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 typically patented by growers, making certain varieties available from very limited or unique sources. So what’s a brewery to do?
A handful of breweries here at home in BC, and dozens across Canada, are showing their Canadian pride by brewing up beers using all-Canadian ingredients. These innovators are making a powerful statement about independence while showcasing the exceptional quality of homegrown resources.
Perhaps the most visible example of an all-Canadian beer designed to unite Canada’s craft breweries was spearheaded by Dominion City Brewing Co, in Ottawa, ON. The Glorious and Free initiative is a trans-Canada brewery collaboration that invites breweries from coast to coast to brew this tasty IPA using 100% Canadian ingredients, and commit to donating proceeds to a local, provincial or national not-for-profit or charitable organization. There are 38 participating breweries in all, with four in BC. The brewery explains:
It’s an invitation for everyone to support local breweries and growers. It’s about bringing all of us together, to take action for our local communities and strengthen Canada at a crucial moment in our history.
Beyond the Glorious and Free collaboration, other breweries are showing their Canadian pride with special releases and campaigns as well.
Using the best ingredients from across Canada, these brewers have crafted beers that showcase the quality of our country’s farms and natural resources. Their approach isn’t just about weathering uncertain trade relationships—it’s about celebrating the character and quality that only Canadian ingredients can provide. By strengthening local supply chains, they’re building resilience while pouring patriotism into every pint.
Read on for a round-up of BC’s breweries that are creating distinctly Canadian beers that stand as proud symbols of our brewing independence.
*Breweries are listed in alphabetical order
Camp Beer Co., Langley: Camp Canadian Pilsner
In a time of shifting global relations, the team at Camp wants to stay true to their values of community and quality. Brewing a beer that highlights the best of Canadian ingredients is the perfect way to do that. This crisp, clean, and refreshing Pilsner offers a perfect balance of Alberta-grown barley and Chilliwack hops. It’s a classic style with a Canadian twist.
“We’ve noticed a growing appreciation for locally brewed beers,” says Micah Funk, general manager. “Our customers are increasingly interested in where their beer ingredients are coming from, and they appreciate the connection to local ingredients and the outdoor culture that our brand represents.”
“We believe in celebrating our community, supporting local producers, and staying true to the spirit of adventure,” Micah continues. ” Times will change, and our friends will return, but we’ll always be here, brewing beers that reflect our values and the people who share them with us around the campfire.”
In addition to the Canadian Pilsner, the folks at Camp have also teamed up with The Barley Merchant to brew an all-Canadian Barley Wine as a celebration of local ingredients and the connections that matter most. It will be hitting shelves and their taps soon.
Copper Brewing, Kelowna: Local Lager
“Local Lager was born out of frustration, honestly,” explains general manager/owner Sean White. “The domestic beer shelf in most liquor stores is dominated by massive, foreign-owned brands that are packaged to look local but aren’t. We wanted to give people a true alternative — a beer that drinks like what they’re used to, but is brewed here, by real Canadians, in a real Canadian brewery.” Made with Canadian-grown barley, Canadian-sourced yeast, and, of course, Okanagan water, the brew is easy-drinking, clean, crisp and crushable.
The folks at Copper Brewing have noticed more customers asking, “Is this beer actually Canadian?” and reading labels closely. Trust might be wearing thin with bigger brands hiding behind niche labels, but that just means that beer drinkers are actively looking for local alternatives. This is one reason that Copper Brewing chose to launch Local Lager: “if we don’t speak up, the shelf space will keep shrinking for real Canadian brewers,” says Sean. Honesty is an important factor behind the brew, and being an authentically locally brewed beer is at the forefront. “We want to be the lager your dad used to drink, but without the foreign conglomerate behind it. No gimmicks. No fluff. Just a proper Canadian beer — brewed here, sold here, and owned here.”
What does being a BC brewery mean to Sean? “It means showing up every day and putting your name on something you’re proud of. It means being transparent about where your ingredients come from and who you’re supporting when you spend your dollar. As a BC brewery, we take pride in the community around us. We live here, we employ people here, and we want to see this industry grow with integrity.”
Dead Frog Brewery, Langley: Canada Proud Craft Lager
“Our goal with this beer is to celebrate Canada and the welcoming, diverse, kind, and strong people that make it so great,” says Derrick Smith, owner. “No matter who you are, if you treat people with kindness, this beer is for you. It is intended to be a bold and refreshing tribute to unity, resilience, and what it truly means to live in Canada. There’s a lot going on in our country right now, and we’re living in uncertain times. We want this beer to bring people together.”
