While Vancouver takes centre stage as a host city, communities across the province are joining the excitement with fan zones, watch parties, beer gardens, live entertainment, and plenty of opportunities to cheer alongside fellow fans.

So, whether you’re looking for a lively place to catch a match, gather with friends, or soak up the atmosphere, you’ll find plenty of ways to join the celebration this summer in our Match Day Pints Guide. We’ve created this list of the best fan zones, watch parties, and community events happening around British Columbia. Click on any participating brewery below for event details, or find all of these events in the BC Ale Trail app. Don’t have it yet? Download it today and take BC’s craft beer scene with you.

Cheers to a summer of great matches, great beer, and memorable moments!

Metro Vancouver & Fraser Valley

Vancouver

FIFA Fan Festival

The official FIFA Fan Festival at Hastings Park will be BC’s largest tournament celebration, featuring giant screens, live entertainment, food vendors, cultural programming, and interactive fan experiences throughout the tournament.

Granville Island

One of Vancouver’s most iconic destinations is getting into the soccer spirit with free public match screenings throughout the tournament. Between games, explore the Public Market, waterfront patios, and vibrant craft beverage scene.

R&B Brewing

Watch matches on a massive 140-inch screen while enjoying special Team Canada food and beer pairings.

Parallel 49 Brewing

One of Vancouver’s largest breweries has transformed its 250-seat patio and event space into an outdoor viewing area for all of the games this June and July, featuring a giant outdoor screen, DJs, food, and more.

Luppolo Brewing Company

Showing select matches in the tasting room. Table reservations are highly encouraged.

Steamworks Brewing Co.

Serving as Vancouver’s unofficial Swiss headquarters, welcoming fans of all nations throughout the tournament.

Steamworks Mount Pleasant Kitchen & Taphouse

Showing matches in the taphouse throughout the tournament

Strathcona Beer Co.

Offering watch parties, snacks, and match-day drink specials.

Container Brewing

Enjoy patio parties for every game, all tournament long.

East Vancouver Brewing Company

Enjoy a pint and good food while they show matches all tournament long. Table reservations encouraged.

Strange Fellows Brewing

Watch the world’s best teams compete all tournament long while enjoying Strange Fellows’ award-winning beers.

Main Street Brewing

Enjoy all the Team Canada matches along with select tournament games. Open early for select games.

Howe Sound Brewing

Showing every match in the brewery throughout the tournament and offering $12 double Caesars and $20 jugs of Howe Sound Lager during the games. Enjoy a $20 burger and beer special from Monday to Friday. Open 30 minutes before early games.

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North Vancouver

Uber Eats Canada Soccer House

The Shipyards will become home to Uber Eats Canada Soccer House, a waterfront gathering place featuring match screenings, special events, entertainment, food, and plenty of opportunities to celebrate Canada’s biggest soccer summer yet.

Strathcona North

Showing every match with early openings for select morning games, true 20oz pours, and daily happy hour specials.

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Surrey

Public Watch Parties and Community Events

Three free Soccer Fan Zones at Surrey Civic Plaza, Cloverdale Agriplex, and South Surrey Athletic Park will feature giant screens, food trucks, family-friendly activities, and licensed beer gardens.

Way Back Brew Co.

Showing matches all month long, making it easy to settle in with a locally crafted pint and soak up the match-day excitement.

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New Westminster

Public Watch Parties and Community Events

New Westminster is Fired Up for soccer with public watch parties, cultural programming, community events, and activities taking place throughout the tournament.

Howe Sound Taphouse & Kitchen

Showing every match in the brewery throughout the tournament and offering a special $8.50 breakfast menu and $12 double Caesars, as well as a $20 burger and beer special every day. Open 30 minutes before early games.

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Delta

Public Watch Parties and Community Events

Watch matches from Ladner’s Chisholm Street Wharf or the North Delta Recreation Centre while enjoying community programming and activities.

Four Winds Brewing Co.

Showing every match in the taproom.

Four Winds Beach House & Brewery

Catch every match on large projectors and TVs overlooking Boundary Bay.

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Coquitlam

Public Watch Parties

Public match viewings will rotate between several outdoor locations, creating neighbourhood gathering spaces for fans throughout the tournament.

Mariner Brewing

Showing every tournament match on the big screen with full sound, plus daily soccer-themed T-shirt giveaways and Team Canada jersey raffles on select match days.

Side Quest Brewing Co.

Showing all matches (that start between 12-7 pm) with the sound on. No cost to come, happy hour from 12-6 pm with $5 pints.

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Port Moody

Train Wreck Brewing

Join fellow fans for match screenings throughout the tournament.

Yellow Dog Brewing

Showing all matches throughout the tournament and hosting special giveaways during every Canada match. Grab a pint and join fellow supporters as Canada takes on the world’s best.

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Port Coquitlam

Taylight Brewing

Extended hours, international match celebrations, and tournament-themed food and beer specials throughout the tournament.

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Langley

Camp Beer Co.

A massive outdoor watch party experience featuring every match, special soccer mug club perks, custom cask beers, food features, and a final match celebration.

Dead Frog Brewery

Catch all the action throughout the tournament while enjoying a lineup of locally crafted beers.

Five Roads Brewing

Watch Vancouver-hosted matches while enjoying specials on their soccer-themed Mexican lager. Team Canada goals unlock $5 beers.

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Chilliwack

Sidekick Brewing

Showing every match in the taproom, with $15 60oz pitchers during Team Canada games.

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Pitt Meadows

Foamers’ Folly Brewing

Showing every single match LIVE. Grab a $5 pint and enjoy the festivities!

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Squamish

Howe Sound Brewing

Showing every match in the brewery throughout the tournament and offering a special breakfast menu and $12 double Caesars, as well as a $20 burger and beer special from Monday to Friday. Open 30 minutes before early games.

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Pemberton

Bridge Brewing

Catch every match on multiple screens, full sound, delicious handcrafted eats, and a pint of your favourite craft beer in hand.

