Spring in BC has a way of making everything feel possible — longer evenings, the first real patio days, and a reason to experience something new. Our province’s craft brewers have been busy getting ready for it, and this year’s lineup of spring releases is one to get excited about. From Northern BC to Vancouver … Continued
Winter has settled gently over Victoria. The days are shorter now, the light softer, and the city moves at a slower, more thoughtful pace. Inside the city’s tasting rooms, warmth gathers, candlelight flickers against pint glasses, steam rises from wet coats hung by the door, and conversation hums low and steady. Outside, rain taps patiently … Continued
As winter settles in and the holiday season approaches, craft breweries across BC are unwrapping their most creative and festive beer offerings yet. Winter beers have a special magic about them. Often darker and more robust, these carefully crafted ales and stouts are perfectly designed for the colder months. But it’s not just about the … Continued
BC brewers are raising the bar with their 2025 summer releases, embracing everything from local berry additions and innovative hop varietals to session-friendly alcohol levels. The days are long and the weather is warm, and craft brewers are answering the calls of BC beer lovers with a wave of refreshingly drinkable releases perfect for patio … Continued
Spring has arrived in beautiful British Columbia! Trees are budding, gardens are coming alive with colour, and our local breweries are busy crafting their seasonal specialties. From coastal communities to mountain towns, BC’s craft brewers are celebrating the change of seasons with fresh, innovative beers perfect for those longer, warmer days ahead. Whether you’re planning … Continued
Foamy February isn’t actually a thing (at least not yet!), but intentionally foamy beer pours have become a specialty at a dozen or more craft breweries in British Columbia — and there’s even a new festival celebrating them that’s happening right now. Read on to learn more about side pours and slow pours before you … Continued
B.C. breweries are already famous for making world-class beer, but alongside those award-winning ales and lagers, many breweries also offer exceptional food. We asked our faithful followers on social media to tell us about the food they love at their favourite breweries. The results absolutely poured in. More than 90 breweries were mentioned, and the … Continued
Vancouver’s dynamic and diverse craft beer scene has something for everyone. From the early brewing history at the foundation of the Brewery Creek Ale Trail to the modern entrepreneurial spirit of the Yeast Van Ale Trail, you can be sure you’ll find the perfect vibe — and your next favourite beer! From March 28 – … Continued
As December arrives, many craft breweries in British Columbia are releasing special beers they have created to celebrate the holiday season. These seasonal beers are perfect for the wintertime. Many are a little darker and stronger — ideal for colder, darker days — and some of the recipes even include spices, cranberries, or other tasty … Continued
In this latest instalment in the Hops Among Friends series, showcasing the people who make up the craft beer scene on the BC Ale Trail, Kim Lawton interviews Tessa Gabiniewicz from Land & Sea Brewing. My most recent Hops Among Friends interview was with Connor Blanchard from Luppolo Brewing. Connor was able to pay it … Continued
In this latest instalment in the Hops Among Friends series, showcasing the people who make up the craft beer scene on the BC Ale Trail, Kim Lawton interviews Connor Blanchard from Luppolo Brewing. My most recent Hops Among Friends interview was with Justin Larter from Barnside Brewing in Delta. At the end of our discussion, … Continued
Spring is here! The weather is warming up all across British Columbia — blossoms are blooming and bees are buzzing around them. Many of your favourite local breweries are releasing special beers to celebrate the season. Here is a round-up of more than 75 spring-themed beers from BC craft breweries. Lots of them feature berries or fruit, … Continued
In this latest instalment in the Hops Among Friends series showcasing the people who make up the craft beer scene on the BC Ale Trail, Kim Lawton interviews Justin Larter from Barnside Brewing. My most recent Hops Among Friends interview was with Miguel Molina from Boardwalk Brewing in Port Coquitlam. At the end of our … Continued