Brewed with all-Canadian ingredients (hops from Topp’s Hops in Chilliwack, grain from Alberta, and a yeast strain propagated at the Langley brewery), this brew is more than just a refreshing craft lager. It also represents a commitment to community. Dead Frog Brewery will be donating a portion of proceeds from all can sales to the BC Hospitality Foundation, and working alongside the Township of Langley Firefighters Charities to support local causes.
The brewery is showing their Canadian pride loud and clear, also having hosted ‘Canada is Not For Sale’ parties in their tasting room, celebrating everything that makes Canada great. The parties were a hit – and even brought neighbours from across the border in to show their support.
“BC is our home, it always has been and always will be, and we’re proud to brew beer here,” Derrick responds when asked what being a BC brewery means to folks at Dead Frog. “The Canadian Craft Beer community is made up of amazing people making great beer who are compassionate and supportive of each other. The customers that support craft breweries in BC and Canada are incredible, and we’re lucky to be part of such an amazing community.”
Over Time Beer Works, Kimberley: Glorious and Free IPA
Grant Klippenstein, head brewer for Over Time Beer Works, was going through the brewery’s inventory and swapping out American ingredients for Canadian when he came across the Glorious and Free collab. He says it was a no-brainer to get on board. The brewery already uses mainly Canadian malts, and for this brew, went to their friends at Canada Malt Co. The hops came from Topps Hops in Abbotsford and Houblonniere Lupuline in Quebec.
The team at the brewery has noticed an uptick in can sales that they attribute to the local Buy Canadian movement at the local liquor store, and they’ve seen a busier tasting room, including visitors from south of the border. “They just want to drink a good beer and forget about things for a little while, and we welcome anyone to come and do the same,” says Grant. “Our taproom regulars come from all sides of the political spectrum. When Trump started the 51st state nonsense, everyone seemed to band together to denounce it. I’ve never seen so many people on the same page before. I don’t think there is much risk to our brand by standing up for our country by brewing with only Canadian ingredients. We won’t be buying American ingredients for the foreseeable future, so I feel like it’s more of a shift in the way we do things and less about making a statement.” Grant further explains that most of their beer, with one exception, is brewed with non-American ingredients, so this shift has been an easy one to make.
And that sense of community that Over Time has fostered in their tasting room is important for Grant as a BC brewer, as well. “There are so many great breweries, big and small, all over BC and across Canada that there is a sense of camaraderie amongst us. I don’t really see them as competition; I see them as brothers and sisters who are going through the same struggles to keep the doors open and lights on. It’s always fun to visit other breweries and see what’s brewing.”
Over Time’s iteration of Glorious and Free was brewed this past week, and will be available on tap in the brewery only likely in early June, and definitely for Canada Day. Be sure to stop in for a pint and a growler fill!
R&B Brewing, Vancouver: Glorious and Free IPA
“It really was an easy decision to participate [in the Glorious and Free initiative],” explains restaurant and events manager Kayleigh Burkitt.
Just as local beer lovers support small breweries like R&B, the folks at R&B feel it’s just as important to support local suppliers in turn, showcasing Canadian-made and -grown ingredients. They chose malt from Canada Malting Company, hops from Myrtle Meadows in Pemberton, BC and Houbloniere Lupuline in Quebec, and yeast from Escarpment Labs in Ontario to brew their version of Glorious and Free. “Political or not, we are very lucky to have access to so many great suppliers,” says Kayleigh.
“It really means so much to us to be a BC brewery,” says Kayleigh. “I don’t think our founders, Rick and Barry, would have ever imagined we would still be here, in the same location, when they opened in 1997. We really try to make sure we give back to the community as much as possible in order to thank everyone for their continued support.”
With that in mind, following the tragedy on April 26 at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival in Vancouver, the brewery has decided that proceeds from their batch of Glorious and Free will be going to support the victims. Between donations from a recent fundraiser and proceeds from the brew, they have collected $2578.00 that will go back into the community.
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Tinhouse Brewing, Port Coquitlam: Glorious and Free IPA
The folks at Tinhouse brewed their version of Glorious and Free using grains primarily from Gambrinus Malting Co out of Armstrong, BC; hops from Hops Connect Canada and Topp’s Hops; and yeast from Escarpment Labs out of Guelph, ON. Local Printing out of New Westminster provided the labels, and Local Canning provided the non-US sourced cans free of charge.
