VOLUME
05 01 ISSUE
$3 B . C .
C R A F T
B E E R
Display until june 15, 2019
$3
g u i d e
BRITISH COLUMBIA NORTHERN B.C.
SEA TO SKY / SUNSHINE COAST VANCOUVER ISLAND
eDiTOR Rob Mangelsdorf editor@thegrowler.ca 778-840-5005
pRODUcTiON & DeSiGN MANAGeR Tara Rafiq tara@thegrowler.ca cONTRiBUTiNG DeSiGNeR Juliana Sauvé pHOTOGRApHY Mario Bartel Rob Mangelsdorf Dan Toulgoet Lara Zukowsky cOVeR iLLUSTRATiON Marcus Hynes SOciAL MeDiA Danielle Boileau DiSTRiBUTiON Craig Sweetman (Newsstand) Rob Mangelsdorf (Direct) ordersbc@thegrowler.ca SUBScRipTiONS bc.thegrowler.ca/subscribe Copyright © The Growler 2019
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher. Every effort is made to avoid errors and omissions. If you notice an error, please accept our apologies and notify us.
pUBLiSHeD BY Glacier Media Group thegrowler.ca | @thegrowlerbc
KOOTENAYS
FRASER VALLEY
pUBLiSHeR Gail Nugent gnugent@thegrowler.ca
cONTRiBUTiNG WRiTeRS Ben Coli Reaon Ford Kristina Mameli Rob Mangelsdorf Brittany Tiplady Rebecca Whyman Joe Wiebe
THOMPSON OKANAGAN
LOWER MAINLAND / NORTH SHORE VANCOUVER VICTORIA / GULF ISLANDS
Contents 06 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 108
BReWeR VS BReWeR: THe SUBURBAN eDiTiON MARiJUANA AND cRAFT BeeR VicTiMS OF THeiR OWN SUcceSS ARe We HOSeRS GeTTiNG HOSeD? TRAVeL: peNTicTON DON’T BeLieVe THe HYpe SAiSON: FULL ciRcLe HOW VeGAN iS YOUR cRAFT BeeR? cRAFT BeeR eVeNTS cALeNDAR THe NeW FAce OF cRAFT BeeR iS HeRe Recipe: BeRBeRe SpiceD ALBAcORe TUNA SALAD BReWiNG FOR A cAUSe LOcAL, NOT LUcKY B.c. BReWeRY LiSTiNGS BeeR TO THe GROUND
Breweries by Region
34 50 68 71 76 86 92 99 104
VANCOUVER LOWER MAINLAND / NORTH SHORE
GROWLER-APPROVED BADGE Keep an eye out for our 10 favourite beers this spring!
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 Thankfully, spring has returned, and with it, beer fest season. I guess promoters assume we would rather be spending time with our families, or locking ourselves inside, huddling together for warmth during the winter months. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Things kick off in a big way with Victoria Beer Week, March 1-9, before the 24th annual Okanagan Fest of Ale returns April 12 and 13 (pg. 16). You can check out the full slate of events for the next three months on pg. 24. Spring also means new seasonal releases, and ‘tis the season for saison. The Thirsty Writer, Joe Wiebe, breaks down the history and mystery of the Belgian farmhouse style, with some great local recommendations (pg. 20).
One of the most amazing things about craft beer is its ability to bring people together and to build community. This issue we look at how a new breed of brewery is taking that concept a step further: non-profit brewing ventures created solely to raise funds for charitable causes (pg. 30). We also explore the transformative power craft breweries have had on neighbourhoods, and how they could be forced out of the very communities they helped to create (pg. 12). Speaking of community, recent data suggests women are the fastest growing customer demographic in tastings rooms, which is great news for Rebecca Whyman (pg. 26). And everyone else, quite frankly. Cheers,
LEGEND
—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
BREWERvs. BREWER THE SUBURBAN EDITION by Rob Mangelsdorf
T
he times they are a-changin’. It wasn’t so long ago that the vast suburbs surrounding Vancouver were a craft beer wasteland. While the city proper was undergoing a dramatic craft awakening, out in the ‘burbs? Nothing. Well, almost nothing.
While Port Moody was quick out of the gates with the Murray Street crew, there was barely a pulse in many of the neighbouring municipalities. As it turned out, some civic governments were initially less than welcoming of craft breweries and their tasting rooms. But the ‘burbs are coming around. North Vancouver’s Lower Lonsdale is set to rival Port Moody with two craft breweries already open and another three on the way. Maple Ridge has three breweries all within walking distance. Langley could see four new breweries this year. And in Port Coquitlam, a city that had exactly zero craft breweries less than a year ago, two breweries are open for business today: Northpaw Brewing and Taylight Brewing. And there could be as many as five before the year is out. The Growler sat down with brewers Goldwin Chan and Dennis Smit of Taylight and Northpaw, respectively, to find out what’s different about brewing in the ‘burbs.
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GOLDWIN CHAN: The pub owners definitely wanted to keep us out. Some of them. GROWLER: Was it that they felt entitled to a monopoly on liquor sales? SMIT: Yeah, it’s exactly that. It seems like they want to monopolize the whole beer scene, but at the same time, a lot of them aren’t willing to embrace craft beer. The John B Pub [in Coquitlam] is a great example of a pub that has embraced it, they’re open arms to craft beer, they have, what? Fifty taps? GROWLER: Eighty, I believe. [Editor: It’s 86, actually!] SMIT: Wow. So, yeah, no problem, you want Molson or a Budweiser, you can have it. But you can also have whatever craft beer you want, too, and they are doing just fine. Probably doing better now than they were 10 years ago. CHAN: The pubs that seem to have a problem with craft breweries are the ones that are full of, you know, only old guys. And that’s fine, there’s a market for everything. But it’s different environment with a totally different clientele. GROWLER: Yeah, I doubt you guys would be pulling people away from places like that. SMIT: What we’re doing is catering to everybody here, just look around [gestures at a nearby table of moms and young children]. You’re not going to see that at a pub. CHAN: A lot of people don’t feel comfortable in bars and pubs. GROWLER: It seems like a lot of municipalities didn’t understand what craft beer is all about, as well. SMIT: I think that’s a lot of it. I think there was a misunderstanding, but that’s changed a lot, very recently. Especially in PoCo. PoCo has been great to Northpaw, they’ve really helped us out and fasttracked our process. But prior to that you saw the council in Port Moody have a lot of success with craft breweries. Not only fiscal success, but community success, too. It was very well received by
Mario Bartel photos
DENNIS SMIT: Part of the challenge here was there are some pretty vocal pub owners, not naming names, that didn’t like the idea of a craft brewery coming in and opening a tasting room.
DENNIS SMIT
THE GROWLER: Why has it taken so long for craft beer to make it to the suburbs?
everyone. It wasn’t just alcoholics and tradesmen, it was everybody, it was families. GROWLER: Craft beer turned the asshole of Port Moody into the funnest place in town. SMIT: Absolutely, so neighbouring communities like PoCo saw that and said, hey, we want craft breweries, too! GROWLER: But the first few proposed craft breweries in Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam, they met a lot of resistance from the municipalities, five, six years ago. There was even talk of putting in provisions so they wouldn’t be too close to schools. CHAN: Because the people who go to craft breweries are all rapists and pedophiles! GROWLER: I'm sure they wouldn’t have an issue if a winery wanted to open up. CHAN: It’s the craziest thing. Beer is still treated differently. GROWLER: Do you think there’s a difference in the suburban palate? Are there beers that might be popular in Vancouver but wouldn’t fly out here? SMIT: I don’t know that it is a lot different. There’s a lot of knowledgeable beer people in Vancouver, but one of the things that we benefit from is that people are moving from Vancouver. Housing is a lot cheaper out here. So those people are coming and they’re finding breweries. We’ve started doing kettle sours because people are coming in and asking for sours. That’s not a beer you make if you’re just selling cream ales. CHAN: And we do have regulars who come in just for our lagers, sure. They like their Budweiser, and they want to drink something that’s local.
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SMIT: Local is a very big word. And people who aren’t really in to craft beer will come in because they want to support local, and that’s what something like a cream ale is for. And they’ll enjoy it, and then they want to try something else. GROWLER: So gateway beers are still important. You’re educating the market, to a certain extent. At least part of it. SMIT: Absolutely. We get those people everyday. Maybe they’re biking by or walking their dog and they come in and want a beer, but all they know is Budweiser. GROWLER: That’s something craft breweries in places like Victoria and Vancouver dealt with years ago. Not so much anymore. SMIT: Which is why you see more specialization in Vancouver, for sure. That’s going to happen when you have so many breweries. Out here, you can’t have a menu of only huge IPAs or 12% imperial stouts.
We do have regulars who come in just for our lagers, sure. They like their Budweiser, and they want to drink something that’s local. —Goldwin Chan, Taylight Brewing
GROWLER: Those beers can be intimidating to someone who’s unfamiliar with craft beer. At the very least they likely haven’t had the same exposure to craft beer that someone from Vancouver or Victoria has. SMIT: Exactly. In places like East Van now, you’re almost being forced to find a niche market, whereas here we don’t have that. You have to have something for everybody. CHAN: You know, people just want something that tastes good, so try to give them that. Very
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goldwin chan
GROWLER: So these aren’t “craft beer people,” necessarily, but they like beer and they want to support a local business.
approachable, nothing too crazy. We’re not like Electric Bicycle out here, we’re not throwing ramen into the kettle. But we get to experiment with our pilot system. Hazys and IPAs are still really popular, though. GROWLER: The hazy style of beer, honestly, is revolutionary for craft beer. A lot of people who thought that they hated hops because they had some 100 IBU monstrosity like 10 years ago are coming back to craft beer because of hazy IPAs. It offers all of the fruity aromas and flavours of hops without the bitterness, so it’s totally approachable. CHAN: We still get that, people coming in and saying, they don’t like hoppy beer. But they love our hazy pale ale! But that’s true hoppiness—the aroma and the flavour—not the bitterness. GROWLER: What’s the craft beer market going to be like five, 10 years from now out here? Can PoCo support dozens of breweries? CHAN: I think we opened the floodgates. These guys opened up and we opened up soon after, and there’s going to be at least two or three more that we know about. Port Coquitlam isn’t a huge city, but we’re going to have a good spread. I don’t know that we’ll see many more than that, though. SMIT: I think the reality is, you’re going to see our products and Taylight’s in local stores, maybe spread out a bit more in the province somewhat, and that’s what it’s going to be. CHAN: I see the breweries evolving, and becoming more different from each other. SMIT: And you see that in Brewers Row in Port Moody. Every one of those breweries is different. j
Marijuana
&
craft beer:
Destined to be star-crossed lovers?
As legalization of edibles looms, restrictions could keep craft brewers out of the game
W
by Kristina Mameli ith marijuana now legal in Canada and the legalization of edibles on the way, will we see cannabis-infused craft?
With the sweet recreational leaf finally legal in Canada, I set out to answer the burning question (see what I did there?): when will we see the worlds of craft beer and Mary Jane collide?
of our parents’ era. According to Health Canada, the potency “has increased from an average of three per cent in the 1980s to around 15 per cent today. Some strains can have an average as high as 30 per cent THC.” CBD, or cannabidiol, on the other hand, does not produce any kind of high and is being studied for its possible therapeutic uses, ranging from reducing inflammation to helping with mental health issues like anxiety. Hopefully, legalization will be a boon for such research.
First, there are two main components of marijuana that are important to understand for our purposes; let Professor Mameli explain: THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol is the psychedelic part that gets you high. And today’s grass is a lot stronger than that
Edibles will become legal in Canada by Oct. 17, 2019, and yes, dear reader, than includes THC and CBD infused beverages… but, as Health Canada made abundantly clear in an email to The Growler, the edible industry will come with a litany of
In a word: no. At least not in the way you would expect.
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caveats, especially when talking about the combo of cannabis and alcohol. In short: Health Canada emphatically says that it’s just not going to happen. Specifically this: “it would be prohibited to use terms related to alcoholic beverages, such as ‘beer’ or ‘wine,’ on cannabis products. It would similarly be prohibited for the name or logo of a company that manufactures alcoholic beverages to be used on a cannabis product. In addition to reducing inducements to use cannabis, this prohibition is felt to be necessary given the known health risks associated with the concurrent use of alcohol and cannabis.” Sorry to disappoint. Interpreting all the legalese, the federal government's Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement also thoroughly discusses food safety and covers a lot more ground regarding packaging and marketing underscoring the goal of protecting youth; essentially, weed + alcohol = no go. Especially for kids. Regardless, it would seem that we’re on the precipice of an entirely new category of craft beverage. Ontario’s Cool Beer Brewing Co. is looking at the changing perception surrounding cannabis as an opportunity and is making moves to enter the infused beverage industry. Cool has applied to Health Canada for a processing licence to extract oils from dried cannabis using a method called CO2 extraction, which places plants under extreme compression to draw out the oils. The buds would be supplied by licensed producers and the oils would then be used to infuse alcohol-free beverages. Kevin Meens is the Corporate Development Officer at Cool and he offers some much needed insight into this burgeoning and so far somewhat difficult to navigate trade. “It’s all about what we call share of stomach in our industry,” he says. “And who has the largest share of stomach currently would be the beer industry. So now with the legalization of cannabis, you have a direct competitor.” In August of last year, Molson Coors Canada announced that it has partnered with Quebec based HEXO, a cannabis producer, to form a joint venture called TRUSS that will “pursue opportunities to develop non-alcoholic, cannabis-infused
beverages for the Canadian market following legalization,” according to a press release. So, it would appear that macros see potential, too, and are willing to invest and diversify. That said, the Canadian industry will inevitably look to our neighbours to the south for guidance, where, companies like Lagunitas Brewing Co. (owned by Heineken) in California have released a non-alcoholic THC-infused beverage called Hi-Fi Hops and Oregon’s Coalition Brewing Co. has had success with their CBD-infused Two Flowers IPA. Will Canadian consumers be interested in infused beverages, though? As legalization looms and long-held stigma dissipates, Meens certainly thinks so; particularly where CBD is concerned. “If you’re consuming Tylenol, Advil or whatnot, it’s hard on your stomach—CBD will give you the same effect, but it’s not hard on your insides.” It’s not all as easy as it sounds, however. As previously mentioned, Health Canada has a number of requirements for the production of infused beverages, namely pertaining to food safety and mitigating the risk of cross-contamination. “You would not be able to put an extractor inside of an existing processing facility that deals with food,” Meens explains. “Therefore, I couldn’t put my CO2 extractor in the middle of my brewery.” That means that, hypothetically, if an existing craft brewery wanted to manufacture an infused and dealcoholized malted-beverage, they would have to build a completely separate facility in order to do so. That could prove prohibitively expensive. So, will we ever be able to sip the magic dragon? It appears that no one has any definitive answers. For now, anyway, it seems like the idea of cannabis-infused beer is up in smoke (I’m sorry). The idea of dealcoholized cannabis-infused beer, however, is very real and likely on the horizon. But will Canadian craft brewers give it a go? “Do I take my existing craft brewery and continue in the malt beer industry? Or do I totally get out of making beer, retool my facility and go into infused beverages?” muses Meens of the decision facing craft brewers. “I think that’s the question.” j
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Storm Brewing's James Walton says the future of the iconic craft brewery is uncertain after its lease expires next year. Dan Toulgoet photo
Thanks to rising real estate and property taxes, some craft breweries are being forced from the communities they helped create by Rob Mangelsdorf
D
o you remember what Vancouver’s muchloved Yeast Van brewery district was like, before all the breweries moved in?
In a word, it was stabby. Twenty years ago, the run-down industrial area was replete with vacant buildings and empty storefronts. Thanks to an animal waste processing plant and a chicken slaughterhouse, it didn’t smell too nice, either. It was not a particularly pleasant place to be. “Needles and condoms everywhere,” is how James Walton remembers it. The owner and brewer at East Van’s iconic Storm Brewing moved into his Commercial Drive location in 1994, well before the current crop of craft breweries took root. “I used to get broken into every six months, pretty regularly.”
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But that changed, and breweries looking for light industrial-zoned space in which to set up shop were a big part of that change. Breweries brought foot traffic back to the neighbourhood. Instead of merely serving as a conduit for commuters travelling in and out of downtown, Powell Street became a destination for locals and tourists alike. The streets were no longer creepily vacant after 6 p.m., and so they became safer, and the neighbourhood became desirable. Today, the area is home to 12 craft breweries, two distilleries, coffee roasters, ice cream shops, music studios, trendy restaurants and grocery stores. And, of course, condos that advertise themselves as being in the heart of the city’s brewery district. But thanks to the two-headed hydra of rising taxes and runaway real estate speculation, the very
breweries that helped create Yeast Van may be forced out of it.
It used to be a selling feature to have a tenant in your commercial building, but now, thanks to speculation, it’s a liability if they want to redevelop. —Chris Lay, Callister Brewing
Walton is looking at the very real possibility that his lease won’t be renewed when it expires next year. As a result, he’s on the lookout for a new home for Storm, but he’s not finding much. “It’s pretty depressing,” he says. “We’re looking at paying at least double for a similar space.” But in order to justify that expense, he’ll have to expand his brewery, start packaging his product and put in a tasting room. That means more equipment, more space and a more expensive location. When all is said and done, he estimates that he could be spending upwards of four times as much as he is now—assuming he can even raise the investment necessary to build such an expansion.
If he can’t, it may be the end for one of the most important, pioneering breweries in B.C.’s craft beer scene. Making matters worse, has been a corresponding increase in property taxes. And since many small businesses, including most breweries in Vancouver, are on “triple-net” leases, they are responsible for paying not only the monthly rent, but the property taxes and maintenance, too. Property taxes are determined by assessing a property’s “highest and best use,” so when areas of the city are rezoned to allow for different uses— such as mixed use residential as is the case in much of Vancouver’s industrial-zoned land—suddenly that theoretical highest and best use is a lot more valuable and property taxes skyrocket. According to B.C. Assessment, property values for light industrial land in Vancouver increased 36.5 per cent in 2018. As a result, property taxes on the building Storm leases have jumped by nearly 30 per cent in the past year alone. “Taxes have gone up massively in the past five years,” says Walton. “And the city has been no help.” While the reasoning for taxing properties at their highest and best use is to encourage property own-
ers to redevelop their land, under triple-net leases, owners aren’t paying the taxes, the businesses are. Yet the services the businesses receive from the city haven’t changed. Just a short walk away, Callister Brewing is facing a similar conundrum. Owner Chris Lay recently renegotiated a five-year extension on his lease that included a 60 per cent increase. But it could have been worse. “If we were to leave this space, we’d be looking at a 100 per cent increase,” he says. As a result of the neighbourhood becoming desirable, there are fewer commercial properties available, which drive up prices. That shortage is further exacerbated by rampant speculation, as some landlords are opting to leave their properties vacant, according to Lay. “It used to be a selling feature to have a tenant in your commercial building, but now, thanks to speculation, it’s a liability if they want to redevelop,” he says. “Properties are literally worth more as a hole in the ground than as a standing building.” Because of the increase in property values and taxes, Lay has had to completely rewrite his business plan. “In the past five years, all the gains we’ve made growing our business have now all been wiped out,” he says. “I don’t what we’ll do in five years when our lease is up. That’s a lot to take for any small business.” Lay says he’d like to see the City of Vancouver step up and help small businesses who are finding themselves being priced out of the neighbourhoods they helped create, perhaps with a grant program to offset the increase in property taxes. If the city doesn’t take action, the result could be a mass exodus of small businesses, craft breweries included. “All of us are in the same position,” he says. j
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Are we
Hosers getting Hosed? Our neighbours to the south offer a glimpse at how good we could have it, if only B.C.’s archaic liquor laws would let us
T
by Reaon Ford
hey say it’s a great time to be a craft beer lover in B.C., but you don’t have to drive far to discover we hosers are in fact getting hosed by a surprising lack of options for buying and consuming that sweet, sweet nectar. I recently took a road trip through Washington state, Oregon, California and Nevada and found that almost every town between Bellingham and Bakersfield had a bevy of options that doesn’t exist here—from breweries and bottle shops, to growler fills at bars, gas stations and even pharmacies. For those who aren’t familiar, bottle shops are like our own cold beer and wine stores—but on steroids. You can mix and match your own sixpack, fill a glass or a growler from a wide selection of breweries, even grab a cold one from the cooler and crack it open in-store. The shops also act as gathering places where suds-sippers can meet and mingle. At first, I was only curious. But as the highway wound its way farther south, I became jealous. Even a rustic tavern in Crescent, Oregon—an
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unincorporated community of 581 people—welcomes travellers with a wooden statue of a sasquatch clutching a giant mug and a sign reading: "Now filling growlers." How could a world-class city like Vancouver be upstaged by a bump in the road 50 miles south of Bend? Beer advocate Christopher Pierce, the man behind the popular @Portland_Beer Twitter account agrees: our corner of Cascadia has some catching up to do. “It seems like everybody [in Oregon] is doing the growler-fill thing,” he says. “Whether it’s your local grocery store, or there's even some places that are like gas station/growler-fill places, just little mom-and-pop shops.” And don’t get him started on the selection at those stores. "The place where I buy my meat and my bread and my pizzas, they've got between 900 and a thousand craft beers,” Pierce says. “They hired somebody who was a beer expert to run the place,
and it's a tiny grocery store, and everything's refrigerated. It has a larger selection than any bottle shop that I think I’ve ever seen in Vancouver." I didn’t make it as far as Arizona on my trip, but the Park Plaza Liquor & Deli in Prescott is a perfect example of the kind of mecca we’re missing. The 15,000-sq.-ft. property includes a liquor store, restaurant, bar and cigar lounge, with more than 1,000 beers. Fill growlers? Duh. Build your own six-pack? Yep. Purchase kegs? Why not! How about drink and smoke a cigar while you shop? WHAMMY. So why don’t we have anything like that here? Farees Kara, the new assistant manager of Firefly Fine Wines and Ales in Vancouver, points to licensing, legislation, and a lack of political will in B.C. "No one's running on a platform of ‘I’m going to free beer’ and I don't think anybody ever will,” he says. “Personally, I think what needs to be done is look at it as [an absence of ] consumer advocacy. CAMRA was fantastic in B.C. in trying, but even they've gotten away from advocacy. There doesn't seem to be any organization that's willing to fight for the rights of consumers and to fight for what we want. It's all about taxation and regulation." Kara says some local beer-based businesses have done a good job of expanding their offerings, like Jak’s Beer Wine Spirits. And he says the owners of Firefly are also taking a page from America’s playbook with plans for a major expansion of their Cambie Street location. “We're gonna make it a craft beer destination... a good third of the store will be craft beer,” he says. “It will be probably be one of the biggest spaces allocated to craft beer in Western Canada. Maybe all of Canada.” He’s gunning for up to 5,000 sq. ft. of selling space. But of course, size isn’t everything.
