BEER GUIDE for BRITISH COLUMBIA

Beer in B.C. is available in 3 types of outlets: liquor stores operated by the B.C. government's Liquor Distribution Board (LDB); licensed restaurants, pubs, bars, nightclubs; and private cold beer and wine stores.  The provincial drinking age is 19.

Government LDB stores are quite common, but their operating hours are not always convenient (not open on Sunday, for example). They offer the widest selection of beers, both from B.C. and elsewhere, although this varies from store to store, depending on size and location. Cold beer is not available.

The selection available in restaurants, pubs, and nightclubs varies widely, of course, but almost all serious licensed premises carry at least one or two microbrewery brands. Finding a pub where you can sample three or more microbrewery products is not always easy, but they are out there, especially in Vancouver and Victoria. These cities also boast some fine brewpubs. 

Private cold beer stores, which can only be licensed if they are associated with a hotel or pub, usually have a fairly limited selection of microbrewery products, and their prices are higher than LDB stores, but they often carry the most popular brands of one or two breweries, especially if they are local. They are only open until 11:00 pm, but they are open on Sundays.

The bottom line is that good beer is easy to find in B.C., but you sometimes have to do some advance planning.

B.C. Craft Breweries and their Products

The breweries listed below brew beer in small batches, using natural processes and ingredients, with the intention of providing unique and flavourful alternatives to mass-produced products of large regional and national breweries. Simply click on a brewery name for more information. Under each brewery, I have included all of their brands (that I am aware of), with comments on beers I have tasted. Numbers in brackets after each beer name indicate percentage alcohol by volume. 

SELECT A LINK BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Backwoods Brewing

Unit #3, 26004 Fraser Hwy
Langley, BC

Opened in Summer, 1998.  Currently producing 5 beers, distributed in draft only at local Fraser Valley restaurants and pubs.  Co-owners Randy Wilcox and Derrick Smith were previously partners in a brew-on-premise and decided to move up to the real action.

Stinger Ale

Nut Brown Ale

Timberwolf Pale Ale

Cranberry Ale

Dam Lager

Return to Top of Brewery List

Bastion City Brewing Co. (closed)

Nanaimo, BC

Opened in late 1995 on Vancouver Island and closed, I believe in 1997.

Return to Top of Brewery List

975-B Notre Dame Drive,
Kamloops, BC
V2C 5P8

Started in 1995 by Dave Beardsell, a former brewer at Okanagan Spring Brewery. Products were originally available only on draft, but are now also widely available in 650ml bottles in BC government liquor stores. The line-up originally included a lager which has since been dropped. In 2001, Bear took over the brewing of Whistler and Bowen Island brands.  Some of the beer is also sold under a private label contract to outlets of the Earl's restaurant chain.

Polar Bear Lager (5%) - A crisp and clean golden lager, with just enough bitterness to show someone cared.

Albino Rhino (4.5%) - Known in a previous life as 'Golden Bear Pale Ale' (which would seem to fit a little more closely with the 'bear' theme), this is the bottled version of the Albino Rhino served up from the taps at Earl's restaurants.  A welcome return under any name, the deep golden colour, hoppy aroma, firm body, and lingering hop finish makes this a standout among B.C. pale ales. 

Brown Bear Ale (5.5%)  - A smooth, sweet, and delicious brown ale with just the right hop accent. Most enjoyable.

Black Bear Ale (5%) - A porter-style ale, very dark, with reddish hues, nice fluffy head. Big, malty body, with black berries and currants contributing a fruitiness that is obvious but not over-powering or syrupy. Nicely balanced bitterness. Every time I drink it, I like it better.

Umpire London Style Porter (7%) - (Seasonal?) A strong porter that is a rich and warming beverage for a cold winter night.  Very dark reddish-brown, with an aroma that is malty but doesn't hide the alcohol content.  A full-bodied, chocolately beer, with a bit of alcohol sharpness coming through.  The label says it is unfiltered, although there is no physical evidence and the beer, though very dark, does not appear cloudy.  I'm assuming this is a seasonal beer, given the robust flavour, alcohol strength, and the fact that it is available only in 650ml bottles.

