Headlines from the past is a recurring feature looking back at stories we've covered over the past 40+ years.
There’s currently 12 craft breweries operating in the Tri-Cities.
But 24 years ago, brewing small batches of beers was still a cottage industry mostly done elsewhere in the province.
Exposing local beer drinkers to some of those unique products like cranberry and cream ales was the impetus for the John B Pub’s third annual cottage beer festival in November, 2000.
“There’s really a large percentage that don’t want to give up their favourite beer,” said pub manager Brian Coomer.
“But I firmly believe that the time will come when 75 per cent will want hand-crafted. It doesn’t happen overnight.”
The event would feature beers from smaller breweries like Granville Island, Okanagan, Whistler and Shaftesbury, poured alongside a special menu featuring fare like beer-steamed clams and steak pie made with Wolf’s Cream Ale.
“We have heard comments (from traditional beer drinkers) who say that if it wasn’t for the festival, they would never have tried hand-crafted,” said Coomer, who’s originally from Wales.
The Tri-City News has covered civic affairs, local crime, festivals, events, personalities, sports and arts in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody since 1983. Bound back issues of the paper are available at the Coquitlam Archives, while digital versions of several past years can be found at issuu.com.
