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LISTINGS EDITOR

Joe Wiebe

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Benji Andringa

COMICS

John Heim

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Kristina Mameli

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OUR CONTRIBUTORS

KRISTINA MAMELI

A former music journalist, radio host and news editor, Kristina brings her passion for craft beer, fair share of quips, and unique marketing perspective to the Growler’s social channels, sales inquiries, and the occasional article.

NO Ë LLE PHILLIPS

Noëlle has a PhD in medieval literature, has passed the entrance exams for the Cicerone program and the Beer Judge Certification Program and continues her beer studies with the intent of progressing. Her most recent book, Brewmasters and Brewery Creek: A History of Craft Beer in Vancouver, will be published in Fall 2024.

MATT POIRIER

Matt is a certified Cicerone®, beer educator, consultant and columnist based in Victoria, B.C. Find him at Matterofbeer.com.

SANDRA THOMAS

Sandra is an award-winning journalist at the Coast Reporter newspaper on the beautiful Sunshine Coast, who can now add “beer aficionado” to her resumé.

JOE WIEBE

Based in Victoria, B.C., Joe is the author of Craft Beer Revolution: The Insider's Guide to BC Breweries. He is a co-founder of Victoria Beer Week and the BC Ale Trail, for which he is the content manager.

BENJI ANDRINGA

Benji Andringa, aka @lowclassart, is an Okanagan-based illustrator and graphic designer with a strong print background. From branding small local businesses to painting murals abroad, he blends a love for art and the outdoors.

THE GROWLIES

Check out the winners of The Growler’s 2025 Craft Beer and Cider Awards. by Joe Wiebe

BREWER VS. BREWER

In the small touwn vs bid city edition, we chat with Petri Raito from Rossland Beer Company in the Kootenays and Gary Lindsay at Driftwood Brewery in Victoria. by Sandra Thomas

STYLE SNAPSHOT

A guide to the fragrant, ephemeral fresh hop. by Kristina Mameli

R ECIPE: KOREAN-INSPIRED CRISPY CHICKEN BURGER

16 19 20 23 26 28 30 63 18 26

7th ann u a l * 2025 Craft Beer & Cider Awards

BACK TO SCHOOL

Exploring options for your BA (Beer is Awesome) degree by Noëlle Phillips

WILL TOUR FOR BEER

Explore beer tour options for your next vacation—at home or abroad. by Joe Wiebe

FLAVOURS

IN BEER: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY

Part 3: Yeast. by Matt Poirier

Langley's Smugglers Trail Caskworks' burger pairs perfectly with their Captain Stone Lager. by Sandra Thomas

B.C. BREWERY AND CIDERY LISTINGS

A compreshensive listing of B.C. breweries and cideries to plan your next outing.

DID YOU KNOW?

Fun B.C. beer facts to impress your friends. by Joe Wiebe

Noëlle Phillips photo

Smugglers Trail Caskworks photo

BRITISH COLUMBIA

7th an n u a l * 2025

Craft

Beer & Cider Awards

growlie goes to... And The

Here are the winners of the 2025 Growler craft Beer & Cider Awards

The Growler Craft Beer & Cider Awards, also known as the Growlies, provide British Columbia’s community of beer and cider lovers with an opportunity to share their passion for their favourite breweries, cideries and craft beverages.

Here’s how it worked: first, a diverse panel of beer and cider experts nominated their favourite beverages from the hundreds and hundreds of beers and ciders produced in B.C. over the preceding 12 months. Then, our resident expert, Matthew Poirier (Matter of Beer), narrowed that list down to categories with no more than 10 in

each. And then we asked you, the general public, to vote for your favourites—which you did in droves!

Some popular beers showed up on their expected pedestals, but, as usual, there were some fun surprises, too. Check out the winners and then maybe consider seeking out a beer or cider you’ve never tried before.

Thank you for doing your part and voting for your favourites. And congratulations to all the winners!

Cheers,

—Joe Wiebe

HOYNE BREWING HOYNE BREWING

GOLD – Best Dark Ale // Dark Matter

I first tasted Sean Hoyne’s beer more than 30 years ago when I moved to Victoria from Ontario and discovered Swans Brewpub where he began his brewing career. Of the core list of four or five regular beers on tap, my favourite was Appleton Brown Ale with Buckerfield Bitter a close second. I also remember enjoying the Bavarian Lager that was available from time to time. Sean Hoyne moved over to the Canoe Brewpub when it opened in 1996, and the quality of the beer list was always high there, too. And then finally in 2011 he was able to open his own brewery in the Rock Bay industrial district.

Hoyne Brewing’s original lineup included a mysterious beer called Dark Matter, which the brewery has always marketed as a beer of mysterious origins: “It is more easily described by what it isn’t. It is not as roasted as a stout, nor is it as sweet or high in alcohol as a porter. And don’t even mention brown ale in the same breath.” Whether it’s the mystery or simply the fact that it just tastes so good, Dark

BEST BEER IN B.C.

| T-1 | Driftwood // Fat Tug

| T-1 | Rusted Rake // Wandering Scotsman’s Spruce Tip IPA

| 3 | Camp Beer Co // Vienna Lager

BEST BREWERY IN B.C.

| 1 | Barnside Brewing Co.

| 2 | Field House Brewing Co.

| 3 | Locality Brewing

BEST NEW BREWERY

Matter has been one of BC’s favourite beers for much of the time it’s been brewed. And while I gravitate more towards Hoyne’s excellent lagers myself, I never complain if I happen to discover a glass of Dark Matter in front of me.

And if you’ve wondered about the mystery of why there isn’t a tasting room at the brewery, you will be very happy indeed to learn that enigma will soon be resolved. Yes, Hoyne Brewing will finally open its very own tasting room early in 2026. Just imagine sitting down there and seeing a tall glass of Dark Matter materialize in front of you. —Joe Wiebe

MERRIDALE CIDERY & DISTILLERY

GOLD – Best New World Cider // Cowichan Dry

Merridale is B.C.'s first craft cidery. Its founders took over this enchanting yet slightly run-down cidery in Cobble Hill back in 1999, and then set to work transforming Merridale into a thriving establishment featuring a farm, cidery, distillery, farmhouse store, and eatery. It’s a true destination — you can wander the orchards on a self-guided tour, sample ciders in the tasting room, and enjoy lunch in the eatery. Larger gatherings can be booked and you can even stay overnight in a luxurious yurt.

As a Biosphere-certified enterprise, Merridale has always operated sustainably. They use regenerative farming practices, including no chemicals, herbicides or pesticides on the farm or in the orchard. At Merridale, dandelions aren’t weeds; they are a welcome mat for pollinators. Intentionally left unmown until the trees bloom, they provide essential early food for bees and set the stage for a season-long rhythm that brings the orchard to life. With bees buzzing in the trees and native plants thriving across the property, Merridale is

BEST WHEAT ALE

| 1 | 33 Acres Brewing // 33 Acres of Sunshine

| 2 | Field House Brewing // Peach & Pear

Wheat Ale

| 3 | Strange Fellows Brewing // Jongleur Wit

BEST BELGIAN-STYLE ALE

| 1 | Dageraad Brewing // Blonde

| 2 | Trading Post Brewing // Belgian Quad

BEST SOUR ALE

| 1 | Four Winds Brewing // Nectarous Dry

Hopped Sour

committed to preserving the ecosystem that gives life to every sip.

Cowichan Dry, which won the Growlie for Best New World Cider, is one of Merridale’s flagship ciders. It was fermented from a blend of English and French cider apples, balancing fruitiness, sharpness and dry character with a touch of tannins. It’s just one of many different ciders produced at Merridale, all made from the variety of cider apples grown in the orchard, some with additional ingredients like berries, watermelon, or spices.

Beyond ciders, Merridale also operates an on-site distillery producing whisky, gin, brandy, rhumb, vodka and various fruit liqueurs. —Joe Wiebe

TSMALL TOWN VS. BIG CITY EDITION

by Sandra Thomas

here are perks to brewing beer in a small town, where access to outdoor adventure is only steps away and inspiration often comes by way of Mother Nature herself.

But on the other hand, offering up some tasty adult beverages in a world-class city also has its benefits.

To explore these differences, The Growler got the low down from Petri Raito, one of the creative minds at Rossland Beer Company, located in the West Kootenays, and Gary Lindsay, partner and “Purveyor of Precious Liquids,” at Victoria-based Driftwood Brewery, in an epic small-town versus large-city debate about who has it best.

THE GROWLER: Tell us a little about each of your breweries.

PETRI RAITO: I handle the business side and the head brewer is Ryan Arnaud. He is a talented technician who makes very tasty consistent beer.

We have owned the business since 2012, with no other partners or angel investors (just us) and we are proud of that.

The brewery is a small but very unique space. We have great local support and visitors during peak seasons. But the balance is pretty awesome as they compliment each other at the brewery.

GARY LINDSAY: First beer sold in October 2008, with Jason Meye, Kevin Hearsum (chief beer counter) and myself with a drive to brew the beers we love and introduce flavour forward-profiles in different styles. We have never been known to hold back or put limits on our creative inspirations.

We moved our entire operation into a new space in 2021, and added a full tasting room and patio and launched a distillery.

THE GROWLER: Who is your customer base?:

PETRI RAITO: From contractors, doctors and ski bums, we have a wide variety of great people who show their local support. We feel lucky to have such a great group of people in our brewery daily.

