As winter settles in and the holiday season approaches, craft breweries across British Columbia are unwrapping creative and festive beer offerings. These seasonal brews are more than just beverages—they’re an invitation to gather with friends and loved ones, capturing the warmth, comfort, and jubilant spirit of the season. Winter beers have a special magic about them. … Continued
There must be something in the water in Port Alberni — Twin City Brewing just keeps on winning awards for its beer! After winning Beer of the Year at the 2018 BC Beer Awards shortly after it opened, Twin City Brewing won the BC Ale Trail’s Best Brewery Experience award in 2020 before winning Brewery … Continued
The ways to pair a BC getaway with unique activities and local craft beer are endless. Here’s some vacation inspiration! ATV the Kootenays + Trailblazing Beers Located between the Rocky and Purcell Mountain chains, the Kootenays is a true ATVer’s paradise. Cross-country trails offer endless scenic vistas while rugged alpine rips will keep … Continued
B.C. breweries are already famous for making world-class beer, but alongside those award-winning ales and lagers, many breweries also offer exceptional food. We asked our faithful followers on social media to tell us about the food they love at their favourite breweries. The results absolutely poured in. More than 90 breweries were mentioned, and the … Continued
British Columbia boasts over 300 golf courses, each offering its own picturesque charm. From the picture-perfect gems dotting Vancouver Island, to the serene pastures of the Cariboo, the lush greens of the Okanagan desert, and the exhilarating mountaintop tees of the Kootenay Rockies, the province presents a diverse array of golfing experiences. Whether you seek … Continued
Happy Spring! As flowers bloom and warmer weather arrives, let’s embark on a tasting tour of the many special beers BC’s breweries are releasing this spring. There is a wide assortment of styles to choose from, including sours, IPAs, saisons, and a variety of fruit-infused beers. Browse this list to find something from your local … Continued
Earth Day is celebrated annually on April 22 to raise awareness about the environment and sustainability, and to help inspire, support, and facilitate innovative actions for individuals and organizations to reduce their environmental impact. Many of British Columbia’s craft breweries strive to improve their environmental sustainability on an ongoing basis. Most breweries divert the spent … Continued
As December arrives, many craft breweries in British Columbia are releasing special beers they have created to celebrate the holiday season. These seasonal beers are perfect for the wintertime. Many are a little darker and stronger — ideal for colder, darker days — and some of the recipes even include spices, cranberries, or other tasty … Continued
In this latest instalment in the Hops Among Friends series, showcasing the people who make up the craft beer scene on the BC Ale Trail, Kim Lawton interviews Tessa Gabiniewicz from Land & Sea Brewing. My most recent Hops Among Friends interview was with Connor Blanchard from Luppolo Brewing. Connor was able to pay it … Continued
Explore Flavours & Experiences with Tasting Passports in Five BC Communities and Be Entered to Win EPIC Prizes! The BC Ale Trail is collaborating with communities around BC on five Tasting Passport contests throughout the month of November. The idea is to collect stamps at breweries (and in some cases other participating businesses) and then … Continued
Port Alberni brewery Twin City Brewing returns to the podium after winning Beer of the Year at the 2018 BC Beer Awards and numerous individual awards since then. Overall, Twin City Brewing won three awards: gold medals for Tickity Boo (Hoppy UK Pale Ale category) and Nocturne (Belgian Ale) and a silver medal for Out … Continued
In this latest instalment in the Hops Among Friends series, showcasing the people who make up the craft beer scene on the BC Ale Trail, Kim Lawton interviews Connor Blanchard from Luppolo Brewing. My most recent Hops Among Friends interview was with Justin Larter from Barnside Brewing in Delta. At the end of our discussion, … Continued
As December arrives, many craft breweries in British Columbia are releasing special beers they have created to celebrate the holiday season. These wintry beers are often a little darker and stronger, making them well-suited for colder, darker days, and some of the recipes even include spices, cranberries, or chocolate. Here are more than 100 suggestions … Continued