Sunshine Coast

Gibsons & Sechelt

Public Watch Parties and Community Events

Both Gibsons and Sechelt have received provincial funding to support free celebrations. Keep an eye on local event listings for details on community viewing parties and special programming throughout the tournament

Persephone Brewing Company

Join fellow fans for watch parties and receive 10% off on match days when you mention “Match Days.”

The Spare Room at The Alley

Pair all the action with Persephone pints and a full pub menu featuring burgers, wings, and more.

Vancouver Island

Victoria

Public Watch Parties and Community Events 

Downtown Victoria is embracing the tournament with outdoor watch parties, street activations, and community events hosted in partnership with local businesses throughout the city.

Driftwood Brewing

Enjoy all the games on their new 75″ TV, starting at 12:00pm daily. Select matches shown with sound.

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Langford

Public Watch Parties and Community Events

Langford’s cultural district will come alive with public match screenings, local vendors, food trucks, live entertainment, and a licensed beverage garden. It’s an ideal stop for soccer fans travelling through southern Vancouver Island.

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Comox Valley

Public Watch Party

Celebrate Canada’s opening match with a community gathering featuring live music, cultural performances, and a shared viewing experience in one of Vancouver Island’s most scenic regions.

Interior BC

Kamloops

Public Watch Parties and Community Events

Riverside Park will serve as Kamloops’ soccer headquarters, with matches broadcast on a large outdoor screen at the Rotary Bandshell. Team Canada games and the tournament final will feature enhanced programming, including food trucks, family activities, live entertainment, and a beer garden.

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Kelowna

Kelowna Beer Institute

Transforming into “England House” for every England match, complete with a dedicated viewing room, prizes, food specials, and a pint included with admission.

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Penticton

Yellow Dog Brewing

Catch Canada’s matches with fellow fans while enjoying locally crafted beer and the vibrant atmosphere of Penticton’s brewery district.

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Salmon Arm

Public Watch Parties

Salmon Arm is planning a series of free community watch parties, giving visitors another reason to spend time in the Shuswap region during the tournament.

Ricochet Brewing & Taphouse

Join the After the Pitch celebrations with an expanded street-side patio, food specials, outdoor games, and 36 BC craft beverage taps.

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Cranbrook

Public Watch Parties and Community Events

The East Kootenays will join the celebration with public viewing opportunities and soccer-themed community events throughout the tournament.

Northern BC

Prince George

Public Watch Party

Prince George will host a community watch party for the soccer final, bringing fans together to celebrate the culmination of the world’s biggest sporting event.

Join the Celebration

One of the best things about the beautiful game is how it brings people together. This summer, communities across BC are creating spaces where fans can gather, cheer on their favourite teams, and be part of the excitement.

Whether you’re watching from a waterfront fan zone, a community watch party, or your local brewery patio, there’s no shortage of ways to experience the soccer spirit. And while the tournament may be a global event, it’s also a great opportunity to celebrate local. BC’s craft breweries are producing world-class beer in communities across the province, and many are opening their doors for match-day festivities.

So pull on your lucky jersey, gather your crew, and raise a locally crafted pint to a summer of great beer, unforgettable moments, and world-class soccer.

For further resources, visit Super, Natural BC.

The post Match Day Pints: Where to Celebrate the Beautiful Game in BC appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

What is it about craft beer and dog lovers? Maybe it’s just that good people have great taste both in what they consume and who they hang out with. I’m not sure exactly what brings the two together, but it definitely seems like a lot of craft beer people are also dog people. And a lot of breweries in BC have dog-friendly patios and spaces!

Consider this list: Yellow Dog Brewing, Unleashed Brewing, Bad Dog Brewing, 3 Dogs Brewing, Twa Dogs Brewery, Red Collar Brewing, and Dog Mountain Brewing. OK, sure, that last one is an actual mountain and not a giant pile of puppies, but I’m counting it since they have a dog-friendly rooftop patio. There are a bevy of dog-themed breweries to explore in BC.

Aside from the dog-themed breweries themselves, many others have taken steps to welcome our furry friends. Take the weekly Dogs of Camp Club Night at Camp Beer Co, for example, encouraging owners to bring their pets down for a visit. And then there’s Barkside, sorry, Parkside Brewery, who have made their love for dogs a public affair. At various breweries around the province, there are spent-grain dog treats; branded dog bandanas, collars, and leashes; and often community water dishes available to borrow.

And there’s just no way to talk about dogs at breweries without acknowledging Unleashed Brewing in Kelowna. Unleashed was BC’s first brewery to get permission to have dogs in the tasting room, and they’ve had to fight hard to keep that designation. It works for them, and their patrons. Perhaps one reason is the canine code of conduct that they have crafted.

Bringing your pooch along to happy hour can be a great outing on a rainy day, a way to socialize, and just an overall fun way to spend an afternoon with your favourite companion. But keeping in mind some basic etiquette rules and manners is crucial to making it an enjoyable time for everyone.

Exposing a dog, especially a big one, to unfamiliar territory carries with it certain inherent risks. There are people bustling about with trays of drinks and food — often food that is not dog friendly (an errant bone from a chicken wing could be disastrous) — and dogs can be a tripping hazard. Never mind a surprise visit from a small child who snuck away from their parents, an encounter with another reactive dog, and of course the broken glass caused by an overly enthusiastic tail wag.

Does that mean we shouldn’t bring our four-legged friends with us to the patio? I think it’s crucial to know your dog, know their limits, and decide from there.

Here are some tips for making your next brewery visit with Fido as enjoyable as possible.

Know your dog and come prepared.

Knowing what your dog needs to be comfortable on a public patio can vary widely from dog to dog. If you have a high energy dog, making sure they get a good walk in before your visit is a great idea. Bringing a toy or chew to keep them engaged and happy at your table works well for some, but maybe less so for those with guarding tendencies. A blanket or small bed might be a big plus for dogs without the benefit of a thick coat in these early spring days.

And don’t forget the essentials: a water bowl, waste bags, and leash.

Be prepared to leave if necessary.

