Breweries from British Columbia won nearly 40% of all the awards at the 4th annual Canada Beer Cup. Canada’s best beers were feted at the Canada Beer Cup Awards Gala in Québec City on November 10. While the trophy for Best Beer in Canada went to Québec’s own Microbrasserie Charlevoix for its Flacatoune Belgian Blonde, … 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
While autumn usually signals the inevitable onslaught of everything pumpkin-spiced, savvy B.C. craft beer drinkers know that there’s another seasonal beer trend to keep a close eye on. I’m talking about fresh hop beers, of course! Fresh hop beers are made with hops that come fresh off the bine, making it into the brew kettle … 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
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
Explore the North of the Fraser Ale Trail throughout the month of February to collect stamps on your tasting passport and be entered to WIN the grand prize DELUXE WEEKEND GETAWAY. Easily accessible by SkyTrain, the riverfront communities of Burnaby, Coquitlam, New Westminster and Port Coquitlam offer great food, shopping, and outdoor activities to go … 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
As Motown grand dame Diana Ross famously said, you can’t hurry love. That’s especially true in the case of Main St. Brewing Head Brewer Azlan Graves and his passion project called The Garage Series — an ongoing collection of wild-fermented and barrel-aged beer he’s been concocting at the Mount Pleasant brewery since 2021. The Garage … Continued
On International Women’s Day, we talk to three women reshaping the BC Beer industry. Julia Hanlon is tired of being asked what it’s like to be a woman in the beer industry. She started her career with Molson in 2005, before moving into the role of Head Brewer at Steamworks in 2015, a role which … 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
BC Breweries Win 64 awards and Howe Sound Brewing Named Canadian Brewery of the Year! Wow, what a haul! British Columbia’s craft breweries continued a long-running tradition of winning more than their fair share of medals at the annual Canadian Brewing Awards, which were announced in Calgary last weekend. All in all, 39 different breweries … Continued
Beer. Chocolate. Mmmm. Two of life’s finer pleasures — indulgences many of us choose to enjoy on a regular basis… in moderation, of course. But what about together? That’s right, I’m talking about chocolate beers — special beers brewed with chocolate as an ingredient in some form, whether it is milk chocolate, dark chocolate, cacao … Continued
This holiday season, give the gift of craft beer and ale-ventures on the BC Ale Trail. Okay, folks, it’s that time of year, and I’m here to give some gifting inspiration. As always, the best way to shop for your nice list is local all the way — so here is this year’s updated craft … Continued
“You agreed to what?” I’ve made the mistake in the past of saying that there isn’t enough money in the world to get me to drink pumpkin beers, and I’ve managed to stick to that statement pretty well. Until now, when, in true daytime talk show style, the results are in, and this article proves … 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
Stay local. Support local. Give local. This holiday season, give the gift of craft beer and local experiences on the BC Ale Trail. How is it already time to think about holiday season gifts?!?? I don’t know about you, but 2020 has been the longest, yet quickest year. But since it is that time of … 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
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
October is not just the month of pumpkin-spiced everything and Thanksgiving: Since 2011 it has been proclaimed BC Craft Beer Month. Beer lovers province-wide enjoy a month brimming over with beer events, perfectly timed to keep their minds off the return of darker, wetter days. Pull out your favourite sweater, dust off your stylish … Continued
Drop a mention of Tofino, British Columbia into a conversation and chances are most people know it solely as a surfing outpost on the western shores of Vancouver Island: where the beaches are legendary and the rainfall is robust. However, many living on this rock in the Pacific are keenly aware that Tofino has been … Continued
“The BC Craft Brewers Guild and the BC Ale Trail are ecstatic with the unprecedented success of eight of our member breweries who won medals at the World Beer Cup®. With our breweries taking home three gold medals, four silvers and two bronze, these results reinforce a fact that local beer enthusiasts and beer tourists … Continued
Winter is often regarded as the time for strong, warming beer but there are other, equally delicious alternatives that will still keep the chills at bay. With the weather turning colder and the holiday season fast approaching, many of us are eagerly anticipating beers that are custom made to stave off the winter chill. Traditionally, … Continued
In this second feature in the Hops Among Friends series, we talk to a leader and early builder of BC’s dynamic craft beer industry. Paul Hadfield is the owner/publican of Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub & Guesthouses in Victoria, Canada’s oldest existing microbrewery and brewpub, which opened in 1984. Spinnakers now also has an artisan vinegar brewery, … Continued
Back in 2011, October was officially proclaimed BC Craft Beer Month… and there was much rejoicing! That’s mostly because, ever since, the 10th month of the year has become stuffed with premium beer events across the province. These can range from kitschy Oktoberfest-style celebrations to full-blown beer events. BC Beer Awards The big kahuna is … Continued
Revelstoke’s Mt. Begbie Brewing Co. took the top prize at the 2017 Canadian Brewing Awards in Ottawa. There are now 50 more great reasons to hit BC’s ale trails, after the province’s breweries enjoyed a stellar night at the CBA gala on May 27. BC’s beer makers won a total of 49 individual awards, while the coveted … Continued
Homebrewing in BC is catching on like wildfire! Recently, the Tri-Cities Cask Festival group held its Winter Pro-Am, which was a competition between amateur and pro brewers. The sold-out event hosted 570 guests at the Coquitlam Executive Plaza and craft beer fans came from all over to sample casks on offer from 35 breweries and 11 … Continued
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
The BC Beer Awards and Festival served up its customary mix of surprise results, good times and delicious craft beer at the Croatian Cultural Centre in East Vancouver on Saturday evening. Steamworks Brewing Company of Burnaby scored the biggest prize of the seventh annual awards, winning Best in Show for its recently released Flagship IPA. That announcement came after trophies were … Continued
