What Even Is a Salmon Arm?

Salmon don’t have arms, they have fins. At least, I think they do? Hold on a minute while I go check Google….

….okay, upon further investigation, I have determined that salmon do not have arms and the name Salmon Arm has nothing to do with the anatomy of a fish. My bad.

The truth of the name comes from one of BC’s most precious natural resources. Salmon Arm is one of four ‘arms’ that feed into the stunning Shuswap Lake in British Columbia. This particular arm has historically been a prime location for salmon runs during September and October. So, while the name isn’t about a mutated fish like the one Bart Simpson caught, it is about fish abundance. Makes sense now, right?

Now that we’ve learned a little bit of toponymy, let’s dive in to another Salmon Arm fact. Did you know it’s home to North America’s longest, curved wooden wharf? It’s true! I saw it with my own eyes while on assignment with the BC Ale Trail and the Salmon Arm Economic Development Society (SAEDS).

Beyond its impressive wharf and endless beautiful scenery, Salmon Arm also boasts a vibrant beer scene. Despite being a smaller city with a population under 20,000, it’s a must-visit destination for craft beer lovers. The three breweries I’m about to highlight each offer something unique and distinct to the region.

Ricochet Brewing

Located in the heart of downtown, Ricochet Brewing’s Taphouse fills a much-needed void in Salmon Arm, with a diverse selection of craft beer and cider from across BC. With 36 taps, including 10 of their own brews on tap when I visited, the Ricochet tasting room has something for all BC craft beer and cider lovers. They also offer delicious food sourced from local kitchens and restaurants. The meat pie I ate was perfect on a chilly winter day.

Ricochet is also a family-friendly spot that offers an array of games, kid’s food and drink options and, my kids’ favourite, the snack flight. It features two flight glasses of soda or juice, a glass of candy and a glass of cheezies. And let’s be honest here, it wasn’t just my kids’ favourite; it was mine too! So don’t be shy about ordering one for yourself, it isn’t just for the kiddos.

While their tasting room is relatively new (it opened in July 2024), owners Marc and Meaghan have already been brewing and supplying the Shuswap region with Ricochet beer for two and a half years. Their five-year plan of opening a tasting room came to fruition a bit earlier than anticipated, but the decision has clearly paid off. Their commitment to the community and focus on creating a welcoming space has been a huge hit with both locals and out-of-towners. They even won Salmon Arm Business of the Year for 2024. Add on the fact that Marc and Meaghan are two of the nicest, hardest-working people you’ll ever meet and it makes Ricochet a must-visit when you’re in Salmon Arm.

The Barley Station Brew Pub

A Salmon Arm staple since 2006, The Barley Station offers a classic neighbourhood pub atmosphere for pub-goers 19+. But unlike most standard pubs, their brewing prowess has earned them multiple accolades. The pub boasts a cabinet full of trophies from the Canadian and BC Beer Awards over the years, as well as the Best Ale Award at the 2008 Okanagan Fest-of-Ale for their Sam McGuire’s Pale Ale. On my visit I sampled a flight of some of their core beers and the standout for me was the Bushwacker Brown Ale.

Beyond their award-winning brews, The Barley Station boasts a cozy pub food menu with some interesting twists. While you can find traditional favourites, they also offer more adventurous options like the Haskap Bison Burger and Miki’s Berbere Sandwich. There’s something to satisfy every palate.

The Barley Station is also committed to giving back to the community. They donate $0.10 to the Salmon Arm Trail Alliance for every sleeve of Shuswap Trail Ale IPA sold. Additionally, their current Burger It Forward initiative, in partnership with Canada Beef, donates the equivalent of one meal to Food Banks Canada for every feature burger purchased. Beer, burgers and charitable initiatives? Count me in!

Crannóg Ales*

(see editor’s note below)

First of all, let’s get the pronunciation of Crannóg out of the way so you don’t embarrass yourself like I did saying it incorrectly in front of Rebecca and Brian, the owners of Crannóg Ales. It’s pronounced “cran” “uhg”, not “cran” “awg”.

Now that we’ve cleared that up, I highly recommend checking out Brian K. Smith’s excellent article on the BC Ale Trail website about the history of Crannóg, Canada’s (and possibly North America’s) first certified organic on-farm microbrewery.