Dogs are social animals and enjoy spending time with their people. It’s natural for us to feel the same way, and to want to spend time with our dogs. However, not all dogs are suited to public outings. If you know your dog can be reactive towards others, or if they bark non-stop when overstimulated, pull continually on the leash to go say “Hi” to others, they may be more comfortable at home.

Leaving the patio earlier than intended, or even leaving your pooch at home, isn’t admitting defeat. It’s more about knowing your dog’s limitations and not putting them in a stressful situation needlessly. Grab a four- or six-pack to go, and head home to unwind with your pooch in a more calm environment.

Keep your dog on a leash and at your table.

Breweries are busy places, and a dog, no matter how friendly, that’s blocking the way for servers and other patrons can be problematic.

Keeping your dog close by ensures that they stay safe (no one wants to accidentally step on a paw or tail!) and that they aren’t able to help themselves to unattended snacks at the next table over. And of course, there are some people who simply don’t like dogs or may have allergies. Having our dogs with us on patios is a privilege — keeping your dog with you and not allowing them to wander ensures that other patrons are comfortable, and therefore less likely to object.

Go for potty breaks and clean up any accidents.

If you’re planning to stay for a while, be sure to take your dog for a potty break. If you’ve had to use the facilities during your stay, your dog very well might as well. Keep an eye out for cues that they may need a break. And this might seem obvious, but if an accident does happen, clean it up. You should be prepared with bags for any, shall we say, solid deposits, but ask staff for the best way to deal with a liquid oopsies.

We’d be remiss not to include some reminders for humans as well. As much as we might want to pet all the dogs, it’s not always welcomed or appropriate.

Always ask before approaching.

This applies to kids, adults, and everyone in between. Just because the adorable little fluff ball at the table next to you looks to be eyeing you up for a snuggle, doesn’t mean that they welcome attention. Consider this scenario: as much as we all want to love on adorable, wiggly, puppies, they may be working on training at the time. Teaching a young dog to lie calmly at your side without jumping up every time someone approaches is a valuable and necessary behaviour. Approaching a dog and allowing them to do that very behaviour can set back training in a frustrating way for the owners.

There are many reasons why someone may trust their dog to come to the brewery, but not to be approached by strangers — always ask, and always respect the answer given by the dog’s handler.

Never, ever feed a dog anything without permission.

Maybe you’ve always snuck your furry friend the odd tidbit from your plate, especially on special occasions. Maybe that choice is OK for you and your dog. But feeding others might result in anything from an upset tummy to a full-on allergy attack or gastro episode requiring veterinary intervention. It might seem like a harmless little treat, but it can do damage. Check with the handler, and again: respect their answer.

Now that the formalities are out of the way, let’s talk about dog-inclusive offerings and events

There are packs of breweries around the province going above and beyond to welcome canine guests. Since humans visit breweries for a ‘treat’, why not offer something for their four-legged companions as well? Moody Ales, Smugglers Trail, and Steel & Oak all offer doggy flights. Steel and Oak have taken it one step further and are donating proceeds from their flights to New Westminster Animal Services.

Some breweries have year-round fundraisers on, like Farmhouse Brewing in Chilliwack. They have stickers available for purchase featuring their unofficial, but should be official, mascot Mr. Monty who is the owner’s pup, and a frequent presence around the brewery. Proceeds from sticker sales support the BC SPCA. Another way to help animals in need is to get them out of the shelter. What better way to do that than adoption events? Five Roads Brewing, Rustic Reel, Patina Brewing, North Point Brewing, Steamworks, Parallel 49, East Van Brewing, and so many more have all hosted adoption events. Parkside Brewery is especially committed to finding homes for pups in need. In partnership with Barks ‘n Brews, they host adoption events on the third Saturday of every month throughout the summer and into September. While you can’t take a dog home directly, it’s a chance for meet and greets, to raise funds for the featured rescue, and an opportunity for the dogs to socialize and hopefully meet their future fur-ever humans.

And some breweries, like Camp Beer Co, take it to the next level with their weekly Dogs of Camp Club Night. Featuring a dog-friendly drink special, food specials for the humans, and entry into a monthly prize draw, it’s the perfect excuse to take your dog out for an evening of socializing.

Many, if not most, breweries are family-friendly. And what are dogs, if not members of the family? It’s getting increasingly common to see dog-friendly patios filled with happy wagging tails and smiling humans.

And the more we can do to be responsible dog owners and keep this momentum going in a positive way, the better.

The post Patio Etiquette for Dogs at Breweries appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

Recently, I had the pleasure to sit down with Anastasia Lavrik, the winner of Richmond’s ‘Learn to Brew’ contest. Turns out this type of win can be life-changing.

Brian: Congratulations on your contest win!

Anastasia: Thank you!

B: Are you from Vancouver?

A: No, I was born and raised in Moscow, Russia. I moved to Vancouver eight years ago. I studied finance and came here to do my Masters at SFU. Currently, I work at BC Hydro. My interests include bikes, beers, hiking — pretty much anything outdoorsy. That’s why I am in Vancouver, obviously. I love it!

B: How did you get interested in craft beer and brewing?

A: I love brewing. My only experience so far has been at Fuggles & Warlock, which was the “Learn to Brew” contest with Richmond Tourism, BC Ale Trail, and Monkey 9 Brewing as well.

B: How did you get that opportunity?

A: I won a contest from BC Ale Trail. You had to check-in at the brewery on the app and then write a short answer of why you love beer. Basically, I wrote a pretty long answer saying it allows me to connect to people. I have found so many amazing friends through beer, just through liking beer and going to breweries.

B: What is the craft beer scene like in Russia?

A: It’s actually growing. I follow a couple of breweries there just to see what they are doing. It is definitely booming now. Of course, it’s very much behind North America — specifically Vancouver and Portland. I was never into beer drinking back in Russia — I was still under age. But I have now made up for all those years!

B: You came to Vancouver eight years ago?