Gladstone Brewing Wins Brewery of the Year and Parallel 49 Brewing Earns Best in Show The 2022 BC Beer Awards were announced on November 5 at the Croatian Cultural Centre in Vancouver. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the last time this previously annual event took place was in October 2019. The first of two big … Continued
Vancouver Island is a bounty for diverse and unique crops. Stop by any of the numerous bustling farmers’ markets and you’ll find a plethora of hard-to-find Canadian ingredients like olives, figs, kiwis, hazelnuts, chanterelles, and even the decadent truffle. Not to mention the more obvious market favourites such as berries, greens, grains, and fruit. It’s … Continued
Wee Laird Wee Heavy Scotch Ale from Vancouver’s Callister Brewing Named Best Beer at the 2022 Canada Beer Cup, highlighting 46 medals won by BC breweries at this first annual competition organized by the Canadian Craft Brewers Association. Callister Brewing’s Wee Laird Wee Heavy Scotch Ale (9.2% ABV) is matured for 10 months in freshly … Continued
During BC Craft Beer Month, the province’s craft breweries are serving up a wide variety of harvest-themed beers that are perfect for fall. We highlight 70 for you below! Many breweries work with local farms to use freshly harvested hops — the resulting fresh hop or wet hop beers are unique to the season so … Continued
Explore Flavours & Experiences with Tasting Passports in Five BC Communities. The BC Ale Trail is hosting Tasting Passports in five BC communities this November. Each of these promotions runs for a month — the idea is to collect stamps at breweries, tap houses and other participating businesses and then enter the completed passport in … Continued
Nestled in the heart of North Vancouver Island, Port McNeill is a resource town with stunning scenery and endless outdoor adventure potential. It has one grocery store, one pub, one general store, and one craft brewery: Devil’s Bath Brewing. Head brewer Aaron Battaglio and his family, long-time locals of Port McNeill, are the brains behind … Continued
Ahhh, spring is here! Flowers are bursting out of the ground, fruit trees are showing off their colourful blooms, and breweries are launching some delicious seasonal beers. Warmer days and longer evenings are ideal for enjoying beer outdoors — on a porch, patio or at a picnic. With so many great breweries throughout British Columbia, … Continued
Now is the Perfect Time to Explore the Comox Valley! From March 4 – April 25, 2022, book a two night stay at the Bayview Hotel, Crown Isle Resort and Golf Community or Old House Hotel & Spa and receive a limited edition, custom designed Comox Valley .95 L growler, as well as $50 in … Continued
There’s no shortage of breweries with pizza on the BC Ale Trail. In celebration of National Pizza Day (and just because), we visited breweries on mid-Vancouver Island with fantastic pizza pies. But if you’re on the mainland, don’t fret. We’ve got a list of where to find a brewery pizza across the province, too. Pizza … Continued
One of the most important aspects of the holiday season is showing gratitude to family, friends and neighbours. Many of BC’s craft breweries are showing appreciation to their customers for all the support they have received this year by giving back to the community in a variety of ways, including: fundraising for flood victims, supporting … Continued
To help celebrate the holiday season, many craft breweries in British Columbia have been busy brewing up something special. Some of these holiday-themed beers are made with spices, cranberries, chocolate — or even candy canes! These wintry beers are often a little darker and stronger, making them well suited for colder, darker days. Here are … Continued
B.C.’s breweries are celebrating summer by releasing dozens of delicious and innovative beers that are perfect for enjoying outdoors. Many of these beers are special, limited-edition releases, and some are only available at the breweries themselves. But, now that travel restrictions have been lifted, it’s OK to explore the province to visit breweries in other … Continued
Pride Month beers across the province are raising funds to support Pride-related causes. This includes an extra special collaboration among six breweries in Comox Valley and Campbell River. You can’t spell community without “C.” This collaboration includes the communities of Comox, Courtenay, Cumberland and Campbell River. “Since breweries are businesses that are community gathering spaces … Continued
With the arrival of warmer weather, BC breweries are offering a wide range of spring beer releases — and beer lovers are drooling over all the delicious options. Warmer days are perfect for patios and picnics. As the days get longer and the sun sets later and later in the evening, there is more time … Continued
