Brewing up fresh spins on old faves

“We’re going past the really strong taste for more round, full flavours,” he says. “We’ve had the hoppiest and the darkest, but now we’re going for what’s most balanced.”

For Ryan Parfitt, part owner and head brewer at Luppolo Brewing Co. (1123 Venables Street), which opened at the end of October, all things IPA round out the brewery’s list of most popular picks. Given that its name comes from the Italian word for hops, it makes sense.

“Our IPAS, including our regular and double IPA, are definitely our top sellers, next to our pale ale,” says Parfitt.

He says the hops used in both IPAS lend themselves to tropical and citrus notes, and like Nazarec and Lozano before him, Parfitt acknowledges that the style isn’t what it used to be.

“What’s interesting to me is how much the IPA has changed over the years. The popular ones over the last decade have been more bitter and more hoppy, where now, there’s a focus on low bitterness and hops that are more juicy,” he explains.

Without a doubt, Parfitt says this new “milkshake” IPA (also referred to as the East Coast or “muddy” IPA) will be the beer of 2017.

Inside Vancouver’s newest taproom, Andina Brewing Company (1507 Powell Street), head brewer Andrew Powers works with owners to develop uniquely South American takes on different styles.

Powers explains that, as at Strathcona and Faculty, one of Andina’s most popular brews is also its most distinct.

“Our Passion Fruit Black IPA is a favourite, and I think people seem to like it because it’s very different from any other beer using passion fruit. It’s a really sessionable beer,” he says. “We are bringing the passion fruit in from Colombia, and I found that it was a bit resinous, with some slight pine characteristics, so I thought it might pair nicely with something hoppier.”

On the way, Powers says he’s working on final batches of an orangeinfused seasonal that may end up as a Gose. He’s also looking at bringing on an imperial red, “for contrast, and to offer something on the other end of the spectrum”.

He thinks 2017 will likely see a continuation of the sour trend, but he’s also noticed that customers are taking a liking to anything crushable.

“People seem to be looking for more session ales, and they’re really excited when they find stuff that they can have multiple of,” he says. “I’m not sure if it’s a trend or part of the market, but it’s obvious that people want something they’ve never tried before.”

EATERY WITH LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

Various locations 1. FRANKIE’S ITALIAN KITCHEN & BAR (TIE)

765 Beatty St. 604-688-6368 2. Blue Martini Jazz Cafe 1516 Yew St. 604-428-2691 3. Guilt & Co. 1 Alexander St. 604-288-1704

NEW BREWERY 1. FACULTY BREWING CO.

1830 Ontario St. 778-819-6794 2. Luppolo Brewing Co. 1123 Venables St. 604-255-4997 3. The Parkside Brewery (tie) 2731 Murray St., Port Moody 604-492-2731 3. Strathcona Beer Company (tie) 895 East Hastings St. 778-379-9050