A: Yes. I felt like I was on vacation for the first three months. I definitely discovered beer right away. I started with Russell Brewing Company and Steamworks Brewing Co. When I got my first job, I had this amazing co-worker who was really into beer, IPAs specifically. He introduced me to Superflux Beer Co. Back then, in 2015, they were still a very small operation. You had to hunt for those colourful cans. So I have to thank my previous co-worker, Glen, who was also the best manager of all time. From there I tried all styles.

B: What have you done in the last eight years, as far as craft beer? Before COVID did you go to a lot of beer events and festivals?

A: Not really. I have just gone to breweries. Anytime we travel in BC or down to the States, I always try to go to as many as possible. It’s really fun, and you really get to the place where local people go — because breweries usually are a pretty quintessential local experience, I think.

B: So what is it about craft beer that attracts you?

A: I love trying different ones — any crazy experiments, like Superflux or Backcountry Brewing’s, but I also like staple beers. I like finding a good pale ale, or really good Pilsner.

B: Winning the contest, what has the experience given you?

A: Well, I got an amazing day with Tony from Fuggles & Warlock. He was making beer and I was basically watching him and turning a few knobs, and helping. I got some first-hand knowledge on how he does it in a big brewery. Part of the prize for this contest was a homebrew kit. I have it sitting in my living room — our apartment is pretty small so it’s just going to be beer in the living room. I haven’t used it yet, just because I know you need a whole day. I will have to do something about the temperature of the place because it can be unstable.

B: What type of beer did you make with Tony?

A: We made a Rye IPA. I can’t wait to try it.

B: What did you learn while you were there?

A: I learned lots of interesting facts about the history of beer. One of the interesting things was when Tony heard I was from Russia, he mentioned Imperial Stouts that originated because beer was being shipped to Russia. In order for it not to freeze, they increased the alcohol percentage. It became this thick, viscous, very heavy ABV beer. That’s why a lot of imperial stouts are named after Russian Emperors.

B: Were you surprised that you were making a Rye IPA?

A: Not really, I didn’t know what to expect. I’m glad we made something new because it was the first time that Tony was also trying this recipe so it was very exciting. The big difference in the process is in the beginning, when you are adding malt, you are also adding rye at that step.

B: In the experience at the brewery, what surprised you?

A: What surprised me at the brewery was how much cleaning contributes. The beer process is pretty straightforward. You follow the recipe, make sure the temperatures are right, move the beer from one tank to another — but the cleaning is a big part. The tanks were cleaned the day before by Tony and his assistant, Chris, so it was a lot easier for me to help them. I don’t know how they do it; I would like to see it.

B: Do you think homebrewing is something you will take on as a hobby?

A: I think so. I would love to brew my own beer and experiment with it too. Of course, that is a long way to go for me. I’m going to start with a pale ale and see how it goes.

B: If you have friends come to visit you from Russia where would you take them?

A: Definitely East Van. I love all the East Van breweries: Powell Brewery, Strange Fellows Brewing and Superflux. Strange Fellows is my go-to brewery. I find their core lineup so solid. Like whichever style you want. You want a wit beer, they have the Jongleur, which is amazing. You want an IPA, there’s Guardian — it’s so nice.

A: I just wanted to add that during that day brewing with Tony, I really enjoyed working with my hands — actually making a physical product versus my regular job where I am just on the computer the whole day. Eventually, I think I would love to have my own brewery. It’s something I talk to my friends about, but of course, it is a long way to go. Maybe someday I could have my own brewery.

B: Maybe you will end up at KPU taking the brewers course.

A: Yeah, I wouldn’t be too surprised! In the last couple of years, winning this contest was the single greatest thing that happened during the pandemic and it really kept me going. I found that I won in December of 2020, but we couldn’t do the brew together for a long time because of all the regulations.

At the beginning of December, the beer that Anastasia had helped brew was released. We met up at Fuggles & Warlock for the inaugural tasting. I asked Anastasia for her review of how the beer had turned out.

A: The first thing you notice about the beer is its beautiful amber colour. It looks like a rye ale! The first sip is primarily hops, and you can tell there’s more than one variety in it. Pine notes of Centennial hops stood out to me the most. I haven’t had too many rye beers before, and it was very different from other northwest IPAs, a little spicy and maltier. I noticed how it changed as it warmed up. Hops were dialled back and the depth of rye flavour came forward. It was also really smooth and creamy on the finish, which may be thanks to the new yeast that hasn’t been used at Fuggles & Warlock before this brew. The 7.3% ABV definitely sneaks under your radar and is a pleasant surprise.

The contest was sponsored by Tourism Richmond, BC Ale Trail, and Monkey 9 Brewing.

Beer Details:

442 Squadron (7.3% ABV | 55 IBU) by Fuggles & Warlock and Monkey 9 is a Double Rye IPA. It is named in honour of the 1951 Royal Canadian Airforce Reserve Fighter Squadron that was based out of Sea Island (now YVR) flying de Havilland Vampire jets.

Available on tap at:

Anar Persian Cuisine
Colony Kits
Fuggles & Warlock Tasting Room
Hog Shack Cookhouse
Hub Restaurant (New West)
Monkey 9 Brewpub
O’Hares Pub
The Park Pub (Sands Hotel)

And at these liquor stores:

BC Liquor Store # 070 (Richmond Ironwood)
BC Liquor Store # 076 (Richmond Brighouse)
BC Liquor Store # 098 (Tsawwassen)
BC Liquor Store # 244 (Richmond Seafair)
Blundell Liquor Town
Clover Crossing LRS
Eldorado Liquor Store Kingsway
Eldorado Liquor Store Squamish
Everything Wine River District
Free Bird Beer, Wine & Spirit
The Landing Liquor Store
Lulu Island LRS
O’Hares LRS
Sardis Liquor Store
Steveston Hotel LRS
Sunshine Hills LRS
Viti Nordel

The post Meet Richmond’s Learn to Brew Winner appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

Back in November 2019, I was invited to give a guest lecture at KPU’s Brewing School. I live in Victoria so, after I took the ferry to Tsawwassen, I dropped in at the breweries in Delta. I started at Four Winds Brewing for a quick visit. While I was chatting with brewmaster Brent Mills, I asked him what he knew about Barnside Brewing, which I’d heard was going to open nearby. Brent smiled and pointed to a couple of guys sitting in the tasting room nearby. “Ask them,” he said. “They’re the owners.”

