Beer column: Throw it back 30-40 years with this surprisingly easy-drinking dark ale

There’s usually no rhyme or reason to what beers get featured in this column, although I try to highlight ones that are appropriate for the season.

However, I often put a little more thought into specific themes around certain holidays, which I’ve done in the past for St. Patrick’s Day, Christmas and Halloween.

I had the same thought for Easter, but it’s not really a holiday that lends itself to beer unless there’s some sort of Mini Egg lager I’m missing out on (please tell me if there is).

So this won’t really be a holiday-themed beer column, but the beer I’m featuring this week does have light notes of caramel and chocolate, which should pair nicely with all of the Easter treats you're enjoying this weekend.

It’s The Dark Crystal Dark Ale from Rewind Beer Co. in beautiful Port Moody, home to previously-featured breweries like Yellow Dog, Moody Ales and Twin Sails.

“A dazzling achievement in the dark arts of malt-forward beer, The Dark Crystal is a surprisingly easy-drinking ale with light notes of caramel, chocolate and toasted oats,” reads one description of this creation.

Along with what’s mentioned above, this beer might also give you slight vibes of roasted malts, toffee, nuts and even mild dark fruits.

This beer is basically pitch black and for many that gives the instant impression of a stout or porter, but that’s certainly not the case for The Dark Crystal.

It comes in at a breezy 5% ABV and is a very easy-drinking dark ale, with most of the flavour coming through in the aftertaste.

You’ll be able to find The Dark Crystal in select craft-focused liquor stores and BC Liquor Stores around the province.

Also, if you’re ever in the Port Moody area and spend some time at the city’s brewery row, be sure to check out Rewind Beer in person.

Everything about the brewery is a throwback to the ‘80s, ‘90s and ‘00s, making it a perfect environment to bask in some nostalgia as you enjoy their fantastic beer and deep-dish Detroit-style pizza.

Josh Duncan is the NowMedia news director and a craft beer lover. Reach him at [email protected]. His beer column appears every Saturday afternoon in this space.