THE WAKKER WEEKLY
Issue #1611 – Posted on: 13-December-2021
BREWERY “HOP”PENINGS! Bushwakker Head brewer, Michael Gaetz, reports our famous Blackberry Mead and his brand new Dark Cherry & Blackberry Ale are now on tap and in our offsale! Many customers have been asking if we have any mead bottles remaining after our annual Mead Day on December 4th. We brewed as much mead as we could this year so we do indeed have plenty of bottles available. We didn’t want any Bushwakker Blackberry Mead Lovers to go home empty-handed this year! We will also release a final very small run (approximately 85 bottles) of limited edition Bushwakker 30th Anniversary American Barleywine bottles on Saturday, December 11th. This is the biggest (12.6% ABV) and most complex beer ever brewed in our three decades of operation. A fantastic gift for the beer collector on your list!
Much thanks to the many folks who joined us on Mead Day last Saturday. The advance online curbside pickup service was once again a very popular option for mead fans. We did see two brave souls waiting in line at 6:00 AM. We had a full house and this year’s “vintage” has been very well received. We brewed lots of mead this year and do indeed have bottles available for the Mead Lover on your list! Our mead will also be flowing on tap all month.
Our Bushwakker ONLINE STORE is full of great gift ideas for the brewpub lover on your list! Visit https://bushwakker.com/wakker-wear-shop-2021/ to order your Bushwakker gift cards, our new First Firkin Friday Phoenix Resurrection T-shirts, Pompom touques and more! Heck, we’ll even have them mailed to you or your intended Bushwakker fan! You can always stop by and visit us in person too!
Our house-made KENTUCKY BOURBON PECAN PIE is available by the entire pie once again this December! Just visit https://bushwakker.com/product/our-whole-jim-beam-kentucky-bourban-pecan-pie/ to order this decadent dessert as part of your holiday table spread. $45 each. Available for pick up the week leading up to Christmas.
Our GUEST TAP is currently pouring the WINTER SOLSTICE IPA from Saskatoon’s High Key Brewing. This will be followed by a DOUBLE NEW ENGLAND IPA from Black Bridge Brewery.
In addition to taking our beer home in glass bottles and 2 litre jugs direct from our pub, you can find a varying selection of 650 ml bottles of Bushwakker beer in a number of REGINA SLGA stores.
DECEMBER PREMIUM WINE FEATURES. This month’s featured wines hail from Chile. The red is Carmen Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon. $8.95 for a glass and $23.95 for a half litre. The white is The Applicant Sauvignon Blanc. $7.95 for a glass and $21.95 for a half litre.
Our Weekend Special on December 10th & 11th is an 8-OZ SIRLOIN STEAK w/ FINGERLING POTATOES for $24.95. Our Saturday CLASSIC STEAK & A PINT SPECIAL will also be available. Our Monday and Wednesday WINGS & A PINT SPECIAL and Tuesday PIZZA & A PINT SPECIAL are also great value deals.
The BUSHWAKKER LOCAL ARTS WALL for the month of December features the works of CARMEN BEATON. Her artist biography is as follows:
Growing up in Regina, art was always a big part of my life, and it continued to be a passion of mine throughout high school and university. Over the years, I found my niche in oil paint, acrylic paint, and graphite. My current work focuses on portraits and the human figure. One of the aspects I enjoy most about this subject matter is exploring different palettes and mark-making to articulate expressions, the body, and more recently, the various textures and draping of clothing. Observing the endless array of emotions conveyed by a person’s facial expressions and body language is also very fascinating to me. Using paint and pencil to communicate these human qualities and behaviours will never get old.
Enjoy Carmen’s fine works all this month!
BUSHWAKKER “NEW NORMAL” NOTES
We are open Monday – Thursday from 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM. The kitchen closes at 9:30 PM and last call is at 10:15 PM. Fridays and Saturdays we are open from 11:00 AM until Midnight. The kitchen is open until 10:30 PM and last call is at 11:15 PM. Live music fans can enjoy our Monday Night Jazz & Blues and Wednesday Folk Night performances from 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM.
Last week the government of Saskatchewan announced that the Mandatory Masking and Proof of Vaccination mandates for all pubs and restaurants would remain in place until the end of January. Please be sure you are wearing a mask upon entering and leaving Bushwakker and even if you just need to get up to use the washroom. Masks are not required when you are seated and are eating or drinking. If you forget to bring a mask, we can provide you with a new one. Proof of Vaccination is also required for offsale beer purchases.