Golden Bear Pale Ale (4.5%) - (Discontinued - see Albino Rhino above)

21st Century Champagne Ale (12%) - (Seasonal - 1999/2000) Even the check-out counter lady at the liquor store was hyping this one, so I was pretty wound up.  (The alcohol strength indicated is not a mis-print.)  I wasn't sure what to make of the attempt at replicating a champagne bottle - the cheesy label and plastic cork doesn't quite cut it.  Normally, a beer of this alcohol strength would fall into the classification of a barley-wine - although that generally implies a dark, thick ale.  This, then, must be considered a well-aged, highly carbonated, relatively light-coloured barley-wine.  It has a nice, clear, bronze colour.  The nose is actually reminiscent of champagne, or at least white wine, with its alcohol fruitiness.  Real warming mouthfeel, but remarkably smooth considering the alcohol content.  No evidence of hops, which is basically neither here nor there, as there is flavour enough.  Eminently drinkable, although perhaps not over a long session.  The fact that the 21st century doesn't start until January 1, 2001 seems to be lost on the brewery, but that's no uncommon misconception - or marketing angle, depending on how you want to look at it.  Anyway, it doesn't stop the brew from being a very suitable substitute for champagne on whatever New Year or other milestone you may be celebrating.  And I salute the lady at the check-out counter for her excellent taste.

Rethink Beer (4.5%) - Novelty beer produced in collaboration with marketing agency Rethink as an experiment.  'Herbal charged' with ginkgo, ginseng and tribulus because... well, because herbs are 'hot', right?  Comes in 6 packs with multi-purpose plastic case and its own website. Average tasting lager.  (They promise the herbs won't affect the taste.) Originally brewed at Tree Brewing, Rethink moved their contract to Bear after Tree ran into trouble in early 2001.

Return to Top of Brewery List

Bowen Island Brewing Co.

(see Whistler Brewing)

A self-proclaimed "English-style Cottage Brewery" that started up on a small island off the West Coast, just North of Vancouver in 1994.  In 1997, its operations were moved into Vancouver.   Some of their products have been available under contract to Earl's restaurants.  Distribution, in 650ml bottles and 355ml 6-packs, has been concentrated in the Vancouver and Victoria areas.  By late 1999, it (along with Coquihalla Brewing) had merged with Whistler Brewing and all production moved to Whistler.  (The Vancouver Bowen Island brewery is no apparently used as a film studio!) In further action, during 2001 production of Whistler and Bowen Island brands were moved to Bear Brewing in Kamloops.  As the shedding inevitably continues, hopefully the best of the Bowen Island brands will survive intact.

Bowen Blonde Ale (4.5%) - A very light, slightly sweet ale, with a flowery hop aroma and a refreshing bitterness in the finish.

Bowen Ale (4.5%) - (Discontinued) A standard pale ale.

Special Bitter (4.5%) - One of my favourite B.C. beers - a nicely balanced, smooth and hoppy reddish ale.

Winter Ale (4.5%) - Seasonal and/or discontinued.

Hemp Cream Ale (4.5%) - Bowen Island jumps on two bandwagons at once with the combination 'hemp' and 'cream' ale.  The result is a light golden beer with slight graininess in the flavour and a clean aftertaste.  Not sure what the hemp adds, but its a good enough all-around beer for supporters of the hemp 'movement'. (And who isn't!)

Original Hemp Lager (5.0%) - Okay, enough with the hemp gimmick already.

Return to Top of Brewery List

Cannery Brewing Company

12-1475 Fairview Road
Penticton, BC
250-493-2723

Started in mid-2001, using equipment from the defunkt Wildhorse Brewery formerly of Penticton.  One of the unusual features of the brewery is its preference for packaging its products in the ever-so-handy 'party-pigs', which are basically 10-litre (I believe) plastic bottles that are fitted with a tap.  An interior bladder filled with CO2 (or some other expandable gas) provides pressure while preventing contact with air, so you get a very convenient mini-keg for your fridge that stays fresh for many days (if it lasts that long).  

Skaha Bluffs - Described as a 'light brown ale.'

Giant's Head Gold - Described as a 'Canadian ale.'

Naramata Nut Brown Ale - A not-bad, relatively mild tasting brown ale.

Return to Top of Brewery List

Crannog Ales

Sorrento, BC

Newly opened (as of early 2000) by brewer Brain MacIsssac and his partner is Rebecca Kneen, this brewery is reportedly B.C.'s first certified organic ale producer.  Situated in the little interior town of Sorrento, not far from Kamloops.  Apparently put together with equipment from the failed Horseshoe Bay brewery.  Distribution in kegs only, mostly locally, but also at select establishments in Vancouver. Has won an award for its organic ales, see: www.proorganics.com/newsletter/Issue10/BC_Brewery_wins_Award.htm

Beyond the Pale Ale - A fine pale ale indeed.

Red Branch Irish Ale - Delicious big, malty Irish, the way it should be.

Back Hand of God Stout - Nicely rich stout.

Return to Top of Brewery List

Coquihalla Brewery Ltd.

(see Whistler Brewing)

Started in 1997 and originally located outside Vancouver in the Fraser Valley. The label states that the company has brought together dedicated experts with the goal of catering "to the unique tastes of all ethnic communities throughout North America."  In 1999, Coquihalla (along with Bowen Island) merged with Whistler Brewing.  Current status of Coquihalla products is unknown to me.  Suffice to say, they are not particularly missed.

