Phillips Snowcase

2013 is the first year that Phillips has produced the "Snowcase" although their "Showcase" is regularly available throughout the year. The box was very reasonably priced at $60, and contains 24 different beers  (or "reign-beer" as they describe them on the poem on the side of the box) with specially produced packaging to allow for removal of a beer a day without discovering the other days delights. It sounds like some will be old favourites, and some will be special just to the box. I plan to document each beer as we go along, so check back through the month of December to follow along vicariously if you weren't lucky enough to snag a case yourself!

I've been slacking on giving my attention to the Victoria beer scene. Partially I think it's that I can only hold so much knowledge in my brain, and keeping up on our ever expanding beer scene became just too much. Plus, we started brewing our own beers at Askim's on a regular basis, which makes the necessity of buying beer a bit lessened. We also have an amazing complement of beer bloggers here in BC, so that territory is well and truly covered by those who know much more about the brew than I will ever. This is all a long prelude to saying... I was completely oblivious to the release of the Snowcase until it was already sold out in the entirety of Victoria. However, thanks to a fellow local lover and her significant other who happened to be traversing the very edges of the Island I was able to join in counting down the holidays. How advent-ageous (hee!).

Dec 1st Amnesiac Double IPA A "mind blowingly" hoppy start to the snow case! Both the weather outside and the beer inside are pretty bitter... how fitting.  Alcohol – 8.5% IBU – strong  Availability – year round	Dec 2nd Elsinore A properly retro lager. Is it coincidence that the beer with two-row barley showed in spot number two? Guessing is afoot! Alcohol – 5% IBU – mild Availability – year round	Dec 3rd Instigator Doppelbock Holiday Edition Fasting during the advent? This beer is for you! The classic winter release shows its goaty horns...  Alcohol – 8.5% IBU – mild Availability – seasonal
Dec 4th Boxcar ESB Maybe it's like the little train that could... "I think I can! I think I can..." (wait until tomorrow's snowcase for more beer!)    Alcohol – 5% IBU – midrange Availability – seasonal in the Showcase	Dec 5th Zeus IPA A beer with fresh, specialty hops from the Growhop series.  The hops will hit you like a bolt from the heavens!  Alcohol – 6.5% IBU – strong Availability – randomly in the Hopbox	Dec 6th Hammer Imperial Stout This complex and winey stout packs a mighty warming winter wallop. In Soviet Russia, the beer hammers you...  Alcohol – 8.3% IBU – low Availability – seasonal special release
Dec 7th Hoperation Belgian IPA Fly through cloudy skies to find a bitter, bold and belgian beer: a tripel cross threat. Alcohol – 7.3% IBU – strong Availability – Seasonal	Dec 8th Analogue 78 Kolsch  Turn the record over, the second week of the snowcase has begun with another retro beer.  Alcohol – 5% IBU – midrange Availability – seasonal in the Showcase	Dec 9th Ginger Beer The redheaded stepchild of the phillips line is the perfect fiery belly full of ale for a blistery wintry day.    Alcohol – 5% IBU – midrange Availability – year round
Dec 10th Phoenix Gold Lager Sidebar: I wonder if this beer is named after one of the original Victoria breweries the Phoenix brewery? Alcohol – 5% IBU – midrange Availability – year round	Dec 11th Dr Funk Hold on to your hats, the Doctor is in the house and ready to cure your Christmas party hangovers! Funkily.  Alcohol – 5% IBU – lower Availability – seasonal	Dec 12th Hop Circle IPA A beer that packs just a little more punch in the mouth and in the bloodstream. I blame aliens.  Alcohol – 6.5% IBU – strong Availability – in the hop box
Dec 13th Trainwreck Barley Wine We're more than half way through and the barrel aged spectacle finally comes out! Festive time has begun!  Alcohol – 10% IBU – low Availability – seasonal	Dec 14th Longboat Chocolate Porter Get your paddles ready for deep, long pulls of a sweet and savoury chocolate porter.   Alcohol – 5.2% IBU – low Availability – year round	Dec 15th Krypton Rye PA Look! In the case! Is it a retro beer? Is it a Phillips classic? Is it a seasonal? No. it is another hoppy beer.    Alcohol – 6.5% IBU – strong Availability – hop box
Dec 16th Slipstream Cream Ale This is my favourite beer. No seriously this converted me to liking beer back when it was Maple Cream :)         Alcohol – 5% IBU – low Availability – year round	Dec 17th Rural Brewer Get out of the city & enjoy some rustic beer action. The experience may surprise you... Alcohol – 5% IBU – low Availability – special release	Dec 18th Twisted Oak Bock This barrel-aged & stillaged beauty is such a nerd beer! The perfect addition to a snowcase. Alcohol – 6.8% IBU – low Availability – special release
Dec 19th Skookum Cascadia Brown  A dark, strong and hoppy beer. The best of all possible worlds. How positively skookum! Alcohol – 6.5% IBU – strong Availability – hop box	Dec 20th Blue Buck  Phillips most balanced beer with both mild malty and hop flavours. It's no blue truck but... :) Alcohol – 5% IBU – midrange Availability – year round	Dec 21st Twisted Oak Scotch Ale Another beer in the stillaged series, this time with a warm scotchy side.  Alcohol – 6.8% IBU – low Availability – special release
Dec 22nd Hammer Barrel Aged Stout The same hammer beer from Dec 6th, but the barrel aged version this time (for reals).  Alcohol – 8.3% IBU – low Availability – special release	Dec 23rd Cabin Fever Black IPA A brew strong enought to get you through the black and hoppy throes of any bout of cabin fever.  Alcohol – 8.5% IBU – strong Availability – special release	Dec 24th Twisted Oak Red Ale The final in the stillage series shows itself just in time to be coordinated with Santa Claus. Alcohol – 6.8% IBU – low Availability – special release