Barkerville Brewing Co. has created a new beer celebrating B.C.’s first licensed dentist in honour of Black History Month.
The beer is called Painless Jones Schwarzbier named after William Allen Jones, a dentist during the Cariboo Gold Rush, also known by the nickname Painless Jones.
Visitors walking the streets of Barkerville Historic Town and Park will find a sign that reads: “Painless Tooth Extraction: Dr. Jones will extract teeth and perform short operations without pain.”
Jones was a formerly enslaved black miner who migrated from the United States to Salt Spring Island before making his way to Barkerville in hopes of striking gold.
Instead of striking gold, he set up his dental practice, becoming the first dentist to offer painless dentistry; hence his nickname Painless Jones.
Jones was granted a license under the British Columbia Dental Act on June 26, 1886, although he may have been practicing dentistry as early as 1865.
When Barkerville was restored as a gold rush town tourist attraction, the office of Painless Jones, complete with chair and instruments became a feature on the main street.
The sign for Painless Jones still stands in Barkerville, as does his legend.
From now until supply runs out, Barkerville Brewing Co. says its honoured to highlight the historical significance of William Allen Jones with its new release the Painless Jones Schwarzbier.
It’s a dark German-style lager is rich with bread-like malts and a roasted, velvety character and is the perfect balance of noble hops and a slight sweetness, followed by a clean finish.
