An Insider's View of the CAMRA South Fraser Situation

I have to let everyone know I am currently involved with the Campaign for Real Ale of BC as president of the Powell River Branch which also gives me a seat on the CAMRA BC Executive. Since 2011 I have held a seat on the CAMRA BC Executive representing either CAMRA Vancouver or Powell River which has given me a bird's eye view of what has occurred with the CAMRA South Fraser branch. The views put forward here are mine, and not sanctioned by CAMRA BC in any way, but things from my insider's perspective.

Before I get started here on the subject of the temporary, and I stress temporary, suspension of operations of the South Fraser branch of CAMRA BC, I want to just put it out there that we need to remember that this is just about craft beer.

So take a deep breath, relax and let us put things into perspective here.

This is not about finding a cure for cancer, fighting ISIS or about eliminating world hunger nor has anyone been put out on the street or lost their ability to feed themselves or their family.

No one from the CAMRA BC side of things has made disrespectful personal comments about those involved in CAMRA South Fraser nor made claims of intentional wrong doing.

Much has actually been done to insulate and protect those involved with the SF executive and that is probably the main reason the issues have not been common knowledge.

No one has been "thrown under the bus," to quote one of the tweets I saw out there related to this situation. People need to take responsibility for their actions or lack of actions in relation to their current situation, including myself and the rest of the BC executive.

From my perspective, the SF executive did not do a lot to help themselves. According to CAMRA BC president, Ari Dressler, they did not respond to multiple requests, "to provide budgets, minutes, financials and membership information".  They also did not help themselves by not representing themselves at the last BC Executive meeting after they had been put on notice from the BC president and the subject of CAMRA South Fraser had been put on the agenda.

Maybe there are valid and compelling reasons why these requests were not fulfilled and representation was not present at the last meeting, but I have not heard the reasons why.

And, on the flip side, if the BC executive acted differently and took more control early on in the branch's existence, the branch may have traveled down a different path and grown into a fully functioning and healthy branch of CAMRA BC.

On November 23rd, Dressler, announced, "that the CAMRA BC Executive has taken the difficult decision to suspend the South Fraser Branch of CAMRA BC until a vote can be held at our AGM (you can read the entire announcement here).

As a member of the BC Executive for the past five years, and having been there since Day One of the South Fraser branch, I can tell you this decision came after quite some debate, a debate that goes back over two years and three BC executives.

The decision was a difficult one but the difficult decision had to be made.

I know, in some circles, emotions are running high and people are going on the offensive to protect themselves or their friends. I get that and I get that everyone is entitled to their opinion and have the right to voice them, as long as those opinions are not attacking individuals or offensive.

I will put it out there that many of the negative comments on social media and complaints via e-mail are based on partial information, partial truths and a few bizarre and borderline delusional interpretations on what has occurred since 2013.

Quite simply, since inception, the South Fraser's branch executive teams, and there have been more than one executive team involved, have put CAMRA BC in a position of being in violation of  the Society Act of BC which jeopardizes the entire society's reputation and existence.

The CAMRA South Fraser branch executive has also, on an almost-continuous basis since inception, been in contravention of CAMRA operating procedures and policies, CAMRA BC by-laws and have not responded, whether intentionally or not, to numerous directives and requests from the CAMRA BC Executive to comply.

This branch has been a disaster on the executive level since the early days when the original executive disintegrated, with the majority quitting due to internal conflict, within the first two months of existence.The executives who have been dealing with SF since the first AGM were dealt a difficult hand as the branch's foundations were already unsteady, but from what I have seen, there has been little done to repair even the most basic issues, such as organizing a functioning bank account and keeping a current and accurate membership list.

This is not to say that those who have been involved with the CAMRA SF executive are not good people, lovers of what CAMRA is about and dedicated supporters of the craft beer revolution.

I really do really do believe that most, if not all, are good people.

This is not to say that these same people are banned from holding CAMRA executive positions again at either the branch or the provincial level.

If they are members in good standing, they have the right to run in yearly elections.

That is not what is at play here and no one has made those accusations.

What is clear is that many involved in steering the SF executive were not able, for various reasons, to fulfill the difficult and complex duties, obligations and responsibilities of running a branch of CAMRA BC, despite guidance, advice, support, direction, directives and eventually official warnings.

Running a CAMRA branch is not an easy task.

I have both run the largest branch in the society and started a branch from scratch in a city where 99% of the people thought CAMRA had something to do with photography.

It is not all about organizing fun beer events, sending out a few tweets and Facebook posts.

It is a lot about dealing with people, being responsible and accountable. It is about being organized, keeping necessary records and managing finances while operating within the structural framework of the Society Act and CAMRA BC by-laws, policies and procedures.

It is about dealing with people and coping with, on some level, an-almost constant state of conflict while members are calling your integrity, intelligence and motivations into question.

And it is about putting in hours and hours of volunteer time.

Much blame has been heaped on the CAMRA BC executive for not providing support and guidance to the new SF branch.

I can tell you that I started the Powell River branch just weeks prior to the SF branch being approved and we received great support. We are now well over 100 members and growing quickly. South Okanagan is not even a year old and they are solid as granite, and if you speak to their executive, they will tell you they have received all the support they have needed to launch their branch, which is an active branch and one that represents itself well in the CAMRA BC executive.

So I do not think the problems lie completely with CAMRA BC as some have put forth.

This suspension, or probably a better term, hiatus, had to happen. It was done for the protection of the South Fraser members, and the protection of the society as a whole.

SF members should be concerned that their branch has never, and I stress, NEVER, had a functioning bank account.

Not quite true as apparently right now they do have a bank account but have no access to it and have seemed incapable of finding a solution.

The SF members should be concerned that their executive have not payed CAMRA BC its portion of membership dues - $5 from every individual and joint membership goes to CAMRA BC in order to allow it to operate and look after the administrative side of things.

The SF members should be concerned, especially as we are coming up to AGM season, that despite repeated requests for it, no comprehensive membership list has been provided to CAMRA BC.

These are just a few of the most worrisome things, but the list of issues is long and goes back to the branch's roots.

Having said that, the current executive have done some great things building CAMRA's profile in the region but as I said, events and tweets are not the whole of what a branch is supposed to be doing. I am not sure if they have grown the membership beyond what was inherited from Vancouver when the SF branch was formed because there is no current membership list to refer to.


This is not a CAMRA Vancouver power grab as suggested by some on social media and beyond.

