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.

———

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.

Whether you’re a die-hard hop head or just love a good excuse to experience a new corner of the province, this year’s lineup has something for everyone. From intimate community celebrations to sprawling multi-brewery showcases, BC’s craft beer festivals bring together the best local breweries, cideries, and distilleries under one roof — paired with great food, inventive non-alc options, live music, and the kind of good vibes that only come from a crowd of fellow beer lovers.

Why not make a proper getaway out of it? BC’s festival circuit spans the entire province, giving you the perfect reason to explore a new town, support local businesses, and discover what makes each region’s beer scene one-of-a-kind.

Here are the spring and summer beer festivals worth marking on your calendar right now — because the best fests have a way of selling out fast.

Brewhalla Beer & Music Festival • Fort Langley

June 13

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Parksville Beer Festival • Parksville

July 4

Indulge in your love for craft beer, connect with like-minded individuals, and support local businesses, all within a festival atmosphere curated for enjoyment and discovery. At the Parksville Beer Festival, it’s not just about exceptional beers – it’s also a haven for foodies! Get ready to complement your craft beer experience with a fantastic selection from the specially curated food trucks.

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Phillips Backyard Music Festival • Victoria

July 10 – 12

Phillips’ multi-day music festival is back again, blending craft beer culture with live music in a fun, inclusive, community-centred atmosphere. This year’s lineup includes big names like Chance the Rapper and Father John Misty, among many others. Weekend passes are sold out, but single-day tickets are still available — get yours before they sell out!

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Battle of the Brews • Surrey

August 15

The Surrey Fire Fighters’ Charitable Society and 93.7 JR Country are hosting the 8th Annual Battle of the Brews.  This fun charity event will offer attendees a great afternoon of craft beer tasting and food trucks.  Attendees will get the chance to help choose their favourite beers, and all proceeds from the event will help fund Surrey Fire Fighters’ Charitable Society youth initiatives.

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Cowichan Craft Beer and Food Festival • Chemainus

August 15

The Cowichan Craft Beer & Food Festival is a community-rooted, non-profit event bringing together 30+ BC breweries pouring 100+ craft beverages alongside ciders, non-alcoholic options, and 15+ food trucks and local eats — all set to live music. With shuttle service available for a safe ride home, it’s a great reason to explore the Cowichan Valley and support local.

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Squamish Beer Festival • Squamish

August 29

Located at the Loggers Sports Ground, the Squamish festival brings together more than 55 breweries and cideries for craft beer lovers to celebrate great beer and mountain culture with food, games, axe throwing, DJs, an artisan marketplace, live music, and more.

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Barnside Harvest Festival • Ladner

September 11-13

More than just a beer festival, Barnside Harvest Festival is a celebration of local food, craft beverages, music, and community. Held at Paterson Park in Ladner, this three-day event features an impressive lineup of live music alongside a curated selection of BC craft breweries, cideries, wineries, and food vendors. It’s the perfect way to savour the final days of summer.

Shuswap Brewers Fest • Salmon Arm

September 13

Hosted at Northyards Cider Co., the Shuswap Brewers Fest brings together craft breweries, cideries, distilleries, food vendors, and live entertainment for a relaxed afternoon celebrating the region’s thriving beverage scene. As an added bonus, the event supports the Salmon Arm Rescue Society, making every sip a chance to give back to the local community.

Whistler Village Beer Festival • Whistler

September 16-20

Set against the stunning backdrop of Whistler’s mountains, the Whistler Village Beer Festival combines craft beer, cider, seltzers, live music, and mountain-town energy into one unforgettable weekend. The festival features a series of events throughout the village, culminating in the Main Event at Whistler Olympic Plaza, where dozens of beverage makers come together for an afternoon of sampling, food trucks, games, and good times.

The post Cheers! 2026 Summer Beer Festivals appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

‘Ale Trails’ is a doc-style mini-series looking at the intersection between mountain biking and local craft breweries, and how both work to support and enhance their community.

Join us, as we explore Sea to Sky Country, showcasing beautiful Squamish, and meeting the proud, passionate locals who call this tight-knit community home.

In this episode, we delve into the mirrored growth of the craft beer and mountain biking scenes in Squamish. From the historical significance of Howe Sound Brewing to the contemporary offerings at Backcountry and A-FRAME Breweries to the trails of Pamplemousse, Miki’s Magic and Gouranga – Squamish continues to push the limits of what is possible on a bike and in the brewery.

