The Zone @ 91-3 is excited to team with Cook St. Liquor to tell you about the newest in craft beer, affordable and specialty wines, local ciders, artisan spirits and other unique beverage selections in Victoria.

Once a month, The Zone’s Jenny West will head down to Cook St. Liquor and sample the newest arrivals to hit the shelves. Each week, Jenny will pick her top 2, share these on-air and then you can enter to win a $50 Gift Card to Cook St. Liquor!*

Head down to Cook St. Liquor every Friday between 4-6p and you can be the first to try Jenny’s Picks!

*One $50 Gift Card will be given away each month

Jenny’s Picks for December 27th with tasting notes

Phillips Brut Force Champagne IPA 7% 473ml (Victoria)
Pours a bright, clear pale yellow. Hop funk, melon and white wine notes on the nose. On the palate it’s dry, finely carbonated with light fruit notes and a crisp, dry finish.

Ninkasi Oatis Vanilla Oatmeal Stout 7% 650ml (Eugene, OR)
Pours a black coffee colour. Smoke, chocolate and vanilla notes on the nose. Creamy chocolate and vanilla notes. Hints of toasted marshmallow and smoke. Great stout!


Jenny’s Picks for December 20th with tasting notes

Dageraad Lekkers Belgian Dark Ale With Orange Peel 5.5% 473ml (Burnaby, BC)
Pours a dark mahogany brown coloure colour. Notes of chocolate, spice and orange on the nose. A touch sweet with pleasant notes of chocolate, orange, caramel and spice.

Twin Sails x Four Winds Dance Off Pink Guava Berliner 4.2% 473ml (BC)
Pours a cloudy pale pink colour. Huge floral guava notes on the nose. Juicy, floral guava notes on the palate. Very light bodied, with good tartness. Dry finish.

 


Jenny’s Picks for December 13th with tasting notes

Brassneck x Superflux x Gigantic Correctamundo Cannoli-Inspired Porter 7% 473ml (BC/OR)
Pours a black-brown colour. Big notes of chocolate, vanilla, burnt raisons and nuts on the nose. Sweet with notes of chocolate, nuts, vanilla and coffee on the dessert-like palate. Dessert in a glass!

Powell Tropical Daydream Dry Hopped Sour 5.3% 473ml (Vancouver)
Pours a slightly hazy golden yellow colour. Impressive fruity hop notes on the nose. Juicy tropical fruit and spice notes on the palate. Balanced acidity. Light bodied with a nice tart finish.


Jenny’s Picks for December 6th with tasting notes

Phillips Sweet Tart Passionfruit Gose 4.8% 473ml (Victoria)
Pours a hazy golden yellow colour. Notes of tart passionfruit juice and grainy malt on the nose. Perfect sweet/tart balance with juicy passionfruit notes. Literally tastes like juice. Delicious.

Cannery Darkling Oatmeal Stout 5.5% 473ml (Penticton, BC)
Pours a dark black-brown colour. Creamy chocolate and espresso notes on the nose. Dry on the palate with notes of chocolate, cocoa, smoke and black coffee.

 


Jenny’s Picks for November 29th with tasting notes

Field House Zinfandel Ale with Vanilla and Oak 7.7% 650ml (Abbotsford, BC)
Pours a cloudy red-purple colour. Notes of vanilla and juicy berries on the nose. Tart up front with notes of juicy berries, vanilla and a hit of oak. Hint of sweetness, bitter finish.

Spinnakers Chai Brown Ale 5.2% 473ml (Victoria)
Pours a chestnut orange-brown colour. Notes of chai spice, molasses and roasty malt on the nose. Nice fruit notes mingle with classic chai spice notes on the palate, with hints of roasty malt. Delicious.


Jenny’s Picks for November 22nd with tasting notes

Field House Blackberry/Blueberry Dark Sour 10% 650ml (Abbotsford, BC)
Pours a dark berry-red colour. Notes of berry, spice and grainy malt on the nose. Juicy acidity and big berry notes on the palate. Hides the ABV well.

Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA 7% 6pk (California)
Pours a copper orange-yellow colour. Bubblegum and tropical fruit notes on the nose. Similar on the palate with stone fruit notes on the palate, as well.


Jenny’s Picks for November 15th with tasting notes

Steel & Oak Catamaran IPA 6% 473ml (New Westminster, BC)
Pours a seriously cloudy/hazy pale yellow colour. Juicy pineapple and ripe tropical fruit notes on the nose. Dry on the palate with plenty of tropical fruit and spice notes and a bit of bitterness on the finish.

Sea Cider Sassamanash Cranberry Hibiscus Cider 9.9% 750ml (Saanich, BC)
Pours a pale salmon pink-orange colour. RIpe apple and juicy sweet cranberry notes on the nose. A touch sweet up front with cranberry juice and ripe apple notes on the palate a slightly bitter finish.

 


Jenny’s Picks for November 8th with tasting notes

Collective Arts Guava Gose 4.9% 473ml (Ontario)
Pours a cloudy grapefruit juice colour. Briny minerality and tart guava notes on the nose. Big tart guava notes on the palate with a hint of salt and herbal coriander. Juicy acidity.

Lighthouse Nightwatch Coffee Lager 5% 473ml (Victoria)
Pours a deep golden yellow colour. Notes of fresh, nutty cofffee beans on the nose. Soft notes of Coffee Crisp candy with the light body of a lager and crisp finish.


Jenny’s Picks for November 1st with tasting notes

Driftwood Windcatcher 10th Anniversary Sour Ale 7.3% 650ml (Victoria)
Pours a rich, clear golden yellow colour. Complex floral notes of cider, vinegar, oak and funk on the nose. Same on the palate with good sweet/tart balance, long finish and a kiss of oak.

Dageraad Wet Hopped Blonde 7.5% 650ml (Burnaby, BC)
Pours a hazy orange-yellow colour. Juicy white wine and orchard fruit notes on the nose. Bursting with incredible fruit notes balanced with hop spice, clove notes and a soft bitter finish


Jenny’s Picks for October 25th with tasting notes

Borg x Cigar City Ayc Ayia IPA 6.4% 6pk (Iceland/Florida)
Pours a hazy orange-yellow colour. Sweet tropical fruit and herbal/mint notes on the nose. Sweet on the palate with juicy fruit cocktail notes and a bitter finish.

Rogue Dead Guy Ale 6.8% 473ml (Oregon)
Pours a burnt orange colour. Round malt, caramel and dried fruit notes on the nose. Sweet and malty on the palate up front with notes of caramel, dried fruit and roasted nuts. Bitter finish.


Jenny’s Picks for October 18th with tasting notes

This week: Gladstone Red Ale 5.2% 473ml (Courtenay, BC)
Pours a pale chestnut colour. Fruity, citrusy, malty notes on the nose. Sweet, round and malty on the palate with notes of citrus and a bitter finish. Well-balanced red ale.

Howe Sound Utopia Dry Hopped Peach Sour 6% 4pk (Squamish, BC)
Pours a hazy pale orange-yellow colour. Funky hops and tart peach notes the nose. Good sweet/tart balance with juicy sour peach notes and a bit of grainy malt on the finish. Good acidity, but balanced.


Jenny’s Picks for October 11th with tasting notes

Steel & Oak x Wander Adjacent Rustic Lager 5.4% 473ml (BC/WA)
Pours an orange-yellow colour. Notes of honeyed malt and light fruit on the nose. Classic clean lager notes of round malt, hint of fruit and a crisp, dry finish. Clean and refreshing.

R & B So Fresh & So Green, Green Fresh Hopped Blonde IPA 6.4% 650ml (Vancouver)
Pours a rich, clear golden yellow colour. Big juicy fruit and spice notes on the nose. Sweet, earthy, spicy and herbal hop notes on the palate. Well-balanced and vibrant.


