Vol. 30 No. 2 Summer 2020 celebrates our 30th Anniversary. In this special collectible issue, we’ve compiled a new and original history of BC Craft Beer, with each chronological topic organized into chapter book format. We tell the story of how What’s Brewing started, which also happens to be the story of how BC craft beer culture gained its first firm roots, in 1990s Victoria. We also present a running tribute to every microbrewery opened in this province since 1982.

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The Story of BC Craft Beer, In Chapters

This latest magazine contains countless previously-unpublished images and vignettes, sequenced into a seamless story including:

• In The Beginning: BC Beer Awards–certified ‘Legends’ Gerry Hieter & John Rowling help recount BC Craft Beer history up to and including when What’s Brewing and Great Canadian Beer Festival were founded. | Pages 11-17
• The ’90s Wave: Long before “craft beer” was a mainstream term, a gold rush of microbrewery openings took place between 1994-99. Trailblazing BC brewers such as Gary Lohin, Iain Hill, James Walton, Shirley Warne and Rick Dellow recall those heady days. | Pages 18-21
• The Lost Decade: The ’90s wave crashed at the turn of the century, followed by ten years of minimal growth. But beer boosters and community leaders like Rick Green, Lundy Dale, Joe Wiebe, Jan Zeschky, Leah Heneghan, Amanda Barry-Butchart and Warren Boyer tell us how they helped build back interest in craft beer. | Pages 26-35
• Craft Beer Goes Mainstream: Momentum from that grassroots support finally forces government to green-light the changes needed to ignite BC’s beer scene. Brewery chiefs Jim Dodds, Graham With, Chloe Smith, Darren Adam and Jorden Foss share the excitement of the 2010s explosion. Pages 36-44

Coming Back Strong, Again

This issue is also different because it’s presented in context of the events of 2020. When you read the story of BC Craft Beer, you’ll better appreciate how this is not the first time the industry has weathered a significant storm. Our retrospective is presented as a reminder of the challenges the BC craft beer industry has faced before, the ways they overcame them, and the good things that came out of it. 

 This issue is dedicated to the >250 microbreweries that have opened in BC since 1982. For that reason, you’ll find every single one of them acknowledged in this magazine.

If you spot a printed copy of the magazine, you might want to grab it because there won’t ever be another one like this. But you can always find it online right here:
whatsbrewing.ca/summer2020