I chatted with the Barnside folks for a bit and then drove over to check out the site about 5 km away. The brewery, which wasn’t quite open yet, was housed in a purpose-built barn showcasing century-old beams and wood gathered from heritage barns throughout Delta. It looked great! Before I continued on my way to KPU, I assured them I’d pop over for a visit again when the brewery opened. 

But then came COVID. In fact, that trip late in 2019 was my last time off Vancouver Island for more than 18 months. Throughout much of 2020, I often fantasized about post-pandemic trips I might enjoy, and one of those fantasies was to cycle between those two breweries in Delta. So when the provincial government opened up regional travel restrictions and the forecast called for glorious weather, I proposed a Delta bike trip to a few of my cycling pals. They quickly agreed, as did a couple of friends from Vancouver who I hadn’t seen since before the pandemic — they said they’d ride down and meet us there.

Those of us riding from Victoria wanted to catch the 9:00 am ferry, which necessitated a 7:00 am departure. That’s early for me, although I know a lot of cyclists love the early morning because the day isn’t too hot yet and the roads are fairly quiet. But I set my alarm, drank a big mug of coffee, and was on my bike by 7! 

The 35-km ride to the Swartz Bay ferry terminal is flat. Most of it follows the Lochside Trail, a dedicated path for cyclists, pedestrians and even horses (in some stretches). Some of it does involve riding on roads, although most of them have painted bike lanes and are reasonably quiet in terms of vehicle traffic. Since much of it hugs the coastline, you get to enjoy some spectacular scenery, especially the long stretch heading into Sidney.

I was joined by three friends, all of whom are faster riders than I am, so I had to work hard to keep up with them. The weather was cooler than forecasted, and when it clouded over and threatened rain, I realized I’d forgotten to bring a jacket! Luckily, apart from a couple of drops, we stayed dry. 

We made it to Swartz Bay by 8:30am. According to Strava, I had beat my personal best for riding to the ferry! I guess the combination of riding with faster guys and the incentive of not wanting to miss the boat pushed me like a strong wind at my back.

We enjoyed a breakfast on the ferry and then prepared to disembark on the mainland side. And then, just as we docked at Tsawwassen, my phone beeped. It was a text with a photo of my friends from Vancouver halfway across the Alex Fraser Bridge on their way to Delta. The race was on!

Riding along the ferry causeway was not particularly pleasant because of the volume of cars and trucks roaring past us, but soon we were able to leave the highway behind. We turned left to head north right after the Tsawwassen Mills Outlet Mall. The route took us through some picturesque farms into the pretty town of Ladner. At River Road, we turned right and eventually joined a trail along the river. Although not fully divided for cyclists and pedestrians, it served us well. The best part was the cool underpass that took us under Highway 99 just south of Deas Island and the Massey Tunnel. 

It was right around then that my friends from Vancouver sent a photo of themselves enjoying a beer at Four Winds. They’d beaten us there!

Well, they had no ferry schedule to contend with, after all. In any case, that was incentive for us to stop lollygagging and start pedalling harder. We followed the Millennium Trail along the river on the east side of the highway, which took us almost all the way to Four Winds. The last stretch was back on River Road, now a fairly busy thoroughfare, but it had a painted bike lane, at least.

Arriving at Four Winds Brewing felt triumphant!

The brewery has long been a favourite of mine, both for the quality of their beers as well as the friends I have made among the family of owners. It was founded by brewmaster Brent Mills along with his brothers Adam and Sean and their dad, Greg, back in 2013. Since then, Four Winds has won numerous awards, including Brewery of the Year and Beer of the Year at the Canadian Brewing Awards. Sadly, Greg Mills passed away last year — following his death, Four Winds named a special beer in his honour: Greg IPA. 

We ordered beer, grabbed some of Four Winds’ famous tacos, and settled ourselves in the tented patio in the parking lot in front of the brewery, which is located in a light industrial complex in Tilbury. The weather was sunny and warm, the beer and food were delicious, and we had completed the first stage of an epic bike ride. Needless to say, we all had big grins on our faces. 

For my friends from Vancouver, the main challenge getting there was the Massey Tunnel, which connects Richmond and Delta on busy Highway 99. Although there is a shuttle that takes cyclists through the tunnel, it runs on an occasional schedule, so they decided to take another route that ran through New Westminster and over the Alex Fraser Bridge (32 km). 

After sampling a few of the beers at Four Winds and filling up on tacos, we got back on our bikes and headed towards Barnside Brewing. Unfortunately, Google Maps tooks us to a dead-end by the old landfill. The cross street it said was there turned out to be a farm lane that was blocked off and marked as Private. Oh well, the detour wasted about half an hour in total, but that was why we took the early ferry after all: to ensure we had more than enough time to visit each brewery.

We had to ride all the way back to Four Winds before finding the correct route, which took us through some very pretty farm country. It was a short ride, only about 5 km in total, but very pleasant apart from a headwind and the rather strong manure odour. Fortunately, that aroma disappeared by the time we reached the brewery.

At first, Barnside Brewing seemed so busy that we were worried we might not get a spot on their patio! There were lots of other bicycles already parked there along with a bunch of cars in the parking lot. As it turned out, we only had to wait about 15 minutes before a picnic table opened up.

Founded by four neighbouring farming families who grew hops and barley, along with other crops like cranberries, Barnside Brewing opened early in 2020.

Barnside brews exclusively with its own farm-grown hops, and also uses its own barley as its base malt. Custom malting on a small scale is very challenging, so it still has to buy most of its specialty malts from elsewhere. The brewery also uses cranberries and other produce grown on its farms. If they don’t grow an ingredient themselves, chances are they are collaborating with another local farmer to get what they need. 