GARY LINDSAY: We sell our beer in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and the

BREWER BREWER BREWER BREWER

LEFT: Cheers for the beer produced at Driftwood Brewery. RIGHT: The interior of Driftwood Brewery, located in Victoria, B.C. Supplied photos

Yukon, so our customer base is quite diverse but generally anyone seeking fully developed flavour profiles in their beer are drawn to Driftwood brands. Visit our tasting room on any given day you will find folks from 20 to 70 sharing the experience together.

THE GROWLER: What is your most popular beer?

PETRI RAITO: Our popular beers seem to change all the time but, that being said, our Green Jacket Pale Ale has a very loyal following. But everyone seems to have a different favourite and that makes it fun.

GARY LINDSAY: Fat Tug IPA. All of our hoppy profile beers lead the way in sales. We don’t hold back on developing and layering hop character as our reputation was founded in the full character of these styles.

THE GROWLER: What is the bonus of operating a brewery in your location?

PETRI RAITO: We feel lucky to have a brewery in this town as it's truly one of the coolest places to be. Skiing, biking, golfing, fishing and all the awesome-sauce small businesses that make it so special.

We have a real barbershop local feel, where people share their frustrations and their happy times. So, it's a very personal feeling, where folks don’t have their phones out or watching TV's everywhere.

GARY LINDSAY: There’s lots of opportunity and motivation to do more in the city. Inspiration is never far away and as more breweries earn success the area becomes a destination bringing more visitors. The beer culture becomes more diverse as we challenge each other to do better and create a niche.

BREWER BREWER BREWER BREWER

LEFT: Rossland Beer Company, where “each season has a mood,” captured in a glass. RIGHT: The patio at Rossland Beer Company, located in the West Kootenays.Supplied photos

Gary Lindsay (L), Kevin Hearsum, and Jason Meyer are the heart of Victoria's Driftwood Brewery. Supplied photo

THE GROWLER: How are you doing postCovid?

PETRI RAITO: Ahhhhh, Covid changed everything for us. Since Covid, we haven't really caught up so to speak. So, it's been tough in our industry as we all know. From all costs going up to businesses supporting macro beer and macro products. We find lots of small businesses struggling. But we aren't quitting and nothing great comes easy. So, elbows up!

GARY LINDSAY: Cost of living, buying patterns, consumer choices, increased costs on everything. It’s the same for everyone, plenty of challenges and pressures while having to give up margin as consumers are more sensitive to pricing and we are not able to pass along all our increases to the consumer.

THE GROWLER: Where do you find inspiration for your beers?

PETRI RAITO: I just asked Ryan. ‘I know it sounds crazy cheesy but the truth is I feel lucky that I live and work here (like, everyday). Golfing man how lucky are we? The river? How lucky are we? Ferraros (grocery store)? How lucky are we? Skiing at Red? How lucky are we" Again, I might sound like a homer but, we are lucky.’

As Ryan says, ‘Each season has a mood. I want to capture that in a glass."

GARY LINDSAY: All around us and far afield. Our team is really inspired by authentic flavours

Each season has a mood. I want to capture that in a glass.

and unique takes on styles. We all love to travel and immerse ourselves in experiences that bring inspiration to the things we can brew here — and thankfully we have a pilot system we can lean into and explore our curiosity and inspiration.

THE GROWLER: What about staffing in a small town versus a city?

PETRI RAITO: Our team is wicked good, We have so many folks who have been with us for a long time and many who have stayed connected with us from the beginning. They work hard but are so appreciated, again we feel lucky.

GARY LINDSAY: We are fortunate to have a very tenured team at Driftwood and have been able to sustain reliable staffing levels as needed.

While there is a considerable talent pool here, there is a delicate balance to maintain—compensation that reflects a ‘living wage’ with the increasing challenge of maintaining a sustainable margin from operations. People do want to stay here and we do our best to create a rewarding place to work.

THE GROWLER: Any finals words for folks pondering small town brewery versus city?

PETRI RAITO: Come see us and visit all the shops and support local, hold doors open for folks, slow down while here and tell them how lucky they are to live here. But odds are they already know.

GARY LINDSAY: The best part of living in Victoria is the climate and access to stunning outdoor recreation opportunities combined with the worldclass food and drink culture. Anything you choose to do can be accessible from here.

I started in the craft beer world in 2000, with Lighthouse Brewing Co. and have seen plenty of changes, trends and challenges in the past 25 years—locally, regionally and globally. No matter what or when—beer always pulls us together and connects us. Its an essential piece of community and it’s that connection I find essential with the beer we brew. j

Rossland Beer Company, where “each season has a mood,” captured in a glass. Supplied photo

A guide to the fragrant, ephemeral

FRESH HOP

by Kristina Mameli

WHAT IS IT? Fresh hop (aka wet-hop) beers are the holy grail for hop-heads! While styles vary, their main characteristic is the addition of hop cones so fresh, they’re still screaming. For best results, it’s bine to kettle in less than 24 hours.

DANGER LEVEL

Approach with caution—you’ll want them all!

GLASS Tulip or Spiegelau IPA glass

STYLE STATS

ABV 5.0-7.5% IBU 30-70

COLOUR Straw to copper

BODY Light and refreshing to full BUBBLES Medium to effervescent

ORIGIN STORY

As one of the best hop growing regions in the world, it’s no surprise that fresh hop beers originate here in the Pacific Northwest! Sierra Nevada is usually credited with popularizing the style stateside in the late ‘90s. Here in B.C., however, that distinction belongs to Victoria’s Driftwood Brewery, whose Sartori Harvest IPA launched in 2009 and remains beloved and hotly anticipated every fall.

SO, JUST WHAT MAKES THE FRESH HOPS SO SPECIAL?

DRINK WITH

Grilled salmon (or any seafood) Spicy curries Sharp or funky cheese

Adding hop cones to the boil as quickly as possible helps preserve their delicate natural oils and aromas, which begin to degrade almost immediately after harvest. That’s what makes fresh hop beers so special—they are the occasion, not something to stash away for one! Unlike dried hops, fresh ones bring bold, punchy character: often grassy, citrusy, bright, and vibrant. The result is a beer that bursts with the essence of the harvest—alive and unforgettable.

1 3 5 2 4 6

Driftwood Brewing, Sartori Harvest IPA

Phillips Brewing & Malting Co., Green Reaper Fresh Hop IPA

Dageraad Brewing, Wet-Hopped Blonde Yellow Dog Brewing, Alpha Dog Fresh Hopped Pale Ale

Cannery Brewing, Fresh Hop Extra Pale Ale

Barnside Brewing Co., Farm Fresh Hop IPA

Getting Your BA (“Beer is Awesome”) Degree

back to school

by Noëlle Phillips

It’s fall, and school’s about to start up again. The kids will be heading back to the classroom, but what will you be doing to educate yourself?

In a Growler webstory from June 2024, Certified Cicerone Matt Poirier stressed the importance of beer education—for all beer lovers, not just brewers. Stephen Beaumont, longtime Canadian beer writer and consultant, agrees: “The more you know about anything, the more it opens you up to understanding and, crucially, enjoyment.” Education can help you find your “beer epiphany”—that moment a new flavour or concept unfurls for you.

As a Certified Cicerone and beer judge, I agree. Recognizing the need for education is the first step; the next is finding the right path. Fortunately, Canada offers multiple ways to learn and even earn certifications. Sharpen your pencils, raise your tasting glass, and get ready to learn.

Cicerone

The Italian word “Cicerone” translates to “guide.” A Certified Cicerone is like a sommelier for beer, leading people through understanding and tasting. According to the program’s website, it “has become the industry standard for identifying those with significant knowledge and professional skills in beer sales and service.”

When Ray Daniels established Cicerone in 2008, he wanted a beer credential equivalent to a wine sommelier designation. “I had become aware of

just how often bars and restaurants knew utterly nothing about the beer they served—or how to care for it,” Daniels explained in a 2021 interview with Brewer World. “From this, the idea of a ‘beer sommelier’ emerged.”

Cicerone has four levels: Certified Beer Server, Certified Cicerone, Advanced Cicerone, and Master Cicerone—the last being the rarest and most demanding. If you’re just starting out, Level 1 (Certified Beer Server) is a great entry point, covering brewing basics, beer styles, storage, and service. Many breweries encourage their staff to get this certification to improve customer service and beer handling.

Cicerone is primarily a certification, not a full curriculum. “I wasn’t prepared to design a beer

Ray Daniels established Cicerone in 2008 to create a credential equivalient to a wine sommelier. Supplied photo

school,” Daniels has said. “I set up a certification standard that would give everyone a goal to shoot for.” However, there are now optional online study modules and other resources.

For more structured study, Advanced Cicerone

Chris Cohen offers The Beer Scholar, an online prep program for multiple levels of Cicerone certification. Having completed Cohen’s course, I can vouch for its value—the exams are challenging, so a study plan and tasting partner are invaluable.

WSET Awards in Beer

The Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET), founded in 1969, historically focused on wine, but thanks to beer expert Mirella Amato, beer is now part of the curriculum.

Amato—Master Cicerone, BJCP Grand Master Judge, Doemens Beer Sommelier, and founder of Beerology Inc.—knew early on that she wanted to write about craft beer. While classmates drank macro lagers, she was discovering more complex flavours. Hungry

to learn, she followed a self-taught path using the BJCP style guidelines, starting a study group, and eventually taking judging exams.

By 2012, Amato had become Canada’s only Master Cicerone and only the fifth person worldwide to achieve the title. “The advantage I had,” she recalls, “was that the exam was exactly what I was doing at the time in terms of beer education.”

