The days are growing shorter, the weather is cooling down, and there’s nothing quite as comfortable as getting cozy at your favourite local brewery. We asked BC Ale Trail fans to vote for their favourite cozy brewery space across the province, and the responses poured in, just like a rainstorm on a dreary Vancouver day. … Continued
The Fall Beer Season Is Here in BC. The air is cooler, leaves are changing colour, and the sun is setting a bit earlier each evening. Sweater weather features a distinct range of seasonal beers, including Oktoberfest-themed lagers, pumpkin-infused ales and fresh hop IPAs. Here is a selection of fall-themed beers from B.C. craft breweries. … 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
Farmers’ markets are more than just places to buy fresh produce—they’re vibrant community hubs that embody the very best of BC’s buy local philosophy. While the connection might not seem obvious at first glance, there is a natural relationship between farmers’ markets and the craft beer community – one that we’ve talked about before. Both … Continued
Originally published October 9, 2024 – brewery menus subject to change since publication An adventure in the Kootenays along the BC Ale Trail with hot springs and cold beer One of my favourite B.C. pastimes is a good long soak in a hot spring. Summer or winter, the hot, mineral-rich water is refreshing and invigorating, … Continued
As winter settles in and the holiday season approaches, craft breweries across British Columbia are unwrapping creative and festive beer offerings. These seasonal brews are more than just beverages—they’re an invitation to gather with friends and loved ones, capturing the warmth, comfort, and jubilant spirit of the season. Winter beers have a special magic about them. … 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
Feature Stories Jump to: August 2025 • July 2025 • June 2025 • May 2025 • April 2025 • March 2025 • February 2025 • January 2025 View stories from 2024 December 2025 Penticton’s “This was not an easy decision”: Award-winning Metro Vancouver brewery announces closure North Shore News • December 4 Featuring: Moody Ales … 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
The Kootenays’ cultural capital serves craft brews and cool art. The auditorium goes crazy as Margo Mayhem steps onto the stage with an inflatable flamingo around her tiny waist. Underneath, she’s wearing a corset and not much else. She strikes me as a Betty Boop character with her black curly hair and bright red lipstick. … Continued
With the arrival of autumn, BC breweries are releasing a variety of fall-themed beers. Here is a sampling of some autumnal beer styles to look for from your local brewery or to seek out on a fall getaway. How Fresh Can You Get? Each autumn, beer lovers await the arrival of a very special style … Continued
Explore some epic hike-and-brewery pairings with the author of a new book: Beer Hiking: Canadian Rockies. I approached the first trailhead for my latest book, Beer Hiking: Canadian Rockies in early ’22. What lay ahead for the rest of the year, as I wound my way through fairy forests, summited mountains, and wandered through valleys, were … 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
Go on a Kootenay Road Trip throughout the month of February to collect stamps for a chance to win some great prizes. Throughout February, explore a diverse mix of breweries and taphouses on the Kootenay Rockies West Ale Trail. Explore mountain activities, stunning views along rivers and lakes, boutique places to stay, curious attractions, dining, … Continued
Whether it’s cracking open an IPA after a bottomless day in the backcountry, or guzzling a post-fatbike pint, not much can beat the feeling of a chilled après beer on a pow day. Keen to get a closer look at why shredding pairs so well with beer, I interviewed five beer-loving, BC-based riders to get … Continued
As the war in Ukraine rages on, many BC craft breweries are responding to an international brewery effort to raise funds for those affected by the war. The primary effort is led by Lyviv, Ukraine-based Pravda Beer Theatre. Pravda put a call out to breweries around the world asking them to raise money for humanitarian … 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
Beer. Chocolate. Mmmm. Two of life’s finer pleasures — indulgences many of us choose to enjoy on a regular basis… in moderation, of course. But what about together? That’s right, I’m talking about chocolate beers — special beers brewed with chocolate as an ingredient in some form, whether it is milk chocolate, dark chocolate, cacao … 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
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
Writer Lucas Aykroyd spotlights some perfect places to enjoy travel and tourism in British Columbia while sampling craft beer at the same time. The wait is finally over. It’s time to get back out there and explore British Columbia this summer. When you visit BC attractions that offer craft beer, it just makes your sightseeing … Continued
