How much do we beer / tech nerds love twitter? Enough that we find out about major moves in our local scene via tweets. What the hell am I talking about? Well, Rick Green, president of CAMRA Vancouver, head of the BC Craft Brewers Association, blogger, and I think part time ninja recently tweeted that Tin Whistle Brewery is for sale! Obviously that means many of us BC beers nuts are running to our bank accounts to see the balance in hopes we can be the ones to purchase Tin Whistle, no doubt letting out a large sigh, having to settle for a bomber of the chocolate cherry porter instead.

For those of you who have never heard of Tin Whistle, they are a small brewery producing English-style ales. Started in 1995 by local Penticton entrepreneurs with an interest in beer but little brewing experience, they soon got up to speed with the help of brewery consultant Frank Appleton. Products were initially sold in kegs and 650ml bottles. The brewery was sold in the winter of 1998, although ownership has remained local. After flying low on the radar for a while, the brewery has produced some solid products in recent years, even impressing an english video blogger or two.

I’m not about to rush out and encourage everyone to buy Tin Whistle, mostly because I wish I could and I’d be insanely jealous. However, I do hope whoever purchases the brewery manages to continue building on the momentum that Tin Whistles previous owners have worked hard to generate. The brand, although small, has tons of potential and I would hate for it to die for no reason. Everyone in the BC craft scene you better keep an eye out on this situation!

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