Coquihalla Lager (5.2%) - About what you'd expect from a good lager. Deep golden colour, subdued hoppy aroma, and a clean taste. Slightly sweet, with just enough bitterness to let you know that it is a premium beer.

Return to Top of Brewery List

Fat Cat Brewery Ltd.

#2 - 940 Old Victoria Road
Nanaimo, BC

Opened in January, 2000, producing some adventurous beer styles, with catchy names, in small batches.  Cold beer store on location.  I haven't had the pleasure, so I can't say if the beer is as good as it sounds, but all three are described by the brewery as "very yummy."

Original Bohemian Pilsener

Fat Head I.P.A. 

Pompous Pompadour Porter

Return to Top of Brewery List

Granville Island Brewing

1125 Richter Street
Kelowna, BC
V1Y 2K6

One of the earliest microbreweries in B.C., it opened in 1984 on Vancouver's trendy/touristy Granville Island. Now part of Cascadia Brands Inc., along with a winery and distillery. With the change of ownership, production has moved to Cascadia's facilities in Kelowna. While certainly breaking ground for other breweries, the products have generally not veered far from the middle-of-the-road. All the beers conform to the Bavarian Purity Act. Wide availability of draft, bottled, and canned product. Recently revamped its product names and packaging to feature artist conceptions of some sights of Vancouver. Newest development is the "Prototap" series, which is a side-line of seasonal beers (1 per season) produced in limited quantities - a good way to add a little zest to the line-up.

Kitsilano Light (formerly Island Light) (4%) - light beer? no comment.

Island Lager (5%) - typical lager, with pleasant hoppy aroma.

Natural Draft (5%)

Cypress Honey Lager (4.8%)

English Bay Pale Ale (formerly Lord Granville Pale Ale) (5%)- Deep copper colour, rich malty aroma, decent mouth feel and a smooth malty flavour.

Gastown Amber Ale (formerly Anniversary Amber Ale) (5%) - An unusual and interesting aroma, with spicy notes. Fairly malty, sweet, and lightly hopped for a smooth, if unexceptional, taste. Falls short of the robust flavour of an Irish Ale, which it claims to be.

Brockton Black Lager (formerly Island Bock) (6.5%) - While I don't like to be too much of a stickler about beer style categories, Granville Island seems willing to toss around long-established terms like "black lager" and "bock" without any regard for the beer history and traditions they represent. In the process, they show little respect of their customers. First of all, it was arguable whether this did beer fit the profile of a true bock, although it fits the most basic qualification of being a strong lager. Secondly, the beer is far from black (it's a deep brown) and therefore doesn't make it as a traditional German black beer or "schwarzbier". It does have a hoppy nose, backed up by full maltiness. A full-bodied, malty beer with medium bitterness and a dry lager finish.

Marzen (Seasonal Prototap) (5.5%) - Marzen is a German style harkening back to a time when March was the last month of the brewing season and large stocks of lager were laid aside up in the cool mountains for drinking in the Fall.   It worked out so well, they started calling it 'Octoberfest'.  This beer fits the profile pretty well - deep amber colour (not the 'ruby red' that the label claims), fruity malty aroma, medium body characterized by sweet malts, very smooth, with short finish.

Christmas Ale (7.2%) - A Christmas ale designed in the mode of a Belgian Tripel, which is a traditional high-alcohol beer of Trappist monks.  This beer was produced in small batches at the brewery on Granville Island, as opposed to the company's major brewery in Kelowna, and aged in oak casks. Very dark ruby-coloured beer with lovely aroma of fruit, spices and herbs - a somewhat perfumey, but intriguing, combination.  I would guess some ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg.  The flavour is rich and even wine-like, although not acidic - the oaks casks may well have helped the complexity.  The fruitiness really comes through after a sip or two, as it warms up, and combines nicely with the maltiness.  Traditionally, a 'Tripel' is nowhere near this dark or fruit/spice-enhanced, so the designation is a bit pretentious, but a nice flavourful beer nonetheless and a good choice for a long romantic winter night.  Went very well with some Christmas butter tarts I had on hand.  650ml bottles only.       

Return to Top of Brewery List

Gulf Islands Brewing Co.

Salt Spring Island

Return to Top of Brewery List

Horseshoe Bay Brewing (defunkt)

Vancouver

This brewery has a somewhat checkered past going all the way back to the origins of B.C. microbrewery industry in 1982. It started out as a pub-brewery, was closed down for a while in the mid-80's, and opened again in 1987. After some quality control problems, the brewery stopped bottling beer in 1995. It went on to produce draft products for sale in the Vancouver area, and was reported to do a fair amount of private label draft to restaurants and pubs.  At one point, it joined the category of "breweries that started out by trying to cash in on their charming location, only to move to Vancouver in order to become economically viable." Brewery apparently closed down sometime in 2000, with equipment being used to setup the Crannog Ales in Sorrento.

