A growing number of Vancouverites are discovering what our beer guzzling counterparts in the UK already have a profound appreciation for – the wonders of flavoured beer. A stroll through your beer-totting store of choice is likely to reveal a cornucopia of flavours from the fruity sort – think raspberries, apples, and apricots – to the chocolate variety.

Want to experience the newbie in the flavoured beer world? Try Dirty Squirrel Hazelnut Brown ale, made in small batches, by Phillips’ Brewing Company in Victoria. The beer is fairly sweet with a prominent hazelnut taste and mild chocolate flavour, and registers somewhat unusual on the palate.

The secret behind this beer’s strong hazelnut taste is that real hazelnuts are added to the mash and combined with natural hazelnut flavour. Visit Brewery Creek Cold Beer and Wine Store (3045 Main Street, Vancouver) where $5.75 will get you a 650 mL bottle.

Didn’t get enough pumpkin at Halloween? Not to worry. Steamworks Brewing Company (375 Water Street, Vancouver or 900 Main Street, The Village at Park Royal, West Vancouver) still has some of their hand-crafted Pumpkin Ale on tap for $5.56 a glass. Pumpkin teams up with cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and ginger to give the brew a decidedly pumpkin-pie-in-a-glass taste.

Filed by Laura-Lee Walker