It’s no secret that international politics and economic policies are playing havoc with small businesses on both sides of the border, and breweries are no exception. Canadian brewers face uncertainty over long overdue markup tax reform, tariffs and availability when it comes to essential supplies like cans, kegs, and even ingredients like hops, which are … Continued
Jump to: August 2025 • July 2025 • June 2025 • May 2025 • April 2025 • March 2025 • February 2025 • January 2025 View stories from 2024 Feature Stories Local brewers weathering a storm in the craft beer industry A pioneering Burnaby brewer says his industry may have finally “turned the corner” … Continued
The Kootenays’ cultural capital serves craft brews and cool art. The auditorium goes crazy as Margo Mayhem steps onto the stage with an inflatable flamingo around her tiny waist. Underneath, she’s wearing a corset and not much else. She strikes me as a Betty Boop character with her black curly hair and bright red lipstick. … Continued
Go on a Kootenay Road Trip throughout the month of February to collect stamps for a chance to win some great prizes. Throughout February, explore a diverse mix of breweries and taphouses on the Kootenay Rockies West Ale Trail. Explore mountain activities, stunning views along rivers and lakes, boutique places to stay, curious attractions, dining, … Continued
Torchlight Brewing in Nelson is one of 6 breweries that collaborated on the new EXPLORE BC Peach Farmhouse Ale, a special release beer created in celebration of BC Craft Beer Month that is now available at select locations around British Columbia. We asked the folks at Torchlight Brewing to tell us a bit about their … Continued
A Beer Inspired by BC and Brewed for You The EXPLORE BC Peach Farmhouse Ale is a collaboration between six breweries from across British Columbia. BC peaches present a beautiful golden-orange colour, while the Lærdal Kveik yeast and BC hops provide fruity, floral flavours above a clean rounded malt base that elevates the whole beer. … Continued
Breweries from across the Kootenays are coming together for the first annual Kootenay Beer Week: September 10 – 17, 2022. Various events will take place across the region over the week, offering plenty of opportunities for sampling craft beer and celebrating with great food and music. On September 17, the main event, Kootenay Beer Fest, … Continued
A BC musician is touring craft breweries across the province with a goal we can all get behind: Explore new parts of our beautiful backyard, make new friends, and try new craft beers along the way. Steven Marriott is a Vancouver-based singer-songwriter with a passion for bringing people together through music. He says he planned … Continued
As the war in Ukraine rages on, many BC craft breweries are responding to an international brewery effort to raise funds for those affected by the war. The primary effort is led by Lyviv, Ukraine-based Pravda Beer Theatre. Pravda put a call out to breweries around the world asking them to raise money for humanitarian … 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
Writer Lucas Aykroyd surveys 10 BC authors about which local craft beers might go down particularly well with their books. Pairings are truly a matter of personal choice. Whether you’re into oyster and wine pairings, cheese and chocolate pairings, or even NHL defence pairings, it’s anything goes in 2021. That philosophy inspired us to ask … Continued
The designated driver plays an important part in a local brewery visit: they get everyone home safely. But having a pint or a flight is a no-no. Luckily, being the DD on the BC Ale Trail doesn’t mean you’re relegated to just water. There are refreshing non-alcoholic craft beverages available for you to enjoy. If … Continued
You know what they say… behind every great beer name, there’s an even greater story. Once upon a pre-COVID time, I embarked on a road trip across the Kootenays. Dipping into breweries for crisp salvation, I came across a number of brow-furrowing, curiosity-sparking Kootenay beer names. Intrigued to discover the secrets and stories that lurk … Continued
Do you hear that? The sound of werewolves howling, witches cackling, and…kegs being tapped? The spookiest time of year brings delicious seasonal brews like inky black stouts (that pair well with rare meat) and spiced blood-red ales (perfect for aiding your Jack-o-lantern carving). Many breweries are also holding safely-distanced Halloween events and offering special deals … Continued
As summer comes to an end, BC’s craft breweries are serving up a variety of harvest-themed beers and other styles perfect for fall. Look for these BC fall beers at your favourite local liquor store or directly at the brewery. How Fresh Can You Get? Every BC fall beer lover awaits the arrival of a … Continued
Combining a skiing adventure while exploring the Kootenay Rockies West Ale Trail from Penticton, we visited the Trail Beer Refinery along with a few other breweries nearby as we meandered to RED Mountain Resort. Trail Beer Refinery The 13 local business partners who opened Trail’s first craft brewery (March 2017) thought the name should embrace … Continued
As the calendar turns to a new year and a new decade, here is a list of more than 20 new breweries that are expected to open in British Columbia in 2020. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Barnside Brewing Co. (@barnsidebrewing) on Dec 31, 2019 at 11:28pm PST Barnside … 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
Like a jewel on the West arm of Kootenay Lake, Nelson is known as the “Queen City” and for having “more restored heritage buildings per capita than anywhere else in the province”. That’s one of the reasons I love it and it’s where I graduated from high school. Sadly, I don’t get back often. I … Continued
My name is JP Lancaster and I play in a band from Kamloops, BC called At Mission Dolores. For me, the pursuit of music shares a similar ethos to craft beer. Both seek to make something where quality is never compromised. Quirks and oddities are embraced rather than suppressed for the sake of mass consumption. … Continued
In 2015, in honour of International Women’s Day on March 8th, the Pink Boots Society® created an annual event for women in the brewing industry from around the world to get together, collaborate on a brew, and to raise awareness of women’s roles in the brewing industry. The Pink Boots Collaboration Brew brings together women … 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
Expedia, the global travel website based in Bellevue, WA, just a little south of the Canadian border, recently named Vancouver, BC, as the Best Beer Town in Canada in a post on its Expedia.ca blog written by Carolyn Albee. Three other BC communities also made the list: Penticton (which placed 2nd), Abbotsford (which placed 6th), and … Continued
The West Kootenays are a stunning region of eastern British Columbia, cloaked in dense forests, hemmed in by majestic peaks, and ribboned by the dazzling water of the Columbia and Kootenay Rivers. Travelers on the BC Ale Trail get to enjoy all of that …along with a few pints of tasty locally-brewed ales and lagers, too. Coming in from the … Continued
Nelson is pretty much the perfect walking town, particularly when you have four breweries to visit along the way. The city, which is on the Kootenay Rockies West Ale Trail, is compact and the architecture is beautiful — the fact that the economy tanked here in the 1970s means it was saved from the architectural trends … Continued
With an increasing number of brewery visitors meandering their way throughout the Kootenay Rockies this past summer, a couple of things have become clear. First, there is an increasing number of stops to make, beers to drink and small-town charm to be found — so best secure a few more days off work for your trip. … Continued
