The Langley Ale Trail offers a mix of urban and rural charm with craft breweries, a cidery, and a distillery, featuring menus inspired by local ingredients and history. Just a short drive from Vancouver, it covers Langley City, Langley Township, and communities like Brookswood, Walnut Grove, and Fort Langley. Sip and savour from May 1 – 31, 2026, for a chance to win great prizes!

Fill Your Passport to Win!

How do you participate?

1. Visit any of the participating businesses listed below from May 1 – 31, 2026 and ask for a stamp with purchase, or scan the QR code to collect a digital stamp in the BC Ale Trail mobile app.
2. After collecting six unique stamps hand in the completed passport at any participating location to be entered to win the Grand Prize package.

The random prize draw will take place following the contest period once all of the completed passports have been collected.

Going digital has perks! 

Collect check-in points along with your virtual stamps, PLUS with each completed passport, you’ll be awarded:

• 250 bonus points and the Bronze Badge for completed passport #1
• 250 bonus points, the Silver Badge and BC Ale Trail swag for completed passport #2
• 500 bonus points, the Gold Badge for completed passport #3

Multiple entries are encouraged!

More than three digital passports can be completed, but no further bonus points are awarded.

Perfect food and beverage pairings

New this year – the Langley Loop craft beverage scene is taking you on a unique flavour journey with limited-time-only beverage and food pairings! Tasty handhelds pair perfectly with local craft beer and cider, and some will only be available during the Tasting Passport contest period. Options include:

Great Prizes to be Won!

The Grand Prize is a One-Night Getaway (or staycation!) which includes:

• A one-night stay for two people at the Sandman Signature Langley Hotel
• 1 round of 18-hole mini golf for two people at Vibez Mini Golf
• 1 growler (64 oz size) and swag from KPU Brew Lab
• $50 gift cards for:
  • The Barley Merchant
  • Camp Beer Co
  • Farm Country Brewing
  • Five Roads Brewing
  • Fraser Valley Cider
  • Locality Brewing
  • Roots and Wings Distillery
  • Trading Post Brewing
• Brewery Swag from Camp Beer Co. and Brookswood Brewing

Congratulations to E Hernandez, our Grand Prize Winner! 

Where can you pick up a Passport and collect stamps?

The Langley Ale Trail Tasting Passport is available for free at any of the participating businesses. Prefer paperless? Download the free BC Ale Trail mobile app to collect stamps by scanning a QR code. PLUS earn reward points when you check in.

The Barley Merchant
101 – 20090 91A Ave

Brookswood Brewing 
102 – 4061 200 St

Camp Beer Co.
110 – 19664 64 Ave

Dead Frog Brewery
105 – 8860 201st St

Farm Country Brewing
5 – 20555 56th Ave

Five Roads Brewing
1 – 6263 202 St

Fraser Valley Cider Company
22128 16 Ave

KPU Brew Lab
20901 Langley Bypass

• Thursdays, 12 pm – 1 pm
• Fridays, 1 pm – 6 pm

Locality Brewing
7111 252 St

Roots and Wings Distillery
7897 240 St

Smugglers’ Trail Caskworks
140 – 9339 200A St

Trading Post Brewing – Brewery and Taproom
107 – 20120 64 Ave

Trading Post Fort Langley Eatery
9143 Glover Rd 

Trails End Cafe, Taproom and Bistro
100 – 23285 Billy Brown Rd

The post The Langley Ale Trail Tasting Passport appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

From Cowichan through Nanaimo to Parksville Qualicum Beach, Central Vancouver Island offers a variety of exceptional experiences, including spectacular beaches, hiking and mountain biking trails, and coastal paddling. From February 1 through March 8, 2026, explore the region and the diverse mix of breweries.

Fill Your Passport to Win!

How do you participate?

1. Visit any of the participating breweries listed below from February 1 – March 8, 2026 and ask for a stamp with purchase, or scan the QR to collect a digital stamp in the BC Ale Trail mobile app.
2. After collecting six unique stamps, hand in the completed passport at any participating location to be entered to win the Grand Prize Weekend Getaway package. Completed digital passports will automatically be entered to win and be awarded BONUS points!

Going digital has perks! 

