May 1, 2018
PEI’s liquor laws in need of overhaul De gustibus non est disputandum. There is no accounting for taste. A common saying when it comes to all kinds of matters of taste: food, politics, religion, fashion, and so much more. So what about alcohol? Or more specifically, liquor laws and their implications? In a country that is on the cusp of…
May 1, 2018
The International Herb Association has named hops as the herb of 2018 Without hops modern-day beer would be a very different drink. For even the most mild lagers available, brewers still use hops in the recipe. But with the craft brew market still growing and going strong there is a lot more interest in beers that have stronger flavours and…
April 19, 2018
Finding foods that lessen the after-effects of a night out Cropsick, crapulent, carpenters in the forehead. You’re hungover. How did you get here (again)? The following will in no way help you to answer any line of questioning you may have for yourself on the subject, but it may provide some remedial insight for the oft-underestimated, yet impossible to ignore,…
February 1, 2018
And everywhere in between Out of adversity comes opportunity. That old Ben Franklin chestnut couldn’t be more true for Peter Toombs and Diversified Metal Engineering. DME is a big player in the world of brewing and is based here in Prince Edward Island. But the seeds of its creation came from a failed—if warmly remembered—experiment in local craft brewing. “DME…
December 1, 2017
Kings County’s first brewery opens Copper Bottom Brewing finally opened its doors in early November, somewhat later than the husband-and-wife owners Ken Spears and Ashley Condon had hoped for. But the delayed opening doesn’t seem to be affecting interest in their taproom or beer. “The reception has been phenomenal,” Condon said. “Everyone seems to be loving the beer and both…
November 1, 2017
“It was just by chance,” Mike Beamish says of how he discovered he could use the ground apples from his u-pick orchard if he fermented and distilled the juice. Having stumbled upon an article that outlined how he could transform what had once been destined for the compost into a saleable product, Beamish set out to establish a distillery. Four…
October 1, 2017
Upstreet Craft Brewing first Island company to gain B Corp accreditation When you think of a craft brewery, what are the first things that come to mind? High-quality, local beer—yes. A crowd of hop enthusiasts—yes. A hip place to hang out—yes. Now stop right there! Upstreet Craft Brewing is all of these things, and then some. Most recently, the Charlottetown-based…
October 1, 2017
PEI Beer Festival moves indoors Now in its fourth year, the PEI Beer Festival has moved its outdoor venue to one of Charlottetown’s most well-known indoor venues, the Delta Prince Edward. Removing the worry of being rained out has allowed for a smoother and more reliable experience. And smooth, from all outward appearances, is how the Festival ran. When the…
September 1, 2017
Prince Edward Island native Lesley Quinn to compete in Canadian National Sommelier Competition Somm. Short for sommelier. Short for wine steward. Short for best job ever. Definitely not a gig my high school guidance counsellor offered up as an option. So when I met Lesley Quinn, I had a lot of questions. Quinn’s the sommelier at Halifax’s Barrington Steakhouse and…
September 1, 2017
Growing popularity of brews inspire Island tea entrepreneurs Whether it’s two for tea, an elegant high tea party, or an after-dinner ritual, tea and all that it encompasses has made a resurgence in recent years. From national chains like David’s Tea to chic teahouses offering flights of tea to celebrity-endorsed ‘beauty’ teas, it’s clear this humble beverage has become en…