The place where I buy my meat and my bread and my pizzas, they've got between 900 and a thousand craft beers. —Christopher Pierce
Craft beer options abound south of the border, where even pharmacies and gas stations put tightly-regulated B.C. liquor stores to shame. Reaon Ford photos
"We plan to have taps,” says Kara. “We plan to have a private tasting room. So if a brewery wanted to come and do an event with some snacks and some beer, we'd be able to accommodate them, just like many places do for wine and spirits. We basically want to elevate beer to where wine is. There's no reason why someone shouldn't be able to come in and say, OK, you've got four taps, can I get a sample of each one before I buy some bottles?" To find out what we’re missing, you don’t need to spend two weeks criss-crossing the West Coast like I did. Just head to Bellingham, which is home to 13 breweries, a slew of dive bars and live music venues pouring local brews, as well as the famous Elizabeth Station bottle shop. But consider yourself warned: once you’ve had a taste of the craft beer experience in other parts of the Pacific Northwest, it will surely leave you thirsting for more. j
15
FAll in love with
#Pencitybeer U
by Rob Mangelsdorf
pon visiting Penticton for the first time (or any time, really), it’s not uncommon to turn to whoever is sitting next to you and say, “I could live here.” Which makes sense, since the name Penticton, itself, is derived from the Interior Salish word for “a place to stay forever.” So consider yourself warned: between the beer, the beaches and the sunshine—you may never want to leave!
The beer! Penticton has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to craft beer. Twenty-four years ago when hardly anyone knew or cared about craft beer, the city was throwing a party to celebrate it. Okanagan Fest of Ale (running April 12 and 13, this year) has since become one of the biggest, best-attended and longest-running craft beer festivals in the Pacific Northwest. It’s definitely the most fun. Today, the lakeside community is home to five craft breweries, with another two on the way (there’s also, like, a million wineries, cideries and distilleries, if that’s your thing). Each one offers a unique experience for the beer-obsessed traveler. Tin Whistle Brewing is Penticton’s original craft brewery, opening its doors all the way back in 1995.
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Today it calls the historic Cannery Trade Centre home, where you can sample the beers or pick up some bottles from the retail store. If you want a front row seat to the art of craft brewing, then pull in for a pint at Highway 97 Brewing. There, the brewhouse is the centre of attention, with the brewery’s tasting lounge overlooking where the magic happens. If you were any closer to the action, they’d have to cut you a paycheque. If you’re looking for a classic pub atmosphere, then the Barley Mill Brew Pub & Bistro has what you need. We’re talking dark wood, Tudor revival architecture, traditional pub fare and craft beer brewed in the cutest little brewhouse you’ve ever seen. Maybe you’re thinking about having some food— always a good idea when you’re sampling the local beverages. Well, the folks over at Bad Tattoo Brewing have the best pizza in town, as well as some pretty delicious craft beer to go along with it. Bonus: it’s just two blocks from the beach. Meanwhile, Cannery Brewing on Ellis Street is always bumping, thanks to 12 taps of craft beer awesomeness, constant small batch releases and live music. On sunny days (which are just about every day in Penticton), they throw open the tasting room’s bay doors and let that Okanagan sunshine
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in, because nothing pairs better with craft beer than copious amounts of Vitamin D. Soon, there will be even more craft beer options, with two new breweries on the way: Hatchery Brewing and Neighbourhood Brewing, both setting up shop right downtown. Both will definitely be on the must-visit list. As you are travelling from brewery to brewery, grab a Penticton Ale Trail passport and get it stamped for your chance to win some cool prizes. Last year, Penticton was named Canada’s No. 2 craft beer city, but this year, they seem to be gunning for No. 1. They have our vote!
The fun! There’s no shortage of non-beer related activities to keep you busy in Penticton. Since the city is situated between two lakes—one of only two cities in the world that is between two lakes —naturally, Penticton has a ton of public beaches. Okanagan Lake Park and Rotary Park offer more than a mile of sun-drenched beach, while Skaha Lake Park features red sand, warm waters and every amenity imaginable.
Speaking of water, how does whiling away an afternoon tubing down the Penticton River Channel sound? The channel float might be the laziest river of them all. You can rent a tube and get a bus ride back to town through Coyote Cruises (CoyoteCruises.ca). Make sure to stop by the massive Penticton Farmers’ Market, which takes over most of Main Street every Saturday morning from April through October. Enjoy fresh fruit and veg from local farmers and handmade goods from artisans all over the South Okanagan. You’ll even find some breweries and wineries there offering tastings, too. If you’re looking for something a little more active than drinking beer, eating gourmet food and getting sunburnt (to each their own!), Penticton has plenty to keep you occupied. After all, this is the home of the Penticton Beer Run ( June 8), mountain biking and hiking on the KVR, adventure parks, rock climbing at the Skaha Bluffs, you name it. You can get the whole rundown over at VisitPenticton.com. Truly, a place to stay forever. j • For more info, visit PentictonAleTrail.ca
In this crowded beer market, brewers are under pressure to grab your attention. But the year-round staples are often their best work.
T
by Ben Coli
here used to be nothing more exciting to me than a beer release. Something new, something exciting, something I’d never tasted before was coming from a local brewer. I couldn’t wait to try it! All my hopes and dreams were wound up in that moment. Could this be the magical beer that would finally complete me? “Meh. It’s okay. The marjoram is super prominent, but I can barely taste the kopi luwak. As for the
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jelly doughnuts they put in the mash, I guess I can taste the raspberry filling, but I’m not sure it adds anything.” Chalk that one up to experience and move on to the next beer. And yet I’d do it again, and again. I’d be at my local beer store and I’d see a beer I’d never had before sitting next to a beer I knew I loved, and nine times out of 10,
I’d grab that unfamiliar beer because what if that was the one that would finally complete me? I do a lot less of that these days. I’ve accepted that I’ll never be complete, that I’ll spend the rest of my life wandering the earth with a beershaped hole in my soul that will never be filled. Instead, I spend a lot more time drinking beers that I actually like. Mostly I drink beer from breweries that I know I like, and mostly I drink beers that they make all the time. There’s a reason why that marjoram-kopi-luwak-jelly-doughnut kolsch was a super limited release: because it sucked. It was a shitty idea for a beer. If it was an awesome beer that people wanted to drink every day, the brewery would still be making it. But it wasn’t an awesome beer, and nobody drank it twice. Even when they taste good, most of these hypedup, one-off beers lack staying power. They might be interesting to have one glass of, but they’re usually not the kind of thing you’d sit down and drink three pints of in a row. They’re often overpowering and cloying after about half a glass. There’s a reason for that, too. The brewer didn’t design that beer to have staying power. He or she might have been yearning to brew an incredible new traditional kolsch, but in this crowded beer market it’s hard to grab attention with anything subtle. The brewery’s social media manager would have had a hell of a time building hype with, “floor-malted bohemian pilsner malt perfectly balanced with subtly floral hops and the soft esters of a cool ale fermentation.” So instead, they dumped in a bunch of crazy ingredients and got the Internet buzzing with, “we stuffed the mash tun with handmade jelly doughnuts and filled the fermenter with coffee beans that have been eaten and shit out by a fucking civet cat! While we’re at it, here’s a picture of a civet cat taking a shit!”
There almost certainly wasn’t time to brew a test batch, and the brewers had probably never used marjoram, kopi luwak or jelly doughnuts before, so they had no idea how much to use. Anything they learned about the beer in brewing that one batch is basically lost, because they’ll never make it again. On the other hand, that same brewery’s pale ale might be a work of art. You can barely find mention of it on Instagram, but that pale ale is designed to be a daily go-to beer. It never gets cloying and it never fatigues your palate. It’s the kind of beer that you can drink three of in a row and still be thirsty for more. The brewery has been brewing that beer since the day they opened and after many recipe tweaks and process adjustments, they have it totally dialed in. The brewers have every feature of that beer etched into their palates, and when anything in the ingredients changes or when anything goes wrong with the fermentation, everyone in the brewery knows immediately. Because at the end of a long day of work, those thirsty brewers aren’t reaching for a glass of marjoram-kopi-luwak-jelly-doughnut kolsch, they’re reaching for their brewery’s trusty pale ale. Or its pilsner. Or its craft lager. (Or, ahem, its Belgian-style table beer brewed with oats and coriander, which, despite its flavourful complexity, is actually quite a refreshing and crushable beer.) I’m not saying you should stop buying breweries’ seasonals and one-offs. (Please don’t stop buying my brewery’s seasonals and one-offs! Think of my kids!) Novelty and exploration are a huge part of what makes craft beer fun. I don’t ever want to stop growing and experimenting as a brewer, and I don’t ever want to stop trying new things as a drinker. But please understand that those one-offs aren’t the best beers. The best beers are the ones that the brewers are working on constantly, the ones that are designed with balance and drinkability in mind. Those hyped-up one-off beers can be super fun, but if you miss out on one, don’t stress. It almost definitely wasn’t the beer that would finally complete you. j Ben Coli is the owner and head brewer of Burnaby’s Dageraad Brewing, the Canadian Brewing Awards’ 2018 Brewery of the Year.
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FU
Saison LL
c ir c l e
Brewmaster Cédric Dauchot has a taste in the barrel room at Townsite Brewing. Contributed photo
by Joe Wiebe
W
hen the British beer writer Michael Jackson first began writing about Belgian beer culture in the 1970s, he found very few examples of saisons in existence. By the early 1990s, he even described the style as “endangered.” But he loved the beer, perhaps even more than typical Belgians did, and worked hard to bring attention to it. Because of his enthusiasm, an American distributor reached out to the Belgian brewer Dupont to import its saison, described by Jackson as “a down-to-earth classic of the style.” Dupont was surprised by the request since their blonde ale, Moinette, was a much bigger seller in Belgium. “At the time, the beer represented just two per cent of Brasserie Dupont’s sales and was being considered for discontinuation,” Bryan Roth wrote in All About Beer in 2016, going on to claim that
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the saison now accounts for 40 per cent of Dupont’s production because of the export market. Cédric Dauchot, brewer and co-owner of Townsite Brewing in Powell River, grew up about 35 km from the Dupont brewery, but despite its proximity, Dauchot says, “I never drank Saison Dupont at the pub. We always drank Moinette. Saisons were not a big part of beer culture in Belgium.” On my own trip to Belgium in 2014, I sought out saisons at every pub, but the truth was I only encountered them here and there. According to legend, saisons were originally brewed by farmers in the winter months and then stored away for the summer when they were consumed in great quantities as sustenance by the saisoniers, or seasonal workers, hired to help with the harvest. It’s a great story, one I’ve told many
I really like spelt; it gives it an extra flavour. The beer is a bit more bready. There’s a nice smell that comes from the spelt. —Cedric Dauchot times at beer tastings and seminars, and people always love it when they hear it. As with many beer origin stories, it’s probably too good to be true. Check Dutch beer writer Roel Mulder’s site, Lostbeer.com, for a few articles devoted to debunking the myth if you’re interested. When I asked Dauchot about the origin story, he said it might have been true “maybe 100 years ago,” but with a twist: “There was a communal brewery in every village. Every farmer would have a couple of wood barrels and fill them and then tap them for the workers in the summer.” He remembers that his father worked on a farm in the 1960s that still used horses “and there were some beer barrels there, but that was one of the last farms in the area to do that.” Saisons can vary considerably from brewery to brewery, but many people, including myself, regard the Saison Dupont as the benchmark. And I love Jackson’s description of it: “A big, rocky, creamy head; a sharp, firm, refreshing attack; a restrained fruitiness; and a long, almost tangibly dry, finish.” That “firm, refreshing attack” makes me smile because it’s bang on even if it isn’t the usual way to describe a beer. Townsite Brewing’s 7800 Saison, which is named for the distance between Dauchot’s hometown and Powell River, is a classic of the style that is reminiscent of the Dupont standard. He uses Saison Dupont is considered the benchmark for saisons, with its "big, rocky, creamy head; sharp, firm, refreshing attack; restrained fruitiness; and long, almost tangibly dry, finish," according to the late, great beer writer, Michael Jackson.
the traditional Belgian saison yeast, which he believes is a clone of Dupont’s, and several different grains, including spelt, oats, rye, and raw, unmalted wheat along with barley. “I really like spelt; it gives it an extra flavour,” Dauchot said. “The beer is a bit more bready. There’s a nice smell that comes from the spelt.” Townsite brews several batches of it in February and March so that it is ready in the spring and summer —“exactly like the tradition.” “The fermentation is usually at 30-32 C—the fermenter feels like there’s blood inside. You get lots of esters, bubblegum notes.” The result is a complex beer, to be sure, but when all those flavours are balanced, the result is very special. “I like all the flavour that comes from the grains. And the yeast must be present: a lot of peppery esters. And a dry finish. It’s a thirst-quenching beer for sure.” On a recent visit home, Dauchot found saisons to be more prominent in Belgium than in the past, along with IPAs and other North American craft beer styles. He thinks it’s a reaction to the way beer has changed there since AB-InBev bought many of the prominent breweries like Leffe, BelleVue and Hoegaarden. “A lot of people in Belgium are complaining the beers are too sweet now,” he explained. “There are a lot of fruit beers on the market, a lot of radlers. I think smaller breweries are trying to follow the American way to make something drier.” What’s the French translation for “full circle?” j
Required drinking Brassneck Brewery // Joe’s Barn, Sticks & Stones Rye Saison, Stockholm Syndrome Dageraad Brewing // Randonneur Saison Driftwood Brewery // Farmhand Ale Four Winds Brewing // Saison, La Maison Wild Saison, Operis Brett Saison Persephone Brewing // Multigrain Saison Strange Fellows Brewing // Bayard Farmhouse Saison, Mistral Riesling Saison Townsite Brewing // 7800 Saison
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How is your
craft beer?
While many young British Columbians have adopted a plant-based diet, they may be unaware their favourite craft beer might not be vegan-friendly
I
by Brittany Tiplady
n March 2018, Dalhousie University released the findings of a national data survey announcing that nearly 40 per cent of British Columbians under the age of 35 are either vegan or vegetarian. The highest percent in the country, in fact. Now, do you think all those plant-based folks know their beer might not be vegan-friendly? Possibly not. So, what separates a vegan and non-vegan beer? The answer is a little fishy. Isinglass is a substance derived from fish (mainly sturgeon) bladders, and used as a fining agent to clarify beer in certain brewing styles. During the filtration process, fining agents like isinglass are added to help remove excess yeast and particles. Gelatin, made from animal collagen, is also routinely used as a fining agent. Another substance not suitable for a vegan diet that shows up in craft beer is lactose sugar, which is made from cow’s milk. Brews like milk stouts or milkshake IPAs use lactose sugar to add residual sweetness to the beer. However, some B.C. craft breweries are looking at alternative ingredients and brewing methods to bring consumers "cruelty-free" beer. Vancouver Island Brewing is one of them.
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“For a number of reasons, one of the moves we wanted to make was to get a centrifuge for doing clarity,” explains VIB marketing manager Chris Bjerrisgaard. “Basically instead of filtering our beer, we are spinning it clear to remove any hard particulates, yeast or leftover hops, and what it does is it allows us to clarify our beer without using fining agents, and that’s what actually makes the beer vegan. “It’s obviously micro-levels, but it’s something that would restrict someone who is strict in their veganism from being able to drink all beer on the market.” In a similar vein, Vancouver Island Brewing is also in the process of going kosher. “You can’t certify yourself as vegan and there’s no real certifications of quality in brewing in a lot of ways,” Bjerrisgaard says. “We felt that this was an opportunity for us to both reach out to a market in the Jewish community but also to give that stamp of approval that our products are high-quality and they meet a set of standards.” Since its inception in 2015, Doan’s Craft Brewing Company has been producing 100 per cent vegan beers. But their plant-based efforts had remained rather low-key until this past fall when Doan’s released their Winterlicious Vegan Milk Stout
in collaboration with Monashee Spirits Craft Distillery. “We went the vegan route from day one,” says Doan’s co-founder and co-owner Evan Doan. “Michael, my brother, and one of the other co-founders has been vegan for a number of years now and I, myself, have been vegetarian my entire life. We’ve tried to experiment and do beers that would normally not be vegan, like using lactose sugar, which is a dairy product, and try to do those styles with vegan options.” Doan created Winterlicious by taking Monashee Spirits’ non-dairy creme base, which contains vanilla bean, coffee bean, white whisky and brown rice sugar, and put that into a rice stout. “This is a beer that vegans typically wouldn’t be able to drink and now they can enjoy,” he says. Winterlicious was one of the most successful responses the East Vancouver brewery has had for a single beer. Even the skeptics were pleasantly surprised. “Most people who normally wouldn’t be into that style of beer would taste just a sample, and still buy a six-pack. They loved it,” says Doan. “So it was really fun to see people’s reactions, whether they are vegan or not.” Doan’s is currently in the middle of a rebrand, but once that design refresh is complete you can expect to see their vegan efforts proudly displayed. “All of our products will have a little vegan symbol, showing no animal by-products,” Doan says. “So we are taking the next step and making our vegan stance more prominent in our brand.” Meanwhile, brewer Jacquie Loehndorf ’s beer at Vancouver’s Faculty Brewing, save for the Sourweisse, is entirely vegan-friendly. “A big value that we have as a company is [our commitment to] inclusivity,” says Faculty owner Mauricio Lozano. “We wanted to make sure that everyone is welcome to the brewery. Starting with the layout of the space, all the way to making our beers vegan.” Faculty usess a purified colloidal solution of silicic acid in water to clarify its beer. “It works almost as well as animal-based products like gelatin finings or isinglass and we are achieving a really nice clear beer that is vegan and unfiltered and fresh as it should be,” he says.
TOP: Vancouver Island Brewing marketing manager Chris Bjerrisgaard (on left) and production manager Danny Seeton. All the beer brewed at VIB is vegan and kosher, something Bjerrisgaard believes makes it inclusive and high quality. Lara Zukowsky photo BOTTOM: Faculty Brewing owner Mauricio Lozano and brewer Jacquie Loehndorf use a vegan-friendly product to clarify their beers. Dan Toulgoet photo
Doan’s Craft Brewing uses the same product as Faculty—called Biofine—and centrifuges its beers instead of using isinglass or gelatin. In the end, what Vancouver Island Brewing, Doan’s and Faculty all have in common—in addition to producing great craft brews—is their commitment to quality beer that everyone can enjoy, vegan or not. “We’ve had a great response and we get a lot of thank-yous,” says Lozano. “People always thank us for thinking of them, and for making our space a place for everyone. When you accommodate for a minority, everbody wins.” j
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Everything you need to know about everywhere you need to be! MARCH 1-9
APRIL 12-13
Victoria Craft Beer Week This nine-day celebration of all things beer returns to venues all over Victoria for the first weekend in March. Things get started with Lift Off ! at the Victoria Public Market as more than a dozen breweries from across B.C. launch brand new, never-before-released beers to public. Be sure to check out The Growler’s Long Table Brewery Tour on March 2, as well as the Ultimate Craft Beer Quiz at Northern Quarter on March 4, where you’ll be able to test your craft beer knowledge against The Growler’s Rob Mangelsdorf and Joe Wiebe. VictoriaBeerWeek.com
Okanagan Fest of Ale (Penticton) Penticton is one of the best craft beer towns in B.C., so it’s hardly surprising that Fest of Ale is one of the best craft beer festivals, too. This year marks the 24th annual edition of Fest of Ale, with 65 craft brewers serving up close to 200 different beers to more than 5,000 craft brew enthusiasts, making it one of the largest and longest running beer festivals in the Pacific Northwest. FestOfAle.ca
MARCH 9 Coquitlam Craft Beer Festival Close to 50 craft breweries and cideries will be on hand at the Westwood Plateau Golf Club for this locally beloved festival. Be sure to check out the Quirky Beers theme room and the expanded food vendor market. Choose either the matinee session from 12:30-3 p.m. or the evening session, from 7-9:30 p.m. CoquitlamBeerFestival.com
APRIL 5 Nanaimo Kinsmen Beer Fest The Mid-Island’s biggest beer festival returns to the Beban Park Social Centre from 6-9 p.m. with all proceeds going to benefit the Nanaimo Kinsmen’s community charity projects. NanaimoKinsmenBeerFest.com
APRIL 6 Beer League BASH (Vancouver) Five hockey teams representing breweries from all over the province compete in a one-day hockey tournament at the Britannia Ice Rink with all proceeds going to the Britannia After School Hockey Program (BASH). BeerLeagueBash.com
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MAY 9-11 Great Okanagan Beer Festival (Kelowna) Craft beers by the lake, what could be better? The main event features more than 60 breweries pouring 120-plus beers at Kelowna’s Waterfront Park on Saturday, May 11, but there are great events all over town, all weekend long. GibbonsWhistler.com
MAY 18 Fort Langley Beer and Food Festival (Langley) Local craft beer and local food come together to celebrate local history at the Fort Langley National Historic Site. More than 25 breweries and 15 food vendors will be taking part, along with live music and costumed historical guides showcasing where B.C. began. FortLangley.beer
MAY 31-JUNE 8 Vancouver Craft Beer Week VCBW is turning 10 this year, so you know this one’s going to be special. B.C.’s biggest and best craft beer festival kicks off on Friday, May 31, with events all over Vancouver, all week long. The party peaks at the PNE fairgrounds June 8 and 9 for the main event, where over 100 craft breweries and cideries will be pouring more than 300 beers and ciders. Good times guaranteed! VancouverCraftBeerWeek.com j
f o e c a f w e n T he is here by Rebecca Whyman
Y
ou know that phenomenon when something, seemingly out of nowhere, tickles your brain, then takes up residence, and has you ruminating for months? That’s what happened to me at Bart Watson’s keynote speech at the B.C. Brewers’ Conference back in October.
