OUR LOCAL CRAFT brings you the essential deets of craft beer brewed in BC.聽 The art of craft brewing is one that relies on creativity, quality ingredients, and industrious people who have a passion for great beer.聽 So raise a glass to the beer 鈥榬ound here and get to know BC鈥檚 brewing community.
The Beer:聽Birra Fresca Cucumber Mint IPA, limited release 鈥� Made with the same base as their Hoppelganger IPA, this beer is a mild 6% alcohol and 50 IUBs (International Bitterness Units).
This IPA is made with 5 types of hops, but what your taste buds will really notice is the refreshing taste of 200 organic cucumbers and a half dozen bunches of mint included in each batch for an incredibly imaginative flavour combination.聽 The name is a take on agua fresca (fresh water), sweetened and flavored water popular in Latin countries.
The Brewery:聽 R & B Brewing Co.
R & B Brewing Co. is one of Vancouver鈥檚 very first craft breweries, opening way back in 1997, when the craft beer market in 麻豆传媒映画was all but nonexistent.聽 R & B has expanded over the years, but they鈥檙e committed to the craft of brewing on a smaller scale and prefer to grow at a modest rate.聽 We chose to feature Birra Fresca Cucumber Mint IPA because it鈥檚 the most unique beer R & B brews.
The People:聽 Friends and partners Rick Dellow (pictured) and Barry Benson (R & B).
The Pairing:聽 Rick suggests balancing Birra Fresca Cucumber Mint IPA with food that鈥檚 intensely flavourful, 鈥淚ndian food is a great match鈥�, he says.
The Locations:聽聽R & B鈥檚 product is available at BC Liquor Stores and some .
While you鈥檒l undoubtedly find a selection at any of the above places, if you鈥檙e specifically looking to try their Birra Fresca Cucumber Mint IPA, call ahead 鈥� they鈥檝e sending out their final batch of the season this month, and after that you鈥檒l have to wait till summer 2014.
Fun Fact:聽Rick is a proud business owner who remembers fondly how he got his start. 鈥淲e sold our first cask to Liz at the Funky Armadillo Caf茅 in Kits on September 28th 1997鈥�, he says with a sentimental smile.聽 You can鈥檛 help but to root for people like this.
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