Beer Samplers at Howe Sound Brewing in Squamish, B.C.

Looking at Flickr the other day, I realized that one of my most popular photos posted there is one I never posted about here.

I took this during the weekend of the first Live at Squamish music festival[miss604.com], when Howe Sound Brewing hosted us at their inn, which just happens to be above their restaurant, pub, and entire brewing operation.

Since then, I’ve come to love all things Howe Sound, and that’s not just their beer. Squamish is a great area, and Rebecca and I often try to find a reason to make a visit. While it’s “The Outdoor Recreational Capital of North America,” the small, yet growing city doesn’t have the “scene” many party seekers might be looking for. It’s just a slightly slower pace, but with mountains to climb, water to wind surf, and bears to be on the watch for.

There’s more to the story than just the beer in this photo, too. While there is no better way to try all the brews they make, each one of these samples were paired with food they offer in either their pub or wonderful restaurant across the way. Sustainability is so much a part of what they do that the beer you wash your meal down with probably has some form of spent grain in it. Whatever they can use that’s leftover from the brewing process, they do.

Ever had eggs and spent grain toast for breakfast? Amazing.

And while I took this photo to help remember this experience, many people liked the shot, and one person liked it so much that he wanted to feature it in his book, which was about, of course, beer.

The Brewer’s Apprentice: An Insider’s Guide to the Art and Craft of Beer Brewing, Taught by the Masters

In The Brewer’s Apprentice, you get incomparable behind-the-scenes access to the craft brewing world, along with tutorials on everything from mastering the perfect pour to designing a world-class IPA. This illustrated handbook escorts you through the steps of the brewing process and offers a unique curriculum that supports and enhances your knowledge of brewing basics. [amazon.com]

It almost seems fitting that the place that really exposed me to the art of craft brewing beer is where I got my first photo published in a book, albeit just a small part. You can see a snapshot from Amazon.com below of where my photo was used, but at least it’s out there in the world, helping other people understand the process of craft brewing.

And for the photo nerds, I shot this with my Nikkor 50mm f/1.8d in natural light. I had to almost get up on my tiptoes just to fit all the glasses in the frame.

And then, we drank them.