VOLUME
03 03 ISSUE
$2 B . C .
C R A F T
B E E R
Display until DEC. 15, 2017
$2
g u i d e
Explore 15 Ale Trails across British Columbia. Let the BC Ale Trail be your guide.
BRITISH COLUMBIA NORTHERN B.C.
SEA TO SKY/ SUNSHINE COAST VANCOUVER ISLAND
LOWER MAINLAND VANCOUVER VICTORIA
Published by Glacier Community Media 303 West 5th Avenue Vancouver, B.C., V5Y 1J6
editor Rob Mangelsdorf editor@thegrowler.ca pUBlisher Gail Nugent gnugent@thegrowler.ca contriBUting writers Kristyn Anthony Ryan Ingram Rob Mangelsdorf Joe Wiebe Rebecca Whyman Jan Zeschky prodUction & design Tara Rafiq Ryan Mitson Juliana Sauvé photography Jennifer Gauthier Jonny Healy Meghan Kirkpatrick Rob Mangelsdorf Dan Toulgoet coVer illUstration Tom Froese social media Danielle Boileau distriBUtion Craig Sweetman (Newsstand) Debbie Tang (Direct) orders@thegrowler.ca
KOOTENAYS
FRASER VALLEY
Copyright © The Growler Vancouver 2017
1.778.840.5005 thegrowler.ca | @thegrowlerbc
THOMPSON OKANAGAN
Contents 06 20 32 44 56 68 80 92 104 117 124 126 130
Brewer Vs Brewer elemental series: water the growler gUide to the gods of Beer fresh-hopped Beer the electric craft Beer acid test core BUsiness: Breweries discoVer cider the craft Beer pedestal free the hops Beer nerd fest: craft Beer at comic-con traVel: the melBoUrne identity recipe: Beer & chili-glazed oyster tostada BrewpUB listings Beer to the groUnd
Breweries by Region
10 39 60 70 77 90 99 110 121
LEGEND GROWLER-APPROVED BADGE Keep an eye out for our 10 favourite beers this autumn!
VANCOUVER LOWER MAINLAND
Brewery Details
FRASER VALLEY
GROWLER FILLS
SEA TO SKY / SUNSHINE COAST
BOTTLES / CANS
VICTORIA / GULF ISLANDS
KEGS
VANCOUVER ISLAND
TASTING ROOM
THOMPSON OKANAGAN
ON-SITE KITCHEN OR FOOD TRUCK
KOOTENAYS
TOURS
NORTHERN B.C.
KID FRIENDLY
Editor’s Note The season of the hop is upon us, so let us rejoice the amazing properties of this tiny, delicious flower. As we celebrate the annual hop harvest, it’s important to know just which beer deity we should be worshipping. Thankfully, we have a handy field guide to recognizing the gods of beer (pg. 32). Fresh-hopped ales are all the rage this season and we have everything you need to know about getting your lips on this ephemeral beer (pg. 44). Some hop varieties are getting harder and harder to find, however. That’s because corporations that have developed certain hop strains have chosen to patent them, in some cases requiring farmers to hand over a portion of their crops. Rebecca Whyman looks at this controversial practice and what it means for craft brewing (pg. 92). Hops, of course, would be nothing without the other critical elements of beer; namely water, yeast and grain. Jan Zeschky takes a look at these components in his four-part Elemental Series, exploring the importance of each ingredient and how it contributes to your favourite brew (pg. 20). This issue, he begins the series with the most overlooked but arguably the most important ingredient in beer: water! –Rob Mangelsdorf, editor
GLUTEN-FREE BOOZE OPTIONS
Suggested Glassware STANGE
Kolsch Marzen Bock
PILSNER Lager Pilsner Witbier
NONIC PINT
Stout Pale ale Most ales, actually
WEIZEN
Hefeweizen Weizenbock Fruit beer
TULIP
Saison IPA Strong ales
GOBLET
Berliner weisse Quad Tripel
SNIFTER
Barleywine Sours Anything weird
BREWER BREWER New School vs. Old School A.K.A. The Comox Valley edition by Rob Mangelsdorf
T
he craft beer industry in B.C. has come along way since Frank Appleton first started making beer in converted dairy equipment at the now defunct Troller Pub in Horseshoe Bay more than 35 years ago. Michael Tymchuk, 54, has been around pretty much from the beginning. The Cumberland Brewing Company co-owner and brewmaster got his start in the 1980s at Spinnakers, the country’s oldest brewpub, and has had a hand in setting up craft breweries across Western Canada and Asia. For much of his brewing career, Tymchuk and his contemporaries were on the frontlines of the craft beer revolution, liberating drinkers from the evil clutches of fizzy macro swill. Meanwhile, Gladstone Brewing Co.’s Tak Guenette, 28, is one of a new breed of brewers that has benefitted from the pioneering work of those who have come before them. With the hard work of converting the masses to craft already done, Guenette and his ilk have instead been able to focus their attention on experimentation, reviving obscure styles and pushing the limits of brewing. While both brewers have very different backgrounds, both ended up in the Comox Valley, and both are big believers in the community craft brewery model. We sat them down at Cumberland Brewing to pick their brains about where craft beer started, where it’s going, and how it’s going to get there.
6
GROWLER: So how did you get into brewing? MICHAEL TYMCHUK: I started at Spinnakers, but as a sous chef. That was 1987, and I was there for five years, two and a half cooking and two and a half brewing. GROWLER: It’s interesting that your background was cooking initially. TYMCHUK: Hey, it is just a big pot of soup you have to look after carefully. It’s an ingredient combination; it’s really not that different... So then I founded Wild Rose Brewing in Calgary in 1996, and in between I helped start up 16 different breweries. Came out here and opened a pizza shop because I needed a break from beer for a few years, and that’s when [business partner] Darren [Adam] found me. We met him and his family, and as the story goes, he got in his car that night and told his wife, “I’m going to open a brewery with that guy.” GROWLER: What about you Tak? TAK GUENETTE: I’m just a homebrewer that got lucky! I started homebrewing in 2010 with VanBrewers [homebrewing club] and my first job was with Steamworks Brewpub under Conrad Gmoser in 2012. Conrad left after about a year for Brassneck, so I took over for about a year and eight months. I just got married and I was looking for something a bit different and Parallel 49 was looking for a new brewer, so that was fortuitous. It was a change of pace going from a small 10-barrel system to a 25 hL brewhouse and production facility. A whole different set of skills and mentality of how to approach brewing. I did that for about a year and a half then moved out here without a job and kind of lucked out that there was a position available at Gladstone. GROWLER: Michael, tell me about some of the changes you’ve seen in the craft beer industry over the past 30 years? TYMCHUK: All the old styles are used up, so we’re making up new ones as we go. It’s the fearlessness of Tak’s generation. They have an idea and they’re just like, let’s do it! When I was training, Lactobacillus, Pediococcus, are you kidding me? They were absolutely verboten in a brewery. It was death! And now they are goofing around with them like it’s candy. That’s the biggest change. I’ve virtually handed off the brewing to [assistants] Anders [Petersson] and Caitlyn [Carlisle], they
are doing the heavy lifting here. It’s awesome because I’ve had my day in the sun, so it's time for these kids to shine. GROWLER: Tak, tell me about the effect you’ve seen of the craft brewers that came before you. GUENETTE: Without the older guard we wouldn’t have the younger generation with a lot of stuff in place, like people interested in beer, or the training. Moving to the tasting lounge model has actually made it viable for small breweries. The revenue is one thing, but also having people sit down and try beers they haven’t had before, the social aspect of that. It’s a better model. You also have complete control over everything, so the beer’s always going to be fresh. TYMCHUK: The growler, that vessel has changed everything. We don’t have to package beer anymore, and 38 per cent of our beer leaves the building in glass, and that is a game-changer. GROWLER: So what do you see for the future of craft beer in B.C., five, 10 years down the road? What kind of arc are we on in this province? GUENETTE: I think if you look at Portland, you see a lot more niche breweries. Breweries that are just doing sours, for example. Vancouver is already getting to that point where there’s a saturation of breweries that are doing a bit of everything, and I think we’ll start to see breweries that are strictly IPAs, or strictly sours, or strictly strong beers. I’d like to see someone do a cask-centric brewery at some point, because that’s a personal favourite of mine. TYMCHUK: With the tasting room model, it’s sustainable, so there’s no reason why every town couldn’t have its own brewery. That’s what we’d like to see on every Main Street; the butcher, the baker and the brewery. j
Meghan Kirkpatrick photos.
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NOVEMBER RD TH E 3 4 2 •0 •1•7
+GST
+GST
55 FRIDAY 7PM -9:30PM $ 45 SATURDAY 12PM -2:30PM $
Westwood Plateau Golf & Country Club, Coquitlam
coquitlambeerfestival.com
BREWERIES
2 DAYS EN
CRAFT
ONE
35+ BC
TR
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10 TOP RESTAURANTS,
CATERERS & FOOD CO’S
Smooth Irish Whiskey Aged in Craft Beer Barrels jamesonwhiskey
jamesonwhiskey.com/ca
99
YALETOWN
27
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Br ew ery Cr eek
33 Acres Andina Big Rock Bomber Brassneck Callister Coal Harbour Doan’s Craft East Van Brewing
BREWERIES
COLUMBI A ST
01
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
C S T
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18
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Faculty Granville Island Luppolo Main Street Off The Rail Parallel 49 Postmark Powell Street R&B Red Truck Storm
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MOUNT PLEASANT
M A N I TO B A S T
10
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26 TR
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23 24 25 26 27 Dockside Hastings Mill Steamworks Steel Toad Yaletown
BREW pUBS
21 Strange Fellows 22 Strathcona
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B R U N SW I C K ST
32 33 34 35
28 29 30 31
VERNON DR
VERNON DR
14
04
WILLIAM ST
tAp ROOMS
21
CLARK DR
12 Kings Pub Alibi Room BierCraft Bistro BierCraft Tap & Tapas The Blackbird Central City Craft Beer Market Darby’s Gastown
12
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FRANKLI N ST
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NAPI ER ST
Bike Route
Walking Route
Water Taxis
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CHA RLES ST
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FRANCES ST
The Devil’s Elbow The Lamplighter Portland Craft The Railway Six Acres St. Augustine’s Tap & Barrel, Olympic Village 43 Tap & Barrel, Coal Harbour 44 Tangent Café
36 37 38 39 40 41 42
VENABLE S ST
09
15
07
PANDORA ST
ST ELL
08
GRANDVIEW-WOODLAND
06
17
ART STEW
SA L S B U RY D R
ATHLETES WAY
ODLUM DR
AL A VE
MCLEAN DR
M IN
V I C TO R I A D R
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COMMERCIAL DR
SEMLIN DR
VANCOUVER
33 ACRES BREWING CO. 15 West 8th Ave. | 33AcresBrewing.ca
MON-FRI 9AM-11PM ^ SAT-SUN 10AM-11PM EST. 2013 Between b33r and coff33 it’s a wonder if there’s a delicious beverage 33 Acres can’t make and also spell with numbers. Oh yeah, they also make a tasty cid3r.
33 ACRES OF LIFE
33 ACRES OF ECHO
CALIFORNIA COMMON
INDIA SESSION ALE
Availability: Year-round
Availability: Year-round
ABV
4.8%
IBU
30
A light and balanced brew that’s lager fermented at ale temperature. Flavorful and crisp.
ABV
4.5%
IBU
40
Light-bodied with hop notes of citrus peel, tropical fruit and pine. You’ll want another…then another…
VANCOUVER
ANDINA BREWING CO.
1507 Powell St. | AndinaBrewing.ca DAILY 11AM-11PM EST. 2016
Andina’s big, bright yellow building stands out in its Yeast Van location, as do their South American-inspired beers and food offerings.
AY AY AY
TOTUMA
A M E R I C A N PA L E A L E
KO L S C H
Availability: Year-round ABV
5.0%
IBU
36
Pine and citrus hops power this pale ale made with Belgian yeast. 12
Availability: Year-round ABV
4.5%
IBU
22
Clean, crisp and refreshing with a slightly dry finish. Makes a good match with ceviche.
The next game will tell us.
Sep 8
FRI
•
7PM
Sep 22
FRI
•
8 PM
Oct 7
SAT
•
4 PM
BCLIONS.COM
Oct 21
SAT
•
7PM
Nov 4
SAT
•
7PM
VANCOUVER
BIG ROCK URBAN BREWERY & EATERY
310 West 4th Ave. | BigRockBeer.com
SUN-THU 11AM-11PM ^ FRI-SAT 11AM-12PM EST. 1985 While it is Canada’s largest independent craft brewery, dividing it up into three locations – Vancouver, Calgary and Etobicoke – keeps it feeling like your neighbourhood pub. Offering brewery tours, a full menu, live music, and a beer shop. It’s also a great spot for weekend brunch!
MIDNIGHT RHAPSODY
TRADITIONAL ALE
DA R K A L E
E N G L I S H - S T Y L E B R OW N A L E
Availability: Seasonal ABV
5.5%
IBU
Availability: Year-round
25
It begins with currant aroma, rounds into soft bitterness and ends with a smooth finish.
ABV
5.0%
IBU
20
Boasting the same recipe since 1985, it is all toasty sweet caramel and nutty finish.
PILSNER
GRASSHOPPER
PILSNER
K R I S TA L LW E I Z E N
Availability: Year-round ABV
4.9%
IBU
Availability: Year-round
28
This well-rounded pilsner features just the right amount of hop bitterness to finish clean and dry.
ABV
5.0%
IBU
16
The taste of summer is available year-round thanks to this refreshing citrus- and fruit-tinged wheat ale.
Beerlicious! Executive chef Sam Omdal has created a brand new menu for the Big Rock Urban Brewery + Eatery, with many dishes incorporating Big Rock’s beers. The diabolical “Beeramisu” is a must-try, featuring espresso stout chocolate ladyfinger, vanilla mascarpone, dark chocolate, chocolate malts. 14
- B.C Brewmaster, Jody Hammell
a unique brewspective BIG ROCK URBAN BREWERY & EATERY
VANCOUVER
BOMBER BREWING CO.
1488 Adanac St. | BomberBrewing.com DAILY 12-11PM EST. 2014
The tasting room at Bomber has been a neighbourhood favourite since 2014. Swing by on a Wednesday to sample the staff ’s one-off cask creations.
ABSOLUTE HORIZON
BOMBER ESB
C A S C A D I A N DA R K A L E
EXTRA SPECIAL BITTER
Availability: Seasonal
Availability: Year-round
ABV
6.5%
72
IBU
Hoppy and malty and winner of a silver medal at the Canadian Brewing Awards.
ABV
5.2%
IBU
40
Flavours of roasted coffee, chocolate and molasses are balanced by a bright hop bitterness.
VANCOUVER
BRASSNECK BREWERY
2148 Main St. | Brassneck.ca
MON-FRI 2-11PM ^ SAT-SUN 12-11PM EST. 2013 The only thing that changes at Brassneck is the beer lineup (frequently) and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
BRASSNECK ALE E N G L I S H PA L E A L E
PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE
Availability: Year-round
D O U B L E PA L E A L E Availability: Year-round
ABV
5.0%
IBU
N/A
A simple delight, with a lightly sweet biscuit base and floral, leafy hops. 16
ABV
7.0%
IBU
N/A
One mighty bastard of a pale ale, with sturdy malt and a powerful tropical/citrus hop presence.
honest and offbeat. Vegetable tanned leather bags.
You can find our bags at one of these fine local retailers: Rowan Sky (Gastown) • Brooklyn Clothing (Yaletown) Howard Clothing (White Rock) • Suquet Interiors (South Granville) Gatley (Commercial Drive) • Charals (Robson Street)
VANCOUVER
CALLISTER BREWING CO.
1338 Franklin St. | CallisterBrewing.com
MON-THU 2-9PM ^ FRI 2-10PM ^ SAT 1-10PM ^ SUN 1-8PM EST. 2015 This brewery incubator has already introduced us to Boombox, Superflux, Real Cask Ales and Lightheart, and now welcomes MorningStar and Night Owl.
NEMESIS (MORNINGSTAR)
FREE AGENT (NIGHT OWL)
BELGIAN DUBBEL Availability: Seasonal
I N D I A PA L E A L E Availability: Seasonal
ABV
7.0%
IBU
20
From MorningStar comes this rich abbey ale brewed with specialty grains and Belgian candi sugar.
ABV
6.5%
IBU
N/A
Night Owl Brewing offers up this hoppy IPA for your imbibing pleasure.
VANCOUVER
COAL HARBOUR BREWING CO.
1967 Triumph St. | CoalHarbourBrewing.com HOURS N/A EST. 2010 Coal Harbour is doing just fine sticking with a production-only model., although it sounds like a tasting room may be on the way.
311 HELLES LAGER HELLES LAGER
SUNRISE GUAVA GOSE
Availability: Year-round
GOSE Availability: Seasonal
ABV
5.0%
IBU
19
German lager brewed in the traditional helles style of Munich brewers, it’s a classic. 18
ABV
3.8%
IBU
9
Coriander and pink guava puree help add a refreshing and tart tropical punch.
TORONTO
VANCOUVER
704 QUEEN ST W.
www.dutildenim.com
303 W. CORDOVA ST
RAW DENIM. go ahead, spill your beer on ‘em VANCOUVER
FREE DENIM SPRAY.
DUTIL. DENIM 303 W CORDOVA | DUTILDENIM.COM
GASTOWN
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PREMIUM DENIM
MON - SAT STYLES
300+
11-7
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12-5
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Whether you like your jeans as heavy as a stout, or as light as a pilsner, Dutil has what you’re looking for. As one of the most celebrated destinations for denim in the world, our flagship store is nestled in the heart of Gastown, a mere walk or bike ride from many of Vancouver’s craft breweries. Stop by, and we’ll pour you into that perfect fitting jean.
s•
ri e
• The
el
e m e al S e nt
Part 1 of a four-part series exploring the basic building blocks of beer, and how they combine to make something so wonderful. by Jan Zeschky
I
t’s fair to say we all take water for granted. Turn on the tap and there it is.
It’s only when restrictions kick in during extreme dry spells, or the city cuts the supply as it flushes the damn sewer without telling us (again) that we realize our dependence on the H2O. Similarly, water is the most underappreciated of beer’s ingredients. Which is kind of crazy when it constitutes by far the greatest part of beer. We’re talking as much as 95 per cent, depending on how strong the beer is and how many pineapple and papaya chunks, cocktail umbrellas and crazy straws you throw in your glass to gussy up your Fruit Punch Bellini Milkshake IPA. But, meh, water is all the same, right? Neutral, flavourless? Come on people, let’s not stereotype our liquids. This is the 21st century, after all. Wherever water is sourced from – be it from an artesian well, a watershed-draining reservoir, or (bless Kokanee’s marketing team) the snow from the peaks of seven Western Canadian mountains – it contains a different amount of dissolved minerals in the form of ions.
20
Effectively, water has terroir, with the level of these minerals determining the water’s softness (low mineral content) or hardness (high mineral content). In this way, water has played a significant role in the history of beer styles. Before the 20th century, brewers didn’t know how to manipulate their water and brewed with whatever they pulled from the well/river/lake/swamp. This led to the rise of region-specific styles, defined by the area’s water composition. The dark beers of Dublin and Munich came about because of their water’s high amounts of bicarbonate, which increases alkalinity. When brewers in those cities realized that dark malts reduce alkalinity, stout and dunkel were born. The world’s first golden beer was made possible by the soft water of Plzen, which helps give Czech pilsner its juicy quality and soft, rounded hop character. Even the origins of the craft-conquering IPA lie in water composition. The first pale ales, created in Burton-upon-Trent in England’s Midlands in the late 18th century, owed their bold, crisp bitterness
Effectively, water has terroir, with the level of these minerals determining the water’s softness (low mineral content) or hardness (high mineral content). Fig. 1: H2 0
to the unusually high levels of calcium sulphate in the area’s water, which accentuated the hop profile. Many brewers since have attempted to replicate classic styles by manipulating their brewing water to mimic the water at source; many today still “Burtonize” their water to boost their beer’s hop profile. In B.C., we’re pretty damn lucky to have blissfully soft drinking water, with low mineral levels across most of the province. It makes things easy for brewers to build up the water profile they need for each style they make (or just brew as is). “Because our water is so devoid of minerals, we have this wonderful opportunity – there’s nothing there, so we can decide how much to put in,” says Iain Hill, brewmaster at Vancouver’s Strange Fellows Brewing. This is a subtle art form in itself that’s not to be underestimated. “A lot of times the difference between a good beer and a great beer are those little details, that fine touch,” says Mike Kelly, brewmaster and co-owner of Backroads Brewing in Nelson. “When you’re starting with this soft water, the water treatment is in that fine-tuning realm.” Water profile is most critical in determining the pH of the mash. Adding calcium, by means of calcium chloride and calcium sulphate, lowers the mash pH, with a target range for many styles
around 5.2-5.3. This is where enzymes converting starches into yeast-feasts of fermentable sugars are at their most efficient. Calcium also contributes to a beer’s stability and, as well as magnesium and zinc, is a vital nutrient for yeast during fermentation. As for other additives, sodium and/or chloride can add body and mouthfeel; chloride has even been said to add a certain sweetness. Hill says he adds calcium carbonate to his stouts for a certain chalky profile. And don’t forget those sulphates that make the hops pop. Even where the water is harder in B.C. – in Interior cities such as Quesnel, for example – mineral levels are manageable. Russ Ovans, owner of Barkerville Brewing in Quesnel, says the slightly alkaline local water “hits all the marks” for making good beer. The biggest water concerns for most B.C. brewers are turbid supplies following heavy rain, and filtering out any additives to municipal water, such as chlorine, chloramine and fluoride. That’s still a long way off from the expense incurred by breweries around the world where the water is unforgivably hard. Many have no option but to treat all their brewing water with reverse osmosis to deionize it. Slightly more pricy than turning on the tap. j
21
VANCOUVER
DOAN’S CRAFT BREWING CO.