The chief economist for the American Brewers Association gave an engaging talk about the state of craft brewing, chock-full of brain tickling stats and his interpretations of what they mean now and for the future. Including this innocuous little slide:
PER CENT OF beer DRINKERS WHO ARE DRINKING MORE CRAFT and SAY BREWERY VISITS ARE A REASON
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• Clear sign there is new demand here
MALES
FEMALES
TOTAL
21-34
16%
15%
15%
35-44
13%
12%
13%
45-54
12%
19%
14%
• Cuts across typical demographics
55-64
11%
9%
10%
• Ripples run farther out
65+
5%
3%
5%
Total
12%
13%
12%
• Opportunity to grow the segment
Data courtesy of Bart Watson, American Brewers Association.
Nothing controversial here, folks. Just that some craft beer drinkers are drinking more craft beer, and say they are doing so because they visit breweries. Isn’t that nice? The industry must love when the already-converted are drinking even more craft. And all breweries had to do was offer appreciators a way to visit them at the source? Pure gold! So what was it about this slide that grabbed me? It was that number in the middle of the chart: 19 per cent. The largest segment who says their drinking has been positively affected by visiting breweries is my demographic—female-identified folks 45 to 54. Menopausal old biddies for the craft beer win! After catching my breath from performing my victory lap, I had me a good think about what breweries are doing differently from bars or pubs that is encouraging my people to visit and increase our craft beer drinking. And what else could they do to make even more people come out to mingle and keep the craft beer industry in the black? I love tasting rooms. I think they’re the best thing to happen to my neighbourhood since they started burying cable. I don’t presume to speak for all women, but here are some of my (very generalized) reasons for visiting a tasting room over a bar or pub: I find tasting rooms friendlier and more welcoming than bars; I can sit alone in a tasting room without anyone insisting I must be there for more than the beer; when I’m at a tasting room for a beer with a friend, we are left in peace to enjoy our beer—any external conversations revolve around beer, not whether we “come here often”; the communal tables encourage making new friends; and servers at craft beer establishments love talking about beer, without mansplaining it to me. I’m not sure why 45-54-year-olds love the breweries so much more than the 55-64 and 65-plus sets. Older folks are worth trying to entice into craft beer. Speaking in gross generalizations again, they have disposable income, lots of time on their hands to drink their way through your entire beer list, and adult children they need to find places to visit with after they finally kick them out of the family home. The stats tell us breweries are already a welcoming place for many people. What could they do to
entice more of the middle-aged set? Here’s my non-exhaustive wish list:
Better lighting Don’t make me fish out my phone and use the super-useful-but-highly-annoying-to-everyone-else flashlight app to read the menu. Bigger writing In that same vein, don’t make me have to swap out my distance glasses for my readers (or vice versa), or hold the menu out as far as my arms will reach.
Lower volume Even if my hearing wasn’t
going, no one likes to have to shout or be a close talker. But don’t make it too quiet, I don’t want everyone to hear my joints groan when I stand up.
Clean washrooms If your washrooms are
decent, I won’t be afraid to use them more than once, which means I’ll stay for more than one drink (and come back again). I’m fond of the non-gendered bathroom, both politically, and because it keeps the line moving faster. I also appreciate the sink outside the stall—I choose to believe it forces handwashing.
Food I love beer snacks. But if I’ve popped in
after work, or between meal times on a weekend, and one drink turns into more, I would like to be able to eat some heartier fare so I don’t fall off my barstool. Don’t make me have to leave the tasting room to find a restaurant or, horrors, go home.
Drink Offer more than craft beer options. Events Make yourself an easy venue for patrons
to host casual gatherings.
Staffing Diverse hiring practices encourage diversity in your patrons.
Once they’ve welcomed more older drinkers, it would behoove breweries to find ways to welcome other groups underserved by and underrepresented in the liquor industry. Expanding the diversity of patrons is good for a brewery’s market share and is also good for the community as a whole. Having more places to gather to hear different voices keeps us all young, and well hydrated. j
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RECIPE
Berbere Spiced Grilled Albacore Tuna Salad with Dageraad De Witte Vinaigrette
BY CHEF DAVID EDIGER OF TOQUE CATERING
C
hef David Ediger has worked in some of the most prestigious kitchens in the province, backing up culinary rock stars like Jeff Van Geest, Quang Dang and Hamid Salimian. He's since crossed over to the world of luxury catering and had the opportunity to cook for actual rock stars, like Nick Cave, Snoop Dogg and David Foster. As part of the team at Victoria’s Toque Catering along with chef/owner Nick Waters, Ediger has helped the haute cuisine custom catering company pick up scores of awards in recent years, including Caterer of the Year by the Top Choice Victoria Awards and B.C. Wedding Awards, as well as Best Catered Event by the Canadian Event Industry Awards. “Our motto is, if you can dream it up, we can make it happen,” he says.
WHY DO YOU LOVE THIS RECIPE? Albacore tuna is a fantastic product from our local waters. It has such a nice creamy, yet firm texture and it is incredibly versatile in terms of the flavours you can add to it. Berbere spice is a blend from Ethiopia with chilies, ginger, paprika and fenu-
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Lara Zukowsky photos
greek that gives the tuna some heat and complexity. The richness of the tuna contrasts well with the tart flavours inherent in the beer and crisp, fresh textures of the fennel and radish.
TELL US WHY YOU CHOSE THIS PARTICULAR BEER. I am a big fan of sour beers and Dageraad’s De Witte is a fine example of the style. Sour beers are often paired with seafood dishes such as moules frites, ceviche, or steamed crab. The sourness can highlight the bright flavours of the dish and it can also cut through the richness.
WHAT ARE SOME GENERAL TIPS YOU HAVE FOR COOKING WITH BEER? Cooking with beer is a great way to add layers of flavour to a meal. Beer is often used in place of wine in braised dishes. Coq au vin, beef bourguignon and pulled pork can all benefit from the use of beer as the braising liquid. For example, pork shoulder braised in an IPA benefits from both the tangy hops and the malty character present in the beer. —Rob Mangelsdorf
MAKES FOUR SERVINGS
I N g r ed i ents For the vinaigrette • 80 mL Dageraad De Witte Beer • 2 tsp Dijon Mustard • 1 tbsp minced shallot • 1 tsp finely grated lemon zest • 1 tbsp honey • 80 mL olive oil • Sea salt and black pepper to taste
For the tuna • 400 grams Albacore tuna loin (belly removed) • 1.5 tbsp berbere spice (available at specialty grocery stores) • 2 cloves minced garlic • 1 tbsp finely grated ginger • 1 tbsp orange zest • 2 tbsp olive oil • 1 tbsp sea salt For the salad • 1 head fresh fennel, shaved thin • 5 red radishes, shaved thin • 50 mL sweet pickled red onion • 40 grams whole toasted almonds • 1 head butter lettuce, cored, washed and torn • 1 head radicchio, cored, washed and chopped • Dill fronds
d i r ecti o ns Making the vinaigrette 1. Combine beer, mustard, shallot, lemon zest and honey in a blender. Turn on to low speed and slowly add olive oil to emulsify. 2. Season to taste with sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper. Preparing the tuna 1. In a small bowl, stir together berbere spice, garlic, ginger, orange zest and olive oil. 2. Spread evenly over tuna loin, cover and refrigerate for one hour or overnight. 3. Preheat grill on high heat. Be sure to oil the grill surface just before grilling to keep tuna from sticking. 4. Grill tuna on all sides, 10 seconds per side. Transfer to cutting board to rest. Making the salad 1. Combine lettuces, shaved fennel and radish in a bowl and dress with the vinaigrette to taste.
TOP: Dageraad's De Witte is a dry-hopped sour passion fruit wheat ale, and is the perfect accompaniment to seafood dishes. BOTTOM: Chef David Ediger likes to incorporate sour beers into his cooking to highlight bright flavours with the beer's acidity.
2. Slice grilled tuna loin with a sharp knife into 1 cm thick slices. 3. Garnish the salad with the tuna slices, pickled red onion, toasted almonds, dill fronds and serve. j
THE GROWLER PRESENTS THE LONG TABLE BREWERY TOUR Chef Dave Ediger and Toque Catering have partnered with West Coast Brewery Tours and The Growler to present a unique food and beer-pairing event for Victoria Beer Week. Guests go behind the scenes at their favourite craft breweries to meet the brewers themselves, sampling more than a dozen beers, each paired with a specially designed dish prepared onsite. The March 2 event is sold out, but keep an eye out for the next edition, this spring 2019. WestCoastBreweryTours.ca
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G N I W E BR E S U A C Non-profit brewers are turning their passion into philanthropy
W
hile many craft breweries across the province have made beers to benefit various causes, a new breed of non-profit brewery is being explored specifically to raise money for charity. When Brad Harris’s daughter, Linden, was diagnosed with leukemia almost six years ago, the Comox Valley family doctor soon found himself on the other side of the healthcare system. Treatment meant constant trips to B.C. Children’s Hospital in Vancouver for constant chemotherapy sessions.
by Rob Mangelsdorf Harris and his wife, Dennyse, spent much of their time sitting in the waiting room of the oncology department, surrounded by other parents of sick children, trying to comfort one another. “It was two and a half years of hell,” he recalls. Today, Linden is a healthy, happy 10-year-old, but Harris, a prolific homebrewer in his spare time, has never forgotten what his fellow doctors and medical staff did for his family. So when he was asked to help with a fundraiser his wife was planning, he decided to combine his love for beer with his desire to give back. The result was the Royston Nano Brewery, a non-profit, contract brewing project with proceeds benefiting the B.C. Children’s Hospital oncology department that saved his daughter’s life, as well as YANA Comox Valley, an organization that assists parents who need to travel for medical treatment for their children. While Harris has a 150 L homebrew system in his garage for personal use, he contract brews his charity beers at Courtenay’s Gladstone Brewing, which Dr. Brad Harris is the family doctor and homebrewer in Comox behind the Royston Nano Brewery, which raises money for sick kids and their families. Contributed photo
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“When I left, I didn’t realize that I was sick,” Hafey says. “We’re trained to be strong, not complain and overcome obstacles at any cost. But that robotic, rigid way of being is not how real life is. So that transitional period is difficult.” After spending years fighting the federal government, Hafey finally got the help he needed. Others aren’t so lucky, however.
Graeme Hafey started the non-profit V2V Black Hops Brewing to help support his fellow veterans. Rob Mangelsdorf photo
has graciously donated the tank time. The beer is sold at fundraisers and through Gladstone’s tasting room, and so far has raised close to $20,000. However, Harris’s ultimate goal is to create a volunteer-run, non-profit community brewery, where anyone can brew and all proceeds go to charity. “The Roy’s Towne Pub is totally on board with what we’re doing, and they’ve said we can set up on their property,” he says. “I love brewing but I don’t want to make money brewing. I have a very good job, I’m not about to leave it to become a brewer.” Harris estimates it will cost about $40,000 to set up the brewery, and if successful, he’d like to take the idea and inspire similar projects elsewhere. “It’s not hard to make good beer,” he says. “It’s really hard to make great beer, but good beer is not that hard, and I think people around here will be more than happy with good beer if they know it’s going towards a good cause.” Harris is one of a growing number of people looking at the non-profit route to brew beer and help give back to their community. Graeme Hafey spent 21 years in the Canadian navy as a helicopter pilot, serving in Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf. When he left the Canadian Forces in 2011, he thought he would have no problem adjusting to civilian life. But after years of struggle and being unable to hold down a job, he was diagnosed with PTSD from his wartime service. Making matters worse, he was denied any benefits and supports, because he had been out of the navy for “too long.”
Hafey is now a full-time student at Camosun College in Victoria studying business management, where he developed a proposal for a non-profit craft brewery to help veterans as a school project. He says he thought a veteran-focused craft brewery would be a good way to raise awareness about veterans’ issues, and raise funds to help support them. “A lot of people don’t know how to navigate the system,” he says. “Many are too proud to ask for help, and when they do, many are denied benefits. A lot of people develop drug and alcohol problems. It took me six years to transition [to civilian life], I don’t want others to suffer like I did.” Now he’s putting his plan into action with V2V Black Hops Brewing. Hafey is currently contract brewing his Victory Ale English-Style Bitter— which is a lovely malt-forward take on a traditional ESB, by the way—designed and brewed by Nicole McLean at Twa Dogs Brewery in Saanich. At the moment it’s only available on draft at select taps around Victoria—as well as at CFB Esquimalt naval base—but Hafey hopes to can his next batch. “We’re non-profit, we don’t pay ourselves, we’re totally volunteer-run,” he says. “Any money we make goes into paying for the beer and then to the organizations we support.” Organizations like the Cockrell House in Colwood, a supportive housing project for homeless and at-risk veterans. Much like Harris, Hafey’s ultimate goal is to open up a brick-and-mortar, volunteer-run brewery to step up his fundraising efforts, as well as provide an avenue to have a public conversation about supporting Canada’s veterans. “There’s a lack of understanding about the military, because people only know what they’ve seen on TV,” he says. “We want V2V Black Hops to help people understand about what veterans are going through, and we want to do that through craft beer, because craft beer brings people together.” j
31
Local, not Lucky by Rob Mangelsdorf
I
recently moved back to Vancouver Island and I was reminded of a certain geographic peculiarity upon my first trip to the liquor store.
There, right as I walked into the store, was a six-foot high pyramid of familiar red and white cartons of beer. “Vancouver Island’s Original Lucky Lager” the boxes proclaimed, next to an illustration of a man in waders hauling in a giant tyee salmon. For the unfamiliar, this is a ubiquitous sight on Vancouver Island. In just about every fridge, the back of every pick-up truck, and the bottom of every roadside ditch, you will find cans of Lucky Lager. It’s as Vancouver Island as Nanaimo bars and driving 10 km/h under the speed limit. The thing is, though, there isn’t anything remotely Vancouver Island about it, except the marketing. Lucky Lager is an American beer brand that began in San Francisco and made its way north with itinerant American loggers who came to work the summers in the B.C. forestry industry in the 1950s, and it caught on with the locals. Labatt Brewing soon bought the brand, and even briefly brewed it on Vancouver Island until it closed its Victoria brewery in 1982.
32
Lucky
Friends don’t let friends drink foreign-owned macro swill
Today, Lucky Lager is part of the AB InBev global beverage juggernaut, and brewed in Edmonton, Alberta—more than 1,200 km away from Vancouver Island. There is nothing remotely Vancouver Island about this beer: not its owners, its makers, or even its ingredients. Yet the locals claim it as their own. Other areas of B.C. also have questionable loyalty to foreign-owned beers. On a recent trip to Northern B.C., I was surprised to discover that the “utility beer” of choice was not Cariboo Brewing’s Blonde Ale—which actually won silver at the 2017 B.C. Beer Awards and is brewed in Prince George by hardworking British Columbians using local ingredients—but instead, Budweiser. This trend is especially disappointing when you consider how much amazing beer is getting made locally, all over the province. Phillips grows and malts its own barley, and uses Vancouver Island-grown hops in some its beers. Vancouver Island Brewing has been brewing its beer on the Island since 1984, and it, too, uses Vancouver Island hops. Longwood Brewery in Nanaimo manages to make its Island Time Lager
you decide
LUCKY LAGER BY LABATT BREWING
VICTORIA LAGER BY VANCOUVER ISLAND BREWING
$23.29* for 15 x 355mL cans // $1.55 per can ✘ Brewed in Edmonton ✘ Foreign-owned
with ingredients grown within 20 km of the brewery. If you’re from the Island (or Northern B.C., or anywhere, really), I challenge you to switch to a local brand of beer. If you like inexpensive lagers, that’s fine. There are plenty local examples these days. There was a time, not too long ago, when craft breweries shied away from inexpensive light lagers that might face competition from the big bad macro breweries. In reality, they are actually incredibly technical and expensive beers to brew. But today, pretty much every brewery in the province has at least one lager even your old man can get into. And should.
*BCLDB prices
vs.
$10.49* for 6 x 355 mL cans // $1.75 per can ✔ Brewed on Vancouver Island ✔ Canadian-owned
I’m kidding, obviously. Don’t do that. But maybe ask them: “If I could find you a beer that tastes just as good as what you’re drinking for about the same price, but it was locally owned, locally brewed with local ingredients, and your money stayed right here in our community, would you drink it?” The answer will be yes. It bloody well should be, anyways. If it’s not, you don’t need those people in your life. #LocalNotLucky j
There’s nothing wrong with drinking foreign beer, per se. Some of the best beer in the world is made in places not called British Columbia. But Lucky Lager and other foreign-owned macro garbage aren’t among them. You have options.
LOCAL MACRO LAGER ALTERNATIVES
By drinking local beer, you’re supporting your own community. You’re not only supporting the local brewery and the people who work there, but the local businesses it contracts and the local suppliers it relies on. You’re supporting everyone from local farmers to truck drivers, you name it. These are your neighbours, your family and your friends. You’re a goddamn hero, really.
Coal Harbour Brewing Co. (Vancouver) // 311 Helles Lager
But chances are, if you’re reading this, I’m already preaching to the converted. So let’s all do our part to spread the gospel of local beer. The next time you see your buddy, or uncle or Sharon from accounting cracking into can of foreign-owned and -brewed macro swill, sit them down and tell them their choices are offensive and wrong.
Vancouver Island Brewing (Victoria) // Victoria Lager Central City Brewing (Surrey) // Beer League Lager
Longwood Brewery (Nanaimo) // Island Time Lager Phillips Brewing and Malting Co. (Victoria) // Pilsner Parallel 49 Brewing (Vancouver) // Craft Lager Howe Sound Brewing Co. (Squamish) // Howe Sound Lager Mt. Begbie Brewing (Revelstoke) // High Country Kolsch Red Truck Beer Co. (Vancouver) // Road Trip Classic Lager
33
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M A N I TO B A S T
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33 Acres 33 Acres Exp. Andina Big Rock Bomber Brassneck Callister Coal Harbour Craft Collective Dogwood
40 40 40 40 41 41 42 42 42 43
Br ew ery Cr eek
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BREWERIES
COLUMBI A ST
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East Van Electric Bicycle Faculty Granville Island Luppolo Main Street Off The Rail Parallel 49 Postmark Powell Street R&B Red Truck
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44 44 44 44 45 46 46 46 46 48 48 38
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26 27 28 29 30 BREWHALL Dockside Hastings Mill Steamworks Yaletown
BREW pUBS 42 43 45 48 49
23 Storm 48 24 Strange Fellows 36 25 Strathcona 49
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S COT I A S T
ATHLETES WAY
36 37 38 39
31 32 33 34 35
24
17
05
WILLIAM ST
CLARK DR
VERNON DR
VERNON DR
12 Kings Pub Alibi Room Bells & Whistles BierCraft Bistro BierCraft Tap & Tapas The Blackbird Central City Craft Beer Market Darby’s Gastown
TAp ROOmS
15
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FRANKLI N ST
03
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11
35
ADANAC ST
Olympic Village
TRIUM PH ST
NAPI ER ST
Walking Route
Bike Route
Water Taxis
SkyTrain
LEGEND
51 Tangent Café
Harbour
50 Tap & Barrel, Coal
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E PENDER ST
CHA RLES ST
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FRANCES ST
40 The Devil’s Elbow 41 The Lamplighter 42 Portland Craft 43 The Railway 44 Rogue Broadway 45 Rogue Conv. Ctr. 46 Rogue Gastown 47 Six Acres 48 St. Augustine’s 49 Tap & Barrel,
VENABLE S ST
18
08
PANDORA ST
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V I C TO R I A D R
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SEMLIN DR
STRANGE FELLOWS BREWING
1345 Clark Dr. | StrangeFellowsBrewing.com MON-THU 2-11PM ^ FRI-SUN 12-11PM EST. 2014 Bring your friend, your partner, your kids, and your four-legged friends, everyone is welcome at Strange Fellows. The highly decorated East Vancouver craft brewery is inspired by tradition and creativity, known to go beyond the ordinary to celebrate all that is strange and extraordinary.