When WSET invited her to consult on beer education, she was ready. She is now Senior Business Development Manager for Beer and the primary designer of WSET’s beer program, which launched in February 2024.

Level 1 is a six-hour course for beginners or professionals learning to communicate with the public. Level 2 offers deeper exploration of brewing, beer styles, and service. Level 3, still in development, will introduce sensory evaluation. Courses are available online and in person in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Ottawa, with an instructor available for guidance.

WSET prioritizes consistent, high-quality teaching across all locations. For a shorter taste of Amato’s teaching, her online course Mastering Beer and Food Pairing offers self-paced learning with personal feedback at Beerology.ca.

Prud’homme

In the early 2000s, Roger Mittag was developing beer education programs for Labatt but wanted

Mirella Amato, a Master Cicerone, consulted with WSET to develop their beer education program. Dave Belle photo

Adobe Stock/Ilshat photo

by Roger Mittag, focuses on beer education over certification and covers topics such as beer and food pairing, sercice and sensory training. Supplied photo

to reach a wider audience. Inspired by Germany’s Doemens Academy Beer Sommelier program, he launched Prud’homme in 2009, naming it after Louis Prud’homme, Canada’s first licensed brewer.

Mittag drew on existing models like Doemens and Cicerone but kept a focus on education over certification. “I didn’t want to reinvent the wheel,” he says. “But I wanted to offer education, not just certification.”

Prud’homme has grown from one classroom course to a four-level program—Beer Enthusiast, Beer Specialist, Beer Sommelier, and Master Beer Sommelier—offered both in person and online. Depending on the level, courses run from 30 days to 15 weeks and cover beer and food pairing, service, sensory training, brewing, and styles, with practice tests and a PDF workbook.

Mittag aims to keep Prud’homme accessible, with a less technical approach than WSET, Cicerone, or BJCP. “It’s about giving people the information they need to participate in the beer industry without getting too technical.” The program also includes Canadian beer history.

Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP)

The BJCP, founded in 1985, focuses exclusively on beer judging. It’s designed for those with technical brewing knowledge and a refined palate—there’s no emphasis on service or food pairing.

Its style guidelines are globally recognized. After passing an online, open-book entrance exam, candidates can take the tasting

exam to become a Recognized or Certified Judge. Higher ranks—National, Master, and Grand Master—require better scores and more experience points from judging competitions.

Fred Mullner, now Grand Master III, calls the written exam “brutally difficult—more challenging than my engineering qualifications.” But he values the process: “It is amazing how much you can learn just sitting across from another knowledgeable judge and discussing a beer.”

Competitions, says Beaumont, help brewers fine-tune their beers with constructive feedback. Mullner adds: “When a ranked judge scores a beer and gives feedback, the brewer can walk away knowing they’ve had an honest evaluation done by a knowledgeable judge in good faith.”

If you’re curious, start with the $10 online entrance exam and volunteer as a steward at competitions to learn and make connections.

Beer and Brewing at Post-Secondary Institutions

In addition to certifications, Canadian colleges and universities offer beer education:

Kwantlen Polytechnic University: Diploma in Brewing and Brewery Operations, established with help from brewing veteran Nancy More, has trained many respected BC brewers.

Niagara College: Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management Program, plus a semester-long History of Beer and Brewing course taught by industry advocate Ren Navarro.

George Brown College: Beer Specialist Certificate by Jordan St. John, divided into three courses: Beer 1 (styles and tasting), Beer 2 (ingredients and brewing), and Beer 3 (beer and food pairing). You can take these in person or online—but with an engaging instructor like St. John, I’d recommend in person if you can swing it!

Final Pour

Whatever course or certification you choose, make sure it inspires you, challenges you, and brings you joy. If you can, find a friend to share the journey— tastings and study sessions are more fun together. Beer is about pleasure and connection; your beer education should make you love it even more. j

This story was edited for length. Find the full version online at bc.thegrowler.ca.

Prud'homme, created

Fred Mullner is a Grand Master III BJCP-certified judge . Supplied photo

FOR BEER WILL TOUR

by Joe Wiebe

My first brewery tour did not include any actual beer because I was still an underage high school student at the time. One of my buddies wanted to become a brewer after graduation and he somehow persuaded a teacher to take us on a road trip to visit a microbrewery. She pulled us out of our classes for a day and drove us three teenagers in her own car to Wellington Brewery in Guelph, about 90 minutes from our high school in Niagara-on-the-Lake. We all enjoyed a private tour that included sampling the malted barley grains and smelling hops, but, sadly, not tasting any actual beer. It was a memorable experience for us all, nonetheless, and, indeed, my friend went on to study at Weihenstephan, the world’s oldest brewery, in Bavaria, Germany, and worked as a brewer for many years afterwards. In fact, he was the original brewer at Tree Brewing in Kelowna back in the ‘90s.

Since then, I have participated in more brewery tours than I can count. Some stand out in my memory more than others, for sure, but I can say truly I’ve rarely been disappointed or found them to be a waste of time, especially since all of them (once I was of legal age!) included at least one beer sample.

Here in B.C. you will find several breweries that offer tours. Among the best, I’d suggest checking out Twa Dogs Brewery at Macaloney’s Island Distillery just outside of downtown Victoria. Led by kilt-wearing guides, participants learn about both the brewing and distilling process, including three beer tastings and two whiskeys. Tours are available Thursday to Sunday; reservations required.

BREWCYCLING

Another great option is a multi-brewery tour by bicycle. Again in Victoria, The Pedaler offers

The Growler's creative manager Tara Rafiq visited the Guinness Storehouse in 2023. During the ticketed but self-guided tour, guests can explore the past and present of the storied brand before finishing up with a delicious pint in the Gravity Bar. Supplied photos

the Hoppy Hour Guided Tour, which visits three different breweries in the downtown area. Victoria is a wonderfully bikeable city so this is a pretty fun experience, and e-bikes are available if you want a little more zoom.

Looking elsewhere in Canada, the top of my bucket list is the Eastern Townships in Québec.

This beautiful region east of Montréal hugs the U.S. border next to the states of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, and offers an assortment of beer tourism opportunities. I’ve never been there, but back during the pandemic I came across a website promoting cycling there and I have been fantasizing about it ever since. What has me truly salivating is the prospect of cycling between some of 28 microbreweries in and around Sherbrooke known collectively as Les Brasseurs des Cantons. The rolling countryside looks so beautiful, ideal for rural cycling, and many of the towns and villages are hundreds of years old, so the breweries are often based in beautiful old buildings.

EUROPEAN EXPERIENCES

Some of the best beer touring experiences I’ve enjoyed took place in Europe. Back in my early 20s, I backpacked around Europe with a buddy for two months. In Dublin, we enjoyed a historical walking tour led by a history student from the university, which ended at the Brazen Head Pub, Ireland’s oldest pub, founded in 1198, where we sipped a few pints of Guinness, marvelling at the idea that it had been been served there since the brewery itself opened in 1759. Amazing! I checked and it’s still open today.

No visit to Dublin is complete without the famous Guinness Brewery tour. Thirty years ago when I did it, there was a cheesy video presentation that celebrated the brewery’s founder, Arthur Guinness, as one of the leading figures of history, a veritable saint of a man, apparently, before we were allowed to sip a complimentary pint or two of the delicious black nectar Ireland is famous for. Apparently, the experience has been modernized and improved considerably.

The Guinness Storehouse now offers several different tour options, and has twice been named Europe's Leading Beer Tour Visitor Experience by the World Travel Awards.

In 2003, my wife and I visited the Czech Republic, and high on our wish list was to visit the Pilsner Urquell Brewery in Plzen, a smaller city just west of Prague that is the birthplace of the Pilsner style of beer. We thoroughly enjoyed the tour of the historic brewery complex, which is still operating as a modern facility today. The best part was a visit to the underground cellars where they showcased the traditional methods of open fermentation in wooden vessels and conditioning

ABOVE: Joe Wiebe enjoyed an active tour with Zephyr Adventures in Belgium, which consisted of daytime hikes or bike rides followed by brewery visits and beer-focussed meals.

RIGHT: The brew kettles at the Pilsner Urquell Brewery in the Czech Republic. Supplied photos

in giant pitch-lined wooden barrels, which are still made on site today. The guide poured samples of unpasteurized, unfiltered Pilsner direct from one of those barrels—and to this day, that remains one of the best beers I’ve ever enjoyed!

Since then, I’ve encountered many other beer lovers who have enjoyed the Pilsner Uquell Brewery Tour. In fact, the World Travel Awards named it Europe's Leading Beer Tour Visitor Experience in 2024. But if you can only include Prague in your travels, you can still check out Pilsner Urquell’s Original Beer Experience there, which offers a variety of “educational” options, including a tapster academy. Pro tip from Toronto beer expert Stephen Beaumont: “If you volunteer for one of the regular beer tapping competitions held in the beer hall, they will allow you to hang on to the beer you poured, thus increasing your allotted number of included beers by one!”

Another fantastic option to explore is a multiday beer-themed tour package. I can highly recommend Taste Vacations, a company that runs several different package tours, including options in Ireland, Belgium, Czechia, and Asheville, North Carolina. Their sister company, Zephyr Adven-

tures, offers more active tour options, featuring cycling, hiking and rollerblading, many of which include stops at local breweries. My experience with them was an active beer tour of Belgium, which involved daytime hikes or bike rides followed by brewery visits and fantastic beer-focused meals.

