24 Days of B.C. Beer: Hipster Haze Nitro Hazy IPA by R&B Brewing (No.22)

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?

R&B Brewing likely has more of a reputation for its brewery experience than its actual beer. And while the folks there probably don’t mind that so much, it might be a bit unfair. After all, the long-established brewery’s Raven Cream Ale remains the high watermark in the city for that type of beer.

And whenever R&B experiments, the results are always thought provoking, like a Dill Pickle Gose it rolled out last summer. No, it wasn’t for me, but I don’t really like pickle juice. And man, was it ever true to the name.

But the experimental aspect rings very true when it comes to one of its latest offerings, the Hipster Haze Hazy IPA. It’s pretty rare to see a brewery attempt to nitro (meaning it uses more nitrogen than carbon in the carbonation process and makes for a much creamier beer) anything other than stouts and porters.

So the fact that R&B tried and pulled it off with a 6.4 ABV hazy IPA of all types and slapped some beautiful Santa as hipster artwork on the can is particularly commendable. Somehow juicy and creamy at once, this beer is surprising, fun and completely unexpected. But really, given R&B’s pedigree, it probably shouldn’t be.

Just make sure you follow the instructions on the can—shake and pour hard.

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)
Chew Toy Coconut Porter by Yellow Dog Brewing Co. (No.21)