Phil Smith, co-owner and head brewer, explains that they loved the idea of 30-40 breweries across Canada uniting for a collab brew and contributing to their own chosen causes. Tinhouse is donating its proceeds to the Downie & Wenjack Fund, which aims to build cultural understanding and create a path toward reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
Many of the brewery’s US friends and customers understand and support the stance that they are taking, and the beer is much more a “Proudly Canadian” statement than anti-American sentiment. Phil adds that they have noticed more people staying home this spring, avoiding US travel, and exploring their own backyards instead, meaning an appreciable increase in tasting room traffic and plenty of new faces to welcome.
“We really, really love all of the support we are getting from the local community, and we are feeling the love associated with this ‘Buy Canadian/Buy Local’ movement in our province and country,” says Phil. When asked what being a BC brewery means to the team at Tinhouse, Phil explains simply: “It means everything.”
As of publication, this brew is still available at the brewery! Grab a pint in the tasting room or a 4-pack to go while supplies last (and trust us, they won’t last long!)
Torchlight Brewing, Nelson – Elbows Up! West Coast Pilsner
The Glorious and Free collabs were starting up right around the same time that Torchilight began working on their Canadian-focused project; however, “we wanted to take a more in-your-face, aggressive direction with the messaging,” explains Craig Swendson, co-owner and brewmaster. Two different labels were printed for the brew: the “Trump is a Dick” version references the “Putin is a Dick” collab brew that the brewery did back in 2022 in support of Ukraine. “We didn’t want to pull any punches,” says Craig.
The beer needed to have a broad appeal and also something that made it uniquely BC- and Canada-focused. The brewery used Canada Malting grain and hops from Topps Hops in Abbotsford. “We have a great hop-growing industry right here in BC, producing hops that are a pleasure to brew with,” says Craig. “They deserve to be featured.”
Politics can be a sticky situation for any business. So why take such a bold stance with this particular beer (and its in-your-face label)? “This situation is different. The tariff threats have been a plan to threaten and devastate our economy. The 51st State rhetoric is what he does want. It isn’t a joke or an idle idea. This is an existential threat, so I don’t see this as a political issue. I see standing up for ourselves as something that is core to being Canadian, core to who we are. So I don’t think that there is anything controversial with the bold statement we are making.”
On what being a BC brewery means to them, Craig explains: “Being Canadian and British Columbian is just who we are. It’s interesting to try to assess what that means when it just is… I think it should mean being thoughtful and considerate in your actions and with what you make. We are of this place: Nelson, BC, Canada. Each layer has significance. This is where we call home. It’s where the brewery is. Our brewing tanks were built in the Okanagan, our canning machine was built in Calgary. This is where our people are: our friends, customers and everyone we collaborate with on our mission. We are here to make delicious beer and spread camaraderie and joy to people through the good times as we bring each other together. Beer is supposed to bring people together. ”
Sadly, the brew has sold out, but watch for a second batch that might be coming soon!
Twin Sails Brewing, Port Moody – Glorious and Free IPA
“Our friends over at Dominion City Brewing Co. reached out when they were first launching the initiative. Given what is going on between Canadian and American politics, it seems like a no-brainer to participate and do our part to support Canadian Businesses,” says Clay Allmin, co-founder at Twin Sails Brewing. When asked what being a BC brewery means to Twin Sails, Clay says: “Being a brewery in BC is being part of one of the best industries in the world. Through the years, we’ve always felt support from our fellow breweries, whether it was needing knowledge, resources, or just a friend to talk to over a beer; there’s always someone in the industry willing to help.”
The Twin Sails batch of Glorious and Free uses grain from Canada Malting, exclusively choosing grain that was harvested in Canada. The hops came from Myrtle Meadows Hop Farm in Pemberton, with the primary dry hop being Sasquatch from Hops Connect, which Clay explains is the only proprietary, trademarked Canadian hop. The Cans came from Mile 37 Craft Canning, and the labels from Royal Labels in New West. Proceeds from the brew will be going to the Canucks Autism Network, which delivers programs for children, youth, and adults, while promoting inclusion and acceptance across BC and beyond.
Clay echoes the sentiments from the team at Tinhouse, noting that the Glorious and Free initiative is about Canadian pride and patriotism. It also shines a light on the need now, more than ever, to support local small businesses. “When buying from local craft breweries, you know your money is staying in the Canadian economy,” says Clay. “We were fortunate to be introduced to some amazing new hop suppliers through this initiative, and we look forward to working with and supporting them even more with future production.”
The brew has sold out at the brewery; however, keep an eye out: you might still be able to find 4-packs at select private liquor stores.