Finally, check out Airbnb Experiences, which are crafted and hosted by expert locals. The next time I make it back to London, I’ve got my eye on a guided tour along the Beermondsey Beer Mile Wherever you are travelling next, you can use use the site to search for a local beer experience.

Whether it’s a half-hour tour at a brewery here in B.C. or a multi-day excursion in Europe, touring for beer is a wonderful way to explore the beer community. j

good bad ugly FLAVOURS IN BEER : THE THE & THE good bad ugly PART 3: yeast

Wby Matt Poirier

e’ve explored the foundational sweetness and roastiness from malt, and the spicy, fruity, or earthy notes from hops, but there’s a quiet, microscopic superstar in beer that wields incredible power: yeast.

These single-celled organisms are the true magicians of fermentation, consuming sugars and transforming them into alcohol, carbon dioxide, and a dazzling array of flavour compounds. Yeast can elevate a brew to heavenly heights, adding complexity and character that makes you sigh with contentment. But just like any magic trick, sometimes things go awry, and yeast can introduce some truly perplexing—and even repulsive—notes.

Ready to uncover the hidden influences of these tiny titans? Let’s dive into the fascinating, sometimes funky, world of yeast-derived flavours.

THE GOOD: YEAST GEMS

When yeast is happy and healthy, it contributes desirable flavours that define entire beer styles. These are the yeast contributions that make a beer truly sing.

Microscopic but mighty yeast cells at work, transforming sugars into alcohol, carbonation, and layers of complex flavour. iStock/Getty Images Plus/Martin Prague photo

Fruity Esters: This is where yeast shines in many ale styles. Imagine ripe banana in a German Hefeweizen, juicy red apple or pear in a British ale, or subtle berries in certain Belgian brews. These fruity notes come from esters, byproducts of fermentation dependent on yeast strain and temperature. They add delightful complexity, inviting you back for more.

Spicy Phenols: Ever had a beer that tastes like clove, nutmeg, or black pepper? You’re likely experiencing phenols produced by specific yeast strains, common in German wheat beers and many Belgian ales. These phenolic compounds add a distinct, spicy, sometimes smoky character essential to the style, offering a warming, intriguing counterpoint to malt sweetness.

Bready/Yeasty Notes: In unfiltered, fresh beers, you might detect pleasant doughy, biscuity, or fresh bread flavour. This is the wholesome presence of yeast itself, contributing subtle earthiness and a sense of natural goodness. It’s a comforting note reminding you of the beer’s living nature, often adding a soft, wholesome texture.

Earthy/Funky (when intended): Now we’re venturing into niche territory, but a key one for certain styles! Specific wild yeasts and bacteria, like Brettanomyces (often shortened to “Brett”), contribute unique earthy, barnyard, leather, or subtly sour/tart notes that are highly prized in sour, farmhouse, or wild ales. These are not off-flavours here; they are the intentional complexity that makes these beers incredibly distinctive and often sought after by adventurous palates looking for something truly different.

THE BAD: YEAST HICCUPS

These flavours indicate something went sideways in fermentation, or are generally undesirable. They aren’t ruinous, but can distract from the beer’s true character.

Diacetyl (Butter/Butterscotch): This classic off-flavour gives distinct buttered popcorn, butterscotch candy, or a slick, buttery mouthfeel. It means the yeast didn’t “clean up” sufficiently or beer was packaged too soon. While trace amounts might be acceptable in certain styles, a strong presence is an off-flavour, making beer cloying and heavy.

Acetaldehyde (Green Apple/Pumpkin): This flavour often tastes like green apples or freshly cut pumpkin. It’s an intermediate compound yeast converts to ethanol. If fermentation is rushed, too cold, or yeast stressed, conversion is incomplete. It’s a common sign of a “young” or “under-fermented” beer, lending an unpleasantly sharp, cidery character that can feel raw or unfinished.

Sulfidic (Rotten Egg/Burnt Match): While some sulphur is natural in lagers, a strong smell of rotten eggs or burnt matches signals stressed yeast. It can also indicate bacterial infection, but stressed yeast can kick out these unpleasant, sulphurous compounds, creating an unappetizing aroma. It’s a clear warning sign.

THE UGLY: YEAST HORRORS

These are truly egregious off-flavours, screaming “drain pour!” They indicate serious problems with the yeast or brewing, making you regret that first sip.

Autolysis (Meaty/Rubber/Soy Sauce): This most dreaded yeast off-flavour occurs when yeast cells die and burst, releasing contents. This leads to unpleasant flavours and aromas like meaty broth, rubber, Marmite, or soy sauce. It typically happens

From bright and fruity to downright funky, yeast’s influence can make or break a beer’s character. iStock/Getty Images Plus/panchar photo

when beer sits on dead yeast too long, especially in warmer conditions. It’s the smell of neglected fermentation, a tell-tale sign of a beer past its prime.

Infection (Unintended Sour/Vinegar/Cheesy):

While sourness can be good, unintended sourness is a huge problem. This manifests as harsh vinegar, sharp lemon-like tartness, or a cheesy/goaty smell, usually from rogue bacteria or wild yeasts. These off-flavours completely overwhelm the beer's intended profile and definitively signal poor sanitation.

Solvent/Nail Polish Remover (Ethyl Acetate):

This extremely potent aroma can smell like nail polish remover or strong chemical solvent. It’s often caused by extremely high fermentation temperatures, which stress the yeast into producing an abundance of certain esters that are far too concentrated and volatile. It’s harsh, burning, and unmistakable—a definite sign the yeast was pushed too far.

So, there you have it: the hidden world of yeast and its incredible impact on your pint. From sublime fruity notes to repulsive autolysis, understanding yeast's role is key to appreciating beer’s vast flavour spectrum. May your yeast always be happy and healthy, leading to only the good, good, good! j

SMUGGLERS TRAIL CASKWORKS

KOREAN-INSPIRED CRISPY CHICKEN BURGER

paired with Smugglers Trail Captain Stone Lager

BY CHEF PAUL STEPHEN

Smugglers Trail Caskworks in Langley is not only pet friendly, it also serves “Puppy Flights,” eight all-natural dog treats with no animal byproducts, served on a paw-print shaped board to all of the good boys and girls. But, it’s feeding the human patrons that executive chef Paul Stephen is most concerned about and, to that end, his Korean-inspired, crispy chicken burger is a real crowd pleaser.

Regional general manager Jamie Macintosh, says while the food isn’t always inspired by the beer, there are several menu items that include their Captain Stone Lager.

“And, we do have beer pairing suggestions with all of the food on the menu,” said Macintosh.

The brewery was founded in a garage by longtime rugby teammates Jamie Overgaard and Stephen Gregorig in 2017, but their brick-and-mortar location at 9339 200A St., didn’t open until October 2020.

The friends famously say that while they don’t always agree on things, they were both convinced the one thing Langley needed more of at the time was “more beer!” Their beer is described as inspired by familiar British beers of the past, “while calling to us from our West Coast Canadian future.” The

Photos courtesy of Smugglers Trail Caskworks

concept works, because they’ve been winning provincial and national awards for their beer since the launch.

A Smugglers Trail specialty is their cask brews, described as “imagine a beer that's still alive — bubbling with the energy of its own natural fermentation.”

The unfiltered beer is then carefully transferred to casks where fresh wort is added to encourage natural carbonation, which then kicks off the final fermentation.

Macintosh says while Smugglers Trail is not a “pub,” it does offer some familiar favourites, including wings, bacon cheeseburgers, the Smugg Club — and the Korean crispy chicken burger.

“We get very busy with events, live music on Saturday's and group bookings. We have all types of people come in here,” said Macintosh.

INGREDIENTS

Korean sauce

• 10 fl-oz Gochujang paste

• 3 fl-oz rice wine vinegar

• 3 fl-oz sesame oil

• 5 fl-oz honey

• 5 fl-oz soya sauce

• 3 grams crushed chili flakes

• 1/2 oz fresh peeled fine chopped ginger

• 4 crushed minced cloves garlic

• 1/3 cup water

Crispy chicken

• Package of pre-made fish and chip batter

• Smugglers Trail Lager (or club soda)

• 4 oz boneless and skinless chicken thigh

Assembly

• Brioche bun

• Garlic butter

• Roasted garlic aioli

• Sliced cucumber

• Sesame oil

• Coleslaw

• Pickle (optional)

Building on the success of Smugglers Trail, in 2024, the friends opened Trails End Taproom and Bistro in Fort Langley, which brings their efforts full circle by offering gourmet coffees and breakfast, as well as all of the brewery’s favourites.

—Sandra Thomas

DIRECTIONS

1. Make the Korean sauce

Sauté garlic and ginger together in a pot for two to three minutes. Add remaining sauce ingredients to the pot and bring to a simmer for ten minutes. Take pot off the heat and let chill to room temperature then purée everything until smooth.

2. Make the crispy chicken

To make things easy, follow directions on a premade fish and chip batter mix, using a Smugglers Trail lager or club soda in place of water. Dip the chicken thigh in the batter, pull out and let excess batter drip off. Then place in a bowl of rice flour (push rice flour all over thigh till all the batter is covered). Place in a fryer at 325ºF for 4 to 6 minutes. Use a thermometer to make sure the core temperature of the chicken is 180ºF.

