This week’s beer column has a bit of a different angle.
I was scrolling my social media feed this week and saw a post from one of my favourite British Columbia breweries that kind of stopped me in my tracks.
On first glance, the post contained pictures of the Boxset Mixed Pack from Phillips Brewing and pictures of Costco.
It briefly made me think that I could now buy Phillips beer at Costco while wondering how that was possible given the laws around alcohol sales in BC.
Upon closer inspection, I realized that I wasn’t looking at a photo of a Costco in BC. It was a Costco in Japan!
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“Bringing a taste of Canadian craft across the Pacific,” the post from Phillips said, thanking their friends at Pacific Rim Distributors for making it happen.
And just in case you're wondering – the photo shows a price tag of 2998 Japanese Yen, which is equivalent to $28.11 CAD.
I feel like an independent BC craft brewery getting a spot on Costco shelves in Japan is a very cool story and well worth sharing.
It’s not exactly what this column typically looks like though, so let’s take this opportunity to get a closer look at the beers inside the Boxset Mixed Pack.
Along with being sold at Japanese Costcos, this bad boy is stocked in most BC Liquor Stores across the province and a lot of private stores so you should have no problem finding it.
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It contains three cans each of four different Phillips beers, for a total of 12 if math isn’t your strong suit.
Blue Buck Ale (5% ABV) – This is the best-known beer from Phillips, an iconic creation that has a robust, malt-forward body underpinned with crisp northwest hops. “Well balanced and highly drinkable,” the brewery says.
Tilt Lager (5% ABV) – If you’re a big Coors Banquet, Miller High Life or Pabst Blue Ribbon drinker, but would rather support a BC craft brewery, make the switch to Tilt. The Phillips lager is refreshing, well-balanced and, believe it or not, just as cheap as those big-name options.
Tiger Shark Pale Ale (4.7% ABV) – Tiger Shark always seems to fly under the radar, but it’s one of my favourites from Phillips. It’s a pale ale re-imagined, the brewery says, with a flavour profile that includes juicy passion fruit and citrus.
Implosion Pilsner (5% ABV) – If pilsners are more up your alley, you’ll likely love this patiently cold-aged version from Phillips. The brewery says it’s “meticulously engineered” to be clean, crisp and bright.
Josh Duncan is the NowMedia news director and a craft beer lover. Reach him at [email protected]. His beer column appears every Saturday afternoon in this space.
