Local Flavour

Saturday, November 6, 2021 4 LOCAL FLAVOUR A MANITOBA FOODIE'S GUIDE TO DELICIOUS DISHES ÍSA FISH AND CHIPS WITH DRAGON'S BANE FRESH HOP DOUBLE IPA House tempura-ba ered haddock, pickled red onion and fries. Dragon's Bane Fresh Hopped Double IPA 7.8% ABV 100 IBU Brewed with fresh grown-in-Manitoba hops, this beer puts the citrus and resinous flavours of hops at the forefront, all built on a spicy, slightly sweet malt backbone. Brewers Jeremy Wells and Joshua Hodges personally picked the hops locally and brewed this huge 100 IBU Double IPA. Its massive hop flavours, big ABV and deep malt flavours make this a treat no Hop Head should miss. It really should become a flagship, it's so good. BABANG SHRIMP WITH STEEL CUT BLONDE ALE Crispy shrimp, chili lime aioli. sesame — this is a fan favourite! Available as a vegan option as well. Steel Cut Blonde 4.5% ABV 18 IBU Brewed with Canadian oats, this blonde ale is approachable and smooth, with flavours of sweet grain and subtle honey notes. Aromatic qualities of malt and subtle citrus make this beer a lovely drink that is the perfect gateway to the big world of craft beer, or for just watching the game with your clan. Named for the hearty oats that give this beer a smooth body, this beer will give you the strength to take on any challenges that lay ahead, while not slowing you down. Just be sure to wield your steel carefully! BY JENNIFER MCFEE I f you're a true zythophile, or a beer- lover, you don't have to search far to discover great local brews. Brazen Hall Kitchen and Brewery flowed from the vision of president Kristján Kristjánsson, along with managing partner Kris Kopansky and head brewer Jeremy Wells. In 2017, the bustling business launched on Pembina Highway at the former site of the iconic Round Table Restaurant, which Kristjánsson's father Thrainn had opened and operated. Two years later, the brewery expanded and Brazen Brewing Co. was born. Assistant brewer Joshua Hodges joined the team in 2020. With a focus on a small portfolio of core products, Brazen Hall strives to use high- quality local ingredients, including prairie hops and grains. They've added a canning line, and their products are now available in local restaurants, vendors and Liquor Marts. Popular picks include a standard ale called Steel Cut Blonde, as well as an Amber Ale with its slightly roasted nutty chocolate character. They also recently teamed up with Chris Hiebert from Quality Inn Craft Beer Store to create Berry Berzerker, an imperial sour ale augmented with saskatoons and blackberries. As well, a fresh hop ale called Dragon's Bane features hops picked locally by the brewers. Another top choice is Haze Bomb!, a pale ale introduced at IG Field at the Blue Bombers' home opener on Aug. 5 and now available at many Liquor Marts and select beer vendors. "We are huge Bomber fans. We have season tickets, we host the players regularly, we fly the flag and we play the games inside. When we heard that the Bombers were negotiating a new beer contract with Molson, we reached out to the Bomber group and asked to be a part of any potential local brewery discussion. There was a lot of back and forth and deep conversations, but we are very happy to have won the contract alongside Trans Canada Brewing," Kristjánsson says. "It was beyond time for Manitoba to have local craft beer available at large sporting events. Hopefully it can only get bigger. In Manitoba, we have over 13 local breweries pumping out some great brews. The Bomber crew also loved our burgers so much they asked us to create one called the Brazen Butter Burger for the stadium, which is a massive hit." Offering another option at Bombers' games, Trans Canada Brewing Company beer is now also available for purchase. "It has been a lot of fun being a part of people's experience at IG Field this season," says marketing lead Anya Nazeravich. "Nothing goes better with football than a nice cold beer. This has been an awesome experience for us and it's great to see that the fans are able to enjoy local craft beer at a great local event." "In Manitoba, we have over 13 local breweries pumping out some great brews." Chef José Noboa of Brazen Hall Kitchen and Brewery Photos by Darcy Finley CHEERS TO MANITOBA BREWERIES CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 - Brazen Hall president Kristján Kristjánsson

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