1830 Powell St. | DoansCraftBrewing.com SUN-THU 2-9PM ^ FRI 2-11PM ^ SAT 12-11PM EST. 2015 What this comfortable tasting room lacks in size, it makes up for in distinctive artwork, well-brewed German style beers and boardgames!
OKTOBERFEST
RYE STOUT
FESTBIER
S TO U T
Availability: Seasonal
Availability: Year-round
ABV
6.5%
IBU
28
It’s fall, who doesn’t want to drink a tasty local version of traditional Oktoberfest beer?
ABV
6.2%
IBU
53
Those Doan brothers love rye! Dark, roasty, hints of chocolate and lots of rye spiciness.
VANCOUVER
DOGWOOD BREWING
8284 Sherbrooke St. | DogwoodBrew.com WED-THU 3:30-8PM
^ FRI-SUN 12-8PM
EST. 2015 Dogwood is Vancouver’s only all-organic brewery, crafting sustainable beers from B.C. malt and hops and using only vegan fining agents.
FEST
LONDON FOG
FESTBIER
S P E C I A LT Y L A G E R
Availability: Year-round ABV
6.9%
IBU
20
Brewmaster Claire Wilson started with a 300-yearold recipe and refined it to create this malty marzen. 22
Availability: Seasonal ABV
4.3%
IBU
10
Earl Grey tea and vanilla give this light lager an English twist.
VANCOUVER
EAST VAN BREWING
1675 Venables St. | EastVanBrewing.com HOURS TBD EST. 2016
Set to open any day now, EVBC is promising a 60-seat lounge with a full bar and retail space.
COMMUNITY
ORIGINAL
HELLES LAGER
PA L E A L E
Availability: Year-round
Availability: Year-round
ABV
4.5%
IBU
20
A crisp, clean, classic take on the Munich lager, featuring Canadian malt and noble hops.
ABV
5.2%
IBU
40
With a West Coast hops profile and a dash of crystal malt, Original will likely prove popular.
VANCOUVER
FACULTY BREWING CO.
1830 Ontario St. | FacultyBrewing.com
MON-FRI 2-11PM ^ SAT-SUN 11AM-11PM EST. 2016 With a catalogue of beers to explore and a mini-library of beer books in its tap room to peruse, getting a higher education in beer has never been easier.
802 TRIPEL
516 CENTENNIAL ESB
STRONG GOLDEN ALE
EXTRA SPECIAL BITTER
Availability: Seasonal ABV
7.6%
IBU
43
Fruity nose with herbal notes. Strong, complex malts with a deceivingly light profile.
Availability: Seasonal ABV
4.8%
IBU
30
A smooth, roasty ESB with toffee notes, complimented with woodsy Centennial hops. 23
VANCOUVER
GRANVILLE ISLAND BREWING
1441 Cartwright St. | GIB.com DAILY 11AM-9PM EST. 1984
Any trip to Granville Island should include stopping by one of the first craft breweries in the province – and all of Canada for that matter. Check out brewer Kevin Emms’ latest small batch creations in the place where it all began back in 1984.
JAPANESE BIÈRE DE GARDE
SO-CAL STYLE IPA I N D I A PA L E A L E
BIÈRE DE GARDE Availability: Small batch ABV
9.5%
IBU
Availability: Small batch
54
An East-meets-West farmhouse ale with Sorachi Ace hops and Belgian saison yeast.
ABV
7.8%
IBU
80
Big West Coast citrus and grapefruit hop notes shine in this bright hop-bomb.
WEST COAST PALE
FRESH HOP IPA
PA L E A L E
I N D I A PA L E A L E
Availability: Year-round ABV
5.5%
IBU
Availability: Seasonal
38
A laidback and balanced pale ale with slight fruity tangerine and pineapple notes.
ABV
6.4%
IBU
62
Brewed with a fresh schwack of Centennial hops straight from B.C.’s Satori Cedar Ranch.
Ace in the hops When it comes to hops, the Japanese-developed Sorachi Ace is both unique and obscure. Developed as a cross between Brewer’s Gold, Saaz and Beikei, Sorachi Ace can impart notes of citrus and dill, and is only produced in limited quantities. Granville Island brewmaster Kevin Emms was lucky enough to get his hands on some for his Japanese Bière de Garde. 24
So-Cal Style.
bc Brewed. Bright citrus and grapefruit notes dominate this audacious brew thanks to an epic dose of West Coast hops. Available now at liquor stores and bars.
NEXT RELEASE:
MOCHA Porter MID-OCTOBER
VANCOUVER
LUPPOLO BREWING CO.
1123 Venables St. | LuppoloBrewing.ca
MON 3-10PM ^ TUES-THU 3-11PM ^ FRI 2-11PM SAT 11AM-11PM ^ SUN 11AM-10PM EST. 2016 Italian sandwiches, snacks and sodas served alongside award-winning beers – in a beautiful tasting room. “At the table one does not grow old.” Indeed.
TART WILD ALE WITH APRICOT WILD ALE Availability: Small batch ABV
5.0%
IBU
20
Fermented with lacto and brett, with organic apricots from Naramata – light and tart. Mmmm!
NEW ENGLAND IPA N O RT H E A S T I N D I A PA L E A L E Availability: Small batch ABV
7.7%
IBU
35
Cloudy and juicy, with flavours and aromas of citrus and tropical fruits, and low bitterness.
CRAFT BEEr & CLASSIc cOcKTAILS OPEN DAILY 4PM TO LATE • HAPPY HOUR 4-6PM Daily • SUNDAY ROAST
2616 Main Street, Mt Pleasant | www.thecascade.ca I 26
@thecascaderoom
MAKES ME
With over forty craft beers available, we’ve got your brew.
1218 west pender, vancouver • 604.685.1212 coalharbourliquorstore.com
1633 Manitoba Street, Vancouver | legacyliquorstore.com |
LegacyLiquorStore |
LegacyLiquor 27
VANCOUVER
MAIN STREET BREWING CO.
261 East 7th Ave. | MainStreetBeer.ca MON-THU 2-11PM ^ FRI-SUN 12-11PM EST. 2014 Main Street’s popular Brewery Creek tasting room is a must-visit for craft beer nerds and casual beer fans alike. The atmosphere is inviting and there’s always something interesting on tap. The room recently got a makeover as part of Main Street’s sponsorship of the Vancouver Mural Festival.
SINGLE-HOPPED GRISETTE GRISETTE Availability: Small batch ABV
5.0%
IBU
16
Single-hopped with Hallertauer Blanc hops and fermented with French and Belgian saison yeasts.
FRESH HOP BEER FRESH-HOPPED ALE Availability: Seasonal ABV
5.5%
IBU
30
Made from locally-sourced fresh hops from the Fraser Valley for tons of flavour and aroma.
MAIN STREET PILSNER
WESTMINSTER BROWN ALE
PILSNER Availability: Year-round
B R OW N A L E Availability: Year-round
ABV
5.0
IBU
22
Brewed with Saaz hops, the result is a clear, easy drinking beer that finishes crisp and clean.
ABV
6.0
IBU
30
A complex malt bill of Canadian, English, and German malts, with wheat, oats and molasses.
Life is brewtiful! Artist Victoria Sieczka (@badbloodclub on Instagram) is responsible for the colourful new artwork in the brewery’s tasting room, part of Main Street’s partnership with the Vancouver Mural Festival.
28
BREWERY | TASTING ROOM | GROWLER FILLS 2 6 1 E A S T 7 TH AV E N U E , VA N C O U V E R
@mainstreetbeer | w: mainstreetbeer.ca | #TheMainBeer
VANCOUVER
OFF THE RAIL BREWING
1351 Adanac St. | OffTheRailBrewing.com SUN-THU 12-8PM ^ FRI-SAT 12-10PM EST. 2014
Good, honest beer and a cosy tasting room that feels like a friend’s parlour. Another three CBA awards has the brewery more confident than ever.
BELT UP ESB
CRAZY TRAIN IPA
EXTRA SPECIAL BITTER
I N D I A PA L E A L E
Availability: Year-round
Availability: Year-round
ABV
5.5%
IBU
46
More in the classic English style, with a deep, earthy and nutty maltiness and just enough bitterness.
ABV
6.5%
IBU
75
Resin, pine and fruit hops with a big backbone of bready-caramel and grainy malt flavours.
VANCOUVER
PARALLEL 49 BREWING CO.
1950 Triumph St. | Parallel49Brewing.com DAILY 11AM-11PM EST. 2012 Lots of breweries boast food trucks, but only P49 has one inside its new Street Kitchen. It also has 40 taps serving core beers and one-off creations.
LOST SOULS
FILTHY DIRTY
C H O C O L AT E P U M P K I N P O RT E R
I N D I A PA L E A L E
Availability: Seasonal
Availability: Year-round
ABV
6.5%
IBU
17
Pumpkin beers not your thing? Think again – this one is ghoulishly good! 30
ABV
7.2%
IBU
76
Subtly sweet malt flavour backs up huge orange, grapefruit, pine and floral aromas.
VANCOUVER
POSTMARK BREWING
55 Dunlevy Ave. | PostmarkBrewing.com
MON-FRI 11AM-11PM ^ SAT-SUN 10AM-11PM EST. 2014 Whether it’s kayaking, hiking or yoga on the beach, brewer Dominic Giraldes has crushable beer to pair with almost any West Coast activity you can find.
STOUT
OKTOBERFEST
S TO U T
FESTBIER
Availability: Seasonal
Availability: Small batch
ABV
4.8%
IBU
30
Balanced, smooth and easy to drink with hints of chocolate, coffee and caramel.
ABV
5.7%
IBU
23
German malts make a smooth ode to the Bavarian beer festival. Lederhosen not required.
VANCOUVER
POWELL BREWERY
1357 Powell St. | PowellBeer.com DAILY 12-10PM EST. 2012
Powell’s meteoric rise from nano to the best beer in Canada was no one-hit wonder. They’re still hitting it out of the park with old faves and new.
DIVE BOMB
OLD JALOPY
DA R K A L E
PA L E A L E
Availability: Year-round ABV
5.0%
IBU
33
One of Powell’s original beers, it’s light and refreshing, with toffee and chocolate flavours.
Availability: Year-round ABV
5.5%
IBU
40
2013’s best beer in Canada keeps winning awards. A Northwest twist on traditional English pale ale. 31
THE GROWLER
Guide To
THE GODS OF BEER by Rob Mangelsdorf
32
T
here’s something very charming about the old gods. They just seem a little more relatable, a little more human. No unattainable images of perfection to which me must aspire, but can never reach. The old gods were flawed, just as we are flawed.
Pan, the Greek god of shepherds, was an infamous prankster, chronic masturbator and a lover of goats (like, literally). Baron Samedi, the voodoo god of the dead, loved drinking rum, smoking cigars, chasing women and swearing profusely. Pretty much every culture on earth that has discovered how to make beer has also chosen to venerate some lucky deity for this wonderful elixir. The beer gods are indeed a motley bunch, so here’s a field guide to spotting these many mischief-makers and ne’er-do-wells should you encounter them in the wild.
Dionysus
Mamlambo
This Greek god is more commonly associated with wine, but beer definitely falls into his area of expertise. As the son of Zeus, the exceptionally handsome Dionysus spends most of his time completely shit-faced with a devoted following of sycophantic, booze-loving cultists in tow. Basically he’s the trust fund-rich kid-frat boy who throws all the craziest parties at his huge house that his parents bought him and has never worked a day in his life.
The South African Zulu goddess of rivers and living waters, Mamlambo is the patron god of beer and brewing. She has a head of a crocodile and the body of a snake and is said to have an insatiable sexual appetite and a pesky habit of eating peoples faces and sucking out their brains. So, you’ve been warned.
Ninkasi The Sumerian goddess of alcohol was borne of pure spring water and is responsible for “satisfying the desire of the heart.” Amongst the earliest examples of preserved human writings are clay tablets containing the “Hymn to Ninkasi,” which is actually a recipe for making the nastiest beer imaginable. Seriously, people have tried making this stuff and it resembles boozy oatmeal. Gross. Inari Ōkami The Japanese Shinto god of rice and sake is variously depicted as an old man, a young female goddess or an androgynous Buddhist monk. Like a lot of other gods working the beer portfolio, Inari Ōkami is also pulling double duty, serving as the god of fertility as well as the god of foxes. Fertility makes sense; there’s a lot of cross-over between the consumption of alcohol and unplanned pregnany. But foxes?
Ragutiene and Ragutis The Lithuanian goddess and god of beer, respectively. This happy couple was revered by pagans in Eastern Europe and in recent years have become folk heroes in their native land. They are usually spotted partying with their pal Raugupatis, a notorious thirdwheel demi-god responsible for fermentation. Tepoztecatl & the 400 Drunken Rabbit Gods Strap in, this is going to get crazy. The ancient Aztecs didn’t have just one god of booze, they had 400! The 400 Drunken Rabbit Gods each represented the many different methods one could use to get drunk, and the varying levels of drunkenness one could attain. They were led by Tepoztecatl (literally, “Two Rabbit”), who was the god of alcohol and fertility (noticing a trend?). It was all fun and games for the rabbits until they accidently killed the mother of Huitzilopochtli, the Aztec war god. What followed was a truly epic bloodbath resulting in A LOT of dead bunnies. j
33
VANCOUVER VANCOUVER
R & B BREWING CO.
54 East 4th Ave. | RAndBBrewing.com
SUN-TUE 11AM-11PM ^ WED-SAT 11AM-12AM EST. 1997 One of the originators of the craft beer scene in Vancouver, R&B remains an innovator as it celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.
20TH ANNIVERSARY BRETT SAISON
VANCOUVER SPECIAL IPA
BRETT SAISON Availability: One-off
I N D I A PA L E A L E Availability: Year-round
ABV
8.8%
IBU
32
This bottle-conditioned farm ale is fermented with saison yeast, then aged with brett for four months.
ABV
6.0%
IBU
50
This IPA is big and sturdy, just like the omnipresent box-like East Van homes it’s named after.
VANCOUVER
RED TRUCK BEER CO.
295 East 1st Ave. | RedTruckBeer.com
MON-THU 11AM-10PM ^ FRI-SAT 10AM-11PM SUN 10AM-10PM EST. 2005 Red Truck is purring along, smooth as ever with a growing list of seasonals. Soon there’ll be a U.S. model too, with the purchase of Fort Collins Brewery.
BLACKBERRY BOURBON ALE FRUIT ALE Availability: Seasonal ABV
5.3%
IBU
25
Deliciously marries the tartness of blackberries and depth of Kentucky bourbon without getting cloying. 34
PILSNER PILSNER Availability: Seasonal ABV
5.0%
IBU
25
A more bracing lager than Red Truck’s flagship, with elevated hops and a refreshing dry finish.
VANCOUVER
STORM BREWING LTD.
310 Commercial Dr. | StormBrewing.com TUE-SAT 10AM-6PM ^ SUN 1-6PM EST. 1994
Enter through the loading door and go behind the scenes at Vancouver’s longest running craft brewery. This gritty little brewery is definitely worth a stop.
HIGHLAND SCOTTISH ALE
VANILLA WHISKY STOUT
S C OT T I S H A L E Availability: Year-round
I M P E R I A L S TO U T Availability: Year-round
ABV
5.0%
IBU
25
ABV
A creamy, nutty, malty amber ale with a hint of smoke from peated malt.
6.0%
IBU
60
Known as the VW among regulars, this big beer is dangerously smooth, rich and roasty.
BC’S BEST Craft Beer Store since 2008. Craft beer is our passion and our specialty. Proudly offering the most sought after domestic & international selections. 14th & Main • Free parking around back! • 604-872-3373 www.brewcreek.ca • Open 11-11 every day
LIQUOR LICENSING & DISPUTES
WE CAN HELP.
Dennis Coates Q.C.
Barry Carter
700 -275 Lansdowne St.
1380 -885 West Georgia St.
Kamloops, BC V2C 6H6
Vancouver, BC V6C 3E8
Cell: 250.319.4808
Ph: 604.682.6299
dpc@mjblaw.com
jbc@mjblaw.com
Site Planning • New License Applications • Buying or Selling Licenses Disputing Licensing Infractions, Penalties or Board decisions • Liquor Retail Stores (LRS) For a full listing of our lawyers and services, please visit our website mjblaw.com 35
VANCOUVER
STRANGE FELLOWS BREWING
1345 Clark Dr. | StrangeFellowsBrewing.com DAILY 12-11PM EST. 2014 Like a fine (yet strange) wine, things at this Yeast Van brewery are only getting better with age. Speaking of which, the tasting room now offers a vintage bottle list, featuring some of Strange Fellows’ best creations.
COUP DE FOUDRE
POPINJAY
WILD ALE
W E S T C OA S T S O U R A L E
Availability: One-off ABV
6.0%
IBU
Availability: Seasonal
N/A
Oak foudre-aged, it’s tart with a dry finish and cherry and plum aromas.
ABV
4.5%
IBU
N/A
A golden beauty that’s slightly tart and nicely hopped with Citra and Vic Secret.
BLACKMAIL STOUT
NOCTURNUM
MILK SYOUT
DA R K I N D I A PA L E A L E
Availability: Seasonal ABV
4.5%
IBU
Availability: Seasonal
28
Rich, soft roastiness and chocolaty with a touch of sweetness from lactose sugar.
ABV
6.5
IBU
65
With a rich, robust backbone and a crisp hop bite, this IPA is a fall favourite.
Sour batch kids Strange Fellows is one of the few breweries in B.C. to utilize an oak “foeder” to age their sour beers. Originally designed to age wine, the large wooden vats allow the bacteria responsible for that characteristic tartness to work slowly and consistently, while imparting subtle oak flavours. 36
VANCOUVER
STRATHCONA BEER CO.
895 E. Hastings St. | StrathconaBeer.com DAILY 12-11PM EST. 2016
The tasting room and branding are definitely design-oriented; the beers are award-winning and the commitment to their neighbourhood is deep-rooted.
PREMIUM PILSNER
BRITISH IPA
PILSNER
I N D I A PA L E A L E
Availability: Year-round
Availability: Year-round
ABV
5.0%
IBU
32
A well-balanced, smooth, crisp lager. This traditional pilsner is available on tap and in cans.
38
ABV
6.0%
IBU
60
An award-winning English-style India pale ale with subtle notes of dried fruit, citrus and spice.
NORTH VAN
BLACK KETTLE BREWING
106 -720 Copping St. | BlackKettleBrewing.com MON-SAT 11AM-7PM ^ SUN 1-5PM EST. 2014
Tucked away next to the railway tracks off the beaten path, this oftoverlooked North Van brewery is well worth seeking out.
SESSION ALE
IPA
SESSION ALE
I N D I A PA L E A L E
Availability: Year-round
Availability: Year-round
ABV
4.2%
IBU
20
The tropical fruit-forward flavours in this crushable ale come courtesy of Mosaic hops.
ABV
6.4%
IBU
60
Floral hop aroma and citrus flavour take centre-stage in this lively IPA
NORTH VAN
BRIDGE BREWING CO.
1448 Charlotte Rd. | BridgeBrewing.com DAILY 11AM-11PM EST. 2012
Maybe you choose to cross the bridge for this brewery’s diverse beer list and delicious tacos, but another reason to love Bridge is its focus on sustainability.
SIDE KICK
THE FUZZ
INDIA SESSION ALE
M I L K S H A K E I N D I A PA L E A L E
Availability: Small batch ABV
4.2%
IBU
32
This smooth and cloudy ISA is packed with notes of melon, berries and stone fruit.
Availability: Seasonal ABV
6.0%
IBU
45
The addition of lactose and oats gives this hoppy IPA its creamy milkshake quality. 39
NORTH VAN
DEEP COVE BREWERS AND DISTILLERS
170 - 2270 Dollarton Hwy. | DeepCoveCraft.com DAILY 12-11PM EST. 2013 With their new canning line, Deep Cove beer is even more readily available. Better yet, check out their taproom and get it from the source!
