Many people are unaware of BC when it comes to being a beer region. Despite this fact, its staggering just how much good product is coming out of BC breweries. That is why when I sat down to pick the best brewery in BC for 2009 it was no small task. I will state that this opinion comes from a number of factors, and the conclusion was not came to lightly. Considerations include not only quality of beers, but how the participate in the local craft industry, their accessibility, presentation, and marketing. With this in mind I present truecask.com’s best BC brewery of 2009:

Driftwood Brewery is not exactly a long standing BC establishment. In fact, it has only been around since the spring of 2008. Founded by two of BC’s most passionate and experienced brewers, Jason Meyer and Kevin Hearsum; Driftwood Brewery set out to create brews in the tradition of classic world styles, using only the finest local ingredients. A perfect example of this being their recently sold out Sartori Harvest IPA, a fresh hop ale using wet hops from one of BC’s few remaining growers. Add to this their raved about belgian style brews & ever improving cask conditioned efforts, and their claim to the title of BC’s best brewery is all but cemented. Not only that, but it could be argued this puts them on the right track to compete with some of the US’s best hop houses brew for brew.

I will state that this is just the tip of the iceberg for British Columbia’s ever growing craft beer scene. When you consider the insane value of Central City’s efforts, the unrestrained creativity of Storm Brewing, and Phillips Brewing’s perfectly executed marketing, what you have is a scene on the verge of taking that next step. I suggest you get onboard now before the bandwagon is full.

Earlier today I got this email from Erik Boles, one of the masterminds behind Beer Tap TV and good friend of truecask.com. The gist of his letter was this: Monster Energy Drink, a Coca-Cola distributed beverage brand is suing a small Vermont brewery over a trademark issue. Despite the fact that the lawsuit is complete baseless, there is little the brewer can do simply because of financial limitations. We, the craft beer community, must do whatever we can in order to stop this from going any further. I don’t even have access to the beer this brewery makes, as I’m sure many of you don’t. However, if we allow this to happen what is to say another major company won’t come after another tiny brewery and slowly but surely destroy everything we love so dearly. I implore you, take Erik’s lead, stand up, let your voice be heard, and fight this as best as you can.

From Erik…

—

Dear friends,

If you have not yet heard. RockArt Brewery, a small, family owned brewery in Vermont, started by Matt and his wife Renee, are being sued by Hansen Beverage, the makers of Monster Energy Drink.

Why the lawsuit? Hansen believes that the new beer from RockArt, Vermonster, is a trademark infringment and feels people will get confused between their huge black and bright green can and the brown bottle of beer.

As we started to dig, it looks like Hansen Beverage actually wants to get into the beer business, and this could be part of the suit. We cover this on todays episode of Beer Buzz (Link).

Won’t you please join the taphead nation in standing up for what is right in america. Boycott Monster Energy drink. How you can help:

• If you are on twitter, add a twibbon to your avatar: Support Rock Art Brewery Twibbon
• If you are on facebook join the group: Vermonters and Craft Beer Drinkers Against Monster

Furthermore, if you are really gonna dig in, email the folks at Hansen beverage and let them know that if they do this, they should also be suing Monster.com, the cookie monster, Terrapin Brewing (makers of Big Hoppy Monster), or Ben & Jerry’s ice cream for their huge sunday, also called The Vermonster. (wiki)

Contact link for Monster Energy parent company

Thanks to everyone in the taphead nation for sticking together and doing what’s right!

Erik Boles

You can hear the tumble weeds rolling through the BC craft scene today. All over the province tap-houses are empty, barstools unoccupied, and pints left unfilled. Although this sounds devastating, rest assured its one of the best things to happen to our scene all year. Why is that? Well you see, today marks the start of the Great Canadian Beer Festival. Hop-heads from all over the pacific north west, Canada, and the world have made their way to Victoria BC in order to participate in the best beer fest Canada has to offer. I am a day away from my trip to the GCBF so in order to keep myself from fidgeting to death, I bring you this week’s Beer News!

Hoppin’ Frog Wins Best Double IPA in America!

Hoppin’ Frog Brewing Company just won Best Double I.P.A. In America with Mean Manalishi, at the 2009 U.S. Beer Tasting Championships! Best Double I.P.A. In America is an award that Hoppin’ Frog is thrilled to receive, because this category is so respected by the lovers of really flavorful craft beer, and is usually dominated by west coast breweries with their close proximity to the hop growers. (via The Full Pint)

British Brewery Numbers Soar

Britain has more small breweries than any other major industrialised nation, according to the Good Beer Guide. Despite falling beer sales and pub closures running at a rate of 50 a week, 71 breweries were established in the last year alone, capitalise on demand for quirkier ales. (via The Independent)

Joe Sixpack: Searching far and wide for an IPA

Inventors, tinkers, explorers, writers and just plain dreamers: These Monty Pythonesque characters may be loons, but they sure do spice up the rest of our dreary lives. Oscar Wilde decorated with peacock feathers. Aristocrat Stephen Tennant spent his life in bed. Francis Henry Egerton, 8th Earl of Bridgewater, hosted banquets for dogs. Keith Moon of the Who blew up toilets. Prince Charles talked with his plants. (via Philly.com)

Make a Kegerator

If you’re serious about cold beer, you will eventually find yourself yearning for a kegerator. Finding a used one is hard to do, so you are left with two options: You can buy a new one, or convert an old refrigerator. (via Wired Wiki)

I know that last one is not exactly news, but all us hop-heads love our beer toys, so why not? I am going to make my way to Victoria tomorrow morning with fellow BC beer blogger Andy The Beer Man. Make sure to keep your eyes on truecask.com for Great Canadian Beer Fest coverage, and check out my twitter for real time updates!

