of the party I think. Hammer Pants West Coast IPA. As '88 tradition, it's got a lot of tropical flavors, but as a West Coast, it's also got the usual pine flavor, resin, and more. 4.8% ABV. Not too bitter. Just bitter enough. Crust forward malt.
August 23, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Last beer of the party I think. Hammer Pants West Coast IPA. As '88 tradition, it's got a lot of tropical flavors, but as a West Coast, it's also got the usual pine flavor, resin, and more. 4.8% ABV. Not too bitter. Just bitter enough. Crust forward malt.
Extra! Extra! Hazy IPA is a mix of pale malt and notes of hops going guava and then finishing with papaya and citrus fruit. Yum!
August 23, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Extra! Extra! Hazy IPA is a mix of pale malt and notes of hops going guava and then finishing with papaya and citrus fruit. Yum!
Blue Raspberry definitely is a little more Lactic forward. Thankfully, we feast as much with our eyes as we do with our tongues. Compared to other North American fruited sours, this one definitely tastes like a beer still.
August 23, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Blue Raspberry definitely is a little more Lactic forward. Thankfully, we feast as much with our eyes as we do with our tongues. Compared to other North American fruited sours, this one definitely tastes like a beer still.
Mm.. peach forward for sure. A bit tart, which is to be expected from a fruited sour. I wasn't a fan of the basic Duotang, since it was an unflavored sour. It definitely needed fruit and it works! 5% ABV
August 23, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Mm.. peach forward for sure. A bit tart, which is to be expected from a fruited sour. I wasn't a fan of the basic Duotang, since it was an unflavored sour. It definitely needed fruit and it works! 5% ABV
Flight #2: Peach Duotang, Blue Raspberry Duotang, and Extra Extra DHIPA.
August 23, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Flight #2: Peach Duotang, Blue Raspberry Duotang, and Extra Extra DHIPA.
Testarossa. Surprisingly smooth. Not as "malty" as many other darker lagers. Hints of Umami - possibly soy sauce, kind of like an English bitter, but less hoppy.
August 23, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Testarossa. Surprisingly smooth. Not as "malty" as many other darker lagers. Hints of Umami - possibly soy sauce, kind of like an English bitter, but less hoppy.
Next up: SPF '88. Very tropical and Juicy. 6.5% ABV. Pineapple leads the way, followed by coconut balanced with other tropical citrus fruit. All with crumb malt, taking a back seat to let the hops do all the talking.
August 23, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Next up: SPF '88. Very tropical and Juicy. 6.5% ABV. Pineapple leads the way, followed by coconut balanced with other tropical citrus fruit. All with crumb malt, taking a back seat to let the hops do all the talking.
The Stout is pretty dry, with a more chocolate forward malt. Hops are a bit resinous, and just a little flowery. A hint on the bitter side for the style, but it works!
August 23, 2025 at 7:29 PM
The Stout is pretty dry, with a more chocolate forward malt. Hops are a bit resinous, and just a little flowery. A hint on the bitter side for the style, but it works!
From left to right at Eighty-Eight Brewing: Side Track Nitro Stout, SPF '88 Pineapple Coconut Hazy, Testarossa Amber Lager. All brews I've yet to try.
Eighty-Eight is known for their hazies, but they do have a bit of everything on the menu.
Eighty-Eight is known for their hazies, but they do have a bit of everything on the menu.
August 23, 2025 at 7:24 PM
From left to right at Eighty-Eight Brewing: Side Track Nitro Stout, SPF '88 Pineapple Coconut Hazy, Testarossa Amber Lager. All brews I've yet to try.
Eighty-Eight is known for their hazies, but they do have a bit of everything on the menu.
Eighty-Eight is known for their hazies, but they do have a bit of everything on the menu.
Eighty Eight Brewing is holding its 7th Anniversary bash today? And today is my 41st birthday?
a cartoon character is smiling with the words oh yeah it 's all coming together below him
Alt: a cartoon character is smiling with the words oh yeah it 's all coming together below him
media.tenor.com
August 23, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Eighty Eight Brewing is holding its 7th Anniversary bash today? And today is my 41st birthday?
July 17, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Was in Inglewood to visit the old Calgary Brewery site. Decided to drop in at Cold Garden for a visit!
June 30, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Was in Inglewood to visit the old Calgary Brewery site. Decided to drop in at Cold Garden for a visit!
The best part of beer? The stories. I'll be like "I want to write an article about Canadian Prohibition" and two days of research later I'm like "So A.E. Cross brought barley to Alberta and encouraged farmers to grow it by promising to pay more than 25% its value!"
June 30, 2025 at 7:26 AM
The best part of beer? The stories. I'll be like "I want to write an article about Canadian Prohibition" and two days of research later I'm like "So A.E. Cross brought barley to Alberta and encouraged farmers to grow it by promising to pay more than 25% its value!"
So, I hit another Milestone today. In addition to WSET Beer I, ACA Certified Cider Guide, and Prud'homme 1, I passed my Certified Beer Server exam! The first step to becoming a Cicerone!
