The swift arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia has affected everyone who lives and works here considerably. Most BC craft breweries across the province are doing their part to “flatten the curve” by suspending service in their taprooms.
At the same time, everyone is being asked to stay home and avoid going out except for necessities. This is really important to slow the spread of the virus and we definitely encourage people to try to keep at least two metres apart if you do have to go out in public.
Obviously, this makes it exceedingly difficult to support craft breweries on the BC Ale Trail. But even if you can’t order a flight of beers in a tasting room, you might still be able to buy beer to take out — many craft breweries have a storefront that remains open for off-sales of packaged product (you’ll likely have to pay by debit or credit card, however, as most businesses have also gone cashless to limit the spread of the virus).
Many BC craft breweries sell their products in BC Liquor Stores or at private liquor stores, which remain open at the time of this writing. So if you are going out to pick up staples, you might consider that option for stocking up on some of your favourite local beers.
Some breweries on the BC Ale Trail have started offering delivery services and many are also looking into it. Check out this post from our friends at The Growler with links to lots of such options. We will also do our post to share delivery possibilities through our social media channels so be sure to follow us there (see the links at the bottom of this blog). And while you’re at it, tag #supportBCBeer or #bcaletrail when you are posting images of your home-based beer activities. That’s another way we can all stay connected.
In the coming weeks you can expect us to share stories here about: food and beer pairing tips; ways to support your favourite local breweries; and profiles of some of the charismatic entrepreneurs behind your favourite BC craft breweries.
In the meantime, here are some suggestions for ways to enjoy BC craft beer while remaining at home:
- virtual bottle share parties: invite your friends to meet up online at a prearranged time with a specific style of beer
- read up on some BC craft beer history here: The History of BC Craft Beer Part 1
- get caught up on past episodes of the Cascadian Beer Podcast
- break into your beer cellar: isn’t this the “special occasion” you were saving that three-year-old bottle of Old Cellar Dweller for??
- check in all the beers on Untappd you never got around to posting
- plan for an epic post-pandemic road trip by consulting our Ale Trail itineraries for regions around the province that you’ve always wanted to visit
- watch all the amazing videos we’ve produced: check them out on our YouTube channel
- just imagine all the amazing beers that BC brewers are now putting away into barrels and conditioning tanks for long-term release; once this pandemic is over, there will be some incredible beers to taste!
Above all, stay home and stay healthy!
For more information about COVID-19, please consult government resources here.
