TORONTO, ON – Out now from Greystone Books is Brew North: How Canadians Made Beer and Beer Made Canada, an illustrated look at Canada’s brewing history by Ian Coutts.

The following description of the book has been provided by the publisher:

Brew North tells the delightful story of our national beverage, from New France and the British conquest, through Prohibition and the beer parlour era, and right up to the rise of the microbreweries. Lively and informative, Brew North puts beer lovers front and centre. Whether they are cowboys quaffing India pale ale in a western saloon, flannel-shirted working stiffs swilling Cinquante from brown “stubbies” in Montreal taverns, or modern-day beer snobs sipping pints of caskbrewed bitter and commenting on its “chocolate and cigar box bass notes,” this is the story of the men—and women—who brewed, served, and drank our national beverage.

Brew North doesn’t just tell this story, it shows it. Early illustrations of rustic taverns and Victorian photographs of opulent saloons are combined with fantastic advertisements, giveaways, and gewgaws brewers have long used to market their product. It’s all here, from fussy Victoriana to fifties kitsch to today’s sophisticated ad campaigns.

Beer built Canada. Now the classic era of Canadian beer is ending; brewery giants Molson, Labatt, and Sleeman are in foreign hands. At the same time, more small brewers are producing more interesting beers. A new golden age? Brew North arrives at a key moment to chronicle where beer has been and point to where it is going.

Brew North is available now in book stores and online retailers for a suggested retail price of $24.95.

TORONTO, ON – The Summer 2010 issue of TAPS, Canada’s only national beer publication, is shipping this week to subscribers and newsstands across the country.

This issue includes contributions by more than a dozen beer writers from across the country, covering brewery news and profiles, event re-caps, beer and food pairings, and many other topics of interest to beer drinkers in Canada and beyond.

This edition of TAPS also sees two big changes for the magazine: it’s moved from saddle-stitch to perfect bound format, giving it a more professional appearance; and the subtitle has been changed from “Canada’s Beer Magazine” to “The Beer Magazine”. As editor Karla Dudley notes in her opening editorial, this latter change was triggered by an expansion of distribution into the US as well as world-wide digital availability, but the content of the magazine will still retain “a truly Canadian perspective”.

Subscriptions to both the paper and digital versions of TAPS are available via the magazine’s website.

TORONTO, ON – TAPS: Canada’s Beer Magazine has announced two new additions to their full-time staff, although both have been involved with the magazine for some time now. The full press release appears below:

TAPS: Canada’s Beer Magazine Expands Their Team

TORONTO ON, (April 20, 2010) – TAPS Media and TAPS: Canada’s Beer Magazine are pleased to welcome Troy Burtch and Kristina Santone to their team effective immediately.

TAPS Media, parent company of Canada’s only national beer publication, has hired Mr. Burtch as their National Director of Sales and Marketing. Troy will be in charge of managing and increasing TAPS Media’s national presence and expanding its already burgeoning list of national advertisers.

“We are happy to have Troy on board,” stated TAPS Media President, Rob Engman. “His passion and dedication for the beer industry is highly contagious. Troy is well respected in the beer community and we feel that his knowledge of the Canadian beer scene will serve him well in his new role at TAPS.”

Mr. Burtch has been involved in the brewing industry for many years. He covers the subject extensively on his Great Canadian Pubs and Beer Blog and through his Burtch on Beer Column for TAPS.

Kristina Santone is no stranger to TAPS Media, in fact she has been involved with the magazine over the past two years in a number of capacities.

In her new role as Assistant Editor, her main focus will be on maintaining and enhancing the quality of the magazine’s editorial content. In addition, Ms. Santone will be the direct contact for brewers during the Canadian Brewing Awards, from the registration and submission of samples to judging and organizing the awards gala. She’s excited by the expansion of the TAPS team and is looking forward to sharing her enthusiasm with brewers, advertisers and subscribers.

TORONTO, ON – The Spring 2010 issue of TAPS Magazine, Canada’s only national beer publication, is shipping this week to subscribers and newsstands across the country.

This issue includes articles on beer at the Winter Olympics; the brewing scene in the Okanagan; a “Beer Styles 101″ column on fruit beers; beer travel features on Paris and the Cook Islands; a review of a recent fondue festival at Toronto’s Bier Markt; an extensive feature section on homebrewing; and much more.

Subscriptions to both the paper and digital versions of TAPS are available via the magazine’s website.

TORONTO, ON – The Summer 2009 issue of TAPS Magazine, Canada’s only national beer publication, is now available on newsstands across the country.

Features and articles in this issue include:

• Joe Weibe on the 25th anniversary of Canada’s first microbrewery, Granville Island Brewing.
• Greg Clow’s “Beer Styles 101″ column, this edition featuring Belgian witbier.
• Troy Burtch in conversation with Anders Kissmeyer of Copenhagen’s Norrebro Bryghus.
• Bill White’s visit to Weihenstephan.
• Regional reports from the east coast by Craig Pinhey, Quebec by Mirella Amato, and the west coast by Connie Proteau.
• and much more.

Subscriptions to both the paper and digital versions of TAPS are available via the magazine’s website.