CAMRA Vancouver has been quite vocal in that they have no interest in absorbing the branch.  They are doing so short term to give SF members a place to go. CAMRA Vancouver president, David Perry, actually excused himself from most discussions about CAMRA SF and abstained from any votes related to SF to ensure there was not appearance of conflict as he knew these unfounded rumours were out there.

This is a claim made by a few, that Vancouver wants to take over SF, goes back the the first executive of SF and some interpersonal conflicts. It has always been false and makes no sense as it was the Vancouver branch who most helped get the branch up and running and lent support.

To help highlight how this train of thought is false, there have been on-going CAMRA BC discussions over the past year or two about how to create smaller branches to better serve the members which flies in the exact opposite direction of the claim that Vancouver is power hungry and wants to absorb SF.

I, for one, would love to see a CAMRA East Van, CAMRA N Van, CAMRA Downtown, CAMRA Richmond, CAMRA Surrey, etc.

I am even in the process of trying to divide up CAMRA Powell River by creating a committee on the Lower Sunshine Coast to mentor them so that eventually they can have their own branch to better serve our members who live in that region.

Having smaller branches is a much better way to be inclusive and better serve the membership of certain areas.

The CAMRA BC plan is now, and always has been, to get the SF branch's affairs in order and have them grow to become a productive and active member of the society, upholding the values and supporting the mandate of the CAMRA BC.

What CAMRA BC is attempting to do is organize an extraordinary general meeting, or AGM, for SF members to discuss all the issues and to put everything on the table for SF members so that a plan for the future can be put into place to ensure success.

At this point a meeting cannot be organized as the SF executive have not supplied a membership. At this point CAMRA BC has no idea who is a CAMRA BC member in good standing of the SF branch.

CAMRA BC is a consumer advocacy group, run by volunteers who love craft beer, and lately it has been more about the consumers consuming than the advocacy, but that is a different blog post for a different time. What many do not understand that the branches actually have no legal standing on their own, other than having permission to operate under the CAMRA BC umbrella. There is only one society registered with the province, that being CAMRA BC. They hold all the insurances that protect the branches when they hold events, they are the executive who must report and file with the province each year.

They are the executive that is ultimately responsible for what goes on. But CAMRA BC has historically not micro-managed branches and have allowed local executives to do as they see fit as long as they are in compliance with the by-laws and Society Act.

Having rogue branches operating out there under the CAMRA BC umbrella puts the autonomy of all branches in jeopardy.

Could things have been done differently?

Of course.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Everyone out there has an opinion on how this could have been handled differently. CAMRA BC has learned much from this and safeguards are now in place, as to how new branches are approved, founded and built, that are a direct result of the initial and almost instantaneous problems identified with the SF branch's founding and structure. The South Okanagan branch is a prime example of this new process, a process that is constantly being tweaked, looked at and refined.

Should the general membership been more informed earlier?

Possibly yes, but again, how do you address a membership when you have no list of members to address? As well, CAMRA BC was trying to work to protect the feelings and reputations of some.

This is another lesson learned.

As a group, lets look at moving forward and fixing this instead of entertaining delusional beliefs, propagating untruths and pointing fingers. All parties want to see a healthy and functioning branch of CAMRA operating south of the Fraser. In fact, there is probably room for two or three branches in the area.

If you are an active member of SF, why not reach out to the executive who was elected in 2015 and push them to provide a membership list and financial reports so we can move forward and hold a meeting. Better yet, why not help get those things organized?

I, for one, want this meeting to take place sooner than later and I hope to be in attendance to be accountable for my role in what has transpired and to ensure the members get answers to their queries.  The answers I give may not be the answers they want to hear, but I will be truthful and forthright. My opinion is that this branch should have been shut down weeks after inception when multiple and serious issues were identified. I pushed for that at the time, but others wanted to give things a chance to work out.

Unfortunately, they have not worked themselves out and here we are.

I do not expect some to like this post, agree with it and that may include some within the BC executive but I felt that these things needed to be said. I have nothing against those who have been involved in trying to launch this branch and in fact do not know any of them personally other than from the odd meeting or event. I want what is best for CAMRA BC and the members who support what CAMRA is all about.

And, most of all, remember, it is only beer. Lets have some fun and fight the good fight of advocating on behalf of the craft beer drinkers of BC. We do not need to fight each other as there is enough conflict in the world already.

My Tribute to a Vancouver Legend - RIP Dan

I cannot remember the exact date I met Dan Small but I do remember the circumstances surrounding our introduction to each other and unlike many in the craft beer community who are currently mourning his passing, our meeting had nothing to do with brewing beer.

It was about 12 years ago and I was working for Storm Brewing, which was located in the same building as Dan's Homebrewing Supplies at the time, at the corner of Commercial and Franklin. I was busy loading up Storm's delivery van with kegs for the day's deliveries when I suddenly heard a voice yelling angrily, "turn that shit down, I am trying to run a business over here".

It was only my second or third day working at the brewery so I had no idea who was attached to the red, angry face that was poking through a two-foot square hole in the wall that stood between Storm Brewing to Dan's shop next door. I did not blame this person for yelling, as James, Storm's owner-brewer, had German techno music cranked to ear-splitting decibel levels, as was his habit at the time when brewing, and anyone within two city blocks would have been within their legal right to make a formal noise complaint.

"Who the fuck was that, James," I asked.

"Just Dan, don't worry.," replied James. "He is always complaining about noise."

Little did I know at that time I was being screamed at by someone who would go on to be one of the most, if not the most, influential people in the home brewing and the craft beer community in Vancouver. Dan's Homebrewing Supplies is on the radar of everyone who brews beer in the Greater Vancouver area and, in my opinion, the local craft beer scene and the current craft beer craze owes a lot to Dan and his staff who have guided, advised, encouraged and supplied the majority of home brewers in the Lower Mainland. I guarantee you that many who turned their passion for brewing beer from a hobby to a profession and who are now creating some of the great local craft beers at commercial craft breweries were once among them.

By encouraging home brewers to understand the science behind brewing beer properly, helping them understand the brewing process, helping them create their own recipes and supplying them with quality ingredients, Dan played a huge role in developing more sophisticated palates among local beer lovers. Dan convinced many lager drinkers, looking to make cheap imitations of the mainstream beers they were used to drinking, into trying to brew different beer styles and once many of them experimented and tried different beers than was their norm, they never looked back

It is no coincidence that Vancouver has the biggest home brewing club in Canada and a very vibrant home brewing scene. Dan's is not just THE place to get supplies, whether you are a novice looking to brew for the first time or an expert brewer looking to create a new recipe, but it is a place to gather, meet like-minded people and exchange ideas.

