Ginja Ninja Launches Refreshing Attack
Granville Island Brewing introduces its newest seasonal taste

Vancouver, BC – When a ninja strikes, his target never sees him coming. The element of surprise is always on the ninja’s side. That same element of surprise is a key part of Granville Island Brewing’s new seasonal beer, Ginja Ninja ginger beer.

“Our Ginger Beer was one of our most popular Limited Releases last year,” says GIB brewmaster Vern Lambourne. “We’ve brought it back now as a seasonal selection and spiced it up with a subtle yet memorable ginger kick that stealthily blends into this light-bodied lager.”

Ginja Ninja strikes first with its fresh ginger aroma, then follows up with fruity and spicy ginger flavours. The ginger notes are supported by a light malt character, and Ginja Ninja’s colour matches the golden-yellow hue of its key ingredient.

Ninjas are known to work best on their own, and Ginja Ninja brings satisfying refreshment in every bottle or glass. But make no mistake – Ginja Ninja also plays well with others. Try it as the base ingredient in a beer cocktail, or pair it with a wide range of foods.

Available in six-packs and on tap at your favourite pub or restaurant, invite Ginja Ninja to your next night out…intrigue and excitement guaranteed!

Tastings will also be happening all over in in Signature BC Liquor Stores, including the Cambie Kitchen, on May 3 and 4.

For more information on Ginja Ninja and rest of the beer lineup at Granville Island Brewing, visit www.gib.ca, check us out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/granvilleislandbrewing or follow us on Twitter via @itsgoodtobehere.

About Granville Island Brewing (GIB)
Established in Vancouver, BC in 1984, Granville Island Brewing (GIB) is Canada’s first microbrewery offering a variety of award-winning beers. GIB is dedicated to crafting only the finest premium beers to provide consumers with the ultimate tasting experience. In celebration of its West Coast heritage GIB names each beer after iconic Vancouver locations that embody the local lifestyle. From the original Island Lager and English Bay Pale Ale, to Cypress Honey Lager and Robson Street Hefeweizen, GIB continues to produce a diverse portfolio of beers inspired by life on the West Coast. And with the changing of the seasons, GIB offers tastes that reflect the changing beer fan, with its seasonal False Creek Raspberry Ale, Lions Winter Ale, and now Ginja Ninja. For more information, visit www.gib.ca

What’s in Vern Lambourne’s Little Black Book?

Vancouver, BC – In 1984, Granville Island Brewing turned the beer industry upside down as Canada’s first microbrewery, delivering great tasting beers made the good old-fashioned way: premium, natural and unpasteurized. In 2013, this legendary brewery is shaking the foundations once again with the introduction of its small batch program, The Black Note Book Series. The first of this small batch series is Cloak & Dagger Cascadian Dark Ale, available April 22.

The Black Note Book Series has evolved from GIB’s popular Limited Release line of unique flavours and innovative craft brews. “GIB’s got one of the smallest brewing spaces in Canada – the Black Note Book Series really is brewed in small batches,” explains GIB Brewmaster Vern Lambourne. “We still use our traditional brewing methods, but spin them with some West Coast attitude, creating awesome new flavours and beer-drinking experiences.”

The small batch Black Note Book Series includes Vern’s favourites Cascadian Dark Ale, Bitter, Saison, Pumpkin, Fresh Hop ESB and Barley Wine. This year, GIB is proud to welcome three new additions to the family: Berlinerweisse, Belgian IPA and Weizen Bock. Each Black Note Book Series flavour is available in 650 ml bottles for a limited time, at the GIB liquor store and Taproom and select liquor stores around Vancouver. There’s limited-availability casks in the city’s renowned craft beer haunts.

For more information on the small batch Black Note Book Series from Granville Island Brewing, visit www.gib.ca, check us out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/granvlleislandbrewing or follow us on Twitter via @itsgoodtobehere.