Return to Top of Brewery List

Kimberley Brewing

Kimberly, BC
V0B 1Z0

This brewery opened in the Spring of 1997, produced a premium lager, and went down in early 1998.

Raven Premium Lager (5%?) - Light copper colour, nice hop aroma, with smooth, clean, but well-bodied flavour. Was voted Consumer's Choice at 1997 Okanagan Fest-of-Ale.

Return to Top of Brewery List

Lighthouse Brewing

Victoria

Started up around 1998, run by brewer/owner Paul Hoyne, producing beer in kegs for various establishments on Vancouver Island. (Thanks to Brett Foord for the info.)

Race Rocks Ale 

Beacon IPA

Keepers Stout

Return to Top of Brewery List

Mt. Begbie Brewing

Box 2995
201 C Victoria Road E.
Revelstoke, BC
V0E 2S0

Small brewery that opened in 1996. Recently started packaging in 650ml litre bottles with unique heritage-style photos on the labels.  An honest, unpretenious microbrewery that serves up some great unique beers. 

Alpine Amber Ale (4.8%) - Pleasant malty aroma, nice deep copper colour.  Delicious balance of slightly roasted maltiness and gentle hoppiness.  Smooth all around. 

High Country Kolsch (4.5%) - Bright golden colour, well carbonated.  Clean hop aroma reminiscient of good European lagers.  Not as thin-tasting as it looks, with some slight sweetness and light hop flavour and bitterness that comes through well.  Refreshing alternative to a standard Canadian lager.

Tall Timber Ale (5.5%) - Deep reddish-brown colour.   Malty, very fruity nose.  Malty, smooth flavour, with some caramel sweetness, very low bitterness.  Short, sweet finish.  Billed on the label as an 'English Brown Ale', but I'd suggest an Irish.  Check out the old photo of the guy dancing with a deer on the label.

Return to Top of Brewery List

Nelson Brewing Co.

512 Latimer Street
Nelson, BC
V1L 4T9

Located in a building that housed the original Nelson Brewing Co. over 100 years ago, although the current incarnation was established in 1991, after the brewery had been closed for many years. A small brewery that produces only English-style ales. Products are available as draft or in 6-packs of 341ml bottles. 6-packs are available at many liquor stores throughout the province, but draft availability is spotty outside the Nelson area.

Valhalla Gold (4.5%) - A light yellow ale with grassy hop aroma and clean flavour.

Old Brewery Ale (5.5%) - A good session pale ale with deep copper colour and a nice flowery hop aroma.

After Dark Ale (5.0%)- A brown ale with a strong roasty aroma, nice body, and a full, roasty, somewhat chocolatey flavour. Smooth and sweet, goes down easy.

Paddywhack IPA (6.5%) - Deep reddish/amber colour. Malty body, with a strong hit of hop flavour, bitterness, and alcohol bite. Overall, a fairly rough beer, certainly not for the timid.

Blackheart Oatmeal Stout (6.0%?) - Now available in bottles, it retains most of the excellence of the draft product, which is dispensed with nitrogen for a nice creamy head. Rich, complex, roasty and smooth with an accent of bitterness - everything you could want from a delicious stout.

Return to Top of Brewery List

Okanagan Spring Brewery

2801 - 27A Avenue
Vernon, BC
V1T 1T5

One of the early microbreweries in B.C., started in 1985 by German immigrants Jakob Tobler and Buko Von Krosigk. Jakob's son, Stefan, is a German-trained brewer, and naturally all the beers conform to the Bavarian Purity Law. The product line was originally oriented toward lagers, but the company soon found out that there was a much more enthusiastic market for ales among drinkers of microbrewery beer. The company has grown to the point where it may be considered a micro only when compared to Molson or Labatt, Canada's large national breweries. In 1996, the company was purchased by Sleeman Brewing and Malting of Guelph, Ontario, but it has, for all intents and purposes, continued operation as an independent brewery.  In 1999, Sleeman purchased Shaftebury Brewing and moved production to Okanagan Spring's facilities.  Products are widely available in 6-packs and 12-packs of 341ml bottles, 6-packs of 355ml cans, and the pale ale is widely available on tap.

Premium Lager (5.0%) - Pale straw colour; standard light-tasting, low-bitterness lager with slightly more flavour than a regular "big-brewery" beer. I guess that's why they call it "Premium."

Spring Pilsner (4.5%) - A crisp, refreshingly clean-tasting pilsner, with a nice smack of hops in the finish. Unfortunately, this superb beer has been discontinued.  (Replaced in late 1999 by "Traditional Pilsner" described below.)