3. Assemble the burger

Lather a brioche bun with garlic butter and place on a frying pan heated to low or toast in the oven until pillowy soft. Spread roasted garlic aioli (purchase from store or find a quick recipe online) on both halves of the bun. On the bottom bun place five slices of cucumber tossed with a drop of sesame oil, then add coleslaw (homemade or storebought). Place crispy chicken on coleslaw and drizzle some of the Korean sauce on top. Place the top of the bun, and add a pickle on top. Serve with a salad or fries. j

BOMBER BREWING CO.

1488 Adanac St., Vancouver BomberBrewing.com

Bomber is an East Van fave with a great taproom at its location on the Adanac bike route and Birdie’s Food Truck parked on-site oﬀering excellent eats.

CHOQLETTE

OATMEAL STOUT

Availability: Seasonal

OFF THE RAIL BREWING

This popular spot is located on the Adanac bike route in the heart of East Van. Watch for their 11th anniversary celebration on February 15, 2026.

HENNES KÖLSCH

Availability: Seasonal

Located in Vancouver’s oldest residential neighbourhood, this brewery has a 67-seat tasting room and a gourmet pizza kitchen. Visit the second location in North Van, too.

Availability: Year-round

33 ACRES BREWING CO.

15 W. 8th Ave., Vancouver 33AcresBrewing.com

33 BREWING EXPERIMENT

25 W. 8th Ave., Vancouver 33BrewingExp.com

BRASSNECK BREWERY

2148 Main St., Vancouver Brassneck.ca

BREWHALL BEER CO.

97 E. 2nd Ave., Vancouver Brewhall.com

BREWING AUGUST

1614 W. 3rd Ave. BrewingAugust.com

CONTAINER BREWING

1216 Franklin St., Vancouver CBrew.ca

DOGWOOD BREWING

8284 Sherbrooke St., Vancouver DogwoodBrew.com

EAST VAN BREWING CO.

1675 Venables St., Vancouver EastVanBrewing.com

ELECTRIC BICYCLE BREWING CO.

20 E. 4th Ave., Vancouver ElectricBicycleBrewing.com

FACULTY BREWING CO.

1830 Ontario St., Vancouver FacultyBrewing.com

GRANVILLE ISLAND BREWING

1441 Cartwright St., Vancouver GranvilleIslandBrewing.ca

LUPPOLO BREWING CO.

1123 Venables St., Vancouver LuppoloBrewing.ca

MAIN STREET BREWING CO.

261 E. 7th Ave., Vancouver MainStreetBeer.ca

PARALLEL 49 BREWING CO.

1950 Triumph St., Vancouver Parallel49Brewing.com

POWELL BREWERY

1357 Powell St., Vancouver PowellBeer.com

R & B BREWING CO.

54 E. 4th Ave., Vancouver RAndBBrewing.com

RED TRUCK BEER CO.

295 E. 1st Ave., Vancouver RedTruckBeer.com

STANLEY PARK BREWING RESTAURANT & BREWPUB

8901 Stanley Park Dr., StanleyParkBrewing.com

STEAMWORKS BREW PUB

375 Water St., Vancouver Steamworks.com/Brew-Pub

STORM BREWING

310 Commercial Dr., Vancouver StormBrewing.com

STRANGE FELLOWS BREWING

1345 Clark Dr., Vancouver StrangeFellowsBrewing.com

SUPERFLUX BEER CO.

505 Clark Dr., Vancouver SuperfluxBeer.com

THREEFOLD BREWERY

COLLECTIVE

1507 Powell St., Vancouver ThreefoldBeer.com

YALETOWN BREWING CO.

1111 Mainland St., Vancouver MJG.ca/Yaletown

lower mainland

North Shore

KPU BREW LAB

20901 Langley Bypass | KPU.ca/Brew

FRI 1-6PM

EST. 2014

B.C.’s only Brewing Diploma is offered at KPU’s award-winning teaching brewery, where students gain hands-on experience and learn the science, business, and practical skills behind brewing. New parttime and continuing studies options offer greater flexibility for anyone looking to launch or grow a career in the industry.

NURUNGJI

CREAM ALE CREAM ALE

Availability: Seasonal

A clean, crisp cream ale with a Korean twist— featuring nurungji, golden scorched rice that adds a nutty aroma and gentle, roasted sweetness.

BLACK CURRANT WHEAT ALE

FRUITED WHEAT BEER

Availability: Seasonal

A refreshing wheat ale brewed with black currants from KPU’s Sustainable Agriculture farm—fruity, tart, and smooth in a sustainability-driven collab.

SWEET OAK STOUT SWEET STOUT

Availability: Seasonal

A rich stout featuring roasted malts, subtle vanilla from oak, and light bitterness balanced by full-bodied sweetness for a smooth finish.

KELP GOSE GOSE

Availability: Seasonal

This coastal-inspired Gose is brewed with North Pacific kelp, offering a refreshing blend of sea breeze salinity and vibrant, tart citrusy brightness.

Learning options

KPU’s Brewing program offers flexible learning options in addition to our full-time diploma, including two part-time diploma completion options, a one-year certificate, four micro-credentials, and continuing studies courses. Whether you’re starting or advancing your career, there’s a path for you. Learn more about KPU’s award-winning program and teaching brewery at kpu.ca/brew.

CAMP BEER CO.

19664 64 Ave., Langley | CampBeer.ca

SUN 12-9 + MON-THU 12-10 + FRI-SAT 12-11 EST. 2018

Camp is more than just about great beer—weekday mornings they operate as the Camp Grounds Coffee café. Watch for Flannel PJs Weekend Nov. 21-23 and their 6th Birthday Party on Dec. 20.

S’MORES MILK STOUT

STOUT

Seasonal

Roasty malt tones are rounded off with the addition of both vanilla and lactose. Yum!

VIENNA LAGER

Year-round

This award-winning amber lager is deliciously malty and crushable year-round.

VIENNA LAGER

6655 60 Ave., Delta

7111 252nd St., Langley

LocalityBrewing.ca

Locality is a Craft Malt Certified farm-to-glass brewery. They grow their own barley, wheat and rye that they malt on site, in addition to sourcing ingredients from other local farms. This

Barnside Harvest Festival is Sept. 12-14 at Paterson Park in Ladner, B.C.

3 DOGS BREWING

15181 Thrift Ave., White Rock 3DogsBrewing.com

BEERE BREWING COMPANY

312 E. Esplanade, North Vancouver BeereBrewing.com

BEVA BREWING AND BLENDING

1405 Pemberton Ave., North Vancouver BevaBrewing.ca

BLACK KETTLE BREWING

106-720 Copping St., North Vancouver BlackKettleBrewing.com

BRAGGOT BREWING

102-370 E. Esplanade, North Vancouver Braggottery.com

BRAVE BREWING

2617 Murray St., Port Moody Brave.beer

BRIDGE BREWING CO.

1448 Charlotte Rd., North Vancouver

BridgeBrewing.com

BROOKSWOOD BREWING CO.

102-4061 200 St., Langley BrookswoodBrewing.com

DAGERAAD BREWING

114-3191 Thunderbird Cres., Burnaby DageraadBrewing.com

DEAD FROG BREWERY

105-8860 201 St., Langley DeadFrog.ca

FARM COUNTRY BREWING

20555 56 Ave #5, Langley FarmCountryBrewing.com

FIVE ROADS BREWING

6263 202nd St., Langley FiveRoadsBrewing.com

FOAMERS’ FOLLY BREWING CO.

19221 122A Ave., Pitt Meadows FoamersFolly.ca

FOUR WINDS BEACH HOUSE AND BREWERY

6350 Market Ave., Tsawwassen FourWindsBrewing.ca

FOUR WINDS BREWING CO.

4-7355 72nd St., Delta FourWindsBrewing.ca

FUGGLES

103-11220 Horseshoe Way, Richmond FugglesBeer.com

HOUSE OF FUNK BREWING CO.

350 E. Esplanade, North Vancouver HouseOfFunkBrewing.com

LA CERVECERIA ASTILLEROS

226 E. Esplanade, North Vancouver Cerveceria-Astilleros.com

MARINER BREWING

1100 Lansdowne Dr., Coquitlam MarinerBrewing.ca

MOODY ALES & CO.

2601 Murray St., Port Moody MoodyAles.com

NORTH POINT BREWING CO.

266 E. 1st St., North Vancouver NorthPointBrewing.com

NORTHPAW BREW CO.

2150-570 Sherling Pl., Port Coquitlam NorthpawBrewCo.com

PARKSIDE BREWERY

2731 Murray St., Port Moody TheParksideBrewery.com

PATINA BREWING CO.

2332 Marpole Ave., Port Coquitlam PatinaBrewing.com

POCO BROTHERS BREWING

1979 Brown St., Port Coquitlam PoCoBrothersBrewing.com

RED RACER

11411 Bridgeview Dr., Surrey CentralCityBrewing.com

REWIND BEER CO.

2809 Murray St., Port Moody RewindBeer.com

RIDGE BREWING CO.

22826 Dewdney Trunk Rd., Maple Ridge RidgeBrewing.com

RUSSELL BREWING CO.

100-13018 80th Ave., Surrey RussellBeer.com

SHAKETOWN BREWING

105-288 Esplanade Ave. E., North Vancouver ShaketownBrewing.com

SMUGGLERS TRAIL

140-9339 200a St., Langley SmugglersTrailCask.com

STEAMWORKS BREWING

3845 William St., Burnaby Steamworks.com

STEEL & OAK BREWING CO.

1319 3rd Ave., New Westminster SteelAndOak.ca

STRATHCONA BEER CO.