Collect check-in points along with your virtual stamps, PLUS with each completed passport, you’ll be awarded:

• 250 bonus points and the Bronze Badge for completed passport #1
• 250 bonus points, the Silver Badge and a BC Ale Trail shirt for completed passport #2
• 500 bonus points, the Gold Badge for completed passport #3

*limit one T-shirt per person

Multiple entries are encouraged!

A Grand Prize Weekend Getaway Package to the Pacific Rim to be Won!

One lucky winner will win a package to explore Port Alberni, Ucluelet and Tofino that includes:

Port Alberni

• 2 nights’ accommodation and breakfasts for 2 people at the Best Western Plus Barclay Hotel
• $25 gift card for Twin City Brewing
• $20 gift card for Dog Mountain Brewing
• $25 gift card for The Station Taphouse
• $25 gift card and tote bag from Wildflower Café
• $25 gift card for Bombers Café and Creperie
• $25 gift card for Witch’s Brew Cafe and Bakeshop
• Gin Academy voucher for one person at Antidote Distilling: You will distill your own 750ml bottle of Gin on one of Antidote’s mini stills while learning about the distilling process, enjoying a cocktail and a small snack to nibble on. This Gin School experience includes:
  • An arrival G&T
  • A guided distilling session on a mini still
  • A custom 750ml bottle of Gin to take home
  • An Antidote Distilling cooler bag
  • 15% off any products purchased on the day of your class. Additional add-ons are also available for purchase.

Ucluelet

• $25 gift card for Ucluelet Brewing Company
• $25 gift card for Ucluelet Liquor Store
• $25 gift card for Shipwreck Pizza
• $25 gift card for Howler’s Family Restaurant
• $25 gift card for Ukee Poke
• $25 gift card for Ukee Dog Taqueria
• Two Tourism Ucluelet branded tee-shirts
• $200 gift card for Westcoast Wild Adventures

Tofino

• 1 night accommodation at Hotel Zed
• $50 gift card for Tofino Brewing Co
• Gift Card for a signature platter for 2 from Picnic at the Brewery
• $30 gift card for The Surf Club at Long Beach Lodge Resort (includes access to the hot pool, cedar sauna, and more)
• $50 gift card for ROAR at Hotel Zed
• $25 gift card for Browns Socialhouse at the Tin Wis Resort

The random prize draw will take place following the contest period once all of the completed passports have been collected.

Congratulations to the contest winner, Kimberly A.!

Where can you pick up a Passport?

The Central Island Tasting Passport is available for free at any of the participating breweries. Prefer paperless? Download the free BC Ale Trail mobile app to collect stamps by scanning a QR code. PLUS earn reward points when you check in.

Cowichan:

Bayview Brewing

Craig Street Brew Pub

Deadhead Brew Co

Red Arrow Brewing

Serious Brewing Company

Nanaimo:

Longwood Brew Pub

White Sails Brewing

Wolf Brewing

Plus – earn a digital stamp for Longwood Brewery on Boxwood Road by sharing a photo of your Longwood beers at home on our mobile app

Parksville Qualicum Beach:

Fern + Cedar Brewing

LoveShack Libations

Mount Arrowsmith Brewing

Rusted Rake Brewing

The post Central Island Ale Trail Tasting Passport appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

Easily accessible by SkyTrain, the riverfront communities of Burnaby, Coquitlam, New Westminster and Port Coquitlam offer great food, shopping, and outdoor activities to go along with a diverse and dynamic craft beer scene.

Fill Your Passport to Win!

How do you participate?

1. Visit any of the participating businesses listed below from February 1 – March 8, 2026 and ask for a stamp with purchase, or scan the QR to collect a digital stamp in the BC Ale Trail mobile app.
2. After collecting six unique stamps, hand in the completed passport at any participating location to be entered to win the Grand Prize Weekend Getaway package. Completed digital passports will automatically be entered to win and be awarded BONUS points!

Going digital has perks! 

Collect check-in points along with your virtual stamps, PLUS with each completed passport, you’ll be awarded:

• 250 bonus points and the Bronze Badge for completed passport #1
• 250 bonus points, the Silver Badge and a BC Ale Trail shirt for completed passport #2
• 500 bonus points, the Gold Badge for completed passport #3

*limit one T-shirt per person

Multiple entries are encouraged!

