The Next 10 Years In Homebrewing
Homebrewing changed a lot between 2010 and 2020. I'm excited to see what the next decade brings and how it affects homebrewing. If it’s anything like the past decade, it will be transformative.
A Brief, Opinionated, History Of Cider
From our Spring 2020 magazine, aka The Cider Issue:
Longtime columnist J. Random breaks down the history of cider from Europe to British Columbia.
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About the time our ancestors came down from the trees, they developed a taste—or at least tolerance—for the alcohol that naturally develops in rotting fruit. These evolving hunter-gatherers might have fermented a beverage from collected fruit well before agriculture.
The Class of ’94: Sailor Hagar’s Heyday
As part of our 30th Anniversary, What's Brewing spotlights some of BC's beer pioneers. In The Class Of '94 series, we introduce you to some key BC brewmasters who started up a celebrated brewery in the year 1994 and began to push the boundaries of BC brewing.
As head brewer at Central City Brewers & Distillers, Gary Lohin has had a distinguished career in beer. But he first had the chance to run his own show at Metro Vancouver’s first brewpub: Sailor Hagar’s.
How The History of BC Craft Beer is Especially Relevant in 2020
WHAT'S BREWING 30TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE TELLS STORY OF BC CRAFT BEER
| | What's Brewing Vol. 30 No. 2 Summer 2020, released June 1st, celebrates the publication's 30th Anniversary. For this special issue, we’ve reached out to 30 craft beer community leaders for stories and memories. We've compiled a new history of BC Craft Beer with previously-unpublished images and vignettes, formatted chronologically into a seamless story arc, along with a special 'roll call' tribute acknowledging every microbrewery opened in this province since 1982.
THE DEATH OF CAMRA VANCOUVER?… and my part in its downfall
The craft beer enthusiasts group CAMRA Vancouver came into being in 2003. It was one of the most motivated and dynamic groups of people I’ve ever had the privilege to work with. So how has a branch with close to 1,500 paid members at one point now become largely defunct?
Craft Beer Capital to host 25th Annual Beer Fest and 4th Annual Beer Run
The Okanagan Fest of Ale, one of BC’s longest running beer festivals, is celebrating 25 incredible years this year. The milestone anniversary Okanagan Fest of Ale is “Kickin’ it Old School”, taking things back to 1996 in what promises to be the biggest craft beer celebration the Okanagan has ever seen.
Meet Merridale’s Distiller, Rick Pipes
Merridale Co-Owner Rick Pipes first learned about distillation when he and Janet travelled to Europe to study cider making. The results from Rick’s inspiration have won multiple awards.
Cider vs. Cider II: A BC Craft Cider Showdown
Every three months, What’s Brewing gets together with JAK’S Liquor Stores to create a new installment of our Tasting Panel series. Just over a month ago, for the second time ever, we reviewed a batch of BC Craft Ciders!
JAK’S took us on a wild ride of cider styles, including the ones seen here. Some of these ciders are available for home delivery. Check out who took our blue ribbon in our Spring Tasting Panel:
https://www.whatsbrewing.ca/panel/2020-01
Book Review: Drink Beer, Think Beer, by John Holl
Our in-house beer book connoisseur Ted Child delivers another really strong book review. In here, he outlines why Drink Beer, Think Beer— despite the occasional disagreement Ted has with a passage here and there — is a must-read for beer fans.
What’s Brewing Spring 2020 Issue Showcases BC Craft Cider
The latest issue of What's Brewing magazine is now in market. The Spring 2020 edition has been designated 'The Cider Issue'. Its 48 pages include a 24-page section devoted to craft cider—almost certainly the most ever said about BC cider in one magazine.
Merridale: A Story Of Apples And Passion
At Cobble Hill in southern Vancouver Island’s Cowichan Valley is the apple farm that’s home to the granddaddy of BC Craft Cider: Merridale Cidery and Distillery.
Cider Spotlight: Sea Cider’s Kristen Needham
In 2020, there are at least 32 cideries in BC. As the craft beer industry has continued to grow, so too has the cider industry. Let's get to know the woman behind Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse, and find out more about BC's second oldest independent cidery.
Super Cider Me!
Whenever anyone asks me about getting into brewing, I suggest they try cider first. It’s a different process but quick, easy, cheap, shows the basic steps of sanitising and fermenting, and is much easier than making beer.
Cultivating BC’s Taste for Craft Cider
When it comes to the cider scene in BC, those who operate fruit orchards tend to stick together. Based primarily in the province’s pastoral belts, these small operators make cider, at least in part, from their own fruit. Founded in 2016, the BC Farm Crafted Cider Association acts as a voice for these land-based cider producers.
Lost And Found…and Lost Again
From our Spring 2020 magazine, aka The Cider Issue: Windfall Cider's Jeff Nairn describes the legendary career of a former cider apple grower: Jim Rahe of Langley’s Annie’s Orchard.