In this latest edition of “North Island Neighbours”, Adam Chatburn chats with Tak Guenette, Head Brewer at Gladstone Brewing Co. So far in this series, I’ve chatted with new friends; Patti From New Tradition and Dave from Loveshack Libations. This time I get to reconnect with an old friend, Takeshi Guenette, aka Tak, from Gladstone … Continued
With the arrival of December, many craft breweries in British Columbia are releasing special beers for the holiday season. These beers are often a little darker and stronger, making them perfectly suited for colder, darker days, and some incorporate spices or ingredients that invite holiday nostalgia. In fact, 2020 might as well be called the … Continued
In a year when brewery experiences were turned upside down, Aaron Colyn and the Twin City Brewing team proved that prioritizing community pride and customer relationships is as much of a winning formula as pizza and craft beer. Do you think your town is tough? Consider Port Alberni, B.C. In the past century, this … Continued
Don’t let the cold, wet weather keep you from enjoying craft beer at your local brewery. One of the ways that many craft breweries have adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic is by expanding their outdoor patios to allow more patrons to visit the brewery and sample beers in person. This has helped to mitigate the … Continued
Waterfalls and craft beer are a winning combination. They both light your sense of adventure, bring you into the moment, and turn a mundane weekend into something to celebrate. Let’s face it. In many parts of BC, November can bring a lot of rain. But, this is what makes chasing waterfalls an ideal fall activity. … Continued
Adam Chatburn is originally from Blackburn, Lancashire and recently moved from Vancouver to Comox, BC. He is a former professional wrestler, past President of CAMRA Vancouver, and former owner of Real Cask at Callister Brewing in Vancouver. He now teaches the Craft Brewing and Malting Program at North Island College and at the MVP … Continued
The drive to the west coast of Vancouver Island is one of BC’s most celebrated road trips—and for good reason. In the space of a couple of hours, you exchange the sunlit hills and gentle shores of eastern Vancouver Island for the rainswept, brooding austerity of the Pacific on the island’s west coast. It’s a … Continued
The BC Ale Trail invites you to visit these sunny patios at BC Craft Breweries Summer is here and the time is right for sipping craft beer in the sunshine. The good news for beer lovers is that as part of Phase 3 of BC’s Restart Plan, the provincial government has allowed many breweries to … Continued
New Experiences are Brewing Nearby… As Phase 3 of BC’s Restart Plan begins, more of the parks and places we know and love are continuing to reopen. There are a handful of changes coming into effect in cities around the province including expanding patio licensing, allowing public consumption of alcohol in some designated areas, and … Continued
With the arrival of summer, here are 60+ ideal summer beers from British Columbia’s craft breweries. Enjoy from the comfort of your own back yard or visit your local brewery’s tasting room, which may have a new patio! BC’s brewery tasting rooms are cautiously reopening with the guidance of the bc craft brewers guild once … Continued
In this episode of the Cascadian Beer Podcast, Aaron visits Parksville Qualicum Beach, BC. Back in early March, just before the COVID-19 pandemic arrived here in British Columbia, Aaron Johnson visited Vancouver Island. After enjoying Lift Off!, the first night of Victoria Beer Week, Aaron headed Up Island. This episode of the Cascadian Beer Podcast … Continued
Several craft breweries from British Columbia are participating in the All Together IPA project, which was created by Brooklyn-based Other Half Brewing to support members of the hospitality industry who have lost employment because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Note: The COVID-19 pandemic has radically changed the way we all live and work, and British Columbia’s … Continued
In this episode of the Cascadian Beer Podcast, Aaron visits Port Alberni, BC. Note: The COVID-19 pandemic has radically changed the way we all live and work, and British Columbia’s breweries have changed the way they operate to reflect that — temporarily closing their tasting rooms to the public and launching direct delivery services in … Continued
