Central Vancouver Island Offers a Bounty of Exceptional Experiences! From Cowichan through Nanaimo to Parksville Qualicum Beach, Central Vancouver Island offers a variety of exceptional experiences, including spectacular beaches, hiking and mountain biking trails, and coastal paddling. From February 1 through March 8, 2026, explore the region and the diverse mix of breweries. Fill Your … Continued
Vancouver Island’s Pacific Rim is ready to welcome you with craft beer, majestic forests, big nature, and west coast warmth. Port Alberni serves as a central hub for exploring the region, offering a rich mix of culture, heritage, and flavour. Discover three local breweries, a growing culinary scene, and a new distillery before heading west … Continued
Farmers’ markets are more than just places to buy fresh produce—they’re vibrant community hubs that embody the very best of BC’s buy local philosophy. While the connection might not seem obvious at first glance, there is a natural relationship between farmers’ markets and the craft beer community – one that we’ve talked about before. Both … Continued
Escape the crowds and discover the quiet magic of Port Alberni during the winter months. Winter in the Alberni Valley offers a serene escape, with misty mornings, uncrowded attractions, and an authentic glimpse into the region’s soul. Whether it’s peaceful fishing expeditions, cozy brewery tastings, or awe-inspiring coastal vistas, this season unveils a quieter, more … Continued
Patio season is here, and that means more opportunities to bring your canine companion along with you to dog-friendly breweries. There are a few things to know before you go to ensure the most enjoyable visit for yourself and your dog. What is it about craft beer and dog lovers? Maybe it’s just that good … 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
A toast to the women in the beer community! As the world gears up to commemorate International Women’s Day this Friday, it’s a fitting moment to raise our glasses to the women who have been making significant strides in our industry and the beer community at large. From ancient civilizations where women were the primary … Continued
Trans-Canada flights from Halifax to British Columbia will be carrying some extra weight early next week as representatives from BC breweries return home with their medals! The 2023 Canadian Brewing Awards were announced in Halifax on Saturday, June 3, and once again this year, craft breweries from British Columbia fared extremely well on the national … 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
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
Vancouver Craft Beer Week’s (VCBW) collaboration beer is an annual tradition that allows festival organizers to unite different breweries together so they can showcase their skills and celebrate the craft beer community as a whole, all while giving back. This year’s beer has been made in collaboration with North Vancouver’s House of Funk Breiwng, alongside … Continued
Is there anything more iconic than van-dwelling, craft beer-sipping, and surfing in Tofino? BC’s surf capital isn’t exactly a secret. But, no matter how many times you explore the area in and around Tofino, there’s a chance to discover something new. Whether it’s an undiscovered-by-you view spot or a friendly face you meet along the … Continued
March 8 is International Women’s Day and more than 35 BC breweries are brewing up a special beer to showcase women as well as inclusion and diversity in the craft beer industry in BC. Back in 2013, the thought of women gathering together all over British Columbia to brew a special batch of beer seemed … 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
The 19th Annual Canadian Brewing Awards were given out on September 18th, 2021, at an event held at the Hilton Québec in Québec City, and brewers from British Columbia took home 40 trophies. The big wins came from the Prairies this year, with a repeat for Alberta with The Establishment Brewing Company taking home Brewery … 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
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
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
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
From 2010 to 2019 the craft beer revolution expanded in British Columbia like never before! Back on December 31, 2009, no one in British Columbia — not even the most optimistic beer lover, myself included — could have predicted what the next decade would bring. There were about 40 craft breweries in BC at the … Continued
Happy hour along the BC Ale Trail is an even more sacred time after an awesome day of outdoor adventures. Make your way to the marine outpost of Bamfield on the west coast of Vancouver Island and amplify your cheers factor tenfold. Here’s how to do it. A hiking mecca, Bamfield has been known for … Continued
