Best Features: great BC craft brewed lager!

Fisgard 150 is the newest beer from Lighthouse Brewing in Victoria . The beer was brewed to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Western Canada's oldest lighthouse - the Fisgard Lighthouse. In addition, the Canadian Navy is celebrating its 100 th and is having events all year long, including an "International Fleet Review" in Victoria from June 9 th -14 th , 2010. It is a huge event for Victoria and this is going to be a big year for Lighthouse Brewing Company.

Fisgard 150 is a premium Bavarian style lager. This style of beer is usually crisp and dry with a nice hop finish. Fisgard 150 does not disappoint and will gain a lot of fans over the next couple of months. Lighthouse Brewing has also introduced new packaging and a new streamline logo. Fisgard 150 comes in a very attractive box with a bright green Lighthouse - Fisgard 150 emblem on the side. Lighthouse Brewing also uses almost stubby bottles that are distinctly shorter than the more common longneck bottles available on the market.

As soon as the beer is opened, a very floral and hoppy aroma is released. It is a nice blend of citrus, grapefruit and there is a feint hint of fresh ground black pepper - a spicy not often found in high quality hops. Fisgard pours with a nice compact head that lingers for a long period of time. The beer is slightly darker in the glass than most lagers but is a nice pour and a dark straw colour.

The first sip reveals a crisp beer with a dry finish - exactly what is advertised. Although the beer is crisp, the mouthfeel is in the medium range meaning that the carbonation is higher but the beer sticks to the tongue for an extended period of time. Further sips reveal a short sweetness from the malts on the tip with hop citrus notes that cleanse the palate. The mouth is left clean and refreshed.

Overall, I really enjoyed Fisgard 150. Bavarian lagers like this tend to be rare releases from BC Microbrews. When lagers in this style are done properly they have bitter notes with little to no sweetness. Fisgard 150 is brewed for 6 weeks resulting in a beer that is clean, well balanced and very consumable. Best served cold 2-5 degrees Celsius. This beer will definitely be stocked in my fridge for the warm spring and hot summer days ahead.

Food Pairings: Fisgard 150 is very versatile. Mild to strong cheddar cheese and blue cheese will pair well with the hop bitter flavours. It will not overwhelm most deep fried food and will do a good job cleansing the palate. Also try Fisgard 150 with chicken or beef curry and spicy Jamaican patties.

Beer Fact: Lighthouse Brewing Company is re-branding all of their products. Look for the sleek new logo to hit the shelves over the next couple of months. Currently Fisgard 150 and Race Rocks Amber Ale are the two beers that are featuring the new look.