A Grand Prize Weekend Getaway package to Central Vancouver Island to be Won!

One lucky winner will win a package to explore Cowichan, Nanaimo and Parksville Qualicum Beach that includes:

Cowichan:

• 1 night stay at the winner’s choice of: Oceanfront Suites at Cowichan Bay, Best Western Plus Chemainus Inn, Temperance Hotel, OR Villa Eyrie Resort (subject to availability)
• 2 passes to Malahat Skywalk
• $50 gift certificate to the local brewery of your choice

Nanaimo:

• 1 night stay at the Inn on Long Lake. Your stay includes:
  • SUP or kayak rental
  • And an Island Sauna experience
• $50 gift card to Longwood Brew Pub
• $50 gift card to Longwood Brewery on Boxwood Road

Parksville Qualicum Beach

• 2 nights accommodation at the Oceanside Village Resort (Valid for mid-week, Sunday – Thursday, and subject to availability)
• $75 gift card for Rusted Rake Brewing
• $40 gift card for Mount Arrowsmith Brewing
• $40 gift card for Fern + Cedar Brewing
• Admission for 2 people to Milner Gardens & Woodland
• Admission for 2 people to the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre

The random prize draw will take place following the contest period once all of the completed passports have been collected.

Congratulations to the contest winner, Mike W.!

Where Can You Pick Up a Passport?

The North of the Fraser Ale Trail Tasting Passport is available for free at any of the participating businesses. Prefer paperless? Download the free BC Ale Trail mobile app to collect stamps by scanning a QR code. PLUS earn reward points when you check in.

New Westminster:
Steel & Oak Brewing

Tourism New Westminster – Visitor Centre (inside the Anvil Centre)

Burnaby:
Dageraad Brewing

Personas Patio + Restaurant + Lounge

Steamworks Brewery

Coquitlam:
Mariner Brewing

Port Coquitlam:
Patina Brewing & BBQ

Poco Brothers Brewing (Cat & Fiddle Pub)

Side Quest Brewing

Taylight Brewing

Tinhouse Brewing

The post North of the Fraser Ale Trail Tasting Passport appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

Port Alberni serves as a central hub for exploring the region, offering a rich mix of culture, heritage, and flavour. Discover three local breweries, a growing culinary scene, and a new distillery before heading west toward the surf towns, beaches, and coastal trails of Tofino and rugged Ucluelet. Each community is home to its own brewery and a collection of locally inspired coastal businesses.

Enjoy a distinctly West Coast mix of cafés, pubs, restaurants, breweries, distilleries, and more — all coming together to deliver a true taste-of-place experience along the Pacific Rim.

Fill Your Passport to Win!

How do you participate?

1. Visit any of the participating businesses listed below from February 1 – March 8, 2026 and ask for a stamp with purchase, or scan the QR to collect a digital stamp in the BC Ale Trail mobile app.
2. After collecting six unique stamps, hand in the completed passport at any participating location to be entered to win the Grand Prize Weekend Getaway package. Completed digital passports will automatically be entered to win and be awarded BONUS points!
3. Get one or more stamps or scans in two of the participating communities for a bonus entry in the Grand Prize draw!

Going digital has perks! 

Collect check-in points along with your virtual stamps, PLUS with each completed passport, you’ll be awarded:

• 250 bonus points and the Bronze Badge for completed passport #1
• 250 bonus points, the Silver Badge and a BC Ale Trail shirt for completed passport #2
• 500 bonus points, the Gold Badge for completed passport #3

*limit one T-shirt per person

Multiple entries are encouraged!

A Grand Prize Weekend Getaway Package to the North of the Fraser Ale Trail to be Won!

One lucky winner will win a package to explore Burnaby, Coquitlam, New Westminster and Port Coquitlam that includes:

New Westminster:

• 1 night at Inn at the Quay
• Steel & Oak Brewing tasting for 2, a growler and a fill, and a hat.

