The future of beer festivals in the COVID-19 age This story originally appeared in the Fall/Winter 2020 issue of The Growler, out now! You can find B.C.’s favourite craft beer and cider guide at your local brewery, cidery, select private […]
When grain meets grape: the rise of beer/wine hybrids in B.C.
This story originally appeared in the Spring 2020 issue of The Growler, out now! You can find B.C.’s favourite craft beer and cider guide at your local brewery, cidery, select private liquor stores, and on newsstands across the province. Beer […]
Remembering Greg Evans at Victoria Beer Week
The death of Greg Evans at age 67 in December 2018 affected many people in Victoria’s craft beer community, as well as many others who knew Greg from his profession as a historian. Born in Nanaimo in 1951, Greg moved […]
Malty, woody, big and boozy: ‘Tis the season for boozy beers like barleywine and imperial stout
There are certain beers that seem ideally suited to each season: fresh, light saisons and malty maibocks are perfect for spring; sessionable lagers, citrusy hazy ales and fruity sours can’t be beat in the hot days of summer; while autumn […]
2019 GROWLER AWARD WINNER PROFILE: Twin City Brewing
GOLD – Unsung Hero GOLD – Best Board Game Selection SILVER – Brewery of the Year SILVER – Best Food Program SILVER – Best Place to Drink in the Afternoon Without Judgement BRONZE – Best West Coast/Specialty IPA // Run […]
2019 GROWLER AWARD WINNER PROFILE: Driftwood Brewery
GOLD – Beer of the Year // Fat Tug IPA GOLD – Best West Coast/Specialty IPA // Fat Tug IPA GOLD – Best UK-style Ale // Naughty Hildegard ESB GOLD – Best Branding/Packaging BRONZE – Best Imperial Ale/Lager // Singularity […]
2019 GROWLER AWARD WINNER PROFILE: Vancouver Island Brewing
GOLD – Best Imperial Ale/Lager // Hermannator One of the founding breweries of the early microbrewery movement in Canada, Vancouver Island Brewing began its existence as Island Pacific Brewing in 1984. Its original location was in Saanichton north of Victoria […]
2019 GROWLER AWARD WINNER PROFILE: Four Winds Brewing
GOLD – Best Farmhouse/Wild Brett Ale // Juxtapose GOLD – Best Wood-Aged Beer // Norwood GOLD – Best Sour Ale // Nectarous SILVER – Best Light/Amber Lager // Hüftgold SILVER – Best Belgian-Style Ale // Triplicity BRONZE – Brewery of […]
The Wide World of Wheat
Beer, at its basic level, is a waste product produced by uncountable millions of yeast cells as they chew their way through a sugary slurry (called “wort”) that brewers prepare for their feasting. Those fermentable sugars can be derived from […]
Brews and bikes: Cycling tours the perfect way to experience B.C. craft beer
A few years ago I visited Belgium as part of a beer-focused active tour: we spent the mornings hiking or biking and then visited breweries in the afternoon and restaurants in the evenings. One of my favourite experiences was the […]