HARVEST
METHOD
F R E S H - H O P P E D PA L E A L E
PA L E A L E
Availability: One-off
Availability: Year-round
ABV
5.5%
IBU
40
Keeping it local with fresh hops from Chilliwack and raw rye from the Peace River Valley.
ABV
5.0%
IBU
28
Their newest core brand has lots of oats and fruit-forward hops to tickle your fancy.
NORTH VAN
GREEN LEAF BREWING CO.
123 Carrie Cates Crt. | GreenLeafBrew.com
SUN-THU 11AM-10PM ^ FRI-SAT 11AM-11PM EST. 2013 Green Leaf has quietly been producing quality beers – including a growing roster of sours and aged beers – at Lonsdale Quay since 2013.
PIE HOLE PALE ALE
WISENHOWER
N O RT H W E S T PA L E A L E
HEFEWEIZEN
Availability: Year-round ABV
5.6%
IBU
36
Crisp, clean, fruity and hoppy – you’re going to want to stuff your pie hole with this pale ale. 40
Availability: Seasonal ABV
5.0%
IBU
60
This refreshing wheat ale is perfect for a sunny day at Green Leaf ’s Lonsdale Quay beer garden.
NORTH VAN
HEARTHSTONE BREWERY
1015 Marine Dr. | HearthstoneBrewery.ca
SUN-WED 11AM-10PM ^ THURS-SAT 11AM-12AM EST. 2014 Hearthstone has turned heads with creative recipes, thanks to brewer George Woods, formerly of legendary Scottish beermakers, BrewDog.
RIZZLA RICE LAGER G L U T E N - F R I E N D LY L A G E R
HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART DARK SOUR
Availability: Year-round
FRUIT SOUR Availability: One-off
ABV
4.5%
18
IBU
ABV
This Asian-style rice lager is all killer and no filler (or gluten, for that matter).
6.0%
IBU
0
This dark ale is kettle-soured and fermented with blackcurrant and cranberries.
Just a few paces north of the steam clock, we are a friendly place to grab a bite, hoist a pint and relax in good company.
Proud to carry a selection of Craft Beer, Spirits and BC wine. Ferry Terminal
St.
Keith Rd.
ce
Roy al A ve.
Bay St.
Bru
Open daily for lunch and dinner until late.
1
P
P
1.5 blocks from the Horseshoe Bay ferry 6406 Bruce Street • 604-281-2077
www.theblackfrog.ca 604.602.0527 108 Cambie Street @blackfrogeatery 41
BURNABY
DAGERAAD BREWING
114 - 3191 Thunderbird Cres. | DageraadBrewing.com SAT-THU 12-8PM^FRI 12-9PM EST. 2014 Many breweries attempt Belgian-style beers, but no one seems to nail it quite like Dageraad does. The newly-opened tasting room, located just steps from Production Way-University SkyTrain station, is the perfect place to sample the goods, too.
BLONDE IPA
OSCAR
B E L G I A N B L O N D E / I N D I A PA L E A L E
B E L G I A N PA L E A L E
Availability: Seasonal
Availability: Small batch
ABV
7.5%
IBU
35
The classic Belgian blonde ale gets the West Coast treatment with fruity Amarillo hops.
ABV
5.0%
IBU
30
One of a pair of beers brewed to mark the first birthday of owner/brewer Ben Coli’s twin children.
LOUISE
8 DEGREES
BELGIAN BLONDE ALE
TA RT B E L G I A N Q UA D R U P E L
Availability: One-off ABV
6.5%
IBU
25
Dageraad’s second twin beer, Louise is a bright, citrusy, refreshing Belgian blonde ale.
Availability: Small batch ABV
8.9%
IBU
30
Lightly soured then fermented with an “unusual strain” of yeast that produces lovely plummy esters.
Movin’ on up! Dageraad’s new nine-tap, 50-seat tasting room opened back in May and it finally received its lounge endorsement in July, so now you can have two beers in a row!
42
OUR NEW BREWERY LOUNGE IS OPEN! (finally)
Near Lougheed Highway A 5 minute walk from Production Way Skytrain
Discover the fleeting magic of fresh-hopped beer by Rob Mangelsdorf
T
here’s something truly magical about a fresh-hopped beer. In terms of flavour, the use of fresh hops – that is, hops that have been picked that day and put immediately into the brew – imparts wonderfully floral aromatics and intense bright flavours.
“The absolute seasonality of fresh-hopped beers is so, so awesome,” says Iain Hill, brewmaster at Strange Fellows Brewing in Vancouver. “You have to make it the day it’s picked… and then you have two weeks to drink it and that’s it. It lives for such a short time.”
But that’s only part of the appeal.
While many people associate hoppy beers with the intense bitterness of West Coast IPAs, freshhopped beers don’t have that burn.
Because fresh-hopped beers need to be brewed immediately upon harvesting the hops, there’s only a narrow window in which to make them – three to four weeks in September at most. The compounds that produce those incredible aromatics are also incredibly volatile, so fresh-hopped beers have to be drunk as fresh as possible. Once it’s a couple weeks old, all that magic is gone.
44
“The hop flavour is more intense and perfume-y, but it’s not more bitter,” Hill explains. Traditionally, hops are kiln-dried, then pelletized, vacuum-sealed and frozen to extend their shelf life. That way brewers can brew with hops yearround. The trade-off, though, is that some of the
The compounds that produce those incredible aromatics are also incredibly volatile, so fresh-hopped beers have to be drunk as fresh as possible. Once it’s a couple weeks old, all that magic is gone. volatile compounds responsible for the intense aromatics can be lost. The key to capturing the essence of the fresh hop is a tricky process, however. Along with those intense flavour brewers want, fresh hops can also bring tannins and other compounds that can give a beer a vegetal flavour, if you’re not careful. (Imagine soggy green pepper that’s been left in the fridge for a week. Yuck!) More often then not, fresh-hopped beers fall somewhere on the pale ale or IPA spectrum. Hill says he prefers them to be dry, with little residual sweetness and malt character, in order to provide a blank canvas for the hops. “It’s all about the hops,” he says, “so you don’t want anything competing with those flavours.” Since the hops have to go into the brew immediately, brewers are forced to use hops that are grown nearby. In the case of Strange Fellows’ Hopdevil, the Cascade hops Hill uses are picked early in the morning at Maple Bay Hop Farm on Vancouver Island, sent over on the ferry, and are added to the brew by the early afternoon. Weather conditions have a huge impact on harvest times, so Hill might only get a couple days notice that his hops are coming, if he’s lucky. “You have to be ready for them when they get here,” he says. By forcing brewers to source their hops locally, fresh-hopped beers are among the best examples of terroir in craft beer. “You can’t use Vic Secret, or some fruity Australian hop, you have to go local,” Hill says. “That allows you to make something that’s pretty unique and it’s a great way to connect with the land.”
For the most part, you’re only going to find freshhopped beers like Strange Fellows’ Hopdevil in the tasting room. Driftwood was the first B.C. craft brewery to offer a bottled fresh-hopped beer with its Sartori Harvest IPA, but if you’re lucky enough to snag a bottle, make sure you drink it immediately! There is a third option, however. Go to the source! Donna Dixson is the brains behind the B.C. Hop Fest, which takes place Sept. 30 in Abbotsford, on an actual working hop farm. The festival features 36 B.C. craft breweries, each pouring a freshhopped creation, so it’s easily the best place to experience the magic of this ephemeral beer. “It’s a pretty unique experience, because it’s right on the farm, so you can see where the hops come from,” says Dixson. There will be farm tours, displays on the history of hop production in the Fraser Valley (which used to be one of the largest hop-producing regions on Earth!), live music, food, vendors selling hop-related products, the whole works. Not surprisingly, people from across North America flock to the event. This year, 1,500 people are expected to attend. “Like a Beaujolais Nouveau, fresh-hopped beer is something you can only get once a year,” Dixson says. “And once it’s gone, it’s gone! j
B.C.HopFest 1-6pm, Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017 1905 Cole Rd., Abbotsford Info and tickets at BCHop.ca/events/hop-fest
45
BURNABY
STEAMWORKS BREWING CO.
3845 William St. | Steamworks.com SUN-WED 12-10PM ^THU-FRI 12-11PM EST. 1995 Steamworks might just be B.C.’s most consistent brewery, with an interesting and varied lineup of excellent beer.
BLACK ANGEL IPA
FLAGSHIP IPA
C A S C A D I A N DA R K A L E
N O RT H E A S T I N D I A PA L E A L E
Availability: Seasonal
Availability: Year-round
ABV
7.0%
IBU
70
Huge notes of tropical, floral and spicy hops, deftly balanced by caramel malt.
ABV
6.7%
IBU
65
Will Flagship retain its B.C. Beer Awards best in show crown? It’s still got that tropical juice down pat.
NEW WEST
STEEL & OAK BREWING CO.
1319 3rd Ave. | SteelAndOak.ca
SUN-MON 12-8PM ^ TUE-WED 12-9PM ^ THU-SAT 1210PM EST. 2013 A strong community presence and attention to detail has paid off for Steel & Oak. Its popular tasting room is always hopping thanks to an eclectic beer list.
RED PILSNER
ROSELLE
AMBER LAGER
W H E AT A L E
Availability: Year-round ABV
5.0%
IBU
35
This full-bodied, copper-coloured lager has a thick white head and a floral hop aroma. 46
Availability: Year-round ABV
5.5%
IBU
22
Belgian yeast, hibiscus and rosehips give this beer notes of banana, raspberry and spice.
PORT MOODY
MOODY ALES
2601 Murray St. | MoodyAles.com MON-TUE 3-9PM ^ WED 1-9PM ^ THU 1-10PM FRI 12-11PM ^ SAT 11AM-11PM ^ SUN 12-8PM EST. 2014 There’s always something interesting going down at this Brewers Row haunt. It’s not just the award-winning beer either – there’s yoga and trivia, too.
VIENNA LAGER VIENNA LAGER
LUSTY CHOCOLATE STOUT
Availability: Year-round
C H O C O L AT E OAT M E A L M I L K S TO U T Availability: Seasonal
ABV
5.5%
IBU
26
This style was originated in Vienna in the 1840s, lost popularity in Europe, then thrived in Mexico.
ABV
5.8%
IBU
38
Brewed with chocolate malt and cocoa, then conditioned on cocoa nibs for an intense chocolate flavour.
PORT MOODY
THE PARKSIDE BREWERY
2731 Murray St. | TheParksideBrewery.com
MON-WED 12-10PM ^ THU-SAT 12-11PM ^ SUN 12-10PM EST. 2016 Over one full year in operation, ex-Granville Island brewer Vern Lambourne has more than demonstrated his brewing chops.
GRAFFITI
DUSK
I N D I A PA L E A L E
PA L E A L E
Availability: Year-round ABV
6.9%
IBU
60
A bold and balanced hop bomb brimming with pithy grapefruit, pine and floral hop notes.
Availability: Year-round ABV
5.3%
IBU
30
This is a solid, hop-forward pale ale that fits the bill for any occasion. 47
PORT MOODY
TWIN SAILS BREWING
2821 Murray St. | TwinSailsBrewing.com
SUN-WED 12PM-10PM ^ THU-SAT 12-11PM EST. 2015 No visit to Brewers Row is complete without a stop at Twin Sails, where traditional beer styles line up next to envelope-pushing creations.
TWIN SAILS PILSNER
CON LECHE
PILSNER
H O R C H ATA M I L K S TO U T
Availability: Year-round ABV
5.1%
IBU
25
This light-bodied German-style pilsner finishes crisply. Generous noble hops make it mildy spicy.
Availability: Small batch ABV
7.5%
IBU
18
Like real horchata, this rich milk stout is brewed with cinnamon and vanilla. Mucho gusto!
PORT MOODY
YELLOW DOG BREWING CO.
1- 2817 Murray St. | YellowDogBrew.com
MON-SAT 11AM-11PM ^ SUN 11AM-10PM EST. 2014 Named for the founders’ golden lab, Chase, this brewery has built up a big following of adoring fans for its wide range of award-winning beers.
CHASE MY TAIL
SHAKE A PAW
A M E R I C A N PA L E A L E
E N G L I S H P O RT E R
Availability: Year-round ABV
5.2%
IBU
50
This West Coast (i.e. hoppy!) pale ale is an easy-drinking thirst quencher. 48
Availability: Year-round ABV
5.0%
IBU
24
Dark, smooth and complex with a subtle smokiness and hints of coffee and chocolate.
COQUITLAM
MARINER BREWING
1100 Lansdowne Dr. | MarinerBrewing.ca MON-THU 2-10PM ^ FRI-SAT 12-11PM ^ SUN 12-9PM EST. 2016 This brand new brewery, with its 50-seat tasting room and steamfired brewhouse, is a welcome addition to the Tri-Cities brewing scene.
NORTHEAST IPA
AMBER ALE
I N D I A PA L E A L E
AMBER ALE
Availability: Year-round
Availability: Year-round
ABV
7.5%
IBU
67
For fans of the hazy and juicy India pale ale – we’re talking intense tropical flavour!
ABV
5.1%
IBU
30
Mild coffee and fresh bread meet warm spicy hops in this rich caramel amber ale.
RICHMOND
BRITANNIA BREWING CO.
110-12500 Horseshoe Way | BBCO.ca MON-SAT 11AM-6PM EST. 2016 Britannia’s taproom is a hop, skip and a 10-minute drive away from their Steveston restaurant, where you can also try their brews alongside fresh eats.
WAVE CRUSADER XPA
SEA MAIDEN SOUR ALE
E X T R A PA L E A L E Availability: Year-round
SOUR ALE Availability: Seasonal
ABV
5.7%
IBU
45
British pale ale meets West Coast IPA: resiny citrus hops balanced with U.K. crystal malts.
ABV
4.2%
IBU
4
Fermented with lactobacillus, this light sour ale promises to be refreshingly tart. 49
RICHMOND
FUGGLES & WARLOCK CRAFTWORKS
103-11220 Horseshoe Way | FugglesWarlock.com SUN-WED 12-9PM ^ THU 11AM-11PM ^ FRI-SAT 11AM12AM EST. 2012 “Keeping beer weird” is their motto, bringing geek culture to thirsty people is their destiny. Expect adventurously tasty brews and pop culture references.
PIXEL PILS
BEAN ME UP
PILSNER
E S P R E S S O M I L K S TO U T
Availability: Year-round ABV
5.0%
IBU
Availability: Year-round
30
An unfiltered pilsner that is crisp and refreshing, with a nice hop bite.
ABV
5.7%
IBU
18
Made in collaboration with Notch Coffee, this espresso stout is smooth and creamy.
DELTA
FOUR WINDS BREWING
4 - 7355 72nd St. | FourWindsBrewing.ca DAILY 11AM-7PM EST. 2013
FW’s six-packs of its low ABV-yet-super-flavourful Notus series kept us hydrated over summer, and that’s not looking to change as we head into fall.
VELO
NECTAROUS
A M E R I C A N PA L E A L E
D RY- H O P P E D S O U R A L E
Availability: Seasonal ABV
4.5%
IBU
45
A bright, citrusy hazy pale ale conditioned with fresh lemon zest and pink Himalayan salt. 50
Availability: Year-round ABV
5.5%
IBU
6
Last year’s Canadian beer of the year still shines, finishing with a clean tart finish.
RICHMOND DELTA
CENTRAL CITY BREWERS + DISTILLERS
11411 Bridgeview Dr. | CentralCityBrewing.com MON-FRI 11AM-9PM ^SAT-SUN 10AM-9PM EST. 2003
The tank forest is always full, the brewpubs are busy and Central City’s spirits keep picking up awards. Pro tip: Gary Lohin’s beer is pretty awesome, too.
SUPER SOLAR IPA
RED RACER PALE ALE
I N D I A PA L E A L E
N O RT H W E S T PA L E A L E
Availability: Year-round ABV
6.0%
IBU
68
What do you get if you combine Gary Lohin with Citra and Mosaic hops? Your favourite new IPA.
Availability: Year-round ABV
5.0%
IBU
45
There’s been a whole lotta tweakin’ goin’ on here recently, but this pale ale remains a bold classic.
is Vancouver’s only craft beer focused sports bar. Featuring 12 taps and casks plus multiple TVs.
395 Kingsway | 604-558-1208 12kingspub.com | @12KingsPub 51
SURREY
RUSSELL BREWING CO.
202 - 13018 80th Ave. | RussellBeer.com MON-FRI 6:30AM-2:30PM EST. 1995
Established in 1995, Russell brews a plethora of beer styles, readily available in stores. Which is handy as they don’t have a tasting room!
A WEE ANGRY SCOTCH ALE
BLOOD ALLEY EXTRA SPECIAL BITTER
S C OT T I S H A L E Availability: Year-round ABV
6.5%
IBU
Availability: Year-round
30
A strong dark ale brewed with specialty Scottish malts for a subtle smoky flavour
ABV
5.5%
IBU
50
Named for the infamous alley in Gastown, and brewed with English malts and American hops.
SURREY
WHITE ROCK BREWING
13 - 3033 King George Blvd. | WhiteRockBrewing.ca MON-SAT 11:30AM-7PM ^ SUN 11:30AM-5PM EST. 2015 It may be attached to a U-Brew, but They Brew to a professional standard. Don’t let the dinky brewing rig in the tasting room fool you.
WHITE ROCK OCEAN LAGER LAGER Availability: Year-round ABV
5.0%
IBU
22
Converting South Surrey lager lovers to craft beer since 2015. 52
U-13 PROHIBITION IPA I N D I A PA L E A L E Availability: Seasonal ABV
7.0%
IBU
90
Make way, there! This full-blooded hop bomb is packed with explosive citrus and pine flavour.
WHITE ROCK
WHITE ROCK BEACH BEER CO.
15181 Russell Ave. | WhiteRockBeachBeer.com WED-THU 4-8PM ^ FRI 4-9PM^SAT 12-8PM SUN 10AM-5PM EST. 2014 Big things are happening for White Rock’s only craft brewery, with a new tasting lounge and a new 18 hL brewhouse.
WEST BEACH
BORDER
A M E R I C A N PA L E A L E
BA LT I C P O RT E R
Availability: Year-round
Availability: Seasonal
ABV
5.0%
IBU
36
Centennial hops give this thirst-quenching crowd pleaser a citrusy, grapefruit flavour.
ABV
6.2%
IBU
29
Big malty aromas with chocolate notes alongside sweet fruitiness make for a satisfying autumn pint.
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PITT MEADOWS
FOAMERS’ FOLLY BREWING CO.
19221 122A Ave. | FoamersFolly.ca
SUN-THU 11AM-11PM ^ FRI-SAT 11AM-12:30AM EST. 2015 This brewery stands out not only for its unusual name, but also because of its way cool tasting room with 20 taps, pizza, board games, and a streetside patio. Easily the best thing Pitt Meadows has going for it.
BOYSENBERRY SAISON
POST MODERN PALE ALE
SAISON Availability: Small batch
PA L E A L E Availability: Year-round
ABV
6.0%
IBU
27
Tart and fruity with a subtly spiced and dry finish, this berry-infused beer is refreshing.
JUICY DOUBLE II
ABV
6.0%
IBU
33
A medium-bodied ale enhanced by wheat malt and a fruity, citrus hop profile.
D O U B L E I N D I A PA L E A L E
LAVENDER EARL GREY ESB
Availability: Small batch
EXTRA SPECIAL BITTER Availability: Small batch
ABV
8.5%
IBU
90
Hazy and creamy with big tropical fruit flavours boosted by the addition of real mangoes.
ABV
6.0%
IBU
32
Rich bergamot and lavender are balanced with biscuity, caramel malt flavours. Creamy and delicious.
two brews better than one We can all agree, two is better than one, right? Foamers’ Folly certainly thinks so, that’s why they have not one, but two brewhouses. The main system, at 2000 litres, produces the brewery’s mainstays, while the smaller 500-litre system is used for experimental small batch beers for the tasting room. 54
LOCALLY BREWED, HAND CRAFTED BEER
Brewery & Tap Room: 19221 122a Avenue, Pitt Meadows, BC V3Y 2E9
Hours of Operation: Sun. – Thurs.: 11am—11pm Fri. & Sat.: 11am—12:30am
foamersfolly.ca foamersfolly foamersfolly
Hey dude, did you know there’s acid in your beer?!
