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This article was published 14/08/2021 (1855 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba Olympians aren’t the only ones who have brought home medals this summer — a pair of local drinks producers also have new additions to their trophy cases following wins in national and international competitions.

Shrugging Doctor Beverage Co. nabbed a double gold medal at the 2021 All Canadian Wine Championships, held in Ontario’s Prince Edward County in mid-July, for its apple cinnamon mead. Made from Manitoba honey, crushed apples and cinnamon, the mead was the lone Manitoba winner in the competition, which featured more than 1,300 entries from 217 Canadian wineries.

The apple cinnamon mead was one of five double gold medals in the mead category, essentially meaning they were the best in the category. The top red wine was the Dark Horse Vineyard red Meritage blend from B.C., while fellow Okanagan Valley producer Wild Goose took the top white wine spot with their Gewürztraminer.

Shrugging Doctor’s apple cinnamon mead is available for $16.49 per 750ml bottle at Liquor Marts and via their Brooklyn St. production facility.

Winkler’s Dead Horse Cider Co., meanwhile, nabbed a couple of top medals at the 2021 Great Lakes International Cider and Perry Competition (GLINTCAP), one of the largest competitions of its kind in North America. The competition, held in late July in Grand Rapids, Mich., saw more than 1,500 entries of commercial and non-commercial (homebrewed) cider entered in the competition.

Dead Horse’s Life is Rosé took best in class gold for rosé ciders — tops in that particular category — while its Cherry On was one of 30 gold medal winners in the fruit cider category. Cherry On is available from the cidery as well as from Liquor Marts, private wine stores and select beer vendors for $3.98/355ml can or in a mixed four-pack. The Life is Rosé is $19.99 for a 750ml bottle and is available from the cidery only. But if you can’t make it to Winkler, don’t fret — both Dead Horse and Shrugging Doctor can often be found at farmers markets throughout the province. Check the producers’ or farmers’ market websites for details.

 

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Beers of the week

Six new local brews tried this week — three sours and three made in more classic styles…

Oxus Brewing Co. Icarus Dry Hopped Sour Ale ($4.30/473ml cans, brewery, Liquor Marts, beer vendors)

One of three variations on Oxus’ Icarus label — the other two are a Creamsicle sour ale and a raspberry sour ale — this pale gold and clear brew is “generously dry hopped with Galaxy hops.” There’s certainly a tart, almost peachy aroma that arrives with some herbal and salty notes in tow. On the palate it’s dry and racy, with mouth-watering acidity that ramps up big lemon, lime and peach candy flavours without sweetness but rather with a slight salty and modest bitter note. A good warm-weather sour whose vibrancy will wake up your palate. Five per cent alcohol. 3.5/5

Sookram’s Brewing Co. Hawaiian Cosmos Fruit Sour ($4.75/473ml cans, brewery, select beer vendors)

The popular Cosmos dry-hopped sour from Sookram’s has been infused with passionfruit, guava and blood orange for this variation. It’s pale gold in appearance and hazy, with ripe orange, grapefruit and tropical fruit aromas and a hint of bitterness that’s attractive. The citrus notes flesh out in a big way on the light-bodied palate, but things never get sweet, and the vibrant acidity keeps the fruit notes juicy and exciting. A delicious riff (played on a ukulele, perhaps) on a local favourite. Five per cent alcohol. 4.5/5

Trans Canada Brewing Co. County Sour Series Cherry Sour ($4.24/473ml cans, brewery, Liquor Marts, beer vendors)

Pale copper-red and slightly hazy in colour with an off-white head, this brew offers all manner of sour/dried cherry aromas that come with the wheat and subtle malt notes. It’s mainly dry and light-plus bodied, with loads of cherry flavours (think slightly dried cherries, maraschino cherries, etc.), hints of wheat and raspberry notes, modest acidity and, despite just 4.3 per cent alcohol, a fairly lengthy finish. Nice on its own, and intriguing to imagine what kinds of beer cocktails one could dream up here. 3.5/5

Stone Angel Brewing Co. Bruxelles Witbier ($3.99/473ml can, brewery, select beer vendors)

This Belgian-style wheat beer, pale gold and hazy in appearance, is brewed up with a touch of coriander. The herbal note is apparent on the nose, and is well-balanced with bread dough, clove and banana candy aromas. It’s mainly dry and light-plus bodied, with the bread dough, coriander and fresh malt notes showing well and the slightest peppery hint underneath it all. At 4.5 per cent alcohol, it’s right where you want a summer wheat beer to be. 4/5

Dastardly Villain Nefarious Plan “A” ($3.50/473ml, Torque, select beer vendors/Liquor Marts to come)

Brewed at Torque until Dastardly Villain can get its South Osborne nanobrewery up and running in early 2022, this “dry hopped yellow ale” is pale gold in colour and clear, with fresh malt/grainy aromas, a subtle toasted nut note and just the slightest bit of cracked corn. On the medium-bodied palate there’s a richness here that doesn’t overpower, but rather works to bring the fresh malt notes to the forefront before a long, grainy finish (it’s five per cent alcohol). A solid start here — fans of cream ales and other straightforward ales will find lots to like here. 3.5/5

Good Neighbour Brewing Co. Hazy IPA ($4.50/473ml cans, Oxus, Liquor Marts, beer vendors)

Medium straw in colour and (no surprise) hazy, Good Neighbour’s IPA features Nelson Sauvin and Mosaic hops. Aromatically there’s a pronounced grassy, lime-like note here, with hints of tropical fruit and bell pepper that come with the malty notes. It’s dry and citrus-driven, with lemon/lime rind and subtle grassiness working well with the fresh malt and slightly yeasty note, modest bitterness and a slightly fruity, longer finish (it’s 5.8 per cent alcohol). A good gateway to the IPA-curious, and just plain delicious. Brewed at Oxus. 4.5/5

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