Canadian rock veterans partner with Delta breweries to launch hometown-inspired lager
Canadian rock band 54-40 is celebrating its British Columbia roots with a new locally brewed lager, the release of a previously unavailable song, and an extensive summer and fall tour that will take the group from the West Coast to Ontario.
The Vancouver-area band has partnered with Four Winds Brewing and Barnside Brewing to create Ocean Pearl, a West Coast-style lager named after one of its best-known songs. The launch is accompanied by the debut of the rare track “Travel With Jack” as part of a new digital compilation, while the band prepares for a busy touring schedule across Canada and parts of the United States.
The collaboration reflects the shared history between the band and the South Delta community where its members first came together.
“Our formative years in the band originated in South Delta, the Tsawwassen area,” says 54-40 bassist Brad Merritt.
The partnership also carries a personal connection. The founders of Four Winds Brewing were once neighbours of the Osborne family, further strengthening the hometown ties behind the project.
Ocean Pearl is brewed using Delta-grown Cascade and Vista hops cultivated in Barnside Brewing’s nearby fields. The pale straw-coloured lager features citrus aromas, soft pine notes and a clean, dry finish, serving as a tribute to the region that helped shape the band’s identity and musical journey.
The beer officially debuted on June 20 during the Barns to Beaches Festival at Tsawwassen Southlands, where 54-40 headlined the event. The festival also marked the launch of the City of Delta’s new 16-kilometre Barns to Beaches cycling route, connecting north Ladner and Tsawwassen through a community ride. Ocean Pearl is now available on tap at both Four Winds Brewing locations and at select liquor retailers across British Columbia.
Alongside the beer launch, longtime fans are receiving another surprise. The band has released a new digital compilation featuring several fan favourites together with “Travel With Jack,” a previously unavailable recording now being made publicly available for the first time.
The latest projects arrive as 54-40 continues one of the longest-running careers in Canadian rock music.
Founding members Neil Osborne and Brad Merritt first met while attending high school in Tsawwassen before forming the band in Vancouver’s emerging music scene. Their first live performance took place in December 1980, launching a career that has spanned more than four decades.
Joined by longtime drummer Matt Johnson and guitarist Dave Genn, the band developed a signature blend of melodic and introspective rock that earned widespread recognition across Canada.
Throughout their career, 54-40 has become one of the country’s defining rock acts alongside artists such as The Tragically Hip and Blue Rodeo. Their influence has also extended to later generations of Canadian musicians, including Our Lady Peace and Arkells.
Their catalogue includes enduring hits such as “Ocean Pearl,” “I Go Blind,” “Since When,” “One Day in Your Life,” and “She La,” songs that have remained staples on Canadian radio and live concert stages for decades.
The band’s creative momentum has continued into 2026 with the release of its latest studio album, PORTO. Recorded in Portugal alongside longtime producer Warne Livesey, the album was released in January and represents another chapter in the group’s evolving sound while maintaining the songwriting style that has defined its career.
Supporting both PORTO and the Ocean Pearl celebration, 54-40 has scheduled an extensive run of performances stretching from British Columbia to Ontario.
The itinerary includes appearances at major festivals across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, as well as concerts throughout Ontario. Among the highlights are performances at Fusion Festival in Surrey, Taste of Edmonton, Rockin’ The Fields Festival in Manitoba, Shake the Lake Festival in Regina, and the band’s annual return to Toronto’s Danforth Music Hall on Nov. 28.
Additional performances include shows in Bala, Oshawa, Ottawa, Waterloo, Sarnia and Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom, along with a special appearance alongside Melissa Etheridge in Invermere, B.C.
As 54-40 continues to connect with audiences more than 45 years after its debut, the launch of Ocean Pearl and the release of “Travel With Jack” underscore the band’s enduring connection to its hometown while offering fans new ways to celebrate one of Canada’s most influential rock groups. With new music, a locally crafted lager and a cross-country tour, the band is once again blending its past and present into a distinctly Canadian celebration.