We start by visiting Howe Sound Brewery, one of the original “safe havens” for mountain bikers and climbers in Squamish. At over 25 years old, they focus on respecting the brewery’s legacy while still being innovative and staying ahead of the curve.

We then check out A-FRAME and Backcountry, who helped truly bring the craft beer movement to Squamish. Mountain bikers frequent Backcountry thanks to creative brews, great pizza, and spectacular pop culture references.

“We can always tell how the dirt is on the mountain by how it is on the floor here at the brewery.”At A-FRAME, it’s all about cabin vibes and good times. Their brewer is passionate about traditional methods which results in clean, true-to-style brews. Paired with a great patio and taco food truck, A-FRAME is a popular post-ride stop.

‘Ale Trails’ is a collaboration between Mountain Biking BC, Tourism Squamish and the BC Ale Trail, and produced by adventure filmmakers, Ben Haggar and Mike Gamble / Cold Salt Collective.

ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY

No one should drink alcohol, even in moderation, before operating a bike or motor vehicle, or engaging in other activities that involve attention and skill or physical risk.

The post Mountain Biking and Craft Beer: Squamish, BC appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

No, we’re not kidding. If you’ve been thirsting for an opportunity to finally gather with your fellow craft beer lovers again and celebrate everything this resilient industry has to offer, it’s your time to shine.

Here are the craft beer festivals on deck for spring and summer 2022.

April 1-9 

Victoria Beer Week • Victoria

This come-back is particularly exciting. Victoria Week is returning after two years of cancellation due to COVID. In fact, COVID first arrived in Canada in the middle of 2020’s Victoria Beer Week and the final two nights had to be cancelled. 2022’s event was originally scheduled to kick off in March, but was then postponed once again because of omicron. Finally, it’s a go for April 1-9. This nine-day festival showcases BC craft breweries in a variety of awesome venues across Greater Victoria.

April 1-2

Revelstoke Beer Festival • Revelstoke 

A beautiful resort, spring skiing, and craft beer in the mountains… What more do you need? Celebrate it all with this two-day craft beer festival at Revelstoke Mountain Resort.

May 14

Okanagan Fest of Ale • Penticton

Enjoy delicious food, local beers, great entertainment, and hopefully lots of sunshine in Okanagan Lake Park. This festival is celebrating 25 years strong!

 

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May 21, August 6, and September 30

Brewhalla Beer & Music Festivals • Various Locations

BrewHalla is an exciting series of three new beer and music festivals in Fort Langely, Port Moody, or North Vancouver.

• Fort Langley – Fort Langley Park, Saturday May 21 (12:30pm – 6pm)
• Port Moody –Pioneer Park, Friday August 5 (4pm – 9pm) & Saturday August 6 (12pm – 5pm)
• North Vancouver – The Shipyards, Friday September 30 (4pm – 9pm)

May 21

Fort Langley Beer + Music Festival • Fort Langley

Nestled in the heart of historic Fort Langley, this popular festival celebrates the local craft beer community. Come by then stay a while to enjoy local farm experiences, trails, restaurants, and more.

June 25

Squamish Beer Festival • Squamish

The sixth Squamish Beer Festival is back and ready to party! This half-day event features over 55 breweries and cideries to celebrate great beer, local food, and outdoor recreation culture.

July 9-10

Vancouver Craft Beer Week • Vancouver

Enjoy the energy of the PNE fairgrounds while you celebrate Vancouver craft beer culture at this always-popular event.

August 6

Farmhouse Fest • Vancouver

Beer geeks rejoice! Farmhouse Fest is returning to UBC Farm this summer. 

September 9-10

Great Canadian Beer Festival • Victoria

BC’s oldest and biggest beer festival returns to Royal Athletic Park to celebrate Canadian craft beer. This epic event features over 90 breweries (and 1,000,000 litres of beer) from coast to coast. You can be sipping a beverage from a brewery up the road one minute and, the next, be enjoying one from across the country. See ya there!

What craft beer festivals will you be attending this year?

Wherever you are, don’t forget to share your experiences and tag @BCAleTrail. Cheers to new experiences brewing nearby!

The post Rejoice! BC craft beer festivals are back for 2022 appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

The wait is finally over. It’s time to get back out there and explore British Columbia this summer. When you visit BC attractions that offer craft beer, it just makes your sightseeing adventures that much more refreshing.

You’ll find great craft beer whether you’re visiting BC’s lush parks and gardens or its lively museums and art galleries. From iconic hotels and lodges to exhilarating bike rides and wildlife experiences, the BC Ale Trail has got you covered with numerous brews to sample all over this Western Canadian province.

