Howdy! Two years ago this week, unapologetic beer nerd Stephen Smysnuik birthed The Growler column, which he soon raised into a quarterly magazine that’s now BC’s most trusted craft-beer guide. Like any parent, he should be proud of what […]

These crispy prawns – made using Main Street Brewing No. 7 Saison – are the perfect bar snack for your next party. Serves four. Cooking time 30 minutes Ingredients 1 650ml bottle Main Street Saison 24 prawns 2/3 cups all purpose […]

So you sidle up to the bar with a thirst only a delicious craft beer can satisfy. If you’re lucky, you’ll be faced with dozens of brightly coloured works of art, each vying for your attention. Invariably, one will pique your interest, and in so […]

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 […]

For the first 50 years of post-Prohibition beer swilling in B.C., the Government Liquor Act ensured no one enjoyed themselves too much; the laws were as strict as they were bizarre. That changed in the 1970s following the Morrow Report: an inquiry […]

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 […]

“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 […]

With the hundreds of new beers brewed in BC, there’s no way for even the most ardent connoisseur to try everything. Now think for a minute about the newbie, who’s interested in craft beer but is inundated with a stupefying […]