Making his own
Incredible dreams can be conjured over a boiling pot outdoors. When Mike Hogan, affectionately known as Hogie, began brewing beer with friends in the ...
Author: Bryan Carver
From the beginning
Talking with beer crafters on PEI—Trent Hayes
At the end of 2021, we looked at the four basic ingredients needed to make beer. The role that water, malted grain, hops and yeast play are key. These...
The fermentation
Exploring the basic beer ingredients, part four—yeast
Having examined the role of principle raw materials used in the brewing process, we have essentially reached the most important piece in the creation ...
Hops for the best
Exploring the basic beer ingredients, part three—hops
Up to this point, we have looked at the role water and malted grains play in the making of beer. For thousands of years this duo has been crucial in c...
Flavours ingrained
Exploring the basic beer ingredients, part two—malt
We recently took a look at water and how it plays a major part in the brewing of a well made beer. Water’s chemical composition and attributes have ...
Back to the well
Exploring the basic beer ingredients, part one—water
In order to make a quality beer you need four basic ingredients. This tried and true foursome of water, malt, hops and yeast each need to be carefully...
Fermentation trail
Aimed at creating a truly unique experience for Islanders and tourists alike, five local beverage producers have joined together to establish a trail ...
West Coast IPA
If you were looking for one particular style of beer that propelled the current awareness of craft beer into our collective consciousness, it would be...
Beer for sport
A fierce competition is growing at Hopyard on Kent Street in Charlottetown. For the second year in a row, The Brewery Battle pits local brewers agains...
Seasonal suds
As the weather warms and we move toward the summer of 2021, our local brewers are looking to brew up new brands of beer that aim to capture the essenc...
East Coast Hoppers
Tucked away on the winding roads of Donagh, PEI is a small shop supplying homebrewers of all skill levels. Selling bags of grain, hops, yeast and all ...
Hazy Shade of Beer
The existence of hazy beers is nothing new to the beer world. In the last century, technological advancements allowed brewers to make beer much more p...
Fill ‘er with unleaded
Exploring some great local, alcohol-free options
At the start of a fresh new year, many people take the pledge to adhere to a “Dry January,” spending the month without any beer, wine or spirits. ...
Ode to brewers
‘Twas a month before Christmas, And on our fair Isle, We all could be sheltered At home for a while. Christmas parties cancelled, Pray just for...
My preciousss
New nano-brewery and taproom opens in Cornwall
After a few setbacks and some unanticipated delays (see global pandemic), Cornwall finally has a brewery to call its own. Now I am particularly biased...
Gemütlichkeit
How to DIY Oktoberfest in 2020
Numerous events around the world have been cancelled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. One such event is the beloved Bavarian tradition of Okto...
Hard Seltzers
Local selections are popular with the non-beer drinker
Beer has always faced competition to occupy your glass. Wine and spirits have long been the main competitor and in recent years we have seen the growt...
Order yours today
Island brewers find ways to keep your whistles wet
In March, Island brewers would take time to reflect on the previous summer and plan for how they will make the most of the coming warmer months. The i...
Benefit of a stout
Every year, March provides the first indication we have survived yet another winter. We all did fairly well and should give ourselves a pat on the bac...
Brewery Battle
Hopyard hosts eight PEI breweries in friendly competition
After ringing in the end of another successful year, Charlottetown’s beloved beer institution Hopyard has dreamt up another series of great beer eve...
Island Hop Company
Josh Mayich grows hops in Mount Albion for 2020 harvest
Under the winters frozen blanket of ice and snow, the Islands soil and those who farm it look forward to the warm months that bring new growth. One pa...
‘Twas the month
‘Twas the month before Christmas in fair Charlottetown, And folx were just itching for a chance to “get down”; Christmas parties been planned,...
The yeast family
The key ingredient in the brewing process
Last month we took a look at the brewing process and what a brewer does each brewday in order to create wort, the bittersweet liquid that brewers yeas...
In the brewhouse
A brewer has a few key tasks they need to accomplish in a work day. Number one (forever and always) is clean! The cleanliness in a brewery is paramoun...
The taste of sour
Beer sours are a trend at Island breweries
With the constant demand for unique beers, brewers are always looking to find a new spin. It’s been known for a long time that beer can become sour,...
Lone Oak Brewing
Craft beer business to open in Gateway Village
A new brewery is currently under construction in Borden-Carleton’s Gateway Village. Led by three young entrepreneurs, Lone Oak Brewing is looking to...
Red Island Cider
New facility opens in Charlottetown
A new addition made its way into the PEI beverage scene early this Summer. Business partners James Van Toever and Robert van Waarden launched ‘Red I...
Malt makers
For much of recent history brewers have relied on imported products to make their beer. Fortunately, like in so many industries, we are now seeing a t...
Lager weather
As the weather continues to warm, spring yard work makes way for summer beach days, where no other style of beer quite slacks the thirst like a well m...
A new era
DME stays in business with new Dutch owners
For nearly three decades, Diversified Metal Engineering manufactured equipment that fueled the growth of the blossoming craft brewing industry. This...
Roll out the barrels
Jordan Stetson makes wooden vessels for producers
Most modern breweries, wineries and distilleries rely on stainless steel to ferment, store and package their products. This has not always been the ca...
The mighty brew
Island brewers expand to the mainland
Over the last few years, a number of PEI based businesses in the beer industry made successful leaps across the Northumberland Strait. Launching their...
Bogside Brewing
New brewery opens in Montague
The town of Montague will have a lot to celebrate in the New Year with the launch of its second brewery. After years of planning and preparation, Bogs...