Let’s check out 15 British Columbia attractions that offer craft beer from BC. And remember – this is just a little taste!

Note: Some of these attractions do require skill and coordination, so perhaps save the beer for a post-excursion reward, and always drink in moderation.

Vancouver

1. Stanley Park

Burgeoning with huge western red cedar and Douglas fir trees, Stanley Park remains Vancouver’s most popular tourist attraction. The iconic 1,000-acre urban park bordering the West End is home to herons, beavers, raccoons, and coyotes.

Whether you’re strolling around Lost Lagoon, admiring the Lions Gate Bridge from Prospect Point, or biking around the 8.9-km Seawall, you’ll naturally work up a thirst. Head to the Stanley Park Pavilion or the Prospect Point Bar & Grill to throw back Central City’s Red Racer IPA or Red Truck Beer Company’s Blackberry Bourbon Ale.

2. Vancouver Art Gallery

The Vancouver Art Gallery attracts visitors with world-renowned Emily Carr paintings like Big Raven and Red Cedar and contemporary art exhibitions like Vancouver Special: Disorientations and Echo.

The in-house 1931 Gallery Bistro serves flavourful brews from Four Winds Brewing’s tart Nectarous Sour to Bomber Brewing’s heavy-hitting Russian Doll Stout. Afterwards, you can explore the recently refurbished Robson Square and šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square, the plaza north of the Vancouver Art Gallery that received a new Indigenous name in 2018.

Vancouver’s North Shore

3. Capilano Suspension Bridge

In North Vancouver, the 1889-launched Capilano Suspension Bridge offers Indiana Jones-style thrills, including the Treetops Adventure’s viewing platforms perched high in the rainforest and Cliffwalk’s vertiginous views overlooking the Capilano River.

Catch your breath at the Cliff House Restaurant, whose beer list ranges from Backcountry Brewing’s Widowmaker IPA to Off the Rails Brewing Co.’s Czechmate Pilsner.

4. Grouse Mountain

Just up the road from the Capilano Suspension Bridge, Grouse Mountain offers an awesome athletic challenge with the Grouse Grind, a steep 2.9-km climb that takes most hikers an hour and a half.

Even if you opt to ride the Skyride aerial tramway 1,610 metres to the summit, you’ll likely be in the mood for liquid refreshment after checking out the lumberjack show, the Eye of the Wind turbine, and the wildlife refuge with wolves and grizzly bears. You’ll definitely need some fluids if you go mountain biking or ziplining at Grouse Mountain.

On the Altitudes Bistro patio, enjoy a spectacular panorama of Metro Vancouver while sipping Wildeye Brewing’s Choppy Waters IPA or Deep Cove Brewers and Distillers’ POG Sour, which is fermented with passionfruit, orange, and guava.

Victoria

5. Butchart Gardens

In a typical year, Victoria’s world-famous Butchart Gardens gets more than a million visitors. There are a million things to see at this 1904-founded attraction just north of the provincial capital, ranging from the old limestone quarry that was transformed into the Sunken Garden to the wooden footbridges and traditional boar-scarer that grace the Japanese Garden.

At the Butchart Gardens dining room, you can get Hoyne Brewing core beers like Hoyne Pilsner and Hoyne Dark Matter.

6. Fairmont Empress Hotel

Overlooking the Inner Harbour, the recently revitalized Fairmont Empress Hotel is as much a symbol of Vancouver Island’s biggest city as the nearby Parliament Buildings. Built in 1904, the Empress has hosted famous guests like Barbra Streisand, Harrison Ford, and Queen Elizabeth II.

While this Francis Rattenbury-designed luxury hotel is best-known for serving afternoon tea, you can grab a seat at the Q at the Empress bar and choose from BC craft beers ranging from Category 12 Brewing’s Juicy Data Hazy IPA to Vancouver Island Brewing’s Q Blonde Lager. On the luxurious, perks-laden Fairmont Gold Floor, the honour bars include Phillips Brewing’s Blue Buck Ale and Central City’s non-alcoholic Red Racer Street Legal IPA.

7. Victoria Whale-Watching Tours

Vancouver Island Brewing sells limited-edition 2021 Pod Packs – featuring four collaborations with other Island breweries – in support of resident killer whales in the Salish Sea.

Pod Packs furnish a nice complement to your whale-watching tour with Prince of Whales or Eagle Wing Whale & Wildlife Tours, launching out of the Inner Harbour. You can find Pod Packs at Vancouver Island Brewing’s Government Street brewery or local liquor stores. (To be clear, you’ll want to drink them after your tour, not on the boat. The orcas thank you in advance.)

