THE WAKKER WEEKLY – Issue #1847
Issue #1847 – Posted on: 19 – June – 2026
FloodWakker! We are closed! On Wednesday, June 17th at approximately 3:00 PM, Bushwakker experienced the most devastating flood in our 35 year history. A water main line broke by our building and for two hours the water came rushing in quickly filling our basement in knee-deep water. The damage was extensive and the repair process is described as being “multi-layered and complex.” At this writing we don’t know the exact cause or the extent of the damage. New challenges continually reveal themselves as the work continues. We remain optimistic and hope to be operational again sometime next week. Thanks to the thousands of people who have offered us their good wishes throughout this setback. The good news is…our tanks of beer are safe!
We love our community! Much thanks to Torch and Kyle from Torchys Sports Imaging for creating this fun t-shirt design befitting our current circumstances. Yes, we are closed due to yesterday’s massive water line break and we still have a long way to go but we are making progress…one step at a time. Stay tuned!
BUSHWAKKER SEASONAL BEER STATUS Our seasonally available UPENDI PINEAPPLE PASSION FRUIT SOUR, HONEY THISTLE WIT, CHINOOK E.S.B., BARON BOCK and 35th ANNIVERSARY DOUBLE HONEY IRISH RED ALE are currently available WHEN WE REOPEN. There is also a firkin of SOUR CHERRY WITBIER working its way through the brewery!
Our WEEKEND SPECIAL DINING FEATURE for June 19th & 20th WAS GOING TO BE SMOKED BRISKET MAC & CHEESE. Our Saturday CLASSIC STEAK & A PINT SPECIAL as well as our Monday and Wednesday WINGS & A PINT SPECIAL and Tuesday PIZZA & A PINT SPECIAL are also great value deals. Please note you can also have a pop, lemonade, sarsaparilla, ice tea or coffee instead of a pint of beer if you wish!
Our brand new Summer Seasonal BBQ Menu was released earlier this week! Our 800 litre converted beer tank smoker, affectionately named, Smokey the Beer, has seen plenty of use getting ready for this delicious smoky showcase! WHEN WE RE-OPEN, get ready to savour six offerings including: Smoked Brisket on a Bun, Smoked Chicken Enchiladas, Smoked Philly CheeseDog, Smoked Pulled Pork & Pineapple Bun a Weekly Smoked Appetizer Feature and a Smoked Caramel Mocha Brownie Ice Cream Cake too!
The Hop Circuit is back for another year! Pick up your free passport map and take a hike or ride your bike and visit all six (well five for now) participating Regina craft breweries this summer! Collect a stamp at all six locations and receive a free 2026 Hop Circuit commemorative glass! Get out there and enjoy another beautiful Queen City summer with some sensational Saskatchewan suds!
UPCOMING EVENTS
June 20: CANCELLED DUE TO FLOOD. FREE SATURDAY AFTERNOON JAZZ SHOWCASE. Held in conjunction with JazzFest Regina 2026. This free music event made its debut last year and was so well received we’re doing it again! Enjoy a great afternoon of live jazz featuring some very talented local musicians. Enjoy three groups including; The Campbell Combo Collective, Corey Taylor’s “Hang on Tight” Jazz Trio featuring guest powerhouse vocalist, Christie-Anne Blondeau and popular jazz blues band, Juss Sayin’. This free afternoon of music starts at 1:00 PM so plan to arrive early in order to get a good seat!
June 22: MOVED TO ANOTHER VENUE DUE TO FLOOD. JAZZFEST REGINA CLOSING SHOW WITH THE KRISTIN KORB JAZZ TRIO TRIBUTE TO THE EURYTHMICS. American jazz bassist and vocalist Kristin Korb released her highly anticipated Eurythmics tribute album, Sweet Dreams, in the fall of 2024. Reimagined through a jazz-infused lens, the project strips away the original electronic synthesizer tracks to highlight the deep Blues foundations and powerful songwriting of Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart. Korb seamlessly performs dual roles on the record, delivering crystalline vocals while anchoring the rhythm section on double bass. Critics have praised Korb’s ability to transform 1980’s pop hits into sophisticated, swinging arrangements that retain their original emotional core. Tickets are $25 and are available at Bushwakker or at https://jazzfestregina.ca/ Show starts at 7:00 PM. Doors open at 11:00 AM. Rush seating only.
May 27: NOT SURE WE WILL BE OPEN YET AT THIS WRITING. Wednesday Folk Night – Special St. Jean Baptiste Day Edition. MICHEL CHAMMARTIN. Bilingual singer songwriter will lead this evening celebrating French Canadian heritage with some great French songs. 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM.
June 26: FEELING CONFIDENT WE’LL BE READY BY THIS TIME BUT CHECK OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES FOR UPDATES. RIDERS HOST TORONTO. The Argonauts are in town for a 7:00 PM kickoff. Be sure to stop by and enjoy our gourmet LION BURGER & A PINT special before, during or after the game.
Sour beers to add some tart to your life
These sour, tart, refreshing beers are perfect for all seasons
If you’re the type of drinker who prefers a thirst-quencher over a malty, rich beer, sour beers are for you. Sour beers, as the name suggests, are crafted to be tart and sour. They’re known for their acidic, memorable flavor profile that leaves you craving more. There’s no need to go heavy on caramel or bready malts and piney hops when you’re brewing a tart, refreshing sour beer. Lucky for you, there are a lot of choices available.
