This year, Saskatchewan-based brewery Pile O’ Bones Brewing took the trophy home for their Quark, Strangeness, Charm, entered in the Witbier style category. Co-founder Josh Morrison discusses the Pile O’ Bones team’s reaction to their big win, the steps that led to their success and what’s next for the brewery.

Poured Canada: Congratulations on your win at the 2024 Canada Beer Cup! How did it feel to hear Pile O’ Bones called out as a winner?

Josh Morrison: The fellas were really excited. We knew we had made some great beers lately and we had been piling up the awards over the last few years, but we always wanted to win the big one. The Canada Beer Cup is like our Super Bowl, Stanley Cup and Fall Classic all rolled into one for us brewers!

PC: How has collaboration within the Pile O’ Bones Brewing team and with other breweries impacted your success?

JM: We [the Pile O’ Bones Brewing team] all started as homebrewers competing against one another to see who could make the best beer possible. We teamed up to form Pile O’ Bones in 2016, and then joined forces with Nokomis Craft Ales in 2023, because we always believed we would be even better if we worked together. The proof is in the pudding – we just made the best beer in Canada for 2024!

PC: Can you tell us about the beer that won? What inspired its creation, and what makes it unique?

JM: Jeff Alport, president of Nokomis Craft Ales, and Nathan Kary, head brewer at Pile O’ Bones, were inspired by another Canadian-made Witbier (Blanche du Chambly) that is no longer readily available in our area; a beer we really loved to drink, A lack of fresh, quality beer is what got all of us into homebrewing and is why we exist as brewers today. This beer is unique in that it’s a great example of a style that is difficult to find locally.

PC: How do you prepare for competitions like the Canada Beer Cup? Is there a particular strategy or mindset you keep?

JM: Other than tasting beer and pouring over style guidelines to make sure your beer is properly categorized, not much preparation goes into competitions. We just try to make the best beer we can and send in the freshest samples available.

PC: What was the biggest challenge in perfecting the winning beer, and how did you overcome it?

JM: Producing quality beer is relatively easy. Getting that beer packaged in a manner that maintains quality and freshness is the challenging part. There’s no point in making beer if you destroy it with oxygen or contamination before it gets into package. We have an eye for detail and invest in quality equipment and training for our packaging folks.

PC: In your opinion, what sets the Canada Beer Cup apart from other competitions?

JM: This is a not-for-profit competition ran by the Canadian Craft Brewers Association, a voice of Canadian craft beer. It’s the competition for the real beer nerds to strut their stuff.

PC: How has the reception of this award been among your regular customers and local community?

JM: It’s been over-the-top positive. We sold out by the Tuesday after the 2024 Canada Beer Cup and had to get another batch bubbling right away. People may not have had a Belgian-wit beer in a while, but I think this beer is reminding people how tasty they can be.

PC: What advice would you give to other breweries aspiring to win national competitions?

JM: Keep dialing in those recipes and pay attention to your packaging processes. Even the best beer in the world won’t win anything if it is packaged poorly.

PC: Looking back on Pile O’ Bones’ journey, what have been the biggest lessons or surprises?

JM: When we were building out our existing brewery, or even just investing in our production equipment, we learned that everything costs double what you planned and takes twice as long. In terms of surprises, I think a lot of people believe beer is just marketing, but we were surprised that when we make super high-end products that might not be the most popular styles, they still fly off the shelves. Quality stands the test of time.

PC: How do you see this achievement influencing Pile O’ Bones’ goals for the future?

JM: The goal has always been to make one of the best beers possible, and this year, we did! We celebrated for a few days, but now we’re getting back to work and trying to win another one in 2025.

PC: Are there any individuals or teams you’d like to acknowledge or thank for their role in this win?

JM: In addition to Pile O’ Bones Brewing’s head brewer, Nathan Kary, and Nokomis Craft Ales’ head brewer, Jeff Alport, we want to thank our dedicated production staff: Mike Chowns, Tarun Panchal and Travis Mushanski. Each of us also want to thank our spouses, who have always supported our weird hobby!