LITTLE RED ONE
THE UNFARMILLIAR
BLACKCURRANT LAMBIC-STYLE AMERICAN SOUR ALE Availability: One-off
B R E T T B R OW N A L E
ABV
6.0%
IBU
Availability: One-off
0
ABV
Fraser Valley currants give a berry character but with a dry herbal note; aromas and flavours of oak, black tea and tobacco.
6.0%
IBU
0
This barrel-aged brown is reminiscent of cherries, dried figs and light chocolate.
JONGLEUR WIT BEER
TALISMAN PALE ALE
BELGIAN WITBIER
PA L E A L E
Availability: Year-round ABV
4.5%
IBU
Availability: Year-round
15
ABV
Curacao orange, coriander and a unique yeast culture lend a bright spicy character to this refreshing and moreish wheat beer.
4.0%
IBU
30
A lovely balanced hoppy beer, dry-hopped with Mosaic, accompanied by citrusy and tropical aromatics and flavours.
Strange days Inspired by obscure superstitions and folklore from around the world, Strange Fellows established a year of celebrations or “Strange Days” as they call them. Bring your friends and celebrate with them each month as they observe a different Strange Day.
36
Sponsored content
VANCOUVER
RED TRUCK BEER CO.
295 E. 1st Ave. | RedTruckBeer.com
SUN-WED 11AM-10PM ^ THURS 11AM-11PM ^ FRI-SAT 11AM-12AM EST. 2015 The wheels are off at the Truck Stop Diner where you now have twice the number of taps to choose from, up to 16 from eight.
HAULIN’ SOME MASS
BAJA BOUND
H A Z Y I N D I A PA L E A L E
MEXICAN LAGER
Availability: Seasonal
Availability: Seasonal
ABV
6.5%
IBU
40
ABV
Brewed with a superior pilsner malt, wheat and golden oats, then dry-hopped with Citra and Vic Secret.
5.1%
IBU
Full of rich and toasted malt character and bright, herbal noble hop aromas.
No standout moment or amazing experience has ever been had without venturing off the beaten path with a couple of tasty beers at the end. Red Truck’s Adventure pack was put together to fuel your next adventure. This pack includes: Road Trip Classic Lager, Haulin’ Some Mass New England IPA, El Space Camino Dry Hopped Ale and Baja Bound Mexican Lager – each brewed to be as unique and refreshing as the region they’re from. #BREWEDFORADVENTURE 38
18
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VANCOUVER
VANCOUVER
33 ACRES EXPERIMENT
33 ACRES BREWING CO.
15 W. 8th Ave. | 33AcresBrewing.com
25 W. 8th Ave. | 33AcresBrewing.com
More than just gorgeous branding, 33 Acres has the hardware to back up the beer, with a win for Brewery of the Year at the BCBAs and gold at the 2018 World Beer Cup.
Brewer Dave Varga’s beer laboratory pumps out an ever-changing lineup of small batch experiments that explore the science of fermentation.
33 ACRES OF LIFE
33 ACRES OF DARKNESS
33B-EXP.001. MKI
33B-EXP.006. MKI
CALIFORNIA COMMON
S C H WA R Z B I E R
HAZY PILSNER
O R A N G E OAT PA L E A L E
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
Availability: Year-round
4.5% 50
ABV IBU
5.0% 20
VANCOUVER
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
Availability: Year-round
4.8% 15
ABV IBU
5.8% 60
VANCOUVER
BIG ROCK BREWERY VANCOUVER
ANDINA BREWING CO.
1507 Powell St. | AndinaBrewing.ca
310 W. 4th Ave. | BigRockBeer.com
Callister alumni Ben Greenberg of Night Owl Brewing has moved a block away to Andina. Come for his Colombian-inspired beers using South American malts, stay for the patchos!
New menu, new beers, new tanks and the installation of a canning line all point to solid reasons to revisit the one brewery in three different provinces.
JALEA GUAVA SAISON
TRADITIONAL ALE
HONEY BROWN LAGER
ENGLISH-STYLE B R OW N A L E Availability: Year-round
AMBER LAGER
SAISON Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
40
6.5% 25
TOTUMA KO L S C H Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
4.5% 22
ABV IBU
5.0% 20
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
5.0% 16
VANCOUVER
VANCOUVER
BOMBER BREWING CO.
BRASSNECK BREWERY
1488 Adanac St. | BomberBrewing.com
2148 Main St. | Brassneck.ca
Nestled in the heart of East Vancouver, drop into Bomber Brewing to stock up on cans, fill your growlers, or stay for a pint and a board game.
There’s always something new on the beer list at über-cool Brassneck, where playful experimentation is the name of the game.
BOMBER ESB
SPIRIT ANIMAL
ALAS KLAR
BA R R E L - A G E D B R E T T BA R L E Y W I N E
HELLES LAGER
EXTRA SPECIAL BITTER
ABSOLUTE HORIZON CDA C A S C A D I A N DA R K A L E
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
5.2% 40
Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
6.5% 72
Availability: Seasonal ABV 10.0% IBU N/A
Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
5.0% N/A
the nerdiest bars in
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canada
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S T O R M C R O W A L E H O U S E ( 1 9 + ) STORM CROW TAVERN (ALL AGES)
1619 West Broadway at Fir, Vancouver #99 B-Line, #9, # 14 routes or 10 min walk from the #84
1305 Commercial Drive at Charles, VancouveR #20 route or 15 min walk from commercial-broadway STN
STORM CROW MANOR | NOW OPEN AT 580 CHURCH STREET, TORONTO stormcrow.com • INFO@stormcrow.com | experiencepts.com Check us out on social media for up-to-date Specials and events!
41
VANCOUVER
VANCOUVER
BREWHALL
CALLISTER BREWING CO.
97 E. 2nd Ave. | BREWHALL.com
1338 Franklin St. | CallisterBrewing.com
Look for Mighty Morphin Sour Rangers, the People’s Choice award winner at the B.C. Beer Awards, in cans at the brewery and select liquor stores.
Vancouver’s beer nursery, Callister is the first co-working, co-op brewery in Canada, designed to support brewers by giving them access to equipment and commercial facilities.
MIGHTY MORPHIN SOUR RANGERS
SOUR PALE (STRATHCONA COLLAB)
CUBAN TAXI (CALLISTER)
CHUCKLEHEAD (GOOD BUDDY)
D RY H O P P E D S O U R A L E Availability: Seasonal
S O U R PA L E A L E Availability: Seasonal
G UAVA G O S E
HELLES LAGER
ABV IBU
6.5% 20
ABV IBU
5.0% 12
VANCOUVER
Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
Availability: Small batch
4.5% 63
5.2% 16
ABV IBU
VANCOUVER
COAL HARBOUR BREWING CO.
CRAFT COLLECTIVE BEERWORKS
1967 Triumph St. | CoalHarbourBrewing.com
1575 Vernon Dr. | CraftCollective.beer
CHBC has been brewing up a storm lately, with creative new packaged beers being released every month, and its award-winning 311 Helles Lager now in six-packs.
Nestled amongst the bustling breweries in Yeast Van is Craft Collective Beerworks: Canada’s only “collaborative craft brewery,” home to brands like Doan’s, Postmark, Phantom and Spectrum.
TINY UMBRELLA
SUPER SAIYAN SAKE SOUR
PHANTOM NO. 1 AGAIN
FRUIT DOUBLE INDIA PA L E A L E Availability: Seasonal
D RY- H O P P E D K E T T L E SOUR Availability: One-off
I N D I A PA L E A L E
ABV IBU
42
8.2% 60
ABV IBU
5.0% 10
Availability: One-off ABV IBU
7.0% 34
SPECTRUM MARGARITA GOSE GOSE
Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
5.0% 10
VANCOUVER
VANCOUVER
DOCKSIDE BREWING CO.
DOGWOOD BREWING
1253 Johnston St. | DocksideVancouver.com
8284 Sherbrooke St. | DogwoodBrew.com
The beer may take a backseat to the food and that incredible patio, but it’s still one of the best places for a pint on a sunny day.
Vancouver’s only all-organic brewery is hosting the Pink Boots Women’s Brew Day for International Women’s Day on March 9, and then celebrating its fourth anniversary on March 16.
OLD BRIDGE DARK LAGER
ORGANIC LONDON FOG
ORGANIC COCONUT CHAI
F L AV O U R E D BLONDE ALE Availability: Year-round
F L AV O U R E D BLONDE ALE Availability: Seasonal
DUNKEL LAGER
MARINA LAGER HELLES LAGER
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
4.8% 22
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
4.8% 20
ABV IBU
4.0% 10
ABV IBU
4.0% 10
★★★★★★ Vancouver’s best selection of Craft, Draft and Belgian Beers. ★★★★★★ www.biercraft.com
• Commercial Drive – over 60 taps • Cambie – over 40 taps • Wesbrook – over 30 taps
★ DAILY HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS
★ CAMBIE ★ 3305 Cambie 604.874.6900
★ COMMERCIAL ★ 1191 Commercial 604.254.2437
★ WESBROOK ★ 3340 Shrum Lane, UBC 604.559.2437
43
VANCOUVER
VANCOUVER
EAST VAN BREWING CO.
1675 Venables St. | EastVanBrewing.com
ELECTRIC BICYCLE BREWING CO.
20 E. 4th Ave. | ElectricBicycleBrewing.com
Bring your vinyl down to the taproom on Wednesdays and they’ll play it, or swing through for live tunes on Thursdays.
This funky new addition to Brewery Creek wants to make all your craft beer dreams come true. The décor is psychedelic and the beers are just as surreal.
COMMUNITY LAGER
IT’S NO GAME
LAGER Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
4.7% 20
WET YOUR THISTLE SCOTCH ALE S C OT T I S H A L E Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
6.0% 20
VANCOUVER
H A Z Y I N D I A PA L E A L E Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
JUST A LITTLE CRUSH TA N G E R I N E C R E A M S I C L E PA L E A L E Availability: One-off
6.5% 45
ABV IBU
5.4% 15
VANCOUVER
FACULTY BREWING CO.
1830 Ontario St. | FacultyBrewing.com
GRANVILLE ISLAND BREWING
1441 Cartwright St. | GIB.ca
Innovation, collaboration, education and inclusion is the mandate at Faculty Brewing. Everyone is welcome in their tasting room. If you’re unable to enjoy a beer, grab a kombucha!
Granville Island’s impressive small batch series is made right here at the original brewery. Sample them in the tasting room or take them to go from the retail shop.
689 COFFEE PORTER
323 SOURWEISSE
BRUT IPL
P O RT E R W I T H M I L A N O COFFEE Availability: Seasonal
S O U R W H E AT A L E
ABV IBU
44
5.5% 22
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
5.2% 16
I N D I A PA L E L A G E R Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
7.6% 50
TROPICAL STOUT S TO U T Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
7.6% 30
VANCOUVER
VANCOUVER
HASTINGS MILL BREWING COMPANY
LUPPOLO BREWING CO.
1123 Venables St. | LuppoloBrewing.ca
403 East Hastings St. | PatsPub.ca
Another expansion is currently in progress for this brewery housed within Pat’s Pub, which celebrates its jazz roots with Jazz @ the Pat Saturday sessions.
Live music, live comedy and more experimental brews thanks to the addition of two mahogany foeders for mixed ferment projects.
HIGHLAND 1615 SCOTTISH ALE
NORTHWEST RED ALE
NEW WORLD SOUR
AMERICAN AMBER ALE
D RY- H O P P E D M I X E D C U LT U R E S O U R A L E Availability: Seasonal
S C OT T I S H A L E Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
6.2% 15
SKID ROAD IPA AMERICAN INDIA PA L E A L E Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
6.6% 66
Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
5.5% 30
ABV IBU
4.5% 15
Proud to be your choice for the BEST CRAFT BEER SELECTION in BC! Craft Beer is our passion and our specialty. When a Certified Cicerone chooses your selection, you know you’re getting the best. 14th & Main • Free parking around back! • 604-872-3373 www.brewcreek.ca • @BreweryCreek • Open 11-11 daily
45
VANCOUVER
VANCOUVER
MAIN STREET BREWING CO.
OFF THE RAIL BREWING
1351 Adanac St. | OffTheRailBrewing.com
261 E. 7th Ave. | MainStreetBeer.ca
Main Street turns five this year, but the building it calls home is more than 110 years old. It was built in the early 1900s as part of the original Vancouver Breweries complex.
Check out their Instagram game—spot the location of the growler and then win it. Easiest way to free beer since… ever?
FRUIT BOMB
HONEY GINGER
KETTLE SOUR ALE
MAIN STREET PILSNER PILSNER
Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
ALE
PA L E A L E
Availability: Year-round
4.0% 10
ABV IBU
Availability: Seasonal
5.0% 22
VANCOUVER
RAJ MAHAL INDIA ALE
ABV IBU
Availability: Year-round
5.0% 34
ABV IBU
5.0% 38
VANCOUVER
PARALLEL 49 BREWING CO.
POSTMARK BREWING
1950 Triumph St. | Parallel49Brewing.com
55 Dunlevy Ave. | PostmarkBrewing.com
Stay thirsty for the fifth iteration of the Brews Brothers Collaboration, set for a spring release.
Postmark’s facility at the Settlement Building is now being used as an “innovation brewery,” focused on limited releases and one-offs.
SOOTHSAYER
APRICOTOPUS
MILKSHAKE INDIA PA L E A L E
SAISON
AUSSIE PALE ALE
Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
46
6.8% 35
PA L E A L E Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
6.0% 16
Availability: Small batch ABV IBU
4.8% 32
DRY-HOPPED PILSNER (DOAN’S COLLAB) PILSNER
Availability: Small batch ABV IBU
4.8% 25
GLOSSARY. for non-geeks & beginners
ABV: Alcohol by Volume. Measured as the percentage volume of alcohol per beer.
ALE: Beers fermented with top fermenting yeast (see below), fermented at warmer temperatures than lagers. BARLEY: A cereal grain used as a base malt in the production of beer. BOMBER: A 650 mL (or 22-ounce) bottle of beer. BREWPUB: A restaurant-brewery whose beer is made primarily for sale in the restaurant and bar.
MALT: It’s, ah…kinda complicated. It’s made from barley? And helps make sugar during fermentation? Um. It’s important for the brewing process, for sure. Google it. MICROBREWERY: In B.C., defined as any operation that produces no more than 160,000 hectolitres of beer per year. Often used interchangeably with “craft brewery”. PALE ALE: A style of ale characterized by a higher proportion of pale malts that result in a lighter colour. See also: IPA, Saison.
CRAFT BEER: A term as complicated to define and explain as Jim Morrison’s poetry, though, come to think of it, way more fun to try.
PILSNER: A style of lager, characterized by points so minute only serious beer enthusiasts will really give a hoot, and anyway, we don’t have enough room to address them here.
CRAFT BREWERY: A brewery that makes craft beer (obviously) (see above).
PORTER: A dark style of beer, extremely popular in 1700s London, made with roasted malt.
FERMENTATION: A complex process that chemistry students spend years earning PhDs to truly understand. Turns sugars, won from the malts, into equal parts alcohol and carbon dioxide, at which point the brew can actually be called “beer”. GROWLER: A 1.9L refillable glass beer bottle. Also, the best dang craft beer magazine in the whole wide world! HOMEBREWING: The art of making beer at home, with varying results, depending on who makes it. HOPS: Humulus lupulus, a perennial climbing vine, a cousin of cannabis, the ripened female flowers of which are used for flavouring beer. IBU: International Bitterness Unit. The measure of the bittering substance in beer, i.e. the hops, the amount of which depends on the style of beer. IMPERIAL: Indicating a strong beer, regardless of style. Hops and malts are doubled or tripled during brewing, resulting in higher ABV. IPA: India Pale Ale. A style of pale ale (see below) developed in England for export to India. The West Coast variety often has higher IBUs and ABV. LAGER: Any beer that is fermented with bottomfermenting yeast (see below) at colder temperatures. Often associated with crisp and clean flavours.
REINHEITSGEBOT: The German beer purity law passed in 1516, stating that beer may only contain water, barley and hops. SAISON: A style of pale ale, usually highly carbonated, fruity and spicy, and cloudy golden in colour. SESSION BEER: A beer of lighter body and alcohol designed for drinking more than one in a single sitting. STOUT: A generic term for the strongest (or stoutest) porter, typically around 7% or 8% ABV. TOP / BOTTOM FERMENTATION: The two basic fermentation methods characterized by the tendency of yeast cells to either rise or fall in the fermentation vessel. Ale yeast is top fermenting, lager yeast is bottom fermenting. WATER: One of the four basic ingredients in beer. If you need further definition, we ask you: How are you even reading this right now? WORT: The bittersweet sugar solution obtained by mashing the malt and boiling in the hops, which becomes beer through fermentation. YEAST: During the fermentation process, yeast converts the natural malt sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide gas. j
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VANCOUVER
VANCOUVER
R & B BREWING CO.
POWELL BREWERY
1357 Powell St. | PowellBeer.com
54 E. 4th Ave. | RAndBBrewing.com
From its humble origins in its original, tiny location, Powell has established itself as one of Vancouver’s leading breweries—all thanks to exceedingly well-made beer.
R&B Brewing is one of Vancouver’s original microbreweries, and the “B” in R&B is for Barry Benson, who’s still a part of the brewery’s team after 21 years!
OLD JALOPY
LAZY D’HAZE
PA L E A L E
H A Z Y I N D I A PA L E A L E
LAVENDER SAISON
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
Availability: Year-round
5.5% 40
ABV IBU
7.0% 58
VANCOUVER
SHAKE YOUR FRUITY MILKSHAKE IPA
SAISON Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
5.7% 21
H A Z Y I N D I A PA L E A L E Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
7.3% 38
VANCOUVER
STEAMWORKS BREW PUB
STORM BREWING LTD.
375 Water St. | Steamworks.com/Brew-Pub
310 Commercial Dr. | StormBrewing.com
There’s a one-off batch released bi-weekly at this classic waterfront Gastown spot, where the beer is brewed using steam diverted from the system that powers the iconic Gastown Steam Clock.
Amazing to think Storm Brewing is 25 years old! James Walton’s latest experiments include “medicinal” beers involving mushrooms, connecting back to his original degree in mycology.
STRATA SMASH
HURRICANE IPA
SMASH ALE
R E D S TO U T
Availability: One-off ABV IBU
48
MAHOGANY NITRO STOUT
5.0% 35
Availability: One-off ABV IBU
4.0% 28
I N D I A PA L E A L E Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
7.0% 60
IMPERIAL FLANDERS SOUR ALE RED SOUR ALE Availability: Year-round ABV 11.0% IBU N/A
VANCOUVER
VANCOUVER
STRATHCONA BEER CO
YALETOWN BREWING CO.
895 E. Hastings St. | StrathconaBeer.com
1111 Mainland St. | MJG.ca/Yaletown
Twelve taps and a full kitchen make this hip Yeast Van hot spot popular with the afterwork crowd—not to mention the midday and weekend crowd, too!
More of a neighbourhood pub, this local favourite boasts a brewery, distillery and restaurant just on the outskirts of downtown.
BIG SEXY FUNK
BEACH RADLER
N O RT H E A S T I N D I A PA L E A L E
L E M O N M A N DA R I N RADLER
LOADING BAY IPA
ROUNDHOUSE WHEAT
I N D I A PA L E A L E
HEFEWEIZEN
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
5.5% 55
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
4.0% N/A
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
6.2% 48
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
4.8% 12
CComeHEERS! shop our large selection of local craft beer. 1218 west pender, vancouver • 604.685.1212 coalharbourliquorstore.com
is a B.C. craft beer and cider-focused pub showing sports on multiple TVs with pinball, foosball and pool. Trivia on Thursdays, Karaoke on Saturdays & Live Comedy on Sunday nights. 395 Kingsway | 604-558-1208 12kingspub.com | @12KingsPub
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BREWERIES 01 02 03 04
Beere Black Kettle Bridge Deep Cove
51 51 51 52
05 Green Leaf 06 Hearthstone 07 Streetcar
52 52 52
KWY O UR P
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15TH ST.
KEITH RD. W.
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NORTH VAN
NORTH VAN
BEERE BREWING COMPANY
BLACK KETTLE BREWING
312 E. Esplanade | BeereBrewing.com
106 -720 Copping St. | BlackKettleBrewing.com
Good news for Beere fans—the brewery plans to push hard to can more beer this year, making its products more widely available in B.C.
Black Kettle is celebrating five years of making it pour on the North Shore at their blue collar brewery in the Harbourside Business Park.