What I’m here to tell you about is what to expect on a visit to Crannóg Ales…

Crannóg isn’t actually in Salmon Arm; it’s about a 30-minute drive west in Sorrento, at Left Fields Farms, located on the unceded Secwepemc Territory. Also owned by Rebecca and Brian, Left Fields is a certified organic farm with a deep commitment to sustainability. From wastewater treatment and reuse to repurposing spent grains to feeding leftover beer to their pigs (lucky pigs), Left Fields and Crannóg strive to minimize their environmental footprint and not outgrow their farm.

This commitment also extends to their brewing process and to-go options. Crannóg grows its own organic hops and even sells hop rhizomes, playing a key role in the BC-grown hop revolution they sparked back in 2001. In regards to take-home offerings, they exclusively offer growler fills, available at the brewery, designated drop-off spots, and weekly farmers’ markets. This choice reflects their dedication to reducing waste from single-use packaging and not outgrowing the capacity of their farm.

Visiting the Crannóg tasting room requires a bit of planning. No, you cannot just show up any day of the week and drink a pint at your leisure. The only way to enjoy a beer on premises is by booking a tour, which typically run on Fridays and Saturdays by appointment, with a maximum of 6 people. While this may sound like quite the effort just to get a fresh glass of Backhand of God stout, all I can say is, trust me, it’s worth it.

Touring the farm adorned with Brian’s Celtic artwork, seeing all the amazing things they do outside of brewing great beer (making vinegar, yarn production, papermaking and more) and hearing Rebecca and Brian’s passionate advocacy for sustainability, organic farming, and human rights issues is truly inspiring. Also chatting with them about the Vancouver punk-rock scene and Brian’s band Immoral Minority, was another personal highlight for me. They’ve actually had Vancouver punk legends DOA play at their farm a few times.

It really is difficult to capture the entire Crannóg Ales experience in just a few paragraphs. There’s so much to talk about. Truly, the best way to understand it is to experience it for yourself.

Sláinte!

*Editor’s note: In 2025, Crannóg was purchased by BNA Brewing. The physical brewery and tasting room in Sorrento closed as of August 2025, but beer production will continue at BNA Brewing using ingredients from Left Fields Farms. Be sure to watch for your favourite Crannóg brews on tap at BNA’s locations around the Interior. 

The post Sips in the Shuswap: Discovering Salmon Arm’s Brewery Scene appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

I’ll try not to bore you with too many details and, if you’re impatient, you can just skip to the end and find out about the best Oktoberfest celebrations in BC. But I must warn you, if you do that, you may be robbing yourself of some important Oktoberfest knowledge that could come in handy over the next couple of weeks. You wouldn’t want to get caught with your lederhosen down when your friends at the Wiesn yell “Oans, zwoa, drei, g’suffa!”*

While we in North America often think of Oktoberfest as a two-week-long bender in the streets of Germany filled with people in silly costumes, the reality is a bit more nuanced. 

It all started way back in 1810 when Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen had a Bavarian royal wedding. It was the first royal wedding held in Munich in almost a century, making it a particularly special occasion. But it was also a chance for the newly formed Kingdom of Bavaria (est. 1806) to demonstrate its National pride.

As with any good wedding, when the ceremony is over you need to celebrate with… a horse race? Okay, remember, this is 1810. They did things a little differently. They also celebrated with music, a free opera, a play, and, of course, beer. This folk festival was held in the meadow outside the city gates in an area that was renamed Theresienwiese (Theresa’s Fields) to honour the princess. That name still stands today but has been abbreviated by locals to Wiesn, which is what they also use to refer to modern-day Oktoberfest.

I told you you’d learn some great facts!

Of course, when a great party is thrown there needs to be a sequel, so, in subsequent years the horse races and folk festival continued, commemorating the Royal wedding, but they also added other activities like tree climbing, bowling and carnival booths through the early 1800’s. 

While beer has always been a central part of Oktoberfest, the iconic beer tents didn’t appear until the late 19th century. The oldest and longest-running beer tent, Schottenhamel Festhalle, opened its festival doors in 1867 with a modest 50-seat venue but in 1886, they expanded by adding a canvas tent on the Theresienwiese.

Schottenhamel also holds a special significance beyond its longevity. Since 1950, it has been the official starting point for Oktoberfest. Each year, at noon on opening day, a 12-gun salute echoes through the air as the Mayor of Munich taps the first keg and proclaims “Ozapft is” (“it is tapped“) to the cheering crowd. The mayor then presents the first maßkrug (1-litre stein) of beer to the Minister-President of the State of Bavaria and Oktoberfest is officially underway.

But why is Oktoberfest partially in September and why do the dates change every year? 

