Day two began how all days should begin: with fried chicken. River Market in New West is a destination all on it’s own. Fresh bread, craft coffee, homemade soap, produce, and restaurants. It’s a lovely place to get lost in. I impatiently waited outside the doors of Freebird Chicken Shack to get my hands on some of the … Continued
The annual Great Canadian Beer Festival is returning to Victoria for the 25th time Sept. 8-9, 2017. Canada’s longest running craft beer festival was first held indoors at the Victoria Conference Centre in 1993, with 2,000 people attending. After 10 years, organizers moved it outdoors to Royal Athletic Park, which plays host to 9,000 thirsty beer … Continued
BC beer won yet more accolades last week, when the World Beer Awards 2017 style winners were announced in London. White Sails Brewing of Nanaimo earned the title of world’s best black IPA for its Snake Island CDA, while Mt. Begbie Brewing of Revelstoke recorded another big win for its highly decorated High Country Kolsch, … Continued
There’s the beer. Great craft beer. And the breweries. Amazing breweries all around this province working together to grow the craft beer scene. Plus there are fantastic craft beer and cask events where we go and try an incredible selection of these beers. But behind all of these breweries and events are the inspiring, passionate … Continued
I started to fall in love when I saw they’d named their fermenters after the Golden Girls. Blanche, Rose, Dorothy and Sofia stood in the corner of Steel & Oak Brewing Co., protecting the beer as the yeast began to work it’s magic. The beer, most of which are traditional German lagers, is fantastic. It … Continued
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
