Nimai Rigby spent 2016 touring BC on his own personal ale trail. Rigby, who lives in Coquitlam in BC’s Lower Mainland, set himself the goal of visiting 100 of the province’s breweries within the year, and completed his quest just 11 days before 2017 arrived. But why take the journey, and where did it lead? Just before the … Continued
Thirsty for craft beer, three friends hatched a plan to fill an untapped market and opened Campbell River’s first craft brewery. Walk through the doors of Beach Fire Brewing and Nosh House and it’s obvious that this establishment is more than a place where beer is made. Here, people gather to mix and mingle over great beer and … Continued
With an increasing number of brewery visitors meandering their way throughout the Kootenay Rockies this past summer, a couple of things have become clear. First, there is an increasing number of stops to make, beers to drink and small-town charm to be found — so best secure a few more days off work for your trip. … Continued
The story of Frank Appleton and Canada’s first craft brewery. When it comes to beer, we’ve never had it so good. It’s an oft-repeated phrase these days, but sometimes it’s worthwhile to take stock of how far beer in Canada has come. Fifty years ago, beer culture in Vancouver was a wasteland saturated with the … Continued
It’s evident when you visit Port Moody’s Brewers Row, especially on a weekend, just how popular it’s become. Some days getting a parking spot can be challenging with locals and folks from nearby towns flocking to the area. That problem will soon be alleviated somewhat with the Evergreen Skytrain Line slated to start running in December, … Continued
The newest brewery-distillery in Greater Victoria has set up shop in Saanich with a Scotsman and an Australian at the helm and copper pot stills in the back. Just off the Pat Bay Highway, which takes you to the BC Ferries terminal at Swartz Bay, step inside this new tasting lounge at Victoria Caledonian Brewery … Continued
Sunshine Coast breweries are making beer with locally produced fresh hops, whether they were grown in a hop yard in Gibsons or in a backyard in Powell River. Craft beer drinkers in British Columbia love hops. Most of us have lost count of all the super-hoppy, tongue-curling IPAs we’ve tasted from BC breweries. Cider makers are even starting to … Continued
The craft beer scene in Whistler is evolving and becoming a popular destination for “beercationers.” One of BC’s best craft beer festivals is the Whistler Village Beer Festival, which this year spanned four days with the main festival on Saturday and Sunday, along with several satellite events around town all week. Despite some rain (except, luckily, … Continued
Arrive Thirsty. Leave Inspired. When the small group of BC Ale Trail organizers came up with this catch phrase at one of our early planning sessions we knew we’d struck gold. That motto encapsulated everything we were trying to achieve with the BC Ale Trail, and it served as our beacon as we pushed forward, trying to make this … Continued