Traditional Pilsner (5.0%) - Golden and crystal-clear, with spicy hop aroma and fluffy head, this is a light tasting beer with a some hop flavour and a bit of a bitter finish.  Doesn't quite live up to the memory of the excellent Spring Pilsner that used to be produced, but not a bad rendition of a classic style.

Honey Blonde Ale (5.0%) - A clear yellow beer with poor head retention. Faint hop aroma, fresh-tasting with a lightly crisp hoppy finish.

Extra Special Pale Ale (5.0%) - A bronze-coloured beer, with a mild malty, slightly fruity aroma. Mouth feel is light, with a dry finish. Poor head retention. This is Okanagan Spring's flagship brand, and the most popular pale ale in B.C.

Autumn Red Ale (5.6%) - A beer that nicely bridges the gap between a standard pale ale and a malty brown ale. Amber slightly reddish colour. Nice malty aroma with hops in the background. Firm mouth feel and clean malty flavour. Nice malty, but not sweet, finish.

Classic Brown Ale (5.6%) - Medium brown colour, malty aroma, medium body; bit of a rough taste, with a somewhat unpleasant finish.

Old English Porter (8.5%) - For a long time, the highest alcohol B.C. beer. A thick, black beer with complex roasty, nutty, sweet flavour that packs a punch. Richly satisfying. One of British beer writer Michael Jackson's favourite B.C. beers.

St. Patrick Stout (5.5%)

Return to Top of Brewery List

Old Yale Brewing Co.

Vedder Crossing
Chilliwack

This very small brewery was started in early 2000 by Larry Caza.  Currently selling draught beer in kegs and half kegs.  Everything I hear about this brewery is good - from the 'Sierra Nevada influence' to the use of whole hops.  One to look out for if you are in the Chilliwack area.

Return to Top of Brewery List

The Phillips Brewing Co.

Victoria

(Information courtesy of Richard Sweet)

This brewery was started in 2001 by Matt Phillips, formerly a brewer at Spinnakers Brewpub, Whistler Brewing and Wildhorse Brewing, adding to the already burgeoning Victoria beer scene.  So far, the company's line-up has been all winners, with the possible exception of an organic beer that was played with - and then dropped - in 2002. (Have to salute a guy for trying...) Products are available in 650ml bottles.

Raspberry Wheat (5%) - Seasonal, scheduled to return summer '03.

India Pale Ale  (6.5%) - Matt Phillips dares to go where no B.C. micro-brewery has gone before: a sturdy, well-hopped, unfiltered IPA!  A most welcome addition to the B.C. beer scene, this is an outstanding choice for those who like to taste the brewer's art in its full, hoppy glory.  Available in 650ml bottles.

Expresso Stout (5%) - Big, delicious stout.

Maple Cream - Easy-going, quite likeable brew.

Honey Pale Ale

Return to Top of Brewery List

R&B Brewing Co.

54 East 4th Avenue
Vancouver, BC
V5T 1E8
(604) 874-2537

A brewery that opened in September, 1997, serving its local Vancouver market with draft beer only.  In late 2000, R&B commenced limited distribution of bottled beers.  The brewery was started by Rick Dellow and Barry Benson, a couple of guys who have been around the professional brewing scene for a while and ought to have a pretty good idea of what it takes to put together a first-class operation that produces outstanding ales.

Red Devil Ale (5.5%) - Deep copper colour with rich, malty, slightly chocolately aroma. A firm-bodied well-balanced beer, with a smooth hop finish.

R&B's Raven Ale (4.0%) - Described as "a traditional English mild." Brown in colour with a smooth malty flavour.  Not exceptional, but a well-rounded brown ale.  Available in 650ml bottles.

Return to Top of Brewery List

Russell Brewing Co.

Vancouver, BC

Opened in 1995. According to promotional literature, this brewery, which opened in 1995, "aspires to make the best beer you've ever tasted." Sounds good. The same material indicates the beers "boast no after taste." Sounds boring. The products are available as draft only, and only in the Vancouver area.

Russell's Cream Ale (5%) - A rich, smooth tasting brown ale, with nice body. Unfortunately, the lack of after taste means it disappears down your throat without any lingering sense of enjoyment.

Russell's Amber Ale (5.5%)- Light amber that is actually paler than the Cream Ale (tradtionally Cream Ale is a golden colour). A smooth but uneventful beer with low bitterness.

Return to Top of Brewery List

Shaftebury Brewing Co.