Tofino

8. Wickaninnish Inn

The luxurious Wickaninnish Inn is an ideal launching pad for a day of surfing or fat biking at Tofino’s 2.5-km-long Chesterman Beach. Facing the open Pacific Ocean on Vancouver Island’s west coast, this Relais & Chateaux property near Pacific Rim National Park offers infinite ways to relax, from the fabled Ancient Cedars Spa to the in-room hot tubs and gas fireplaces.

Beers available on draft at The Pointe Restaurant include Tofino Brewing’s Blonde Ale and Longwood Brewery’s Island Time Lager.

9. Ultimate Adventure Tour

For those seeking an adrenalized outing with wind, waves, and wildlife, the Tofino Resort + Marina’s Ultimate Adventure Tour brims with variety.

When you head out with your guide on a 21-foot Grady White fishing boat, you could spot grey whales surfacing near Vargas Island or black bears foraging on the shores of Vancouver Island for clams and mussels.

Drop crab traps in Lemmens Inlet and come back later to pick up Dungeness crab that you can enjoy freshly cooked at the resort’s waterfront 1909 Kitchen restaurant for dinner.

1909 Kitchen’s excellent selection of draft beer includes Yellow Dog’s High 5 IPA and Driftwood Brewery’s Blackstone Porter.

Whistler

10. Whistler Olympic Plaza

In 2010, Whistler served as the official host mountain resort of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, co-hosting with Vancouver. Fun fact: after Canada’s Jon Montgomery surprised the experts by winning the gold medal in men’s skeleton, he swigged a pitcher of beer that he was handed outside Black’s Pub in the Whistler Village during his celebratory march.

Today, while Whistler remains best-known as North America’s top ski resort, a two-hour drive north of Vancouver, it also abounds with summer activities like axe throwing, bear viewing, hiking, rock climbing, and riding the Peak 2 Peak Gondola.

When you’re ready to kick back with a gold medal-worthy brew or two, the BrewHouse at the Whistler Olympic Plaza awaits with such flagship beers as Grizzly Brown Ale and 5 Rings IPA. Also, head to Function Junction to sip a pint of Black Tusk Ale at Whistler Brewing or Hope You’re Grapefruit IPA at nearby Coast Mountain Brewing.

Squamish

11. Sea to Sky Gondola

Situated roughly halfway between Vancouver and Whistler, the Sea to Sky Gondola offers unparalleled views overlooking Howe Sound.

Take the 10-minute gondola ride up to the Summit Lodge, 885 metres above sea level, and enjoy an easy, family-friendly hike along the 1.3-km Panorama Trail or get your heart rate up on the epic, 8.4-km Al’s Habrich Trail through the backcountry. The 100-metre-long Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge is another can’t-miss experience at this Squamish attraction.

Whether you wind up feasting on pizza, poutine, or pork ribs on the Sky Pilot Restaurant’s spacious, sunny patio, you can wash it all down with a pint of Sky Pilot Northwest Pale Ale from Howe Sound Brewing, which has been brewing beer in Squamish for 25 years. Reservations are recommended.

And once you’ve taken the gondola back down, be sure to check out A-Frame Brewing and Backcountry Brewing, which are both located in Squamish.

Penticton

12. Kettle Valley Rail Trail

As one of BC’s best-loved rail trails, the Kettle Valley Rail Trail runs close to 650 km from Hope to Castlegar. For recreational cyclists, the scenic, easygoing ride from Penticton to Naramata – a 21-km, four-hour round trip – is an unquestioned highlight. Biking through the rolling hills next to the soul-soothing expanse of Okanagan Lake, many visitors enjoy checking out the award-winning Naramata Bench wineries. Look for Abandoned Rail Brewing to open along this stretch later this summer.

Indeed, beyond the vineyards and orchards, Penticton is also home to a captivating craft beer scene. You can easily kick off or wrap up your Kettle Valley Rail Trail odyssey with some outstanding brews.

Just a five-minute ride from where the trail starts on Vancouver Avenue, hit up Cannery Brewing’s taproom for a pint of Sunblink Berry Sour or Naramata Nut Brown Ale.  Also check out Highway 97 Brewery‘s new location right next door.

Golden

13. Kicking Horse Grizzly Bear Refuge

Orphaned at just five months old, Boo the grizzly bear got a new lease on life at the 20-acre Kicking Horse Grizzly Bear Refuge.