I
ndeed, some of B.C.’s brewers have been purposely adding acid to their beers for a while now – lactic acid, that is. The sour beer craze is only getting bigger and bigger, but while some sours taste just slightly tart, others come across as mouth-puckeringly sour. With such a big difference from beer to beer, perhaps it’s time for a sourness scale similar to ABV and IBU to better inform the consumer. Michael Kuzyk, founder and brewer at Category 12 Brewing, certainly thinks so. “IPAs all have IBU ratings on them to give an idea of how bitter the beer is,” he explained. “With the rise of sour beers in the B.C. beer scene, we wanted to let people know how sour their beer is.” As such, along with the usual ABV and IBU, the label for Category 12 Brewing’s Dry-Hopped Sour also lists the beer’s total acidity (TA) as 4.3 g/L. Brewers don’t just dump lactic acid into their beers to sour them; it is generated by useful bacteria as part of the brewing process. In the traditional Belgian method of barrel-aging sours, Lactobacillus and Pediococcus bacteria do the work slowly
56
by Joe Wiebe over months and years. The contemporary kettle souring method is much faster, but brewers generally use just Lactobacillus because Pediococcus can produce off flavours that require aging, blending and other interventions. To learn more about total acidity, I visited Kuzyk at his brewery in Saanichton, just north of Victoria. I brought along a clutch of different sour beers. Category 12 sacrificed a bottle of Cantillon Kriek that was in its fridge – luckily we only needed 30 mL for the test so everyone working that day got to have a taste. And I included some lemonade as a baseline test. We set up in the brewery’s lab. Kuzyk has a PhD in microbiology and biochemistry. As he poured out the beers into some C12-branded beakers (which are also used in the tasting room), he described the procedure. “We measure the levels of lactic acid in our wort as it comes out of the kettle before it has had any fermentation or any acidity, and that’s the baseline,” Kuzyk explained. “And then you measure it
again when it’s finished and that net change is due to the presence of lactic acid.” Kuzyk said the baseline for their Dry-Hopped Sour is 1.1 g/L. We couldn’t measure the baseline acidity for the other beers we tested, but Kuzyk explained that most beers would fall within the 1-1.1 g/L range so the slight difference would not affect our final numbers much. First, because dissolved carbon dioxide can skew the test results, we had to decarbonate each sample by pouring it back and forth until it was flat. Then, we would measure the pH of each beer and slowly add sodium hydroxide (NaOH) until the pH rose to 8.2. Based on how much was required to neutralize the beer’s acidity we could then compute each beer’s final acidity. Total acidity is measured in grams per litre. The range of total acidity in beer is approximately 0 to 15 g/L. “Anything above 15 g/L will stress the yeast out too much,” Kuzyk stated. Time to let the acid testing begin! After we donned safety goggles, Kuzyk measured the pH in the first beaker containing lemonade as 2.45. Then he began adding drops of sodium hydroxide in a slow trickle and we watched as the numbers on the pH meter began to climb. We tasted the lemonade and agreed that it didn’t taste very sour, but that’s because it was heavily sweetened with sugar. “I get a lot of joy out of finding the science in this,” Kuzyk commented as he worked. “When I first embarked on the path to leave research behind it kind of felt like I was leaving science behind.” According to his wife, Karen, who manages the brewery, “He’s in his element in the lab.” They have been slowly gathering more and more lab equipment for him to use. “We just shut the door and ignore him,” she joked. Soon, we had our first result: 26.6 mL of NaOH added. Kuzyk punched this value into a spreadsheet, and presto, we learned that the lemonade’s total acidity was 6.6 g/L. Over the next 90 minutes we tested a wide range of sour beers. The pH did not necessarily reflect
"He’s in his element in the lab,” says Michael Kuzyk's wife, Karen. “We just shut the door and ignore him.”
the beer’s total acidity – several beers had virtually identical pH readings of 3.24-3.26, but their TA levels ranged from 4.3 to 8.4. Empirically, the actual sourness of the beers was not necessarily reflected in what we tasted. For instance, Bridge’s Quaywi (6.4 TA) tasted more sour than Nectarous (9.1 TA). We figured that was because Nectarous has a fruity sweetness from dry hopping that counteracts some of the sourness. And even though Cantillon’s Kriek had a TA of 8.4, the second highest we measured, it didn’t come across as extremely sour. Similarly, Moon Under Water’s Tempus Corvi’s sourness seemed more subtle and nuanced. This might be explained by the fact that both were barrel-aged rather than soured in the kettle, which results in more complex flavours. As expected, the gose with its salty tartness (4.0 TA) and the lighter Berliner Weisse (4.9 TA) had relatively low ratings, but so did Category 12’s, which registered as second lowest at 4.3. Kuzyk explained that is intentional: “We want it to be an introductory sour for people.” At this point, Category 12 is the only brewery in B.C. that lists total acidity on its labels. Some, including Four Winds, do measure it for their own purposes, but we will have to wait and see if TA will find its place alongside ABV and IBU on craft beer labels. j
57
MAPLE RIDGE
MAPLE MEADOWS BREWING CO.
22775 Dewdney Trunk Rd. | MapleMeadowsBrewingCo.com TUE-THU 2-7PM ^FRI-SAT 12-8PM ^SUN 12-6PM EST. 2014 Maple Meadows may be the quieter of Maple Ridge’s two breweries, but it’s always worth stopping by Carlo Baroccio’s taproom.
DARK RED ALE
HOPPY MEADOWS
RED ALE
I N D I A PA L E A L E
Availability: Seasonal
Availability: Year-round
ABV
5.5%
IBU
27
A mysteriously mild-hopped dark red ale that pairs well with autumn weather.
ABV
6.1%
IBU
71
Carlo’s signature IPA doesn’t hold back on the hop-bursting goodness.
MAPLE RIDGE
RIDGE BREWING CO.
22826 Dewdney Trunk Rd. | RidgeBrewing.com MON-THU 2-7PM ^ FRI 2-8:30PM ^SAT 11AM-8:30PM SUN 11AM-5:30PM EST. 2015 The only brewery where you can get a glass of Hairy Donut, Ridge is creating interesting brews with equally interesting names.
CORE SAMPLE
CAFÉ MORENA
N O RT H W E S T I N D I A PA L E A L E
E N G L I S H B R OW N A L E
Availability: Limited
Availability: Seasonal
ABV
6.6%
IBU
66
A strong malt backbone with bright citrus hop flavours and little bitterness. 58
ABV
4.8%
IBU
18
An English brown ale with rich dark coffee notes, best served at cellar temperatures.
LANGLEY
KPU BREWING LAB
20901 Langley Bypass | KPU.ca/Brew WED 12-4PM ^ FRI 1-5PM EST. 2016
This 4,500-sq.-ft. pilot brewery is where the next generation of brewers is learning their craft. Stop by for a sample or a growler fill.
KPU SCHWARZBIER
KPU PALE ALE
DA R K L A G E R
PA L E A L E
Availability: Small batch
Availability: Small batch
ABV
5.0%
IBU
N/A
A dry, dark German lager with notes of coffee and a roasted malt edge.
ABV
5.0%
IBU
N/A
A refreshing, golden-coloured ale with medium hop flavour and malt character.
LANGLEY
TRADING POST BREWING
107 - 20120 64th Ave. | TradingPostBrewing.com MON-WED 12-10PM ^ THU-SUN 12-11PM EST. 2015
TP is hip and modern but still honours the fur trading past of Fort Langley. This doesn’t mean you can pay for a growler fill with beaver pelts, though.
CAPTAIN COOPER’S TART CRANBERRY ALE
THREE BEARS BREAKFAST STOUT
SOUR ALE Availability: Seasonal
S TO U T Availability: Year-round
ABV
5.8%
IBU
7
A kettle sour wheat ale with lactobacillus. A medium malt body with bold cranberry tartness.
ABV
6.7%
IBU
40
A jet black, hearty oatmeal stout featuring beans from Fort Langley’s Republica Roasters. 59
ALDERGROVE
DEAD FROG BREWERY
1 - 27272 Gloucester Way | DeadFrog.ca MON-FRI 10AM-5PM ^ SAT 12-4PM EST. 2005
Head brewer Cole Smith is starting to stamp his own style at Dead Frog, where the inventive lineup always features several surprises.
C.R.E.A.M. KEY LIME MILKSHAKE IPA
TIP HOP SPRUCE WHITE IPA
M I L K S H A K E I N D I A PA L E A L E Availability: Limited
W H I T E I N D I A PA L E A L E Availability: Limited
ABV
6.5%
IBU
45
Just enough key lime zest adds some refreshing acidity to this creamy-sweet tropical concoction.
ABV
6.5%
IBU
55
Fresh spruce tips are paired with Simcoe hops for a tangy pine profile supported by toasty malt.
ABBOTSFORD
FIELD HOUSE BREWING CO.
2281 West Railway St. | FieldHouseBrewing.com
TUE-THU 12-10PM ^ FRI-SAT 12-11PM ^ SUN 12-10PM EST. 2016 With exceptional beers and an über-cool tasting room (complete with outdoor “beer lawn”), Field House is well worth a trip out to the Valley.
DUTCH SOUR WIT SOUR WITBIER
DRY-HOPPED HAZY SOUR DOUBLE IPA
Availability: Seasonal
S O U R I N D I A PA L E A L E Availability: Seasonal
ABV
6.0%
IBU
18
This Dutch treat is brewed with dried orange peel and coriander, soured with lacto then dry-hopped. 60
ABV
7.5%
IBU
22
Dry-hopped, lacto-soured and brett-fermented – there’s a lot going on with this juicy wild ale.
Catered platters featuring our smoked meats, & award-winning sausages, carefully arranged for your events. Much like craft beer, we believe Lepp Farm raised, gourmet meats are
leppfarmmarket.com 33955 Clayburn Rd. 604.851.5377 Abbotsford, BC
ABBOTSFORD
OLD ABBEY ALES
1A - 30321 Fraser Hwy. | OldAbbeyAles.com DAILY 11AM-8PM EST. 2015 This tasting room always has 20 beers on tap, ranging from the traditional to edgier West Coast styles, sours and Belgians.
DANK TANK IIPA D O U B L E I N D I A PA L E A L E
ALTERNATIVE ZEN IPL
Availability: Year-round
I N D I A PA L E L A G E R Availability: Year-round
ABV
9.5%
IBU
70
Hazy and golden with notes of fruit and pine and a big dank hop character.
ABV
5.0%
IBU
30
Big doses of whirlpool hops give this unfiltered golden lager a citrusy hop aroma.
ABBOTSFORD
RAVENS BREWING CO.
2485 Townline Rd. | Ravens.beer
TUE-THU 12-7PM ^ FRI 2-8PM ^ SAT 12-8PM SUN 12-6PM EST. 2015 It’s well worth the trek through west Abbotsford’s sprawling industrial zone to find this oasis of calm, friendliness and splendid beer.
RAVENS IPA
DRY IRISH STOUT
I N D I A PA L E A L E
D RY I R I S H S TO U T
Availability: Year-round ABV
7.0%
IBU
70
A robust hop showcase full of classic pine and tropical and citrus fruit flavours and a sturdy bitterness. 62
Availability: Seasonal ABV
4.8%
IBU
33
A cracking stout with just enough notes of coffee and roastiness, and a satisfying, dry finish.
CHI C HIL L LII WA C K Chilliwack Hop Farms—Bringing world-class hops back to British Columbia! For over a hundred years, Chilliwack produced some of the best hops in the entire British Commonwealth. We are proud to play our part in rebuilding that legacy right back here where it belongs—in Chilliwack, BC. We are now over 300 acres and growing! We carry over 120 varieties of hops that we ship out daily to over 15 countries. We love growing hops. You love brewing with great hops. Contact us—we’re here to help.
CHILLIWACK HOP FARMS 6575 Unsworth Rd., Chilliwack, B.C. 604-614-1764 • sales@chilliwackhopfarms.com www.chilliwackhopfarms.com
MISSION
MISSION SPRINGS BREWING COMPANY
7160 Oliver St. | MissionSprings.ca
MON-SAT 11AM-10PM ^ SUN 10AM-10PM EST. 1996 If you’re on a mission to Mission, there’s only one place to stop for craft beer. Mission Springs has been quenching thirsts for more than 20 years and has the loyal local following to prove it. It’s a brewery, a pub, a restaurant, a liquor store and so much more.
TRAILBLAZER
FAT GUY
PILSNER
OAT M E A L S TO U T
Availability: Year-round ABV
4.5%
IBU
17
Brewed for drinking after a hard day of mountain biking, this pilsner is crisp, refreshing and well-balanced.
ABV
4.5%
IBU
22
This sessionable oatmeal stout is all coffee and chocolate and roasty maltiness – delicious!
LEMON GINGER RADLER
BLUE COLLAR PALE ALE
RADLER Availability: Year-round
PA L E A L E Availability: Year-round
ABV
3.0%
IBU
17
With a refreshing lemon finish and light ginger zing, this radler goes great over ice. Who says summer has to end!
ABV
5.3%
IBU
30
This is a no-nonsense, full-bodied pale ale brewed in the Old World and designed to be enjoyed any time of the year.
LOUGHEED LAGER
CHERRY BOMB
LAGER
FA R M H O U S E A L E
Availability: Year-round ABV
4.5%
IBU
15
A perfectly simple, yet refreshing beer created as an introduction into the world of craft.
64
Availability: Year-round
Availability: Seasonal ABV
5.5%
IBU
23
This Belgian-style farmhouse ale is fermented with just the right amount of sour cherries. Exceptionally sessionable.
TAILGATE EVERY FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY ALL YOU CAN EAT . 5-9 PM
$17 ADULTS // $10 KIDS
$4
Happy Hour, Beer & Wine Specials
UFC, PPV & prizes!
7160 Oliver Street, MIssion • 604.820.4192
missionsprings.ca
CHILLIWACK
CHAOS & SOLACE CRAFT BREWING CO.
1 - 9360 Mill St. | ChaosAndSolace.com DAILY 11AM-7PM EST. 2016
With 20-plus years of homebrewing experience, Calvin Quaite has a solid selection of brews on tap at his hip taproom in historic downtown Chilliwack.
FIVE CORNERS IPA
PARAMOUNT PORTER
I N D I A PA L E A L E
P O RT E R
Availability: Year-round
Availability: Year-round
ABV
6.5%
IBU
75
This is one for all the hop-heads, featuring fresh local hops from Chilliwack.
ABV
6.3%
IBU
38
A roasty aroma compliments the equally roasted malts in this strong dark brew.
CHILLIWACK
OLD YALE BREWING CO.
404 - 44550 South Sumas Rd. | OldYaleBrewing.com DAILY 11AM-9PM EST. 1999 Brewer Nick Fengler has landed at this award-winning brewery. Head to the tasting room for a close encounter with a mysterious Sasquatch (stout).
BC BACKYARD LAGER
KNOTTY BLONDE ALE
RY E L A G E R
BLONDE ALE
Availability: Year-round ABV
5.0%
IBU
25
Brewed with local ingredients, including barley, rye blend and local hops. Light and straightforward. 66
Availability: Year-round ABV
5.0%
IBU
15
Made with old and new world hops, it’s clean, crisp with a subtle grapefruit flavour.
FArm pressed crAft cider
Craft cider made with heritage apple varieties sourced from our own orchards.
3113 Johnson Street, Summerland P: 778-738-1155 www.summerlandcider.com
merridale.ca
Handcrafted with traditional tree-ripened cider apples from our fifth generation family orchard
B R A N C H TO B OT T L E Small-batch craft cider made from our own heirloom apples in Summerland, BC
Open weekends 11am-5pm and available at fine locations
WardsCider.com 2287 Ward Rd, Kelowna Visit our historic tasting room, open daily.
C re
business B.C. breweries get hip to cider trend
G
by Kristyn Anthony
rowing up on an apple orchard and then becoming a brewer of beer may seem a bit counterintuitive, but it comes in handy when the craft world starts experimenting with cider, as it has in the past few years.
diet. The response to their house apple cider was so great that they quickly made it available for growler fills and in six packs. The initial batch only required a few small adjustments to arrive at the dry, hazy, pale blonde version they now offer.
For Dave Varga, an Okanagan kid turned Vancouver brewmaster, 20 years of producing lagers, ales and stouts had him interested in branching out to offer those in the tasting room at 33 Acres a different option.
The process, however, was not without its challenges. Making cider is much more expensive than brewing beer, Sepkowski explains. It requires a separate wine license to ferment fruit on its own, as opposed to a grain-based beverage like beer, and the fermentation and conditioning process is time consuming.
“Dave’s commitment to making clean and balanced drinks made us very confident that the first batch was going to be exactly what we were looking for,” says Dustin Sepkowski, operations manager at 33 Acres Brewing Company. Sepkowski says they saw an opportunity to reach folks who aren’t able to drink beer – celiacs, for example, or those who subscribe to a gluten-free
68
“Some traditional ciders are more in line with wine-making timelines,” he says. Currently, the B.C. Liquor Control and Licensing Branch groups cider with wine and taxes it similarly, too. A higher tax means a higher markup for a consumer not necessarily versed in the
difference between a craft cider and one saturated with sugar, artificial flavours and apple juice concentrate. Together that adds up to a considerable cost for a small business like a craft brewery. “The biggest challenge is taxation,” says Dustan Sept of Surrey’s Central City Brewing. “Coming up with a competitive product at a reasonable price is quite challenging.”
Some traditional ciders are more in line with wine-making timelines.
- Dustin Sepkowski, 33 Acres Brewing Company
Central City released their Hopping Mad Cider in March 2015, full of Yakima hops to turn a traditional cider into something the bitter-brew-loving West Coast crowd would crack open. “We are best known for hoppy beers like the Red Racer IPA,” Sept says. “It made logical sense to take that inspiration to cider. It also allows us to be creative and offer a point of difference to the consumer.” Sept says building Central City’s cider portfolio was a way for brewmaster Gary Lohin and the brewing team to explore a new area of craft and reach a non-traditional craft customer. They’ve expanded their line-up to include a wood-aged imperial cider, a dry-hopped seasonal batch, a
grapefruit cider radler and a tart cherry version. Altering the flavour profile is generally the job of the apples, which both breweries source from B.C. and Washington, one of the largest apple producing regions in the world. The flavour profile fluctuates mainly on a scale from dry to sweet as a result of the type of apples used, Sept says, and having a consistent supply of quality apples is a key driver in sourcing fruit. “Buying [apples] in B.C. is very difficult with the amount of cideries that exist here, and the fact that the number of orchards has greatly declined over the last 20 years,” Sepkowski says. “We hope to see that change now that cider is becoming much more popular.” With close to 150 craft breweries currently operating in B.C., and only a handful making cider, there is room for growth. While licensing and taxes create a barrier for small breweries to get in the cider game, Sepkowski says he sees a lot of interest and things are changing. This past November, Vancouver held its first Craft Cider Festival and in April, B.C. Cider Week returned for its third year. And at breweries like Steel & Oak in New Westminster, which is not brewing its own cider, it’s offering space on guest taps to showcase ciders from across the province on a rotating basis. Despite only a few weeks left of summer, there’s no need to worry about getting your hands on local craft cider. At 33 Acres, Sepkowski hints at more experimenting for cider lovers and who knows, you may just kick your IPA addiction in the process. j
69
SQUAMISH
A-FRAME BREWING CO.
38927 Queens Way | AFrameBrewing.com MON-THU 2-10PM ^ FRI-SAT 10AM-11PM ^ SUN 12-8PM EST. 2016 They don’t bottle their beer, so you’d better get yourself over to the cabinstyle tasting room to drink your fill of A-Frame’s tasty lake-named beers.
MAGIC LAKE PORTER P O RT E R
OKANAGAN LAKE CREAM ALE
Availability: Year-round
CREAM ALE Availability: Year-round
ABV
6.0%
IBU
30
Dark, smooth and rich (like a good Tinder date), with chocolate, smoke and coffee notes.
ABV
5.0%
IBU
15
As pale as spun gold, sweet like landing your first fish, and smooth like butter.
SQUAMISH
BACKCOUNTRY BREWING
#405-1201 Commercial Way | BackcountryBrewing.com TUE-WED 3-10PM ^ THU 3-11PM ^ FRI-SAT 12PM-12AM SUN 12-10PM EST. 2017 If the lineups out the door are any indication, Squamish has fully embraced its newest brewery. Why? Excellent beer, amazing pizza and a sexy taproom.
RIDGERUNNER
WIDOWMAKER
PILSNER
N O RT H E A S T I N D I A PA L E A L E
Availability: Year-round ABV
5.0%
IBU
33
A classic, crisp and dry German pilsner hopped with Saphir and Spalt Select hops. 70
Availability: Year-round ABV
6.7%
IBU
50
Brewed with a truckload of Citra and Mosaic hops, this beer is intensely juicy.
October 6-13, 2017 Join us for the inaugural Vancouver’s North Shore Craft Beer Week! Toast the North Shore’s legendary past in microbrewing and our bright future with a week of celebrations! Find out more and download your passport at www.vancouversnorthshore.com/craftbeerweek Beere Brewing Co | Black Kettle Brewing | Bridge Brewing Co | Deep Cove Brewers & Distillers | Hearthstone Brewery | Streetcar Brewing
SQUAMISH
HOWE SOUND BREWING CO.
37801 Cleveland Ave. | HoweSound.com DAILY 11AM-12AM EST. 1996
Howe Sound has played its cards well from the start, with a cosy pub, gorgeous patio, 20-room inn and a consistently impressive beer lineup.