(See Okanagan Spring Brewery)

Now part of the Sleeman Breweries empire, Shaftebury was started in 1986 by Tim Wittig and Paul Beaton, two young entrepreneurs who cottoned on to the idea of starting a microbrewery in Vancouver for fun and profit. Sales were originally limited to draft in the Vancouver area, where they became popular among fans of British-style ales. Shaftebury taps are instantly recognizable, as they feature a porcelain bald brewing-guy with apron. By late 1995, growth prompted a move from within Vancouver to a new facility in the nearby suburb of Delta. With the purchase of the company by Sleeman Breweries in early 1999, the Delta plant shutdown and production moved on up to the Okanagan Spring brewery in Vernon, B.C.

Honey Pale Ale (5.3%) - A light, refreshing ale that still manages to deliver some flavour - a very big seller for Shaftebury. Bitterness is low, a slight citrus flavour in the finish.

Hefeweizen (?%) Discontinued - Cloudy, yellowy colour due to bottle conditioning, traditional for German wheat beers. Yeasty aroma. Slightly tart flavour, mildly bitter finish.  

Summer Solstice Ale (4.5%) - New entry as of Summer 2000, this is a rather plain, light wheat beer that goes down easy on those hot Summer days.

Long Beach Lager (5%)

Hemp Ale (5%) 

Cream Ale (4.8%) - Shaftebury's flagship ale, the beer that inspired several other mis-named "cream ales" by B.C. breweries. (Traditionally, cream ale is a light-coloured, light-bodied lager fermented at warm temperatures to create a somewhat ale-like flavour.) This beer is reddish-brown and medium-bodied, with a fruity aroma, a slight citrusy tartness, and low bitterness.

Rainforest Amber Ale (5%) - Deep amber colour, nice body, mildly malty flavour nicely rounded out by gentle hop bitterness.

Paul and Tim's Original Ale (5.5%) Discontinued, since Paul and Tim are no longer in charge - This beer replaced the E.S.B., partly because the company felt the term "bitter" was scaring off too many customers. (Those that weren't scared off were probably disappointed with the lack of bitterness.) The result is a hearty brown ale with robust malty flavour and a nice dry hoppy finish.  

Wetcoast Winter Ale (8.5%) - A strong seasonal ale, supplemented with blackstrap molasses and golden syrup. The 1997/98 version was rich and malty, with some cinnamon notes.

Return to Top of Brewery List

Storm Brewing

310 Commercial Drive
Vancouver, BC
(604) 255-9119

A very small brewery in Vancouver, cobbled together in 1995 by James Walton, and serving its local area with draft only. Known for some off-kilter offerings brewed with care and imagination, the most famous of which is perhaps the Espresso Stout, brewed using coffee beans.

Return to Top of Brewery List

Tall Ship Ale Co.  (sunk)

Squamish, BC

An outfit that in many ways embodied what a craft brewery should be all about - bold, unique beers made with care and attention. Alas, the Tall Ship has gone under. Designed and built by homebrewers Bill Herdman and David Philp, the brewery started producing in 1994 and left a definite stamp on the B.C. brewing scene until disappearing over the horizon in late 1998.

Ale (5%) - Deep amber colour, malty, somewhat yeasty aroma. A richly flavoured pale ale, with a spicy hop finish. Smooth and drinkable, it is one of the more assertive B.C. pale ales.

Raspberry Ale (5.5%)

India Pale Ale (7.5%)

Black Ship Ale (5.6%)

Smoked Porter (6%) - A rich, malty, full-flavoured porter, with a definite smokiness in the aroma and taste, from the use of smoked malt. A distinctive treat, although it seems to have lost some colour and robustness since it was originally introduced.

Russian Imperial Stout (9.5%) - at close to $15.00/6 pack, probably the most expensive beer ever produced in B.C., but lovers of strong, robust beers were richer for the experience. Deep black, with a big malty nose and an rich, aggressive flavour that makes a regular stout seem like a pale ale, this beer somehow manages to maintain a fine balance between dark malts, bitter hops, and alcohol flavours.

Return to Top of Brewery List

The Tin Whistle Brewing Co.

954 Eckhardt
Penticton, BC
V2A 2C1

A small brewery producing English-style ales.  Started in 1995 by local entrepreneurs with an interest in beer but little brewing experience.  With the help of brewery consultant Frank Appleton, they soon got up to speed.  Products were initially sold in kegs and 650ml bottles.  Tin Whistle products are no longer carried by the BC Liquor stores, although you can still get their beers on tap at select locations. The name comes from a locomotive that once rode the historic Kettle Valley Railway in the area. The brewery was sold in the winter of 1998, although ownership has remained local.

Coyote Ale (5%) - A pale ale. Company representatives claim they make this beer to pay the bills so they can afford to make the Rattlesnake E.S.B.

Black Widow Dark Ale (5%) - A nice full, malty aroma and pleasant, smooth, slightly roasty flavour. Low bitterness.

