Bottoms up! Kamloops celebrates International Beer Day

KAMLOOPS — The first Friday in August each year is celebrated as International Beer Day, just in case you needed another reason to crack a cold one.

On a warm August afternoon, there aren’t many things better than a nice cold beer.

“You bet, you bet,” a local beer drinker explained, as he sipped on a bright, golden beverage. “It’s a nice beer. I think it’s a lager.”

On International Beer Day, all different styles of beer are celebrated.

“IPA is my favourite,” one local says.

“I’m a good IPA guy, too,” her walking partner says. “Most wet beers. Anything liquid, I’ll drink.”

“I like sours,” our first beer enjoyer explains. “I’m a bit of the chick beer crowd.”

“Any kind of beer is my style,” the lager drinker says.

“I like this beer, Corona, very much,” our shaded beer drinker says. “Guinness is good, but a little too strong.”

Over at Red Collar Brewing, one of the original craft breweries in Kamloops, they brew pretty much any style of beer you can imagine.

“The IPA, day in and day out is going to be the most popular,” Lara Beardsell at Red Collar Brewing, says. “Probably because amongst craft beer drinkers, IPA is the most popular style.”

At last count, there are five craft breweries in Kamloops, all offering unique and delicious beers. Combine those with the dozens of others that exist across BC, as well as the big brewers, and beer drinkers are spoiled with the number of choices. But sometimes, people just don’t like beer.

“I don’t drink it, I’m sorry,” one white wine drinker says. “I don’t like the malt taste. Basically, that’s what it is.”

“It’s alright,” another local says. “I’m a Wiser’s guy.”

While beer isn’t for everyone, there really is a beer for most folks out there. With the variety of brews that exist in this day and age, it’s important to remember this one fact:

“It’s International Beer Day. There’s no wrong beer,” Beardsell says. “I’m not going to lie and say I never had a macro beer, or I’ve never picked up a six-pack of macro beers every once in a while. Sometimes, that’s just the vibe, so do what you’re feeling in the moment. There’s no wrong beer, especially on International Beer Day.”

So go forth! Crack open a cold one, and celebrate!