123 Carrie Cates Ct., North Vancouver; StrathconaBeer.com

STREETCAR BREWING

123A East 1st St., North Vancouver StreetcarBrewing.ca

SWITCHBACK BREWING

22775 Dewdney Trunk Rd., Maple Ridge SwitchbackBrewCo.com

TAYLIGHT BREWING

402-1485 Coast Meridian Rd., Port Coquitlam; TaylightBrewing.com

THE PATCH BREWERY

12745 Laity St., Maple Ridge ThePatchBrewery.com

TINHOUSE BREWING CO.

550 Sherling Pl., Port Coquitlam, TinhouseBrewing.ca

TRADING POST BREWING

107-20120 64th Ave., Langley TradingPostBrewing.com

TRAIN WRECK BREWING

3044 St Johns St., Port Moody Instagram.com/TrainWreckBrewingLtd

TWIN SAILS BREWING

2821 Murray St., Port Moody TwinSailsBrewing.com

WAYBACK BREW CO.

#116-15063 54a Ave., Surrey WayBackBrewCo.com

WHITE ROCK BEACH BEER CO.

15181 Russell Ave. WhiteRockBeachBeer.com

WILDEYE BREWING

1385 Main St., North Vancouver WildeyeBrewing.ca

YELLOW DOG BREWING CO.

1-2817 Murray St., Port Moody YellowDogBrew.com

CANUCK EMPIRE BREWING

Unit C-33797 King Rd., Abbotsford CanuckEmpireBrewing.com

FARMHOUSE BREWING CO.

6385 Lickman Rd., Chilliwack FarmhouseBrewing.co

FIELD HOUSE BREWING CO. (ABBY)

2281 West Railway St., Abbotsford FieldHouseBrewing.com

FIELD HOUSE BREWING CO. (CHWK)

#102-9251 Woolly Dog Alley, Chilliwack FieldHouseBrewing.com

HUBCO BREWING CO.

33211 North Railway Ave., Mission HUBCoBrewing.com

LOUDMOUTH BREWING

103 – 2582 Mt. Lehman Rd., Abbotsford LoudmouthBrewingCompany.ca

MISSION SPRINGS BREWING CO.

7160 Oliver St., Mission MissionSprings.ca MOUNTAINVIEW BREWING CO.

390 Old Hope Princeton Way, Hope MountainviewBrewing.ca

OLD ABBEY ALES

30321 Fraser Hwy., Abbotsford OldAbbeyAles.com OLD

A-FRAME BREWING CO.

38927 Queens Way, Squamish AFrameBrewing.com

BACKCOUNTRY BREWING

#405-1201 Commercial Way, Squamish BackcountryBrewing.com

BATCH 44 BREWERY & KITCHEN

5559 Wharf Ave., Sechelt Batch44Brewery.com

COAST MOUNTAIN BREWING

2-1212 Alpha Lake Rd., Whistler CoastMountainBrewing.com

HIGH MOUNTAIN BREWING CO.

4355 Blackcomb Way, Whistler MJG.ca/BrewHouse

HOUSE OF LAGER

37010 Village Cres., Squamish HouseOfLagerBrewing.com

LILLOOET BREWING

104 Main St, Lillooet LillooetBrewing.com

VICTORIA

4 MILE BREWPUB

199 Island Hwy., View Royal 4MileBrewingCo.com

BAD DOG BREWING COMPANY

7861 Tugwell Rd., Sooke BadDogBrewing.ca

BEACON BREWING

9829 Third Street, Sidney BeaconBrewing.ca

CHECKERHEAD BREWING

10602 Sherburne Drive, Shirley CheckerheadBrewing.com

PEMBERTON BREWING CO.

1936 Stonecutter Pl., Pemberton PembertonBrewing.ca

PERSEPHONE BREWING

1053 Stewart Rd., Gibsons PersephoneBrewing.com

TAPWORKS BREWING CO.

537 Cruice Lane, Gibsons GibsonsTapworks.com

THE 101 BREWHOUSE + DISTILLERY

1009 Gibsons Way, Gibsons The101.ca

THE BEER FARMERS

8324 Pemberton Meadows Rd., Pemberton TheBeerFarmers.com

TOWNSITE BREWING

5824 Ash Ave., Powell River TownsiteBrewing.com

WHISTLER BREWING CO.

1045 Millar Creek Rd., Whistler WhistlerBeer.com

DRIFTWOOD BREWERY

836 Viewfield Rd., Victoria DriftwoodBeer.com

HERALD STREET BREW WORKS

506 Herald St., Victoria HeraldStreet.com

ÎLE SAUVAGE BREWING CO.

2960 Bridge St., Victoria IleSauvage.com

LIGHTHOUSE BREWING CO.

2-836 Devonshire Rd., Esquimalt LighthouseBrewing.com

Greater VICTORIA & Gulf Islands

LEGEND

VICTORIA

CATEGORY 12 BREWING

C-2200 Keating Cross Rd., Saanichton Category12Beer.com

BRASS MONKEY BREWING CO.

350B Bay St., Victoria MoonUnderWater.ca

C12’s newly renovated tap room is cozy and stylish with delicious food and an epic beer list. Watch for Oktoberfest on Sept 27 along with ongoing Trivia Nights.

Victoria’s Moon Under Water Brewpub is relaunching as Brass Monkey Brewing with brewmaster and distiller Clay Potter still at the helm along with new partners.

SCARAMOUCHE SCARAMOUCHE

HOYNE BREWING CO.

101-2740 Bridge St. | HoyneBrewing.ca

Until Hoyne’s new tasting room finally opens early in 2026, you’ll have to make do with their extensive line-up in cans and on tap.

AMONG GIANTS

MAYNE ISLAND BREWING CO.

490 Fernhill Rd., Mayne Island MayneIslandBrewingCo.com

MILE ZERO BREWING

4495 Happy Valley Rd., Metchosin MileZeroBrewing.ca

PHILLIPS BREWING & MALTING CO.

2010 Government St., Victoria PhillipsBeer.com

SALT SPRING BREWING CO.

270 Furness Rd., Salt Spring Island SaltSpringBrewing.com

SMALL GODS BREWING

9835 Third St., Sidney SmallGods.ca

SPINNAKERS BREWPUB

308 Catharine St., Victoria Spinnakers.com

Canada’s original brewpub, founded in 1984, Spinnakers has a gorgeous location overlooking Victoria’s Inner Harbour. Truly a bucket list destination for any Canadian beer lover!

SALTED LIME

SOOKE

BREWING CO.

2057 Otter Point Rd., Sooke SookeBrewing.com

SOOKE OCEANSIDE BREWERY

1-5529 Sooke Rd., Sooke SookeOceansideBrewing.com

SWIFT BREWING

450 Swift St., Victoria Swift Brewing.ca

TWA DOGS BREWERY AT MACALONEY DISTILLERY

761 Enterprise Cres., Saanich VCaledonian.com

WHISTLE BUOY BREWING CO.

560 Johnson St., Victoria WhistleBuoyBrewing.com

VICTORIA

ALBERNI BREWING CO.

4630 Adelaide St., Port Alberni AlberniBrewingCompany.ca

MON-TUES 11:30AM-9PM + WED-THUR 11:30AM-10PM + FRI-SAT 11:30AM-11PM + SUN 11:30AM-8PM

EST. 2021

Relax in the lounge or patio and choose from 20 taps of rotating craft beer plus cocktails and mocktails along with a full food menu featuring delicious rotating specials.

X ATLANTIC

OATMEAL STOUT

Availability: Seasonal

LAGER IN RED AMBER LAGER

Availability: Year-round

is delicious black stout is brewed with roasted barley, resulting in a deep, rich character. A tasty lager with a medium body and a modest amount of hoppiness.

Offering 20 craft beer and cider taps plus cocktails and mocktails

Indulge in our full food menu with rotating specials

Join us in the lounge or on the dog-friendly patio

LONGWOOD BREWERY

101A-2046 Boxwood Rd., Nanaimo LongwoodBeer.com

RUSTED RAKE BREWING

3106 Northwest Bay Rd., Nanoose Bay RustedRakeBrewing.ca

Longwood’s Telegraph Project Pale Ale (Growler pick!) project will continue to the end of 2025—

$1 from every 4-pack goes to help Telegraph Cove rebuild following a devastating fire.

Stop by this brewery located on a beautiful 18-acre working farm to taste the terroir of the barley grown on-site in one of many awardwinning beers. ISLAND TIME PALE ALE Availability:

Give your customers a reason to AND

Contact ordersbc@thegrowler.ca to order your copies.

Carry us in your brewery, tap room or store and your customers will keep coming back for more.

ACE BREWING CO.

150 Mansfield Dr., Courtenay Facebook.com/AceBrewingCompany

BAYVIEW BREWING CO.

204 Dogwood Dr., Ladysmith BayviewBrewing.com

BEACH FIRE BREWING

594 11 Ave., Campbell River BeachFireBrewing.ca

CRAIG STREET BREW PUB

25 Craig St., Duncan CraigStreet.ca

CUMBERLAND BREWING CO.

2732 Dunsmuir Ave., Cumberland CumberlandBrewing.com

DEADHEAD BREW CO.

#203-301 Chaster Rd., Duncan DeadheadBrew.co

DEVIL’S BATH BREWING CO.

1616 McNeill Rd., Port McNeill DevilsBathBrewing.ca

DOG MOUNTAIN BREWING

3141 3rd Ave., Port Alberni DogMountainBrew.com

FERN + CEDAR BREWING CO.

