If you know anyone who lives on Vancouver Island – or if you’re an Islander yourself – you’ll be familiar with the term “up island.” This can mean anything from a half-hour’s drive north of Victoria over the Malahat to the five-and-a-half hour long haul up to Port Hardy. And there’s a whole lot to … 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
Let’s go “behind the scenes” as our photo/video team visits breweries in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island. A lot of work goes into producing the BC Ale Trail. We start off by researching and consulting with the breweries and local tourism agencies to determine the activities and sites we will feature. Then, we send out our video-photography team … Continued
There are two sides to Vancouver Island, geographically speaking; two distinct coasts whose characters are defined by the seas that erode their shores. The tranquil east coast on the Strait of Georgia has the bulk of the Island’s industry, agriculture and population; the west coast is wild, battered by Pacific storms and relentless waves. Highway … Continued
Blending an agricultural past with a new reputation as a tech centre, Kelowna is rich in history, innovation and fermentation. The Okanagan Valley’s largest city is situated in the heart of wine country. It’s home to Calona Vineyards, the province’s longest running winery, which turns 85 this year. It’s also home to two craft beer … Continued
Two craft beer festivals have popped up in the heart of the Kootenay Rockies — and they’re both on this weekend. Fresh beer and fresh Rocky Mountain air — that’s got to be more than enough to rally your dad for a Father’s Day road trip this weekend. Hot spot, cool beer The East Kootenay Beer Festival takes … Continued
Nelson is pretty much the perfect walking town, particularly when you have four breweries to visit along the way. The city, which is on the Kootenay Rockies West Ale Trail, is compact and the architecture is beautiful — the fact that the economy tanked here in the 1970s means it was saved from the architectural trends … Continued
Revelstoke’s Mt. Begbie Brewing Co. took the top prize at the 2017 Canadian Brewing Awards in Ottawa. There are now 50 more great reasons to hit BC’s ale trails, after the province’s breweries enjoyed a stellar night at the CBA gala on May 27. BC’s beer makers won a total of 49 individual awards, while the coveted … Continued
This year’s Vancouver Craft Beer Week aims to artfully mix culture and brews. Vancouver Craft Beer Week 2017 begins May 26 and promises a raft events around the city over 10 days. Now in its eighth year, the festival is rising to the challenge faced by any annual event: to remain fresh and relevant. “What we’re trying to … Continued
Surrey’s Central City Brewing + Distilling is kicking off Canada’s 150th birthday celebrations early with the mother of all collaboration projects. Collaboration has become a watchword in the craft beer industry, with breweries regularly joining forces to brew interesting one-off batches, teaming up with local businesses or helping out charities. Central City has tended to … Continued
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