Throughout February, Metro Vancouver craft beer lovers can take part in Tasting Passports along TransLink’s Dine the Line to collect stamps at up to 64 participating businesses for a chance to win a Staycation package, transit passes, swag and more! Blogger Yasmine Hardcastle takes us on a passport preview. Note: All of the prizes have … Continued
Explore the Yeast Vancouver Ale Trail throughout the month of February to collect stamps on your tasting passport. The Yeast Vancouver Ale Trail Tasting Passport is one of five special passport promotions we are running in Metro Vancouver throughout February in collaboration with the Yeast Van Brewery District, West Coast Food and TransLink. It’s a … Continued
January is often the toughest month to muddle through – it’s cold, wet, and dark, and we’re all dragging ourselves back into our regular schedules. It’s tough for breweries, too. With so many people participating in Dry January, tasting rooms go empty and sales go down. Even people who aren’t going dry this month may … Continued
During BC Craft Beer Month, the province’s craft breweries are serving up a wide variety of harvest-themed beers that are perfect for fall. We highlight 70 for you below! Many breweries work with local farms to use freshly harvested hops — the resulting fresh hop or wet hop beers are unique to the season so … Continued
Happy Pride Month! As June begins and British Columbia celebrates its sizeable 2SLGBTQIA+ community, it is important to keep in mind that inclusion needs to be a year-long commitment. It’s easy to be performative by putting up Pride flags or slapping a rainbow on a beer label. “You definitely have somebody who is queer on … Continued
Ahhh, spring is here! Flowers are bursting out of the ground, fruit trees are showing off their colourful blooms, and breweries are launching some delicious seasonal beers. Warmer days and longer evenings are ideal for enjoying beer outdoors — on a porch, patio or at a picnic. With so many great breweries throughout British Columbia, … Continued
March 8 is International Women’s Day and more than 35 BC breweries are brewing up a special beer to showcase women as well as inclusion and diversity in the craft beer industry in BC. Back in 2013, the thought of women gathering together all over British Columbia to brew a special batch of beer seemed … Continued
There’s no shortage of breweries with pizza on the BC Ale Trail. In celebration of National Pizza Day (and just because), we visited breweries on mid-Vancouver Island with fantastic pizza pies. But if you’re on the mainland, don’t fret. We’ve got a list of where to find a brewery pizza across the province, too. Pizza … Continued
To help celebrate the holiday season, many craft breweries in British Columbia have been busy brewing up something special. Some of these holiday-themed beers are made with spices, cranberries, chocolate — or even candy canes! These wintry beers are often a little darker and stronger, making them well suited for colder, darker days. Here are … Continued
This holiday season, give the gift of craft beer and ale-ventures on the BC Ale Trail. Okay, folks, it’s that time of year, and I’m here to give some gifting inspiration. As always, the best way to shop for your nice list is local all the way — so here is this year’s updated craft … Continued
The 19th Annual Canadian Brewing Awards were given out on September 18th, 2021, at an event held at the Hilton Québec in Québec City, and brewers from British Columbia took home 40 trophies. The big wins came from the Prairies this year, with a repeat for Alberta with The Establishment Brewing Company taking home Brewery … Continued
There’s something about the combination of craft breweries and farmers’ markets that is beautifully wholesome. For some, it’s a combination that brings the community together for fun and connection. For others, it’s like a lifeline and a symbiotic relationship of sorts. Craft beer fans typically have a handful of cherished beer memories. You know the … Continued
Expats and future travellers: Find a piece of home at BC Ale Trail craft breweries serving British and European beer styles. If you’ve ever moved anywhere far, you’ll know the feeling of missing the little things that make a place feel like home. This can also be a common feeling when travelling — as adventurous … Continued
Metro Vancouver restaurants have so much to offer in amazing food and craft beer options. It can be hard to narrow it down, so we’ve done some of the leg work for you! Here are eight noteworthy, diverse Vancouver eateries with solid BC craft beer offerings. When you’re on the hunt for food and beer … Continued
