When we started this blog we set out to learn a lot and have a good time, which we have done thus far.  It was also our hope to somehow achieve the level of celebrity that warrants free beer.  I think we are getting closer to meeting this goal.  This week we were contacted by the PR firm of Granville Island Brewing and invited to attend the launch of their recently released Brockton IPA.  This isn’t the first press release we have received, but is certainly the most applicable.  We are going to go to the launch on April 23rd and will definitely be writing a post about it.  What I find a tad funny about this launch party is that the Brockton IPA has been out for a solid two weeks now.  I picked up a six pack from Brewery Creek the day it came out in stores.  So technically the beer was already launched, but who doesn’t like a party?

Since I’ve already tasted Granville Island’s IPA, I can give you my thoughts on it.  I thought it tasted like their English Bay Pale Ale with extra hops. I really wondered if it was the same recipe with added grain, plus the extra hops.  It had the same vanilla taste (maybe imparted by their yeast strain?) that I associate with the other widely available Granville Island beers.  If you like Granville Island’s other beers and don’t mind the added hop bitterness, you’ll like the Brockton IPA.  If you are a serious IPA drinker, I doubt you’ll find this “finally a west coast IPA” anything special.  Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy this beer for what it is, but I’m not buying the marketing hooplah.  That doesn’t mean I think it won’t be widely successful, because I think Brockton IPA will be a big hit with Vancouverites.  Granville Island has done really well at positioning themselves as Vancouver’s beer, even though their main lineup is brewed in Kelowna.  Only their seasonals are actually brewed on Granville Island, and by a different brewer no less.  Apparently, the Brockton IPA recipe was taste tested by Vancouverites for Vancourverites before being put into production, a fact that will surely tickle the locals.

I really like it when breweries release new beers; it gives me something new to try and something to write about.  While I don’t think that the Brockton IPA is a truly special beer, I appreciate that Granville Island will be broadening the horizons of many macro swilling Vancouverites with a new craft beer offering, for many will find this new beer in their Minglers.

Cheers,

Chris