“There has not been a decision I have made in my adult life in which I did not first consider how it would impact my ability to purchase or consume beer.”
-John Marioni 2004 Beer Drinker of the Year
Congratulations John. Your words, while obviously a bit over the top, are an inspiration to us all. They combine a passion and commitment that can best be described as true love. Having felt this same love, we wondered after all that beer had done for us, was there something more that we could do for beer? It was on a warm summer night after a long shift of pouring great beer. I had just sent a group of travelers away with bellies full and a list my suggestions for the best adventures to try and pubs to visit in the next town. It was then that I realized this was my favourite part of my job. It was a bit of an epiphany I suppose; it was time to dust off my diploma and crack a couple of those books. We were writing a book…a book about beer.
Past
For going on four years now, Passport To Beer has been constantly improving and learning more and more about what people want from a travel book. With help and suggestions from friends, family, readers, colleagues, graphic artists and self-proclaimed beer geeks we have made more changes than we can remember, both large and small to content, layout and design. Our book evolved to become easier to read with more information at a glance while still pocket-sized to travel wherever the search for the perfect pint may lead. In an industry where brewpubs are forever changing and adding to their beer lists, breweries often re-brand their beers and many good pubs, lounges and restaurants just don’t make it; it’s been a battle to stay current and has resulted in 12 print runs over 4 years with updates every time.
Present
Passport To Beer continues to enjoy spreading their love of beer and helping thirsty travelers quench their longing for quality craft beer. It’s summertime again – festival season, we attend about 8 beer festivals every year, still one of our favourite Passport To Beer activities. Festivals get us face to face with the people buying our books. We love hearing from people that bought our book the previous years and the fun they had with it.
Future
Going forward, Passport To Beer will be expanding south of the border to include the great beers of Washington and Oregon. Beer knows no borders and now, neither do we. In other news, Passport To Beer will soon have a wild new brother book, Passport To Adrenaline – An Adrenaline Lover’s Guide to BC’s Best Outdoor Adventures & Where to Find Them. This book will feature everything from Frisbee Golf to Skydiving and everything in between. Check back later this summer for more information and how to get it!