Killer beer collaboration for coastal wildlife
Checking out Vancouver Island Brewing’s Pod Pack
Collaboration among independent breweries is nothing new. Working hand-in-hand with other brewers is at the core of the craft brewers heart. The communal aspect of this industry is often what draws people in. It’s impact frequently extends outside itself too. The microbrewery scene has undoubtedly made its mark on communities across BC, reshaping and even reviving whole neighbourhoods. When breweries band together for a cause they’re able to demonstrate that their value doesn’t reside solely within the craft beer community they call home.
An awesome example of breweries joining forces for a cause bigger than themselves is the ‘Pod Pack’. Back in July of this year, Vancouver Island Brewing released a special project in partnership with four island-based microbreweries—Île Sauvage Brewing (Victoria), Land & Sea Brewing Co. (Comox), Twin City Brewing Company (Port Alberni), and White Sails Brewing (Nanaimo). The Pod Pack is a collaborative mix pack that features four different beers; each brewed with a different brewery.
The goal of this project is to raise awareness of depleting wild BC salmon stocks and in turn help preserve coastal wildlife. $1 from each Pod Pack sold is donated to the Pacific Salmon Foundation to help preserve these salmon stocks which are essential to southern resident killer whales. For Vancouver Island Brewing, this project is strongly aligned with not only the location of their brewery but their brand as a whole (I mean, they have two orcas in their logo).
The Pod Pack packaging and label designs are some of the most unique work Luke and I have seen in BC craft beer as of late. It has to be a front-runner for both the best label design (can) and the best packaging design at the BC Beer Awards this coming weekend. Vancouver Island Brewing teamed up with 123w, a talented creative agency based in Vancouver, on the design.
For starters, each beer is named after an actual southern resident killer whale. Taking things one step further, the print on each can matches the unique saddle patch of that orca. Oh, and there’s an actual pop-out on the box that replicates an orca’s dorsal fin. How cool is that?! It’s hard not to appreciate the level of detail that went into the artwork here.
On to the beer details. Luke and I figured it was only right to crack open the Pod Pack oceanside, so we set up shop at a secluded beach in Kitsilano. Here’s what we through of Rainshadow, Mystic, Ocean Sun, and Deadhead.
VI Brewing x Twin City Brewing | Rainshadow Blackberry-Raspberry Sour (5.5%)
This tasty sour pours a memorizing ruby-red colour. The raspberry flavour leads while the blackberries play more of a supporting cast.
Acidity-wise, it’s quite mild which makes it very approachable and easy-drinking. This could be in part to the addition of oats that soften the beer’s texture. If you’re looking to dip your toes into the world of sour beers this is a great gateway option.
VI Brewing x Île Sauvage Brewing | Mystic Dry-Hopped Sour (5%)
Île Sauvage is known for making some amazing sours and wild ales, so this was a spot-on style choice for this collaboration. The dry-hopped sour pours a dark yellow/golden hue.
Mystic has a nice tang to it, but isn’t overly tart. The finish is quite dry; almost champagne-like, with notes of grapefruit. Overall, a crushable, no nonsense sour. Time to start a petition to make this available year round!
VI Brewing x White Sails Brewing | Ocean Sun Double IPA (8%)
This double IPA goes against the current trend of heavily dry-hopped, fluffy, and fruity IPAs that have spurred the ‘haze craze’ that we know of all too well. It pours with a thick head of foam and has a heavy body with a biscuit malt flavour. A solid bitter finish lingers on the palette. Not my favourite take on the double IPA, but an interesting beer nonetheless!
VI Brewing x Land & Sea Brewing Co. | Deadhead Hazy Session IPA (4.5%)
Land & Sea is a relatively new brewery (opened December 2018) in Comox. Prior to this hazy session IPA I hadn't tried any of their beers. Deadhead boasts a beautiful bright yellow colour with a fluffy head. Citrus and grassy hop notes come through on the nose. It goes down easy with a mild bitterness acting as a reminder that you're drinking an IPA. This lower ABV, session style is something that I could definitely dabble in more often.
Thanks to Vancouver Island Brewing for providing us with a Pod Pack for the purpose of this article. You can learn more about this project and view the Pod Pack documentary here.
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