There’s nothing better than tasting craft beer right at the source. Enter to win a winter adventure for two in The Comox Valley BC. Winter is the optimal time to enjoy the ultimate craft beer experience in the mountains at a laid-back pace. Arrive thirsty, leave inspired. THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED Prize for two … Continued
People say life moves a little slower on the island, so maybe that’s why it took over 30 years from the start of the craft beer revolution until a craft brewery opened in Campbell River, a three-hour drive from where it all started. A Little History Lesson Back when Canada’s first brewpub, Spinnakers, opened in … Continued
All over British Columbia, craft breweries are starting to celebrate the holiday season with special beer releases. Many Christmas-themed beers are a little darker and stronger, making them well suited for the colder, darker days of winter. Some include spices and sugars or tasty additions like cranberries, chocolate or orange peels to celebrate the season. … Continued
The time for holiday cheer is near and what better way to get in the spirit than with craft beer?! It’s nearly December and your local craft brewery is likely hosting a festive event or pouring a winter-inspired beer near you. Get in the spirit with a great brew and check out what’s happening this … Continued
Stepping foot inside Land & Sea Brewing is like stepping into a west coast-inspired oasis where, instead of water, the reward is exceptional craft beer. “What you see is what you get.” Located in Comox on the Vancouver Island Part II Ale Trail, the bright, open tasting room (with a capacity of 72, plus staff) brings … Continued
Halloween has been celebrated in one form or another since the time of the ancient Celts, around 2,000 years ago. Observing their new year on November 1st with a festival called Samhain, a Gaelic word that’s pronounced sow-win, Celts celebrated the harvest and welcomed in the “darker half” of the year. On October 31st, it … Continued
The 10th Annual BC Beer Awards were announced on October 19, 2019 in Vancouver, BC. Awards were given in 31 beer-style categories during the ceremony held at the Croatian Cultural Centre. This was the largest competition to date with 1200 entries from 121 breweries around British Columbia. The big winner of the night was actually … Continued
We’ve got a hand for you the next time you want to head out for a stellar night in Port Alberni. The hand – a khamsa in Moroccan – will chase away evil and negative energy, which your hosts Dan and Buchara Savard, owners of the Swept Away Inn, would rather you leave behind when … Continued
With the arrival of summer, here are 10 ideal summer beers from some of British Columbia’s best local craft breweries. Each of these 10 beers was hand-crafted and inspired by the warm-weather adventures and experiences that the province is known for, and most include special ingredients such as mango, cucumber or even jalapeño pepper! Would … Continued
UPDATE: Island Craft has been shortlisted for the 2020 Taste Canada Award in the Culinary Narratives category. Jon Stott, author of Island Craft: Your Guide to the Breweries of Vancouver Island, had his first legal beer in Victoria in 1960. The windowless room, with an entrance for the “gentlemen” and a separate entrance for the “ladies … Continued
As the holiday season approaches, several craft breweries in British Columbia have brewed up something special. Some create holiday-themed beers that are often a little darker and stronger, making them well suited for the colder, darker days of winter. Another popular option is a gift pack combining special beers with other items that will please … Continued
109 breweries submitted 1,085 beers to be judged in 30 categories for the 9th annual BC Beer Awards. Fifty-one of those breweries walked away winners. But only one can claim the bragging rights of brewing the best BC beer of 2018: Twin City Brewing Company. The relative newcomer from Port Alberni won Best in Show for … Continued
The BC Ale Trail has launched the new Vancouver Island Ale Trail, featuring 14 craft breweries showcased in two separate itineraries, following the addition of new ale trails in Northern BC, Richmond and the Kamloops-Shuswap-Vernon region over the past few months. When joined together with the Victoria Ale Trail, beer lovers can explore 24 different … Continued
An adventurous weekend getaway is never a bad idea. With the natural beauty and burgeoning craft beer scene in the Comox Valley beckoning, I just knew I had to make the trip! Having never been to this part of Vancouver Island before, I was eager to do some research on the area and discover what … Continued