For a country known for its precision and accuracy, they’re pretty laissez-faire when it comes to setting dates for the world’s biggest beer celebration. Well, it’s actually pretty simple, Oktoberfest always ends on the first Sunday in October and begins on the preceding Saturday, two weeks prior. The only exception occurs when Tag der Deutschen Einheit (German Unity Day), which is on October 3, falls on the Monday following Oktoberfest’s conclusion. In this case, they extend the festival one day to coincide with the National holiday.

This still doesn’t answer why Oktoberfest is primarily celebrated in September though! 

That’s an easy answer as well….weather. Bavaria is cold in October. The original festival ran from October 12 to 17, but as it grew and the dates were extended, organizers decided to move it to the current dating system to allow for longer, warmer nights that are experienced in September.

But What About The Beer?

Traditionally, and for about a century, the official beer of the festivities had been a Märzen, an amber-coloured malt-rich pale lager with an aroma and flavour resembling toasted bread or biscuits. However, this designation has become a little more ambiguous in recent years. Some people argue that it’s now a festbier, a lighter and less toasty version of a Märzen. Others maintain that the Märzen remains the standard, while still others contend that there is no official style at all. Regardless of the specific style, one thing remains constant: all Oktoberfest beers must adhere to Reinheitsgebot, the German Beer Purity Law. 

Reinheitsgebot, say it with me…”rine-hites-kuh-bowt”, mandates that brewers use only water, malted barley, hops, and yeast in their beer. Sorry, marshmallow fruited sours, you’re a no-go in Deutschland. In fact, if you’re a brewery in Germany and you don’t follow Reinheitsgebot you legally cannot call your product “bier”.

To add another layer of complexity, the beer served at Oktoberfest in Munich must not only adhere to Reinheitsgebot but also be brewed within the city limits. Only six breweries currently meet these stringent requirements: Augustiner, Hacker-Pschor, Hofbräuhaus, Löwenbräu, Paulaner, and Spaten.

Although I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Munich and sampling brews at some of the famous beer halls, I’ve unfortunately yet to experience the full spectacle of an authentic Oktoberfest. It’s definitely on my beer-ket list though, as I’m sure it is for most ale aficionados. Fortunately for us beer nerds in BC, we have a plethora of great Oktoberfest events to partake in. With that beautiful segue, here’s a list of all the remaining Oktoberfest celebrations over the next couple of weeks. See you there! PROST!

*”one, two, three, drink!”

Oktoberfest Events Around BC

Oktoberfest Features at Black Kettle Brewing (North Vancouver) • September 12 – October 6

Featuring authentic Munich beer: an Oktoberfest Marzen from Hacker Pschorr, as well as house-brewed German beers and a German-inspired food menu.

Oktoberfest Feature Menu at BREWHALL (Vancouver) • September 12 – October 2

The Feature menu includes returning favourites, a new Bratwurst board, and limited release beer.

Oktoberfest at Parallel 49 Brewing Company (Vancouver) • September 20 – October 5

Featuring: A tented biergarten; live music Thursdays – Saturdays; German-style food, beer and music; prizes for best dressed.

Oktoberfest Feature Menu at Howe Sound Brewing (Squamish, New Westminster and East Vancouver) • September 21 – October 6

Feature menu includes:  fresh baked pretzels with mustard and bratwurst, and two beer specials.

Oktoberfest Feature Menu at Main St Brewing (Vancouver) • September 21 – October 6

Feature menu by Rosie’s BBQ and Smokehouse includes their take on Bavarian classics like pretzels and beer cheese sauce, bratwurst, schnitzel and currywurst with a special ham hock dinner available only on the weekends. On the beer side, look for special Oktoberfest brew releases.

Oktoberfest at Two Peaks Brewing (Kitimat) • September 25 – 28

Featuring: A full Oktoberfest-inspired menu – Oktoberfest attire highly encouraged!

Oktoberfest at Trading Post Brewing (Langley) September 27 and October 4

Featuring: German beer fest flights, German food, a live oom-pah-pah band, costume contest and more. Food and reserved seating are limited – walk-ins are welcome, but to ensure a table for your group book tickets at the link above to reserve a table and German Platter(s).

Oktoberfest at BNA Brewing (Kelowna) • September 27 & 28

Featuring: Traditional Bavarian music, a special Oktoberfest menu from BNA Burger, an exclusive Festbier and more

Oktoberfest at Beva Brewing & Blending (North Vancouver) • September 28

Featuring: Oktoberfest-themed food specials, pretzels, a new Festbier and two more beer releases. The brewhouse will be open for extra seating.