Rattlesnake E.S.B. Ale (5%) - While it doesn't fit the traditional E.S.B. profile in terms of colour (too light) or alcohol content (too low), it does have a good smack of hop bitterness to it. Can have a somewhat astringent graininess, but worth it for the hops.

Killer Bee Dark Honey Ale (6%) - A friendly, delicious ale, the ingredients of which include 4 specialty honeys and "a hint of spice." Very dark brown , big malty aroma, with inviting hop aroma in the background. Full-flavoured and smooth, with just enough of a hop accent to balance the sweet maltiness.

Return to Top of Brewery List

Tree Brewing Co.

1083 Richter Street
Kelowna, BC
V1Y 2K6

After a failed joint venture attempt in late 2000, Tree Brewing fell under control of Okanagan Beverage Corp., which uses the former Tree facilities to continue to produce Tree brands, as well as brewing the products of Peak Brewing Co.

Opened in Spring of '96, using Shaftebury's original brewing equipment, which was no longer needed due to Shaftebury's move. Geoff Twyman, owner/operator of a local wine lab, started the company and hired a young German-trained brewer. It originally billed itself as a lager house, with the intention of standing out in a sea of craft-brewed ales. They quickly came to realize, as Okanagan Spring did 10 years earlier, that "ale" is the magic word for B.C. beer enthusiasts. The company has been known for frequent overhauls of its packaging, in apparent attempts to keep consumers on their toes.  Desperately in need of cash, the company tried to form a joint venture with Okanagan Beverage Corp. in late 2000, but this was perhaps too little, too late, and the whole operation fell into the hands of Okanagan Beverage Corp. in March, 2001.  The future of the various Tree brands is uncertain. 

Fireweed Honey Pilsner (5%) - A nice enough lager, though a bit sweet and full-bodied for me to buy the label's claim that it is in the "classic pilsner" style.  Low bitterness in the finish.  Originally available in 650ml bottles only, now in regular six packs.

Pale Ale (5%) - Fairly typical Pale Ale - light hop aroma, gold colour, slightly sweet, mild hop finish - launched in the Summer of '99. I'll have another. Features new upscale-generic label.

Amber Ale (5%) - This beer seems to have lightened up in recent months to the point where it is more bronze than amber. Mild malty nose, with hops in the background. Not exactly a subtle beer, it offers some sweet maltiness, with a dry, slightly rough hop finish.

Hophead India Pale Ale (5.8%) - Copper in colour, with a rich head throwing off fragrant hop aroma and a deeply bitter finish, there's no doubt that this is a heavy-duty IPA.  If you like the big hoppy beers, you won't be able to walk away from this one - its about as big as it gets in B.C., with only Nelson Brewing's Paddywack IPA as a close competitor in the micro-brewery market.  As of April, 2000 available only in selected draft outlets.

Blonde Lager (4.5%) - (Discontinued in favour of Fireweed Pilsner.)  Finally, what the B.C. market needs - a good 'blonde' lager.  (Yeah, right.)  Anyway, a typically clear golden colour with clean hop aroma.  Slightly sweet and effervescent in the mouth, with the clean dry finish.

Red Ale (5%) - (Dropped from the line-up in favour of Hophead IPA.) Clear garnet red, strong roasty aroma with flowery hops in background. A rugged beer with rich malty and hop flavour that do not seem particularly well-balanced. Higher than average bitterness, but somewhat harsh. When I had this beer on tap, it seemed to be less rough and better balanced than the bottle version, and much more delicious as a result.

Lager (5%) - (Discontinued in favour of Blonde Lager.) Yellow, but not as clear as expected. Slightly hoppy, yeasty aroma. Clean flavour with well-balanced bitterness. More flavour than the average lager.

Spy Dark Lager (5%) - (Discontinued.)  Black beer with reddish highlights. Very rich and malty, backed up by a clean lager bitterness.  A heavy duty beer.

London Spy Porter (5%) - (Winter only 1999/2000) No sense hiding the fact that the porter style is one of my favourites and this new limited edition beer measures up pretty well.  A deep dark ruby-brown with big roasty malt aroma and thick, tasty mouth of roasty malt.  Smooth and well-rounded, the finish is nicely placed between bitter and sweet.  An excellent accompaniment to a hot steak and kidney pie on a cold winter's night.  Available in 650ml bottles only.  Limited Christmas season release.

Old Stumplifter (6.5%) - (Winter only 1999/2000) This year's model of the Spiced Winter Ale that Tree has produced the last two winter seasons.  An enticing and very clear reddish bronze colour with a sweet, fruity aroma with malty background.  Relatively mild-tasting beer with some interesting but not over-powering fruit and spice flavours.  Perhaps even deceptively tame, as quaffing one of the 650ml bottles is easy enough, and sure to give anyone a nice Christmas glow.  Undoubtedly a good match for some heavy-duty fruitcake.  650ml bottles only.

