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