Located at Golden’s Kicking Horse Mountain Resort on the BC-Alberta border, the refuge offers multiple interpretive tours to view this magnificent bear, including the Ranger Assist Program. Twice daily (9 am and 3 pm), rangers – accompanied by up to five guests – visit Boo in his habitat and make sure he gets his daily vitamin supplements.

To enhance your beer nutrition, check out the Peaks Grill, just a 10-minute chairlift ride down from Boo’s refuge. It serves such thirst-quenchers as Moody Ales’ Lavender Sour and Fernie Brewing’s First Ascent Gose.

14. Golden Skybridge

Debuting in June 2021, the Golden Skybridge is currently Canada’s highest suspension bridge, swaying 130 metres above a valley in the Columbia Canyon. Teeter across a second, 80-metre-high suspension bridge, and gaze at the Columbia and Purcell mountain ranges and a towering waterfall. Ziplines and a giant swing are in the works for this exciting new Kootenay Rockies attraction.

Craft beer lovers can quaff the likes of Whitetooth Brewing’s Thread the Needle Witbier or Nelson Brewing’s Hooligan Organic Pilsner at the on-site Village Grill.

Bella Coola

15. Tweedsmuir Park Lodge

When a lodge is located within eyeshot of a site known as Stupendous Mountain, you’re setting the bar high. Fortunately, Tweedsmuir Park Lodge – marking its 90th anniversary in 2021 – has all the fresh air, natural splendour, and upscale amenities required to deliver a stupendous British Columbia experience for adventurous souls.

Just over an hour’s flight from Vancouver on the Central Coast, the Bella Coola-area lodge offers luxury chalet stays, e-biking, and fly-fishing excursions along the Atnarko River. Ancient First Nations petroglyph-viewing opportunities, a new 1.1-km Via Ferrata climbing route overlooking the Great Bear Rainforest, and the chance to see grizzly bears and black bears foraging in their natural habitat are other key highlights.

With dinner, guests can drink BC craft beers like Steamworks Brewing Co.’s Flagship IPA and Whistler Brewing’s Hazy Trail Pale Ale.

For more information about British Columbia attractions, see Destination BC.

Travel in BC

Travel is part of our DNA and we’re all excited to see it return and welcome our neighbours from Alberta and the rest of Canada. Summer 2021 is a great time to #exploreBCnow and connect with family and friends and explore everything British Columbia has to offer – great cities, incredible nature, and parts less travelled ready to welcome people. Step 3 has a lot of changes, such as masks being optional for those who have had both vaccination shots, and showing proof of vaccination is not required. It’s important to remember we are all learning as we go, and we need to have kindness and patience at the heart of everything we do. We’re asking everyone to be patient as we work to get our services to the same high levels they were before the pandemic. We’re improving quality all the time as we address staffing shortages, train new staff, and adapt to new guidelines. The B.C. government information on travel and business rules are online at www.gov.bc.ca/covidtravel.

The post 15 BC Attractions That Offer Craft Beer appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

Walking into A-FRAME Brewing feels like coming home, though I may be a bit biased. I grew up in Squamish and spent summers between university semesters returning to my hometown in the mountains. 

When I went back after graduation in the spring of 2017, I discovered something had changed in town and I was not mad about it. 

Squamish had sprouted two lovely new craft breweries: A-FRAME Brewing and Backcountry Brewing. Together with Howe Sound Brewing, Squamish’s craft beer pioneer since 1996, the town had firmly established itself as a mini craft beer hub. The Squamish Ale Trail was born.

Even if you’re visiting for the first time, though, there’s something homey about A-FRAME’s tasting room. When you walk in, you’re welcomed by a warm wood interior and a smiling (mask-wearing) face behind the open-concept bar. Off to the side, doors open to their patio, which is hung with string lights, surrounded by mountains, and flanked by the resident food truck, Luz Tacos.

On a recent visit home, I sat down with A-FRAME Brewing owner Jeff Oldenborger to chat about how the brewery came to be, his favourite things to do in Squamish, and what the craft beery community means to him.

Framing the Vision

Jeff and his wife/co-owner Caylin Glazier didn’t plan to get into beer. While the couple was living in Port Moody, Jeff worked in the private sector, managing guest engagement and client accounts. But they kept an eye on the industry and quickly fell in love with it. 

They watched the breweries in Port Moody grow and took note of the communal vibe that built around them. Eventually, they decided to get involved themselves. 