FANNY PACK
VERY COOL VERY CHILL
GRUMPY UNICORN IPA
D RY- H O P P E D P I L S N E R
I N D I A PA L E A L E
D O U B L E D RY- H O P P E D I N D I A PA L E A L E Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
7.3% 35
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
5.0% 37
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
6.4% 50
DON’T FEED THE BEARS WHITE IPA W H I T E I N D I A PA L E A L E Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
6.1% 45
NORTH VAN
BRIDGE BREWING CO.
1448 Charlotte Rd. | BridgeBrewing.com
Have you sampled Prime Time yet? B.C.’s first craft beer that is low calorie and low carb is uncompromising on flavour, thanks to the crew at Bridge. FINNISH FIRST FA R M H O U S E A L E Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
8.5% N/A
THREE HOUR TOUR TOA S T E D C O C O N U T P O RT E R Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
5.5% 22 51
NORTH VAN
NORTH VAN
DEEP COVE BREWERS AND DISTILLERS
GREEN LEAF BREWING CO.
170 - 2270 Dollarton Hwy. | DeepCoveCraft.com
123 Carrie Cates Crt. | GreenLeafBrew.com
Deep Cove offers it all: delicious craft beer, food, craft cocktails, wine, bubbly and cider, plus live musical performances and special events like beer-pairing dinners.
Arguably one of the best patios of any craft brewery in the province, the Lonsdale Quay locale offers spectacular views across Vancouver Harbour.
JUG ISLAND
CRAFT LAGER
HAZY LEAF IPA
LLOYD’S LAGER
H A Z Y I N D I A PA L E A L E
HELLES LAGER
H A Z Y I N D I A PA L E A L E
LAGER
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
6.8% 50
Availability: Seasonal
Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
5.0% 18
NORTH VAN
ABV IBU
Availability: Year-round
6.8% 60
ABV IBU
4.4% 14
NORTH VAN
HEARTHSTONE BREWERY
1015 Marine Dr. | HearthstoneBrewery.ca
STREETCAR BREWING
123A East 1st St. | StreetcarBrewing.ca
This North Shore favourite is almost as wellknown for its wood-fired pizza as it is its beer—the truth is that both are fantastic.
Streetcar looks to be the next brewery coming to the Lower Lonsdale neighbourhood of North Van, and hopefully by the time you read this, they’ll be open.
CHOCOLATE MILK STOUT
RIZZLA RICE LAGER
BACK ALLEY STOUT
M I L K S TO U T
GLUTEN-FREE LAGER
S TO U T
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
52
5.5% 15
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
4.0% 18
Availability: Small batch ABV IBU
6.6% 30
SOUR RASPBERRY SAISON SAISON
Availability: Small batch ABV IBU
7.1% N/A
BREW PUBS
26 Big Ridge 27 Monkey 9
66 58
BREWERIES 01 3 Dogs 67 02 Britannia 66 03 Central City 66 04 Dageraad 64 05 Dead Frog 60 06 Foamers' Folly 62 07 Four Winds 56 08 Fuggles & Warlock 66 09 KPU 60 10 Maple Meadows 61 11 Mariner 60 12 Moody Ales 64 13 Northpaw 63 14 Parkside 64 15 Ridge 62 16 Russell 67 17 Silver Valley 62 18 Steamworks 60 19 Steel & Oak 62 20 Taylight 63 21 Trading Post 61 22 Twin Sails 64 23 White Rock Beach 67 24 White Rock 67 25 Yellow Dog 64
W
N
E
02 08
RICHMOND
99
99
99
27
1A
7
07
17
DELTA
91
1
99
91
16
03
23
WHITE ROCK 01
10
24
12 14 11 22 25
PORT MOODY
SURREY
17
04
NEW WEST 19
BURNABY
18
7A
99
26
7
17
20 06
10
1
09
LANGLEY
21
05
7
MAPLE RIDGE
PITT MEADOWS
15
13
COQUITLAM
10 15 17
l ow e r m a inl a n d
BURNABY
DAGERAAD BREWING
114 - 3191 Thunderbird Cres. | DageraadBrewing.com SUN-THU 12-9PM ^ FRI 11AM-10PM ^ SAT 11AM-9PM EST. 2014 Imagine brewing enough beer for every resident of B.C.? That’s what happened last year at Dageraad—AKA the 2018 Canadian Brewery of the Year—to the tune of 3 ½ tablespoons each. Thankfully, its lounge licence allows you to sample much more than that at its Burnaby tasting room.
10˚
THE BRIGHT SIDE
A B B E Y- S T Y L E Q UA D R U P E L
TA RT L E M O N S A I S O N
Availability: Small batch
Availability: Seasonal
ABV
11.0%
IBU
20
ABV
Complex fruit and spice notes compliment the malt for a flavour best savoured three years after bottling.
4.2%
IBU
15
Lightly tart, gently hopped with Citra and Styrian Celeia hops and finished with fresh lemon zest.
SEXTUPLE
BURNABARIAN
ABBEY TRIPEL / DOUBLE INDIA PA L E A L E Availability: Small batch
B E L G I A N - S T Y L E TA B L E B E E R
ABV
9.0%
IBU
Availability: Year-round
N/A
ABV
Abundant Motueka hops from New Zealand, Ella hops from Australia and Tettnanger hops from Germany turn this tripel into a double IPA
4.5%
IBU
N/A
Secondary fermentation breeds a natural carbonation and extra layer of complexity with notes of coriander.
WHat’s in a name? Dageraad is named after a public square in Antwerp called the Dageraadplaats. But the word Dageraad, itself, means “daybreak” or “sunrise” in Flemish, which tags nicely onto the idea of making a new beer—Canadian, but Belgian-inspired.
54
Sponsored content
DAGERAAD
DELTA
FOUR WINDS BREWING
4 - 7355 72nd St. | FourWindsBrewing.ca
SUN-WED 11AM-7PM ^ THURS-SAT 11AM-9PM EST. 2013 Recognized with a silver medal at the World Beer Cup 2018—as well as seven golds in the first-ever Growlies—the beer out of Four Winds certainly knows how to make an impression. Four Winds focuses on bottle and draft production, while maintaining a warm and welcoming tasting room for craft beer connoisseurs and newbies alike.
VÉLO
LA MAISON
A M E R I C A N PA L E A L E W I T H L E M O N
WILD SAISON
Availability: Seasonal
Availability: Year-round
ABV
4.5%
IBU
45
ABV
Bright and bursting with citrus, this pale ale is conditioned with fresh lemon juice and pink Himalayan salt.
4.5%
IBU
30
A delicately light body with a pale golden hue, this dry table saison offers notes of pepper and tropical fruit.
ELEMENTARY
FEATHERWEIGHT
LAGER
I N D I A PA L E A L E
Availability: Year-round ABV
4.5%
IBU
Availability: Year-round
25
ABV
This crisp and uncomplicated lager is brewed with corn and New Zealand hops for a truly light body with subtle hints of lemon and lime.
4.5%
IBU
60
A modest IPA with a refreshingly light body. Key notes of tropical fruit and resinous subtleties give way to a clean, crisp finish.
Let’s taco ‘bout it! In addition to delicious beers, Four Winds’ tasting room also provides an impressive selection of tacos and Mexican-style tapas with a menu that changes daily. Come by on Thursdays after 5 p.m. for Happy Hour and get any 12-ounce draft beer for just $4!
56
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RICHMOND
MONKEY 9 BREWING CO.
14200 Entertainment Blvd. | Monkey9.ca
MON-THU 2-11PM ^ FRI 2PM-12:30AM ^ SAT 11:30-12:30AM ^ SUN 11:30AM-10PM EST. 2017 Named for the Year of the Monkey, this Richmond hideaway is just over a year old and the perfect spot for happy hour eats including wood-fired pizza. Why not sit on the patio and enjoy a pint of James Brown Ale, winner of a bronze medal at the 2018 B.C. Beer Awards.
PRIMATE PALE ALE
HOP MONKEY IPA
PA L E A L E
I N D I A PA L E A L E
Availability: Year-round ABV
5.0%
IBU
Availability: Year-round
40
ABV
Classic American pale that is bready and sweet, balancing itself out nicely with Cascade, Chinook and Citra hops.
6.7%
IBU
72
A new recipe maintains the straight-forward West Coast IPA feel, but with late additions of Amarillo and Simcoe hops.
JAMES
SAVE THE DAY ISA
B R OW N A L E
INDIA SESSION ALE
Availability: Year-round ABV
6.0%
IBU
Availability: Year-round
24
ABV
A dark, roasty ale with big flavour while still drinking very sessionable.
4.0%
IBU
41
Balanced, light and refreshing and dry-hopped with Citra and Cascade hops.
Good company Located on Richmond’s Entertainment Blvd., Monkey 9 Brewing is just a stone’s throw from a movie theatre, IMAX screens, a waterpark, laser tag and, of course, the Lucky 9 Lanes bowling alley right next door. It might be the funnest neighbourhood anywhere! 58
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VISIT US
HAPPY HOUR WE E K DAYS 3 PM - 6 PM
14200 Entertainment Boulevard, Richmond, BC Tel: 604 370 7363 Email: info@monkey9.ca @monkey9brewing
BURNABY
COQUITLAM
STEAMWORKS BREWING CO.
MARINER BREWING
1100 Lansdowne Dr. | MarinerBrewing.ca
3845 William St. | Steamworks.com
Not to be confused with the full-service restaurant in Gastown, the tasting room at the Burnaby production brewery is a more intimate affair offering tours, tastings and growler fills.
Mariner Brewing continues to make waves. Founder Byron Vallis, recently took home the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce Young Professional of the Year award!
NORTH BY NORTHWEST IPA
VENTURE CRANBERRY MINT BEERTAIL
W E S T C OA S T I PA Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
6.8% 60
PREMIUM CRAFT LAGER AMERICAN LAGER Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
4.8% 15
LANGLEY
S O U R B E E R C O C K TA I L Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
HORIZON PALE ALE PA L E A L E Availability: Seasonal
5.0% 10
ABV IBU
5.0% 30
LANGLEY
DEAD FROG BREWERY
KPU BREWING LAB
105 - 8860 201st St. | DeadFrog.ca
20901 Langley Bypass | KPU.ca/Brew
Dead Frog’s spiffy new tasting room in Langley might have the most taps of any craft brewery in the province with close to 30 of its own beers available on draft.
This 4,500-sq.-ft. pilot brewery is home to the KPU Brewing Diploma Program. Every Friday and Saturday it features new small batch beers on tap, with growler fills and free tastings.
GREEN MAGIC IPA
WIT OR WIT OUT YOU
W E S T C OA S T I N D I A PA L E A L E Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
60
6.0% 60
NEON MOON BLACK LAGER
BELGIAN WITBIER
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
6.0% 18
Availability: Small batch ABV IBU
5.0% 15
KAPOENTJE BELGIAN PALE ALE B E L G I A N PA L E A L E Availability: One-off ABV IBU
5.2% 24
LANGLEY
MAPLE RIDGE
TRADING POST BREWING
107 - 20120 64th Ave. | TradingPostBrewing.com
MAPLE MEADOWS BREWING CO.
22775 Dewdney Trunk Rd. | MapleMeadowsBrewing.com
This beloved Langley staple just opened their second eatery and tasting room in Abbotsford. Enjoy a full-service kitchen, an all-season patio and plenty of fresh beer on tap.
Maple Meadows is always experimenting with new beers, such as War of the Worlds, “a lager worthy of the last day on Earth!”
THREE CHEERS TRIPEL
THE WAR OF THE WORLDS
CAPITAN WEST COAST ALE
LAGER
PA L E A L E
BELGIAN TRIPEL Availability: One-off ABV IBU
8.7% 27
THREE BEARS BREAKFAST STOUT S TO U T
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
6.7% 40
Availability: Small batch ABV IBU
5.0% 20
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
5.5% 35
VA N C O U V E R B R E W E R Y T O U R S
PRIVATE GROUP TOURS PLANNING A BACHELOR PARTY OR GROUP EVENT? Brewery Tours are perfect for groups looking for an exclusive, customizable and entertaining craft beer experience for any special occasion. Contact us today to learn more.
I N FO@VA N CO U V E R B R E W E RY TO U RS.CO M | 6 0 4 318 228 0 | VA N CO U V E R B R E W E RY TO U RS.CO M
61
MAPLE RIDGE
MAPLE RIDGE
RIDGE BREWING CO.
SILVER VALLEY BREWING
22826 Dewdney Trunk Rd. | RidgeBrewing.com
#101 - 11952 224 St. | SilverValleyBrewing.com
The first Tuesday of every month is open mic at this Maple Ridge craft brewery, one of two at the intersection of Dewdney Trunk and 228th.
This nanobrewery in downtown Maple Ridge picked up a bronze for its lager at the 2018 B.C. Beer Awards.
NEIGHBOURHOOD
THE HIGHWAY LAGER
LAGER
WIND & SEA N O RT H W E S T PA L E A L E
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
Availability: Year-round
4.4% 10
ABV IBU
5.0% 31
NEW WEST
1319 3rd Ave. | SteelAndOak.ca
RED PILSNER
ROSELLE
RED PILSNER
W H E AT A L E W I T H H I BISCUS AND ROSEHIPS
IBU
62
5.0% 35
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
Availability: Year-round
5.5% 20
ABV IBU
7.0% 35
FOAMERS’ FOLLY BREWING CO.
19221 122A Ave. | FoamersFolly.ca
New Westminster’s first (and so far only) craft brewery is a favourite with locals and beer fans all over the province, thanks to brewer Eric Moutal’s inventive brews.
ABV
H A Z Y PA L E A L E
PITT MEADOWS
STEEL & OAK BREWING CO.
Availability: Year-round
LAGER
CRUSH
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
5.5% 22
Two separate brewhouses help feed the whopping 20 taps of craft beer goodness at this popular Pitt Meadows brewery. AMARETTO WILD SOUR BLONDE
YADAYADA DRY-HOPPED IPA
M I X E D C U LT U R E S O U R Availability: One-off
D RY- H O P P E D I PA Availability: One-off
ABV IBU
7.5% 7
ABV IBU
7.0% 15
PT. COQUITLAM
PT. COQUITLAM
NORTHPAW BREWING
TAYLIGHT BREWING
402-1485 Coast Meridian Rd. | TaylightBrewing.com
2150-570 Sherling Pl. | NorthpawBrewCo.com
Northpaw pours its labours of love in Port Coquitlam’s new Fremont Village neighbourhood. Head into the sleek, industrial-style tasting room for a growler fill or a pint.
Every Friday, Taylight releases a new beer at its Port Coquitlam tasting room. Customer feedback is welcome—if you like their new brew, they might make it again just for you!
JAMAICAN PALE ALE
SOLSTICE IPA
PEACE PARK
LOCO POCO
I N D I A PA L E A L E
R O OT B E E R P O RT E R
CZECH PILSNER
A M E R I C A N PA L E A L E Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
5.2% 30
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
6.9% 70
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
5.2% 26
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
5.0% 27
Get dressed! Look as good as the beer you drink.
shop growler merch at thegrowler.ca subscriptions • t-shirts • hats • & more 63
PORT MOODY
PORT MOODY
MOODY ALES
THE PARKSIDE BREWERY
2601 Murray St. | MoodyAles.com
2731 Murray St. | TheParksideBrewery.com
Moody’s taps a new cask every Friday thanks to its extensive small batch program. Come visit the tasting room to see what they’re working on.
Huge patio, great beers, friendly staff, old school arcade games: this Brewers Row gem has it all!
HUGE CITRUS
DREAMBOAT
DAWN
H A Z Y I N D I A PA L E A L E
PILSNER
H A Z Y PA L E A L E
PREMIUM LAGER
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
ROCKY POINT LAGER
6.1% 35
Availability: Year-round
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
5.0% 16
PORT MOODY
ABV IBU
6.3% 35
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
4.9% 25
PORT MOODY
TWIN SAILS BREWING
YELLOW DOG BREWING CO.
2821 Murray St. | TwinSailsBrewing.com
1 - 2817 Murray St. | YellowDogBrew.com
These guys have the hazy game down pat, but they can also bang out a solid Horchata milk stout or a barrel-aged barley wine, doubling up on skill and fun.
On Wednesdays, it’s tunes and tacos for Olè!, while the last Thursday of each month means the tasting room lunch hour is taken over by some tiny tots and their thirsty parents.
DAT JUICE
WINTER SUNSET SOUR CHERRY BRUIN
SQUIRREL CHASER HAZY PALE ALE
SOUR ALE
H A Z Y PA L E A L E Availability: Seasonal
SINGLE WHAMMY
C I T R A PA L E A L E
I N D I A PA L E A L E
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
64
5.2% 25
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
6.5% 56
Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
6.4% 10
ABV IBU
5.2% 25
RICHMOND
RICHMOND
BRITANNIA BREWING CO.
110-12500 Horseshoe Way | BBCO.ca
FUGGLES & WARLOCK CRAFTWORKS
103-11220 Horseshoe Way | FugglesWarlock.com
Britannia’s production facility and tasting room on Horseshoe Way is nice, but the real party is at its hip taproom and restaurant in Steveston.
Bent on worldwide domination, Fuggles & Warlock’s beer can be found as far away as South Korea and Brazil.
ADRIFT HOP
WHITE MAGE
BLONDE ALE
PA L E A L E
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
WAVE CRUSADER XPA Availability: Year-round
4.7% 22
ABV IBU
5.6% 45
SURREY
BELGIAN WHITE INDIA PA L E A L E
MALTY TOWERS L O N D O N D RY P O RT E R
Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
Availability: Seasonal
6.5% 40
ABV IBU
5.0% 35
SURREY
CENTRAL CITY BREWERS + DISTILLERS
BIG RIDGE BREWING CO.
5580 152 St. | MJG.ca/Big-Ridge
11411 Bridgeview Dr. | CentralCityBrewing.com
Big Ridge, Surrey’s original brew pub, brews its beer solely for consumption onsite, best enjoyed with their selection of comfort food and wok-fried dishes.
Widely known for its award-winning Red Racer beer, Central City also produces some mighty fine cider and spirits—all of which are available at its Vancouver and Surrey taprooms.
152 LAGER
CLOVER IPA
RED RACER IPA
LAGER
I N D I A PA L E A L E
I N D I A PA L E A L E
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
66
4.8% 12
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
6.5% 65
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
6.5% 80
RED RACER LIME MARGARITA GOSE GOSE
Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
4.5% 10
SURREY
SURREY
WHITE ROCK BREWING
RUSSELL BREWING CO.
202 - 13018 80th Ave. | RussellBeer.com
13 - 3033 King George Blvd. | WhiteRockBrewing.ca
One of the original 10 craft breweries in B.C., you can find Russell’s beers all over the province—and the world: it even operates a chain of brew pubs in China!
This community-focused nanobrewery features new small batch brews every week in addition to its lineup of core beers.
MIND THE BAR
TRIPLE BERRY MILKSHAKE IPA
PROHIBITION IPA
E A S T C OA S T I N D I A PA L E A L E Availability: Year-round
I N D I A PA L E A L E
B E L G I A N TA B L E B E E R Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
3.5% 20
ABV IBU
6.5% 30
WHITE ROCK
MOUNTAIN ALE AMBER ALE
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
Availability: Year-round
7.0% 90
ABV IBU
5.0% 33
WHITE ROCK
3 DOGS BREWING
1515 Johnston Rd. | 3DogsBrewing.com
WHITE ROCK BEACH BEER CO.
15181 Russell Ave. | WhiteRockBeachBeer.com
Who said White Rock was only for the newlywed and the nearly-dead? Not the owners of this brewery, where Food Truck Sunday and live music keep it kickin’.
You’ll find live music every second Sunday at this little brewery that pledges to be canning its brews by this summer.
BAYSIDE BLONDE
HUDSON IPA
WHALE WALL
PIER IPA
I N D I A PA L E A L E
WINTER ALE
I N D I A PA L E A L E
BLONDE ALE Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
5.0% 20
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
7.0% 80
Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
5.8% 24
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
6.5% 80 67
Fr as e r Va l l e y 02
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CHILLIWACK
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Field House Flashback Loudmouth Mission Springs
69 70 69 70
05 Old Abbey 06 Old Yale 07 Ravens
69 70 70
Searching for more? Visit our website for breaking beer news, recommendations, event info and other exclusive content.
bc.thegrowler.ca 68
ABBOTSFORD
ABBOTSFORD
FIELD HOUSE BREWING CO.
2281 West Railway St. | FieldHouseBrewing.com
LOUDMOUTH BREWING
103 – 2582 Mt. Lehman Rd. | LoudmouthBrewingCompany.ca
Brewing Co.
Entering their fourth year, Field House has more wild sours, barrel-aged beers, and adventurous experimental batches on the way. L’ACADIE BARREL AGED WILD ALE
STYRIAN FOX NORWEGIAN FARMHOUSE ALE
WILD SOUR ALE Availability: Year-round
KVEIK
ABV IBU
10% 0
Availability: One-off ABV IBU
6.0% 25
Sure, the beer is good, but have you tried the food here?! Stone hearth-baked pizza, burgers, doughnuts, plus don’t get us started about weekend brunch... THE DOPE
YXX
D RY- H O P P E D S O U R A L E
LAGER
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
Availability: Year-round
6.0% 8
ABV IBU
5.0% 16
ABBOTSFORD 2018 A-LIST WINNER
OLD ABBEY ALES
30321 Fraser Hwy. | OldAbbeyAles.com
TH
EA
BBOT
SFORD NEW
S
OLD ABBEY ALES Est. 2013 Old Abbey is back with new ownership, more beers than ever and even a pool table and a foosball table in the tasting room. SOUR RASPBERRY SOUR ALE Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
7.0% 7
BLONDE ALE BLONDE ALE Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
5.0% 12
EXPERIENCE OUR RUSTIC ARTISAN CRAFT BREWERY.