680 Berwick Rd S., Qualicum Beach FernAndCedar.ca

GLADSTONE BREWING CO.

244 4th St., Courtenay GladstoneBrewing.ca

HORNBY ISLAND BREWING CO.

6985 St Johns Point Rd., Hornby Island HornbyIsland.beer

LAND & SEA BREWING CO.

2040 Guthrie Rd., Comox LandAndSeaBrewing.ca

LONGWOOD BREWPUB & RESTAURANT

5775 Turner Rd., Nanaimo LongwoodBrewpub.com

LOVESHACK LIBATIONS

1 - 4134 Island Hwy. West, Qualicum LoveShackLibations.com

MOUNT ARROWSMITH BREWING CO.

109-425 East Stanford Ave., Parksville ArrowsmithBrewing.com

RAD BREWING CO.

215 Port Augusta St., Comox RadBrewCo.com

RED ARROW BREWING CO.

5255 Chaster Rd., Duncan RedArrowBeer.ca

SERIOUS BREWING CO.

Unit 101A, 3055 Oak St, Chemainus SeriousCoffee.com

TOFINO BREWING CO.

691 Industrial Way, Tofino TofinoBrewingCo.com

TWIN CITY BREWING

4503 Margaret St., Port Alberni TwinCityBrewing.ca

UCLUELET BREWING COMPANY

1601 Peninsula Rd., Ucluelet UclueletBrewing.ca

WHITE SAILS BREWING

125 Comox Rd., Nanaimo WhiteSailsBrewing.com

WOLF BREWING COMPANY

940 Old Victoria Rd., Nanaimo WolfBrewingCompany.com

THOMPSON OKANAGAN

CIDERIES

CANNERY BREWING

198 Ellis St. | CanneryBrewing.com

Celebrate the Penticton Vees’ inaugural season in the WHL with the official Vees Lager, brewed by Cannery. Watch for Penticton Beer Week Sept. 26 - Oct. 4.

PALE ALE Availability: One-off

THOMPSON OKANAGAN

ABANDONED RAIL BREWING CO.

1220 Davenport Ave., Penticton AbandonedRailBrewCo.ca

BACKROADS BREWING

15 Park Pl., Unit 226, Osoyoos BackroadsBrewing.com

BARLEY MILL BREW PUB

2460 Skaha Lake Rd., Penticton BarleyMillPub.com

BARLEY STATION BREW PUB

20 Shuswap St. N., Salmon Arm BarleyStation.com

BARN OWL BREWING CO.

4629 Lakeshore Rd., Kelowna BarnOwlBrewing.ca

BRIGHT EYE BREWING

BNA BREWING CO.

1250 Ellis St., Kelowna; 218 Martin St, Penticton; 1714 Kalamalka Lake Rd., Kelowna; BNABrewing.com

BRITANNIA BREWING CO.

8999 Jim Bailey Rd., Kelowna BBCo.ca

BUFFALO ROUGE BREWING

105-1111 Gordon Dr., Kelowna BuffaloRougeBrewing.com

CONNECTOR BREWING

101-3310 Carrington Rd., Westbank ConnectorBrewing.com

COPPER BREWING CO.

102-1851 Kirschner Rd., Kelowna CopperBrewingCo.com

CRANNÓG ALES

706 Elson Rd., Sorrento CrannogAles.com

DETONATE BREWING

104-9503 Cedar Ave., Summerland DetonateBrew.com

EMBERS BREWHOUSE

650 Victoria St., Kamloops EmbersBrewhouse.ca

EMPTY KEG BREW HOUSE

2190 Voght St., Merritt EmptyKegBrewHouse.ca

FIREHALL BREWERY

6077 Main St., Oliver FirehallBrewery.com

FREDDY’S BREWPUB

124 McCurdy Rd., Kelowna McCurdyBowl.com

GIANT’S HEAD BREWING

13224 Victoria Road N., Summerland GiantsHeadBrewing.com

GREY FOX BREWING

105-310 Hiram Walker Crt., Kelowna GreyFoxBrewing.com FRESH HOP

292 Tranquille Rd., Kamloops BrightEyeBrewing.com

HIGHWAY 97 BREWERY

200 Ellis St., Penticton Hwy97Brewery.com

IRON ROAD BREWING

980 Camosun Crs., Kamloops IronRoadBrewing.ca

JACKKNIFE BREWING

727 Baillie Ave., Kelowna Facebook.com/JackknifeBrewing

KELOWNA BEER INSTITUTE

1346 Water St., Kelowna TreeBrewingBeerInstitute.com

KETTLE RIVER BREWING CO.

731 Baillie Ave., Kelowna KettleRiverBrewing.ca

LAKESIDER BREWING

835 Anders Rd., West Kelowna LakesiderBrewing.com

NEIGHBOURHOOD BREWING

187 Westminster Ave. W., Penticton NeighbourhoodBrewing.com

NEIGHBOURHOOD BREWING OUTPOST

102–100 Enterprise Way, Oliver NeighbourhoodBrewing.com

NORTHSTAR LAGERHAUS

230 Brunswick St., Penticton instagram.com/north_star_lager_haus

RAILSIDE BREWING

1186 High Rd., Kelowna Instagram.com/RailsideBrewingKelowna

RED BIRD BREWING

1086 Richter St., Kelowna RedBirdBrewing.com

RED COLLAR BREWING CO.

355 Lansdowne St., Kamloops RedCollar.ca

RICOCHET BREWING

3865 Sunnybrae Canoe Pt. Rd., Tappen Instagram.com/Ricochet.Brewing

RUSTIC REEL BREWING CO.

760 Vaughan Ave., Kelowna RusticReel.com

SHORE LINE BREWING CO.

3477 Lakeshore Rd., Kelowna ShoreLineBrewing.com

SILVERSTAR BREWING CO.

2933A 30th Ave., Vernon SilverstarBrewing.com

THE HATCHING POST

2850 Boucherie Rd., West Kelowna Instagram.com/TheHatchingPost

THE NOBLE PIG BREWHOUSE

650 Victoria St., Kamloops TheNoblePig.ca

THE OFFICE BREWERY

890 Clement Ave, Unit 301, Kelowna OfficeBrewery.ca

THE TIN WHISTLE BREWING CO.

112-1475 Fairview Rd., Penticton TheTinWhistleBrewery.rocks

THREE LAKES BREWING

#7-2030 Matrix Cres., Kelowna ThreeLakesBrewing.com

UNLEASHED BREWING CO.

207-880 Clement Ave., Kelowna UnleashedBrewing.ca

VICE & VIRTUE BREWING CO.

1033 Richter St., Kelowna ViceAndVirtueBrewing.ca

WILD AMBITION BREWING

1-3314 Appaloosa Rd., Kelowna WildAmbition.beer

YELLOW DOG BREWING

169 Estabrook Ave., Penticton YellowDogBeer.com

INVERMERE BREWING CO.

481 Arrow Rd., Invermere InvermereBrewing.com

MT. BEGBIE BREWING CO.

2155 Oak Dr., Revelstoke Mt-Begbie.com

NELSON BREWING CO.

512 Latimer St., Nelson NelsonBrewing.com

OVER TIME BEER WORKS

136A Wallinger Ave., Kimberley OverTimeBeer.ca

RADIUM BREWING

7537 Main St. W., Radium Hot Springs RadiumBrewing.ca

ROSSLAND BEER CO.

1990 Columbia Ave., Rossland RosslandBeer.com

RUMPUS BEER COMPANY

208 1st Street E., Revelstoke RumpusBeerCo.com

TAILOUT BREWING

1299 Bay Ave., Trail TailoutBrewing.com

TORCHLIGHT BREWING CO.

125 Hall St., Nelson TorchlightBrewing.com

WHITETOOTH BREWING

623 8th Ave. N., Golden WhitetoothBrewing.com

WILD

NORTH BREWING CO.

125 16th Ave. N, Creston WildNorthBrewery.ca

BARKERVILLE BREWING CO.

185 Davie St., Quesnel BarkervilleBeer.com

BEARD’S BREWING CO.

10408 Alaska Rd. N., Fort St. John BeardsBrewing.ca

BULKLEY VALLEY BREWERY

3860 1 Ave., Smithers BulkleyValleyBrewery.com

CASK AND CLEAVER

175 Cariboo Hwy., 100 Mile CaskAndCleaver.com

CROSSROADS BREWING & DISTILLERY

508 George St., Prince George CrossroadsCraft.com

DEADFALL BREWING CO.

1733 Nicholson St. S., Prince George DeadfallBrewing.com

FOX MOUNTAIN BREWING CO.

215 Donald Rd., Williams Lake FoxMountainBeer.com

MIGHTY PEACE BREWING CO.

10128 95th Ave., Fort St. John MightyPeaceBrewing.ca

SHERWOOD MOUNTAIN BREWHOUSE

101-4816 Hwy. 16 West, Terrace SherwoodMountain.beer

SMITHERS BREWING CO.

3832 3rd Ave., Smithers SmithersBrewing.com

THREE RANGES BREWING CO.

1160 5th Ave., Valemount ThreeRanges.com

TRENCH BREWING & DISTILLING

399 2nd Ave., Prince George TrenchBrew.ca

TWO PEAKS BREWING

578 Mountainview Sq., Kitimat TwoPeaksBrewing.ca

WHEELHOUSE BREWING CO.

