It snuck up on me.

On a trip to Halifax in April, there was no visit to see my mom and dad as they had just packed up and moved to New Brunswick days before my arrival. The trip also marked a full two years since I moved away from my old hometown. Lots changes in that amount of time and I couldn’t shake it that Halifax had started to feel a bit foreign.

Not that foreign is a bad thing. In one respect, it gave me an opportunity to sample from Atlantic Canadian breweries that weren’t even in existence when I last called the city home. Sober Island, Roof Hound Brewing, Saltbox Brewing, Trailway Brewing… these were all recommendations from Jason at Bishop’s Cellar (who made me feel at home and like I had never moved away… oh, how I miss my old wine and beer store on the waterfront), and were all worth my time. The Hu Jon Hops by Trailway (green can) and the session IPA by Roof Hound (far right) were my personal favourites.

With this Halifax trip being almost exclusively work-related, my brewery time was limited. I snuck a quick tasting in at 2 Crows Brewing downtown after conference activities late one afternoon. This is a brewery I wish was around when I lived here – their beers are unique, experimental, not the common run of the mill varieties, and all are exceptionally well made. Best of a tasting flight there was (second from the left) “Field Hand”, an American Wild Ale – it was earthy, funky in a good way, and full of flavour even at only 3.4% alcohol.

No matter how short a visit to Halifax, I am never leaving the city without a burger, fries and a pint (this beer was by my new favourite New Brunswick brewery, Trailway – their “Luster” was a full flavour 4% ISA) at Stillwell. Stillwell is a place that will never feel foreign to me. Of all of beer bars I’ve been to, it remains my all-time favourite for its rotating taps, exceptional food and general laid back vibe.

My last beer-related stop was another place that will never feel foreign to me. I had time to kill before my flight, so popped into Propeller for a quick beer. Their spring seasonal selection, an extra pale ale, was so good that I picked up a four-pack at the airport to stash away in my luggage for the journey back to Saskatoon. I’ve been enjoying this taste of Nova Scotia occasionally this summer on the back deck of my little house on the prairies. Wish I could pick up a case of this one as it was my favourite beer of my trip back to Halifax.

Foreign and familiar. Not a bad combination.