Simon Fraser University in British Columbia as uncovered and archived quite an extensive collection related to B.C. beer’s history, spanning more than 160 years.

“We have bottles, coasters, documents, architectural designs and labels,” said Melanie Hardbattle, an SFU Archives employee.

After researching for more than a year, the archived history includes files and photos dating back to the origins of B.C.’s beer history, including independent brewers that opened shop in the 19th century. Since then, Two-hundred-and-thirty breweries have opened up shops.

“You realize the breadth of the history of brewing in B.C. when you see how many breweries there were up north and in the Interior, in Vancouver and Vancouver Island,” said Richard Danc, with SFU Archives.

Much of the collection chronicles the renaissance period over the past 40 years that started with John Mitchell, who’s credited as the first craft brewer in Canada–Horseshoe Bay Brewing–in 1982.

“He was an English expat and did not want to serve poor beer to people coming from around the world for Expo 86, so that was his goal,” said Dave Smith, an editor at What’s Brewing Magazine.