This weekend, dads everywhere will rejoice with a renewed sense of freedom, thanks to Phase 2 of BC’s Restart Plan. Not to mention Sunday is Father’s Day. Wondering what to get the old man this year to celebrate? The answer is clear: beer. Read on for Father’s Day gift ideas for the craft beer-loving dad. … Continued
On May 15, 2021, Nelson Brewing Company celebrates its 30th anniversary. We dive into the company’s “richer than a chocolate stout” history, and uncover the characters who made this neighbourhood brewery a stalwart of the BC craft beer scene. Nelson Brewing Company was founded in 1991. The history of brewing in this small Kootenay town, … Continued
You know what they say… behind every great beer name, there’s an even greater story. Once upon a pre-COVID time, I embarked on a road trip across the Kootenays. Dipping into breweries for crisp salvation, I came across a number of brow-furrowing, curiosity-sparking Kootenay beer names. Intrigued to discover the secrets and stories that lurk … Continued
With the Stanley Cup playoffs in full swing, writer Lucas Aykroyd catches up with former NHLers Matt Walker and Dave Babych and highlights links between hockey and craft beer in BC. Hockey and beer. For many British Columbians, those two topics are as inseparable as the Sedin twins. When the Vancouver Canucks get on a … Continued
The COVID-19 pandemic has radically changed the way we all live and work, but British Columbia’s breweries are continuing to release new and exciting beers for the spring season. While it isn’t appropriate to travel in order to visit these breweries and taste their products right now, hopefully you can find some of these new … Continued
Combining a skiing adventure while exploring the Kootenay Rockies West Ale Trail from Penticton, we visited the Trail Beer Refinery along with a few other breweries nearby as we meandered to RED Mountain Resort. Trail Beer Refinery The 13 local business partners who opened Trail’s first craft brewery (March 2017) thought the name should embrace … Continued
As the calendar turns to a new year and a new decade, here is a list of more than 20 new breweries that are expected to open in British Columbia in 2020. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Barnside Brewing Co. (@barnsidebrewing) on Dec 31, 2019 at 11:28pm PST Barnside … Continued
All over British Columbia, craft breweries are starting to celebrate the holiday season with special beer releases. Many Christmas-themed beers are a little darker and stronger, making them well suited for the colder, darker days of winter. Some include spices and sugars or tasty additions like cranberries, chocolate or orange peels to celebrate the season. … Continued
The time for holiday cheer is near and what better way to get in the spirit than with craft beer?! It’s nearly December and your local craft brewery is likely hosting a festive event or pouring a winter-inspired beer near you. Get in the spirit with a great brew and check out what’s happening this … Continued
Stepping foot inside Land & Sea Brewing is like stepping into a west coast-inspired oasis where, instead of water, the reward is exceptional craft beer. “What you see is what you get.” Located in Comox on the Vancouver Island Part II Ale Trail, the bright, open tasting room (with a capacity of 72, plus staff) brings … Continued
Like a jewel on the West arm of Kootenay Lake, Nelson is known as the “Queen City” and for having “more restored heritage buildings per capita than anywhere else in the province”. That’s one of the reasons I love it and it’s where I graduated from high school. Sadly, I don’t get back often. I … 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
Winter is often regarded as the time for strong, warming beer but there are other, equally delicious alternatives that will still keep the chills at bay. With the weather turning colder and the holiday season fast approaching, many of us are eagerly anticipating beers that are custom made to stave off the winter chill. Traditionally, … Continued
The West Kootenays are a stunning region of eastern British Columbia, cloaked in dense forests, hemmed in by majestic peaks, and ribboned by the dazzling water of the Columbia and Kootenay Rivers. Travelers on the BC Ale Trail get to enjoy all of that …along with a few pints of tasty locally-brewed ales and lagers, too. Coming in from the … Continued
This blog post picks up where we left off in “The History of BC Craft Beer — Part 1.“ After helping create Canada’s first microbrewery in Horseshoe Bay, BC, Frank Appleton returned to his home in the Kootenays but soon found himself in demand as a consultant brewmaster. Over the next two decades, he would … Continued
With an increasing number of brewery visitors meandering their way throughout the Kootenay Rockies this past summer, a couple of things have become clear. First, there is an increasing number of stops to make, beers to drink and small-town charm to be found — so best secure a few more days off work for your trip. … Continued