Oktoberfest at Five Roads Brewing (Langley) • September 28

Featuring: A German-inspired food menu, music, beers and good times. Call to make a reservation: 604-539-6754

Oktoberfest at Kelowna Beer Institute (Kelowna) • September 28

Featuring: A German-inspired menu, beer, steins, and, yes, giant pretzels. Oh, and Felix will be back for another year.

Oktoberfest at Lakesider Brewing (Kelowna) • September 28 and 29

Featuring: New beer release, German food, games and prizes, live music on Saturday. Wear your lederhosen and bring your stein!

Oktobeer Feast at Mayne Island Brewing • September 28 and 29

Feature menu for the weekend includes artisan Bavarian eats from Das Nest Restaurant, paired with six German-inspired beers.

Oktoberfest at Old Yale Brewing Abbotsford • September 28

Featuring: Live music, best dress competition, stien holding competition, an exclusive Festbier and Oktoberfest-inspired food features

Oktoberfest at Railside Brewing (Kelowna) • September 28

Featuring: Special release Fest Das Bier, BBQ Bratwurst and music

Steel & Oaktoberfest at Steel & Oak Brewing (New Westminster) • September 28

Featuring: 8 German beers, both flagship favourites and limited releases, with great deals on German beer flights and glasses; German-insipired food from Between 2 Buns; a pretzel bar; extra banquet hall seating; Bavarian decorations; a costume contest, and beer stein holding competition.

Oktoberfest at The Beer Farmers (Pemberton) • September 28

Featuring: New beer release: Country Gold Märzen; bratwurst, sauerkraut, gingerbread soft serve, and a live 3-piece Oktoberfest band from 4-6 PM

Oktoberfest at Sidekick Brewing (Chilliwack) • September 29

Featuring: limited edition steins available for purchase, live music, games, challenges and prizes, a special beer release and feature Oktoberfest menu. Costumes highly encouraged!

Note: this is a ticketed event – get yours at the link above. 

‘r’Oktobeerfest at Shore Line Brewing (Kelowna) • October 4 – 6

Featuring: A non-traditional Oktoberfest with live music all weekend, new beer release, Bavarian food specials, and more.

Oktoberfest at Salt Spring Brewery (Salt Spring Island) • October 5

Featuring: A special menu from South End Sausage, a specially brewed cask, music, and more. Dressing up is encouraged, but not mandatory.

Oktoberfest at Sooke Brewing Company (Sooke) • October 5

Featuring: Randy’s Rod Dogs will be on site serving up Bratwurst alongside tasty brews and and pretzels.

Oktoberfest at Another Beer Co (New Westminster) • October 6

Details to come!

Oktoberfest at Abandoned Rail Brewing Co (Penticton) • October 12

Featuring: Live music, food trucks, traditional beer hall tables and a dance floor – all under an Oktoberfest festzelt (tent) in the barley fields. Tickets include your beer, shuttles to and from the Lakeside Resort, and an exclusive stein.
NOTE: this is a ticketed event, with two seatings available. Tickets available at the link above.

The post From Tradition to Celebration: The History of Oktoberfest and Local Events to Toast the Season appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

But, for those who knew the hidden gem that is Maple Ridge, it was worth it for a weekend trip to check out Bruce’s Country Market on the other side of the Albion ferry or the Haney Farmer’s Market downtown, to go for a hike in Golden Ears Park or a paddle on Pitt Lake, to grab some cheesecake and a samosa at GM Restaurant, or to watch the mighty Beast Horse Clock rear itself on the strike of the hour.

Thankfully, all these amazing Maple Ridge institutions still exist (sadly the Beast Horse rears no more) and since the construction of the Golden Ears Bridge and Pitt River Bridge in 2009 there’s been a new wave of innovative businesses bringing the culinary scene to a whole other level:

• Humble Roots, tucked away in the farmland of Maple Ridge, designing seasonal menus to optimize harvest times and utilizing ethically sourced, high quality suppliers. Just thinking about the Farmer’s Skillet breakfast has my mouth watering.
• Gratia Bakery bakes delectable desserts and pastries while serving up cups of fresh roasted mornin’ joe. Try the lavender latte. It may surprise even the most incredulous flavoured-coffee skeptics.
• Big Feast, which focuses on a menu consisting of locally grown, organic ingredients and also has a number gluten free-options.