Back when working at the brewery, I used to love Dan's tastings, when he would invite his customers to come bring beers they had brewed of a particular style  so that they could share with others to get feedback, tips and talk about brewing beer. Mainly it was about drinking lots of beer, but that goes without saying. I wasn't brewing at the time, but Dan usually invited me over to the shop, or let me in on the fun if he was using the brewery space. One particular tasting I remember (up to a point) was a stout tasting that included oysters to pair with the home brewers' offerings, one being a Russian Imperial Stout that were superb...I don't remember who brewed the beer but I sure remember the beer itself!

Dan and I quickly got over our rocky introduction, although his angry face would often appear in the hole between his shop and the brewery, usually with good reason, and I soon found myself spending time hanging out in Dan's store, chatting, smoking and drinking beer either from the brewery or one of the two or three kegs Dan always had tapped in the back of his shop. Our talks were often about subjects other than beer and Dan always had an opinion or a story to tell.

Many people have described Dan as crusty, grumpy  and a curmudgeon, and yes, he was all those things at times, but he was also quick with a smile, and generous with his advice, time, smokes and beer and I was lucky enough to know that Dan more than the other. He had a love-hate relationship with us at Storm, screaming at us one day and helping us out one way or another the next. One of the things I liked about Dan was you always knew where you stood with him. He was straight forward and did not suffer fools lightly. If he had something to say, he would say it.

I got to know Dan quite well during time I worked at Storm. I meet and drank beers with his brothers Tom and Bill, went see Dan play music with his band and visited him at his apartment on Union St where he lived above a friend of mine who used to drive him nuts with loud music and noise as much as James did. I didn't see him around much after I left my job at the brewery to return to school to study psychiatric nursing. I saw him a few years after quitting, just after he had relocated his shop from Commercial Drive to 692 East Hastings in the Heatley Block building. He was closing up, but he invited me in, proudly showed me around his new store and it wasn't long before we were out back smoking, drinking beer and chatting away like old times on Commercial Drive. I ran into him again last year, again in his store, when I was picking up supplies to brew up an Imperial IPA. He looked great and as usual had time to stop and chat and laughed about some of the goings-on at Storm years before that had aggravated him to the point of almost having a stroke.

That was the last time I saw Dan. Like many, I did not know he had fallen ill again until I heard the sad news of his passing. And like many, I have hoisted a few pints in his memory.

Rest in Peace Dan. Your premature departure from this world leaves a huge whole in the Vancouver brewing community. Your legacy of helping create a passionate brewing community in Vancouver will be with us for many years to come. You were one of the good guys. A straight shooter. I hope, where ever you are, there is a great home brewing supply shop so you can carry on brewing the beers you love.

And when I think of you, I will always remember our long afternoon chats where we clouded up your shop to the point of it being inhabitable and drank copious amounts of great beer.

Open Letter to CAMRA Vancouver Membership

Last Friday, when I read the media release from Rich Coleman's office announcing changes to BC liquor laws, I felt proud to know that CAMRA Vancouver had a hand in bringing those changes about.

CAMRA members, you may not realize it, but we, as a consumer advocacy group, did play a role in educating politicians about the issues and did put pressure on the government to make these changes regarding both tied houses and the on-site tasting room-lounge consumption areas. These changes specifically benefit craft beer consumers and they were issues that were particularly targeted by your executive over the past few years. We may not have been the major players that helped prompt these changes, but I, as a past president can tell you we were definitely in the mix.

Although every member may not have played a direct role, or even known what was going on with the executive in regards to advocacy, they did play an indirect role in that CAMRA Vancouver was able to state to both government and bureaucratic officials in various communications that we were representing a group of concerned consumers that numbered close to 800 members. As such a large group, and one that continues to grow and expand, those in positions that can make decisions to effect change have to pay more attention.  Your support and membership in CAMRA Vancouver gives those advocating on behalf of your consumer rights more strength, legitimacy and power.

Our voice in regards to tied houses was heard loud and clear, starting with then President Martin Williams's letter to the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch in Feb/11 voicing CAMRA's concerns about completely deregulating tied house and trade practice laws.

Myself and former CAMRA Vancouver VP, Dieter Friesen, took CAMRA's concerns forward again about a year later to then alcohol critic, NDP MLA Shane Simpson. That meeting led to CAMRA Vancouver arranging for Shane to tour three breweries in his riding to meet with brewery representatives and talk about their concerns and what changes would benefit their businesses. One of the topics that was discussed was tied house rules and how having some sort of controlled-limited tied house opportunities for some small breweries would be beneficial for businesses and consumers alike.

This original meeting and tour led to Mr Simpson raising the subject of tied house restrictions in the BC Legislature bringing the issue to the attention of Rich Coleman, minister responsible for LCLB/LDB. CAMRA Vancouver then arranged a second meeting with Mr Simpson and players in the local craft beer industry to again discuss pushing for some modifications to the tied house laws. The tasting lounge, on-site consumption issues was also discussed at this meeting. Mr Simpson once again wrote a letter to the LCLB querying as to what was being done in regards to tied houses and pushing for limited allowances for tied houses to exist.

CAMRA Vancouver has also been liaising with other advocacy groups such as Modernize Wine and The Campaign for Culture and these meetings were very informative as all three groups were able to share information and coordinate on issues where we have common concerns such as tied house deregulation. We were looking at moving forward together to some degree, but that need, in regards to tied houses was nullified by last Friday's announcement.

In regards to the on-site consumption and lounge laws, CAMRA Vancouver did play an active role in contacting many craft breweries to help them coordinate and encourage them to write the LCLB when the call went out for consultation last June. This coordination helped prompt a huge response from the industry which led to the government making the changes to bring breweries and distilleries in line with wineries in regards to on-site consumption opportunities. Pushing to get the craft beer consumer and the craft beer industry the same rights and freedoms that the wine consumer and industry enjoy has been something CAMRA Vancouver has been hammering away at in communications with the LCLB and the Liberal Government. This one change to the law gives me hope that if CAMRA Vancouver, CAMRA BC and the CAMRA membership keep advocating for the same rights, freedoms and privileges that wine consumers enjoy, one day corkage for beer and inter-provincial importation of Canadian craft beer, with no provincial markup on cost, will be allowed as it is for wine consumers.

