When a cocktail bartender enters a restaurant with an already stellar cocktail list what does he do? Well he turns his attention to the Beer & Wine program. Coming this winter to Sauce, be prepared to see some pretty substantial changes on our wine list and some funky new additions to the beer list!
Don’t be alarmed though, we are still committed to bringing you premium wines by the glass with some of the lowest prices in the city. Our focus on the new wine list is refinement. Picking varietals that are known to be phenomenal from certain regions, then choosing the one that will get you the best bang for your buck. Trust me when I say that this was no easy task. There must be a thousand Argentinean Malbecs available and to fit time to taste them all I had to start most days before breakfast. It has been a lot of fun to see all the great wines these regions have to offer. Red wines like Chilean Cabernet and Australian Shiraz. Whites like New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and French White Burgundy. We have removed a lot of the extra “clutter” on the wine list, 25 items of “clutter” to be exact. So be prepared to see a new stream lined list with only the best gems from each region.
As for beer, we are at the epicentre of the craft beer movement, with so many breweries in BC and in particular on Vancouver Island. According to the British Columbia Liquor Distribution Board, out of all categories of sales (wine, spirits, import beers, domestics, & cottage brews) only cottage brews saw an increase in sales during their last fiscal year. Seeing as the west coast is known as the Mecca of Cottage breweries, I’d say we are doing something right. At Sauce we have a very close relationship with our breweries and it will remain that way. Our draught list will contain beers only from Vancouver Island, and our large format bottles are predominantly local as well.
Moving in to Winter my brain is stuck on dark beers, and I hope I’m not alone in saying this: when thinking Winter, dos equis or sapporro don’t really come to mind. We will be adding Nelson Brewings “After Dark Ale” made with organic malt to the list. This beer is a personal favourite of mine and since discovering it, it has occupied a place in my fridge every November through to March. The other additions worth noting are Anchor Steam from California (hailed as one of the best craft beers available around the globe), Innis & Gunn (a scotch aged beer was an obvious decision), and Alhambra Reserva 1925. If your thinking: whoa whoa whoa, back things up!?! I thought you were talking local ales? Where does a spanish lager like Alhambra fit in? Well It’s 6.6% Abv and one of the best I’ve ever tasted, so it made the list.
Check back soon to read about our upcoming Beefeater 24 Gin & New Theatre Tonic draught tap and also our new and amazing non alcoholic selection!
Cheers,
Ryan Malcolm
Bar Manager
Sauce Restaurant & Lounge
