2024 is almost done, but not before we look at some of the past year’s highlights.
It’s been a good year for some breweries, a tough year for others, and I’m sure there are quite a few looking forward to 2025 possibly making a difference.
Last month’s column touched on some of the hardware that breweries earned at the Canada Beer Cup and BC Beer Awards, but let’s not forget about the hardware brought home to the Capital Region earlier this year, with Phillips bringing home a World Beer Cup Gold for its Dinosour Stone Fruit.
In addition, the Canadian Brewing Awards handed out prizes to Moon Under Water, Sooke Brewing, Sooke Oceanside Brewery and Mile Zero Brewing.
We saw some changes in the brewing landscape, with Swans Brewery shutting down in August after 35 years while keeping the pub open, and Vancouver Island Brewing switching their brewing operations to the Phillips Brewing facility after the threat of a 35 per cent increase in their rent.
Millstream Beverage Company shut down in June due to conflicts with the landlords there as well, and while there are rumours of the brewery coming back, it seems unlikely at this time.
"Enjoy some local beers at local venues, and make our way into 2025 with a safe and supportive holiday season."
Howl Brewing closed their taproom and moved closer to home in Esquimalt, but are working on possibly bringing back a tasting room in the future.
We saw Driftwood’s Singularity return this year after a brief hiatus, albeit in a new packaging size of three small cans in a sleeve, rather than the 650-millilitre bomber of the past, showing the shift to cans isn’t going anywhere soon.
We also saw a return of The Drake Eatery’s Thirsty Chef event, five years after the last one, celebrating an amazing run of 10 years for one of the best craft beer-focused venues in Canada.
Mentioning beer-focused venues, it would be hard not to mention the loss of Smiths Pub in April.
For an industry so reliant on points of distribution, this one has had a significant impact on local breweries. This reflects on how much of a struggle the last couple of years have been for the hospitality industry and how your favourite spots might not survive without your support.
So with that, enjoy some local beers at local venues, and make our way into 2025 with a safe and supportive holiday season.
