https://untappd.com/CheckerheadBrewing

Checkerhead Brewing, 10602 Sherburne Drive, Sooke, BC (2026)

06/17/2026

A huge shout-out to my buddy Nate (Nathan Shackelford), who took a day off work yesterday to come lend a hand brewing Stu’s Rusty Red Unicycle Ale. Having good friends willing to spend their day being a second set of eyes, cleaning equipment, and talking beer is something I never take for granted.

This beer is about as Checkerhead as it gets. It’s a malt-forward red ale brewed with water from our well, hopped entirely with Willamette hops grown in Checkerhead Brewing’s little hop yard, and made with malt sourced primarily from Field Five Farm Ltd..

The coolest ingredient, though, is the yeast.

For this batch, I started with the wild yeast living in the honey produced by our bees. First, I diluted the honey and let the native yeast begin fermenting. Then I gradually stepped it up with dry malt extract until I had enough healthy yeast to ferment a 23-litre batch. I brewed that starter batch twice, harvested the yeast slurry, and built it up to the point where it could tackle a full-scale brew.

Yesterday’s “full-scale brew” ended up being about 325 litres in the 300-ish litre fermenter—which, in brewer math, means an extra keg of beer down the road.

Stu’s Rusty Red Unicycle Ale is the latest in the growing lineup of tribute beers celebrating the Four Swordsmen of the Apocalypse:

🍺 Stu’s Rusty Red Unicycle Ale for Stu
🫐 Rick’s Blueberry Bomb for Rick McDonald — a blueberry cheesecake sour
☕ Dark Soul’s Mocha Stout for brewsandtoos
🍋 Lemon 🌿 Basil 🐝 Bees for Chris McDonald

Checkerhead Brewing wouldn’t be what it is without the friends who have encouraged, inspired, volunteered, supplied ingredients, and occasionally convinced me that some crazy beer idea might actually work.

And the best part? This morning I was greeted by that beautiful brewer’s soundtrack coming from the blow-off tube:

Blurp... blurp... blurp...

The wild honey yeast is hard at work, and 325 litres of wort are happily transforming into beer.

SCIENCE!

06/12/2026

Has Checkerhead Brewing slipped into an alternate timeline?

Did Dave secretly install a flux capacitor in the boil kettle? Did he hit 88°C and accidentally travel to a universe where he brews hazy beer?

Or…is he really about to tap the first-ever Hazy IPA at Checkerhead Brewing this weekend?

Meet Chain Reaction Hazy IPA.

This beer is a tribute to Colten Nash (Colten Nash) who, along with his partner Brent were the masterminds behind the parking area and the legendary “Kombucha Area” (which, despite popular demand, still isn’t recognized by the CRD or LCRB as an approved beer consumption zone).

During construction, Colten somehow decided that wearing massive excavator chains around his neck like Mr. T was a perfectly reasonable thing to do. It was equal parts ridiculous and impressive.

“I pity the fool who misses this beer.”

The image of Colten draped in chains sparked the idea for Chain Reaction Hazy IPA, and from there the artwork took on a life of its own.

A huge thank you to the Four Swordsmen of the Apocalypse—Rick McDonald, brewsandtoos, Chris McDonald, and Stu—for their enthusiastic reactions to Colten’s fashion choices, and to Iain Warren (Iain Warren) for joining me on brew day and helping bring this one to life.

I was holding off on announcing it until the registration process was complete, but I checked this morning and the application has officially been accepted.

That means Chain Reaction Hazy IPA is on tap this weekend.

This Weekend’s Tap List

🍺 Moroccofied Cerveza
🍺 Hop Juggler SMASH (fresh-hopped with Galena hops from the Checkerhead Brewing hop yard)
🥥 Minnie Maniac Coconut Blonde
🍇 Ali’s Red Currant Ale
🌫️ Chain Reaction Hazy IPA (NEW!)
🍺 Dunkelweizenheimer
🍺 IN JEST ESB
🍺 C & B Bitter

Come by for a glass, check out the newest addition to the lineup, and let me put a little happiness in your mouth.

06/07/2026

SOLD OUT. 🍋🌿🐝

Yesterday the tap ran dry on Lemon • Basil • Bees.

When I first put this beer ON TAP back at the end of April, I had no idea it would become the fastest-selling batch in Checkerhead Brewing history. Six weeks later, every drop is gone.

A huge shoutout to for both the inspiration and the mountain of fresh basil that made this beer possible. The original deal was simple: “Grow me the basil and I’ll make you the beer.” Neither of us expected the response it would get.

The good news? I think I still have enough basil tucked away to brew another batch. The bad news? There are a few other beers already lined up in the brew schedule, so it may be a little while before Lemon • Basil • Bees buzzes its way back onto the taps.

That said, the reception has been so overwhelmingly positive that this one is making a very strong case for a permanent spot in the Checkerhead core lineup.

Stepping into its place in the tap line-up will be Chain Reaction Hazy IPA as soon as the paperwork clears the Liquor Distribution Branch. The application was submitted last week, and if all goes according to plan, it should be pouring within the next week or two.