Burnaby:

• 2 nights accommodation at the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown
• $40 gift card for Dageraad Brewing
• $40 gift card for Steamworks Brewing – Burnaby
• Explore Burnaby swag bag

Coquitlam:

• $100 to Mariner Brewing
• $100 to Activate – the world’s first active gaming facility

Port Coquitlam: 

• One night stay in a themed room at PoCo Inn & Suites
• $50 gift card for Poco Brothers Brewing/Cat & Fiddle Pub
• $100 gift card for Patina Brewing Co Brewhouse & BBQ

The random prize draw will take place following the contest period once all of the completed passports have been collected.

Congratulations to contest winner, Mandy C!

Where can you pick up a Passport?

The Pacific Rim Ale Trail Tasting Passport is available for free at any of the participating businesses. Prefer paperless? Download the free BC Ale Trail mobile app to collect stamps by scanning a QR code. PLUS earn reward points when you check in.

Port Alberni:

Alberni Brewing Co.

Alberni Liquor Store

Antidote Distilling

Bombers Café and Creperie

Dog Mountain Brewing

Twin City Brewing Co.

The Station Taphouse

Witch’s Brew Cafe and Bakeshop

Wildflower Café

Ucluelet:

Howler’s Family Restaurant

Shipwreck Pizza (closed Feb1-13. Visit Feb 14 onwards)

Ucluelet Brewing Co.

Ucluelet Liquor Store

Ukee Poke

Ukee Dogs Taqueria

Tofino:

Browns Socialhouse (Tin Wis Resort)

Picnic at the Brewery

ROAR Tofino

Tofino Brewing Co

The Surf Club at Long Beach Lodge Resort

Tofino Visitor Centre

The post Pacific Rim Ale Trail Tasting Passport appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

Part of “Taste of Abby” with hosted events from September 19-28, 2025.

Check out: tasteofabby.ca  

Fill Your Passport to Win

How do you participate?

1. Visit any of the participating businesses listed below from September 1 – 30, 2025 and ask for a stamp with purchase, or scan the QR code to collect a digital stamp in the BC Ale Trail mobile app.
2. After collecting six unique stamps hand in the completed passport at the Tourism Abbotsford office (#100-33660 South Fraser way) or email it to: info@tourismabbotsford.ca to be entered to win the Grand Prize package of $250.00 in gift cards so you can visit all Fall long!

The random prize draw will take place following the contest period once all of the completed passports have been collected.

Multiple entries are encouraged.

Grand Prize to be WON! 

$25.00 GC from each of the participating locations and Tourism Abbotsford, totalling $250 so you can visit all Fall long, PLUS a BC Ale Trail swag pack valued at $100. Total value $350

*Plus if you opt for the digital passport you can collect points along the way to redeem for rewards and:

• 250 bonus points and the Bronze Badge for completed passport #1
• 250 bonus points, the Silver Badge and a BC Ale Trail t-shirt for completed passport #2
• 500 bonus points and the Gold Badge for completed passport #3

Where can you pick up a Passport and collect stamps?

The Abbotsford Tasting Passport is available for free at any of the participating businesses. Prefer paperless? Download the free BC Ale Trail mobile app to collect stamps by scanning a QR code. PLUS earn reward points when you check-in.

• BRGR BRGR ABBY
• Canuck Empire Brewing Co
• Field House Brewing Co ABBY
• Old Abbey Ales
• Old Yale Brewing Abbotsford
• Raven’s Bar + Grill (Airport)
• Ripples Estate Winery & New Wave Distilling
• Taves Estate Cidery
• Trading Post Eatery Abbotsford
• The Tipsy Barrel Pub
• Tourism Abbotsford Airport Visitor Kiosk

The post Abbotsford Tasting Passport appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

From Cowichan through Nanaimo and Parksville Qualicum Beach to the Comox Valley, Central Vancouver Island offers a variety of exceptional experiences, including spectacular beaches, hiking and mountain biking trails, and coastal paddling. From February 1 through March 9, 2025, explore the region and the diverse mix of breweries.

Fill Your Passport to Win!

How do you participate?

1. Visit any of the participating businesses listed below from Februray 1 – March 9, 2025 and ask for a stamp with purchase, or scan the QR to collect a digital stamp in the BC Ale Trail mobile app.
2. After collecting six unique stamps hand in the completed passport at any participating location to be entered to win one of four Grand Prize packages.

The random prize draw will take place following the contest period once all of the completed passports have been collected.

