Just months after a suspicious fire forced the temporary closure of SilverStar Brewing in Vernon, British Columbia, the brewery is now facing additional financial challenges, including a property tax default notice and a Small Claims Court lawsuit.

At first glance, this appears to be a local business story.

In reality, it reflects a growing reality across Canada's craft brewing industry.

Crises Rarely Arrive Alone

For independent breweries, setbacks rarely occur in...