By David MacDonald I ’m sure there’s more than one cere- visaphile – a neologism meaning “An aficionado of beers and ales or one who pursues the very finest in malted beverages” – who recognized the aforementioned German beers brewed by Strickland and Buhl. If you have more than a basic knowledge of the history of beer and brewing, ingredients, draught systems, and styles you know these aren’t the typical IPAs or lagers taken-on by brewers in brewpubs, especially in North America. Well, these two gen- tlemen are lucky. Well, they’re skilled first, lucky second. They brew for the husband and wife duo who own Marten Brewing Co., Stefan and Pearl Marten. The Martens have a passion for beer – particularly the craft side of it – and hospitality. Pearl told me that “Casual sophistication is our style.” Stefan explained that “We focus on quality and drinkability.” These moti- vations are the components of the formula that made Marten Brewpub & Grill. “Focusing on the product as the main attraction was our thinking from the start, so the brewery is built front and centre so guests can see where their beer is handcrafted while they drink it. We felt that what was missing from the craft beer scene is the pride in showcasing the process. We wanted to open our doors to beer lovers so they can feel like they are part of it all,” Stefan explained. “We pains- takingly hand-built, and designed every aspect of the entire brewery, convention area, pub, and the restau- rant, Naked Pig BBQ. Beer is casual by nature and we wanted to create a space that enhanced that. Our goal was to develop and build a space for the beer community and the com- munity as a whole, a place to bring friends or family when visiting – and it’s now considered a local hangout.” No, Stefan was not being hyperbolic. He and Pearl are hands-on people. When they found Marten Brew- pub’s home on the corner of Main Street and 30th Avenue in downtown Vernon in 2013, it had a reputation: It
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