Barnside Brewing also has a tasting room kitchen featuring hearty, healthy farm fare. Even though we’d already stuffed ourselves with tacos at Four Winds, we still managed to squeeze in some delicious baked pretzels. The beers we tried at Barnside were tasty, and the setting was very comfortable, but soon we had to get back on our bikes and begin the long journey home.

By now we were all referring to this bike ride as “The First Annual” so when we bade farewell to our Vancouver friends, it was with a promise to do it again next year!

I’ll admit the ride home to Victoria was less exciting. After all, there weren’t any more breweries to visit and we already had about 60 km under our pedals! We decided to take a different route back to the ferry towards the city of Tsawwassen. Unfortunately, we faced a stiff headwind that took away from the pleasures of riding on a quiet, flat country road through farmland. Eventually, though, we were back on the ferry causeway, this time heading towards the boat that would take us home.

Soon enough, we were docking at Swartz Bay again and getting back on our bikes for one more long ride home. I was a little grumpy at first. My saddle was rather sore by this time and my body was tired, but once we got moving, the warmth of the early evening sunshine energized me, and I honestly enjoyed the ride home.

We could have stopped at a brewery on the way home, of course. Both Howl Brewing and Category 12 Brewing are located on the Saanich Peninsula not too far off the Lochside Trail (and, exciting news, look for Beacon Brewing to open in downtown Sidney later this summer!). But it had been a long day already and none of us wanted to stay out after dark. 

Ultimately, I made it home about half an hour earlier than I’d expected. It was a very satisfying day — it felt great to check something off my post-pandemic bucket list, and I am already looking forward to doing it again next year.

ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY

Members of the BC Ale Trail are committed to ensuring their beers are promoted and enjoyed responsibly, by those adults who choose to consume them, for the continued prosperity of the craft beer industry in British Columbia. No one should drink alcohol, even in moderation, before operating a motor vehicle or engaging in other activities that involve attention and skill or physical risk.

The post Cycling from Victoria to the Breweries in Delta appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

“I met up with a craft beer industry friend in a Vancouver park for a chat. Xander Szymanski is the Head Brewer of Monkey 9 Brewing in Richmond. We talked about how Xander got into brewing craft beer, some previous places where he has worked, and a brewery project of his own he started.”

Monkey 9 Brewing, located on the traditional unceded territories of the Tsawwassen and Musqueum, opened in 2017. Born in the year of the Monkey, this brewery has a massive restaurant and bar area to enjoy their beers, and it is also connected to a bowling alley.

This facility has been around for a while, first known as Big River Brewing and then later as Be Right Back Brewing.

Three things Aaron learned about Monkey 9:

• Monkey 9 was founded in the year of Monkey
• Monkey 9 is one of the few breweries located in Richmond
• Xander won Bronze at the Canadian Brewing Awards for his Baltic Porter

Listen to the podcast here:

The post Cascadian Beer Podcast: Monkey 9 Brewing appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

I skid to a halt on my bike when I hit Richmond’s West Dyke Trail at noon. I’ve just spotted a northern harrier hovering over Sturgeon Banks, a long stretch of tidal marshland on the Strait of Georgia.

The huge raptor dives for its prey. Moments later, a cloud of snow geese takes off, calling excitedly, with the Vancouver Island mountains looming in the background. Richmond attracts some 1.4 million migratory birds annually on the Pacific Flyway, and this is a thrilling snapshot.

Before riding down to the historic fishing village of Steveston, I zoom in with my camera and identify a bald eagle scanning the landscape, hunting for its next meal, atop an old wooden radar reflector.

As a fan of the late, great Eddie Van Halen, my mind swoops off to his band’s 1981 classic “Mean Street”: “Turns you from hunted into hunter/Go and hunt somebody down.” Personally, though, I’m just questing toward my first beer of this autumn day on the BC Ale Trail.

“The Fraser River Delta is Western Canada’s biggest estuary and our most important bird habitat with the highest diversity of species,” says James Casey, an environmental policy and conservation specialist with Birds Canada, in a pre-tour interview. “Both the massive productivity of the estuary–-which means lots of food for birds–and the temperate climate of Metro Vancouver bring birds down from the Arctic Circle to winter here.” (He neglects to mention whether the birds prefer IPAs or sours.)

While I’ll cover more than 35 kilometres today, making this BC Ale Trail route suitable for intermediate cyclists, Richmond is fortunately as flat as Van Halen’s native Holland.

The Richmond Olympic Oval, the 2010 home of Olympic long-track speed skating, is the first major landmark I pass on the Middle Arm Dyke Trail, travelling west alongside the Fraser River. It’s 11 am and I’m thirsty for bird sightings.

Initially, the best I can do is watch a Harbour Air seaplane landing in the river next to the South Terminal of Vancouver International Airport (YVR). But things soon improve. I spot mallards and American wigeon floating next to the rushes along the banks. I mentally toast myself when I notice a male spotted towhee with distinctive reddish-brown feathers feeding in a crab apple tree.

Reaching the northwest corner of Lulu Island, on which most of Richmond sits, I detour into Terra Nova Rural Park. Golden-crowned sparrows and barn swallows flit past as I enter the community garden. Swiss chard and red beauty peppers grow just steps from a nesting box for owls. In the evergreen trees behind the garden, unseen birds tweet at a rate that would put a well-known politician who shall remain nameless to shame.

As I pedal south on the West Dyke Trail toward Steveston, I keep my eyes peeled for shorebirds and raptors. I also stop to check out interpretive signs about the World War II-era Fort Steveston and the various Sturgeon Banks fish species, which range from salmon and herring to starry flounder and shiner perch.

Quaint Steveston, founded in 1880 as a salmon canning port, has multiple restaurants that are home to such BC Ale Trail species as Parallel 49, Red Truck, and Driftwood. After rounding windy Garry Point Park, where a kite-buggying enthusiast swerves in joyful circles, I pull up at the harbourside Catch Kitchen and plant myself on the second-floor patio.