PUMPKINEATER
POTHOLE FILLER
PUMPKIN ALE
I M P E R I A L S TO U T
Availability: Seasonal
Availability: Seasonal
ABV
8.0%
IBU
19
Cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and star anise bring the spice to this hefty sipper.
ABV
9.0%
IBU
65
Still one of B.C.’s finest imperials. Stuffed with malt for a rich, thick, coffee-and-chocolate-laced experience.
WHISTLER
COAST MOUNTAIN BREWING CO.
Unit 2 1212 Alpha Lake Rd. | CoastMountainBeer.ca MON-WED 12-10PM ^ THU-SAT 11-12AM ^ SUN 11AM10PM EST. 2016 The appropriately-named Kevin Winter decided on the skiing town of Whistler to set up his brewery and tasting room last year.
WILD CREATURES A M E R I C A N FA R M H O U S E A L E
FORECAST WEST COAST PALE ALE
Availability: Seasonal
PA L E A L E Availability: Year-round
ABV
5.5%
IBU
25
This brett-fermented farmhouse is brewed with rye for a bit of spiciness and dry-hopped with Mosaic. 72
ABV
5.6%
IBU
30
The weatherman is calling for juicy Amarillo hops in this smooth pale ale.
Whistler Village’s best selection of boutique, local and flavourful craft breweries, featuring our friends at Coast Mountain Brewing!
bradk photos
Beer-inspired locally-crafted menu. 101-4368 Main Street, Whistler. Open 11am-11pm huntergatherwhistler.com
WHISTLER
WHISTLER BREWING CO. 1045 Millar Creek Rd. | WhistlerBeer.com
WED-THU 1-8PM ^ FRI 1-10PM ^ SAT-SUN 1-8PM EST. 1989 A lot’s changed since Whistler brewed its first beer in 1989, but they’re still fresh, from their Function Junction taproom to their unique seasonals.
CHESTNUT ALE ALE
FUNCTION JUNCTION PALE ALE
Availability: Seasonal
PA L E A L E Availability: Year-round
ABV
5.0%
IBU
25
An amber-hued award-winner. Brewed with roasted chestnuts, it pairs well with fall.
ABV
4.8%
38
IBU
Seven hop varieties balance nicely with the malt backbone, making for an approachable brew.
GIBSONS
THE 101 BREWHOUSE + DISTILLERY 1009 Gibsons Way | The101.ca HOURS TBD EST. 2016 Gibsons’ newest brewery is set to open any minute now with a range of crowd-pleasing craft beer offerings, as well as vodka and gin.
IPA
WEIZENBOCK
I N D I A PA L E A L E
WEIZENBOCK
Availability: Year-round ABV
6.5%
IBU
45
A light bodied, light colored IPA that is relatively low on bitterness and high on flavour and aroma. 74
Availability: Seasonal ABV
7.0%
IBU
16
Rich in malt flavour backed by strong yeast esters and some alcoholic warmth.
GIBSONS
GIBSONS TAPWORKS
537 Cruice Lane | GibsonsTapworks.com
SUN - THURS 12-10PM ^ FRI-SAT 12PM-12AM EST. 2016 Tucked just around the corner from Molly’s Reach in Gibsons Landing, this delightful taproom is worth missing the ferry for.
LOWER G
ONE SAILING WAIT
B R OW N A L E
I N D I A PA L E A L E
Availability: Year-round
Availability: Year-round
ABV
5.0%
IBU
26
This full-bodied ale features roasted malt flavours and a smooth finish.
ABV
6.9%
IBU
53
Crisp and clear, refreshing and aromatic, this citrus-forward IPA doesn’t want summer to end.
Handmade high quality wooden crates We specialize in store display and home décor, custom branding and display solutions. Start your own bike gang or join ours! Flying Frenchman bike crates available at a bike shop near you.
THE BREWER’S CANDY STORE Homebrewers can shop where the professionals shop!
cumberlandcratecompany.com
6908 Palm Ave, Burnaby 604-473-9463 • Toll Free 1-888-554-7273 bosagrape.com 75
GIBSONS
PERSEPHONE BREWING CO.
1053 Stewart Rd. | PersephoneBrewing.com
MON-WED 11AM-7PM ^ THU-SUN 10AM-9PM EST. 2013 Making and selling beer on a working farm makes sense. Let’s hope the new government figures that out and Persephone is allowed to continue brewing.
AMARILLO PILSNER
OKTOBERFEST
W E S T C OA S T P I L S N E R
MARZEN
Availability: Limited
Availability: Limited
ABV
5.0%
IBU
25
A traditional pilsner gets all hopped up! Amarillo hops provide intriguing tangerine and peach notes.
ABV
5.8%
IBU
27
‘Tis the season for Oktoberfest beers! Bring on the malty body and subtle spicy hoppiness.
POWELL RIVER
TOWNSITE BREWING
5824 Ash Ave. | TownsiteBrewing.com DAILY 11AM-9PM EST. 2012
B.C.’s first brewery with its own Economusée showcasing the craft of brewing in its expanded tasting room. Now’s the time for a trip to Powell River.
CHARLESTON
SOUR BLACKBERRY
BELGIAN TRIPLE
S O U R W H E AT A L E
Availability: Seasonal ABV
9.0%
IBU
34
Bottle conditioned for a smooth and creamy mouthfeel, this big beer is deceptively quaffable. 76
Availability: Seasonal ABV
5.5%
IBU
18
The sour blackberry wheat ale won a gold medal at the 2017 Canadian Brewing Awards.
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Bard & Banker The Churchill The Drake Eatery Garrick’s Head
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Driftwood Hoyne Lighthouse Moon Under Water
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VICTORIA
CANOE BREWPUB
450 Swift St. | CanoeBrewpub.com DAILY 11:30AM-LATE EST. 2002
Paddle into the Upper Harbour and park your vessel here for lunch or dinner. The pub is huge, the food excellent and the beer consistently great.
MARZEN
WITBIER
MARZEN
WITBIER
Availability: Seasonal
Availability: Year-round
ABV
5.5%
IBU
18
A sumptuous, clean amber lager with lightly sweet crusty-bread malt flavours.
ABV
4.5%
IBU
8
Lemon and orange, along with earthy, citrusy coriander seed, are added to this light, refreshing brew.
VICTORIA
DRIFTWOOD BREWERY
450 Hillside Ave. | DriftwoodBeer.com MON-SAT 11AM-6PM EST. 2008
Long considered one of B.C.’s best breweries, it’s too bad that Driftwood doesn’t have a tasting room. Good thing its beers can be found everywhere.
FARMHAND ALE
ARCUS
SAISON
PILSNER
Availability: Year-round ABV
5.0%
IBU
20
One of the first Belgian saisons brewed in B.C., this is still one of the best. 78
Availability: Seasonal ABV
5.0%
IBU
40
This is brewed in the North German style with classic Tettnanger hops and extended lagering.
VICTORIA
HOYNE BREWING CO.
101-2740 Bridge St. | HoyneBrewing.ca MON-FRI 12-6PM ^ SAT 11AM-6PM EST. 2011
Owner/brewer Sean Hoyne has seen it all, from helping start one of B.C.’s first brewpubs at Swans in 1989 to pushing the limits of craft beer today.
WOLFVINE
VOLTAGE
F R E S H - H O P P E D PA L E A L E
E S P R E S S O S TO U T
Availability: Seasonal
Availability: Seasonal
ABV
5.7%
IBU
N/A
A delightfully fragrant, amber-coloured West Coast pale ale, brewed with gobs of fresh local hops.
ABV
5.7%
IBU
30
Everything you would expect from a rich and dark Irish stout, plus the added jolt of espresso!
Local.Beer.Here.
31 Taps | Breakfast 8am Live Music Nightly
777 courtney st victoria bc smithspub.com
79
the
Craft Beer
PEDESTAL rarity vs greatness by Rob Mangelsdorf 80
I
think every craft beer nerd probably has a bucket list; a list of beers they want to try before they kick said bucket.
Last year, I had the opportunity to cross one off of my list. My wife and I were in Amsterdam to celebrate our anniversary and we ended up in one of the many amazing “brown cafés” – the tiny, historic beer and gin bars that are tucked into every nook and cranny of that incredible city. After sampling a Cantillon gueuze with euphoric delight, the bartender asked me if I was interested in trying something off the menu. My hair stood on end, because I had a feeling about what he was going to offer me. “I have a few bottles of Westvleteren 12,” he said in a hushed tone.
Don’t get me wrong, it was a truly incredible beer. But in my mind I had built this beer up to be something more. I was expecting a transcendental experience, an epiphany, orgasms and fireworks. And that’s a lot to ask of a beer. Now, that’s not the fault of the good monks at the Abbey of Saint Sixtus, of course. It’s on me for having such unrealistic expectations of this beer. I had put it on a pedestal, and by doing so, ensured that it would only disappoint me.
I was expecting a transcendental experience, an epiphany, orgasms and fireworks.
For those unfamiliar, “Westy 12” as it’s known, is one of the world’s most highly sought after beers, and generally considered to be among the best. It’s brewed by a trappist monastery in Belgium, and only released once a year. Those who want to purchase Westvleteren 12 must line up at the monastery’s door and may only purchase a single case of 24 each.
“Y-y-yes, please,” I whimpered, sweat now beading on my forehead. Now, technically this whole transaction is a big no-no. The monks expressly forbid the resale of Westvleteren 12, and if you are lucky enough to purchase a case at the monastery, you must also agree that you will not sell it. The difficulty in attaining it has only helped grow its mystique. The modest, plain brown bottle arrived, with only a yellow cap to identify it. The bartender poured the dark hazy elixir into a goblet and the head dissipated almost immediately. I inhaled deeply, letting the sweet plummy aroma fill my nose. I took a sip and was flooded with complex flavours of dried fruit, caramel and molasses, and finally a bracing rush of characteristic alcoholic warmth (this a quadrupel, after all, clocking in at 10.2% ABV). It was… merely fantastic. I’ll be honest: I was disappointed.
A friend of mine had a similar experience after he managed to track down a bottle of Russian River’s Pliny the Elder – arguably the beer responsible for the entire West Coast’s obsession with IPAs. With much anticipation, he poured himself a glass and was greeted with what he felt was a rather uninspiring beer. Again, there were no orgasms or fireworks. Only disappointment.
He’s since convinced himself the bottle was old or possibly light-struck, which it may very well have been. So he’s decided that to experience this beer in all its glory, he’s going to get it from the source and make a pilgrimage to Russian River Brewing in Santa Rosa, Calif. I truly hope it’s worth the trip. The funny thing is, when I think about my best beer memories, none of them involve beers that are likely to end up on anyone’s bucket list. There’s the cold pint of Coopers Sparkling Ale I had with my dad after a hot day spent walking through his old haunts in Sydney, Australia, where he grew up. There were the endless Big Rock Grasshoppers I shared with my wife and in-laws backstage at the Edmonton Folk Festival one summer. There was that time my mom and I both shotgunned cans of Lucky together at my 30th birthday (and she spilled beer all over herself because she had no idea what she was doing). Good company, good thirst and good times seem to be the constants, as is the complete absence of expectation. There may be a lesson in there somewhere. j
81
VICTORIA
MOON UNDER WATER BREWERY
350B Bay St. | MoonUnderWater.ca
SAT-THU 11:30AM-11PM ^ FRI 11:30AM-12AM EST. 2012 The Moon has been on the rise for five years now. To celebrate, a distillery is being incorporated into the brewery, which also has plans for a cocktail lounge.
PUMPKIN PEARZEN WEIZEN
CREEPY UNCLE DUNKEL
Availability: Small-batch
MUNICH DUNKEL Availability: Year-round
ABV
7.0%
IBU
14
A pumpkin beer that’s actually worth seeking out. Full of fresh local squash and pears.
ABV
5.4%
IBU
18
The very well adjusted love-child of Munich malt, decoction mashing and long lagering.
VICTORIA
PHILLIPS BREWING & MALTING CO. 2010 Government St. | PhillipsBeer.com
MON 10AM-5PM ^ TUE-WED 10AM-6PM THU-SAT 10AM-7PM EST. 2001 Phillips is the only brewery in Canada to malt their own barley. Soon to join their at least 42 beers is a 42-seat tasting room. 42 is the answer.
HOPOCALYPSE MEOW ANNIVERSARY ALE I M P E R I A L I N D I A PA L E A L E Availability: One-off ABV
9.2%
IBU
90
A different brew every year, this year’s anniversary ale has tropical hops over crisp malts. 82
CROOKEDER TOOTH BA R R E L - A G E D P U M P K I N A L E Availability: Seasonal ABV
7.3%
IBU
15
It’s a big barrel-aged vanilla bourbon punch, right to your crooked jack-o-lantern smile.
VICTORIA
SPINNAKERS BREWPUB
308 Catharine St. | Spinnakers.com DAILY 9AM-11PM EST. 1984
Spinnakers has the honour of being the oldest operating brewpub in Canada. As the craft beer scene has grown and changed, Spinnakers has kept pace.
ORTEGA BEER/WINE BLEND
CASCADIA BLACK IPA
Availability: One-off
B L A C K I N D I A PA L E A L E Availability: Seasonal
ABV
5.5%
IBU
0
A white wine and light ale blend that pushes the boundaries of what beer is.
Food For the Body Music
ABV
6.5%
IBU
55
Feeling a bit chilly? This black ale with piney hops will warm you up!
For the Soul
Drink
For the Spirit
44 Craft & Import Taps Breakfast Daily 7am Music Nightly
83
VICTORIA
SWANS BREWPUB
506 Pandora Ave. | SwansHotel.com
MON-FRI 11AM-1AM ^ SAT-SUN 10AM-12AM EST. 1989 Victoria’s venerable hotel-brewery features sweet rooms, an atmospheric pub and a beer lineup that’s always evolving thanks to brewer Chris Lukie.
VICTORIA FOG
FLAMMENBEER
WITBIER
O K TO B E R F E S T
Availability: Limited
Availability: Limited
ABV
5.3%
IBU
21
Lavender from James Bay, vanilla and Silk Road Earl Grey tea make this a distinctly local cuppa.
ABV
6.4%
IBU
19
This collab with White Sails was lagered for two months for a clean profile with hints of smoke.
VICTORIA
VANCOUVER ISLAND BREWERY
2330 Government St. | VanIslandBrewery.com TUES-THU 11AM-6PM ^ FRI-SAT 11AM-7PM EST. 1984 The new VI has been reaching out to a younger audience with a strong lineup of core beers. The brewery is starting to release some new seasonal beers, too.
ROYSTON RYE IPA
HERMANNATOR
RY E I N D I A PA L E A L E
EISBOCK
Availability: Seasonal ABV
6.5%
IBU
60
Brewed with rye and a blend of hops, this beer is ideal for the fall. 84
Availability: Seasonal ABV
9.5%
IBU
25
Three decades in this is still one of B.C.’s most anticipated seasonal releases every year.
ESQUIMALT VICTORIA
LIGHTHOUSE BREWING CO.
2 - 836 Devonshire Rd. | LighthouseBrewing.com MON-TUE 9AM-4:30PM ^ WED-FRI 9AM-6PM SAT 11AM-6PM EST. 1998
Established way back in 1998, Lighthouse has been consistently brewing flavourful craft beers since before most of us knew what craft beer was.
RACE ROCKS
150 HERITAGE ALE
AMBER ALE
STRONG ALE
Availability: Year-round
Availability: Limited
ABV
5.3%
IBU
21
Its original flagship ale won a gold medal at the recent U.S. Beer Open.
ABV
6.3%
IBU
14
In honour of Canada’s 150th birthday, a strong beer brewed with maple, smoke and rye.
VIEW VICTORIA ROYAL
4 MILE BREWING CO. 199 Island Highway | 4MileBrewingCo.com DAILY 11AM-11:30PM EST. 2014 The beers at 4 Mile have been steadily improving, including a recent foray into hazy and sour styles. The historic brewpub’s as charming as ever.
MOSAIC SESSION IPA INDIA SESSION ALE
SWEET POTATO HARVEST ALE
Availability: Year-round
SPICED ALE Availability: Seasonal
ABV
4.5%
IBU
50
A satisfyingly hoppy session beer with notes of tropical fruit, blueberries and dankness.
ABV
6.5%
IBU
20
Pumpkin beers are so 2010 – try this malty and spicy sweet potato beer instead! 85
SAANICH
TWA DOGS BREWERY AT VICTORIA CALEDONIAN
761 Enterprise Cres. | VCaledonian.com
SUN-TUE 12-7PM ^ WED-SAT 11AM-8PM EST. 2016 Inspired by Robbie Burns’ poetry, Twa Dogs aims to connect souls and make the most out of life. A visit to its tasting room easily accomplishes that!
HOLY WILLIE’S ROBUST PORTER
JOLLY BEGGAR’S PALE ALE
S TO U T Availability: Year-round
W E S T C OA S T PA L E A L E Availability: Year-round
ABV
6.5%
IBU
25
Stout or porter? Either way it sure is robust – and malty, chocolatey and creamy, too!
86
ABV
4.7%
IBU
20
Flavours of lemongrass and tropical fruit grace this pale ale made with Hallertau Blanc hops.
CENT. SAANICH
CATEGORY 12 BREWING
Unit C - 2200 Keating Cross Rd. | Category12Beer.com MON-SAT 12-6PM ^ SUN 12-4PM EST. 2014 With two certified cicerones on the sales team, you know these folks know beer! Be sure to check out the beers in their Elemental Series – raw ale anyone?
ZOMBIE REPELLANT ALE B E L G I A N PA L E A L E Availability: Seasonal ABV
5.0%
IBU
30
We don’t know how it repels zombies, but we’re undying to find out!
SUBVERSION I M P E R I A L I N D I A PA L E A L E Availability: Seasonal ABV
8.8%
IBU
85
Re-formatted to be even more dangerously delicious. Drink it and live on the wild side!
LANGFORD
AXE AND BARREL BREWING CO.
2323 Millstream Ave. | AxeAndBarrel.com DAILY 11AM-7PM EST. 2015 Brewer Andrew Tessier has established a solid core of delicious beer at this Langford barbecue joint, all of which pair well with the smokehouse menu.
SPEEDWAY RPA
WEST SHORE IPA
RY E PA L E A L E
I N D I A PA L E A L E
Availability: Year-round ABV
4.0%
IBU
45
Spicy, earthy rye finds a counterpoint in the bright, citrus hops flavour and aroma.
Availability: Year-round ABV
6.8%
IBU
80
A decidedly hop-forward beast with a whack of bitterness, but with malt ably supporting. 87
SOOKE
SOOKE OCEANSIDE BREWERY
1-5529 Sooke Rd. | SookeOceansideBrewing.com WED-SUN 12-6PM EST. 2016 Sometimes you have to start small before you can achieve your dream. SOB is currently based at a gas station, but it aims to be a waterfront brewpub soon.
SPRINGBOARD IPA
BRAMBLE AM
I N D I A PA L E A L E
B L A C K B E R RY S A I S O N
Availability: Year-round
Availability: Seasonal
ABV
6.5%
IBU
55
This malt-forward North American IPA has a subtle bitterness with a juicy finish.
ABV
6.5%
IBU
25
A dry saison that was aged on locally harvested blackberries. Sure to be yummy.
SALT SPRING
SALT SPRING ISLAND ALES
270 Furness Rd. | SaltSpringIslandAles.com DAILY 12-5PM EST. 1998
This cottage brewery is one of the harder breweries to get to, but it’s so worth the effort for its bucolic setting and exceptional ales.
WHALE TAIL ALE
APPLE BELGIAN
AMBER ALE
BELGIAN ALE
Availability: Seasonal ABV
5.0%
IBU
45
Brewed with Salt Spring’s own fresh, whole-cone, estate-grown Mount Hood, Cascade and Nugget hops. 88
Availability: Seasonal ABV
6.0%
IBU
13
This laid-back summer ale finishes crisp and clean with hints of spice and malt sweetness.
J&S Reclaimed Wood
Handcrafted Furniture & Millwork for your Home and Business
}
STORE
Merch. Subscriptions. Beer.
(Just kidding. No beer.) the-growler.myshopify.com
@jsreclaimedwood jsreclaimedwood.com
MAYNE ISLAND
MAYNE ISLAND BREWING CO.
490 Fernhill Rd. | MayneIslandBrewingCo.com FRI-SAT 1-5PM EST. 2016 One of the smallest breweries in B.C., this weekend-only operation is run by a husband-and-wife team – he brews the beer and she does everything else.
BEET BUCK WINTER BOCK
BRITISH BOY BROWN ALE
Availability: One-off
N O RT H E R N B R I T I S H B R OW N A L E Availability: Year-round
ABV
6.8%
IBU
8
Ever had a beet beer? Well, now you can try one. Goes well with chevre.
ABV
5.6%
IBU
24
Named for the brewer who hails from Northern England, this is a proper brown ale.
