I hope you and your teams had a restful holiday season and a fantastic beginning to the new year.
As we enter 2025, I know many breweries, distilleries and wineries across Canada are eyeing up different competitions, from the National Wine Awards of Canada to the Canadian Whisky Awards to the Canada Beer Cup. That’s why we decided to make the theme of this issue “Competitions.”
From flawless execution to unforgettable flavour, the art of crafting award-winning beer, wine and spirits is demystified in the Cover Story. Top judges Natalie MacLean, Charlene Rooke and Lauren Richard share their insider knowledge on what makes a winning entry, from perfecting texture and balance to crafting an emotional connection with the judges. Whether you’re competing for the first time or aiming to fine-tune your strategy, this article is packed with actionable advice to help you bring home the gold. Don’t miss it!
Also in the vein of competitions, Poured Canada caught up with Josh Morrison, co-founder of Pile O’ Bones Brewing, fresh off their victory at the 2024 Canada Beer Cup. Their Witbier, Quark, Strangeness, Charm, claimed the prestigious Best in Show award, cementing the Saskatchewan-based brewery’s reputation as one of the country’s finest. Dive into the exclusive interview.
Since 2014, Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Brew Lab has been training future brewers through its hands-on Brewing and Brewery Operations diploma program. With award-winning student beers, a focus on diversity and graduates excelling in the industry, check out the Brewery Profile to learn all about how this Langley-based teaching brewery is shaping the next generation of brewing professionals.
As always, if you have any comments or questions about this issue, or any issue, feel free to drop me line. If you have a topic that you would like to see included in an upcoming issue, Poured Canada’s editorial team would love to hear about it. Likewise, if you have an article that you would like to contribute, we would be thrilled to review it for publication consideration. If you haven’t already, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram!
Cheers,