CAMRA BC and CAMRA Vancouver were also among the throngs protesting about the proposed privatization of the LDB warehouses. Letters were sent to many Liberal politicians and to the LCLB voicing our concerns about how the move may negatively impact consumers. I was asked to appear twice on CKNW radio to represent CAMRA and talk about these concerns as well, raising awareness as to how this move may be bad for consumers. As you all know, the government eventually trashed the idea to privatize and backed away. The huge outcry and protest from various groups, including CAMRA, the only group speaking on behalf of the craft beer consumer, played a major role in the privatization idea being abandoned.

Be proud CAMRA members, we have accomplished a lot the past few years. I have no illusions that we have been solely responsible for any of these positives changes as there have been many different groups lobbying the government both publicly and behind closed doors, but I do believe 100% our group has contributed to the push towards reforming our outdated liquor laws. Continued CAMRA growth will bolster numbers and provide CAMRA Vancouver and CAMRA BC with more money to educate and advocate and continued-increased support of our executive will help CAMRA Vancouver be more successful in their quest to protect the rights of craft beer consumers.

Because at its core, that is what CAMRA is all about: educating about craft beer and advocating on behalf of craft beer consumers. We are more than just a beer drinking club and whether you realize it or not, by supporting CAMRA Vancouver, you are making a difference and are apart of the solution.

Just think about what a difference we can make as an organization if we as members all commit to being more engaged, to answering our executives call to support campaigns, participate in social media blitzes and get more involved. It only takes minutes to make your voice heard and the more voices heard by the government, the more they are likely to listen.

Is the BC Beer Market About to Become the Wild West?

If the rumours I have been hearing the past few weeks are true the BC beer market may resemble the Wild West by the middle of January.

I have been informed from two completely different sources that the BC Liberals will finally be making an announcement in regards to what course of action they will take two years after the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch.put out a consultation paper requesting industry input in regards to proposed changes to the laws regulating tied house and trade practices.

If the information I am getting is correct, and I do believe it to be so, the changes are to be announced by mid-January and will completely deregulate tied houses and trade practices, leaving the BC market wide open, reminiscent of the Wild West, for the highest bidders to lock down pubs, restaurants and liquor stores by either buying these outlets or offering large amounts of cash, or other inducements, for exclusivity rights (bars/restaurants) and preferential shelf placement (liquor stores).

The original call for input outlined three options for tied house law changes, those being to eliminate tied house prohibitions altogether, permit tied houses between the same corporate entity, but limit the number of tied houses a person can hold to limit risk of market consolidation or to permit tied houses with public interest restrictions.

They also laid out three options in regards to trade practice regulations, those being to eliminate trade practice restrictions altogether,  reduce or eliminate most trade practice restrictions or to streamline some trade practice policies and procedures

For better explanations as to what those options mean, click on the consultation link above.

There has been a great divide among the players in the craft beer industry as to whether deregulating tied house and trade practice restrictions will have a negative impact on the industry or not. You can read in more detail what this is all about here and here.

The biggest fear is that the larger, deep-pocketed, national and multinational breweries will simply buy pubs and restaurants, or pay licensees to favor their products, to stop the growth of the local craft beer industry which has managed to claw their way from 7% to about 15% of the domestic beer market in BC over the past five years. That growth may not sound much, but when you consider that each percentage point represents over $8 million dollars in sales, you can see why the bigger, national macro-breweries do not want the smaller breweries get any stronger. There are also some concerns that the more aggressive and growth-oriented local breweries, willing to incur short-term losses for long term gains, might just try to buy a larger share of the market by stepping on their competition who are more focused on sustainability and producing great beers.

There is also the fear that licensees will begin to demand cash, free product and kickbacks for the right to sell beer in their establishments which will prohibit smaller breweries from being able to sell their beers in those types of establishments.

Many others say that the deregulation of the tied house laws will not impact the major craft beer markets like Greater Vancouver and Victoria and will give craft breweries in smaller markets, where marco-beers dominate, another outlet to sell their beer if they have the means to invest in a pub, restaurant or liquor store. There is also the argument that the practices of bribery by breweries and demanding payment of some type by licensees are alive and well in the beer industry because the laws are impossible to enforce and that deregulating will have little impact.

If the laws are wiped from the books, it will be interesting to see what happens. As a consumer, I would like to see a middle ground approach, where their are some safeguards in place to stop the larger, richer breweries from simply buying tap, fridge and shelf space to the point of restricting their competition similar to what happened in the UK in the 1990's. But I think, at least here in Vancouver, there are too many licensees who are committed to craft beer because it is simply a better product, because selling craft beer is profitable and because there is a great thirst among local beer drinkers for superior craft beer products.

In the end, as a consumer, I can only hope that if there is deregulation, it does not result in restricted access to locally brewed craft beers or higher prices. If so, it will have to be the consumers who rally and demand a further review by which ever political party gains power in the upcoming election as the industry is too divided on these issues.

Prospect of Bigger Bucks Changing BC Craft Beer Community

Yesterday, Vancouver beer blogger, Barley Mowat, exposed one of the worst kept secrets in the local craft beer community when he wrote his post "The Grinch Who Stole Cascadia" outlining how Steamworks owner, Eli Gershkovitch, has been flexing his legal muscles in regards to a trademark involving the word Cascadia. 

I am not going to write more on the subject as Barley has it more than covered. I will say that the whole situation has been bothering me since I found out about it early last summer when a sales manager for a local craft brewery mentioned they had been contacted by Eli about not using "Cascadian" Dark Ale due to the Cascadia trademark. It has also bothered most others in the know, including some associated with Steamworks, because actions like this are historically not representative of the local craft beer industry.

But I believe times, they are changing and this situation shows just how much the local craft beer scene has transformed and how the once tight "craft beer community" is slowly being attacked and splintered as the financial rewards get bigger due to the growing craft beer market and increased competition for those dollars. 

According to the latest Liquor Distribution Branch Quarterly Market Review, BC's domestic beer sales, from Sept/11 to Sept/12, were in excess of $900 million dollars, making each percentage point in the market worth $9 million dollars. Breweries, especially those with a business plan to grow, will fight hard for those dollars and some, not all, will fight dirty if they get the chance and think they can get away with it.

With these types of dollars at stake and with the increasing market share being claimed by smaller craft breweries, this American-style of legal action is going to become more of the norm than the exception as the competition gets more heated with more breweries, both local and outside BC entering the local craft beer market. 