“I don’t want to say [A-FRAME] just fell into our lap,” Jeff said. “It was a lot of work. But it was a meandering conversation where we just kept gradually making progress. Then, at one point, Caylin looked at me over dinner and was like, ‘So, we’re really doing this?’ And I was like, ‘…I guess so.’ That was the jumping-off point to commit.” 

They had their sights set on Squamish, in pursuit of a “more holistic,” small-town lifestyle where their three daughters could grow up closer to nature.

Jeff started meeting with fellow brewery owners to talk shop, hear their horror stories, and soak up words of wisdom. He was blown away with everyone’s welcoming nature.

He recruited Andrew Sawyer as Brewmaster. With a decade of home brewing and years of large capacity brewing at Stanley Park Brewing under his belt, he was the “perfect mix of talent and passion for the craft.”  

In December 2015, Jeff, Caylin, and their daughters moved to Squamish. The same day they left, Twin Sails opened in Port Moody and Jeff stopped in to get a good luck growler on the way out.

A year later, A-FRAME officially opened in Squamish. 

The Cabin Mentality

A-FRAME prides themselves in channelling “Cabin Vibes.” The brewery was inspired by the time Jeff and Caylin spent at their family’s A-frame cabin on Lake Okanagan. 

“It’s that feeling when you would go to your own, or your friend’s, cabin, crack a beer, and everything just melts away,” Jeff said. “We want to get the same thing across here. Right when people walk through the door, ultimately our goal is that they have that same release.”

It makes sense that each of their beers is named after a BC lake, from the core trio (Okanagan Lake Cream Ale, Sproat Lake Pale Ale, and Shuswap Lake IPA), to seasonal brews like the Cheakamus Lake Czech Pilsner, Emerald Lake Lime Sour, or Skull Lake Imperial Stout.

Welcoming the Community 

If there’s anything to love more about the BC Craft Beer scene than the beer itself, it’s the community. Ask anyone in the industry and they’ll gush about the collaboration that goes on.

Other brewery workers in Squamish (and beyond) played a big role in helping Jeff shape his vision for A-FRAME.  His goal was to create a place that seamlessly fit into the Squamish and Whistler communities — something that would be a gathering place for locals as well as a great place for visitors to stop at.

“It’s cool that beer is the medium, but, even more, it’s the connection and community involvement,” said Jeff. “It’s the whole piece of what a craft brewery is, particularly the hyper-local aspect. It’s all about blending that good beer — the beer our locals want to drink — and giving Andrew the freedom to express himself through those beers, while at the same time giving people this cool space to come hang out.”

The Squamish Lifestyle

Squamish is world-renowned for its outdoor recreation scene. Whether you’re into extreme sports like mountain biking, rock climbing, and kite surfing, or just enjoy a good walk along the river, there’s a ton to explore.

The small-town feeling and outdoor sport potential was a big draw for Jeff and his family. When he’s not working the bar or collaborating with Andrew on a new release, he’s usually on the bike trails with his friends or daughters, skiing in Whistler, hanging out at the beaches, hiking one of the area’s many world-class trails, or just enjoying a good backyard hang around the fire.

“Full disclosure, Cailyn does a lot more hiking than I do,” he laughed. 

Besides enjoying the outdoors, Jeff and his family also love to do the rounds and visit their favourite small businesses. Since A-FRAME opened, the number of other small businesses and sole proprietorships in Squamish has exploded. In addition to the new breweries, there are also now three cideries, a distillery, and countless new eateries and coffee shops. There’s also a booming tech scene, something most long-time locals never thought they’d see in Squamish.

There are bound to be some growing pains when any small town adjusts to changes like that but, luckily, the vast majority of Squamish’s new small businesses are focussed on doing things responsibly and nurturing the community. 

“It’s a balance of spending more money in the town and managing the impact on the environment,” Jeff said. “It’s happening, so now it’s a question of how we do it responsibly.”

The New Normal

As with most small businesses across the province, adjusting to COVID-19’s new normal has been a struggle for A-FRAME. Changing regulations and new rules can lead to stressful days for staff, but the tight-knit team keeps each other motivated, Jeff said.

The team has prioritized sanitization and social distancing by limiting capacity and asking guests to wear masks when they aren’t at their table. They also had to pull their beer out of restaurants at the beginning of the province’s shut-down in March and only started to see the possibility of getting back into some a few weeks ago.

That said, their canning program is a beacon of light that came out of the pandemic. When the shut-down started, the team decided to empty the tanks, can what was left, and get the beer on shelves. The first cans hit the market on May 14th with a huge success.