Spiced Winter Ale (7%) - (Winter only 1998/99) A wicked, robust ale spiced liberally with cinnamon, orange peel, and coriander(?). Available in limited quantities in the depths of winter only.  Replaced in the 1999/2000 season by Old Stumplifter (see above).

Return to Top of Brewery List

Vancouver Island Brewing Co.

Victoria, BC

The B.C. beer renaissance first got a real toe-hold on Vancouver Island, where the first successful brewpubs were put together in the early 1980's. This brewery, originally called Island Pacific soon followed. It has seen some stormy seas since then, but a major change for the better occurred in 1995, when it moved to a larger, more visible, modern facility. Part of the plan at that time, which involved a revamping of all packaging, was to make more substantial in-roads into the mainland market. This does not quite seem to have come to fruition, although 6-packs of 341ml bottles are available at many liquor stores. Some brands available in 650ml bottles. Draft is available only on Vancouver Island and in Vancouver.

Victoria Lager (5%)

Vancouver Island Blonde (?%) - Pale straw colour, light flavour with a crisp hoppy finish. Not as clean a taste as might be expected.

Piper's Pale Ale (5%) - An above average Pale ale that seems to have developed since I last tasted it a couple of years ago.  The hop character comes through quite nicely, leaving a pleasantly bitter finish on a medium-bodied beer.

Victoria Weizen (5.2%) - This beer was dropped from the lineup in the fall of 1997. You still can't get a good Weizen in B.C.

Hermann's Dark Lager (5.5%) - A black beer with reddish tinge at the edges.  Big dark malt, chocolatey, roasty aroma.  Dry, with low bitterness, it fills the mouth with rich dark chocolatey flavour, but not overly sweet. 

Hermannator Ice Bock (8%)

Wolf's Scottish Cream Ale (6%) - Huh? What is it with B.C. brewers and "Cream Ale"? As usual, the term is irrelevant here. A good sturdy Scottish ale it is, though. Deep mahogany colour, big malty aroma, sweet malt flavour with chocolate and slight alcohol edge.

Return to Top of Brewery List

Whistler Brewing Co.

Whistler, BC

Located in one of North America's premiere ski resort towns, started producing beer in 1989. Several ownership/management changes have created a somewhat unstable track record. Products have been fairly widely available in 6-packs of unique (in B.C.) 355ml bottles, 650ml bottles, and recently 6-packs of cans.  In 1999, merged with Coquihalla and Bowen Island and consolidated the brewing operations of those brands at the Whistler facility.  As of 2001, Whistler and Bowen Island brands are being brewed at Bear Brewing in Kamloops. I believe the Whistler brewhouse was purchased and dismantled by Big Rock Brewery of Calgary, Alberta.

Avalanche (5%) - (Discontinued) a pilsner.

Premium Lager (5%)

Mountain Lager (5%) - (Discontinued) Cans only, presumably same beer as Premium Lager.

Mother's Pale Ale (5%)

Premium Pale Ale (5%) - Cans only, presumably same beer as Mother's Pale Ale.

Hemp Blonde Ale (5%) - (Discontinued)

Hemp Pale Ale (5%) - (Discontinued) What is it with the hemp thing that Bowen Island/Whistler has going?  And what is it with the plethora of over-lapping brands that Whistler is foisting?  3 different varieties of pale ale??  Something's gotta give. (It did.)

Cream Ale (4.5%) - (Discontinued) Another B.C. "Cream Ale" (Shaftebury, Russel Bros) that defies the traditional description of a Cream Ale (light-coloured ale fermented at colder than normal temperatures). This is an amber/light brown colour with a malty, roasty nose. Good mouth feel and malty flavour with mild bitterness. Not bad - for a brown ale.

Black Tusk Ale (5.5%) - A black beer, revealing deep red at the edges. Malty aroma, strong, roasted malt flavour. Sharply chocolately bitterness, with fairly clean finish. A robust, enjoyable beer.

Return to Top of Brewery List

Wild Horse Brewing Company (rode into sunset)

Penticton, BC (out of business)

A brewery that started producing in the fall of 1997, distributing draft to local establishments. Started off with three brands in draft, eventually  available in regular 6-packs.  Company went out of business in 1999.  Too bad, as their beers were quite drinkable and created a unique marketing image.

Natural Blonde Ale - your average blonde ale.

Pale Ale - an above average pale ale, with some good bitterness to it.

Night Ride Dark Ale - Earthy brown colour and rich, malty aroma. Smooth flavours of malt followed by a clean, relatively dry finish.

Return to Top of Brewery List

DISTILLERS

SITE  INDEX