DUNCAN
RED ARROW BREWING CO.
5255 Chaster Rd. | RedArrowBeer.ca
SUN-THU 11AM-6PM ^ FRI 11AM-8PM ^ SAT 11AM-6PM EST. 2015 Housed in a beautiful red brick building that used to be a motorcycle shop, Red Arrow rolls out finely tuned beers are finding fans across the Island.
MIDNIGHT UMBER ALE B R OW N A L E Availability: Year-round ABV
5.1%
IBU
33
A smooth and rich, malt-forward ale with noticeable hits of fruity hops. 90
KUSTOM KOLSCH KO L S C H Availability: Year-round ABV
5.0%
IBU
25
A fairly sweet kolsch with a pronounced grainy flavour and honey notes.
CHEMAINUS
RIOT BREWING CO.
101A - 3055 Oak St. | RiotBrewing.com SUN-WED 11AM-9PM ^ THU-SAT 11AM-11PM EST. 2016 They’ve got a patio and fire-pit. Kid-friendly, dog-friendly, plus board games and giant Jenga? It’s like they want you to spend all your time there.
LIFE PARTNERS PALE ALE
JUNK PUNCH IPA I N D I A PA L E A L E
N O RT H W E S T PA L E A L E Availability: Year-round ABV
5.0%
IBU
Availability: Year-round
32
It’s an easy-drinking, hop-forward pale ale with little sparks of citrus.
ABV
6.0%
IBU
70
Bold hops give this ale its citrus and tropical fruit flavours and aromas.
NANAIMO
LONGWOOD BREWERY
101A-2046 Boxwood Rd. | LongwoodBeer.com WED-FRI 2-6PM ^ SAT 12-5PM EST. 2013
Look no further if you want to experience the true taste of Vancouver Island. Longwood puts an emphasis on terroir by only brewing with local ingredients.
40 KM ISLAND SESSION ALE
FULL PATCH PUMPKIN ALE
FRESH-HOPPED INDIA SESSION ALE Availability: Small batch
SAISON Availability: Seasonal
ABV
4.2%
IBU
26
All ingredients – including freshly picked hops – were sourced within 40 km of the brewery.
ABV
9.0%
IBU
30
A big boozy Belgian-style saison brewed with pumpkin and loaded with pumpkin pie spices. 91
Big, bold hop flavours are one of the most important contributions to brewing the New World has made. It seems rather fitting then, that North America has its economic paws all over hops. Trademarks, patents, royalties – how are these business-y things having their way with our beloved hops? It must be big beer's fault! by Rebecca Whyman
92
I
understand why you’d want to make hops proprietary – it takes time, effort and money to painstakingly develop a new hop, test it eight ways to Sunday, and devote acreage to propagating it. It can take 15-20 years before any money starts coming in, and then on only a fraction of your experiments. But do you really need 20 years of royalties to recoup that investment? Off the backs of your growers and the lovely brewers who exalt your wonder-hop? C’mon, only big beer would do such a greedy thing.
had fallen in love with it, though, and Cascade took its place as one of the three C’s. And it was big beer who asked for higher alpha acid varieties. Higher alpha acids provide more bang with fewer hops, leading to more efficiency and lower costs. Which is great for big beer with the volume of hops they require. It can also make all the difference for small brewers with tiny profit margins.
Big beer has no use for the wonder-hops though. All they wanted was a more efficient hop, not these Experimental breeding has marvellous aroma hops that brought us wonder-hops Trademark Vs evolved. Heaven forbid their that can do it all: higher Patents beers have flavour or aroma! yields, greater alpha acid Trademarks provide ownership of content (meaning fewer So crap, not only can I not a name, not of genetic material. hops are required per batch), blame big beer for hop-patNo one else can market a hop plus increased bitterness and enting, I actually want to with that name, but they could aromatics. But why aren’t thank them for leading us take the hop variety and sell it these wonder-hops available into this era of wonder-hops. under another name. Patents, on royalty-free like the U.S. I need a hoppy beer to help the other hand, confer ownership Department of Agriculme come to terms with this of the form of genetic material of ture-developed varieties revelation. a particular plant – allowing only are? Are the USDA the There are talented public the owner the right to dictate the heroes here? hops available – Liberty, Mt. sale and use of the plant. Hood, Sterling, Willamette Bloody big beer – hosing the and Cascade, to name-drop a little guy again! few. And OSU is working on Oh, hang on... It was Anheuser-Busch who encoura schwack of new ones that they’re excited about. aged the USDA to breed new hop varieties – the Suppliers like Cedar Valley Hop Yards are making very same hops that the USDA lets anyone grow, a go of it without carrying patented hops. We don’t royalty-free. Dr. Al Haunold, a now-retired genetiNEED the patented ones. We just like them. cist at Oregon State University, created Willamette Citra is a damned sexy hop. Mosaic is too. I freely for AB, who wanted a higher-yield replacement admit that I love them. I’ve been known to go out for Fuggles. Al, bless him, dovetailed their need of my way to drink beers proudly brewed with very neatly with his altruistic desire to breed hops them. So long as you do too, brewers will pay extra domestically to save homebrewers from having to for the hops, and growers will pay the royalties, pay premium prices for imported hops. and suppliers will source them, and developers will And it was Coors who encouraged the USDA to patent them. commercialize Cascade, which had been discovered So it ain’t big beer’s fault on this one folks, it’s ours. in the ’50s but was mouldering in warehouses Only YOU can free the hops! through the ’60s, just waiting for someone to brew with it. Coors was running short of Hallertau I’m indignant about patents on plants I think Mittlefruh, so when they heard that Cascade could should be publicly available, but I ain’t so indignant replace it, they paid a premium to anyone who that I’ll stop drinking delicious beers made with would grow Cascade for them. After that big outlay patented hops. It rankles that I only have myself they discovered Cascade was too aromatic to be a (and all of you) to blame, but you’ll have to start the direct replacement for Hallertau. Other brewers revolution without me. j
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NANAIMO
WHITE SAILS BREWING
125 Comox Rd. | WhiteSailsBrewing.com
MON-THU 3-10PM ^ FRI-SAT 11AM-12AM ^ SUN 11AM6PM EST. 2015 Between Pablo Picasko and This Is Spinal Cask, White Sails’ Friday night cask nights are worth a visit for the beer names alone.
SNAKE ISLAND CDA C A S C A D I A N DA R K A L E
YELLOWPOINT PALE ALE
Availability: Year-round
E N G L I S H PA L E A L E Availability: Seasonal
ABV
6.5%
IBU
80
World Beer Awards gold medal winner: chocolate, coffee notes with no shortage of hops.
ABV
5.5%
IBU
35
Medium-bodied, malt-forward with caramel notes and a toasty finish with sweet, floral U.K. hops.
NANAIMO
WOLF BREWING CO.
940 Old Victoria Rd. | WolfBrewingCompany.com MON-THU 12-6PM ^ FRI 12-7PM ^ SAT 12-6PM SUN 12-5PM EST. 2010 Located on the edge of town in an unassuming industrial park, Wolf brewmaster Kev Ward’s impressive beers are worth seeking out.
DARK MALT PORTER
PILSNER
P O RT E R
PILSNER
Availability: Year-round ABV
6.0%
IBU
30
Notes of espresso and cocoa with a subtle, dry finish, it pairs just as well with steak or chocolate cake. 94
Availability: Year-round ABV
5.5%
IBU
30
This well-executed pilsner is light and refreshing with a balanced malt bill and hop character.
PARKSVILLE
MOUNT ARROWSMITH BREWING CO.
109-425 East Stanford Ave. | ArrowsmithBrewing.com SUN-THU 11:30AM-7:30PM ^ FRI-SAT 11:30AM-9:30PM EST. 2016 Parksville finally has its own local brewery with a snazzy tasting room and the very talented Dave Woodward brewing the beer.
JAGGED FACE IPA I N D I A PA L E A L E
ARROWSMITH BLONDE
Availability: Year-round
BLONDE ALE Availability: Year-round
ABV
7.2%
IBU
70
A Woodward-esque IPA bursting with Centennial, Citra and Mosaic hops.
ABV
4.8%
IBU
15
This clean, crisp patio crusher will continue to entice you well into the cooler months.
PORT ALBERNI
TWIN CITY BREWING
4503 Margaret St. | TwinCityBrewing.ca
SUN-WED 11:30AM-10PM ^ THU-SAT 11:30AM-11PM EST. 2017 The craft beer revolution has reached Port Alberni and locals are flocking to Twin City, with its comfy tasting room, delicious beers and amazing pizzas.
TICKITY BRUGES
SWEDISH GYMNAST
B E L G I A N PA L E A L E
SINGLE-HOPPED BLONDE ALE
Availability: One-off ABV
5.5%
IBU
40
Brewed with Belgian Ardennes yeast, this pale ale is fruity and delicious.
Availability: Year-round ABV
5.5%
IBU
35
“A little blonde with lots of hops.” All jokes aside, this beer will keep you sipping. 95
TOFINO
TOFINO BREWING CO.
Units C & D, 681 Industrial Way | TofinoBrewingCo.com DAILY 11AM-10PM EST. 2011 A new brewery and tasting room is on the way, but don’t worry, the original taproom is still pouring in the meantime.
DARK LAGER
SPRUCE TREE ALE
S C H WA R Z B I E R
GOLDEN ALE
Availability: Seasonal
Availability: Seasonal
ABV
4.5%
IBU
25
As dark as a Tofino storm cloud and just as refreshing, this black lager balances rich malt with a light body.
ABV
6.5%
IBU
65
Sitka spruce tips complement the piney hop flavour in this very West Coast take on a golden ale.
QUALICUM
LOVESHACK LIBATIONS
#1-4134 Island Hwy. West | LoveShackLibations.com WED 5-9PM ^SAT 12-4PM EST. 2016 This tiny family-run nanobrewery is only open two days a week, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in charm. The special ingredient is indeed love.
SUNNY BUNNY PALE ALE PA L E A L E Availability: Small batch ABV
5.0%
IBU
31
This easy-drinking pale ale is a hare on the hoppy side, thanks to organic hops from Island Hopper Farms. 96
RACHEL PAUL ALE RY E PA L E A L E Availability: Small batch ABV
6.4%
IBU
51
Named for brewer Dave Paul’s wife, this RPA showcases rye malt and fruit-forward hops.
CUMBERLAND
CUMBERLAND BREWING CO.
2732 Dunsmuir Ave. | CumberlandBrewing.com SUN-WED 12-9PM ^ THU - SAT 12-10PM EST. 2014 Cumberland doesn’t ship its beer beyond the Comox Valley, nor does it plan to, so you’ll need to make the trip to try it. Like you need another reason to go.
DANCING LINEBACKER
FOREST FOG A M E R I C A N W H E AT A L E
OAT M E A L S TO U T Availability: Year-round ABV
5.2%
IBU
Availability: Year-round
N/A
Like the name implies, this big fella packs a lot of flavour, but he’s light on his feet.
ABV
4.2%
IBU
N/A
Proceeds of Forest Fog sales are donated to the Cumberland Community Forest, more than $20,000 so far!
COURTENAY
FORBIDDEN BREWING CO.
1590 Cliffe Ave. | ForbiddenBrewing.com WED-THU 12-10PM 10PM
^ FRI-SAT 12PM-12AM ^ SUN 12-
EST. 2015 Named for nearby Forbidden Plateau, this brewery based in the Westerley Hotel has a stylish tasting room and an always changing rotation of beers.
ORGANIC PALE ALE
WILD WIT
E N G L I S H PA L E A L E
WITBIER
Availability: Year-round ABV
4.5%
IBU
40
Forbidden strives to brew some organic beers, including this malty and refreshingly crisp ale.
Availability: Seasonal ABV
5.0%
IBU
15
Citrus, spice and a wild yeast make for a refreshing and memorable witbier. 97
COURTENAY
GLADSTONE BREWING CO.
244 4th St. | GladstoneBrewing.ca DAILY 11AM-12AM EST. 2015
Named for the street where the original garage brewery stood, Gladstone has turned its humble roots into a community hub of Old and New World styles.
RED ALE
FESTBIER
RED ALE
G E R M A N PA L E F E S T I VA L L A G E R
Availability: Seasonal
Availability: Seasonal
ABV
5.2%
IBU
32
Ruby red in colour, with citrus and floral Simcoe hop flavour and a smooth finish.
ABV
6.0%
IBU
22
A German festival lager... Hmm, wonder which festival this was brewed for?
CAMPBELL RIVER
BEACH FIRE BREWING
594 - 11th Ave. | BeachFireBrewing.ca TUE-SUN 11:30AM-8PM EST. 2016
The inventive food menu changes every day at the Island’s most northerly craft beer outpost, which has brought much more than lager to the local loggers.
HIGH TIDE PALE ALE W E S T C OA S T PA L E A L E
WHEELBENDER STOUT
Availability: Year-round
D RY I R I S H S TO U T Availability: Year-round
ABV
5.5%
IBU
40
No messing about here: a full-flavoured, robust pale ale singing with citrus and tropical fruit flavours. 98
ABV
4.5%
IBU
40
Surprisingly light yet full flavoured, with roasty and chocolate notes and an airy, dry finish.
T HOM P S O N O K A NAGAN 05 5
09 12
SORRENTO
19 10
17
KAMLOOPS
TO W H I STL ER
1
97
SALMON ARM VERNON
5
97B
97A
97
5A
11
VERNON
TO VANCOUVER
18
KELOWNA
97C
5A
6
02 03 10 14 15
06
SUMMERLAND
01 04 08 13
16
PENTICTON 33 3
N
3A
W 07
OLIVER
BREWERIES
01 Bad Tattoo 02 BNA 03 Boundary 04 Cannery 05 Crannóg Ales 06 Detonate 07 Firehall
08 Highway 97 09 Iron Road 10 Kettle River 11 Marten Brewing 12 Red Collar 13 Tin Whistle 14 Tree Brewing 15 Tree Brewing Beer Institute
BREW PUBS
16 Barley Mill 17 Barley Station 18 Freddy's 20 The Noble Pig
BRITISH COLUMBIA
E
KAMLOOPS
IRON ROAD BREWING
980 Camosun Crs. | IronRoadBrewing.ca
MON-WED 11:30AM-9PM ^ THU-SAT 1130AM-12AM SUN 11:30AM-8PM EST. 2017 The light’s at the end of the tunnel for this railroad-themed brewery. Iron Road’s on track with eight crushable beers on tap, plus yummy Mexican food!
LOOP LINE IPA I N D I A PA L E A L E
RED BRIDGE PALE ALE
Availability: Year-round
A M E R I C A N PA L E A L E Availability: Year-round
ABV
6.5%
IBU
50
A hop-forward but balanced brew that chugs along, staying on the right track.
ABV
5.5%
IBU
40
Named after the city’s iconic bridge, this ale is built to be flavourful and sessionable.
KAMLOOPS
RED COLLAR BREWING CO.
355 Lansdowne St. | RedCollar.ca TUE-FRI 3-10PM ^ SAT 1-10PM EST. 2014
Red Collar is a beer love letter to Kamloops. David and Annamarie Beardsell travelled the world before choosing it as their brewery location.
REVOLVER
DUBBEL
I N D I A PA L E L A G E R
DUBBEL
Availability: Seasonal ABV
4.5%
IBU
41
A European pilsner with New World ingredients, this single-hop IPL features different hops every time 100
Availability: Year-round ABV
6.3%
IBU
18
This dark ale is brewed using their own Belgian yeast strain - chocolately, coffee-y, dried fruity.
SORRENTO
CRANNóG ALES
706 Elson Rd. | CrannogAles.com THU-SAT 8:30AM-4:30PM EST. 2000
Since 2000, Brian MacIsaac and Rebecca Kneen have been brewing inventive, organic and sustainable beers from the comfort of their idyllic farm.
GAEL’S BLOOD POTATO ALE
INSURRECTION IPA I N D I A PA L E A L E
RED ALE Availability: Year-round ABV
5.2%
IBU
Availability: Year-round
48
Organic potatoes are brewed in this malty Irish red ale with a slight hop finish.
ABV
5.4%
IBU
54
Made with fresh Cascade, Chinook and Goldings hops. Having your very own hopyard pays off.
VERNON
MARTEN BREWING CO.
2933A 30th Ave. | MartenBrewpub.com
SUN-FRI 3PM-LATE ^ SAT 12PM-LATE EST. 2014 This brewpub’s interior was hand-built by owners Stefan and Pearl Marten. The focus here is the local community, but guests are treated like visiting royalty.
COOKIE MONSTER N I T R O S TO U T
WORD TO THE WEIZEN
Availability: Seasonal
HEFEWEIZEN Availability: Year-round
ABV
5.1%
IBU
40
This local favourite served on nitro is blacker than black and smoother than smooth. Me want cookie!!
ABV
4.5%
IBU
18
Three different Germans named Stefan approved this recipe so you know this weizen is authentic. 101
KELOWNA
BNA BREWING CO.
1250 Ellis St. | BNABrewing.com
SUN-WED 12AM-12AM ^ THU-SAT 11AM-12AM EST. 2015 With its brick walls and exposed beams, BNA embraces its building’s past life as the British North American Tobacco Company.
PURPLE RAIN
OKTOBERFEST
BERLINER WEISSE
MARZEN
Availability: Seasonal
Availability: Seasonal
ABV
5.0%
IBU
5
Soured with probiotic yoghurt. Raspberries and blackberries balance the tartness and colour it purple.
ABV
6.0%
IBU
20
Oktoberfest! BNA is keeping it all German with their seasonals this fall. Prost!
KELOWNA
BOUNDARY BREWING
2 - 455 Neave Crt. | BoundaryBrewing.beer
WED-FRI 3-7PM ^ SAT 12-7PM ^ SUN 12-5PM EST. 2016 Oliver Glaser pays tribute to his roots by brewing what B.C. needs more of: well crafted German beer. The tasting room is cosy, friendly and busy.
ALTBIER
DUNKEL LAGER
A LT B I E R
DA R K L A G E R
Availability: Year-round ABV
5.0%
IBU
35
Lagering for several weeks makes for a refined alt with a sturdy malt presence and a crisp bitter finish. 102
Availability: Seasonal ABV
5.0%
IBU
28
A roasty profile and distinct dryness are down to the roasted barley used in this medium-bodied dunkel.
KELOWNA
KETTLE RIVER BREWING CO.
731 Baillie Ave. | KettleRiverBrewing.ca WED-SUN 3-8PM EST. 2016 The total height of their brewers is 57.5 tall cans. Hopefully they figured this out mathematically and not by standing all the brewers on top of each other.
BATCH #300: TRIPLE CHOKESLAM IPA
GRAM’S CHAI PORTER
T R I P L E I N D I A PA L E A L E Availability: One-off
P O RT E R Availability: Small batch
ABV
9.0%
IBU
300
As 300 IBUs may lead you to guess, this is a big flavoured, fruity hop-bomb.
ABV
4.5%
IBU
30
It’s a light, dry porter with hints of botanical chai – happy hour meets tea time!
GrimmsFineFoods.com 103
Craft beer taps into Comic-Con culture in San Diego
F
by Ryan Ingram
rom Wonder Women to Jedis, San Diego’s annual Comic-Con is a celebration of all things nerdy, so it’s only fitting that craft beer geeks are also joining in the festivities.
Hop-Con was created to “merge beer nerdiness with geeks of all kinds, anyone with uber-enthusiasm,” explains Lizzie Younkin, PR manager for Stone Brewing.
More than 130,000 people travel from around the world to fill up the Southern Californian convention centre for the overwhelming four-day pop culture party. Comic-Con has gotten so big that it now unofficially spills out into San Diego’s downtown, which plays host to many off-site events. And two of these events – completely unsanctioned by Comic-Con – are aimed squarely in the middle of the Venn diagram for people that await a new season of Game of Thrones as much as new seasonal releases from their favourite brewery.
An exclusive brew, w00tstout, has been made for each Hop-Con and this year’s edition of the event, dubbed Hop-Con 5.0, featured a vertical tasting of all five year’s brews, plus arcade games and fundraising for a comic book industry charity.
The first event is Hop-Con, founded by nerd-celebrity Wil Wheaton, Stone Brewing’s Greg Koch and Fark.com’s Drew Curtis. A spinoff of Wheaton’s annual live variety show w00tstock,
104
The other craft beer event tapping into the Comic-Con enthusiasm is Heroes Brew Festival: a beer fest where costumes are highly encouraged. Organizer Jesse Williams says the origin story of his festival, which donates funds to a local veteran’s charity, encourages “people to dress up as their favourite fictional heroes to celebrate our military heroes.” Going into its fifth year, Heroes Brew kept its
costume contest but upped it nerd cred by adding comic book artists and interactive augmented reality exhibits, capping the event off with a DJ set by Games of Thrones’ actor Kristian Nairn (Hodor!). The festival looks exactly like you’d expect if someone mixed Comic-Con with a beer festival: a probably-buzzed Superman wearing a pretzel necklace sips on a sample while talking to a group of girls wearing Care Bears-themed dresses. It’s also where Game of Thrones references meet outhouse etiquette when someone shouts, “Hold the door!” at another person quickly ducking out of a stall.