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!

Quite the week has passed in the world of beer. As you read this, I am on the road traveling into the Canadian wilderness. I am on a trip to attend a wedding full of small town people who appreciate hard work and the simple things in life. Sort of ironic when you think the odds of macro beer being served at the wedding are high, all while macro-breweries are off suing as many blue collar micro-breweries as they can. Goes to show even the simple folk aren’t immune to big budget marketing…

Anheuser-Busch Sues Small Calgary Brewery

One theory, when it comes to the legend of lime juice and beer, is the citrus acted as a repellent for flies that might land on the rim of the bottle. (via North Bay Nugget)

Anheuser Sues Ontario Brewery Over Labels With Lime

Anheuser-Busch Cos. and Labatt Brewing Co. sued Brick Brewing Co., claiming the Canadian brewery is infringing their trademarks with the use of limes and the color green on its labels. (via Bloomberg)

Breaking Up Big Beer

Big Beer looks as if it’s testing President Obama’s tolerance. Both Anheuser-Busch InBev—purveyor of the president’s preferred brew, Bud Light—and MillerCoors, a joint venture between SABMiller and Molson Coors (TAP), are raising prices at the same time, during a recession, and while beer demand is slumping. (via The Big Money)

An Abundance of Local Seasonal Brews

The most popular beer style purchased by American craft beer consumers used to be pale ale. It is now “seasonal,” which is not a style but had to be counted somehow by the people who measure such things. (via Indy Week)

Clearly, the macro-breweries are pissing off a lot of people. Ideally, the craft brewers out there will take note, not get too discouraged when they are challenged, and keep striving to steal market share from the big boys. Maybe then we’ll see more of those oh-so-loved seasonal beers hit store shelves.

It’s Friday again. Aside from this marking the start of a weekend of overindulgence, it also means that it’s time for another Beer News weekly round-up. I must say I am a bit boggled at the amount of craft beer news I can throw at you every week. I have decided to pick a cross-section of articles and encourage you to hunt down the rest yourself!

Beer makers turn waste into fuel

Brewers can recover 50 percent of energy costs from leftovers. After beer is made, the waste from breweries could help generate power, researchers now suggest. (via Courier Times)

Raise a glass to ‘beer country’

When it comes to taking spirited vacations, wandering a vineyard falls flat in the face of handcrafted brew. With more than 1,500 breweries across the United States, beer is not just a drink — it’s a destination. (via CNN)

Is Bigger Really That Much Better?

This week, Sigel’s announced that it is taking early orders for a dozen 6-liter bottles of Unibroue’s La Fin Du Monde golden ale. (via Dallas Observer)

Beer price hikes are brewing

Like other food manufacturers, MillerCoors and Anheuser-Busch, the nation’s two largest brewers, have been hit by rising commodity prices. (via LA Times)

If you happen to be in Vancouver, make sure you check out the Gastown Cask Carouse tomorrow hosted by the good people at CAMRA. I’ll be there enjoying a few pints from R&B Brewery and discussing all things hops and barley with good friends. Make sure to keep a look out for Cask Cast tomorrow, truecask.com’s weekly round up of best beer shows the internet has to offer.

It seems like every week momentum behind the craft beer movement builds. That may seem a little out of the blue, but when you consider the underlying reasons, it starts to make sense. History has proven that in times of recession personal entertainment budgets turn from big purchases like vacations and boats, to smaller financial commitments like movies, CD’s, and beer. Add in the facts that big breweries are losing market share, imports aren’t moving units like they used to, and the craft scene is becoming more visible thanks to social media, and what we have here is a leveling of the playing field.

Stone Brewing reports heady growth, hiring plans

Stone Brewing Co. keeps powering its way through the recession with more growth.

The brewer said Wednesday it increased production of its craft beers by 24 percent in the first half of 2009. By year’s end, it expects to make more than 100,000 barrels, more than a 20 percent increase over 2008. (via North County Times)

Craft beer sales rise

National sales of craft beer — an increasingly large part of Colorado’s economy — rose 9 percent in the first half of 2009 despite the economic downturn, the Boulder-based Brewers Association reported Monday. (via Denver Business Journal)

Economy brews ‘perfect storm’ for boutique beer

Boutique beers are the new cocktail as more money-conscious Americans choose cheaper high quality draft beers made by small local breweries over wine and spirits amid the country’s recession, experts say. (via Canada.com)

Boutique Beers (CNBC Video)

Craft beer flows strong through recession, with Justin Phillips, Beer Table and Paul Gatza, Brewers Association. (via CNBC.com)

Challenges Facing Craft Brewers in Recession (Fox Business Video)

Local Brewery owners Dan Kopman, Brett Vanderkamp and Rick Rauch on competing with large breweries during a recession. (via Fox Business)

In addition to this recent mainstream media coverage is a plethora of passionate craft drinkers out there giving you info straight from the scene. I’ve talked to a number of quality video bloggers who focus on beer and have their blessing to embed their content on to truecask.com. I haven’t yet decided the frequency or timing of the beer video round-up quite yet but look for it in the In The Cask category.

There has been a ton of stuff going on this week in the world of beer. From Nevadafish Heads to Tour De Fat hitting the ultimate bike city things are buzzing. I’m not about to report these stories as my own; however, I think its important for craft beer fans to keep up on what is going on in our world. Click the titles to read the full story.

Sierra Nevada and Dogfish Head to release ‘Life & Limb’ Collaboration

This fall independent craft brewers Sierra Nevada and Dogfish Head, will release two collaborative beers. Limb & Life-a draft-only beer-will debut in October; with Life & Limb 24oz bottles and limited draft to follow in November. (via Dogfish Head blog)

Beer could stop bones going brittle

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