Happy Holidays folks! This is the last Hopline of the year, so we have a double sackful of seasonal brew news today.
But first: when you’re thinking of jumping in your sleigh and heading out for a ho-ho-holiday drink or two, check our Christmas/New Years’ events calendar for tips (more from Ed Kaye below). Just let the reindeer handle the ride home.
Last Minute Holiday Gift Shopping Guide
There’s less than a week left until the big day. No sweat, because you fulfilled your moral obligation to friends and family weeks ago and have a closet stuffed full of hidden holiday gifts.
No? Uh-oh. Fear not, because have have a hand-picked list of last-minute Gift Guide ideas for the beer lover. View them here →
Event Highlights & Early Bird Deadlines
Today is the very last day to get 30% off Victoria Beer Society’s Give The Gift Of Beer bundle. Check it out here →
Beer festivals are an instant gift. View the full list of Early Bird 2020 event offers that will save you time, money and stress: Shop Now →
What’s Brewing on Just Here For The Beer Radio
Every three months, we join Canada’s original dedicated beer radio program to share insights on our latest magazine creation. You can hear the full latest radio episode in the Just Here For The Beer ‘broadcast podcast’ archive. Or, check out a special slideshow presentation of our latest radio appearance here: Listen and view now →
Langley hits six breweries
Last week, we promised that two Langley breweries would open their doors, and as of now it’s official for both. Camp Beer Co. is fully open as of today, patio and all. It’s a great space to hang out. View photos here →
Meanwhile, Farm Country Brewing opened its large tasting room last Saturday to fantastic reviews. View photos here →
Counting Dead Frog, Trading Post, Five Roads and the KPU Brew Lab (see our current cover story if you don’t think it counts) that makes a six-pack of local breweries. With Smuggler’s Trail set to come online next year, Langley has caught up to Penticton in brewery count.
Three Cheers for Langley’s Tim LaHay
Speaking of Langley, the one and only Tim LaHay has decided to retire his 3-year-old BC Craft Breweries Instagram reposting feed. Voted one of our Top 3 Newsmakers of 2017, Tim worked ridiculously long hours to create and maintain a free service publicizing #BCCraftBeer news.
His 17K followers will soon be seeing updates about his new project for 2020: opening The Barley Merchant, a restaurant and taphouse not far from where Dead Frog Brewery is and Smuggler’s Trail will be. Good luck Tim!
Happy 5th Birthday to a few BC Breweries
What’s Brewing was at Strange Fellows for their recent quintennual celebration, which of course was a strange but enjoyable affair. Congrats to all ‘fellows’ involved! View photos →
Also celebrating a half-decade this week is Category 12 Brewing, which is throwing a 5th Anniversary Celebration TONIGHT in Saanichton. View event →
And quietly observing its first five years (but don’t think we don’t know) is Sherwood Mountain Brewhouse way up in Terrace BC. Check them out in a 2019 Cascadian Beer Podcast →
Hats Off to Brewloops
Kamloops’ most prominent annual beer festival has gone over and above with an an amazing community donation. Kudos to them for their recent $20,000 contribution to Western Canadian Theatre. Full story →
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More below! Thanks for reading the #Hopline, now completing four years strong! Happy Holidays from the What’s Brewing team,
Dave Smith, Editor