About Granville Island Brewing (GIB)
Established in Vancouver, BC in 1984, Granville Island Brewing (GIB) is Canada’s first microbrewery offering a variety of award-winning beers. Our small batch Black Note Book Series beers are hand-crafted at our brewery on Granville Island using recipes straight from the note book of our brewmaster, Vern Lambourne. For more information, visit www.gib.ca

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This spring, I’m excited to reintroduce local beer fans to the first of our small batch Black Note Book Series – Cloak & Dagger Cascadian Dark Ale. Dark like a stout, hoppy like an IPA, Cascadian Dark Ale is a unique brew combining lots of roasted malts with Pacific Northwest hops.

Lots of people ask the question – where does the term “Cascadian Dark Ale” come from? It’s a style of beer, named after Cascadia, a region known for its hoppy beers. The term Cascadia is used to describe a self-designated region that encompasses parts of southern Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, western Idaho and northern California.

Canadian pale, English crystal, Belgian chocolate and English black malts all make appearances in the brewing process of Cloak & Dagger CDA. These malts give the beer its roasted flavour (coffee and light nuances of chocolate), and dark colour with a reddish hue. Beer drinkers will also notice the Zeus, Cascade and Ahtanum hops that contribute to the ale’s bold hop bitterness and flavours.

By the numbers: Cloak & Dagger Cascadian Dark Ale has a BU of 60, an OG of 14.8°P and an abv of 6.25%.

With its sweetish body and dry finish, I’d suggest pairing Cloak & Dagger Cascadian Dark Ale with grilled or braised meats and serving it at your next backyard barbeque. If you have out-of-province company in town, you’ll want to introduce them to this Pacific Northwest style. Black Note Book Series brews are only available in small batches so make sure you grab a case of Cascadian Dark Ale or stop by the Taproom before it’s too late.

Our Small Batch Imperial IPA is coming back and for some hop heads it’s about time. This year’s edition remains true to previous editions with the same distinct bitter taste and golden hue but I have made a few changes for the good.

Combining Magnum, Amarillo hops with ESB pale and crystal malts, we’ve created an intensely flavourful, hopped-up IPA. Drinkers will notice hints of grapefruit, pine and tropical fruits along with a hop bitterness that more than stands up to this beer’s big malt body. For the records: Imperial IPA has a BU of 100 and an OG of 20.5°P and an ABV of 8.6%. Did I mention that we dry hopped with Chinook? Well we did.
Sit down at your favourite patio table or pub booth with friends and enjoy this bold 8.6% IPA.

I like to pair it with spicy curries or aged hard cheeses to fully bring out the flavour. Grab an Imperial IPA while you can and experience the hoppy taste created at our small-batch brewery on Granville Island.

As we finish bottling the last couple of batches, I’m starting to get excited for St Pat’s. The day for all things green is fast approaching, and Granville Island Brewing is getting ready to release one of our favourite Limited Releases: The Irish Red Ale. The classic malt taste and distinctive reddish hue marks the Irish heritage of this beer, but its Pacific Northwest twist is unmistakable.

Our Irish Red Ale malty backbone that combines pale and crystal malts with a touch of roasted barley on top of which we add plenty of Magnum and Amarillo hops to create an untraditionally classic brew. The Irish Red of the Pacific Northwest is well balanced although it does tilt somewhat towards the hops: helped by generous dry-hopping with Cascades.

Perfect on its own or great to try with a fatty braised lamb shank that puts the accent on the sweet and bitter flavours, while a traditional Irish stew or minced pie will round out the Pacific Northwest feel of GIB’s Irish Red Ale. We ship it out this week, and the Irish Red Ale is only available in a limited batch. Get yours while you can, or come visit us at the brewery for a closer look at our craft and to have a taste of the untraditional classic that is sure to bring the Irish wherever you go. Consider yourself warned, though: we are not responsible for the sudden bursts of Irish song and dance that has been witnessed at the brewery. Don your green, and join in the Celtic spirit with GIB’s Irish Red Ale. Oh and come by the bar to say hi to resident Irish barman Jack O’Driscoll.

Click HERE to purchase tickets.