So far there hasn’t been much time for beer in Halifax. However, I did sneak a quick trip down to the bay shore to sample a beer or two at the Hart and Thistle brewpub, for which the mad genius Greg Nash is brewer. As it was evening, Greg wasn’t around, but I got a chance to sample the two beer made by Nash currently on tap. To be clear, there were 16 beer on tap – 2 each from Propeller and Garrison, one from Pumphouse, St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout and then 5 Keith’s, Bud Light, Strongbow and Stella (I imagine to keep the tourists happy). However at the moment only two house beer are on offer at any time (although I am told they rotate with some frequency).

The evening I was there they had the Tiny Dancer IPA and the Hoptacular Double IPA. The beer were clearly sisters (although the hopping regimes were markedly different), and both reflect Nash’s hophead reputation. Hops were the central feature of both beer.

The Tiny Dancer was a cloudy medium orange with a tight, thick white head. It had a big grassy, resiny, piny hop aroma with just a touch of crystal malt sweetness as an anchor. The sip was similar. A light biscuit malt and honey touch with a fresh hop feature. I found it quite resiny and grassy. The beer finishes dry with a citrus kick. The linger is very refreshing.

The Hoptacular kicks things up a notch. The colour is a little darker, a dark orange/light copper tone, with the same substantial head. The aroma is more complex with a blend of hop characters – grapefruit, pine, wood, earthiness, citrus. The malt aromas are toffee and sweet grain. The beer drinks lighter than expected. The toffee and crystal malt comes through in the front but is quickly overtaken by BIG hops with complexity reflective of the aroma. I, again, pick up a resiny quality that reminds me of fresh wet hops (although I don’t think there are any in it).It has a vinous mouthfeel with a touch of alcohol. The beer has a big, puckering hop linger to it, incessantly tickling the glands at the side of your mouth demanding that you take another sip.

In both beer the hops are sharp, fresh and dominant, but each completely in an appropriate space for the style. Clearly Mr. Nash knows his way around hops. I am curious how he does with other styles (the server told me he just brewed a porter this week. Yum.)

I have no doubt I will be by the Hart and Thistle again before my time here is done. I also hope to arrange a visit with Mr. Nash, if my non-beer responsibilities allow. More later.