• Kingfishers, situated right on the mighty Fraser River, has arguably one of the best views you’re going to find at a restaurant. You can sit and reminisce about riding the Albion ferry.
• Hopcott Farms, where you can buy local, naturally raised meat and produce, and sit on their patio enjoying a delicious meal from their on-site bistro. A couple slices of their house-made fudge somehow always end up in my shopping basket.
• The Black Sheep Pub, a great spot to catch a game on the tube or sip away some of your joint-and-muscle pain from feeling like a kid again at the Wild Play adventure course just down the street.
• The Reach, with new local owners who have revitalized the menu and atmosphere of this long-time Maple Ridge establishment.
• Lupita Mexican Foods, where you can chow down on authentic Mexican style street tacos and then grab some tortillas and salsa from their grocery offering to bring home.
• Golden Ears Cheescrafters creating farm-made artisan cheese utilizing Jersey cows from the neighbouring family farm. They also have a country kitchen with a charming eating area, cooking classes and, my favourite, their annual beer fest which brings in some of the best in BC craft beer.

Actually, while we’re on the topic of BC craft beer, we mustn’t forget about the burgeoning brewery scene that Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows has to offer. This is especially important to mention considering the big news. What big news you ask? Well, Maple Ridge now has its own official Ale Trail courtesy of the BC Ale Trail.

What is a BC Ale Trail? The Ale Trail puts a focus on the local craft beer scene, but also helps locals and visitors experience some of the best outdoor adventures, culinary treats and urban activities that the city has to offer.

Unofficially, this trail has been going for a few years but now the secret is out. Maple Meadows, Ridge Brewing and Foamers Folly have all been open since 2015 with the newcomer, Silver Valley Brewing, opening its doors in 2017. Each brewery brings its own unique vibe and beer offering to the local craft beer scene.

MAPLE MEADOWS BREWING

Maple Meadows is a tiny 10-person capacity tasting room. It could be considered more of a nano-brewery than a microbrewery. But size doesn’t matter, right? They have 10 taps going at any time and they focus on experimenting with new flavours and styles while still keeping some standard beer on tap at all times. They don’t can or bottle their beer, and finding them on taps outside of their tasting room is rare. That means you need to go straight to the source to indulge in the Maple Meadows experience.

RIDGE BREWING

Ridge Brewing, which is just a hop, skip and a stumble from Maple Meadows, has an open-concept tasting room that puts you right in the middle of the brewing action. This family-friendly spot brings in craft beer enthusiasts from the local community and abroad. If you’re there on the first Tuesday of each month you can also watch, or participate in, an Open Mic night. When mixed with delicious craft beer this can be entertaining in a number of different ways, as I’m sure you can imagine.

SILVER VALLEY BREWING

Opened two years ago by avid home brewer Kevin Fulton and his wife Brandi, Silver Valley is producing deliciously well-thought-out beer and also dishing up delectable ‘sammiches’ and shared plates. Even if you’re not a fan of beer they also serve wine, cider, coffee, tea and soda. Something for everyone. Silver Valley Brewing is located on the bustling 224^th street in Maple Ridge and surrounded by some great local amenities such as: Memorial Peace Park, Haney Place Mall and the ACT Art’s Centre, to name a few. It’s a great area to cruise, check out local shops and have a pint of ale.

FOAMERS’ FOLLY

Located in the neighbouring city of Pitt Meadows, Foamers’ Folly is the hot spot smack dab in the middle of town. Only a few short steps from the train tracks, Foamers’ name is a shout-out to the train obsessed history of Pitt Meadows (check out the train museum across the street). With 20 taps behind the bar there’s always something new and exciting to try in their tasting room, but don’t worry, they always keep the classics flowing. They’re a family-friendly spot with a great patio and tasty food options (try the pizza from Artista, trust me). Foamers’ Folly is a must visit if you’re in Pitt Meadows. Just try not to get stuck at the train crossing.

The ferry is now decommissioned and the swing bridge swings no longer but the new bridges have exposed British Columbia’s sixth oldest community to the rest of the Lower Mainland. Now everybody has painless passage to the community-centric businesses, farming and culinary history, and craft beer boom that is Maple Ridge.

See y’all at the official Launch of the Maple Ridge Ale Trail on Sept 21^st at the Haney Farmers’ Market. I’ll be sippin’ on the special collaborative Alouette Berry Saison brewed by all four breweries to commemorate the occasion. Hopefully you will be too. Cheers!

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