About the Book
Winner of a 2020 Gourmand World Cookbook Award in Canada
A timely exploration of the vibrant and growing craft beer scene on Vancouver Island.
Hopheads, rejoice! Take the ultimate beer-lover’s road trip from Victoria, BC’s craft beer capital, to Campbell River, visiting almost forty craft breweries and brewpubs in between. Your guide? Jon Stott, born and bred in Victoria—and beer enthusiast extraordinaire.
In 1961, Vancouver Island had just one brewery. In 2018, Stott visited thirty-three breweries on the island—and six more breweries were slated to open within the year. For each brewery or brewpub, Stott shares well-researched backstories, examines the relationships between breweries and the communities in which they operate, profiles owners and brewers, and shares tasting notes for many of the beers each place offers.
Beginning at Spinnakers, Canada’s oldest and longest operating brewpub, the book culminates at Beach Fire Brewing and Nosh House in Campbell River, and includes a directory of Vancouver Island’s Breweries and brewpubs, a glossary of brewing terms, and a guide to different styles of beer.
Reviews
“Island Craft is not a guide book with tasting notes. It’s a memoir of beer as a window to the past and present, with the author taking you on an adventure that just happens to include some really delicious pit stops . . . Stott is an easygoing writer with a strong connection to his hometown of Victoria. His book is the kind of read that pairs particularly well with a pint (or three).” —Vancouver Sun
“Island Craft is an entertaining and informative tour of Vancouver Island’s unique craft beer culture. Enjoy it with your favourite beer — and start planning your own visit to this west coast craft beer paradise.” —Joe Wiebe, author of Craft Beer Revolution and co-founder of Victoria Beer Week and the BC Ale Trail
“A thoughtful, passionate joy to read. A retired professor and author of over 20 books . . . Stott is a knowledgeable guide to our burgeoning craft brew scene. More importantly, he knows how to tell a good story.” —EAT
“With nearly 300 pages of anecdotes, brewery, brewer, and beer profiles, and handy appendices to fill in the knowledge gaps where needed, this quick and easy read is sprinkled with English literature references and personal reflections along the way and pairs best with a pint (or two).” —BC Ale Trail
“Island Craft is now automatically the reference for any question relating to brewing history on the Island . . . Beer guidebooks generally have a somewhat limited shelf life, but Stott’s strong research and thorough history lengthen this book’s long-term value . . . There is much to celebrate about Vancouver Island beer and this book is a great resource when exploring it.” —Ted Child, What’s Brewing