The explosion of craft breweries in Vancouver over the past decade is not the first wave of breweries to operate in the city.

From the 1880s until the 1910s, a number of small breweries produced beer for the city’s thirsty population before first amalgamating locally, followed by national consolidation.

What follows is not an exhaustive history of these breweries, but a brief consideration of the many factors – human, ecological, geographic, etc. – that continually influence our evolving relationship with this complicated brew. Though beer is something enjoyed leisurely, it is not a passive thing. Beer influences tastes, revitalizes urban spaces, and inspires social and sustainable innovation. It is a driving force.