24 Days of B.C. Beer: Chew Toy Coconut Porter by Yellow Dog Brewing Co. (No.21)

We go back to an old classic.

Welcome to 24 Days of Beer, in which we guide you through what might be a very dark month. Aren’t you glad we’re here to tell you what to drain your sorrows with?

A major regret of mine this holiday season? Thankfully, this year it’s not “I wish hadn’t waited a couple days to order a family member’s gift only to see Amazon completely screw me on the expected delivery date.”

No, the stakes are considerably lower with this regret: I wish I was able to try Yellow Dog’s holiday release this year, the adorably named Elf Juice Mandarin Hazy IPA. And obviously, there’s still time for me to do just that. But I couldn’t do it in time for 24 Days of Beer, and for that I apologize.

I did, however, do what I do every winter and enjoyed some of Port Moody-based Yellow Dog Brewing’s classic seasonal offering, the Chew Toy Coconut Porter. (Elf Juice seems to end the brewery’s long run of naming all of its beers after canine-related pun. Flames to dust, one supposes.) 

Yellow Dog has long been putting on a masterclass in both marketing and just absolutely high quality beer (its Chase My Tail Pale Ale is, for my money, the best beer of its kind in the province).

And this porter is immensely smooth and enjoyable. Never too heavy, and with just a hint of coconut, it unquestionably delivers on the sometimes-hard-to-deliver-on category that porters can be.

Also, you know that if I’m not too shameless to gamble with a family member’s Christmas gift, I’m certainly not above asking Yellow Dog to send me some Elf Juice. Do I have to go to Santa for that?

Tmavý Pivo 13 by Slowhand Brewing (No.1)
Mint Chocolate Stout by Moody Ales (No.2)
All Season Nitro Dry Stout by Container Brewing (No.3)
Four Year Oatmeal Stout by Strathcona Beer Company (No.4)
Idleback Amber Ale by Slackwater Brewing (No.5)
Peanut Butter Chocolate Porter by Bad Tattoo Brewing (No.6)
Velour Toboggan Blackberry Dark Ale by Dageraad Brewing (No.7)
Imperial Gingerbread Porter by Persephone Brewing (No.8)

Cranberry Mandarin Orange Witbier by Old Yale Brewing (No.9)
Chalet All Day Horchata Blonde Ale by Bridge Brewing (No.10)
Indulgeousness Imperial Stout by Superflux Beer Company (No.11)
Blackberry Export Stout by Vancouver Island Brewing (No.12)
Con Leche Horchata Style Milk Stout by Twin Sails Brewing (No.13)
Haulin’ Oats Oatmeal Stout by Main Street Brewing (No.14)
Naughty and Spiced Porter by Russell Brewing Company (No.15)
The Crawl Stout by Deep Cove Brewers and Distillers (No.16)
1709 Whiskey Barrel Aged Stout by Brewhall and Egan’s Whiskey (No.17)
Holiday Jam Cranberry Sour by Electric Bicycle Brewing (No.18)
Nitro Vanilla Stout by 33 Acres Brewing Company (No.19)
Heist Maple Stout by Cannery Brewing (No.20)