In recent weeks I have come across information about a few other local craft breweries that have been threatened with legal action for reasons that can be viewed as suspect, at best. In one case, an Ontario-based brewery, who are currently expanding into the BC market, hit a local craft brewery with a Cease and Desist order. For various reasons, I cannot comment more, but I see this as a sign of the fierce battles being waged over limited shelf and tap space for craft beer. I have also heard that one of the major craft breweries in BC is under attack from the major national breweries regarding possible trademark "infringements". I reached out to the local brewery representative to try to verify if this was true and was told that he "couldn't really comment on that stuff right now," which tells me that there is probably truth to these rumours.

These are not American breweries protecting their turf south of the 49th as was the case with the ridiculous Red Racer-Racer 5-Red Rocket legal battle which somehow Central City Brewery lost. These are Canadian breweries attacking each other over what I see as trivial matters that are motivated by trying to impede the competition, to gain an upper hand in the market and not by actual issues that are damaging those taking action or by wrong-doing by those being hit by these legal actions. I can see, but don't agree with, the motivation for the bigger breweries to try to squash the once-insignificant-now-annoying bug that is the craft beer industry, but I find it very disturbing to see small Canadian breweries attacking one another and even more disturbing see one local craft brewery go after several other local craft breweries for questionable reasons.

When I started working in the local craft beer industry 12 years ago, there were very few breweries in BC producing craft beer and we, for the most part,helped each other out as much as possible. I can remember one incident where I went to an establishment to hook up a tap for Storm Brewing but stopped because the licensee wanted me to disconnect a Russell Brother's tap. I actually refused to do it until we contacted Mark Russell, then owner of the brewery and informed him. As it turned out, he had been asked to cut a Storm tap somewhere else, so we "traded" taps, so to speak and had a good laugh over a pint of beer about the whole situation. But this was the norm, not the exception. Back in "the olden days" we helped each other find accounts, spread the wealth and let the beers fight it out in the market place with the consumer deciding which beer was tastier.

Today, the industry is completely different animal. Craft breweries are now, except for a few hold-outs who only keg their beers, concentrating on bottled and packaged products. Flashy packaging and marketing are often just as important for some breweries than the product. Brewers are not always the owners and not always making the decisions as to what to brew and as to whether the product is ready to go to market or not. Craft breweries now have sales representatives, marketing personnel and PR folks where as in the past, many craft breweries were basically one-man shows with the owners acting as brewers, delivery drivers, and general brewery gophers. On more than one occasion, brewery owners were known to live in their breweries to save money and they were the face of their breweries as far as marketing went. The craft brewing industry was a lifestyle as much as a business. The idea of taking legal action against another craft brewery was unthinkable.

To survive, the industry has evolved and as the industry has grown and the fight for the lucrative consumer dollars in a tough market has intensified, accountants and lawyers have become just as important as the brewers in some cases. I, for one, am not surprised by stories like the one Barley Mowat posted. I think it is only going to get nastier as trade practice and tied house laws get relaxed and the larger breweries move in with wads of cash and attempt to buy up smaller, successful craft breweries and point-of-sale distribution. 

Long gone are the days I remember when one craft brewery refused to cut the line of another and being involved in industry was based on pure passion for great beer, not bottom-line profits at the end of the year. Let's hope as consumers, the focus remains on producing the best craft beer possible and not just on the bottom line.

BYOCB to Restaurants - A Win-Win Idea

Have you ever been seated in your favourite restaurant, noshing on your favourite meal and thought to yourself, "this meal would go perfectly with (insert name of craft beer or wine of your choice here), I wish it was on the menu"?

Yes, I speak of the fabled Bring Your Own Booze (BYOB) to restaurants, which is not just some far-out concept realized in liberal European nations. It is a reality in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and Manitoba where no longer is there a need to salivate about what could have been, as you can, in participating restaurants, simply turn to your server and order one of the bottles of wine you purchased legally elsewhere, brought with you and handed over to the restaurant personnel upon arrival. It seems only wine has been included in the BYOB category at this point, but why not BYOCB (Bring Your Own Craft Beer), as there is no logical reason why beer could not be included.

Although the laws vary slightly from province to province, the basic idea is that restaurants have the choice to allow patrons to bring in their own bottle(s) of wine, which they turn over to the restaurant upon arrival. They can then order that bottle(s) of wine, as they would any bottle off the menu, and pay a "corkage" fee for their wine to be served to them.

All other facets of the liquor laws remain the same in regards to serving the BYOB wine. Servers must not serve to minors, must not over-serve, cannot serve to intoxicated patrons, the alcohol has to be purchased through legal channels, etc. The advantage to the restaurant is that they do not have to carry a large inventory of wines in an attempt to satisfy a wide range of pallets. Restaurants still make a profit charging the corkage.

The advantages to patrons is that they get to drink the wine they want to drink with their meal and are not restricted to what the restaurant may or may not carry on their menus.They may pay less for that wine as well, depending on the corkage fee charged. From the research I have done, the corkage fees run from nothing, in places like Montreal - yet another reason to love this great city - to up to $50 in Toronto - yet another reason...okay, I'll remain silent. Some restaurants in Ontario were even advertising reduced prices on traditionally slow nights during the week to try to lure in patrons.

With the Liberal Government's current promise to review the province's current liquor laws, it is not out of the realm of possibility that a BYOB law could be passed. In an email communication with VEBB, a Liquor Control and Licensing Branch spokesperson stated that the Liberals, "will consider 'Bring Your Own Wine' as a part of a larger review of liquor policy in the province." When queried specifically if the review was considering beer as well be included in the BYOB review, a "no decision has been made," response was all I received. I think it is imperative that those in the craft beer industry, consumers of craft beer and advocates for the consumers (are you listening CAMRA BC) make some noise and let the government know that it is not acceptable to make these changes without including beer in any BYOB program. I can guarantee you wine advocates are on this issue and making their voices heard, which is why wine was mentioned by the LCLB in their email.


Cafe Kathmandu owner, Abi Sharma, whose small Commercial Drive eatery does not have the room or the operating budget to inventory a large variety of wine or beer, is all for the concept of BYOB. His restaurant, which serves amazing food, is the perfect example of an establishment that would benefit greatly from allowing BYOB.


"It (BYOB) is a mutually beneficial arrangement for both patrons and restaurants so long as the (corkage) fee is reasonably good enough, for sure," stated Sharma. "I am willing to participate."


I can only think of one way to improve upon the experience of eating one of Abi's goat curries, that being able to enjoy the IPA of my choice with it. If BYOB came into effect, that experience could become a reality.