Reservations are accepted and encouraged. We accept a limited number of reservations as late as 6:00 PM every day except Fridays. Fridays we accept reservations as late as 3:00 PM. Call us at 306-359-7276 to secure your table. We are now also able to accommodate larger groups. Our two banquet rooms are also available for private parties. Call Kelly at 306-359-7276 to book either our main floor Arizona Room or basement Clubroom.
Please continue to practice safe health measures. Remain connected to one another and to us! In addition to this weekly newsletter, we are very active on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Check-in with us often as we navigate these continually evolving times together. Try to support local businesses whenever possible. Be vigilant in your resolve to protect yourselves which in turn will protect others.
Dec. 11: BUSHWAKKER 30TH ANNIVERSARY BARLEYWINE CHRISTMAS RELEASE: Although we were unable to brew a batch of “Missile”tow Christmas Ale this year, we did manage to set aside a small run of our 30th Anniversary American Barleywine bottles. This very rich and complex brew will continue to age and develop for years to come. Makes for a very special Christmas treat! Bottles will be available at 11:00 AM sharp!
Dec. 11: BUSHWAKKER STAFF HOLIDAY MARKET – 3rd edition. Presented by both former and current Bushwakker staff. It is no secret that the Bushwakker team is comprised of some very talented people. Enjoy their creative holiday wares in this special craft sale held in the Bushwakker Arizona Room from 11:00 – 4:00 PM.
Dec. 13: Monday Night Jazz & Blues. BONGO BOB. World music percussionist roots/soul/blues singer-songwriter brings his band to make his Bushwakker debut. 8:00 – 10:00 PM.
Dec. 15: Wednesday Night Folk – Special one-hour Christmas performance. THE DICKENS YULETIDE SINGERS. Traditional carols performed by this group of seasoned performers appearing in Victorian attire. A great night to get into the spirit of the season! 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM.
Dec. 31: NOTHING FOR NEW YEAR’S 16. Our most popular non-event of the year is back again! We`re celebrating this New Year`s Eve by bringing back Chef Mike`s famous slow roasted Prime Rib and Jumbo Yorkshire Pudding for one night only! Call 306-359-7276 to reserve your table. Two seatings available: 5:00 PM – 7:15 PM and 7:30 PM – 10:30 PM.
Bushwakker Mead Day continues as a local Christmas tradition
By Brody Ratcliffe Global News
People excited to get their hands on Bushwakker Brewpub’s Blackberry Mead.
Sarah Komadina/ Global News
Mead connoisseurs and blackberry fans alike can gather outside of Bushwakker Brewery on Dec. 4 for a return of what some call the “Nectar of the Gods.”
Regina’s oldest brewery is bringing back its Christmas tradition. Mead Day, which occurs on the first Saturday of December annually, is already creating some local buzz.
“Well, it certainly is our official kickoff to the holiday season. When we first introduced the mead about 30 years ago, nobody had heard of it, nobody was really interested, but as we got the mead out into the community and people had a chance to try it, they absolutely fell in love with it,” said bar and marketing manager Grant Frew.
The brewery first opened its door in 1991 and has since grown a reputation for what it serves. The mead itself is different from a beer or wine.
“It predates both,” Frew says. “And being made out of honey — pardon the pun — a lot of people will say they get a different sort of buzz.”
The beverage comes in at 10.5 percent alcohol. Each batch the brewery makes starts from 400 pounds of local honey and 84 pounds of blackberries.
“It really is a flavorful, festive treat,” said Frew.
The yeast used in the mead is extremely powerful. It eats up all the sugar contained in the drink, leaving it with a more dry taste.
“It is a very slow-fermenting beast. We start making the mead very early on in the year and we make it all year long to get it ready,” Frew said.
Pre-orders for the bottled mead are now closed, but Frew says some customers like lining up outside the brewery for the experience.
“I do hear from a lot of our customers that say they’ve been standing in the mead line for so many years that it’s really part of their Christmas tradition too.”
TIME OUT
One Christmas Eve, Santa was under a lot of stress.
He and Mrs. Claus had just had a fight, it was nearly time to leave and his sleigh wasn’t loaded, and the elves were talking about going on strike.
Then an angel walked into his office and asked, “Hey, Santa, what do you want me to do with this Christmas tree?”
And so was born the tradition of there being an angel on top of the Christmas tree.
Watch those holiday craft brews. They tend to have a powerful effect as demonstrated in this elf depiction.
