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?
February 3, 2011 at 6:56 PM
Ah ok, good to know they’re here(& hoping to increase their presence). I had just been reading about their Spirit Chaser Coffee Porter-see link(so will be watching for it to show up at Sherbrooke or Keg’n’Cork).
http://www.left4beer.com
February 4, 2011 at 9:11 AM
Hi Darrell,
I suspect we won’t be seeing seasonals or specialty beer from them soon. It takes time to build market share in this province. However, feel free to keep bugging them about it and you may talk them into a special shipment of it.
Jason
February 3, 2011 at 7:15 PM
And after reading the Vue article I’m also eager to try the Raven Cream Ale!
February 3, 2011 at 9:51 PM
Fingers crossed that it’ll be Driftwood. One of the best breweries in the country right now.
February 4, 2011 at 9:12 AM
Agreed that Driftwood is doing some remarkable things. Have sampled a couple when in BC and it is well crafted beer pushing traditional Canadian boundaries for style interpretation.
Jason
February 13, 2011 at 1:28 PM
I tried the ‘Raven’ yesterday evening & found it to be an excellent easy drinking English style ale. I frankly quite preferred it to either the Fuller’s London Porter or the Young’s Double Chocolate Stout-stout?-I’ve had recently(rather minimal stylistic differences aside). In fact I fired off an e-mail just awhile ago, complimenting them & mentioning my eagerness to try both the Dark Star Oatmeal Stout & the Spirit Chaser Coffee Porter.
February 13, 2011 at 1:37 PM
Oh & also hoping to try Driftwood’s Singularity Stout at some point..may be hoppin’ on the Greyhound this summer.