As the government would still be collecting their tax from the sale of the wine and beer originally and the corkage fee, they would not be out any tax dollars and as for the restaurants, if they do not see this as being beneficial for their bottom line, they would not have to participate. But for those who want to offer BYOB, like Cafe Kathmandu, this is a win-win concept that could only further enhance BC's growing reputation as a tourist destination and for cities like Vancouver, which is becoming somewhat of a Mecca for foodies and craft beer lovers, it would be a natural fit.


Let's hope those reviewing our liquor policies are thinking along the same lines. I, for one, cannot wait for the opportunity to take in a few of my favourite IPA's to compliment my already-out-of-this-world goat curry at Cafe Kathmandu.

Playoff Craft Beer Survival Guide

The reports that Maple Leaf players and personnel are being spotted working on their tans and tweaking their golf swings on the beaches and golf courses around the world can only mean one thing - the NHL regular season is over and this year's battle for Lord Stanley's mug is about to begin.


This is music to the ears of bar and restaurant owners who are preparing for the hordes of thirsty fans who will be gathering together at their favourite local watering holes to slake their thirsts while cheering on their favourite teams.


Historically, for Canadian hockey fans, that has meant gathering in some dark bar around a television, or in front of a fuzzy image projected on a screen, while drinking macro-lager swill, but times have changed since I had hair and a waistline, especially here in Vancouver where there are a variety of licensed establishments that feature numerous high-definition televisions and big screens and serve up a variety of world-class craft beer for thirsty sports fans.


VanEast Beer Blog put together a list for the craft-beer loving hockey fan to help guide them to some of the better hockey-watching, craft-beer-friendly places. Remember, this is my list and I do not claim it to be THE list. It is a biased list and reflects, in every way, the opinions of the writer. I welcome anyone to send in their favourite places to drink craft beer and watch the game in the comments section of this blog. 


The number one place to enjoy the game with friends and family with the craft beer of your choice is your place. Where else can you get the exact beer you want to drink, eat what you want to eat, put the game on pause (if you have a PVR) while you go get or off-load beer, replay key plays to your heart's content and where, at the end of the night, you do not have to tip your server! And, it is the only place you can control who sits next to you, thereby ensuring you do not end up next to some bandwagon-jumping drunk whose ignorance of the game is only surpassed by their obnoxious need to voice said ignorance.  Although it is a lot of fun to head out for the night to your favourite watering hole to take in the action and soak up the atmosphere, no where beats home.    


Vancouver - Eastside


St Augustine's  Craft Brew House and Kitchen - 2360 Commercial Drive, Vancouver
The number one place to watch the Canucks, or any sorting event for that matter, in Vancouver and perhaps BC, is St Augustine's Craft Brew House and Kitchen. With 40 taps of craft beer, 13 televisions and a location less then a slap shot away from the Commercial Drive transit hub, it is hard to beat Augie's. The downside is every sports fan in the city who loves craft beer knows it is THE place to watch a game so you have to get there early. Last year for the final series, people were arriving four hours before the game to secure tables. Check the website for reservation status. Augie's is also kid friendly and, despite what some think, is a restaurant. 


Biercraft Commercial Drive - 1191 Commercial Drive
If you are looking for a less stimulating environment but still want a great selection of craft beer, Biercraft could be the place. With a 100-inch hi-def screen and two 42 inch televisions you won't miss the action. There are 25 beers on tap and a staggering 80 bottles to choose from as well as a great food menu. They do pull in the Eastside hockey crowd, but not to the extent of St Augustine's. 


Westside - Cambie area
Original Joe's - corner of Cambie and W Broadway.
This choice may surprise a few people, but the Cambie & Broadway Original Joe's is slowly turning itself into a craft beer destination and they love their Vancouver Canucks! They don't have the most comprehensive selection of craft beer but you will find Driftwood, Red Racer, Howe Sound and Lighthouse beers among their selection. They also have in-house beers, brewed by Calgary's Big Rock Brewery, that are brewed exclusively for Original Joe's. They also serve full 20 oz measures of draft if drinking pints is your thing. The place lines up early on game nights and there are more than enough televisions and a big screen to ensure you will see the game. It is also perfectly located across the road from the City Hall-Broadway Skytrain Station. 


Biercraft Cambie - 3305 Cambie
The Cambie version of Biercraft has a slightly different vibe and some different beers on tap, but similar numbers of taps and bottles to choose from and the same type of viewing set up. The food is great and as with the Commercial Drive location, you know your beer is going to be served with the love and respect it deserves.


West Side - Kitsilano
Darby's Pub - Corner of MacDonald and W 4th
For those who don't know, Darby's has quietly become one of the go-to craft beer spots in Kitsilano. Darby's has a 108-inch projection screen and seven flat screen televisions and 20 taps of draft beer, 14 of which are of the craft beer variety. As an added bonus, Darby's Liquor Store, attached to the pub, has an awesome selection of craft beers to purchase for your fridge at home. Darby's does take reservations.


The Bimini Public House - 2010 W 4th Ave
If you want to take in the action at Vancouver's oldest neighbourhood pub, Bimini's is the place. They have recently remade themselves and are beginning to build a reputation as a great craft beer house that has a great atmosphere during the games.


The Sunset Grill - 2204 York
I was just at the Sunset Grill last week for the #YVRBeerTweetup and it is a great venue with 14 hi def televisions and 15 taps of beer. It is a smaller venue with an intimate feel that will lend itself well to creating a great atmosphere for watching the game. I could see the Sunset becoming a very popular place to go for the action during the playoffs.


Downtown
Smiley's Public House - 911 W Pender
Smiley's is a craft beer joint that has a definite pub feel to it. Of all the Donnelly Group establishments, Smiley's probably has the best craft beer selection, with 28 taps. There is plenty of room at Smiley's to gather with a large group and I understand they will take reservations and hold them until one-hour before the game. I think Smiley's is a very under-rated place by craft beer lovers and if  I am Downtown, this is probably where I would take in the game.


Malone's Urban Drinkery - 608 W Pender
Many in the craft beer community disagree with me about Malone's but I think it is a great place to stop in for a craft beer. It has long been known as a place Downtown to go watch the games, but the difference is now you have a very decent selection of craft beers to choose from as 27 or their 36 taps are dedicated to craft brew which are very reasonably priced. Malone's also has 11 televisions and a big projection screen so you won't miss the action. It is also just one block from the Granville Skytrain Station.  


Surrey
Central City Brew Pub - 13450 102nd Ave
It's Central City Brew Pub, with Red Racer beer fresh from the source in true pint servings, do I have to say more?? Well, in case I do, they have two large projection screens and televisions everywhere you turn and love their sports with a passion. If that is not enough, it is about 200 metres from the Surrey Central Skytrain Station and they do take reservations. Food is great as well.