Relax by the fireplace with a bite to eat in our lounge area while you enjoy your glass or flight of beer. Take our beer home in cold cans and bottles, or get a growler fill to go. Order a keg for your next family get together. We have something for everyone: 25 beers on tap, house-brewed craft soda, lemonade and nitro cold brew coffee.
1A-30321 Fraser Hwy., Abbotsford Just off Mt. Lehman
OldAbbeyAles.com
Open 7 days a week from 11am 69
ABBOTSFORD
CHILLIWACK
RAVENS BREWING CO.
FLASHBACK BREWING CO.
2485 Townline Rd. | Ravens.beer
1 - 9360 Mill St. | ChaosAndSolace.com
With a World Beer Cup win, a website full of beer-infused recipes and the Ground to Glass series, this valley stop is all about crafting quality.
Chaos and Solace founder Gord Gagne rebranded his Chilliwack digs AND the beer. Bring your kids, wine and cider are available and the music comes live or on vinyl.
CORVUS LINGONBERRY LIME GOSE
OLDHAND COFFEE IPA
BLACK VINYL PORTER
DINGER DAVE SAISON
I N D I A PA L E A L E
P O RT E R
SAISON
GOSE
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
Availability: Year-round
Availability: Seasonal
4.5% 10
ABV IBU
6.0% 70
ABV IBU
CHILLIWACK
Availability: Year-round
6.0% 30
ABV IBU
5.2% 24
MISSION
MISSION SPRINGS BREWING COMPANY
OLD YALE BREWING CO.
404 - 44550 South Sumas Rd. | OldYaleBrewing.com
7160 Oliver St. | MissionSprings.ca
Old Yale’s recently expanded taproom now holds twice as many people, perfect for special events like the weekly open mic nights on Sundays.
Mission’s favourite gathering spot is almost as well-known for its craft beer as it is for the bonkers all-you-can-eat buffets it puts on every weekend.
SCREAMING BANSHEE
RIVER VALLEY AMBER
I R I S H C R E A M S TO U T
AMBER ALE
LEMON AND GINGER RADLER
FAT GUY OATMEAL STOUT
RADLER
OAT M E A L S TO U T Availability: Year-round
Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
70
7.5% 20
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
5.0% 18
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
3.0% 17
ABV IBU
4.5% 21
S e a t o sk y 09
BREWERIES 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09
The 101 A-Frame Backcountry Coast Mountain Gibsons Howe Sound Pemberton Persephone The Beer Farmers 10 Townsite 11 Whistler
PEMBERTON 07 73 74 72 75 73 74 73 73
WHISTLER POWEL 10 POWELL
99
RIVER
74 74 75
02 03 06
101
SQUAMISH
BREW PUBS 12 Brewhouse High Mountain
12
04 11
101 75
19
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GIBSONS E
Follow us! @THEGROWLERBC
SQUAMISH
BACKCOUNTRY BREWING
#405-1201 Commercial Way | BackcountryBrewing.com MON-THU 12-11PM ^ FRI 12PM-12AM ^ SAT 11AM-12AM SUN 11AM-10PM EST. 2017 The 2017 BCBA Rookie of the Year just started barrel-aging, so expect some big seasonal releases later this year.
DEAD OF NIGHT
WIDOWMAKER
G A L A X Y I N D I A PA L E A L E
E A S T C OA S T I N D I A PA L E A L E
Availability: Year-round
Availability: Year-round
ABV
6.6%
IBU
28
ABV
Hopped exclusively with Galaxy, this IPA is a dank, tropical treat with a pineapple punch.
6.7%
50
This big, pulpy hop bomb is all about the juice thanks to a ridiculous amount of Citra and Mosaic.
BEER OF THE YEAR BEST IPA NEVER HIT THE BACKCOUNTRY ALONE 72
IBU
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GIBSONS
GIBSONS
THE 101 BREWHOUSE + DISTILLERY
GIBSONS TAPWORKS
537 Cruice Lane | GibsonsTapworks.com
1009 Gibsons Way | The101.ca
Not only do co-owner Chris Greenfield and head brewer Matt Caver have a handle on the beer, but throw them a saxophone and they’ll rock the shit out of some “Careless Whispers.”
Enjoy Gibsons Tapworks’ awesome rooftop patio year-round thanks to high-powered heaters and a transparent enclosure. Oh, and the beers are really good too!
ALL INCLUSIVE
TALL FALLER
D RY- H O P P E D TA RT W H E AT A L E
NEW ENGLAND INDIA PA L E A L E
BLONDE LOGGER
ONE SAILING WAIT
BLONDE ALE
I N D I A PA L E A L E
Availability: One-off ABV IBU
6.0% 5
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
Availability: Year-round
6.5% 66
GIBSONS
ABV IBU
5.6% 18
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
6.9% 52
PEMBERTON
PERSEPHONE BREWING CO.
PEMBERTON BREWING CO.
1053 Stewart Rd. | PersephoneBrewing.com
1936 Stonecutter Pl. | PembertonBrewing.ca
Head on over to Persephone’s bucolic tasting room and enjoy its recently approved lounge licence: full pints, wine and live music now permitted.
Ready to celebrate? This brewery, which was the People’s Choice winner at the Whistler Village Beer Festival, turns one year old in April!
COAST LIFE LAGER
PERSEPHONE PALE ALE
LIGHT LAGER
A M E R I C A N PA L E A L E
BLUE IN THE FACE BLUEBERRY SOUR
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
4.5% 15
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
5.5% 33
SOUR ALE
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
4.3% 8
VALLEY FOG I N D I A PA L E A L E Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
6.0% 24 73
PEMBERTON
POWELL RIVER
THE BEER FARMERS
TOWNSITE BREWING
8324 Pemberton Meadows Rd. | TheBeerFarmers.com
5824 Ash Ave. | TownsiteBrewing.com
PEMBERTON, BC
The Beer Farmers have a series of beers with 100 per cent of the ingredients grown in Pemberton and are the only brewery in B.C. and one of the few in North America to grow its own barley.
As the inaugural winner of the B.C. Ale Trail’s Best Brewery Experience Award, Townsite should definitely be at the top of your list of breweries to visit in 2019.
FIELD SAISON
CITY SLICKER
THADDEUS
L’IL RED
FA R M H O U S E S A I S O N
I N D I A PA L E A L E
OUD BRUIN
RED ALE
Availability: Small batch ABV IBU
5.0% 25
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
7.0% 90
SQUAMISH
Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
6.8% 8
Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
6.0% 20
SQUAMISH
HOWE SOUND BREWING CO.
A-FRAME BREWING CO.
38927 Queens Way | AFrameBrewing.com
37801 Cleveland Ave. | HoweSound.com
A-Frame Brewing is inspired by beautiful B.C. and the adventures this province offers. So much in fact, that each of their beers are affectionately named after B.C. lakes
Squamish’s original craft brewery has been winning awards for its beer since 1996. The ale and cheddar soup (with beer bread, naturally) deserves a medal all its own, too.
ZENITH LAKE IMPERIAL COFFEE RYE ALE
OKANAGAN LAKE CREAM ALE
HAZY DAZE
UTOPIA
I M P E R I A L RY E A L E Availability: Seasonal
CREAM ALE Availability: Year-round
N O RT H E A S T I N D I A PA L E A L E
DA R K F R U I T E D SOUR ALE
ABV IBU
74
8.0% 50
ABV IBU
5.0% 15
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
6.0% 25
Availability: Limited ABV IBU
5.8% N/A
WHISTLER
WHISTLER
COAST MOUNTAIN BREWING CO.
BREWHOUSE HIGH MOUNTAIN BREWING
4355 Blackcomb Way | MJG.ca/BrewHouse
2 - 1212 Alpha Lake Rd. | CoastMountainBeer.ca
Celebrated as one of Whistler’s best and busiest spots for all your après craft beer needs.
This Function Junction brewery offers hopforward ales and a rotating sour beer program. It’s only available in Whistler so you’ll have to visit in person!
PECAN PORTER
GREEN RUN
E N G L I S H P O RT E R
PA L E A L E
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
NORTHWEST PALE ALE
5.8% 10
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
WHISTLER BREWING CO.
1045 Millar Creek Rd. | WhistlerBeer.com
S O U R I N D I A PA L E A L E
Availability: Seasonal
5.5% 40
WHISTLER
MUSICAL BUMPS
SESSION ALE
ABV IBU
Availability: Seasonal
4.9% 20
ABV IBU
6.0% 30
WE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT LOCAL BEER, WINE & SPIRITS. Pick up a copy of The Growler’s sister publications at a distillery or winery near you. FREE FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 8
FALL/WINTE R 2018
W I N E
C U L T U R E
Whistler Brewing was founded in 1989, which makes it 30 years old this year. The 10-year-old Function Junction brewery offers live music every Friday.
10
B . C .
Issue 02 LIFE AS A WINE JUDGE W I N E RY A R C H I T E C T U R E F O R T I F I E D F O R FA L L H I G H- A LT I T U D E V I N E YA R D S W I N E C LU B P E R KS WO M E N O F W I N E S AVO U R I N G K E LOW N A ISLAND WINERIES
HAZY TRAIL PALE ALE
GRAPEFRUIT ALE
H A Z Y PA L E A L E
FRUIT BEER
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
5.0% 35
B I G I TA L I A N R E D S B.C. W I N E RY L I S T I N G S
PERFECT PEARS The essence of autumnal cocktails
VICTORI A SPIRIT What’s new and sipworthy in the provincial capital
BITTER TRUTH A guide to B.C.’s best cocktail bitters
SIP LOCAL Distillery listings and tasting panel
Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
5.0% 14
thealchemistmagazine.ca @thealchemistmag
vitis.ca @vitismag
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BREWERIES 01 02 03 04 05 06
Axe & Barrel Bad Dog Category 12 Howl Lighthouse Mayne Island
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05
84 85 83 84 83 84
07 08 09 10
Salt Spring Island Sooke Sooke Oceanside Twa Dogs
84 85 85 80
11 4 Mile 12 Spinnakers
85 82
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1A ST
01 02 B R ID GE
B AY
Water 82 05 Phillips 82 06 Vancouver Island 78
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UR RD
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HERALD ST
PATR IC IA
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TRANS-CA NADA HWY
STORE ST
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Bard & Banker The Churchill The Drake Eatery Garrick’s Head Irish Times Smiths Yates Street
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JO H N
SON
YATE S
LA S ST
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A AV E
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DOUG
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BREWERIES 01 Driftwood 02 Hoyne SKINNE R ST 03 Île Sauvage 04 Moon Under
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VICTORIA
VANCOUVER ISLAND BREWERY
2330 Government St. | VanIslandBrewery.com SUN-THU 11AM-6PM ^ FRI-SAT 11AM-7PM EST. 1984 It’s been a big year for Vancouver Island Brewing: there’s new beers, a sharp new look and now a lounge endorsement is on the way for its Government Street tasting room. All of its beers are vegan and kosher, too!
FALLER
MAGIC HOUR
N O RT H W E S T PA L E A L E
GRAPEFRUIT GOSE RADLER
Availability: Year-round ABV
5.4%
IBU
Availability: Seasonal
35
ABV
Bold pine and grapefruit hop flavours are supported by bready malt in this classic West Coast pale.
2.4%
IBU
7
What happens when you cross a sour wheat ale with a grapefruit radler? Perfection, that’s what.
BROKEN ISLANDS
TWISTED STALK
H A Z Y I N D I A PA L E A L E
B L A C K B E R RY H E L L E S L A G E R
Availability: Year-round ABV
6.0%
IBU
Availability: Seasonal
57
ABV
Hazy, fruity goodness with heaps of hop flavour and aroma.
5.0%
IBU
10
A refreshing, fruit-forward take on the traditional helles lager.
Heavy medal Vancouver Island Brewing picked up 18 awards for its beer in 2018 from the likes of the B.C. Beer Awards, Canadian Brewing Awards, World Beer Championships and, most importantly, the Growlies—winning gold for Best Strong Beer for its Hermannator Ice Bock! 78
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SAANICH
TWA DOGS BREWERY AT VICTORIA CALEDONIAN
761 Enterprise Cres. | VCaledonian.com
SUN-THU 12:30-6:30PM ^ FRI 11AM-9PM ^ SAT 11AM-8PM EST. 2016 Inspired by the poetry of Robert Burns, the beers at Twa Dogs are brewed without pretense or filtration. You can even sip your beer among the brewers and the vats: they have the only licensed production floor in town.
JUICY
CLOUD CHAMBER
B R U T I N D I A PA L E A L E
S M A S H D O U B L E I N D I A PA L E A L E
Availability: Small batch
Availability: Seasonal
ABV
5.5%
IBU
N/A
ABV
A new twist on the IPA, brewed for a bone dry champagne-style finish and hop aroma.
8.6%
IBU
N/A
Lush, fruity, and wonderfully unprecedented with notes of pineapple, guava, mango and papaya.
Ever dreamed of being a brewery-distillery owner? We’re now accepting investors through our crowd-funding campaign
https://youtu.be/h5b94wjZJUQ Investments & perks start at $250 at: www.Frontfundr.com 80
Sponsored content
VICTORIA
VICTORIA
CANOE BREWPUB
DRIFTWOOD BREWERY
450 Swift St. | CanoeBrewpub.com
450 Hillside Ave. | DriftwoodBeer.com
The chef and brewmaster at this popular waterfront brew pub work together to pair their beer and food, and it shows.
A true Victoria staple, Driftwood Brewery is known for producing quality beers with unique flavour profiles that become longtime favourites.
BALTIC PORTER
IPA
BA LT I C P O RT E R
AMERICAN INDIA PA L E A L E
ORIGINAL GRAVITY HAZE
RAISED BY WOLVES
H A Z Y I N D I A PA L E A L E
I N D I A PA L E A L E
Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
Availability: Year-round
8.0% 18
ABV IBU
Availability: One-off
6.0% 55
VICTORIA
ABV IBU
Availability: Year-round
7.0% 65
ABV IBU
7.0% 80
VICTORIA
HOYNE BREWING CO.
101-2740 Bridge St. | HoyneBrewing.ca
ÎLE SAUVAGE BREWING CO.
2960 Bridge St. | IleSauvage.com
Stay tuned for Hoyne’s new six-pack bottles coming soon to a liquor stores. Or, pop in to the tasting room and get it directly from the source.
Wild beer from a wild brewery on a wild island—this brand new Victoria spot is building a name for itself with Belgian-style wild ales and sour beers.
FINNEGAN’S
HELIOS
I R I S H S TO U T
D O RT M U N D E R G O L D E N LAGER
CERISE SOUR RED
PEABERRY COFFEE STOUT
SOUR ALE
S TO U T
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
5.1% 17
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
6.0% 25
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
6.5% N/A
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
7.5% N/A 81
VICTORIA
VICTORIA
MOON UNDER WATER BREWERY
PHILLIPS BREWING & MALTING CO.
The first B.C. brewery to work with West Coast Canning’s mobile service five years ago, the Moon just invested in its own canning line.
What we know: the new taproom is always hoppin.’ What you might not be privy to: daily beer blends where the crew takes Phillips staples and mixes them together for a tasty surprise.
SANG DU MERLE 2019
DARKSIDE OF THE MOON
BLACK MAGIC
RISKY HIBISCUS
BA R R E L - A G E D S O U R A L E WITH ELDERBERRIES Availability: One-off
OAT M E A L S E S S I O N S TO U T Availability: Seasonal
DA R K A L E
PA L E A L E
350B Bay St. | MoonUnderWater.ca
ABV IBU
9.0% 0
ABV IBU
2010 Government St. | PhillipsBeer.com
4.2% 30
VICTORIA
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
Availability: Seasonal
5.3% 20
ABV IBU
5.1% 25
VICTORIA
SPINNAKERS BREWPUB
SWANS BREWPUB
308 Catharine St. | Spinnakers.com
506 Pandora Ave. | SwansHotel.com
Canada’s original brew pub keeps things fresh by making a range of ciders and barrel-aged sours in addition to a diverse lineup of beers. Is distilling next?
Renovations including a new bar, new layout and more taps should be complete by March in time to celebrate Swans’ 30th birthday this year.
CURRANT NOIR
GRAPEFRUIT WHITE IPA
VENERATOR
BARREL-AGED SOUR ALE
W H I T E I N D I A PA L E A L E
Availability: One-off
Availability: Seasonal
ABV IBU
82
5.5% 10
ABV IBU
7.0% 50
DOPPELBOCK
I N T E R N AT I O N A L L A G E R
Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
CHERRY JADE RICE LAGER
7.5% 29
Availability: One-off ABV IBU
5.5% 23
CENTRAL SAANICH
ESQUIMALT
CATEGORY 12 BREWING
LIGHTHOUSE BREWING CO.
C - 2200 Keating Cross Rd. | Category12Beer.com
2 - 836 Devonshire Rd. | LighthouseBrewing.com
There’s lots of good news at C12: it’s opening a small kitchen, adding a foeder, and launching a new Barrelholder program with year-round benefits. Exciting!
If you’re in Victoria, don’t skip Lighthouse Brewing on your brewery tour. In the summer, unique one-off casks are poured every Saturday in its beautiful, nautical-themed tasting room.
RHUBARB SOUR
COMPRESSED DATA
NIGHTWATCH COFFEE LAGER
TA RT G O L D E N A L E
HAZY SESSION INDIA PA L E A L E Availability: Seasonal
COFFEE LAGER
Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
5.5% N/A
ABV IBU
4.5% 20
SHIPWRECK IPA I N D I A PA L E A L E
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
5.1% 8
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
6.5% 59
Leave your car at home! Go behind the scenes at your favourite breweries, cideries, wineries and distilleries with guided tours and tastings from West Coast Brewery Tours— Victoria’s original brewery tour operator. Gourmet food and beer pairing dinners also available.
westcoastbrewerytours.ca • 250 516 4402 Check us out—we`re Victoria’s #1 rated brewery tour on Tripadvisor 4 years in a row! 83
LANGFORD
MAYNE ISLAND
AXE & BARREL BREWING CO.
MAYNE ISLAND BREWING CO.
2323 Millstream Ave. | AxeAndBarrel.com
490 Fernhill Rd. | MayneIslandBrewingCo.com
The only brewery on the West Shore is home to Langford Lager, the best international lager in the province, according to the B.C. Beer Awards.
Brewer Michael Garratt’s small batch, bottleconditioned beers are worth the trip to this island-bound nano that’s as quaint as they come.
CAFFE FANTASTICO DOUBLE SHOT PORTER
THE MARZENS ARE COMING
HOPLINE BLING WILD SESSION ALE
E S P R E S S O P O RT E R Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
Availability: Year-round
6.0% 30
ABV IBU
4.2% 0
NORTH SAANICH
MARZEN Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
ENGLISH IPA ENGLISH INDIA PA L E A L E Availability: Year-round
4.5% N/A
ABV IBU
6.2% N/A
SALT SPRING ISL.
HOWL BREWING
SALT SPRING ISLAND ALES
1780 Mills Rd.
270 Furness Rd. | SaltSpringIslandAles.com
This tiny brewery specializes in rare, unusual styles. The tasting room may be small but Howl recently managed to add a licensed picnic area outside.
This Gulf Island gem produces unique brews featuring the flora—and inspired by the fauna—of Salt Spring Island. Drink beer with nature!
OLD WORLD GRODZISKIE
EAST HAARLEM KOYT
HEATHER ALE
GRODZISKIE (SMOKED W H E AT A L E ) Availability: Seasonal
KOY T ( D U T C H OAT A L E )
ABV IBU
84
4.5% 25
Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
5.0% 15
H E AT H E R A L E
D RY S TO U T
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
FAERIE MILK DRY STOUT
5.5% 33
Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
4.5% 45
SOOKE
SOOKE
BAD DOG BREWING COMPANY
SOOKE BREWING CO.
7861 Tugwell Rd. | BadDogBrewing.ca
2057 Otter Point Rd. | SookeBrewing.com
Everything’s coming up Bad Dog! This Sooke microbrewery is hoping to get a facelift this year so more folks can enjoy its fantastic brews.
Not only was Sooke Brewing voted best new brewery in B.C. at the 2018 B.C. Beer Awards, but it took home top honours for best tasting room in the province, too.
SUNNY’S DAY HAZY IPA
HONEY BLONDE ALE
GERMAN PILSNER
IMPERIAL PORTER
H A Z Y I N D I A PA L E A L E
BLONDE ALE
LAGER
P O RT E R
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
Availability: Year-round
6.2% 50
ABV IBU
5.0% 18
SOOKE
Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
Availability: Seasonal
5.0% 40
ABV IBU
7.0% 50
VIEW ROYAL
SOOKE OCEANSIDE BREWERY
4 MILE BREWING CO.
1-5529 Sooke Rd. | SookeOceansideBrewing.com
199 Island Hwy. | 4MileBrewingCo.com
Check out the bi-weekly cask nights every second Friday with brewer Garritt Lalonde’s innovative new R&D brews.
