In this episode of Why This Beer?, hosts Darren Binnema and Azlan Graves sit down with Dave Henry, founder and brewer at Camp Beer Co., to talk about his journey from passionate homebrewer to award-winning brewery owner.

Dave shares how early experiments with Belgian beers sparked his interest in brewing and eventually led to scaling up recipes from the homebrew level to full production. The conversation dives into the technical challenges of maintaining flavour and balance at scale, from dialing back hop and malt intensity to adjusting process variables for consistency.

The group also explores Camp Beer’s approach to building a lineup of standout beers, including the fan-favorite Flannel Pajamas and their take on the increasingly popular Windbreadker Cold IPA. Dave breaks down the evolution of the style, how it differs from traditional IPAs and lagers, and why it resonates with modern drinkers.

Another key topic is competition strategy, as Dave discusses how breweries approach entries in events like the BC Beer Awards, what judges look for, and how feedback from competitions can help refine recipes.

Along the way, the conversation touches on barrel aging, pilot batches, the changing tastes of BC beer drinkers, and Dave’s advice for brewers looking to turn their homebrew passion into a professional career.

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In this episode of Why This Beer?, Azlan and Darren sit down with Donovan Fast, brewmaster at Eighty Eight Brewing in Calgary. Donovan traces his path from small-town Manitoba to the heart of Alberta’s craft beer scene, sharing how early brewing experiences and time spent in Germany helped shape his approach to making balanced, expressive beer.

The conversation dives into the evolution of Eighty Eight Brewing’s lineup, including Hammer Pants, and how the brewery balances creativity with the consistency needed to build trusted core brands. Donovan discusses recipe development, the role of drinkability in modern beer design, and how brewer feedback—both internal and from customers—helps refine the final product.

Donovan also pulls back the curtain on Eighty Eight Brewing’s in-house lab program, explaining how rigorous quality control, stability testing, and clearly defined SOPs help ensure clean, shelf-stable beer. The discussion touches on hop utilization strategies, release planning, and how thoughtful scheduling keeps a brewery’s portfolio fresh while maintaining production discipline.

Along the way, the group explores collaboration in the brewing community, advice for brewers entering the industry, and why curiosity remains one of the most valuable tools a brewer can have. Outside the brewery, Donovan shares his love of cooking and spending time outdoors—interests that continue to influence his creativity behind the brewhouse.

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In this episode, we sit down with Andy Innes of Driftwood Brewery to break down the technical evolution of Fat Tug IPA, one of Canada’s benchmark West Coast IPAs.

Andy walks us through recipe development over time — from hop selection and layering strategies to process adjustments that maintain consistency at scale. We get into fresh hop logistics and chemistry, harvest timing, utilization challenges, and how Driftwood approaches bitterness, aromatics, and balance in a shifting IPA landscape. The conversation also touches on the transition from classic resin-forward profiles to the rise of juicy IPAs, and how Driftwood has navigated those trends without compromising identity.

We discuss quality control, sensory standards, and the discipline required to keep a flagship beer performing year after year. Andy shares insights into innovation within constraints, the realities of brewing in Canada, and what newer brewers should understand about process, precision, and patience.

This episode is a deep dive into hops, systems, and the work behind an enduring IPA.

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