Richmond
Pumphouse Pub - 6031 Blundell Rd
The Pumphouse is probably the place that gets mentioned most to me as the place to go watch a game outside of Vancouver. With 24 taps of draft beer, most of the high-end, craft variety, six televisions and a large projection screen it is a great place to catch the action if you are out in Richmond.


Squamish
Howe Sound Brew Pub
There are few places I love to go out of town for a beer than Howe Sound Brew Pub. If I was going to get away for a weekend during the playoffs, this is where I would go and I may in fact do so on my holidays coming up in a few weeks. With their world-class beers, great pub, which is known for attracting sports fanatics for the big games and the hotel attached, it has all that I need. It doesn't hurt that everyone I have ever met associated with Howe Sound are amazing folks. Seriously, it is worth the trip to go check them out.


Mission 
Mission Springs Brew Pub 
Because I love the creations of head brewer Timmy Brown and because I know that there are few places that support their Canucks more than the Mission Springs gang, I am including them on my list of out-of-town places to go. If you find yourself anywhere near Mission around game time, do yourself a favour, grab a beer and soak up the atmosphere in the brew pub. And if you see Timmy hanging about, say hello from Paddy.

YVR Beer Tweetup

Last week I was asked to come speak about CAMRA Vancouver at the latest #YVRBeerTweetup held at the Sunset Grill in Kitsilano. I have to tell you the truth, I actually had little idea as to what a "BeerTweetup" consisted of and the idea of sitting in a restaurant sending tweets to people sitting within speaking distance of me sounded a little too much on the social-media geek side of things, but since the word beer was included in the title and the beers included locally-brewed cask-conditioned beers, I thought I'd give this tweetup thing a go.

And I have to tell you, I was more than pleasantly surprised. I would even go as far as to say that I am now a #YVRBeerTweetup kinda guy and am working on those thumb-typing skills so that this 40something techno-dinosaur can produce witty, 140-character-or-less thoughts and observations to keep up with the young, hip Twitter crowd at the next event to be held at Smiley's Pub, on May 2nd at 5 PM.


The #YVRBeerTweetup is a concept dreamed up by Twitter users @JonnyBeers and @VancityBeerGuy, otherwise known as Jonny and Nick, who wanted to create a social networking event focusing on craft beers. The idea was to get a group of Twitter users together, in the same room, luring them there with the promise of great craft beer, prizes and the chance to meet other Twitter users face-to-face. The event at the Sunset Grill, held Wednesday, April 4, was the third #YVRBeerTweetup and by from what I saw, the idea is one that has taken off faster than you can tweet, @vaneastbeerblog loves IPA. According to @JonnyBeers, the first event, held at Doolin's Irish Pub Feb 1, drew around 100 people while the 2nd event, held at Malone's Urban Drinkery March 7, and the Sunset Grill event drew close to 175 each.

"It's been very popular from the start and keeps growing," said @JonnyBeers. "We have a good core group of people who have been to each tweetup. It's a really good mix of everyone from Twitter. There's a few regular people from the craftbeer community as well as lots of new people so it's good to put the two together to help grow that community."

It truly was a good mix of folks really enjoying themselves, with brewers, brewery owners and craft-beer industry shakers and movers tweeting and drinking it up amongst many who are not among the usual suspects found at local craft beer events. I know from a CAMRA Vancouver point of view, the event was a great way to attract non-CAMRA members, who do not usually attend craft beer events, and expand the local craft beer scene beyond the already converted and it is the type of event, as CAMRA Vancouver President, I would love to see CAMRA support more and more.

#YVRBeerTweetup organizers hope to keep things fresh and  keep growing the event, while maintaining the focus on local craft beer.

"In terms of growth we have a few ideas up our sleeves, and some exciting announcements to come in the next few months," states @JonnyBeers. "One of our goals is to have at least one cask (Sunset Grill had three!!) at each event, but also we like the idea of launching new beers, new breweries or venues. There's also the possibility of having actual trips or tours. Eventually we'll expand the tweetup outside of Vancouver as there's lots of great things going on all around BC."

To keep up-to-date on #YVRBeerTweetup events and information, check out their Facebook page, follow them on Twitter @YVRBeerTweetup or email yvrbeertweetup@gmail.com. If you can, I highly recommend making the effort to get to Smiley's for the next event May 2nd. Smiley's has a very decent line-up of beers on tap and if the three casks present at the last tweetup are any indication, there will be some great real ale to sample as well. And don't worry if the Canucks are playing as Smiley has televisions located around the room so you won't miss out on the action while tweeting and tippling.

Meet the New Boss, Just the Same as the Old Boss - Will Privatization of LDB Distribution Centres Actually Result in Any Changes?

Last Tuesday's announcement by Liberal Finance Minister Kevin Falcon that the government were looking to sell off the BC Liquor Distribution Board's (LDB) two distribution warehouses and hand over operations by 2015, had many craft beer enthusiasts grinning from ear to ear as this seemed to hint that the cumbersome and much maligned BC liquor distribution system was about to be updated and streamlined.

But the more light that gets shed the government's plans to privatize and on on who may be angling to buy the warehouses, the darker the future looks for those of us that were hoping the privatization of the warehouses may trigger an overhaul to the current BC liquor distribution system which controls either directly, or indirectly all liquor distribution in the province.

It did not take long for many of us to turn those giddy grins to cynical frowns as we examined the situation and put the pieces together. As written in blogs Brewed Awakening, the Small Beer Blog, the sale and privatization may be signalling the possibility that something wicked this way comes instead the possibility of a fresh new start.

The price for buying the two distribution centres will be beyond the scope of possibility for all but a handful of potential buyers who have a money bags full enough to be taken seriously and that short list does not look too craft beer friendly at this time. And it appears this "sudden announcement" may not have been so sudden and that lobbying and vying for position to buy the distribution centres may have been taking place for some time.

Progressive Strategies, whose chairman is long time Liberal supporter and big business lobbyist Pat Kinsella, no stranger to controversary, or being involved in major privatization deals in BC, registered as an official lobby group for Excel Logistics in 2010 and they have targeted key Liberal personnel since that time. This is the same Kinsella who was the co-chair of the BC Liberal campaign in 2001, the election that shot Gordon Campbell into power and who more recently back Christy Clark in her successful bid to win the BC Liberal leadership.