Gotta hit the books and take some classes!
Gotta hit the books and take some classes!
May 31, 2025 at 4:56 AM
So, I hit another Milestone today. In addition to WSET Beer I, ACA Certified Cider Guide, and Prud'homme 1, I passed my Certified Beer Server exam! The first step to becoming a Cicerone!
Gotta hit the books and take some classes!
Gotta hit the books and take some classes!
Radler fans rejoice! Annex Brewing has the best Grapefruit Radler I've ever tried!
#AlbertaBeerFests
#CalgaryBeerFestival
#AlbertaBeerFests
#CalgaryBeerFestival
May 3, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Radler fans rejoice! Annex Brewing has the best Grapefruit Radler I've ever tried!
#AlbertaBeerFests
#CalgaryBeerFestival
#AlbertaBeerFests
#CalgaryBeerFestival
Did my duty today! #CanadaVotes #elxn2025
April 28, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Did my duty today! #CanadaVotes #elxn2025
Now I'm at Establishment Brewing. All these breweries are all so close to each other in Calgary. "Take a Slice" uses wild yeast, which in Alberta, tends to give it a Hefeweizen taste. Very delicious if you're into that kind of thing.
March 29, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Now I'm at Establishment Brewing. All these breweries are all so close to each other in Calgary. "Take a Slice" uses wild yeast, which in Alberta, tends to give it a Hefeweizen taste. Very delicious if you're into that kind of thing.
Annex Brewery's "minor force" NEIPA does an amazing job of replicating their "Force Majeure" NEIPA.
If you're looking for something hazy and hoppy, but more sessionable and crushable, this is recommended, though it is a seasonable.
If you're looking for something hazy and hoppy, but more sessionable and crushable, this is recommended, though it is a seasonable.
March 29, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Annex Brewery's "minor force" NEIPA does an amazing job of replicating their "Force Majeure" NEIPA.
If you're looking for something hazy and hoppy, but more sessionable and crushable, this is recommended, though it is a seasonable.
If you're looking for something hazy and hoppy, but more sessionable and crushable, this is recommended, though it is a seasonable.
Now I'm at Annex brewing, one of my favorite breweries here in Calgary. Their bitter has an amazing taste. A little umami, bit lets the barley and hops speak for themselves. I recommend Minor Force and Nothing Ordinary.
March 29, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Now I'm at Annex brewing, one of my favorite breweries here in Calgary. Their bitter has an amazing taste. A little umami, bit lets the barley and hops speak for themselves. I recommend Minor Force and Nothing Ordinary.
Some more ciders from Uncommon Cider! With this flight I've tried everything on tap! The dry is a low Tannin, medium-low acid cider, notes of white grape. Sweetwood Mac is not overly sweet, a near-natural sweetness. All about the apple choice... 1/2
March 28, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Some more ciders from Uncommon Cider! With this flight I've tried everything on tap! The dry is a low Tannin, medium-low acid cider, notes of white grape. Sweetwood Mac is not overly sweet, a near-natural sweetness. All about the apple choice... 1/2
Currently, I'm at Uncommon Cider in Calgary, trying a glass of Apple Pie, a spiced cider perfect for today's gloomy weather. Low Tannin, medium-dry, low acid. Delicious!
And the place is so pink! I love it!
And the place is so pink! I love it!
March 28, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Currently, I'm at Uncommon Cider in Calgary, trying a glass of Apple Pie, a spiced cider perfect for today's gloomy weather. Low Tannin, medium-dry, low acid. Delicious!
And the place is so pink! I love it!
And the place is so pink! I love it!
While I'm not a Bud Light kind of guy, I'm glad that Scott Moe has removed Budweiser and Bud Light from his banned list, since Bud sold in Canada is brewed in Canada. On top of that, Bud Light's parent company AB-InBev is Belgian. It's just the original brewery that's American, and an office.
March 25, 2025 at 6:25 AM
While I'm not a Bud Light kind of guy, I'm glad that Scott Moe has removed Budweiser and Bud Light from his banned list, since Bud sold in Canada is brewed in Canada. On top of that, Bud Light's parent company AB-InBev is Belgian. It's just the original brewery that's American, and an office.
Tonight's #CraftBeer is Southern Aspect, from Banded Peak Brewing! 7.1 ABV, 70 IBU, WCIPA. Bread Crust malt with some pine, grass, and some citrus flavors, plus some tropical aromas.
The malt has a slight hint of sweetness to it as well to balance the bitterness, which is nice.
The malt has a slight hint of sweetness to it as well to balance the bitterness, which is nice.
March 24, 2025 at 4:06 AM
Tonight's #CraftBeer is Southern Aspect, from Banded Peak Brewing! 7.1 ABV, 70 IBU, WCIPA. Bread Crust malt with some pine, grass, and some citrus flavors, plus some tropical aromas.
The malt has a slight hint of sweetness to it as well to balance the bitterness, which is nice.
The malt has a slight hint of sweetness to it as well to balance the bitterness, which is nice.