QUIDI VIDI
Backwoods Blog;
in the woods and on the road…
Quidi Vidi, Newfoundland
One of the “must-stops” in any Newfoundland trip is the iconic Quidi Vidi Village within walking distance of St. John’s. The village is located on a narrow channel that connects Quidi Vidi Lake to the Atlantic Ocean. The dominant structure in “the gut” (slang term for the narrow harbor) is the former fish-processing plant turned brewery; Quidi Vidi Brewing Company. That’s where Linda and I headed for lunch. We were fortunate to nab a dockside table and we promptly ordered a flight of beers which is a great way to sample several offerings on their extensive beer list. We selected the 1892 lager, an Irish Red Ale, Calm Tom IPA, a pink lemonade sour and I ordered an iron cherry sour pint along with my meal. It turns out that Quidi Vidi Brewing Company is not only one of the most popular breweries in Newfoundland, it is also the largest. We were surprised to find Quidi Vidi products in most grocery store coolers on the western side of the island, but knowing what we know now, it makes perfectly good sense. And the food is just as good as the beer. I ordered a smash burger with house-made jalapeño aioli served on a garlic toasted bun and Linda chose a healthier option of fire roasted red pepper and tomato soup with a homemade roll (see photos below).
Quidi Vidi Brewing Company’s #1 product is their Iceberg Beer, brewed using actual icebergs. We had heard about Iceberg Beer watching YouTube videos before we went on the trip and it was the one souvenir I was looking for. Icebergs from the Petermann Glacier in Greenland float down “iceberg alley” between Labrador and Newfoundland and are harvested close to the brewery. The pristine ice is 10,000 to 20,000 years old, predating the Industrial Revolution, making it some of the purest water in the world (less than eight part per million of impurities). Quidi Vidi brewer Les Perry says, “The ice formed tens of thousands of years ago from compacted snow. That means there are no minerals and lots of tiny bubbles trapped inside. It gives the golden beer a special, very light taste.” Part of the marketing genius is bottling the beer in a cobalt blue bottle. I think a high percentage of Iceberg beer isn’t even consumed. The blue bottle catches a glint of sunlight like ice, it’s an interesting conversation piece, and besides, there’s a darn iceberg inside it! I tried one, just to say I had one, and then bought a case to bring back to the mainland as souvenirs. It’s a clear, light lager (4.5% ABV) served best, very, very cold. Our travels continue…
On the road,
Dave
September 17, 2023
Panoramic shot of Quidi Vidi
Dave at Quidi Vidi Brewery
flight of beers at Quidi Vidi
Smash burger and fries
Roasted red pepper and tomato soup
the aftermath…
Out back at the brewery (notice the iceberg image)
stock photo of Iceberg Beers
With your great verbal descriptions, photos, and drone video, I felt like I was right there with you in Quidi Vidi. I could almost taste the Iceberg. You really made the most of this vacation. All I want to know is how you smuggled the drone into Canada and how you smuggled the Iceberg out…..