Jenny’s Picks for October 4th with tasting notes

Driftwood Sartori Harvest Wet Hopped IPA 7% 650ml (Victoria)
Pours an orange-yellow colour. Bright clean notes of pine, melon, herbs and juicy citrus on the nose. Sweet notes of melon, citrus and pine on the palate.

Parallel 49 Lost Souls Chocolate Pumpkin Porter 6.5% 650ml (Vancouver)
Pours a chocolate brownie colour. Subtle notes of chocolate and spice on the nose. The pumpkin part of this is subtle, if not non-existent. On the palate this tastes like a well-made porter with hints of vanilla.


Jenny’s Picks for September 27th with tasting notes

Dageraad Rainshine Dry Hopped Blonde w/Grapefruit Peel 6% 473ml (Burnaby, BC)
Pours a bright golden yellow colour. Notes of grapefruit oil, Belgian yeast spice and citrus on the nose. A touch of sweetness up front balanced with grapefruit pith bitterness and plenty of fruit and spice notes on the palate.

Townsite Blackberry Festivale 5% 650ml (Powell River, BC)
Pours a cloudy purple-tinged pale orange colour. Sweet malt notes on the nose with a hint of blackberry. A bit sweet on the palate with great witbier spice & citrus notes and mellow notes of dark berries.


Jenny’s Picks for September 20th with tasting notes

Driftwood Goldynwell Folkol 3% 473ml (Victoria)
Pours a very pale lemon yellow colour. Juicy citrus and apple notes with hints of lime and floral hop notes on the nose. Tart apple on the palate with spicy/citrusy hop notes and south mouthfeel. No carbonation.

Boombox x Twin Sails Just the Hits Double IPA 8.6% 473ml (BC)
Pours a clear orange-yellow colour. Aromas of sweet citrus, juicy tropical fruit and hop spice. Hides the ABV well. Sweet and complex with tremendous fruit notes—apricot, melon, tropical fruit—on the palate.


Jenny’s Picks for September 13th with tasting notes

Phillips Rifflandabrau Lager 5% 473ml (Victoria)
Pours a rich golden colour. Pleasant hop notes of mandarin orange and lemony citrus with hint of biscuity malt on the nose. Satisfying biscuity/crackery malt notes on the palate with nice floral hop notes and a hint of sweetness.

Merridale POG Cider 6% 473ml (Cobble Hill, BC)
Pours a cloudy grapefruit juice colour. Tropical fruit and ripe apple notes on the nose. Juicy tropical fruit notes on the palate, with citrusy acidity. Good sweet/tart balance, bit of spice. Fun!


Jenny’s Picks for September 6th with tasting notes

Steel & Oak Quay Side Guava Sacch Trois Pale Ale 5% 473ml (New Westminster, BC)
Pours a hazy pale yellow colour. Notes of guava and Fruity Pebbles/Fruit Loops cereal on the nose. Dry and light-bodied with light notes o guava and tropical fruit on the palate.

Steamworks Brut IPA 6.6% 650ml (Vancouver)
Pours a rich golden yellow colour. Notes of bubblegum, tropical fruit, funk and spice on the nose. Dry and effervescent (almost creamy) on the palate with soft, bright tropical fruit notes.

 


Jenny’s Picks for August 30th with tasting notes

Collective Arts State of Mind Session IPA 4.4% 473ml (Ontario)
Pours a hazy pale yellow colour. Tons of tropical fruit (pineapple) and citrus on the nose, with hints of spice. Similarly exotic and flavourful on the palate, but at just 4.4%, it’s light-bodied and crushable.

Ravens x Moody Brut IPA 6.2% 650ml (BC)
Pours a hazy pale yellow colour. Juicy tropical fruit, pineapple and resin notes on the nose. Dry, light and effervescent with pineapple and citrus notes and minimal bitterness.


Jenny’s Picks for August 23rd with tasting notes

Field House Medusa Dry Hopped Sour With Lime 6.5% 500ml (Abbotsford, BC)
Pours a cloudy light orange-yellow colour. Bright, juicy lime notes on the nose. Intense lime juice notes with a touch of moderating malt sweetness. Great acidity, big lime flavour.