According to a Globe and Mail article by Sunny Dhillon and Justin Hunter, Kinsella is also a registered lobbyist for Pacific Western Brewing, BC's largest independent brewery who are decidedly not craft beer focused and the Mark Anthony Group, who describe themselves as " the leading privately-owned importer and distributor of fine wine, premium beer, and specialty beverages in Canada" and whose beer products are Hell's Gate and Stanley Park Amber Ale, not exactly craft beer friendly either. 

But those two groups are not the worst options to groups being linked to possibly take over the distribution warehouses and, at least in the case of Pacific Western, not likely candidates. The more disturbing information being uncovered is the link between Kinsella's Progressive Strategies, Excel Logistics and Canada's two biggest Breweries, namely Molson Canadian and Labatt's. That connection, according to a story posted in a story by Business in Vancouver (BIV), is that that Scott Lyons, who is named on the lobby registration by Kinsella's group as the contact for Excel,  is the former director of distribution operations for The Beer Store, the Ontario-only based chain of retail beer sales outlets that has contributed close to $150,000 to the BC Liberal Party since 2005 and who are owned by Molson (49%) and Labatt's (49%), with the other two percent of ownership lying with Sleeman Breweries.

No one knows exactly what has transpired or if backroom meetings/negotiations have taken place but if Kinsella and the Liberals have been meeting to broker a deal I hope they have been forced to swill Bud Lime and Molson Ex and not single malt scotch and quality BC craft beer. All indicators at this time point to the government just replacing themselves with a big business group, possibly a group sympathetic with our big national breweries, bent on getting in on the projected 900 million-plus dollars in profit the LDB is projecting for the upcoming years in their most current strategy plan and not on reforming the LDB distribution system.

If those administering the system change but the system remains the same, this is bad news for the craft beer industry and we will see the status quo being maintained. In the words of Pete Townsend and The Who, it may be a case of  "meet the new boss, just the same as the old boss," once the ink has dried on the contracts selling off BC's liquor distribution warehouses.

It is the system that needs replacing, not the people writing the cheques for the employees of the distribution centres. It is my opinion that we need a more open market system of distribution, with the government overseeing and enforcing laws from a distance, not while they are acting as distributor and retailer at the same time. It would great great to see the government actually trash this whole broken system and create a new, functional and fair system even if it means they get rid of the LDB as it exists now.


The craft beer industry would benefit greatly from having a system that helps promote and feature their products which have increased sales, since 2007, in litres sold by 47% while the bigger domestic breweries, who produce more than 150,000 HL/year, have seen their sales drop by 13.5% during the same time period. The craft beer market now enjoys  a 15.7% market share, up from 7.8% in 2007 yet they fight for shelf space and are barely promoted by the LDB or in the government run BC Liquor Stores while their products are fully being represented in many private liquor stores and are flying off the shelves.

Why do craft breweries, many of whom deliver their own products to ensure good customer service and proper treatment of their beer by licensees, have to collect the money for their products, then send that money and accompanying paperwork in to the LDB, wait several weeks for the LDB to process the paperwork before receiving their cut of monies collected by them upon delivery in the first place? For small businesses, this wait for cash to flow back to them could be critical to their operations. It makes more sense that if a craft brewery wants to look after its own distribution, that it collects the money and then sends the LDB their cut, meaning no delay in cash flow for the breweries looking after their own distribution and delivery.


There are many other things that need to be addressed with the current distribution system, such as why do private Retail Liquor Stores (LRS) have to compete on an uneven playing field with the government-run BC Liquor Stores? LRS's have to buy their products through the LDB at a price marked up higher than the LDB-run stores buy the product. That is why, despite having lower overhead, the private stores have higher prices than the government stores. Why can restaurants and bars not buy directly from producers, cutting out the LDB as middleman? Why are there restrictions on cross-provincial border transport of alcohol? Why does the LDB mark up products well over 100% before selling it to retailers who again mark up the price before moving it to the consumer? Why can't importers import the products their clients want without having to wade through a mountain of paperwork with the LDB and and then have these products, if approved and listed, moved through warehouses where they may sit for weeks.

These are the things that need to be addressed by the LDB, not who runs their warehouses. It will be interesting to see how the deal takes shape and what it looks like. You have to know that the government is not going to give up their piece of the 900 million dollar profit pie, so how will the new owners of the distribution centre make their cut?

I have already seen emails sent out by LDB General Manager Jay Chambers stating that the price structure for products will stay the same and that the privatization will not effect the government liquor stores so what really will change other than the Liberals can claim the money from the sales of the distribution centres on the plus side of their budget ledger. So many questions with no real answers.

It will be interesting to see what transpires and I, for one, will be keeping a close eye on things.

BC Craft Beer Month Buzz is Building

And Fast Approaching

October is fast approaching which means BC Craft Beer Month (BCCBM) is just around the corner and a buzz is beginning to build in the craft beer community, at least in the Lower Mainland and Victoria areas.

For those of you who do not know, October has been officially declared, by the BC Provincial Government, to be BCCBM, a month that, according to the official proclamation, "will feature a celebration of British Columbia craft beer". It is a time for craft beer lovers and those who support the BC craft beer industry, through their businesses, to shine the spotlight on themselves and on our flourishing craft beer industry which provides jobs, enhances tourism, offers a market for homegrown goods and services and produces world-class, award-winning craft beers which are finding a market all over North America.

According to Lundy Dale, Mainland Director for BCCBM, the month is, "designated by the BC government for celebrating B.C craft beers, coordinated by people who are driven by a love and passion of good craft beer". She emphasises this is not a month-long version of Vancouver Craft Beer Week or the Great Canadian Beer Festival and is not a CAMRA initiative, but is instead a month for brewers to sit back and enjoy the fruits of their labours and join in the festivities created by those who support and love BC craft beers. It is a month to highlight BC craft beers and raise awareness of the importance of the craft beer industry to our province. Many business establishments do this on a daily basis and BCCBM organizers are inviting them to highlight just how they support and celebrate our local craft beer industry by spreading the word to the masses.

"We are proud of our 25-plus provincial breweries and brewpubs," states Dale, " and that number is growing. Cheers to all of them".

Yes, cheers the craft brewers of BC indeed.

So keep an eye out at your local craft beer water hole for upcoming celebrations. Let's hope the buzz continues to grow and that this month is a huge success so it can be built upon and grow into a BC tradition in years to come.

For more information on what is happening and how to get involved email info@craftbeermonth.ca or check out http://www.craftbeermonth.ca/