With a new beer brewed on the pilot system every week, there is always something new to try, along with great food in a historic setting.
STUCK IN THE MUD
EAST SOOKE BITTER
HAZY CITRA PALE ALE
BLACKBERRY SESSION ALE
C O F F E E P O RT E R
EXTRA SPECIAL BITTER
H A Z Y PA L E A L E
FRUIT BEER
Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
6.0% 32
Availability: Small batch ABV IBU
4.8% 32
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
5.0% 35
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
4.3% 18 85
Va n c ou v e r I sl a nd BREWERIES 01 Beach Fire 87 02 Cumberland 88 03 Forbidden 87 04 Gladstone 88 05 Land & Sea 87 06 Longwood 89 07 LoveShack 91 08 Mount Arrowsmith 90 09 Red Arrow 88 10 Riot 87 11 Small Block 89 12 Tofino 91 13 Twin City 90 14 White Sails 90 15 Wolf 90
19
CAMPBELL RIVER
N
01
W
COURTENAY CUMBERLAND 02
03 04 05 19
QUALICUM 07
08 PARKSVILLE
13 12
TOFINO
BREW PUBS
16 Craig Street 88 17 Longwood 89
E
PORT ALBERNI
17
06 14 15
NANAIMO 19
CHEMAINUS
10 16
DUNCAN 09 11 14
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17
CAMPBELL RIVER
CHEMAINUS
BEACH FIRE BREWING
RIOT BREWING CO.
594-11th Ave. | BeachFireBrewing.ca
101A - 3055 Oak St. | RiotBrewing.com
Tuesday is the day you want to drop in to this Campbell River spot where a new small batch is always pouring, to savour in the taproom only.
Known for their eclectic and colourful branding, visit Riot Brewing in Chemainus and enjoy live music in their tasting room once a week.
DRY HOPPED KETTLE SOUR
HIGH TIDE PALE ALE
LIPSLIDE LAGER
D RY- H O P P E D K E T T L E SOUR Availability: Seasonal
W E S T C OA S T PA L E A L E
HELLES LAGER
ABV IBU
5.0% 5
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
5.5% 40
COMOX
WORKING CLASS HERO DARK MILD
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
4.8% 18
DA R K M I L D Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
4.5% 14
COURTENAY
LAND AND SEA BREWING CO.
FORBIDDEN BREWING CO.
2040 Guthrie Rd. | LandAndSeaBrewing.ca
1590 Cliffe Ave. | ForbiddenBrewing.com
Finally: a new brewery in Comox! You’ll have to visit the Island to taste the beer, though. It’s only available onsite at the brewery.
Since installing a locally built 10-hL brewhouse, brewing capacity has expanded considerably, which means Forbidden has several different beers on tap, and has even started canning.
GLACIER CREAM ALE
ESTUARY SESSION IPA
DARK CLOUDS
COASTAL HAZE
CREAM ALE
SESSION INDIA PA L E A L E Availability: Year-round
C A S C A D I A N DA R K A L E
W E S T C OA S T W H E AT A L E
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
4.8% N/A
ABV IBU
5.3% N/A
Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
6.5% 70
Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
5.5% 40 87
COURTENAY
CUMBERLAND
GLADSTONE BREWING CO.
CUMBERLAND BREWING CO.
244 4th St. | GladstoneBrewing.ca
2732 Dunsmuir Ave. | CumberlandBrewing.com
Come for the great beer, stay for the cool mechanic-inspired tasting room! Gladstone operates out of a 1940s heritage building that was once a garage and dealership.
Head on over to Vancouver Island’s Cumberland Brewing and enjoy a freshly renovated tasting room, offering more seats and naturally, more fun!
HAZY SIMCOE PALE ALE
MARZEN
FOREST FOG
MARZEN LAGER
A M E R I C A N W H E AT A L E
H A Z Y PA L E A L E Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
Availability: Seasonal
5.5% 34
ABV IBU
6.0% 21
DUNCAN
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
BREWMOX VALLEY (GLADSTONE COLLAB) H I S TO R I C B U RTO N I PA Availability: Seasonal
4.3% N/A
ABV IBU
6.0% N/A
DUNCAN
CRAIG STREET BREW PUB
RED ARROW BREWING CO.
25 Craig St. | CraigStreet.ca
5255 Chaster Rd. | RedArrowBeer.ca
Drinking freshly-brewed beer at a 100-yearold antique bar isn’t something you can do everywhere, and that’s part of the appeal at Craig Street.
When the sun’s out, Red Arrow’s hop-lined patio is a great place to kill an afternoon. When it’s not, the tasting room is just as inviting.
CIRTUS KOLSCH
ARBUTUS ALE
KO L S C H
E N G L I S H PA L E A L E
THREESOME ALE
LAKETOWN LAGER
A L E W I T H H E M P, H O N E Y AND HIBISCUS Availability: Small batch
PILSNER
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
88
5.0% N/A
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
5.0% N/A
ABV IBU
5.3% 23
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
4.8% N/A
DUNCAN
NANAIMO
SMALL BLOCK BREWING CO. LONGWOOD BREWERY
203-5301 Chaster Rd. | SmallBlockBrewery.com
101A-2046 Boxwood Rd. | LongwoodBeer.com
This hot rod-themed brewery returns to Victoria Beer Week to celebrate its first birthday where its beers were first put on tap, back in March 2018.
Longwood’s production facility also features a tasting room and—coming this spring—the first licensed craft brewery patio in town!
TEST AND TUNE
INDEPENDENT PILSNER
MALARDHAT
J U I C Y I N D I A PA L E A L E Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
6.5% 85
BEST BITTER
IMPERIAL PILSNER
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
3.8% 45
Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
6.5% 70
HONEY HOP PA L E A L E Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
5.0% 18
NANAIMO
LONGWOOD BREWPUB
5775 Turner Rd. | LongwoodBrewpub.com
Very little changes at this iconic brew pub—but that’s a good thing since it’s a comfortable, welcoming spot with a great menu and solid beer list. EXTRA ALE
STEAMPUNK
BLONDE ALE
D U N K E LW E I Z E N
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
5.0% 25
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
5.0% 19
Custom crafted products to set your brand apart.
Tap into our 10 years of experience in the liquor industry by contacting us:
www.swellsource.com 89
NANAIMO
NANAIMO
WOLF BREWING CO.
WHITE SAILS BREWING
125 Comox Rd. | WhiteSailsBrewing.com
940 Old Victoria Rd. | WolfBrewingCompany.com
White Sails has been busy lately, installing a new canning line and implementing a barrelaging program. Look for canned and barrelaged releases later this year.
Recently under new ownership, Nanaimo’s Wolf Brewing continues to produce quality craft beer and source local ingredients.
BASTION BLONDE
BUBBLES AND BATHTUBS
ALPHA MALE IPA
BLACK AND TAN
BLONDE ALE
B R U T I N D I A PA L E A L E
I N D I A PA L E A L E
S TO U T / PA L E A L E BLEND Availability: Year-round
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
Availability: Seasonal
4.5% 15
ABV IBU
6.3% 30
PARKSVILLE
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
6.0% 60
ABV IBU
5.5% 25
PORT ALBERNI
MOUNT ARROWSMITH BREWING CO.
TWIN CITY BREWING
109-425 East Stanford Ave. | ArrowsmithBrewing.com
4503 Margaret St. | TwinCityBrewing.ca
Lauded as Brewery of the Year at the 2017 B.C. Beer Awards, Mount Arrowsmith Brewing lives up to the hype, with its West Coast-themed tasting room and full-service kitchen.
Brewmaster Aaron Colyn says to expect more unique and limited casks and pilot brews throughout 2019 as his team steps up their small batch game.
ARROWSMITH BLONDE
GREY AREA
BLONDE ALE Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
90
4.8% 15
FORTY-NINE KARAT (PARALLEL 49 COLLAB) JUICY GOLDEN STRONG Availability: One-off ABV IBU
8.2% 30
BLONDE GRISETTE Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
4.6% 25
FASHION VICTIM H A Z Y L A C TO S E I N D I A PA L E A L E Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
6.5% 35
QUALICUM
TOFINO
LOVESHACK LIBATIONS
TOFINO BREWING CO.
1 - 4134 Island Hwy. West | LoveShackLibations.com
691 Industrial Way | TofinoBrewingCo.com
The small but mighty team at LoveShack thoroughly enjoy making their hand-bottled and conditioned beer and sharing it with the people of Qualicum.
Now pouring a kettle sour, this craft brewery is worth the picturesque drive out to Vancouver Island’s West Coast.
POST RIDE PILSNER
JUICY JUICE
DARK LAGER
KELP STOUT
N O RT H E A S T H A Z Y I N D I A PA L E A L E
S C H WA R Z B I E R
S TO U T
PILSNER Availability: Small batch ABV IBU
Availability: Small batch
5.2% 28
ABV IBU
CBW CR AF T
B E ER
& WI L DE
RN
ES
S
Availability: Seasonal
6.2% 42
ABV IBU
4.5% 30
Availability: Small batch ABV IBU
6.0% 30
CBW
CR AF T
B E ER
& WI L DE
RN
ES
S
2nd ANNUAL
ES S
CR
AF N TB ER EER & WILD
CBW C & RAFT BEER S WIL DERNES
CRA FT BEER &W ILDERNESS CRAFT BEER
& WILDERNESS
91
T HOM P SO N O K A NAGAN 06 5
01 10 15
SORRENTO
2410
21
KAMLOOPS
TO W H I STL ER
1
97
SALMON ARM VERNON
5
97B
97A
97
5A
13
VERNON
TO VANCOUVER
23
WESTBANK 12
97C
6
04 19 03 11 14 17 18
KELOWNA 22 5A
07
SUMMERLAND
02 05 09 16
20
PENTICTON 33 3
N
3A
W
E
08
OLIVER
BREWERIES 01 02 03 04 05 06
Alchemy Bad Tattoo BNA Boundary Cannery Crannรณg
92
93 96 94 94 97 98
07 08 09 10 11 12 13
Detonate Firehall Highway 97 Iron Road Kettle River Kind Marten
98 96 97 93 95 98 98
14 15 16 17
Red Bird 95 Red Collar 93 Tin Whistle 97 Tree Brewing Beer Institute 95 18 Vice and Virtue 95 19 Wild Ambition 96
BREW PUBS 20 21 22 23 24
Barley Mill Barley Station Elevation 57 Freddy's The Noble Pig
96 97 93 94 94
BIG WHITE
KAMLOOPS
ALCHEMY BREWING CO.
ELEVATION 57 BREWING COMPANY
20 Kettleview Rd. | SessionsTapHouseAndGrill.com
650 Victoria St. | Facebook.com/AlchemyBrewingCompany.ca
The highest elevation brewery in Canada is at Big White’s Sessions Taphouse—almost two kilometres above sea level (5,757 feet, to be exact)—and open year round.
The doors have been open for a few months now and the cat’s out of the bag about the tasty craft concoctions coming out of Kamloops’ newest brewery.
PATROLLER PASSION FRUIT ALE
DOUBLE DRY-HOPPED PILSNER
BCESB
A M E R I C A N W H E AT A L E Availability: Year-round
PILSNER
ABV IBU
Availability: Year-round
4.9% N/A
ABV IBU
5.1% N/A
KAMLOOPS
EXTRA SPECIAL BITTER Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
6.0% 50
FREE RADICAL ISA INDIA SESSION ALE Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
4.5% 29
KAMLOOPS
IRON ROAD BREWING
RED COLLAR BREWING CO.
980 Camosun Crs. | IronRoadBrewing.ca
355 Lansdowne St. | RedCollar.ca
One of the undiscovered gems of the Interior, Iron Road’s increasingly adventurous brews are well-known to students next door at Thompson Rivers University, and should be to you, too!
Red Collar might be the most dog-friendly brewery in the province. Interior Health won’t allow dogs in tasting rooms, so Red Collar built a separate room that's just for fur babies!
NORTHERN KING
LOOPLINE IPA
BLACK HEFE
I N D I A PA L E A L E
D U N K E LW E I Z E N
RUSSIAN IMPERIAL S TO U T Availability: Seasonal ABV 11.0% IBU 70
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
6.0% 55
Q UA D R U P E L
Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
BLACK DOG QUAD
7.7% 18
Availability: Seasonal ABV 11.7% IBU 35
93
KAMLOOPS
KELOWNA
THE NOBLE PIG BREWHOUSE BNA BREWING CO.
650 Victoria St. | TheNoblePig.ca
1250 Ellis St. | BNABrewing.com
Top notch food and quality craft brews make this lively downtown Kamloops brew pub a must-visit.
BNA recently acquired more space to expand its barrel-aging program. It already holds 60 wine barrels and will eventually add foeders and more bourbon barrels to the mix.
PIG PEN HAZY IPA
SOUL MATE
THRILLER
L’IL PIP
I M P E R I A L S TO U T W I T H S T R AW B E R R I E S A N D CACAO Availability: Small batch
H A Z Y I N D I A PA L E W I T H CHERRIES
WILD BLONDE ALE
H A Z Y I N D I A PA L E A L E Availability: Small batch ABV IBU
6.0% 40
ABV IBU
8.0% 35
KELOWNA
Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
Availability: Seasonal
6.5% 50
ABV IBU
4.8% 14
KELOWNA
BOUNDARY BREWING
FREDDY’S BREWPUB
2-455 Neave Crt. | BoundaryBrewing.beer
124 McCurdy Rd. | McCurdyBowl.com
This popular North Kelowna "brauerei" specializes in German-style beers brewed in the only wooden brewhouse in Canada.
Who needs White Russians when you can have craft beer at this Big Lebowski-esque bowling alley-based brewery. Bonus: monthly live comedy nights!
OAK KETTLE ALTBIER
JEWEL CREEK PILSNER
LEBOWSKI LAGER
BROWNSTONE ALE
DUSSELDORFER A LT B I E R Availability: Year-round
BOHEMIAN PILSNER
AMERICAN LAGER
B R OW N A L E
ABV IBU
94
5.5% 35
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
5.0% 40
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
4.5% N/A
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
5.0% N/A
KELOWNA
KELOWNA
KETTLE RIVER BREWING CO. RED BIRD BREWING
731 Baillie Ave. | KettleRiverBrewing.ca
1086 Richter St. | RedBirdBrewing.com
This small-batch neighbourhood brewery is always experimenting with new recipes and ingredients in a hip, eclectic space.
Red Bird has plans to expand its space by the summer of 2020. In the meantime, keep on enjoying the tasty beers at this North End nanobrewery.
SHARPSHOOTER RYE IPA
PARAMOUNT PORTER
ANTIPSIPATION IPA
P O RT E R
I N D I A PA L E A L E
RY E I N D I A PA L E A L E Availability: Small batch ABV IBU
BUSINESS IN THE FRONT BLONDE BLONDE ALE Availability: Small batch
6.0% 45
ABV IBU
5.0% 15
KELOWNA
Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
Availability: Year-round
5.5% 22
ABV IBU
6.0% 55
KELOWNA
TREE BREWING BEER INSTITUTE
VICE AND VIRTUE
1346 Water St. | TreeBrewingBeerInstitute.com
1033 Richter St. | ViceAndVirtueBrewing.ca
The original brewery is no longer, but Dave Gokiert is still brewing up Tree classics and small batch creations at the Beer Institute, where every beer is served tank-to-tap.
V&V offers an array of hazy IPAs, wine-beer hybrids, gluten-reduced, fruit, sours, nitro- and new age beers, all paired with enticing dishes, including house-made charcuterie.
VERTICAL WINTER ALE
THE GOOD NEIGHBOUR
WINTER ALE Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
5.0% 20
I SKI EH (ELEVATION 57 COLLAB) PA L E A L E
Availability: One-off ABV IBU
5.4% 30
R I E S L I N G KO L S C H Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
5.6% 22
HOMEWRECKER H A Z Y I N D I A PA L E A L E Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
7.2% 48 95
KELOWNA
OLIVER
WILD AMBITION
FIREHALL BREWERY
1 - 3314 Appaloosa Rd. | WildAmbition.beer
6077 Main St. | FirehallBrewery.com
Wild Ambition's goal is to brew rustic ales with a bit of a wild side. Keep an eye out for some exciting barrel-aged sours in the coming months.
The Beer Shop & Social features regular jam sessions year-round, and as the weather warms up expect to hear about this year’s Back Alley Concert series.
BLENDING IN
NORMAN YOKE
HOSER
B I È R E D E C O U PA G E ( B L E N D E D FA R M H O U S E ALE) Availability: One-off
BA R R E L - A G E D S TO C K A L E
B . C . - G R OW N B L O N D E ALE
ABV IBU
6.0% 18
Availability: One-off ABV IBU
7.7% 28
PENTICTON
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
5.0% 7
FALSE ALARM BITTER PA L E A L E Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
4.8% 35
PENTICTON
BAD TATTOO BREWING CO.
BARLEY MILL BREW PUB
169 Estabrook Ave. | BadTattooBrewing.com
2460 Skaha Lake Rd. | BarleyMillPub.com
You’ve got options now with your to-go beers at this popular Penticton spot where a brand new canning system is now up and running.
During Okanagan Fest of Ale the Barley Mill offers the perfect after party: Songs of Beer Karaoke Nights on April 12 and 13!
LOS MUERTOS CERVEZA NEGRA
NEW ENGLAND IPA
DA R K L A G E R Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
96
5.0% 25
BIKE BARN ISA INDIA SESSION ALE Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
3.5% 45
H A Z Y I N D I A PA L E A L E Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
6.3% 46
ELLA LAGER N O RT H A M E R I C A N LAGER Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
5.0% 25
PENTICTON
PENTICTON
HIGHWAY 97 BREWERY
CANNERY BREWING
198 Ellis St. | CanneryBrewing.com
954 Eckhardt Ave. | Hwy97Brewery.com
Try Cannery’s first-ever fundraiser beer, a session IPA brewed by all of the brewery’s female staff for the Pink Boots Society, supporting women in the craft beer industry.
It’s sort of an interactive experience when you stop for a pint at Highway 97, where the taproom is the brewery and the brewery is the taproom.
CERES (PINK BOOTS FUNDRAISER)
RAIN SHADOW SOUR
TRUE CANADIAN ESB
HAZY INDIA SESSION ALE Availability: One-off
D RY- H O P P E D S O U R A L E Availability: Small batch
ABV IBU
4.8% 65
ABV IBU
EXTRA SPECIAL BITTER
BAD GAS TRAVELS REAL FAST
Availability: Seasonal
Availability: Seasonal
4.5% 15
PENTICTON
ABV IBU
5.2% 40
SOUR ALE
ABV IBU
5.2% 32
SALMON ARM
THE TIN WHISTLE BREWING CO.
BARLEY STATION BREW PUB
112-1475 Fairview Rd. | TheTinWhistleBrewery.rocks
20 Shuswap St. N. | BarleyStation.com
Wet your whistle at the first craft brewery in the South Okanagan Valley—24 years of beers and counting.
Barley Station makes beer that's smooth and sessionable, whether you’re drinking it at the brew pub, in cans or at home from a growler.
KILLER BEE DARK HONEY PORTER
SAM MCGUIRE’S PALE ALE
P O RT E R
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
6.0% 15
BLACK WIDOW DA R K A L E
PA L E A L E Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
5.0% 10
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
4.6% 45
TALKING DOG WIT BEER
BELGIAN STYLE WIT BEER Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
4.8% 10 97
SORRENTO
SUMMERLAND
DETONATE BREWING
CRANNÓG ALES
706 Elson Rd. | CrannogAles.com
#104-9503 Cedar Ave. | DetonateBrewing.com
Makers of the first beer in North America brewed with potatoes, this farm-based brewery overlooking sunny Shuswap Lake also grows its own organic hops.
Detonate Brewing was the new kid in Summerland that’s now become an Okanagan favourite. Pop in for a pint, take home a sixpack or 650 mL bottle.
GAEL’S BLOOD POTATO ALE
EXTRA SPECIAL BITTER
CITRA STATION PALE ALE
SUNDAY FUNDAY
PA L E A L E
Availability: Seasonal
Availability: Year-round
OAT M E A L B R E A K FA S T S TO U T Availability: Year-round
IRISH ALE Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
5.2% 45
THE RISING ESB
ABV IBU
4.6% 34
VERNON
ABV IBU
5.0% 26
ABV IBU
5.8% 32
WEST KELOWNA
MARTEN BREWING CO.
KIND BREWING
2933A 30th Ave. | MartenBrewpub.com
2405 Main St. | Facebook.com/KindBrewer
Drop in for the house-made kombucha, all-day happy hour Sundays or play some Nintendo 64 while tasting a host of creative small-batch brews.
There is only one craft brewery in West Kelowna but there's at least three reasons to visit—daily happy hours, Thursday open mic nights and, of course, the beer.