A pint of Four Winds Pilsner (4.8% ABV)–brewed in neighbouring Delta–pairs perfectly with my fish and chips lunch, featuring beer-battered cod, hand cut sea-salted fries, and coleslaw. I’m feeling warm and happy with my lungs full of fresh air as I gaze out over fishing boats and Coast Guard vessels. A seagull perched nearby is courteous enough to not steal my fries.

I pay a quick visit afterwards to the Gulf of Georgia Cannery, a National Historic Site, which canned a whopping 2.5 million pounds of salmon in 1897. The museum, suffused with the scent of creosote and wood pilings, currently hosts an exhibition on salmon can labels.

“Iconic Canadian images like Mounties were often featured,” a museum guide tells me. I’m amused to find a display of vintage cans depicting birds, such as kestrels, pelicans, and peacocks.

Heading east, I cut through the Britannia Shipyards, where salmon canning operations staffed by Japanese, Chinese, and First Nations workers gave way to ship repairs circa 1917. I walk my bike along the boardwalk and admire the Murakami Residence’s garden with a Japanese scarecrow.

Following the South Arm of the Fraser River, I work up a thirst as I cycle through off-leash dog areas and past Finn Slough, a small, self-regulating waterfront community with rustic houses on stilts, founded by Finnish settlers in the 1890’s.

In an offbeat way, Finn Slough reminds me of watching former Vancouver Canucks defenceman Jyrki Lumme’s daughter Bea playing hockey with the Pacific Steelers against the Chinese women’s national team at the Richmond Olympic Oval in 2016. This area is also a good place to spot snow geese, but they’re keeping a low profile at 3 pm.

I ride north on No. 5 Road and head into the industrial park that houses Fuggles Beer, one of Richmond’s most distinctive craft breweries. Comic book art and pixelated graphics adorn the walls.

Relaxing outside in the afternoon sunshine, I enjoy my flight of four beers, including a pilot brew Apricot IPA (6.4% ABV) and the heavy-duty DarXide Russian Imperial Stout (9.9% ABV). Ultimately, the new, super-refreshing Lemon Kolsch (4% ABV) wins my vote, and I leave with a six-pack.

My final destination is Monkey 9, a 2017-founded brewpub next to SilverCity Richmond Cinemas. (Word to the wise: when heading east on Steveston Highway, cross to the north side before traversing the bridge over Highway 99, since the road is tight, and you can walk your bike over the north-side sidewalk.) With eight beers on tap and four guest taps, there’s plenty of choice.

The primate-themed decor gets me thinking as I consume a Monkey 9 Grand Orchard Cherry Sour (8% ABV) and the Silverback Poutine. I was fortunate enough to see mountain gorillas in Uganda in 2019. Baboons are very common in Uganda. Locals there get as excited about seeing baboons as Canadians get about Canada geese. So, does that make Canada geese the baboons of Richmond? (As you can see, it’s been a long day.)

Spokes needs my bike back. Therefore, I fly like an eagle back along Steveston Highway, the Shell Road Trail, and Granville Avenue to reach the Richmond-Brighouse Station on No. 3 Road. Riding the Canada Line downtown circa 6 pm, I reflect on my exhilarating odyssey on Richmond’s dyke trails, the BC Bird Trail, and the BC Ale Trail.

The lyrics of the final song on Van Halen’s 1982 album Diver Down echo through my head: “Happy trails to you till we meet again.”

Looking for more outstanding ornithological options? Visit nearby bird-watching havens like Iona Beach Regional Park, next to YVR, or the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Delta. Or check out the International Bird Beer Label Association’s Facebook group.

Know before you go

When exploring the BC Ale Trail or BC Bird Trail, make sure to look up important information about the area you’re visiting and check on cancellation policies. Practice safe and respectful travelling as you explore the communities in our wild backyard that are open to visitors and make sure to be a considerate craft beer consumer while you’re out and about.

The post Birds, Bikes, and Beer on the BC Ale Trail appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

My last Hops Among Friends interview was with Paul Hadfield from Spinnakers, one of the first wave of BC craft brewers. Paul suggested I speak with Gary Lohin, the Brewmaster at Central City Brewers + Distillers, as Gary is part of the second wave of BC craft brewers.

Gary Lohin is a leader and an early builder of BC’s vibrant craft beer industry. It was a real honour for me to have a chance to chat with Gary and learn about his tenure in this growing and dynamic industry.

Central City’s brewery is part of the New West, Delta and Surrey Ale Trail, one of the vibrant trails on the BC Ale Trail. Central City also has a brewpub in Surrey, at the location of their original brewery, and they’ve got a second brewpub on Beatty Street in Downtown Vancouver.

KL: How did you get into the craft brewing industry?

GL: I got into the industry pretty early on with Whistler Brewing Company, back in 1989, so I’ve been in the industry almost 30 years. Whistler Brewing Company was about a year old at that time I joined them. I started with Whistler as a sales rep. It was a great foot in the door to get into brewing. I was also a home brewer for about 8 years.

I moved to Vernon for about three years and I worked for Okanagan Spring Brewery as a brewer back in 1992. Back then we launched a cloudy wheat beer. No one knew what that was. No one was doing any bottle conditioning at that time. This was groundbreaking and world class at the time. The Okanagan Spring Pale Ale was a big influence on the province. It opened the door for other BC breweries to get their products into bars.

Then I moved to open up Sailor Hagar’s Brew Pub, the first Brew Pub in Vancouver in 1994. I used my own recipes on a 10HL system. There were no IPAs at that time in Vancouver or BC. I made some of the first hoppy beers here in BC. I was influenced by the hoppy IPAs from Seattle and Portland. I worked there for nine years until 2003, before opening up Central City BrewPub. In 2005, the Red Racer brand came along. True story… it was based on an original unnamed oil painting. One of our owners came up with the name Red Racer. We decided to go with the Red Racer brand and put our other beers under that same branding.

KL: What do you love most about craft beer?

