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
Late last year, some truly special news came from the world of academia regarding the preservation of BC Beer History. The story was originally shared by Global TV, The Growler BC and What’s Brewing magazine. Safeguarding the Revolution If you appreciate the fact you can enjoy a vastly better array of brewed beverages today than … Continued
Quesnel’s Barkerville Brewing has brewed a special beer in honour of BC’s first licenced dentist, William Allen “Painless” Jones. Barkerville Brewing is celebrating Black History Month with the launch of a new beer called Painless Jones Schwarzbier. The Quesnel-based brewery, which is named after the nearby historic town of Barkerville and is located on the … 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
27 years after opening, Russell Brewing has just opened its tasting room this summer! This brewery was at the forefront of the craft beer movement in BC as it was one of the original 10 to open in the 1990s. Their core beers have become icons — A Wee Angry Scotch Ale, Blood Alley Bitter, … 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
Today, July 6th 2022, marks 40 years to the day since John Mitchell’s first craft beer inspiration was launched. Mitchell’s trailblazing quest for good ale continues to educate and inspire BC’s brewers. On July 6th 1982, in an unassuming enclave just north of metropolitan Vancouver BC known as Horseshoe Bay, the first pints were pulled … Continued
On May 15, 2021, Nelson Brewing Company celebrates its 30th anniversary. We dive into the company’s “richer than a chocolate stout” history, and uncover the characters who made this neighbourhood brewery a stalwart of the BC craft beer scene. Nelson Brewing Company was founded in 1991. The history of brewing in this small Kootenay town, … Continued
In this episode, Aaron visits Main Street Brewing in Vancouver, BC. The neighbourhood of Mt. Pleasant has seen a major transformation in recent years, and a key establishment that has played a major role is Main Street Brewing, part of the newly relaunched Brewery Creek Ale Trail in Vancouver. The historic building housing Main Street … Continued
You know what they say… behind every great beer name, there’s an even greater story. Once upon a pre-COVID time, I embarked on a road trip across the Kootenays. Dipping into breweries for crisp salvation, I came across a number of brow-furrowing, curiosity-sparking Kootenay beer names. Intrigued to discover the secrets and stories that lurk … Continued