Craft beer tasting rooms add flavour to palates and communities, says columnist

On The Coast beer columnist Rebecca Whyman says B.C.'s many craft breweries with tasting rooms add a lot of flavour to the communities they're in and not just the flavours of their brews.

She says those tasting rooms, while not technically pubs, are filling the role neighbourhood pubs in the U.K. are known for and shows like Cheers were built around.

"They're a place where everybody knows your name and they're always glad you came," Whyman told On The Coast host Stephen Quinn. "People like the concept of 'buying local' — well, you can't get any more local than beer fresh from the brewery."

"With many of the breweries trying to keep that local ideal going through sourcing local ingredients for the beers, local suppliers of food, local suppliers of growlers and growler carriers and local suppliers of swag, you've got a commitment to their communities."

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Whyman says tasting rooms help brewers as well because they get an income source not dependant on canning or bottling or getting their products on the shelves of liquor stores.

"Unfortunately, not all neighbourhoods have the appropriate zoning for breweries and tasting lounges," she said.

"I also hope we'll see more restaurants and pubs move to not just adding craft beer to their menus but also switching to include some long tables, interactive events and local collaborations. Anywhere that gives people a chance to meet each other helps to build the social fabric of neighbourhoods."

Here are Whyman's beer picks for this week.

Howe Sound's Kalamansi citrus blonde ale

"Kalamansi are also known as Panama oranges, and they bring mandarin orange aroma and orange-lime citrus flavour to this blonde ale. This one is very much a refreshing summer ale. And at a mere 4.5% it's sessionable too. Available in one-litre, pot-stopper bottles."

Parallel 49 Meyer lemon tricycle radler

"Parallel 49 has a Meyer lemon tricycle available this year, as well as their very popular grapefruit one. Both weigh in at 3.5 percent and feature Parallel 49's craft lager mixed with fruit juice. Tart, fruity, refreshing and very drinkable. Available in six-packs of cans at the tasting room and liquor stores."

Tree Brewing's grapefruit radler

"Features pink grapefruit flavour and a dry finish. Team that with a mere 2.5 percent alcohol and you've got a great way to cool down on a hot day. Available in four-packs of 500 ml tall cans at B.C. Liquor Stores."

Central City's Red Racer radler

"Also grapefruit flavoured. The sweetness of the malt backbone balances the tart citrus juice to make a thirst-quenching ale with just a hint of hops. It's 3.5 percent and comes in 473 ml tall cans. Available at B.C. Liquor stores."

With files from CBC Radio One's On The Coast