Meet Tony Dewald, Inaugural Recipient of the John Mitchell Lifetime Achievement Award for Brewing Excellence BC’s craft beer industry has been going strong for over 40 years now, thanks in large part to the hard work and expertise of its pioneering brewers. Nowadays you can wander the BC Ale Trail and find a craft brewery … Continued
We’re used to wine pairings with dinner — but what about beer pairings? If the international success of books such as Garrett Oliver’s The Brewmaster’s Table is anything to go by, it seems that many people appreciate beer as a drink equal to wine when it comes to complementing the food we eat. In fact, … Continued
The birth of craft beer in Canada took place on July 6, 1982 in Horseshoe Bay, BC. As we celebrate that anniversary this month, our intrepid investigator Noëlle Phillips has unearthed an interesting tale of the legacy of brewing in Horseshoe Bay. John Mitchell was well known in BC beer circles for not only his … Continued
Craft beer has certainly developed and changed since it first became a “thing” back in the late 70s and early 80s – and it has stories to tell. Sitting down with friends and flights is a pleasure not just because of the delicious beverages, but because sharing food and drink encourages other kinds of sharing … Continued
January is often the toughest month to muddle through – it’s cold, wet, and dark, and we’re all dragging ourselves back into our regular schedules. It’s tough for breweries, too. With so many people participating in Dry January, tasting rooms go empty and sales go down. Even people who aren’t going dry this month may … Continued
When I was a teenager in Summerland back in the ’90s, there was barely a hint of the craft beer explosion that would hit the Okanagan two decades later. The Peacock’s Perch Pub was pretty much it when it came to beer. However, my little hometown is now primed for craft beer, and brewery owners … Continued
With any road trip in BC, there are new breweries to experience and even to stay at. Our journey up through the Northwest Ale Trail included three nights staying near BC’s most remote craft brewery: Ursa Minor Brewing. Let the Ale-Trailing begin! August in BC is beautiful. With pandemic restrictions declining and air travel nightmares all … Continued
In 1863, J.B. Chancellier and Nicolas Cunio opened Barkerville Brewery, Saloon, and Lodging House in the new mining town of Barkerville, British Columbia. The brewery quickly became popular – not just for its beer, but for the prize fights it hosted. Even in competition with at least five other nearby breweries, Barkerville Brewery was well … Continued
With milkshake IPAs everywhere these days, beer drinkers might be forgiven for thinking that a “cream ale” is the same kind of thing. An older American style that was popular in the 1980s, cream ales are starting to appear on BC breweries’ taplists again. But cream ale has no dairy in it, nor is it … Continued
Enter this summer’s Chill and Thrill Ten Trail Challenge, organized by Brent Purves, founder of the Chilliwack Hiking Club. The concept is simple. Step 1: Complete one of the ten hikes outlined on the challenge website. Step 2: Head to one of the nearby independent ice cream shops or craft breweries recommended under the link … Continued