380 Bill Murray Dr., Prince Rupert WheelhouseBrewing.com

SUNDAY CIDER

1632 Sunshine Coast Hwy

SundayCider.com

Sunday Cider now has two food vendors on-site year round. Anam Kitchen serves fresh, modern Indian food and Sea Monkey Coﬀee, a coﬀee bar with nourishing and delicious vegan food.

TWICE IS NICE–BACCHUS

CO-FERMENTED WITH BACCHUS GRAPE SKINS

Availability: Year-round

BAIE NOIR

MIXED FRUIT

CO-FERMENTATION

Availability: Seasonal

ROSE HILL ORCHARD & CIDERY

11911 Okanagan Centre Rd. E., Lake Country | RoseHillOrchard.com

Rose Hill Cidery blends regenerative farming, community engagement, and handcrafted cider from orchard to glass. Visit them for cider tasting, u-pick, an on-site market and live events.

FARMHOUSE CIDER TRADITIONAL OFF-DRY

Availability: Seasonal

Availability: Small batch

B.C. CIDERIES

BANDITRY CIDER

538 Pratt Rd., Gibsons BanditryCider.com

BIG BANG CIDER

1235 Nanaimo Lakes Rd., Nanaimo; BigBangCider.com

BOWEN CIDER HOUSE

1125 Grafton Rd., Bowen Island BowenCiderHouse.ca

THE BRICKER CIDER COMPANY

6642 Norwest Bay Rd., Sechelt BrickersCider.com

BURTON CITY CIDER

5470 BC-6 , Burton BurtonCityCider.ca

CAMBIUM CIDER CO.

4667 E. Vernon Rd., Vernon CambiumCider.com

CEDAR CIDER

828 Kennedy Rd., Agassiz CedarCider.ca

CIDERWORKS

529 Fulford-Ganges Rd., Salt Spring Island SaltSpringAppleCompany.com/Ciderworks

CLIFFSIDE CIDER

1679 Foreman Rd., Prince George ColdFrontCider.com

COLD FRONT CIDER

103-37760 2 Ave., Squamish CliﬀsideCider.com

CREEK & GULLY CIDER

1053 Poplar Grove Rd., Penticton CreekAndGully.com

DEAD END CIDER

620 Sumac Rd., Cawston ForbiddenFruitWine.com

DOMINION CIDER CO.

10216 Gould Ave., Summerland DominionCider.com

FARMSTRONG CIDER CO.

4305 Maw Rd., Armstrong FarmstrongCider.com

FOLKTALE CIDER

3950 Irvine Rd., Lake Country FolktaleCider.com

FOSSIL BEACH FARM

750 Savoie Rd., Hornby Island FossilBeachFarm.com

FRASER VALLEY CIDER CO.

22128-16th Ave., Langley FraserValleyCider.ca

GABBIE’S PREMIUM CIDER

1120 Coats Dr., Gabriola Island GabbiesCider.com

GEO CIDER CO.

318-1201 Commercial Way, Squamish GeoCider.com

HOMESTEAD CIDER

6046 Kamp Rd., Agassiz HomesteadCider.ca

HOWLING MOON CRAFT CIDER

7952 BC-97, Oliver HowlingMoon.ca

JUNCTION ORCHARD & CIDERY

273 Prospect Lake Rd., Victoria JunctionVictoria.com

LA PETITE ABEILLE CIDER

1085 Fleet Rd., Penticton LPACider.com

LASS CHANCE

CIDER HOUSE

3045 Hwy. 3, Keremeos LassChance.com

LEFT FIELD CIDER CO.

Mamit Lake Rd., Logan Lake LeftFieldCider.com

MERRIDALE CIDERY & DISTILLERY

1230 Merridale Rd., Cobble Hill Merridale.ca

MILLIONAIRES’ ROW CIDER CO.

14113 Dale Meadows Rd., Summerland MillionairesRowCider.com

THE NARAMATA CIDER COMPANY

2370 Aikins Loop, Naramata NaramataCider.com

NOMAD CIDER

8011 Simpson Rd., Summerland NomadCider.ca

NORTHYARDS CIDER CO.

3181 11 Ave. NE, Salmon Arm NorthyardsCider.com

ORCHARD HILL ESTATE CIDERY

3480 Fruitvale Way, Osoyoos OrchardHillCidery.com

PIPPIN POINT

5668 Bathie Rd., Wynndel PippinPoint.ca

RAVEN’S MOON CRAFT CIDER

4905 Darcy Rd, Courtenay RavensMoonCraftCider.ca

RILEY’S CIDERY

620 Laura Rd., Bowen Island RileysCider.com

RUSTIC ROOTS WINERY & CIDERY

2238 Hwy. 3, Cawston HarkersOrganicsRusticRoots.com

SALT SPRING WILD CIDER

151 Sharp Rd., Salt Spring Island SaltSpringWildCider.com

SCENIC ROAD CIDER CO.

770 Packinghouse Rd., Kelowna ScenicRoadCider.com

SEA CIDER FARM & CIDERHOUSE

2487 Mt. St. Michael Rd., Saanichton SeaCider.ca

SHUSWAP CIDER CO.

#100-2090 10 Ave. SW, Salmon Arm | ShuswapCider.com

SLAUGHTERHOUSE CRAFT CIDER

20090 Hwy 16 West, Prince George SlaughterhouseCraft.ca

SOMA CRAFT CIDERY

4485 Sallows Rd., Kelowna SomaCidery.com

SUMMERLAND HERITAGE CIDER CO.

3113 Johnson St., Summerland SummerlandCider.com

SWAYNE CREEK CIDERHOUSE

2132 Swayne Rd., Errington SwayneCreek.ca

TAVES ESTATE CIDERY

333 Gladwin Rd. TavesFamilyFarms.com/Hard-Cider

TONY’S CRAFT CIDERY

6167 Hwy. 6, Coldstream TonysCraftCidery.com

TRUCK 59 CIDER HOUSE

3887 Brown Rd., West Kelowna Truck59Cider.com

TWIN ISLAND CIDER

5601 Lupin Rd., Pender Island TwinIslandCider.com

TWISTED HILLS CRAFT CIDER

2080 Ritchie Dr., Cawston TwistedHills.ca

UNTANGLED CRAFT CIDER

725 Mackenzie Rd., Cawston UntangledCider.ca

UPSIDE CIDERY

WE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT LOCAL BEER, WINE & SPIRITS.

2555 Gale Rd., Kelowna UpsideCider.com

VICTORIA CIDER CO.

9635 W. Saanich Rd., North Saanich VictoriaCiderCo.ca

WARDS CIDER

2287 Ward Rd., Kelowna WardsHardCider.com

WINDFALL CIDER

Pick up a copy of The Growler’s sister publications at a distillery or winery near you, or online at bc.thegrowler.ca

vitis.ca @vitismag thealchemistmagazine.ca @thealchemistmag

250 Esplanade E., North Vancouver WindfallCider.ca

WOODWARD CIDER CO.

5505 Westsyde Rd., Kamloops WoodwardCiderCo.ca

DID YOU KNOW?

FUN B.C. BEER FACTS TO IMPRESS YOUR FRIENDS

by Joe Wiebe

WHO BREWED THE FIRST IPA IN B.C.?

THERE'S SALT IN MY BEER

My teetotalling grandparents didn’t drink beer, but more than a few friends remember seeing their older forebears spilling some salt into their Old Style Pilsners. e reason for doing so varies considerably: it adds more head/it dissipates excess gassiness; it makes you more thirsty/it replaces salt lost by drinking alcohol. Regardless of the reasoning, the idea of adding salt to the avour pro le of beer is not unheard of—German-style Gose is an intentionally salty and slightly sour wheat beer, for instance.

Some B.C. brewers prefer to source their salt from the sea in the form of the briny character found in some shell sh or even kelp. Several breweries release Oyster Stouts each year, Spinnakers makes one with Honey Mussels, and To no Brewing makes a popular Kelp Stout. Prince Rupert’s Wheelhouse Brewing once made a stout with scallops—brewer Craig Outhet said the best part was eating the shellsh after “cooking” them in the mash for an hour. But probably the most unusual example can be found in Sooke: Bad Dog Brewing’s Octodog Apocalypse is brewed with the addition of squid ink. e resulting beer is blacker than black and slightly salty, but surprisingly light-bodied and qua able.

e rst true craft IPAs that featured hop varieties grown and developed on the west coast originated in California and Oregon in the early 1990s, and the rst B.C. versions showed up soon after, but who brewed the rst one here? at symbolic title is best split 50-50 between Bill Herdman (Tall Ship Ales) and Gary Lohin, ( rst at Sailor Hagar’s, later at Central City/Red Racer). Herdman brewed a draft version of Tall Ship IPA in 1993, and a bottled version followed in 1994. Lohin says he brewed his Bengal IPA at Sailor Hagar’s in 1994. Tall Ship closed after a few years, but Lohin kept brewing IPAs continuously at Sailor Hagar’s and then at Central City beginning in 2003.

But neither of those early IPAs would likely be recognized as a West Coast IPA now because the dry hopping technique that de nes modern IPAs didn’t really originate until later in the 2000s. In 2010, Iain Hill won Best in Show at the BC Beer Awards for the Brick and Beam IPA he brewed at Yaletown Brewing. Now the brewmaster at Strange Fellows Brewing, he gives the credit for teaching him how to “warm dry hop” to David Woodward, who was brewing at the Whistler BrewHouse at the time, but is now at Rusted Rake in Nanoose Bay where he makes an excellent IPA called Rusty Angler. j BrewHouse at the time, but