VICTORIA, BC – Swans Brewpub has announced the upcoming release of a new beer to commemorate the longest serving Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.
Thomas Uphill Amber Ale is named after Thomas Uphill who sat as MLA for Fernie from 1920 to 1960. In addition to his long career, Uphill was known for his objection to prohibition, and he once stood in the legislature with a bottle of beer, stating that “beer is as necessary to the worker as milk is to the baby… hands off the workers’ beer!”
The beer was developed by Swans’ brewer Chris Lukie based on a suggestion from Wayne Norton, a local historian who has written an article on Uphill and his fight against beer and alcohol restrictions for an upcoming issue of Canada’s History magazine.
Thomas Uphill Amber Ale will be launched at Swans on Thursday October 26th at 7:00 PM. Lukie and Norton will both speak about Uphill and the beer, and members of the Uphill family, current MLAs and other dignitaries will be in attendance.