When it comes to warm-weather drinking, between pilsners, hazy IPAs, wheat beers, and light lagers, I always like to throw in a sour beer or two as a change of pace. I’ve been doing it as long as I’ve been drinking beer during the summer months. That brings us to one important question: what are the different types of sour beer?
The different types of sour beers
Before we get into the different types of sour beers, you might wonder how they achieve their sour, tart flavour. Unlike beers made solely with lager, ale, or other yeasts, sour beers incorporate wild yeasts and bacteria. This includes organisms such as Lactobacillus and Brettanomyces, among others.
There are several sour beer types, including the salty, refreshing gose, tart Berliner Weisse, often-fruited Belgian Lambic, and contemporary kettle sour.
The best sour beers for all seasons
Now that you’ve learned a little about sour beers, it’s time to find some to add to your refrigerator for spring, summer, and every other season. Below, you’ll find some of the best sour beers to drink on any occasion. But, since summer is coming, all of these choices will pair well with the sunny, humid days ahead.
How I pick my sour beers
As with all my beer choices, I prioritize balanced flavor above all. I’m not looking for a sour beer that’s too acidic, too tart, or overwhelmingly sour. There needs to be harmony between the flavors, often complemented by elements like fruit. Keep scrolling to see all my picks.
Westbrook Gose
If you’ve tried an American-made gose-style craft beer, you can thank the OG Westbrook Gose for that. One of the first popular gose-style beers on the market, this German-style sour wheat beer is brewed with Pale malt, wheat malt, CTZ hops, coriander, sea salt, ale yeast, and lactobacillus. The result is an epic, 4% ABV brew that begins with aromas of sweet wheat, lemon peels, and gentle spices. The palate is centered on flavors like wheat, lemon zest, sea salt, and a memorable sour tartness. The finish is crisp, tart, and refreshing, leaving you hoping there’s at least one more in the fridge, waiting to be cracked open.
Duchesse de Bourgogne
There aren’t many Belgian Flanders Red Ales more beloved than Duchesse de Bourgogne. Brewed with barley malt, wheat, hops, and a proprietary yeast, it develops its sweet, tart, and sour flavor through mixed fermentation and months of maturation in oak barrels. This results in a 6.2% sour beer with aromas of dried cherries, wine tannins, and oaky wood. Sipping it reveals tart, sweet, and fruity notes of raspberries, blackberries, raisins, cherries, and oak. The finish is long and warm, ending with dry, crisp, sweet, and slightly sour flavors.
Ommegang Dream Patch
If you want an American beer with Belgian character, try Ommegang. Alongside its award-winning, European-inspired lineup, Ommegang Dream Patch stands out for sour beer fans. Brewed in collaboration with Belgian brewery Leifmans, it combines water, malted barley, hops, yeast, and cherries, raspberries, and blueberries. Aromas open with berries, cherries, and floral, earthy hops. The palate emphasizes sweet, tart raspberry, dried cherry, blueberry, and gentle acidity. The finish is crisp, sour, tart, fruity, and memorable.
Victory Sour Monkey
With a name like Victory Sour Monkey, you can expect a bold experience when you open one. This 9.5% ABV Belgian-style sour Tripel is brewed with imported Pilsner malt, Tettnang hops, Belgian yeast, and a secret blend of spices and souring agents. The result is a high-ABV sour beer with an aroma of tart berries, citrus peels, clove, and wintry spices. Tasting it reveals notes of acidic, tart lemon peel, orchard fruits, berries, bready malts, cloves, and yeast. The finish is crisp, dry, fruity, gently spicy, and boozy because of the higher ABV. This sour beer is perfect to enjoy by a campfire on a cool night.
Bottom line
While there’s no wrong season from sour beers (there are varieties for all weather), there’s no arguing the beer style’s appeal during the warmer months. There is seemingly countless crisp, dry, tart, sour, effortlessly thirst-quenching options available. I suggest getting started on your sour beer journey by purchasing one of the above choices or strolling into your local grocery or beer store and asking a knowledgeable clerk for advice on which ones to buy.
TIME OUT – The Offended Rope
A rope walks into a bar. The bartender looks at it and immediately says, “Get out. We don’t serve ropes here.” The rope is understandably offended and says, “What? Why??” The bartender shakes his head. “I’m sorry, but your kind have been too much trouble in the past. One of our staff getting accidentally hanged was the last straw. It’s nothing personal, but you have to leave.” The rope complied, but felt very upset. He went home and talked to some friend ropes who encouraged him to stand up against the discrimination. Feeling emboldened, the rope tied himself up in various ways and pulled his ends apart until they were poofy. He was nearly unrecognizable. He walked back to the bar and confidently through the door. The bartender peered at him with narrowed eyes. “Hey,” he said suspiciously, “aren’t you a rope?” The rope replied, “Nope, I’m a frayed knot.”
Not necessarily! Although Bushwakker has only recently began offering Sour Beers our newest Sour brew has plenty of Pineapple and Passion Fruit to mesh beautifully with the tart finish. Some fine Summer Sour Sippin’ awaits you!