B.C.’s breweries are celebrating summer by releasing dozens of delicious and innovative beers that are perfect for enjoying outdoors. Many of these beers are special, limited-edition releases, and some are only available at the breweries themselves. But, now that travel restrictions have been lifted, it’s OK to explore the province to visit breweries in other … Continued
In this episode, Aaron visits Luppolo Brewing in Vancouver, BC. Back in 2016 a new brewery opened up in Vancouver with something a bit different to offer. Located in the neighbourhood of East Vancouver, also known in the craft beer community as “Yeast Van” is Luppolo Brewing. Vancouver’s East Side has a long historical connection with … Continued
With the arrival of warmer weather, BC breweries are offering a wide range of spring beer releases — and beer lovers are drooling over all the delicious options. Warmer days are perfect for patios and picnics. As the days get longer and the sun sets later and later in the evening, there is more time … Continued
Calling all foodies! The only thing better than beer from your favourite brewery? Beer from your favourite brewery alongside a killer meal. Learn how and where to pair BC craft beer with takeout and dine-in options. Whether you choose to dine in or enjoy takeout, many breweries across the province are teaming up with restaurateurs … Continued
Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, something else, or nothing at all…it’s a weird December. That said, we can still find ways to enjoy traditions, both new and old. In the BC Craft Beer community, people in the industry are finding solace in traditions that fit this year’s restrictions or adapting them to make sure … Continued
While we’re all staying close to home, a great movie or TV show about travel can really scratch an itch. It’s not quite the same as the real deal, but watching characters embark on intense adventures or explore faraway lands helps us appreciate both past trips and ones to come. Travel makes us laugh, cry, … Continued
From 2010 to 2019 the craft beer revolution expanded in British Columbia like never before! Back on December 31, 2009, no one in British Columbia — not even the most optimistic beer lover, myself included — could have predicted what the next decade would bring. There were about 40 craft breweries in BC at the … Continued
The 24th annual Okanagan Fest of Ale returns to the Penticton Trade & Convention Centre April 12 & 13, featuring more than 200 craft beers and artisanal ciders along with food from 13 different restaurants, live entertainment, education stations and a pop-up liquor store. I have been attending the Fest of Ale annually for several … Continued
This is the fifth feature in the Hops Among Friends series. This series is designed to introduce you to the people that make up the craft beer scene on the BC Ale Trail. My last Hops Among Friends interview was with David Varga from 33 Acres Brewing and he recommended I speak with Iain Hill from Strange … Continued
Expedia, the global travel website based in Bellevue, WA, just a little south of the Canadian border, recently named Vancouver, BC, as the Best Beer Town in Canada in a post on its Expedia.ca blog written by Carolyn Albee. Three other BC communities also made the list: Penticton (which placed 2nd), Abbotsford (which placed 6th), and … Continued
This is the fourth feature in the Hops Among Friends series. This series is designed to introduce you to the people that make up the craft beer scene on the BC Ale Trail. My last Hops Among Friends interview was with Gary Lohin from Central City Brewers + Distillers. Gary recommended I speak with David Varga … Continued
Burnaby’s Dageraad Brewing named Canadian Brewery of the Year. Dozens of B.C. brewers travelled across the country to attend Saturday night’s gala awards ceremony for the Canadian Brewing Awards held in Halifax this year — 38 different breweries from British Columbia won a total of 51 medals, representing approximately one-third of the 163 total medals … Continued
The sun shone, a gentle breeze blew off the Salish Sea and a wealth of world-class wild ales and saisons were savoured at Farmhouse Fest 2017. Upward of 1,200 people gathered at the UBC Farm on Saturday for the third annual rendition of what is arguably the most distinctive beer festival in the province. Set … Continued
Gibsons is just a short ferry ride away from the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, making the Sunshine Coast Craft Beer Festival the perfect way to spend a cool and wet February weekend. This year’s event was a great example of the way the beer community comes together not only to celebrate great beer, but also … Continued