Coal Harbour Dino Sour 4.8% 650ml (Vancouver)
Pours a clear orange colour. Grainy malt and tart lemon notes on the nose. Good lemony acidity, a bit of round malt sweetness and a dry finish.


Jenny’s Picks for August 16th with tasting notes

Tod Creek Raspberry Shrub Cider 3% 4pk (Victoria)
Pours a rosé wine colour. Floral raspberry notes on the nose. A little earthy, like kombucha, with nice sweet raspberry and cider notes balanced with a bit of soft vinegar acidity. Easy drinking.

Parallel 49 Son of a Peach Tart Peach Weisse 5% 473ml (Vancouver)
Pours a cloudy orange-yellow colour. Complex notes of peach, vinegar, tart stone fruit and funk on the nose. Juicy sour peach, funk, vinegar acidity and a touch of oak. Refreshing and delicious!


Jenny’s Picks for August 9th with tasting notes

Doans/Ravens Excitebeer Dry Hopped Weisse 4% 6pk (Vancouver)
Pours a hazy pale lemon yellow colour. Dank Citra and Mosaic hop notes on the nose. Dry and tart on the palate with citrusy acidity and exotic fruity hop notes. Light and refreshing.

Strange Fellows Blackmail Milk Stout 4.2% 4pk (Vancouver)
Pours black. Lightly creamy aromas of dark chocolate and coffee. Fairly light and creamy on the palate with fresh coffee and bitter dark chocolate on the finish. Drink a little warmer.

 


Jenny’s Picks for August 2nd with tasting notes

Powell Super Duper! Mosaic Dry Hopped Sour 5.2% 473ml (Vancouver)
Herbaceous, funky and resinous aroma with notes of citrus and pineapple on the palate. Dry, sour finish.

Salt Spring Island Earl Grey IPA 7% 473ml (Salt Spring Island)
Fresh lemon and bergamot tea on the nose, medium bodied-ESB-style flavour profile (caramel, malt, grapefruit) with a balanced, bitter finish


Jenny’s Picks for July 26th with tasting notes

Burdock Three 5.5% 355ml (Toronto)
Pours a pale lemon yellow colour. Aromas of exotic tropical fruit and a bit of funk. Big fruit notes carry to the palate where there is strong acidity up front and notes of bubblegum and juicy citrus on the finish.

Steamworks Tart Tropical Ale 4.9% 4pk (Vancouver)
Pours a cloudy orange colour. Big ripe passion fruit and floral citrus notes on the nose. Very crisp and dry on the palate with big passion fruit notes and some bready malt. Juicy, light-bodied & quaffable!


Jenny’s Picks for July 19th with tasting notes

Ravens/Yellow Dog Sports Day Sour IPA 6.5% 473ml (BC)
Pours a rich golden yellow colour. Juicy tart citrus/tangerine notes on the nose. Tangerine tartness, a bit of sweetness towad the finish and a balancing tangerine pith bitter finish. Tart, but not sour.

Field House Chardonnay Farmhouse 7.8% 650ml (Abbotsford)
Pours a cloudy pale lemon colour. Bright, juicy Chardonnay notes of lemon and pear on the nose. Drinks like a perfect Chardonnay/beer hybrid with good wine-like acidity, bright tart fruit notes and a pleasantly tart finish. A touch of booze.


Jenny’s Picks for July 12th with tasting notes

Steamworks Killer Cucumber Ale 4.7% 473ml (Vancouver)
Pours a bright golden yellow colour. Strong, fresh notes of cucumber mingled with hints of fruity bubblegum on the nose. Bold cucumber notes on the palate, with saison-like fruitiness in the background. Deliciously refreshing!

Parkside Human IPA 6.3% 4pk (Port Moody, BC)
Pours a cloudy pale orange-yellow colour. Big notes of dank cannabis, pine and tropical fruit on the nose. Soft, sweet and spicy on the palate with notes of tropical fruit and spice. Pleasantly dry finish.