Currently on tap:

🍺 Moroccofied Cerveza
🎪 Hop Juggler SMASH (Fresh Galena Hops)
🥥 Minnie Maniac Coconut Blonde
🌊 Ali’s Red Currant Ale
🍌 Dunkelweizenheimer
🎭 IN JEST ESB (Collab with Vancouver Island Brewing)
🐓 C & B Bitter (Collab with Warren Boyer)

A few of those are getting dangerously low too. The Cerveza, Red Currant Ale, and Dunkelweizenheimer are all down to their last couple of kegs, which means it’s time for me to get busy and start filling tanks again.

Ingredients are ordered. Brew days are booked. Fermenters are about to get a workout.

More beer is on the way.

And as always, I can’t wait to put a little Happiness In Your Mouth™.

06/06/2026

We have an exciting opportunity to take the next step in making Checkerhead Brewing an even better gathering place for locals and visitors alike.

On June 17, 2026, our application to add a picnic area at Checkerhead Brewing will be presented at a Public Information Meeting and then considered by the Shirley–Jordan River Advisory Planning Commission.

The proposed picnic area would create a dedicated outdoor space where guests can relax, enjoy a beer, share a meal, and spend more time connecting with friends, family, and our amazing community.

If you’ve enjoyed spending time at Checkerhead Brewing and would like to see this addition become a reality, I would greatly appreciate your support. Community members are welcome to attend the meeting, ask questions, and share their thoughts on the proposal.

📍 Shirley Community Hall
📅 June 17, 2026
🕡 Public Information Meeting begins at 6:30 PM
🕖 Advisory Planning Commission meeting follows at approximately 7:00 PM

Can’t make it in person? Written comments can also be submitted directly to [email protected]. Those submissions will be circulated to the Land Use Committee when the application returns to them for consideration, so every voice helps.

Checkerhead Brewing has always been about bringing people together. This picnic area is a simple addition that would give our guests a comfortable outdoor space to gather, enjoy the incredible surroundings, and spend more time supporting a small local business.

Thank you to everyone who has supported this little brewery since it opened. Whether you attend the meeting, submit a comment, or simply share this post, your support could make a real difference.

06/05/2026

The question isn’t if Lemon • Basil • Bees will sell out... it’s when. 🍋🌿🐝🍺

This beer started with a simple challenge from my buddy :

“Can you make a basil-flavoured beer?”

My answer was simple:

“Grow me the basil, and I’ll make you the beer.”

Neither of us expected what happened next.

Lemon Basil Bees has become the fastest-selling beer I’ve ever brewed at Checkerhead Brewing. It’s been flying out the door faster than I can pour it, and more growlers of this beer have left the brewery than any other beer currently on tap.

As of today, I’m down to my last keg.

At the current pace, there’s a very real chance it disappears today (Friday) or tomorrow (Saturday). I’d be shocked if there’s any left by Sunday.

So if you’ve been meaning to try it, or you’ve already had one and want another, now’s the time. Don’t be the person who messages me next week asking, “Do you still have that lemon basil beer?” 😅

The good news? There are plenty of exciting things happening behind the scenes. I’m running low on a few beers, but the brewery is anything but quiet. If you stop by the tasting room, you’ll probably hear this week’s batch happily gurgling away in the fermenter—the sound of yeast hard at work turning wort into beer.

And really, yeast deserves more appreciation. Tiny organisms. Massive contribution.

Come spend an afternoon on our beautiful property in Shirley, enjoy some samples, and let me put a little happiness in your mouth.

But if Lemon • Basil • Bees is on your list... don’t wait. 🐝

06/04/2026

We’re coming up on the 11-year anniversary of the Father’s Day brew kit that started this whole adventure.

I’ve often joked that brewing requires a very specific combination of ADHD and OCD tendencies. You need to be paying attention to absolutely everything while following a precise process that leaves very little room for error. For whatever reason, my brain seems perfectly calibrated for it. The brewing, the cleaning, the packaging, the marketing — every part of it scratches an itch.

While Emiko was in Japan during May, I realized I’m still not quite “automatic” enough in the brewery to comfortably brew while distracted. Every step still requires focus, and with plenty of beer already in the kegs, I decided to press pause until she got home.

Yesterday I fired the system back up.

My buddy Iain () once compared brewing to training a muscle, and I’m happy to report that my brewing muscles hadn’t completely atrophied. The brew day went flawlessly, everything hit its numbers, and it felt fantastic to be back in the rhythm of it all.

Future-Dave is going to be very grateful for the batch of Man of the Mountain Dark Mild that Yesterday-Dave brewed.

🍺💪

06/02/2026

The past two weekends have brought a whole new crop of legends to the Checkerhead Brewing Bathroom Wall of Fame.

These brave souls made the hike, struck a pose, snapped the photo, and earned their place in Flight Club. If you know, you know.

At this point, the woman at the Walmart Photo Centre sees me walk through the door and just starts laughing.

“More mountain bums?”

Yep.

And what a batch. Outstanding poses. Creative prop work. Strong commitment to the bit. These free-spirited adventurers completely understand the weird little slice of whimsy that this wall represents and dive in headfirst (and occasionally pantsless).

