Hops Among Friends is designed to showcase the people who make up the craft beer scene on the BC Ale Trail. In this latest installment, Kim Lawton interviews Gary Brucker from Barn Owl Brewing. My most recent Hops Among Friends interview was with Melanie MacInnes from Locality Brewing. At the end of our discussion, Melanie … 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
Raise a glass to the holiday season and celebrate craft beer’s rich tapestry with this seasonal gift-buying guide. Recognizing the challenges faced by small businesses nationwide, we want to inspire you to embrace the spirit of shopping local this holiday season. This guide will help you find the perfect gifts and stocking stuffers for all … Continued
Spring is here! The weather is warming up all across British Columbia — blossoms are blooming and bees are buzzing around them. Many of your favourite local breweries are releasing special beers to celebrate the season. Here is a round-up of more than 75 spring-themed beers from BC craft breweries. Lots of them feature berries or fruit, … Continued
Sip your way along the Kelowna and West Kelowna Ale Trail in May for a chance to win the ultimate beer-themed Weekend Getaway! Our popular Tasting Passport promotion returns for the month of May. Pick up a Tasting Passport at one the participating locations (see below) and each time you visit a new location to … Continued
It’s nearly impossible today to find a brewery that doesn’t have a live music schedule, or regular trivia or bingo nights. It’s a fun way to enhance the overall tasting room vibe, as well as draw in new customers. But with more and more breweries opening their doors, the push is on to find new … 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
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
October was officially declared BC Craft Beer Month by the Government of British Columbia in 2011. What started off with a smattering of events put on by some of the approximately 40 breweries open then has turned into 31 days of fall beer releases (fresh hop and pumpkin to name a few), special events, tap … Continued
Happy Pride Month! As June begins and British Columbia celebrates its sizeable 2SLGBTQIA+ community, it is important to keep in mind that inclusion needs to be a year-long commitment. It’s easy to be performative by putting up Pride flags or slapping a rainbow on a beer label. “You definitely have somebody who is queer on … Continued
