10 Best Breweries in BC, Ranked

The Growler turns two this coming Monday, birthed the day I published my first weekly column for Westender. A lot has changed in the beer world since then. The local industry has grown rapidly. The quality has improved drastically. The […]

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The Oktoberfest Survival Guide

I’ve been writing about beer for almost two years now, in an effort to grasp and define what makes BC beer culture so special. What I’ve learned boils down to this: People in this province love a good piss-up. And in […]

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Breaking the seal is a myth

“Don’t break the seal!” someone shouts. By now, we’re all familiar with the concept: urine begets more urine, and once you’ve unleashed the fury, you’ll be returning to the bathroom every 10 minutes. The theories as to why it happens are endless – your […]

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Why is beer so male and white?

The men at Vancouver Craft Beer Week have a word for Leah Heneghan, the festival’s co-founder and events director. “The guys I work with, they call me boss,” she said. Beyond growing a festival that sold just 100 tickets for a single afternoon event […]

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IBUs are totally overrated

Picture the scene: the Bomber Brewing booth at last year’s Whistler International Beer Festival. Bomber’s Choqlette Porter, a gently sweet, malty and smooth ale, is proving popular on what’s an unseasonably wet and chilly day. The punters are full of questions. Where are you guys based? […]

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