Honestly, I’m impressed every single time. The Wall of Fame continues to grow, and with the rate we’re going, Row #4 isn’t far away.

The only question is: how long until we fill the whole wall?

🍑🏔️🍺

ShirleyWeHaveBEER

05/31/2026

Eight years ago, when we first moved to Vancouver Island, I drove this quirky little 1989 Nissan S-Cargo across on the ferry and imagined all sorts of adventures ahead.

Not long after arriving, reality struck. The power steering rack developed a serious leak and the quote to repair it—with parts coming from Japan—was around $4,000. At the time, that was pretty much what the whole vehicle was worth.

Cost to fix it: $4,000.

Cost to turn it into yard art: $0.

So yard art it became.

For the last eight years it’s been parked in various spots around the property, slowly collecting moss, character, and a healthy coating of West Coast authenticity.

Then COVID hit. My juggling career came to a sudden stop, and I made one of the biggest decisions of my life: turning a homebrewing obsession into a brewery.

Checkerhead Brewing officially opened on April 1, 2025, and one of the most unexpected joys has been meeting the incredible people who have found their way to our little corner of Shirley. Time and again, folks have shown up wanting to contribute, help out, and become part of the story.

This year, another one of those amazing humans appeared.

Keagan looked at my moss-covered S-Cargo and saw potential.

Yesterday, with the help of several friends, we loaded it onto a trailer and sent it off to begin its next chapter. A few hours later he sent me this AI mockup showing what it might look like transformed into a tiny beer-serving tap van.

And honestly?

I kind of love it.

It’ll need a fresh paint job. It’ll need some customization. It’ll need a whole lot of work.

But imagine pulling up to a special event in a restored Japanese microvan with beer taps hanging off the side.

Actually... don’t imagine it.

Let’s build it.

Keagan, I can’t wait to see what this little machine becomes in your capable hands. Here’s hoping the first event it serves at is one of yours.

🍻🚐

05/28/2026

SALTY BALLS ARE BACK.

Well… technically Emiko is back from her month-long trip to Japan, and I’m extremely happy to have my wife back home in Shirley. But yes — that also means Salty Balls returns this weekend.

⚽ Salty Balls will DEFINITELY be available Friday.

🎂 Saturday is Emiko’s birthday, and a crew of Shirley Girls (aka The Golden Members) are taking her up-island to FoamFest for some birthday shenanigans. Depending on when Team Chaos returns home, there may or may not be Salty Balls on Saturday.

✅ Sunday though? Salty Balls will absolutely be back in action.

And if you’re simply in the mood for delicious beverages and complimentary popcorn, here’s what’s ON TAP this weekend:

🍺 Moroccofied Cerveza
🎪 Hop Juggler SMASH (Fresh Galena Hops)
🥥 Minnie Maniac Coconut Blonde
🌊 Ali’s Red Currant Ale
🐝 Lemon • Basil • Bees Belgian Wit
🍌 Dunkelweizenheimer
🎭 IN JEST ESB (Collab with Vancouver Island Brewing)
🐓 C & B Bitter (Collab with Warren Boyer)

A couple heads-ups though:

⚠️ Only TWO kegs remain of the wildly popular Lemon • Basil • Bees.
⚠️ Moroccofied Cerveza and Ali’s Red Currant Ale are also getting dangerously low.

Meanwhile, I’ve got a Hazy currently dry-hopping and a Märzen waiting in the wings. With Emiko home again, I’m no longer juggling two people’s daily chores, which means I can get back to brewing with vengeance.

There’s some REALLY fun stuff coming down the pipeline.

Can’t wait to put some liquid happiness in your mouth.

05/23/2026

Some beers are born from careful planning and technical precision. Others are born from burgers, fries, ridiculous conversations, and an unhealthy obsession with Pop-Tarts.

This one is definitely the second kind.

Gillian Mann ( / / / / ) is one of the most wonderfully chaotic humans I’ve had the pleasure of knowing. After writing an absolutely killer review of Checkerhead Brewing in the BC Ale Trail’s Sooke & Shirley Brewery Day feature, she officially became one of my favourite people on the planet.

Then came “THE MEETING.”

Thursday afternoon at Ile Sauvage. Burgers and fries from . Beer-fueled nonsense. Creative chaos. The kind of conversation where every idea somehow becomes both worse and better at the exact same time.

Somewhere between bites of burger and discussions about breweries, community, and Pop-Tarts, we accidentally created a beer concept that simply HAS to exist:

💥 Gillian’s Tart Pop Raspberry Sour 💥

A kettle sour inspired by Gillian’s legendary Pop-Tart enthusiasm and powered entirely by absurdity.

Now the dream is evolving. I suggested we explore turning this into a Pink Boots Brew Day collaboration, so naturally I’ll be chatting with Lundy Dale () to see what kind of beautiful chaos we can create together.

Short-term plan?
Get Gillian out to Checkerhead Brewing, brew a pilot batch on my small system, and unleash this toaster-powered raspberry madness on the unsuspecting public.

Because honestly…Beer Fueled Creativity might be one of my favourite things in the world.

Checkerhead Brewing

06/17/2026

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