Western Living Magazine
This Stunning Whistler Home Embraces Nature at Every Turn
Home Tour: Inside a Beachy and Beautiful Eagle Island Getaway
Home Tour: Inside Former NHL Player Dan Hamuis’s Stunning Modern Home in Northern B.C.
Recipe: Tomato Bruschetta alla Pepino’s
Recipe: Make Your Own Cheddar Jalapeno Chicken Sausages This Summer
5 BC Wines Under $25 That Will Win Your Next BBQ
The Perfect Southern Alberta Getaway (If You’re Obsessed With Yellowstone)
Visiting San Juan Island? Consider a Yurt
How to Keep Your Pet Cool in a Heat Wave
‘West Coast North’ is a Love Letter to Western Canadian Architecture and Interiors
Design Obsession: This Roll-Up Drying Rack Is Maybe My Favourite Thing in the Kitchen
10 of the Hottest Homewares for Summer 2022
Announcing the 2022 Designers of the Year Finalists
You’re Invited to the Design Party of the Year!
DotY 2022: Our Judges for the Maker Category Can’t Wait to See What You’ve Got
A powerhouse indie brewing is shifting Vancouver's beer epicentre North.
A couple of major things happened during the three years that Darren Hollett worked as a sales coordinator for Whistler Brewing Company.
First, it sparked a new career interest in Hollett, who hadnt worked in beer before. After WBC, he became involved in the production side of the industry for outlets like Mission Springs Brewing Company, North Vancouver's Hearthstone Brewery and Port Coquitlam-based Taylight Brewing.
Oh, and he met his future wife, Jody, at one of Whistler Brewing's Christmas parties.
Starting their own brewery became the pair's collective mission, and after Darren left Hearthstone in 2017, they began the work to launch one in North Vancouver. Of course, life and permits got in the way, as they often do. By the time House of Funk finally opened in May of last year, it entered an overly crowded North Van beer scene. Thankfully, Darren and Jody had a few ideas to help them stand out from the crowd.
Over the course of the years, we've had many fun business plans and ideas for breweries, but Ive been a big fan of wild beers and sours and barrel-aged beers for quite some time, Darren says. I thought there was a spot in the market in B.C., because while there is Field House and Strange Fellows and Four Winds, we were excited to do something concentrating solely on funky, wild beers.
While Darren dreamed up and tested those concoctions, Jody took on the role of taproom manager, hiring and training all front-of-house staff.
So far, at least, their efforts have paid off. The tasting room is constantly packed with people clamouring for smoothie sours and smoked wheat ales, and House of Funk was the darling of last summer's Vancouver Craft Beer Week. The beers arent suited to all palates, but that's where the proliferation of breweries in North Vancouver has worked in House of Funk's favour.
Our beers might not be in everyone's wheelhouse, but that's the beauty of the location we're in, says Hollett. They can go down the street and go to Beere Brewing; they make great IPAs. And there are other breweries opening up soon that can fill those different niches. If each one is a niche market and if we have people hopping around to try each niche, then that's good.
Most underrated type of beer?
Lost among the hype are good lagers and pilsners. This is changing, but nothing beats a well-made pilsneryou really have nothing to hide behind when you brew one.
Most overrated type of beer?
Hazy IPAs. Love em, but we are tired of them.
What's always in your fridge?
Usually something from Four Winds, Backcountry or Field House.
What song is always on your dinner party playlist?
Cant Get Enough by Griz.