THE WAKKER WEEKLY
Issue #1612 – Posted on: 20-December-2021
BREWERY “HOP”PENINGS! Bushwakker Head brewer, Michael Gaetz, reports our famous Blackberry Mead and seasonally available Orangerine Fruit Beer 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!
Our limited Christmas edition run of Bushwakker 30th Anniversary American Barleywine bottles became available last Saturday. We still have some available. Makes a great treat for the rare beer lover on your list! Our other barleywine, “Missile”toe Ale, will return for Christmas next year.
Our GUEST TAP is currently pouring a TIRAMISU IMPERIAL MILK DESSERT STOUT (11.6% ABV) from Swift Current’s Black Bridge Brewery. Next up will be their SCOTTY THE T-REX DOUBLE NEW ENGLAND IPA.
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 17th and 18th is PORK MEDALLIONS W/ MUSHROOM MARSALA SAUCE for $21.95. 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.
Hats off to Bushwakker Pastry Chef, Amber Colbourne, for her Gingerbread Log Cabin Brewpub submission in the Regina Warehouse District Association’s Gingerbread House Building Contest. We love the little beer mug! Visit https://www.facebook.com/WarehouseYQR to view all the submissions and to vote for your favorite. Amber’s 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.
The 3rd BUSHWAKKER STAFF HOLIDAY MARKET was a fine success. So many talented people were present with such a wide variety of wares were available. Can’t wait until next year!
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 toques 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!
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.
Last month 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. 20: Monday Night Jazz & Blues. A STORRY WITH HUGHES. Talented acoustic blues dup featuring Jeff Storry & Billy Hughes. 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM.
Dec. 22: Wednesday Night Folk. THE CHRISTMAS CHILD. A special night showcasing local sing-songwriters who will deliver their own material as well as some songs of the holiday season. The line-up includes: Cory Knelson, Cecil Armistead, Nathan Davis, Albert Strangeman. Trent Leggot, John Fortowsky, Keely Coleman and Neil Child. 8:00 PM – 10:00 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. Don’t delay and book your table today!
Hotels feel pinch while restaurants fare better as holiday parties take place
David Pisciak CTVNewsRegina.ca
The holidays are right around the corner, with many city workplaces planning parties in hotels, restaurants and other establishments in the hospitality sector. But the presence of COVID-19 is once again expected to cut into the bottom line for many social venues.
“People are being very socially conscious about what is that they can and are needed to do in terms of following the regulations and protocols that are in place,” said Jim Kilkenny, general manager of Delta Regina. “So, while we’ve seen a few large functions, definitely what we are seeing is a trend to smaller functions in terms being able to practice social distancing and following all the protocols and whatnot.”
“So, all of the enthusiasm that we saw this summer for all the new Christmas party bookings, we saw 75 per cent of them being cancelled,” said Ryan Urzada, chief experience officer for The Atlas Hotel. “So, it’s basically up and down like a yoyo, sort of feast and famine, and no certainty and no predictability these days.”
The general move to smaller gatherings and minimized holiday celebrations haven’t hit restaurants the same way as hotels, allowing for a sense of normalcy to return according to Bar and Marketing Manager for Bushwakker Brew Pub Grant Frew.
“I think overall, compared to last year, we’re very thankful to be in the position that we’re in,” he said. “It definitely is a good holiday season; lunches are longer, people are sticking around longer. But overall, it’s been quite good, quite encouraging, the staff are happy. It kind of feels like old times.”
As for the threat of Omicron, Frew says their patrons don’t seem to be overly worried about the new variant and are ready to weather the potential storm.
“But at this point in time, everybody seems to pretty calm cool and collected,” he said. “You know they’re vaccinated already and I think there’s a feeling of confidence that they’ll be able to weather this wave, just as they did the previous ones and I’m sure there will be more waves to come.”
TIME OUT
Have you heard about Adolph, the brown-nosed reindeer?
He can run as fast as Rudolph, he just can’t stop as fast.
Always plenty of creativity out there when it comes to holiday season beer labels!