During the beer tasting portion, there are line-ups for SoCal breweries, like Belching Beaver, Lost Abbey and Resident. Bringing Comic-Con-style events to a beer fest comes at a cost: beer tasters are only available for the first two hours of the event before Hodor starts DJing. And one of the billed artists is unable to make the event due to a scheduling mix-up and is trapped at the convention.
Heroes Brew may be an ideal alternative event for those who want to let their geek flag fly without battling hordes of Comic-Con attendees but there are some that want the best of both worlds. At a shaded table, friends hang out: some in cosplay, some still wearing their convention badges. Among them, Slimer. Ricardo, impressively dressed as Ghostbusters’ green ghoul, first attended Heroes Brew in 2014.
“I love comics. I love beer,” he says, “and [Heroes Brew] was a merging of all these things that I love.” Recalling 2014’s fest, Ricardo says he reveled in beer samples while dressed as Spaceball’s Barf, then headed back to the convention centre that
night to watch an orchestra play the iconic Star Wars score – a perfectly geeky day.
This year, he attended the convention with a different costume for each day but also made time for the beer festival. While the cosplay of Heroes Brew is one example of bringing together the worlds of nerd culture and craft beer, you don’t have to go very far in the Craft Beer Capital of America to confirm that the overlap between the two isn’t spandex deep. Jacob McKean, founder of Modern Times, is wellversed in both both worlds. One of his tasting room walls is decorated with pages ripped from his comic collection and the brewery also creates custom comic tap handles during Comic-Con. McKean sees a link specifically between craft beer culture and comic book culture. “Until recently, craft beer wasn't a particularly design-oriented world,” he says. “But that's changing rapidly and an appreciation for great art and design is definitely uniting the two.” He also sees a deeper connection “The love for passionate, indie producers runs strong in both worlds,” he notes. Stone’s Younkin also agrees that it’s the passion that connects all these fandoms – craft beer and Comic-Con culture alike. “There’s something very anti-mainstream about both cultures,” she says. “Craft brewers are fighting against corporate beer practices and the Comic-Con audiences invest in alternative genres. When we find others with the same passions as us, we rejoice. We nerd out.”j
Photos: Heroes Brew Fest
105
KELOWNA
TREE BREWING BEER INSTITUTE
1346 Water St. | TreeBrewingBeerInstitute.com DAILY 11AM-11PM EST. 2014 This is where brewmaster Dave Gokiert gets to make his small-batch experiments. You can savour them with top-notch pizzas steps from the beach.
GRAPEFRUIT RADLER RADLER
MELLOW MOON PINEAPPLE HEFE
Availability: Year-round
HEFEWEIZEN Availability: Seasonal
ABV
2.5%
0
IBU
Radler doesn’t just have to be for summer. Pink grapefruit carries this radler into a dry, tart finish.
ABV
5.0%
IBU
20
Like the fruit in question, open one up and you’ll find it’s far from spiky in character.
KELOWNA
TREE BREWING CO.
1083 Richter St. | TreeBeer.com DAILY 11AM-5PM EST. 1996
It’s got a lock on many Okanagan hearts but Tree has never stopped changing things up, with small-batch releases getting good distribution.
AMIGO
HOP HEAD IPA
MEXICAN AMBER LAGER
I N D I A PA L E A L E
Availability: Year-round
Availability: Year-round
ABV
4.0%
IBU
22
An assertive malt profile leads into a crisp, refreshing finish in this luscious amber lager. 106
ABV
5.6%
IBU
64
It’s always worth returning to Hop Head, B.C.’s original IPA, to remind yourself how awesome it is.
SUMMERLAND
DETONATE BREWING
#104 - 9503 Cedar Ave. | DetonateBrewing.com THU-SUN 2-7PM EST. 2017 Detonate’s tasting room might be the smallest in B.C., but owner/brewer Nathan Rosin has big plans for Summerland’s only craft brewery.
SUNDAY FUNDAY BREAKFAST STOUT
CITRA STATION PALE ALE
S TO U T Availability: Year-round
PA L E A L E Availability: Year-round
ABV
5.8%
IBU
32
Coffee, chocolate and caramel flavours for those hairof-the-dog mornings after a rough Saturday night.
ABV
5.0%
IBU
26
An easy-drinking session ale with hints of tropical fruit coming from the Citra hops.
PENTICTON
BAD TATTOO BREWING CO.
169 Estabrook Ave. | BadTattooBrewing.com
SUN-THU 11AM-10PM ^ FRI-SAT 11AM-12AM EST. 2014 In its first three years, Bad Tattoo has already brewed over a million litres of beer and fired up over 150,000 pizzas for its patrons.
MIDNIGHT HOPMARE C A S C A D I A N DA R K A L E
DIA DE LOS MUERTOS CERVEZA FUERTE
Availability: Seasonal
B E L G I A N Q UA D Availability: Seasonal
ABV
6.6%
IBU
80
Packs a resinous, piney and citrus hop punch with a toasty malt backbone.
ABV
9.2%
IBU
20
An ABV that might raise the dead complemented with plum and raisin notes. 107
PENTICTON
CANNERY BREWING
198 Ellis St. | CanneryBrewing.com
MON-FRI 12-9PM ^ SAT-SUN 11AM-9PM EST. 2000 Cannery’s big tasting room/patio is a great spot to sip a beer any day of the week, and on Sunday evenings they have free live music by local musicians.
ANARCHIST AMBER ALE
NARAMATA NUT BROWN ALE
Availability: Year-round
B R OW N A L E Availability: Year-round
ABV
5.5%
IBU
27
Named for nearby Anarchist Mountain, this amber ale is balanced, medium-bodied, and delicious.
ABV
5.5%
IBU
25
Cannery’s founders ran a restaurant in nearby Naramata before starting the brewery, hence the name.
PENTICTON
HIGHWAY 97 BREWERY
954 Eckhardt Ave. | Hwy97Brewery.com DAILY 11AM-9PM EST. 2016
Situated on its namesake highway, Penticton’s newest brewery has caught the eye and slaked the thirst of many an Okanagan traveller.
APRICOT HEFEWEIZEN
EXTRA SPECIAL BITTER
HEFEWEIZEN Availability: Year-round
EXTRA SPECIAL BITTER Availability: Year-round
ABV
4.5%
IBU
10
When life in the Okanagan gives you apricots, make a fruit-infused hefeweizen. 108
ABV
7.5%
IBU
40
This monster of an ESB is rich with malt but its sweetness remains balanced.
PENTICTON
THE TIN WHISTLE BREWING CO.
112-1475 Fairview Rd. | TheTinWhistleBrewery.rocks DAILY 11:30AM-5:30PM EST. 1995 Penticton’s first brewery has been chugging along since 1995. Their current line-up features six year-round beers and seasonals using local orchard fruit.
MOSAIC EXPRESS IPA
FRESH HOP
I N D I A PA L E A L E
F R E S H - H O P P E D PA L E A L E
Availability: Year-round
Availability: Seasonal
ABV
6.6%
IBU
60
Unfiltered, light and smooth malt backbone with a tropical and citrus hop punch.
ABV
5.5%
IBU
40
Made only with fresh hops straight from Abbotsford, expect juicy citrus flavour and aroma.
OLIVER
FIREHALL BREWERY
6077 Main St. | FirehallBrewery.com
SUN-THU 12-9PM ^ FRI-SAT 12-10PM EST. 2012 Firehall takes its theme from its location in an old firehouse, with firethemed beer names, and really cute fire hydrant tap handles.
HOLY SMOKE STOUT
SMOKED EMBER ALE
D RY S TO U T / R A U C H B I E R
AMBER ALE
Availability: Year-round
Availability: Year-round
ABV
4.5%
IBU
25
Made with fire-dried barley to add smoke to the roasted coffee and dark chocolate flavours.
ABV
4.8%
IBU
35
With citrus and evergreen aromas, this amber ale gets its toffee flavour from carmelized barley. 109
ROSSLAND
ROSSLAND BEER CO.
1990 Columbia Ave. | RosslandBeer.com SUN-THU 12-7PM ^ FRI-SAT 12-9PM EST. 2012
Rossland is one of B.C.’s hidden gems and its brewery has only added to its lustre. A big expansion means you’ll be hearing more from these guys soon.
HUGH HEFEWEIZEN HEFEWEIZEN
STRAIGHT OUTTA ROSSLAND
Availability: Year-round
PA L E A L E Availability: Year-round
ABV
4.8%
IBU
12
A traditional, hazy German wheat beer in which the yeast cranks out the fruit and spice flavours.
ABV
5.0%
IBU
32
Brewers with attitude. A classic hit of Cascade hops defines this pale ale.
TRAIL
TRAIL BEER REFINERY
1299 Bay Ave. | TrailBeerRefinery.ca
MON-SAT 11AM-9PM ^ SUN 12-5PM EST. 2017 Happy Trail! Not only does it now have its own brewery, but it’s a craft brewery with classy comfort food and a bocce pit.
HOLY HEF HEFEWEIZEN
TRAIL GENIUNE DRAFT
Availability: Seasonal
LAGER Availability: Year-round
ABV
5.5%
IBU
20
A refreshing wheat beer with clove phenolics adding even more interest. 110
ABV
5.0%
IBU
15
An approachable lager with subtle flavours that’ll likely lure many a Molson drinker into the light.
World class hops. Grown in Bc. Brewmasters are passionate about the quality of hops they use to make your favourite beer and we are equally passionate about delivering what they need. BC Hop Co works with partner farmers to harvest locally grown hops and uses modern innovations to process the highest quality product in Canada. One of our core values is to make our farms accessible, educational, and ultimately approachable for both brewers and their clients. Join us for BC Hop Fest Fest, an annual event on the farm, featuring amazing BC breweries. Eat and drink among hops still on the bine, kick up your heels to live music, talk to your favourite brewmaster, and join us in celebrating the hop harvest.
www.bchop.ca
BC Hop FEST
FRESH BEER CELEBRATION September 30, 1-6pm 1893 Cole Road, Abbotsford For more information, visit bchop.ca
NELSON
BACKROADS BREWING CO.
460 Baker St. | BackroadsBrewing.com TUE-THU 12-10PM ^ FRI -SAT 12-11PM ^ SUN 12-8PM EST. 2016 Long tables in the tasting room invite you to drink with large groups of friends, or make new ones. With no TVs, conversation is king.
MARZEN
PALE ALE
MARZEN
A M E R I C A N PA L E A L E
Availability: Seasonal
Availability: Year-round
ABV
5.8%
IBU
23
Deep copper colour and mildly herbal aromas pull you into this smooth, malty lager.
ABV
4.5%
IBU
21
A crowd-pleasing hop-forward pale ale. Please sir, I want some more!
NELSON
NELSON BREWING CO.
512 Latimer St. | NelsonBrewing.com TUE-SAT 12-8PM EST. 1991
Housed in a 120-year-old building, NBC knows its history. It also knows its ingredients, having gone all-organic in 2007.
BENT POLE
NELSON AFTER DARK
I N D I A PA L E A L E
B R OW N A L E
Availability: Year-round ABV
6.0%
IBU
55
A full-flavoured West Coast IPA full of pine, citrus and floral hop notes. 112
Availability: Year-round ABV
5.2%
IBU
20
An excellent, straightforward British-style brown ale with some light roasted aromas and hints of chocolate.
NELSON
TORCHLIGHT BREWING CO.
125 Hall St. | TorchlightBrewing.com
MON-TUE 12-9PM ^ WED -SAT 12-11PM ^ SUN 12-7PM EST. 2014 This environmentally conscious brewery now sends its beers all across the province, so you can enjoy them at a bar, at home, or in the tasting room.
BROADSIDE IPA
STOWAWAY STOUT
I N D I A PA L E A L E
OAT M E A L S TO U T
Availability: Year-round
Availability: Seasonal
ABV
7.0%
IBU
60
A crimson-coloured English-style India Pale Ale that is as malt-forward as you would expect.
ABV
5.5%
IBU
30
This classic oatmeal stout pairs perfectly with falling leaves, and falling temperatures.
1-866-549-1323
sales@thinkuniversal.com www.thinkuniversal.com
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FERNIE
FERNIE BREWING CO.
26 Manitou Rd. | FernieBrewing.com
MON-THU 11AM-7PM ^ FRI -SAT 11AM-8PM SUN 11AM-8PM EST. 2003 Beginning this fall, the recently renovated brewery and tasting room will be releasing a new limited release India pale ale every two months, as well as a special release paying tribute to past brewer Gord Demaniuk.
THE PROFESSOR MARZEN
OLD STUMPY PINE IPA
Availability: Small batch
I N D I A PA L E A L E Availability: Small batch
ABV
5.5%
IBU
19
Late brewmaster Gord Demaniuk began this recipe that’s been finished by his son/current brewer, Jeff.
ABV
6.7%
IBU
66
Clean with pine flavours, it’s a liquid equivalent to walking through a forest.
BASE CAMP WEST COAST PALE ALE
THE ELDORADO SINGLE HOP IPA
PA L E A L E Availability: Year-round
I N D I A PA L E A L E Availability: Seasonal
ABV
5.4%
IBU
39
Hop-forward with strong notes of tropical fruits. Oats enhance the body and mouthfeel.
ABV
6.4%
IBU
75
Stone fruit notes from the El Dorado hops are accompanied by a lemongrass citrus zing.
cheers for charity! The people at Fernie Brewing Co. love their town, that’s why they donate all profits from sales of their tasting flights to the local community. So far the brewery (and its patrons!) have raised more than $55,000 for a variety of local charities, organizations and clubs. 114
TM
Est 2003
enjoy the ride.
KIMBERLEY
OVER TIME BEER WORKS
136A Wallinger Ave. | OverTimeBeer.ca MON-THU 12-7PM ^ FRI -SAT 11AM-8PM ^ SUN 11AM-7PM EST. 2016 When in Kimberley, ignore the Bavarian kitsch and make a beeline for Over Time, where the beer would impress any German worth their hops.
RIGHT ABOUT NOW
GOOD EVENING
I N D I A PA L E A L E
B R OW N A L E
Availability: Year-round
Availability: Year-round
ABV
6.5%
IBU
70
The dark colour betrays a considerable malt bill that, together with dry-hopping, make for quite a fruit fest.
ABV
5.2%
IBU
15
This is a fine piece of quaffery, light but with a subtle flavour profile of roast, toast, chocolate and caramel.
INVERMERE
ARROWHEAD BREWING CO.
481 Arrow Rd. | ArrowheadBrewingCompany.ca SUN-WED 11AM-7PM ^ THU-SAT 11AM-8PM EST. 2012 Invermere has beautiful lakes, hot springs, skiing and this wonderfully kitschy brewery, celebrating its fifth anniversary in October.
REDRUM RHUBARB RYE-P-A RY E I N D I A PA L E A L E Availability: One-off ABV
6.66%
IBU
50
Brewed with rye malt and locally grown rhubarb, this hop-forward beer has a unique bitterness. 116
PUMPKINFERNO P U M P K I N B R OW N A L E Availability: One-off ABV
4.9%
IBU
N/A
Locally grown, fire-roasted pumpkins add sweetness and depth to this seasonal sipper.
CRAFT BEER CATCHES ON IN AUSTRALIA'S CULTURE CAPITAL by Rob Mangelsdorf
T
here’s a funny rivalry that exists between Melbourne and Sydney. The two largest cities down under have a long history of jockeying for the world’s attention, each believing they are Australia’s greatest city. It can get a little nasty. In recent years, you could be forgiven for thinking Sydney has come out ahead. It’s bigger, it had the 2000 Summer Olympics, it has the opera house and the bridge and the beaches and the postcard-perfect-everything. There’s no denying Sydney is a gob-smackingly beautiful city. But while Sydney has the good looks and overpriced real estate, Melbourne has quietly established itself as superior in almost every other way, and it knows it. Melbourne has Australia’s best food, its best
coffee and arguably its best wine (from the nearby Yarra Valley). The city’s multicultural makeup has helped establish it as the country’s artistic capital: Melbourne is plastered with incredible street art and pretty much every Australian band that isn’t Tame Impala calls the city home. As one might expect, craft beer has also become an important thread in the city’s cultural fabric. “The city's growing love for craft beer is in keeping with the spirit that makes it such an appealing place,” says esteemed Australian beer writer James Smith, of The Crafty Pint (Crafty Pint.com). “I may be biased, having chosen, along with my wife, to abandon our families in the U.K. to live in Melbourne, but it really is a wonderful city that embraces all that's good in life.” >>
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Sydneysiders) they throw open the rolling bay doors and the party spills onto the street. Mountain Goat may not take itself too seriously (a typically Australian trait), but the beer is seriously good. In particular, the Silence of the Rees InBreed Coconut Porter (6.3% ABV, 25 IBU) is a flavour bomb of roasted coconut, chocolate and vanilla, designed by brewer Alana Rees to resemble a lamington, a traditional Australian coconut cake dessert.
Get your Goat
Moon Dog rising
For decades, Melbourne’s beer drinkers suffered with fizzy, flavourless lagers designed to quench thirst on hot summer days and be drunk en masse. Pubs were “blokey” and not super welcoming of women.
A short bike ride away in the neighbouring suburb of Abbotsford (these names starting to sound familiar?) is Moon Dog Craft Brewery, sitting in the literal shadow of the massive Carlton United Brewing complex, makers of Australians' most popular lager, Victoria Bitter.
But the many Aussies who travelled overseas soon discovered the beer culture that existed in places like Europe and North America, and wondered why they couldn’t have that at home. Cameron Hines was one of them. It was a trip to B.C., of all places, that piqued his interest in craft beer. Hines returned to Melbourne from his travels and with his good buddy Dave Bonighton, founded Mountain Goat Brewery. “The name comes from the fact that they had this metaphorical mountain to climb to get started,” says Mountain Goat Brewery general manager Mick Bentley. Banks turned them down. Investors scoffed. But stubborn as the name suggests, Hines and Bonighton were able to raise $100,000 from friends and family to make their dream a reality. Today, 20 years later, Mountain Goat is one of Australia’s most widely distributed and widely recognizable craft beer brands. The Mountain Goat Brewery stands as a monument to their efforts. Housed in a massive warehouse in the Richmond neighbourhood, the space is inviting, if somewhat cavernous, with a tasting lounge adjacent to rows of soaring fermenters. The room has plenty of personality, with robotic sculptures welded from discarded brewing equipment and a bar made to look like a precariously high stack of beer cases. On sunny days (of which there are plenty in Melbourne, don’t listen to those lying
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While many craft breweries have taken a somewhat adversarial approach to the big bad macros, Moon Dog gets along quite well with its neighbour. “They’ve been a big help to us, actually,” says Mark Waghorne, Moon Dog’s head of sales. “They’ve helped us with lab results, sold us equipment, we’ve done collabs with [CUB-owned] Matilda Bay Brewing.” The vibe at Moon Dog is the furthest thing from corporate, though. Located in a non-descript alley like some secret craft beer PeeWee’s Playhouse, the dive-y tasting room is festooned with palm trees, Christmas lights, random neon, old mis-matched furniture and weird shit everywhere. It’s absolutely fantastic and utterly unpretentious, so you can’t help but instantly feel at ease. This place is just a lot of fun. The beer is a lot fun, too. Many Australian craft breweries are still pretty conservative when it comes to the beer styles the offer, but not Moon Dog. In fact, the first beer it ever brewed was a barrel-aged imperial red ale. I was most impressed by Mr. Mistoffelees (6.7% ABV, 12 IBU), a wild ale aged on oak for seven months, resulting in a mildly tart beer packed with tropical fruit flavours and gobs of brett funk. “Five or six years ago there weren’t a lot of people
here who were educated in craft beer,” says Waghorne. “The summery, fruity beers are still a big part of the market, but the younger demo is a bit more adventurous.”
Hawkers Delight When Mazen Hajjar decided to move to Australia from Lebanon four years ago and open up Hawkers Beer, Melbourne was the only place he considered setting up shop. “It’s 10 years ahead of Sydney,” he says. “And, the colder weather here drives better beer.” Hawkers, located in the leafy suburb of Coburg, is betting the Australian public is ready for craft beer. The brewery is currently undergoing a massive expansion that will effectively triple its size, and is planning to add a tasting room by the end of the year. “Craft beer only makes up about two per cent of the market here, so we are trying to educate the public,” Hajjar says. “Most people love good beer, they just haven’t been exposed to it.” Hawkers’ first beer, the aggressively hopped West Coast-style Hawkers Pale Ale (5.2% ABV, 50 IBU), became a smash hit for the brewery from moment it was released in 2015. “In two years, we’ve upgraded our capacity seven times,” he says. “I knew we’d be successful when I saw one our empty bottles in the street!”
