This past labor day weekend I made my way east for about eight hours in a car with two other people and one rambunctious dog. We were heading to Rossland BC to attend the wedding of a close friend and take in some of the gorgeous scenery. Now, I am no stranger to the Kootenay-Columbia region of BC as I grew up there, so I knew craft beer is not exactly abundant. That said, the few local brewers have been expanding their reach and I was hopeful I would be able to get my hands on some of their offerings. Although few in numbers, the local breweries did not disappoint, proving even the rural areas of BC are brewing up some epic beers. Of these one beer stood out the most…

What The Huck? from Fernie Brewing Company blew my socks off. Much like the R&B Brewing Raspberry Sun Wheat God, the What The Huck? uses real huckleberries in the fermentation process, allowing the beer to ’sit’ on the berries. The result is a great session beer, perfect for the summer patio season. That said, there isn’t a ton special about another wheat beer with berries, so why am I giving this brew so much hype? Well you see, it’s the use of a local berry instead of using a standard flavor that makes it stand out. Brewers everywhere are making raspberry beers, but the use of huckleberries reminded me of my younger days. We used to climb the slopes of Red Mountain to pick these dark purple, deliciously sweet berries in order to make pancakes and a few dollars from local restaurants. Any beer that can send me back to a time before I even drank beer? Hard to beat that; other brewers take note!

Categories: