You may or may not know that Vancouver’s R&B Brewing recently entered the Alberta market. Indeed, they are the latest B.C. stalwart to attempt to traverse the continental divide and sell some beer in our growing market. Their first shipment arrived in December.

I haven’t had much experience with R&B. I remember having a pint or two of some of their beer while in Vancouver, but that is all. I thought I should bone up a bit. When I did I discovered that the “R” and the “B” are Rick and Barry, the brewery’s co-owners. That made me curious, so we arranged a telephone interview to explore who Rick and Barry are and what they are doing with their beer. I spend almost an hour chatting with Barry about their background, the brewery’s origins and vision.

The result is this week’s Vue Weekly column (read it here). I relay how they got started and the amazing fact that most of their brewery is refitted dairy vessels, and offer a quick take on the three beer now in Alberta – which, incidentally, are their Raven Cream Ale, Sun God Wheat Ale and Hoppelganger IPA. Distribution is limited for the moment, but they have hopes of expanding it, plus maybe shipping some of their other regular beer in the future. Now I am left to wonder which B.C. brewer will be heading our way next?