The last few months have seen a flurry of new imports hitting the province. Beer from all over the world have found their way onto liquor store shelves. The quantity of new offerings is, frankly, beyond the capacity of a mere mortal to try them all (but I am trying!!). One brewery in the wave may have gone unnoticed by many. Anderson Valley. This is a Northern California brewery with a good reputation but not a widely known one.

I tried two of the beer they shipped into Alberta and found both to be decent. The more interesting of the two is Hop Ottin’ IPA. I decided to write a Vue Weekly review on it, as much due to its story as the beer itself. As I explain in the review (which you can read here) one of the most interesting things about Anderson Valley, the place, is that it has its own local dialect, called Boontling. Today Boontling isn’t spoken by more than a few dozen people, but 100 years ago, it was the dominant dialect in the area. It is an odd mixture of English, Celtic and Irish. It is something to behold (google some videos if you want).

As an IPA it is good. I wouldn’t file it under “best of…” but I certainly enjoyed my glass of it. I think the malt character is its highlight, both big enough to hold its own against the hops and complex enough to keep my interest. It could offer a bit more hop flavour and aroma to draw out that dimension of the beer.

Hop Ottin’, by the way, is Boontling for “hard working hops”. Makes sense. Keep ottin’, Anderson Valley  brewers.