GL: I like the camaraderie within the industry itself. Everyone is a brother or a friend. It’s like we belong to a club. I can phone up a neighbouring brewery and borrow some malt or hops. Four Winds is a great example. We help each other a lot. I think the BC craft beer industry is the best; it’s second to none in Canada. The beer being brewed here is world class and we have the most knowledgeable craft beer consumers here in BC.

KL: What are some of your favourite craft beers right now?

GL: I bounce around a lot. I like lots of pilsners and lagers. I’ve always made these. I had a honey lager back in 1994. They are staples. For a long time I drank a lot of IPAs, but as the industry changes and evolves, I am really enjoying the Kolsches and the Sours. I like Brett. What’s my favourite beer? That’s the one in my hand. I really like Iain Hill’s beers from Strange Fellows. I enjoy the No Brainer corn beer from Conrad at Brassneck Brewery. They are also making some great beers at Driftwood, Moon Under Water and Cannery Brewing in the Interior. I also really enjoy my own IPA right out of the bright tank. It’s the best spot for fresh beer.

KL: Red Racer IPA has a long and celebrated history. What do you think of the different IPA styles that are emerging?

GL: I would never change our IPA recipe, but we would make other IPAs. Personally I don’t like the cloudy/hazy IPA style. For me, it’s not just about the IBUs. I like IPAs to be balanced. As brewers, we now have access to more hops. Back in the day when I was first designing our IPA, I didn’t have the same hops to work with. New IPAs are coming about because there are more hops that are available. I work with probably 20 different hops and 30 different malts now and brewers have access to more than 100 different styles of hops and malts. Ten years ago we had a lot less choice.

KL: What do you love about the place where you live?

GL: We live in North Vancouver. I was born and raised in Vancouver. I live on the edge of Mt. Seymour. There are lots of wilderness trials within 2 blocks of my house. Central City sponsors a trail. I’m a big mountain biker and a skier. I like to ski locally or head out to Whistler, which is just 1.5 hours away. I live just 15 minutes out of the core of the city, but it feels like I’m in the suburbs.

KL: What is one of your favourite beer tourism activities?

GL: I recommend the tram at Grouse Mountain. You can see the whole city. I love that you can ski at night and look at the twinkling lights of the city. And definitely have a craft beer while you are up there. We have great beaches here. We have amazing culinary restaurants in Vancouver. We have great ethnic foods. Being a port city, we have amazing seafood. We also have lots of fresh produce. There are so many choices for tourism activities here. I think the greatest strengths of Vancouver are our food, our mountains, the water, and outdoor activities.

KL: What do you love about the craft beer scene where you live?

GL: I’d recommend that people head downtown and check out the East Van Breweries, the Main Street Breweries. Visit 33 Acres, Off the Rail, Parallel 49 and Brassneck. There are so many breweries in such a short distance. There is such a diversity of styles of beer. You can go to four breweries, each making 2 IPAs. There is diversity in the product, reflecting the differing styles of the brewmasters. You can have a Belgian Sour or a German Lager and everything in between. You won’t want for anything.

KL: What are your predictions for craft beer in 2018?

GL: There is lots of competition on the shelves. There are so many breweries fighting for shelf space. I see the craft beer movement continuing to grow, but I think we’ll also see more struggling breweries. There is always room for good beer, but you better let people know that you make good beer. How do you tell your story? And how do you get your beer into their hands? Tasting rooms are fine, but if you want to grow and get bigger, you need to have packaged product. For entry into the system, you have to have good beer and consistent quality. Consistency is a huge thing. You have to be able to reproduce that beer and produce it month after month, year after year. My IPA has always been consistent. It must meet a number of parameters, or we won’t put it out. I think this will be a good year for craft beer. There are great malts this year, and the hops are good too.

KL: Are there any trends in craft beer you don’t like?

GL: Northeast IPAs because they are so inconsistent. I don’t like the ones that are full of yeast and not balanced. To me that is the anti-craft beer movement. The trend I don’t like is the inconsistency of these beers. It’s the inconsistencies that give craft beer a bad name.

KL: Tell me more about your collaboration beers.

GL: I like collaboration beers. Again it goes back to my point about camaraderie. We did our Winter packs again with Parallel 49. We are also doing our 150 Packs again. These Across the Nation Collaboration packs will launch in April/May. Everyone is stoked to work together. The other breweries provide the recipes and my job is to make sure the recipes fit within our brewery’s portfolio. These collaborations give us insight into these other breweries. We also did a collaboration beer for Chinese New Year, which included one shipment of beer to China. We partnered with Redpoint Brewing in Taiwan to make the Red Racer Lucky Dog Kumquat Wheat Ale, which is excellent. It was released in BC for Chinese New Year.

KL: Tell me about your new whisky.

GL: I’ve always been a whisky fan. When we built our brand new building as a purpose-built brewery, we had the opportunity to build knowing we would also make whisky. Whisky is the closest cousin to beer. We’ve had three different releases of whisky to-date. The first was a simple unpeated whisky. Then we made our Peated Malt Rye Whisky for Canada’s 150. Then at Christmas, we launched a whisky that was aged in barrels from Black Sage Pipe. This was a collaboration with a BC VQA Winery. We’ll continue to experiment with our whisky. We’ve got lots of barrels we are experimenting with. If I was consulting to a new craft brewery opening up. I’d say build the capacity for distilling. Craft distilling is taking off.

KL: Who else in the craft beer industry do you find interesting and why?

GL: Dave Varga from 33 Acres. I’ve known him for many years. Dave came from Whistler Brewing as well. He also worked at Yaletown Brewing and Taylor’s Crossing Brewing. He’s worked at a number of breweries and brewpubs. He’s always made great, consistent, clean and safe beers. He makes stylistically amazing beers. He recently won a world beer cup for a Belgian Tripel.

Stay tuned for the next installment of the Hops Among Friends blog series, where I chat with Dave Varga from 33 Acres Brewing. Until then, cheers!

The post Hops Among Friends: Gary Lohin of Central City Brewers + Distillers appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.