{"id":1563,"date":"2024-05-01T21:12:05","date_gmt":"2024-05-01T21:12:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.craigsilliphant.com\/?p=1563"},"modified":"2024-05-02T16:06:52","modified_gmt":"2024-05-02T16:06:52","slug":"yxe-dining-shelter-brewing-company-dylan-cams-tacos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.craigsilliphant.com\/index.php\/2024\/05\/01\/yxe-dining-shelter-brewing-company-dylan-cams-tacos\/","title":{"rendered":"YXE Dining: Shelter Brewing Company \/ Dylan & Cam’s Tacos"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The craft beer trend took hold in North America in the last few years and tons of craft beer joints have popped up in Saskatoon. While several local spots are pretty good, in my mind there\u2019s one spot that\u2019s above the rest — both in terms of life-affirming beer and<\/em> soul-satisfying eats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shelter Brewing Company. Even the name makes me thirsty. And hungry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Situated in a central spot, downtown on 2nd<\/sup> Avenue, Shelter has been open for a couple of years now. It\u2019s a come as you are<\/em> place, which I\u2019m told, is why it\u2019s called Shelter — because it\u2019s for everyone, no judgments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The service is incredibly friendly, yet still laid-back. You mostly order at the front counter, but when they have time, they\u2019ll come around and check on you. And when a line does form, it usually moves pretty quickly. The room itself isn\u2019t huge, but it\u2019s a comforting atmosphere, quite minimal, with neutral beige and pops of neon or colourful art. It\u2019s a great vibe that reminds me of little spots I\u2019ve stumbled upon in bigger cities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Their main product, not shockingly for a place with Brewing<\/em> in its name, is beer. They have some regular brews and some rotating taps with new and reoccurring seasonal favourites. You can order by the pint or you can try a tasting flight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In my experience, craft beer can be hit and miss, but I\u2019ve dug everything I\u2019ve sipped (um\u2026or guzzled) from Shelter. Some beers might appeal to my personal taste more than others, but Shelter\u2019s are always quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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They don\u2019t do wine and they don\u2019t have a full bar, but this is a differentiator not a drawback. They don\u2019t try to be the expert in mixology or wine tasting — they simply have beer (as well as usually sours, cider, and a feature cocktail or two). Limitations breed creativity; this smaller menu frees them up to do great things with the products they focus on. You really just go there wanting what they have (or experiencing new things you haven\u2019t tried). Not like the dude bro I saw at Amigos<\/em> last week, trying to order a bunch of chain sports bar appies. He seemed genuinely shocked that a bar might have fresh options instead of a wide array of frozen Sysco snacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If I was to single out my favourite Shelter beer, it\u2019s the New England IPA, or Neipa (some people pronounce it, \u201cNeepa.\u201d). I was never a fan of hoppy beers and IPAs, but this one won me over. It\u2019s a hazy-style IPA, brewed with El Dorado, mosaic, and citrus hops. It has refreshing citrus notes; you can taste the hops, but it\u2019s not overwhelmingly bitter. You can also find Neipa in other places, like my home away from home, The Yard & Flagon<\/em>. And you can buy some Shelter beers for take-out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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So, yeah, the drinks are top shelf. But what doubles down and sends Shelter into the stratosphere of Saskatoon hang outs is the food, which is branded separately as Dylan & Cam\u2019s Tacos<\/em>. And let me tell you, Dylan and Cam aren\u2019t fucking around. These taco slinging mofos have their game on lock. Like the drink offerings, Dylan & Cam\u2019s has a modest menu, but it\u2019s surprisingly powerful. Too many restaurants offer giant menus that their kitchen staff can\u2019t execute. In step with the minimal vibe at Shelter, Dylan & Cam do less — so they can do it better. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, there are tacos (duh), with fillings like carnitas (confit pork shoulder), birra (beef, braised in chilis), chicken asado (grilled chicken), the vegan Papas (potato, soy chorizo), and vegan and gluten-free sweet potato.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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There are also offerings like quesabirra (lightly fried corn tortillas with beef and cheese), pozole (soup), ensalada (salad), and even a kids\u2019 quesadilla. Plus, tortilla chips that you can also order with their amazing homemade guacamole. They have a couple of desserts, though I admittedly haven\u2019t tried them. I always just order another barley sandwich for dessert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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(My pal Jay Allen from CFCR gettin’ his hot sauce situation sorted).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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My go-to dish on the chip front is their famous pool nachos. Imagine those shitty nachos and pump cheese you got from the pool concession as a kid (or from 7-11 as a drunken 20-year-old). Now, re-imagine them — with fresh tortilla chips, a creamy homemade cheese sauce, pickled jalapenos and salsa fresca. (You can add meat or papas as well, but I usually just grab a side of guac with them). Even if I\u2019m just there for a beer, I can\u2019t walk into Shelter without ordering the pool nachos. It\u2019s a problem. A delicious, cheese-smothered problem. And if there\u2019s a solution, keep it to yourself and let me drown in creamy cheese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I\u2019ve had the tacos many a time, but at some point I discovered the burritos and never looked back. They\u2019re stuffed with rice, beans, salsa fresca, sour cream, and lettuce and your protein of choice (the same fillings as the tacos).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hot damn, these things are good. Tightly rolled, tasting fresh and flavourful, a delicious karate kick to the mouth that\u2019ll knock your tastebuds into next week. After demolishing a few beers and some pool nachos, I usually just eat half the burrito and save the rest for a hungover lunch the next day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If the secret to the good life is to enjoy the laughter of friends and family with a cold beer and some hot eats in front of you, then my friends, Shelter Brewing Company is everywhere you wanna be. Let it beckon you down 2nd<\/sup> Avenue with its chill vibes, killer brews, and tacos from outer space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Stones said it best — \u201cGimme Shelter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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(The photo was from St. Patrick’s Day, hence the green beer\/gin concoction). <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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