“You are about to be hit by a tsunami of people. You have no idea how much Maple Ridge needs this.” Those were the words spoken to Michael Friesen, head brewer at The Patch Brewery in Maple Ridge, by a fellow brewer shortly before their grand opening in August 2024. One year later, as the … Continued
Ucluelet (pronounced you-clue-let) is a town where life slows down in the best possible way. Tucked somewhere between the rugged coastline of Vancouver Island and the rhythm of the rainforest, the scent of cedar mixes with ocean air, and there’s a sense that you’ve landed somewhere special. Set on the traditional territory of the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ … Continued
Welcome to another edition of Hops Among Friends — a series celebrating the people behind the craft beer scene on the BC Ale Trail. In this 24th instalment, I chat with Josh Vanderheide (aka JV), founder of Field House Brewing in East Abbotsford and downtown Chilliwack. Josh was chosen by my last guest, Gary Brucker from Barn Owl … Continued
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 … Continued
There’s something special about the Creston Valley in July. Maybe it’s the way the vineyards catch the light or the warm breeze that rolls in from the valley floor. But for hundreds of people this summer, July means one thing: the Hop to Vine Hustle. Equal parts fun run, wine tasting, brewery crawl, and finish-line … Continued
Summer has arrived in beautiful BC, and there’s nothing quite like settling onto the perfect patio with a cold craft beer in hand. When we asked BC Ale Trail fans to vote for their favourite brewery patios across the province, the response was overwhelming – clearly, BC craft beer lovers are passionate about their outdoor … Continued
Hops Among Friends is designed to showcase the people who make up the craft beer scene on the BC Ale Trail. In this latest installment, Kim Lawton interviews Gary Brucker from Barn Owl Brewing. My most recent Hops Among Friends interview was with Melanie MacInnes from Locality Brewing. At the end of our discussion, Melanie … Continued
Recently, Nick from the Thirsty Explorers Club went on a weekend ale-venture to the Shuswap region of BC, where he explored Salmon Arm and its three unique breweries. Get his take on Salmon Arm’s brew culture, the tasty eats, and community and sustainability values in practice here every day. What Even Is a Salmon Arm? … Continued
During the early days of craft beer in BC casks were all the rage. Weekly cask nights kept the thirsty beer nerds busy between the cask festivals that had developed a very keen following. Brewers would create 20-40 litres of a one-off beer and serve it directly from a steel cask. CAMRA, Central City, Tri-cities, … Continued
In an inspiring tale of resilience and renewal, Bomber Brewing, founded by Don Farion in 2014, has come full circle as Farion recently repurchased the brewery from the Donnelly Group in October 2024, following periods of corporate ownership and market challenges. After surviving his own battle with throat cancer, Farion is steering Bomber back to … Continued