Now, they’re working hard to continue canning. They’re also offering growler fills again, which they didn’t start back up until the team felt 100% comfortable doing so. 

As for looking ahead, Jeff says they’re remaining optimistic but realistic. They want to maintain their wonderful community, eventually do some small expansions, and get to a place where they can give back even more. They currently have a merch program where a portion of the sales from certain hats goes towards local charities, so they would like to expand that.

“We just want to figure out how to manage these waters and build something that, 12 years from now, is still kicking. Just a nice level for our own satisfaction and the community’s,” Jeff said. “It’s been a great go in Squamish so far.” 

The Squamish Ale Trail

Nestled between Vancouver and Whistler, the Squamish Ale Trail includes A-FRAME Brewing, Howe Sounds Brewing, and Backcountry Brewing. 

Before visiting, we recommend that you check directly with the businesses you are hoping to visit to get the latest on-the-ground information. Some businesses are seasonal, and some may have experienced closures due to COVID-19.

The post Heading Home to A-FRAME Brewing appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

For weeks I’d been planning a family camping trip to Pemberton. This was the plan: my own family and I would drive up there to meet up with our friends from the Interior, then spend five days and four nights hiking mountains, climbing rocks, swimming in cold rivers, and, of course, visiting a couple of the up-and-coming mountain town’s local breweries on behalf of the BC Ale Trail. It was a fantastic plan.

But then our friends, for some very understandable reasons which are irrelevant to this piece, pulled out. And then my wife, for some similarly understandable reasons, did too. My family camping trip had imploded in the way that fantastic plans sometimes do, and through no fault of its own. Still, I had a job to do, and I’m not one to shirk my duty to society. So that’s why, on a promising August morning, I found myself alone, driving northward on the Sea to Sky highway with the music loud, coffee in the cup holder, and my bike on the back of the car. It would have been nice if the original plan had happened as intended, but I wasn’t upset because things were looking up.

Biking towards beer

After arriving in the late morning and pitching my tent in a campsite high above the Green River at Nairn Falls Provincial Park, I climbed onto my bike and set off toward my first destination. I’d sketched out a rough itinerary for myself that saw me biking from the campsite to Pemberton Brewing Company, the Pemberton Distillery, and finally, to The Beer Farmers, before heading back to the campsite at the end of the day. I knew it would be a manageable forty-five kilometres, over almost entirely flat ground, no less.

Somehow, though, I entirely neglected to research the finer details of my route beyond connecting the three points on Google Maps, and, so, I never found this detailed map produced by the Pemberton Valley Trails Association, which would have made my travels significantly easier in parts. So, rather than rolling out of the provincial park onto the wide, smooth grade of the Sea to Sky Trail, I turned onto what I thought was the only trail into town, which turns out to have been rated “more difficult,” and I’d like to think that I didn’t disgrace myself too badly as I wrestled my bike over massive roots, rocks, and steep climbs. Either way, nobody was around to see whether or not I walked any of it.

Eventually I found my way, and I rolled into Pemberton itself past the bustling public beach at One Mile Lake. And this is where the true greatness of my day came into crystalline focus: I was alone, on a bike, headed for a brewery that required no hill-climbing to reach, and all around me stood the kind of jaw-dropping mountain backdrop that we British Columbians take for granted all too often. Cruising past a line of cars stopped for construction on Highway 99, I wore a giant, bug-inhaling grin on my face, which grew wider when a helpful flagger directed me onto a trail running parallel to the highway that I’d failed to notice. Gravel crunching under my tires, I sped eastward in peace.

Pemberton Brewing Company

I arrived at Pemberton Brewing Company exhilarated from my ride and glowing with the kind of self-satisfaction I experience when I arrive at far-flung places on a bike. Some of that feeling vanished when the brewery’s friendly social media representative and bartender, Kate Sangster, asked if I’d arrived on “Cream Puff,” which, as my trail app revealed, is one of Pemberton’s best-known downhill mountain bike trails, descending three hundred and fifty metres over two kilometres. I had to admit that I’d come the flat way, but all wasn’t lost — one of the brewery’s most popular beers, a remarkably juicy hazy pale ale, is also named Cream Puff, so I still got a little piece of the action (despite being terrified of downhill mountain biking).

Assistant brewer Mark Franzen was kind enough to tour me through the spacious production area, which includes not just one of the most impressive cold rooms I’ve seen in a small brewery, but two of them. I’ve been a brewer myself and I get excited about details like these. Seriously, if you’ve ever tried to maneuver a full pallet of cans around a brewery floor, you know just how nice a few extra square feet of cold space can be. Also, there’s nothing that refreshes like walking into a massive refrigerator on a hot August afternoon. Meanwhile, the kettle wafted sweet, malty steam throughout the building.

