Explore Port Coquitlam along with Joyce Lam from @vanfoodies and discover the perfect combination of cycling and craft beer on the Traboulay PoCo Trail, a 25-kilometre loop around the city that features diverse scenery and five local breweries along the route. Whether you’re cycling the full loop or exploring in sections, the Traboulay PoCo Trail delivers an excellent mix of outdoor recreation, local craft beer, and Metro Vancouver’s natural beauty.
If you follow me on Instagram, you will have seen some of my biking stories. My husband and I have cycled a number of bike routes and trails across Metro Vancouver, and one of our favourite ones is the Traboulay PoCo Trail. Why, you ask? Because this trail offers nice rewards for beer lovers like us, and like you!
But first, let me tell you more about the Traboulay PoCo Trail. This 25 km trail loops around the entire community of Port Coquitlam, it’s mostly flat and is well-maintained with a mix of paved paths and hard-packed gravel surfaces. This trail is great for cyclists of all levels, and it’s also suitable for runners, walkers, and even families with strollers. For me, it’s the constant change of scenery and wildlife spotting opportunities that make the Traboulay PoCo Trail appealing. As we bike along the trail, we get a variety of landscapes from forest and farmland to meadow and marsh, riverfront and creekside. We hear various birds chirping; we have even had bear encounters (from a safe distance, of course!) It also takes you through the city centre, where you will likely find yourself at one of the five breweries in Port Coquitlam for a pit stop.
Port Coquitlam’s Breweries
Near the 7km marker of the Traboulay PoCo Trail, you will find Northpaw Brew Co. and Tinhouse Brewing. Northpaw first opened its doors in 2018, and their tap list offers something for everyone, including Lager, Cream Ale, Hazy IPA and their famous Jamaican Pale Ale, plus seasonal beers such as Blueberry Funk and Lemon Squeeze Citrus Lager. Throughout the years, they have supported a number of community organizations. Notably, they have been donating partial proceeds of their Ring the Alarm Lager to the Port Coquitlam Firefighters Charitable Society.
The founders of Tinhouse Brewing started out mostly as home brewers and decided that it would be fun to bring their beer to the rest of the world, offering an all-inclusive safe space for any and all to enjoy. You won’t miss their “Cold Beer” sign on the trail! I like that they experiment with different flavour combinations in their seasonal beers. For example, the Let’s Get Take-Out Thai Wit gives you the exotic note of a Thai curry – galangal, ginger, lemongrass and kefir lime. I also encourage you to check out the Tinhouse 5K Series, a run/walk event held on the last Sunday of every month between May and September. Created by Tinhouse to encourage the community to stay active, the entry fee is very affordable, and the course covers part of the Traboulay PoCo Trail, so it’s the perfect trial run for those who haven’t been before! Best of all, partial proceeds go towards the PoCo Community Foundation, raising over $4,000 last year for local charities.
Just steps away from the 10km marker is Taylight Brewing. The second brewery to open in Port Coquitlam, they are known for their funky styles of beer and quirky handwritten tap list on the blackboard. In the spring, you will find Sakura Yuzu Ale and Strawberry Shortcake Sour; around the winter holidays, there is Eggnog White Stout and Hibernation Cherry Plum Stout. You never know what they will release next! But if you are looking for an “Intro to Taylight”, try these two everyday brews: Loco Poco Czech Pilsner, made with 100% Czech Saaz hops, and Slack Tide Hazy Pale Ale, a juicy crowd pleaser with notes of pineapple and tropical fruit.
Did you know that PoCo Brothers Brewing Co. is nestled inside the Cat & Fiddle Pub? About a 10-minute biking detour off the Traboulay PoCo Trail from Taylight, Cat & Fiddle has been a Port Coquitlam staple since 1979. They serve only PoCo Brothers’ beers on tap, and their Happy Hour offers are amazing! They have over 20 flavours of their “World Famous Wings” and I recommend Pineapple Curry, Bourbon BBQ, Sweet Thai Chili, and GarPar (tip: head in for Wing Wednesdays). I had the pleasure of meeting Miguel Molina, head of brewing and operations at PoCo Brothers. This year so far, the brewery has served up more than 15 beers in cans and on tap. Most recently, their Amber Ale took home Gold at the 2025 Canadian Brewing Awards. Their other award-winning beers are the Dark Lager and one of the best sellers, a Hazy IPA. Try them on tap at Cat & Fiddle, or purchase some cans to take home.
Note: Miguel is also the brewer behind the Changing Colours Brewing Project
Last but not least, Patina Brewing is located closer to the end of the 25km loop of the Traboulay PoCo Trail. More than a brewery, Patina also offers Southern BBQ on the menu. Their Kölsch and Italian Pilsner are both award-winning – the Kölsch having won Silver at the most recent Canadian Brewing Awards – and the Thai Lager and Raspberry Lime Sour are perfect for warm summer days. What has put them on the map recently is the release of Platform Canadian Pilsner, a collaboration with Translink, that is made with 100% Canadian ingredients, including water from the Coquitlam watershed!
Hopping Back on the Traboulay PoCo Trail
Whether you are cycling the full loop or taking a stroll through one part of the Traboulay PoCo Trail, remember to make a few stops along the way and take in the view. And the view changes through the seasons as well. Some of my favourite stops are
- The viewpoints just past the DeBoville Slough at North Pitt River;
- Inside ƛ̓éxətəm Regional Park near the Millennium Bridge;
- A picnic at Gates Park or Lions Park; and
- A water break by the Coquitlam River around the 22km marker.
Mr. and I also rotate beer stops every time we hit the trail, or take home some brews-to-go in our pannier bags. Next time, I want to add the new PoCo Climb to our itinerary for an extra workout.
Will you check out the Traboulay PoCo Trail this summer? Be sure to tag @BCAleTrail on your ale-venture!
ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY
Members of the BC Ale Trail are committed to ensuring their beers are promoted and enjoyed responsibly by those adults who choose to consume them. No one should drink alcohol, even in moderation, before operating a motor vehicle or engaging in other activities that involve attention and skill or physical risk.
Every Pint Tells a Story
