Despite ongoing COVID restrictions and vaccination passports, BC Craft Beer Month enters its eleventh year with a variety of events, beer launches, and special fundraising releases.
While our days are getting shorter and patio season is over, October is a great month to celebrate all that is BC craft beer. It’s the month of fresh hops, cranberries, squash, and pumpkins among just a few of the bountiful crops that are harvested. It’s also Oktoberfest, which gives us richer and darker beers along with great food and entertainment. And, while for the second year in a row there are no BC Beer Awards, there is a beer release! Plus, we enter into year two of the Whistler Craft Beer Month and year three of Penticton Beer Week! So, despite COVID, there are still events. They may be smaller and some may be outside, but we have events!
Oktoberfest Celebrations
It seems that everyone enjoys getting dressed up in their lederhosen, eating bratwurst and pretzels, and drinking German-style beer, and most breweries are obliging. Here are just a few!
OKTOBERFEAST AT BREWHALL: NOW UNTIL OCTOBER 18TH
BREWHALL is kicking off the celebration with daily food features including soft-baked pretzels, currywurst, schnitzel burgers, bratwurst buns, and traditional OktoberFEAST dinners. These feature your choice of a half roast chicken or two rivers bratwurst with all the fixings, and of course, a variety of Oktoberfest style beers!
- BREWHALL, Starts at 11:00 AM Daily | MORE INFO
OKTOBERFEST AT THE BARKING PARROT BAR: OCTOBER 23
The last Oktoberfest of the season, a festive finale for Penticton Beer Week. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind, Barking Parrot event with EXCLUSIVE cask beers tapped at 4:00 pm, and of course some great Oktoberfest food options.
- 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM, with casks tapping at 4:00 PM!
Fall Fest at Mariner Brewing: October 7 – 17
Mariner Brewing will be bringing back their FALL FEST from October 7th – 17th. There will be special fall menu specials, and of course some fall-themed exploratory batch releases.
- Check the brewery for daily hours
Brewphoria 2021: October 21 – 23
This will be the sixth year for BREWPHORIA, held at the Kelowna Beer Institute. Over 3 days there will be a total of 24 unique beers from 24 breweries in the Okanagan. 6 breweries will be tapped on Oct 21 and 22 with the remaining 12 breweries tapped on the 23rd. You will need to attend all 3 days to try them all!
- Oct 21 – 3:00 PM – 10:00 PM
- Oct 22 – 3:00 PM – 10:00 PM
- Oct 23 – 11:00AM – 10:00 PM
Virtual Hoppy Hour with Joe & Friends: October 7
Grab a beer and check into our monthly virtual hoppy hour on October 7th from 6:00 pm-7:00 pm. Join Joe Wiebe with guests: Ashley Brooks, quality control manager at Four Winds Brewing and a KPU Graduate. Matt Jewell from Vice & Virtue in Kelowna, and Barry Benson (The “B” in R&B) from R&B Brewing in Vancouver.
Tune into the BC Ale Trail’s Instagram channel.
Whistler Village Craft Beer Month
Gibbons Whistler has partnered with Tourism Whistler, the Resort Municipality of Whistler, and BC Craft Beer Month to bring you a month of diverse craft beer experiences ranging from Beer-infused dinners, Tap Takeovers, Sip N’ Stretch, booty camp & beers, Beer Bingo and more! Every day there is something beer-related going on at one of many locations!
Enter to WIN a Whistler Craft Beer Month Prize Package valued at over $1000! ENTER HERE!
View a full listing of events.
Tap Takeovers
DARBYS PUB – RARE BREWS: OCTOBER 2 – 16
Darby’s Pub is celebrating 40 years, and what better way than to have a BC Craft Beer “Rare Brews” Tap takeover! They will start pouring on October 2nd, but when they are gone, they are gone!
TWIN SAILS BREWING & PARKSIDE BREWERY TAP TAKEOVER at THE BRICKWORKS: OCTOBER 22
Just one of the many events that are a part of Whistler Craft Beer Month and a return from a popular tap takeover last year!
- The Brickworks, 4:00 PM – 11:00 PM | MORE INFO
Back to Back Events in Victoria
Several of the Victoria Beer Week/Victoria Beer Society events have been cancelled over the last two years. Two of the popular events are coming back this year in a smaller capacity and will be outdoors.
LAGER THAN LIFE: OCTOBER 8
Lagers have long been the outcast of the craft beer family, often overshadowed by their boastful IPA cousins at craft beer events. With their diverse range of flavours and styles being every bit as worthy as that of their ale brethren, we think that it’s time for Lagers to take centre stage. Join us in celebrating over 15 lager style beers from some of BC’s best craft breweries!
FRESH TO DEATH – A CELEBRATION OF FRESH HOP BEERS: OCTOBER 9
As any fan of craft beer knows, with the arrival of fall comes the annual harvest of the mighty hop. Many BC craft breweries celebrate this time of the season by brewing beers with hops that are as fresh as it gets. Join us in celebrating the annual hop harvest and BC Craft Beer Month with 20+ fresh hop beers from some of BC’s best craft breweries!
SPECIAL BEER RELEASES
NEW SCHOOL DRY-HOPPED MARZEN: LAUNCHES OCTOBER 2
A collaboration brew with the KPU Brewing and Brewery Operations Diploma alumni. Proceeds go towards a BC Hospitality Foundation and the Nancy More scholarship foundation at KPU. The New School Dry-Hopped Märzen was created and brewed by KPU Brewing & Brewery Operations Diploma alumni from a number of breweries across the lower mainland. Available at BC Government Liquor Stores around BC.
OTHER RELEASES:
- GAP YEAR Hazy Pale Ale Collab with BREWHALL & BC Beer Awards | MORE INFO
- DO GOOD Golden Sour Penticton Beer Week Collaboration | Available early October
Penticton Beer Week: October 15 – 23
This year marks the third annual Penticton Beer Week! From October 15-23, there will be various craft beer-focused events, including a Penticton Beer Run held by Hoodoo Adventure and several tasting opportunities at breweries and restaurants throughout the city. One major feature is the launch of the annual Penticton Beer Week collaboration which will be available in all breweries throughout the city as well as available at private liquor stores in selected cities in BC.
For more info on the beer and updates on events, click HERE.
Beer of the Day – 31 styles of beer!
Do you want to celebrate but you just can’t get out to many of these events? Check out the “Beer of the Day” with 31 beer styles, descriptions, tasting notes, and a great selection of breweries from around the province. Create your own event! Oh, so many options!
Want More?
Events are getting added daily, so for an up to date list of BC Craft Beer Month events, check out the website at BCCraftBeerMonth.com
