Entering the taproom of Coast Mountain Brewing, located in the Function Junction area of Whistler, British Columbia, you will find it’s crowded with a mix of residents and tourists from all over the world. It’s a comfortable place that makes everyone feel like a local. Here, Kevin Winter, along with his wife Angie, opened the doors to the brewery in 2016 after careers for many years in Whistler’s hospitality industry. The two started homebrewing on the stove, eventually growing into a boutique, craft brewery producing premium, small-batch beer.
And you can only get Coast Mountain beers in Whistler — over 70 percent of the beer brewed stays in the taproom, with the remaining served in Whistler bars — setting a visit to this alpine brewpub apart from the pack. Winter chats with us about the exclusivity of his beers, his inkling for barrel aging and classic rock.
1) Which of your own current offerings are you digging the most?
The one in front of me… This is a really difficult question to answer. I am a brewer by trade and a beer geek by life. I put so much into the beers we produce that they are like my children; you can’t choose your favorite. I don’t sell my brew outside of Whistler. I don’t jet too far away and like to keep it at arm’s reach. There is something to be said about watching people enjoy what you made.
2) Any brewing pipedreams you’re dying to make a reality?
Our passion lies in historic brewing and in the future we want to pursue barrel aging. The mystery of it intrigues me. The barrel aging process produces a unique flavor that is unmatched from what you can produce with just stainless steel fermentation.
3) What non-beer beverage is in your glass most these days? What is your favorite way to enjoy it and where?
Does one have such a thing? If I had to pick one I would pick Scotch whisky, I drink it neat. My favorite place to drink it is when I am home from work, the kids have gone to bed and I’m sitting on the couch with my wife.
4) Favorite song, album or artist to jam out to while throwing a few down the hatch?
The Beatles or Zeppelin. I am an old hipster and tend to stick with classic rock but B.B. King is always nice. I’d have to say classic rock and jazz are the best.
