Pemberton Valley BeerWorks: Harvesters Of Beer
Raising hops. Growing barley. Brewing beer. In The Beer Farmers’ case, they do it all.
On The Road Summer 2018
I attend this festival every year. Kelowna folk are a beer-educated bunch. The weather co-operated for this annual showcase, which spills out on the waterfront. It’s an upbeat location for an event.
A Tale Of Contract Brewing And Shadow Brands
Image: Instagram/Craft Collective Beerworks This year, I was surprised to learn that Ontario has a massive contract brewing scene, to the extent that dozens of “breweries” have no brick-and-mortar space and are just brands made in a giant factory-style brewery.…
What’s Bruin: The Career of Iain Hill
To BC’s current generation of craft beer enthusiasts, owner and brewer Iain Hill might be recognized as one of the brains behind Strange Fellows Brewing Company. His influence on BC’s beer scene, however, runs more broadly and deeply than even longtime fans might know.
Ken Beattie: Addressing A Brewing Controversy
Back in March 2016, the BC Liquor Control and Licensing Branch asked the BC Craft Brewers Guild why ‘contract brewing’—the act of outsourcing production of a beer recipe or brand to a third-party (usually larger) brewery—hadn’t taken root in British…
The Art Of Craft In Prince George And Northern BC
The last time we met, I focused on how the craft beer landscape has changed in Prince George and The North over the past fifteen years.
Odd Fellows Come In Pairs
There was a time when it would have been tough to convince a bystander that strangers Iain Hill and Aaron Jonckheere would be able to engage in a fruitful merger.
What’s NOT Brewing: Putting a Name To Craft Cider
A quick visit to your favourite liquor store reveals the confusion around cider: is it proper craft cider or not? It’s unfortunate that cider drinkers have to rifle through the alco-pop selection to get to their favourite craft cider. Even more unfortunate is that cider is still categorized among these Ready To Drink (RTD) beverages by the taxation overlords of our alcohol distribution and sales monopoly in the province.
Why Brewing Awards Matter
Watch a brewer that just won an award and you’ll see nothing but happiness and excitement. Those honours can make difference between living hand-to-mouth and growing one’s brand exponentially. But not everybody shares their joy. That gets me thinking: it’s time I addressed the elephant in the room when it comes to awards events.
On the Scene at the Craft Beer & Wilderness Retreat
Five-day retreat encompassed many activities, and a day of brewing a collaboration beer.
Budweiser: Europe’s Biggest Craft Brewery?
Here’s the story of how perhaps the world’s most famous name in massive, corporate beer also belongs to what might be one of Europe’s best and largest guardians of the craft ethos.
End of an Era for Great Canadian Craft Beer Legends
This past Monday, the Great Canadian Beer Festival Society announced the passing of the torch from the current Directors (including co-founders) of GCBF to the Victoria Beer Week Society. It’s a bittersweet feeling knowing that this day has finally come. But it had to come, given that GCBF began a quarter century ago.
Prague: Old & New
In Czechia, as it’s alternatively known, you will find beer culture that is completely unlike ours. These people are, famously, the most fanatical consumers of beer (per capita) anywhere.
Canada’s New Homebrewers Association Has Launched
Vancouver has a vibrant homebrewing scene, a big part of which is the Vancouver Homebrewers Association.
Strange Fellows Brewing’s Christine Moulson: Brand & Story Teller
If you have visited Vancouver’s Strange Fellows Brewing or purchased a bottle of their beer, you may have noticed the unique block-print-style images that create the “look” of Strange Fellows. Meet Christine Moulson, the creative mastermind behind the branding, and a partner for life in the brewery in more than one way.
Powell River’s Fall Craft Beer Festival
Festival goers mingling, chatting and laughing while sampling craft beer, cider and spirits made in BC. I must admit when I saw the call for articles related to Harvest Myths and Celebrations, I wanted to run for the hills screaming…
HOP FIGHT: Doubling Down on IPA
It’s hop harvest season! So we went out and got ourselves some serious modern IPAs to taste. It was the first time the Panel would be rating IPAs, so we wanted hops, and lots of ’em. But a funny thing happened to IPAs in the years we were busy rating all those other styles.
Doan’s Craft Brewing: the winds of change blow through 1830 Powell Street again
There was no doubt some shock in craft circles this week when former nanobrewery Doan's Craft Brewing Company announced plans to leave their bricks and mortar home base in pursuit of a completely new direction. Co-Founder Evan Doan is soon…