For North American craft beer drinkers, Tallboy and Moose will feel very familiar. The tasting room is uncluttered and sleekly minimalist and the beer list features everything from Berliner weisse to cask-conditioned English bitters. One thing you won’t find at Tallboy and Moose – or in most Australian craft beer tasting rooms – is the growler-fill station. While not completely illegal, growler-filling is fraught with legislative red tape, and many breweries opt not to bother. Strong beers are also noticeably absent. At Tallboy and Moose, all of the beers clock in at under 6.0% ABV, again, due to restrictive Australian liquor laws. Punitive taxes are imposed on beer based on alcoholic content, so stronger beers are generally prohibitively expensive. Wine, on the other hand, has no such restrictions in place. “About one third of the cost of producing beer is tax,” says Germain. “If you want a pint of double IPA, it’s a $16 pint.” The likely reason, of course, is that the notion of moderate drinking is still somewhat foreign to much of Australia (although thankfully that’s changing, and craft beer is a big part of that). The Melbourne Cricket Ground still won’t sell beer stronger than 3.5% for evening matches due to the absolute bedlam that would invariably ensue. If you’ve been to Garfinkel’s in Whistler on a Tuesday, you know what I’m talking about. j
Canada Moose Thanks in part to the success of Mountain Goat (as well as other trailblazers like Cooper’s, Little Creatures and Stone & Wood), upstarts like Tallboy and Moose in Preston don’t have to do the legwork of converting the public to craft. That said, Tallboy and Moose’s most popular beer is its lager-esque Tallboy Cream Ale (4.9% ABV). “We consciously tried to make approachable beer in our first few months and from there we started tinkering,” says Toronto-raised co-owner Steve Germain, a.k.a. “Moose”. “We do a wide range of interesting things, but the cream ale is paying the bills.”
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GOLDEN
WHITETOOTH BREWING
623 8th Ave. North | WhitetoothBrewing.com DAILY 2-10PM EST. 2016 It’s a Golden era for craft beer in the Kootenays, where Whitetooth is brewing up Belgian-inspired and West Coast beers. Patio and beer lawn now open.
ICEFIELDS
BLOWER POW
B E L G I A N PA L E A L E
I N D I A PA L E A L E
Availability: Year-round
Availability: Year-round
ABV
6.0%
IBU
46
A Belgian-style amber pale ale with fruit and spice notes.
ABV
6.5%
IBU
75
Major hopping that hits all the right notes, including a resinous citrus and tropical character.
REVELSTOKE
MT. BEGBIE BREWING CO.
2155 Oak Dr. | Mt-Begbie.com DAILY 9AM-5PM EST. 1996
Mt. Begbie knows how to celebrate its 20th anniversary: open a new facility and win Brewery of the Year at the 2017 Canadian Brewing Awards.
BEGBIE CREAM ALE CREAM ALE
HIGH COUNTRY KOLSCH
Availability: Year-round
KO L S C H Availability: Year-round
ABV
4.7%
IBU
12
Mt. Begbie’s signature beer since 1996 won its third gold at the 2017 CBAs. 120
ABV
4.5%
IBU
12
Another three-time gold medal winner, this is the beer that introduced B.C. to kolsch.
100 MILE HOUSE
JACKSON’S SOCIAL CLUB & BREWHOUSE 175 Cariboo Hwy 97 | JacksonsSocialClub.com
MON-THU 10:30AM-7PM ^ FRI-SAT 10:30AM-9PM SUN 10:30AM-6PM EST. 2017 This small Cariboo brewery based in a converted gas station right on Hwy. 97 has a solid range of beers, a new patio and, on some nights, live music.
RETRO DOG
WRANGLER
BLONDE ALE
I N D I A PA L E A L E
Availability: Year-round
Availability: Year-round
ABV
4.8%
IBU
18
This “good, loyal blonde” will get your tail wagging.
ABV
6.5%
IBU
60
This solid IPA is named for the local Junior B hockey team: Go Wranglers!
VALEMOUNT
THREE RANGES BREWING CO.
1160 5th Ave. | ThreeRanges.com MON, WED-THU 3-8PM ^ FRI-SAT 1-9PM ^ SUN 1-7PM EST. 2013 Craft beer can make you famous. Practically no one in B.C. knew where Valemount was before 2014, when Three Ranges opened. They do now.
LITTLE BEE HONEY ALE
ROLL IN THE HAY HEFE
H O N E Y PA L E A L E Availability: Seasonal
HEFEWIEZEN Availability: Seasonal
ABV
5.6%
IBU
29
Local honey works its magic to make this pale ale clean and crisp.
ABV
5.5%
IBU
25
A hefeweizen with Citra hops. Why has someone only just thought of this amazing combo? 121
QUESNEL
BARKERVILLE BREWING CO.
185 Davie St. | BarkervilleBeer.com MON-WED 12-6PM ^ THU 12-8PM SAT 11AM-6PM
^ FRI 12-9PM
EST. 2014 Did you know Barkerville’s Wandering Camel IPA pays tribute to the 23 mighty camels that hauled supplies from Lillooet to Barkerville in 1862?
52 FOOT STOUT S TO U T
DEMI-MONDAINE DUNKELWEIZEN
Availability: Seasonal
D U N K E LW E I Z E N Availability: Seasonal
ABV
7.0%
IBU
70
Boreal amber birch syrup adds a touch of sweetness to this 2016 B.C. Beer Award winner.
ABV
5.2%
IBU
12
Notes of clove, vanilla and banana. And hey, another 2016 B.C. Beer Award winner.
PRINCE GEORGE
CROSSROADS BREWING
508 George St. | CrossroadsCraft.com SUN-THU 11:30AM-9PM ^ FRI-SAT 11:30AM-11PM EST. 2016 While you may soon be sipping on Crossroads’ beers on tap at local PG restaurants, currently the only place to taste it is at the beautiful taproom.
CINDERS RED RYE RED ALE
IRON BRIDGE OATMEAL STOUT
Availability: Year-round
OAT M E A L S TO U T Availability: Year-round
ABV
6.0%
IBU
58
A strong malt backbone supports juicy hops, and the rye punches in some spiciness. 122
ABV
5.0%
IBU
19
An easy-drinking English-style stout, with the addition of oats for extra body.
TERRACE
SHERWOOD MOUNTAIN BREWHOUSE
Unit 101 - 4816 Hwy. 16 West | SherwoodMountain.beer DAILY 12-8PM EST. 2014 Brewer Darryl Tucker, the Friar Tuck of Sherwood Mountain, is on a mission to bring the fine folks of Terrace a dependable and tasty line of brews.
SEVEN SISTERS STOUT
COAST MOUNTAIN PILSNER
S TO U T Availability: Year-round
PILSNER Availability: Year-round
ABV
5.7%
IBU
25
Roasty with hints of dark chocolate and coffee. Finishes dry with a light bitterness.
ABV
5.0%
IBU
N/A
Co-brewed with a German brewmaster, it’s refreshing with a fragrant, balanced hop bitterness.
PRINCE RUPERT
WHEELHOUSE BREWING CO.
217 1st Ave. East | WheelhouseBrewing.com TUE-WED 12-8PM
^ THU-SAT 12-11PM ^ SUN 2-8PM
EST. 2013 Prince Rupert locals love their hometown beer, but if you want to try Wheelhouse’s wares, you’re going to have to cross the 54th parallel.
FIRST MATE WHITE IPA W H I T E I N D I A PA L E A L E Availability: Seasonal ABV
6.7%
IBU
VITAMIN SEA N O RT H E A S T PA L E A L E
55
Juicy Citra, Mosaic and Galaxy hops are balanced by a delicate malt bill and tart Belgian wit yeast.
Availability: Seasonal ABV
5.0%
IBU
40
Get your vitamins from this juicy, hazy pale ale copiously dry hopped with Citra and Amarillo. 123
RECIPE
Beer and Chili-Glazed Oyster Tostada with Four Winds Pale Ale BY CHEF MARIANA GABILONDO, LA MEZCALERIA
Photos by Jennifer Gauthier
124
Although born in Mexico, La Mezcaleria’s chef Mariana Gabilondo has spent more than half her life in Canada. The flavours of the West Coast provide a constant source of inspiration as she puts her own spin on Mexican classics at La Mezcaleria on Commercial Drive in Vancouver. “I spent most of my time on Vancouver Island,” she says. “I came to Vancouver a year ago and have fallen in love with La Mezcaleria. I love the food and the opportunity to serve it here, and the chance to use and see the best products from B.C. on our tables.” That includes the best B.C. craft beer, namely, Four Winds Pale Ale, which features prominently in her recipe for beer and chiliglazed oyster tostada. “I wanted something with hop and body for a fall dish,” she explains. “Most traditional Mexican beer is lighter in the
I N g r ed i ents • 2 bottles of Four Winds Pale Ale • 500 mL of shucked oysters • 1 cup of agave syrup (or honey) • 1 whole ancho chili, seeded and sliced thin • 1 whole pasilla chili, seeded and sliced thin • 1 serrano pepper, thinly sliced • 4 garlic cloves • 1 red onion, sliced thin • 1 lime • ½ bunch of cilantro, chopped • 12 six-inch corn tortillas, preferably yellow corn (or better yet, a package of readymade tostadas!) • 1 avocado • 2 handfuls of your favourite mixed greens or shredded lettuce • Salt and pepper to taste To ma kE th e ch i li h o n ey g laz e Pour the beer into a small saucepan and gently bring to a boil. Simmer to get a nice, dark hoppy liquid, until it has reduced by half. Add the agave, garlic and the ancho and pasila chilies. Add a
summer or very dark for the late winter. But for the fall here in Vancouver, I love the ales, and they handle the strong rich flavours of Mexican sauces beautifully.” —Rob Mangelsdorf
pinch of pepper and a half teaspoon of salt. Cover and simmer for a few minutes to soften the chilies. Carefully pour into a blender (be careful, as the liquid is warm) and blend until the glaze is smooth. Store glaze in the fridge. To ma ke th e oysters Heat a little oil in a large pan. Fry the oysters at medium to high temperature. When golden on one side, turn them over and add the sliced red onion. Allow the onion and oysters to fry together for a few minutes until the oysters are fully cooked. Deglaze the pan with the chili honey glaze (use as little or as much as you like), and adjust salt to taste. Turn off the heat and add a squeeze of lime over the oysters for a nice tangy flavor. Toss everything with cilantro. To serv e Place a layer of greens and some avocado slices on a tostada or tortilla, and spoon some oysters and onions on top. Garnish with thinly sliced Serrano peppers and maybe a pinch of rock salt. Serve immediately with your favourite salsa. j
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BREWPUBS VANCO UV ER
DOCKSIDE BREWING CO.
1253 Johnston St. | DocksideVancouver.com
B
rewpubs are institutions in this province, offering a vastly different craft beer experience than the brewery tasting room. The focus of the brewpub may not necessarily be on the beer itself, but instead, the food, the décor, the live music or even the hockey game. They are often social hubs for their respective communities, functioning as the neighbourhood’s communal living room. In many cases, the beer is secondary. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t exceptional – in fact some of B.C.’s best beers are brewed in these establishments. Since few brewpubs bottle and keg their own beer – some don’t even offer growler fills – if you want to try what they are brewing, you’re going to have to go to the source. Seek them out, you won’t be disappointed. j VANCOUVER
OLD BRIDGE DARK LAGER DA R K L A G E R Availability: Year-round ABV
4.9%
IBU
25
This dark amber lager features mellow malt flavours balanced by Hallertau and Saaz hops. VANCO UV ER
HASTINGS MILL BREWING COMPANY
STEAMWORKS BREW PUB
403 East Hastings St. | PatsPub.ca
There’s a lot of history at the Patricia Hotel. Brewing beer is just the latest chapter in that book.
375 Water St. | Steamworks.com/Brew-Pub
The Gastown brewpub is indeed steam-powered, but unlike a certain steamy tourist-trap down the street, it’s actually worth a visit.
BRICKTOP PALE ALE
HEROICA RED ALE
A M E R I C A N PA L E A L E
RED ALE
Availability: Year-round ABV
6.0%
IBU
33
Red in colour, caramel in taste, Cascade in the finish.
126
Dockside’s patio is still one of the best in the city, or anywhere for that matter.
Availability: Seasonal ABV
5.6%
IBU
40
Medium bodied with notes of roasted hazelnut and toffee, balanced by Centennial, Citra and Simcoe hops.
BREWPUBS VAN C OUVER
VANCOUV ER
STEEL TOAD BREWERY
YALETOWN BREWING CO.
97 East 2nd Ave. | SteelToad.ca
1111 Mainland St. | MJG.ca/Yaletown
The beautifully restored historic Opsal building is the only place you can taste Chris Charron’s latest brews.
Always interesting seasonal beers to pair with the happy hour food menu. Don’t miss their semi-annual cask festivals!
VIENNA LAGER VIENNA LAGER
DE LA FONTAINE FARMHOUSE APRICOT
Availability: Year-round
Availability: Small batch
ABV
5.5%
SAISON IBU
15
A golden lager inspired by the traditional Vienna style. WHISTLE R
ABV
5.0%
IBU
19
A saison and apricot wheat beer blend – dry and refreshing. SURREY
BREWHOUSE HIGH MOUNTAIN BREWING
BIG RIDGE BREWING CO.
4355 Blackcomb Way | MJG.ca/BrewHouse
Always a Whistler hotspot, thanks in great part to long-running head brewer Derrick Franche and his excellent beer.
5580 152 St. | MJG.ca/Big-Ridge
Surrey’s original brewpub has been converting the masses to the gospel of craft beer for nearly 20 years.
FARMHOUSE BLEND
RODEO RED ALE
FA R M H O U S E A L E
RED ALE
Availability: Seasonal ABV
6.0%
IBU
25
A blend of tripel, saison and a 100-per-cent Brettanomyces-fermented pale ale.
Availability: Year-round ABV
5.0%
IBU
14
Well balanced and full bodied with a distinctive hop character.
127
BREWPUBS DUNCAN
NANAIMO
CRAIG STREET BREW PUB
LONGWOOD BREWPUB
25 Craig St. | CraigStreet.ca
5775 Turner Rd. | LongwoodBrewpub.com
It’s definitely worth venturing off the highway to visit this three-level brewpub, the centrepiece of Duncan’s attractive, historic downtown.
With a big food menu and a long tap list, you can always find something tasty in this comfortable brewpub.
MT. PREVOST PORTER P O RT E R
R U S S I A N I M P E R I A L S TO U T
Availability:Year-round ABV
5.0%
STOUTNIK
IBU
26
A smooth, dark porter with a roasted malt character – perfect on a rainy fall day. K AMLOOP S
Availability: Year-round ABV
7.5%
IBU
35
This award-winning stout will send your taste buds into orbit. SALMON ARM
THE NOBLE PIG BREWHOUSE BARLEY STATION BREW PUB
650 Victoria St. | TheNoblePig.ca
20 Shuswap St. North | BarleyStation.com
The go-to stop for food in Kamloops; how many brewpubs serve jamabalaya and sole on white bean ragu?
This excellent brewpub is the ideal spot for a meal and a beer as you drive the Trans-Canada Highway.
MOCHA PORTER P O RT E R
SAM MAGUIRE’S PALE ALE
Availability: Year-round
Availability: Year-round
ABV
5.5%
A M E R I C A N PA L E A L E IBU
35
Alluring chocolate, coffee and caramel flavours. A decadent pint to ease you into autumn.
128
ABV
4.6%
IBU
45
A hoppy and delicious take on the classic Pacific Northwest pale ale.
BREWPUBS KELOWNA
PENTICTO N
FREDDY’S BREWPUB
BARLEY MILL BREW PUB
124 McCurdy Rd. | McCurdyBowl.com
2460 Skaha Lake Rd. | BarleyMillPub.com
A bowling alley/brewpub with a good mix on tap, including (fittingly) a Lebowski Lager.
Barley Mill has a handful of regular beers on tap with the occasional seasonal under brewer Shawn Voisin.
SANDBAGGER BROWN
MUSTANG PALE ALE
B R OW N A L E
PA L E A L E
Availability: Year-round ABV
5.0%
IBU
10
A roasty, full-bodied brown ale with chocolate and caramel malts. N ELSON
Availability: Year-round ABV
5.0%
IBU
50
Cascade hops and Munich malts make for a balanced brew. CRANB RO O K
THE SAVOY BREWERY
THE HEID OUT
198 Baker St. | SavoyHotel.com
821 Baker St. | TheHeidOut.ca
The Falls Music Lounge in the Savoy Hotel is a great spot to enjoy beer right at the source.
Cranbrook’s only brewery is attached to a stellar restaurant featuring seven Red Seal chefs. Worth a long evening out.
NITRO STOUT
DARK STORMY PORTER
S TO U T
P O RT E R
Availability: Year-round ABV
4.8%
IBU
20
Smooth and creamy thanks to those tiny nitrogen bubbles.
Availability: Year-round ABV
5.5%
IBU
34
Smooth and dry, with a distinct chocolate and coffee maltiness.
129
BEER GROUND To the
Our beer spies have been gathering intel on up-and-coming breweries from all over the province. As always, take the estimated opening dates with a generous grain of salt. ANGRY HEN BREWING
Kaslo (fall 2017) Angry Hen was hoping to open by the end of August, but things always take longer than expected when starting a brewery. The location couldn’t be any cooler, though: a restored heritage building dating back to 1896 right across from Kootenay Lake. AngryHenBrewing.com
ANOTHER BEER CO.
New Westminster (late 2017) Sapperton is anxiously awaiting the opening of ABC, the first brewery in the Brewery District since Labatt’s closed up shop a decade ago. AnotherBeerCo.com
BEERE BREWING
North Vancouver (fall 2017) Owner/brewer Matt Beere hopes to bring sessionable, hoppy beers and lots of funky stuff to his tap list. Beere Brewing will be the third brewery in Lower Lonsdale, alongside Green Leaf and the soon-to-be-opened Streetcar. BeereBrewing.com
ELECTRIC BICYCLE BREWING COMPANY
Vancouver (late 2017) Located on the same block as R&B Brewing in Brewery Creek, Electric Bicycle Brewing Company is promising to shake things up in the crowded Vancouver craft beer scene with “strange beer, great music, and fun people.”
ILE SAUVAGE BREWING CO.
Victoria (fall 2017) The newest brewery in Rock Bay will be focusing on wild ales and sours, as the name suggests (literally, “wild island” en français).
RED BIRD BREWING INC.
Kelowna (open!) Red Bird is currently open and serving beer, just not its own beer. Owner Adam Semeniuk hopes to have his beers on tap any week now.
SILVER VALLEY BREWING
Maple Ridge (fall 2017) Construction is almost complete at this downtown Maple Ridge brewery. All that’s left is to get those pesky permits… SilverValleyBrewing.com
SOOKE BREWING COMPANY
Sooke (fall 2017) Construction of SBC’s tasting room is taking longer than expected, but the space is shaping up to be pretty spectacular, so we’re being patient. SookeBrewing.com
STREETCAR BREWING
North Vancouver (winter 2017) Yet another brewery slated for North Vancouver, Streetcar Brewing will be located on East 1st Street, not far from where the eponymous streetcars used to run on Lonsdale Avenue, close to 70 years ago. StreetcarBrewing.ca
3 DOGS BREWING
White Rock (fall 2017) Located across from the Semiahmoo Shopping Centre in the old Swirl wine shop, this brewery is hoping to be open any day now, although it doesn’t have a website or any social media yet.
TRENCH BREWING AND DISTILLING
Westbank (summer 2017) By the time you read this, Kind may very well be open for business. The brewery is ready to go, and just waiting on paperwork. KindBrewing.ca
Prince George (late 2017) Trench was hoping to be open this summer, but got caught up in red tape (not an uncommon occurrence in the province). Here’s to hoping they can cut their way through and open their doors before the year’s out. TrenchBrew.ca
NORTHPAW BREWING
UNNAMED BREWERY
KIND BREWING
Port Coquitlam (late 2017) The tanks are in and Northpaw is already brewing beer offsite, so it won’t be long now before Port Coquitlam’s first craft brewery is open to the public. NorthpawBrewCo.com
Ucluelet (winter 2017) Housed in a former church in the middle of town, this craft brewery will feature a tasting lounge and a full kitchen. j
THE RAILWAY
stage & beer café MON
THE TAKE BACK with DJs Khingz, Mic Flont & Guests
TUE
JOKES - first tuesday of the month Hosted by Gavin Matts & Dino Archie
THU
BOOGIE NIGHTS Presented by Mr. Boom Bap - Live music special guests
FRI
THE RAILWAY STAGE PRESENTS Live music
SAT
SATURDAY SESSIONS The original jam sessions are back
LUST FOR LIFE Live bands
10 pressed sandwiches SOUP / SALADS happy hour mon-fri $ 3 beer til 3pm $5 beer til 5pm $
579 Dunsmuir St | @RailwaySBC