Brandy has historically been marketed based on region (for example, Cognac and Armagnac) and age (for example, VS, VSOP and XO). Through clever marketing, Cognac and Armagnac have set the standard for brandy, but in truth, they are made from grapes not appropriate for winemaking.
Local breweries making a difference with natural carbonation. "We did some sensory testing and it's definitely a positive," says Jonas Hurtig, head brewer at Cabin Brewing (505 36 Ave SE; www.cabinbrewing.ca).
When Graham Sherman co-founded Tool Shed Brewing (#9 801 30 St. N.E.; toolshedbrewing.com) 10 years ago, he never imagined he'd one day be excited to be making non-alcoholic beer.