Tastings at the Pemberton Distillery

Walking outside, I saw that the Whistler Wood Fired Pizza Company’s bright red truck had pulled up to the edge of the patio and smoke was beginning to curl from its chimney. My stomach rumbled in response, but I had more stops to make and my ride wasn’t close to halfway done. So I climbed on to my bike and rode for — three, maybe four minutes? — to the Pemberton Distillery and climbed off again. A Pemberton institution, the distillery’s best known products include Schramm Gin and Vodka, spirits produced with potatoes grown only a short distance away at the farm that’s home to The Beer Farmers, my third destination. But I was already familiar with those spirits and I was craving something oaky, so I asked assistant distiller Jake Schramm to pour me a sample of Pemberton Valley Organic Single Malt Whisky. The aroma of the peat-smoked malt lingered with me as I strolled through the distillery, admiring the rows of oak barrels filled with the same golden nectar that was in my glass. A wash boiled away inside the copper pot still, and strong, clear spirit trickled out through the sample port.

With a bottle of Nocino — black walnut liqueur — tucked away in my bag, I said goodbye and got back on my bike to begin the ride to my final stop. Once again, my lack of research led me slightly astray. If I’d had any sense, I would have left on the Friendship Trail, which would have brought me directly from the distillery all the way back to central Pemberton without having to to ride on the (admittedly generous) shoulder of Highway 99. But the highway ride went quickly, even after the friendly flagger from earlier in the day convinced me to take a beautiful, but winding detour along Pemberton Creek. Soon I was rolling through downtown Pemberton and then out the other side, following the Lillooet River upstream.

Getting to The Beer Farmers

Pemberton Meadows Road is a dream come true for the exertion-averse and beer-focused cyclist. The reward offered is out of all proportion to the effort exerted, which is to say: it’s dead flat and absolutely stunning. For 12 kilometres I pedaled between farm fields, here and there crossing canals and tributaries of the Lillooet River, resisted by nothing more serious than a gentle headwind. I could have kept riding up that road all day — (it’s easy to say things like this after the fact) — but a sign painted on a farm outbuilding announced that I’d reached The Beer Farmers, my destination, so I rolled down a gravel driveway and took the last available space in the crowded bike rack.

On a sunny August afternoon, The Beer Farmers resembles a community picnic on a farm more than it does a brewery and tasting room. A handful of tables dot the front lawn, but small groups of people were just as comfortable sprawling on the grass enjoying a meal from the food truck. The Beer Farmers comes by its rural charm honestly — the Miller family has owned and farmed the land it’s on since 1911, and brewing is just the most recent activity it’s taken on. In some ways, it’s an afterthought — as if to illustrate this point, farmer and brewery hand Will Miller led me briskly through the compact production area into a much larger adjacent storage room, stacked floor to ceiling with crates of organic potatoes from the surrounding fields. And yet, brewing is also very much an extension of farming for the Millers, who have planted 30 acres of their land in malting barley. Farmer Bruce Miller, that’s Will’s dad for those keeping up, poured me a glass of last year’s Wild Saison, brewed from barley farmed on the Miller lands and fermented with locally wild-cultured yeast. And, to complete this picture of bucolic charm, it was brewed by head brewer Brenda Miller, who is Will’s mom.

By now it was late in the afternoon. I’d felt absolutely no time pressure all day, but now my stomach was rumbling louder than ever. As I sped back toward Pemberton, I kept my eyes fixed on Mount Currie’s jagged form, as if it were guiding me towards my evening meal. Where every kilometre of road felt welcoming and spacious on the way up the valley, now it just felt endless. I, of course, had not bothered to bring anything by way of a snack on my ride. Next time I will, and I’ll read the map too! But relief wasn’t that far off. Not more than an hour after I left The Beer Farmers I was on the patio at the Mile One Eating House, staring at the cheese curds topping both my Hillbilly Deluxe burger and the poutine I’d ordered in a hunger panic.

Mount Currie stood above it all, radiant in the early evening sun. It had guided me well on this adventure.

Know before you go

As you plan a late summer or fall holiday on the BC Ale Trail, make sure to look up important information about the area you’re visiting and check on cancellation policies (and maps!) before heading on your adventure. 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 Biking and Beers in Pemberton, BC appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.