EZ ON THE EYES
DOPPEL DUNKELWEIZEN
CANADIANSTYLE LAGER
G E R M A N - S T Y L E DA R K W H E AT A L E Availability: Year-round
PILSNER
ACID TRIP KETTLE SOUR GOSE
BLONDE ALE Availability: Small-batch ABV IBU
98
4.5% 20
Availability: Small-batch ABV IBU
4.1% 10
ABV IBU
7.0% 22
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
5.0% 16
KOO T E NAYS 93
N W
E
A L B E R T A 12
LAKE LOUISE
GOLDEN 23
1
1
05 09
REVELSTOKE
93
TO KA M LO O P S
95
B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A
40
02
INVERMERE
6
31A
95
01
KASLO
07
KIMBERLEY
6
95A
03 06 10
NELSON 3
3A
3B
6
93
3 UNITED STATES
BREW PUBS
BREWERIES 101 100 101 100 102 102 101
FERNIE
95
ROSSLAND
Angry Hen Arrowhead Backroads Fernie Mt. Begbie Nelson Over Time
04
13
CRANBROOK ROSSLAND
11 08
01 02 03 04 05 06 07
BANFF
08 09 10 11
Rossland Rumpus Torchlight Trail Beer Refinery 12 Whitetooth
103 102 102 103 100
13 Fisher Peak
ALBERTA
100
BRITISH COLUMBIA
CRANBROOK
FERNIE
FISHER PEAK BREWING CO.
FERNIE BREWING CO.
821 Baker St. | TheHeidOut.ca
26 Manitou Rd. | FernieBrewing.com
Fisher Peak Brewing Company brews all its beers onsite at the Heid Out Restaurant in Cranbrook. Enjoy six year-round taps and the occasional seasonal brew.
Come taste how this small-town team is doing big things taking popular craft styles and putting their own East Kootenay spin on them.
WILD HORSE BELGIAN WIT
SOGGY OTTER BROWN ALE
HIT THE DECK
LONE WOLF
BELGIAN WIT
B R OW N A L E
H A Z Y I N D I A PA L E A L E
I N D I A PA L E A L E
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
5.0% 21
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
5.6% 32
GOLDEN
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
Availability: Year-round
6.4% 40
ABV IBU
6.5% 70
INVERMERE
ARROWHEAD BREWING CO.
WHITETOOTH BREWING
623 8th Ave. N. | WhitetoothBrewing.com
481 Arrow Rd. | ArrowheadBrewingCompany.ca
Into its third year, Whitetooth is a big hit with locals and visitors alike, thanks to a strong beer line-up and a welcoming tasting room. The recent golds at the BCBAs don't hurt, either.
A small but mighty operation in Invermere, Arrowhead currently boasts six permanent taps, as well as three to five seasonal varieties with a strong focus on ales.
DROP IN BRUT IPA
TOMORROW WE RIDE
FANCY FOOTWORK
BLACK MAGIC WOMAN
B R U T I N D I A PA L E A L E
HEFEWEIZEN
I N D I A PA L E L A G E R
DA R K L A G E R
Availability: One-off ABV IBU
100
6.8% 25
Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
5.3% 12
Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
6.0% 40
Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
6.0% 40
KASLO
KIMBERLEY
OVER TIME BEER WORKS
ANGRY HEN BREWING
343 Front St. | AngryHenBrewing.com
136A Wallinger Ave. | OverTimeBeer.ca
In addition to sponsoring Kaslo's Ladies' Axe-Throwing team for the upcoming 2019 LoggerSports during the famous May Days celebration, Angry Hen also brews great beer!
Brewed in Canada’s highest city, the beer at Over Time is best enjoyed in good company. Come in for a pint, and on Sundays, leave with an $11 growler fill.
OLD BITCH
ROOSTERTAIL
BITTER
PA L E A L E
RIGHT ABOUT NOW IPA
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
I N D I A PA L E A L E Availability: Year-round
4.8% 35
ABV IBU
5.2% 38
NELSON
BACKROADS BREWING CO.
460 Baker St. | BackroadsBrewing.com
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
6.5% 70
COPPER TOP R E D W H E AT A L E Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
4.8% 35
LOVE CRAFT? Keep up on your local beer news & seasonal listings.
Just in time for its second anniversary, Backroads has expanded, doubling its brewing capacity and nearly doubling its tasting room space. That means double the fun! SQUIFFINATOR DOPPELBOCK
GRISETTE
Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
SOUR CHERRY GRISETTE
7.9% 18
Availability: Small batch ABV IBU
4.8% 10
SUBSCRIBE NOW at BC.thegrowler.ca/subscribe
101
NELSON
NELSON
TORCHLIGHT BREWING CO.
NELSON BREWING CO.
512 Latimer St. | NelsonBrewing.com
125 Hall St. | TorchlightBrewing.com
NBC has been brewing in the Kootenays since 1991, and doing it all organically since 2006, but the historic building it calls home has been a brewery since 1897.
Torchlight has seen a lot of changes since it opened five years ago, including a move to a bigger space, a new brewhouse and now a new canning line to replace its entire bottle lineup.
PASSMORE PALE ALE
1880 IRISH STOUT PORTER
MOUNTAIN KING
S TO U T
G O L D E N S TO U T
HARVEST MOON HEMP ALE
PA L E A L E Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
KO L S C H
5.5% 30
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
5.0% 9
NELSON
Availability: One-off ABV IBU
6.0% 30
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
5.0% 20
REVELSTOKE
MT. BEGBIE BREWING CO
2155 Oak Dr. | Mt-Begbie.com
RUMPUS BEER COMPANY
208 1st Street E. | RumpusBeerCo.com
With stunning views of the Selkirk and Monashee Mountain ranges, including its mighty namesake, Mt. Begbie, the brewery also offers tours Monday to Saturday at 4 p.m. daily.
Revelstoke’s second brewery intends to open this spring. The focus will be on flights, pints and growlers with lots of variety, creativity, and experimentation.
BEGBIE CREAM ALE
BEGBIE GRAND CRU 2019
SPACE NUGS
KITTEN BREATH
CREAM ALE
BELGIAN STRONG ALE
OAT PA L E A L E
S P E LT S A I S O N
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
102
4.7% 12
Availability: One-off ABV 10.6% IBU 40
Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
4.5% N/A
Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
4.0% N/A
ROSSLAND
TRAIL
ROSSLAND BEER CO.
TRAIL BEER REFINERY
1990 Columbia Ave. | RosslandBeer.com
1299 Bay Ave. | TrailBeerRefinery.ca
One part neighbourhood watering hole, one part après ski stop, all parts flavour and fun set against Red Mountain ski resort.
Bocce, anyone? Grab any of the beers on tap and grab a game right in the middle of the brewery, nestled just blocks from the Columbia River waterfront.
BACK 9 HAZY IPA
OH BOURBON
H A Z Y I N D I A PA L E A L E Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
SEVEN SUMMITS MILK STOUT S W E E T S TO U T Availability: Year-round
6.5% 40
ABV IBU
5.9% 36
B O U R B O N BA R R E L AMBER ALE Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
5.5% 28
THUNDER ROAD IPA I N D I A PA L E A L E Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
6.0% 59
LAST SPIKE BREWERY:
CANADA’S LARGEST DEDICATED PARTNER BREWERY
We specialize in the brewing, canning, kegging, and packaging of beer for local, national, and international clients. Located in the heart of Calgary, our state-of-the-art brewing facility provides a wide range of services for established brands, start-up craft breweries, and large producers seeking additional brewing capacity.
BREW WITH US! www.lastspikebrewery.com info@lastspikebrewery.com @lastspikebrewery
103
T he N o rt h
N
BREWERIES
01 Barkerville 106 02 Beard's 105 03 Bulkley Valley 107 04 CrossRoads 106 05 Jackson's 105 06 Mighty Peace 105 07 Sherwood
W 37
97
02 06
FORT ST JOHN
Mountain 107
08 Smithers 107 09 Three Ranges 107 10 Trench 106 11 Wheelhouse 106
E
2
SMITHERS
11
07
03 08
43
97
16
TERRACE PRINCE RUPERT
40
04 10
PRINCE GEORGE
16
QUESNEL
01
09
VALEMOUNT BRITISH COLUMBIA
100 MILE 05 HOUSE
5
97
Like what’s in our Growler? Carry us in your brewery, tap room or store and your customers will keep coming back for more. Contact ordersbc@thegrowler.ca to order your copies.
B.C. craft beer guide
THEGROWLER.CA
@THEGROWLERBC
100 MILE HOUSE
FORT ST JOHN
JACKSON’S SOCIAL CLUB & BREWHOUSE 175 Hwy. 97 | JacksonsSocialClub.com
BEARD’S BREWING CO.
10408 Alaska Rd. N. | BeardsBrewing.ca
100 Mile House is pretty quiet through the winter, but things start to pick up as summer approaches, and then Jackson’s is hopping once again.
The first craft brewery in B.C. to open north of the Rockies is the passion project of a firefighter committed to extinguishing hard earned thirsts.
BICYCLE TREE RED
ALASKA HIGHWAY IPA
RED ALE Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
6.2% 35
FOOL’S GOLD GOLDEN ALE
IBU
M I L K C H O C O L AT E OAT M E A L S TO U T
I N D I A PA L E A L E
Availability: Seasonal ABV
BLACK BEARD
5.0% 25
FORT ST JOHN
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
Availability: Year-round
6.6% N/A
ABV IBU
4.8% N/A
FullyCustom
MIGHTY PEACE BREWING CO.
10128 95th Ave. | MightyPeaceBrewing.ca
brewhouses fermenters bright tanks CIP systems & more *
The founders of this brewery got hooked on craft beer on a visit to Victoria, then decided they had to create the brewery of their dreams up north. Cheers to that! THE MIGHTY HAZE NEW ENGLAND INDIA PA L E A L E Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
6.7% 55
PEACE GOLD GOLDEN ALE Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
4.6% 16
1.778.743.2003 innovativestainless.com
max@innovativestainless.com 105
PRINCE GEORGE
PRINCE GEORGE
TRENCH BREWING & DISTILLING
CROSSROADS BREWING
508 George St. | CrossroadsCraft.com
399 2nd Ave. | TrenchBrew.ca
CrossRoads launched its own outdoor patio curling rink this winter. Coming in spring, watch for the first of three street festivals, starting on May 25.
Trench’s long tables are perfect for social gatherings. The brewery’s busy calendar includes weekly trivia nights, monthly movie nights and live music every Friday.
SUZER'S APRICOT SAISON
THE FANG IPA
SAISON
THE BLACK KNIGHT IPA B L A C K I N D I A PA L E A L E
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
4.4% 20
H A Z Y I N D I A PA L E A L E Availability: Year-round
Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
6.3% 75
PRINCE RUPERT
ABV IBU
6.0% 45
VIKING AMBER ALE AMERICAN AMBER ALE Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
5.5% 25
QUESNEL
WHEELHOUSE BREWING CO.
217 1st Ave. E. | WheelhouseBrewing.com
BARKERVILLE BREWING CO.
185 Davie St. | BarkervilleBeer.com
The brewery at the end of the world keeps on growing, this time with a new patio in the works.
Quesnel’s little brewery that could (and continues to do so) is a great reason to consider Northern B.C. for your spring road trip destination.
KILLER WIT
GOLD TRAIL
BELGIAN-STYLE WITBIER
IBU
106
PA L E A L E
S C OT T I S H A L E
Availability: Seasonal ABV
KITTY PLEASURE
5.0% 20
Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
5.0% 25
WANDERING CAMEL I N D I A PA L E A L E
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
4.1% 25
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
6.5% 48
SMITHERS
SMITHERS
BULKLEY VALLEY BREWERY
SMITHERS BREWING CO.
3860 1st Ave. | BulkleyValleyBrewery.ca
3832 3rd Ave. | SmithersBrewing.com
This small brewery’s tasting room has a rustic vibe that celebrates local outdoor activities. Recently they added food and began canning some of their beers.
Brewmaster Cameron McKeigan is at the helm of this Northern B.C. craft brewery, offering 10 taps to thirsty patrons, including a core lineup, rotating taps, as well as housemade kombucha.
HAZY DAYZ
ULLR STOUT
H A Z Y I N D I A PA L E A L E
OAT M E A L S TO U T
MANGO PASSIONFRUIT MILKSHAKE
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
Availability: Seasonal
4.6% 33
ABV IBU
6.0% 25
TERRACE
I M P E R I A L I PA Availability: Small batch ABV IBU
CLOUDWATER WIT WITBIER WITH LEMONGRASS Availability: Seasonal
9.3% N/A
ABV IBU
5.1% N/A
VALEMOUNT
SHERWOOD MOUNTAIN BREWHOUSE
THREE RANGES BREWING CO.
101 - 4816 Hwy. 16 West | SherwoodMountain.beer
1160 5th Ave. | ThreeRanges.com
The Sherwood Sessions—a steady live music showcase—have helped put this Germaninspired brewhouse on the map in the far reaches of Northern B.C., along with the beer.
Expansion plans are in the works for this tiny brewery, but they are moving slowly—just like the pace of life in V-ALE-mount.
SKEENA SUNSHINE BELGIUM FA R M H O U S E A L E Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
6.0% 20
MUDBOGGER
COAST MOUNTAIN PILSNER PILSNER
DA R K L A G E R
Availability: Year-round ABV IBU
5.2% 32
Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
5.5% 18
SWAMP DONKEY BROWN ALE A M E R I C A N B R OW N A L E Availability: Seasonal ABV IBU
4.8% 25 107
BEER GROUND To the
Just when you think the craft beer revolution might be slowing down, another couple dozen breweries pop up out of nowhere. Here’s a look at the many breweries being planned around the province for 2019. ACE BREWING CO.
CONTAINER BREWING
Courtenay (summer 2019) The Comox Valley is getting yet another craft brewery; this one plans to pay homage to the history of the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Vancouver (summer 2019) This new craft brewery will be right at home in Yeast Van, just blocks away from Powell and Callister on Franklin Street. Tim Juul, formerly of Fort Hill Brewery in Massachusetts, is tapped to be the head brewer. ContainerBeer.com
ANOTHER BEER CO. New Westminster (early 2019) We’ve had our eye on this new Sapperton brewery for years now, and it looks like they could finally be getting close. AnotherBeerCo.com
THE BAKERY BREWING CO. Port Moody (summer 2019) Barrel-aged sour and wild ales will be the focus of Murray Street’s soon-to-be fifth brewery, brought to you by Adam Crandall of Moody Ales. TheBakeryBrewing.com
BARNSIDE BREWING Delta (summer 2019) A true on-farm brewery started by four multi-generational farm families, Barnside will be growing all of its malting barley on-site in Ladner. BarnsideBrewing.ca
BRIGHT EYE BREWING Kamloops (summer 2019) Located at the new Station at Tranquille development, Bright Eye will be the first craft brewery for Kamloops’ North Shore.
CAMP BEER CO. Langley (summer 2019) Langley might be the biggest story in B.C. craft beer in 2019 with four new breweries in the works. This 20 hL operation is moving in 800 metres west of Trading Post and features 10 taps and a 1,500-sq.-ft. patio, complete with a fire pit. CampBeerCo.com
COPPER BREWING Kelowna (summer 2019) Long known for its fine wine and food, Kelowna is finally coming around to craft beer. Copper Brewing is one of four new breweries planned for K-Town this year.
DOG MOUNTAIN BREWING Port Alberni (summer 2019) Brewmaster Robin Miles plans a wide selection of sessionable ales as well as wild and sour beers at this new brewery planned for Port Alberni’s historic downtown. DogMountainBrew.com
EMPTY KEG BREW HOUSE Merritt (summer 2019) With its first nanobrewery just months away, it might be worth pulling off the highway in Merritt to check out the beer.
FARM COUNTRY BREWING Langley (summer 2019) Farm Country will likely be the first brewery in the City of Langley, as opposed to the Township of Langley, where Trading Post and Dead Frog are located. Expect a rockin’ patio come summer time. FarmCountryBrewing.com
FIVE ROADS BREWING CO. Langley (summer 2019) The tanks are in, the signs are in the windows and the doors should be open any week now at this new brewery on 202nd Street. FiveRoadsBrewing.com
FOUR WINDS BREWING CO. Tsawwassen (2020?) The new Four Winds brewery in Tsawwassen’s new Southlands neighbourhood is still a ways away, but with the fancy restaurant and tasting room that’s being planned, it’ll be worth the wait. FourWindsBrewing.ca
FRASER MILLS FERMENTATION CO. Coquitlam (2020) The massive new development in South Coquitlam it originally had its eye on is taking too long, so this fledgling brewery is looking at a location nearby until it can move into its fancy new digs. FraserMillsFermentation.com
HAKIE BREWERY Squamish (2019) The newest addition to the Sea-To-Sky beer scene has its branding and merch ready to go, but no word yet on the beer. Instagram.com/hakiebrewing
HATCHERY BREWING Penticton (summer 2019) Downtown Penticton just got way cooler with Hatchery moving in to the old Mule nightclub space. Expect a whole lotta radness from former Powell and Postmark brewer Chris Vandenberg, as well as a rooftop patio and local food options. HatcheryBrewing.com
HERALD STREET BREW WORKS Victoria (2019) The people behind The Drake Eatery and Steel & Oak are teaming up to bring more delicious craft beer to downtown Victoria. Can’t wait for this one! HeraldStreet.com
HOUSE OF FUNK BREWING North Vancouver (spring 2019) Former Hearthstone and Mission Springs brewer Darren Hollett is behind this brewery special-
izing in all things funky, conveniently located next door to Beere Brewing on Esplanade. HouseOfFunkBrewing.com
THE HUDSON TAPHOUSE AND BREWPUB Victoria (summer 2019) The owners of Victoria’s Yates Taphouse are behind this 300plus seat brewpub and distillery in the newly redeveloped Hudson District.
JACKKNIFE BREWING Kelowna (late 2019) Kettle River brewer Brad Tomlinson is moving right next door and opening his own brewery, promising a heavy metal edge and big weird beers.
MERRIDALE BREWERY AND DISTILLERY Victoria (spring 2020) Merridale’s new purpose-built 12,000-sq.-ft. LEED certified flagship location will be home to its distilled products, as well as a brewery and a restaurant. Merridale.ca
MOUNTAINVIEW BREWING CO. Hope (2019) Owners Danielle and Adam Keil plan to slake local thirsts as well as give travellers a reason for a pit stop at Hope’s first craft brewery. MountainviewBrewing.ca
NEIGHBOURHOOD BREWING COMPANY Penticton (2019) This new project from Yellow Dog’s Mike Coghill will be located at the corner of Westminster and Winnipeg, smack dab between Bad Tattoo and Hatchery Brewing. Penticton was named the second best Beer Town in Canada this year by Expedia, and it looks like it’ll be gunning for No. 1 in 2019.
NEW TRADITION BREWING Comox (spring 2019) Everything is coming together nicely for this new brewery in downtown Comox. The tanks have been delivered and renovations are almost done, so expect them to open any day now. NewTraditionBrewing.com
OLD YALE BREWING Langley (summer 2019) Chilliwack’s original craft brewery is opening up a second brewery and tasting room in Langley. OldYaleBrewing.com
RED BIRD BREWING Kelowna (2020) This popular Richter Street nanobrewery hopes to upgrade to a proper 10 hL brewhouse when it moves to a bigger space nearby. RedBirdBrewing.com
RODEO BREWING Surrey (2019) Rodeo will be paying tribute to the Cloverdale’s cowboy culture and focusing on crisp, refreshing lagers. RodeoBrewing.com
RUMPUS BEER COMPANY Revelstoke (spring 2019) Mountain culture and craft beer collide at this super tiny but super cool brewery in historic downtown Revelstoke. RumpusBeerCo.com
RUSTIC REEL BREWING COMPANY Kelowna (summer 2019) Rustic Reel’s massive space at 760 Vaughn in North Kelowna will also feature an artisan market featuring local crafts and goods from the Okanagan. RusticReel.com
restaurant, which AB Inbev-owned Stanley Park Brewing hopes to transform into a flagship brewpub in its namesake park. StanleyParkBrewing.com
SUPERFLUX BREWING North Vancouver (2019-ish) The Superflux crew has been sniffing around at properties on the North Shore in the hopes of finally opening their own brewery. Hazy IPA fans are no doubt waiting with breathless anticipation. SuperfluxBeer.com
TINHOUSE BREWING Port Coquitlam (2019) With a name presumably inspired by the nearby tin boathouses at the Pitt River Boat Club on DeBouville Slough, this new craft brewery is located just around the corner from Northpaw Brewing on Sherling Place. TinhouseBrewing.ca
UCLUELET BREWING CO. Ucluelet (summer 2019) The historic St. Aiden’s on the Hill church at the centre of town has received a much-needed facelift in preparation for its new life as craft brewery. UclueletBrewing.ca
THE WILDWOOD PUB Powell River (2019?) The former Red Lion Pub has undergone renovations, but the brewhouse is still yet to come. The plan was for a focus on craft lagers.
WILDEYE BREWING North Vancouver (summer 2019) The renovations are in full swing at this new brewery on Main Street, but the beer is already being contract brewed and available at North Shore liquor stores. WildeyeBrewing.ca
WHISTLE BUOY BREWING
STANLEY PARK BREWPUB
Victoria (summer 2019) Spinnakers brewer Matt West-Patrick and his buds are behind this new “Brassneck-style” craft brewery in the middle of Market Square. Expect the patio to be bumping come summertime. WhistleBuoyBrewing.com j
Vancouver (summer 2019) Renovations are still ongoing at the historic former Fish House
• Got a hot brewery tip? Let us know at editor@thegrowler.ca
ST. PADDY ADDY’S ’S DAY
MAR 17
2019
03 .1 7. 19
$6 JA M ES ON
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2718 main street