Whistler Craft Beer Month is a time to celebrate craft beer as part of Whistler’s DNA. During the month of October, Whistler relishes in craft beer-themed experiences perfect for ale enthusiasts and dabblers alike.
You know, there was a time when Fall in Whistler stood as a placeholder for Winter. Everyone left town in September, leaving a skeletal crew to make due until the masses returned, mid-November. Only these fortunate few got to appreciate the trees in repose as their limbs lost their clothes. But secrets seldom stay so for long and, as word spread of Whistler’s most magnificent autumnal transformations, the “slow” season eroded away while Fall’s fanatics came to play.
But it’s thirsty work, watching chlorophyll leave the leaves. Thirsty, ravenous work. And how, you ask, could this town possibly satisfy all these fall aficionados?
Enter Whistler Craft Beer Month.
Whistler takes Craft Beer Month up a notch
Not content with merely partaking in the province’s proclamation that October is, in fact, BC Craft Beer Month, Whistler turned their dials up to eleven. They married the myriad businesses in town to their liquid counterparts in fun and wonderful ways.
“Whistler has a long-standing history of celebrating food and drink through the fall,” says Karen Goodwin of Tourism Whistler. “Whistler Craft Beer Month will bring together over 30 community partners to offer more than 50 beer-themed experiences for craft beer lovers to enjoy this October.”
And what are some examples of these aforementioned mergers? Let me count the ways:
Offered all month long:
- Boulder & Beer at the Whistler Core Climbing Centre – Includes a bouldering drop-in session at Whistler Core, followed by a beer at Tapley’s Neighbourhood Pub.
- 14 Beer Paddle Tasting Flight at the Braidwood Tavern (you read that right: 14 samples per paddle, partner!) highlighting the best breweries across the Sea to Sky region. *Minimum of three people to share.
- Huck it in the Bucket: A month-long special featuring HumbleBee Meadery and Axewood Axe Throwing at the Whistler Racket Club. Any Axewood Axe Throwing booking of 4+ people comes with a bucket of mead from HumbleBee Meadery and a flatbread from Courtside Cafe.
- The Bomber Brewing Blowout at the Pangea Pod – Enjoy any pizza plus any Bomber brew on the menu (355 ml) for just $9.90.
- Beer Brunch at Stonesedge (and don’t forget their “Thanksgivin’er” dinner!) Every Friday morning during the month of October pop by the restaurant and enjoy a delicious beer-infused breakfast feature.
- Cluck Cluck Brew at the Longhorn Saloon – Chef Frank Sham has stuffed whole chickens with a can of Deep Cove Brewers Lemon Radler and slow roasted them to juicy perfection. This delicious feast will be available Sunday nights from 5:00 PM and will have very limited quantities. Reservations are recommended.
Mark your calendars for:
- October 6: Battle of the Beer Cocktail Dinner at the Raven Room – Four local bartending teams compete against each other to create the best cocktail using craft beer and spirits. You are the judge – taste these creative concoctions and vote for your favourite! Cocktails will be paired with a three-course family-style dinner by Chef Erin Stone. Tickets on sale soon!
- October 7 + 14 + 21 + 28: Sip n’Stretch at the Westin Resort & Spa Mountain Club – participate in a 1-hour yoga session followed by a beer. Entry by donation to a local charity.
- October 13: Beer Trivia at Tapley’s Neighbourhood Pub – test your beer knowledge for a night of beer-themed trivia, and your chance to win awesome prizes.
- October 15: Live music & beer with Pierre Eady at Whistler Brewing – Pierre plays the old classics, from outlaw to new country, with a healthy side of classic rock.
- October 22: Twin Sails and Parkside Brewing Tap Takeover at Brickworks Public House – these two Port Moody Breweries join forces for an epic tap takeover.
… and the list goes ever onward and more coming, so check back! I chose those examples for their alliterative flare and salivary response but check out Whistler Craft Beer Month for every delicious detail. Choose from several beer-themed events and experiences HERE.
Whistler Ale Trail breweries have something special for you!
And if you want to try an incredible Flanders Sour straight from three years in the barrel, you’ll need to go to High Mountain Brewing (lovingly known as the Brewhouse). And if you can’t wait to taste the Lumberjack Kveik collaboration beer betwixt Whistler Brewing and Forged Axe Throwing, you’ll need to go to Whistler Brewing Company. And if you’d like to slake your thirst with an impeccable barrel-aged Peach Sour Blonde you’ll need to go to Coast Mountain Brewing. And if (like me) you’d like to greedily sip all three but don’t want the hassle of having to drive, look no further than the Brew Bus: an easy, affordable option for private groups to check out Whistler’s brewery bounty.
Enter to WIN a Whistler Craft Beer Month Prize Package valued at over $1000!
Tourism Whistler and the BC Ale Trail are giving away some amazing prizes!
- Grand Prize: A $700 voucher for whistler.com, to book accommodations and activities in Whistler for your own Whistler Craft Beer experience! Plus receive a $100 gift certificate to a Whistler restaurant, and a BC Ale Trail deluxe swag pack valued at $200.
- Additional Prizes: $100 gift certificate to a BC Ale Trail brewery of your choice, a $100 gift certificate to a Whistler restaurant of your choice, and a BC Ale Trail swag pack. There are five of these prize packs to win, and we’ll be drawing one per week throughout October!
For full details and to enter follow this link.
Planning to join in the festivities and travelling from out of town?
Well, whistler.com has a great accommodation deal of lodging from $129 per night plus a $100 dining gift voucher, on 3 night stays!
I’ll close by once again quoting Karen Goodwin: “Health and safety remain top of mind in Whistler as we put together our Craft Beer Month programming. All venues and experiences are following COVID-19 safety protocols and provincial health orders.”
Eat and drink responsibly, my fellow fall aficionados, and I’ll see you in Whistler – Malcolm