Multiple entries are encouraged!

Great Prizes to be Won!

Four Grand Prizes will be awarded, each featuring a package in one of the four regions:

Comox Valley

• 1-night stay (winner’s choice) at one of the Bayview Hotel, Old House Hotel & Spa, or the Crown Isle Resort
• $100 dining gift card
• Experience Comox Valley growler

Cowichan

• 1-night stay (winner’s choice) at one of: Oceanfront Suites at Cowichan Bay, Best Western Plus Chemainus Inn, or Temperance Hotel (subject to availability)
• $50 gift card for a local brewery
• 2 passes to Malahat Skywalk

Nanaimo

• 1-night stay at the Inn on Long Lake
• $100 gift card to Longwood Brew Pub & Restaurant
• Toque and t-shirt from Longwood Brewery
• $20 gift card and a pint glass, koozie, bottle opener keychain from Wolf Brewing
• 2 social sauna passes to Island Sauna Nanaimo

Parksville Qualicum Beach

• 2-night stay at the Coast Parksville Hotel
• $50 gift card to Mini Purebread (located at Paradise Fun Park)
• Passes for two to Paradise Fun Park Mini Golf
• 5 x $25 gift cards and a sweater from both Mount Mount Arrowsmith Brewing and Fern + Cedar Brewing

Where can you pick up a Passport?

The Central Island Tasting Passport is available for free at any of the participating breweries. Prefer paperless? Download the free BC Ale Trail mobile app to collect stamps by scanning a QR code. PLUS earn reward points when you check in.

Comox Valley

Ace Brewing

Cumberland Brewing

Gladstone Brewing

Hornby Island Brewing
*Note: open by appointment Wednesdays and Saturdays, plus Family Day.

Land & Sea Brewing

RAD Brewing Co.

Cowichan:

Bayview Brewing

Craig Street Brew Pub

Deadhead Brew Co

Red Arrow Brewing

Nanaimo:

Longwood Brew Pub

White Sails Brewing

Wolf Brewing

Parksville Qualicum Beach:

Fern + Cedar Brewing

LoveShack Libations

Mount Arrowsmith Brewing

Rusted Rake Brewing

The post Central Island Tasting Passport appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

Cranbrook & Kimberley are the places to be this fall, thanks to two excellent opportunities to enjoy craft beer in these beautiful communities.

• the Cranbrook & Kimberley Tasting Passport running Sept 12 to Oct 31, 2024
• several Cranbrook Sip + Stay packages running September 13 to November 30, 2024

Take advantage of these fun promotions to enjoy a visit to the beautiful East Kootenays in southeastern B.C.

Cranbrook + Kimberley Tasting Passport

September 12 – October 31, 2024

How do you participate?

1. Visit any of the participating businesses listed below from From September 12 to October 31, 2024 and ask for a stamp with purchase.
2. Once you have collected unique stamps from six different locations, hand in the passport at a local Visitor Information Centre (800C Baker St in Cranbrook or 270 Kimberley Ave in Kimberley) to receive a custom 12-oz commemorative beer stein (while supplies last) and get entered in the draw for a chance to win the Grand Prize donated by Sunshine Marina (details below).
   Pro Tip: the Visitor Info Centre counts as your 6th stamp!

The random prize draw will take place following the contest period once all of the completed passports have been collected.

Multiple entries encouraged!

Tasting Passport Grand Prize: 4 nights on the Sunbreezer Houseboat (August 18-21, 2025).

Chart a course for excitement aboard this 16-passenger houseboat, where boundless opportunities for fun and relaxation await. Whether you’re seeking a thrilling adventure with friends or a peaceful retreat with family, this spacious vessel has everything you need for an unforgettable getaway. From sun-drenched decks to cozy sleeping quarters, every inch of this houseboat is designed with your comfort and enjoyment in mind, ensuring a truly memorable experience amidst the stunning natural beauty of Lake Koocanusa, British Columbia.

Check out the Kootenay Rockies East Ale Trail

There are four breweries location in the Kootenay towns of Cranbrook and Kimberley, as well as several other great restaurants, tap houses, liquor stores, and even a craft distillery. Check out Days 3 and 4 on the Kootenay Rockies East Ale Trail for more information about the breweries and related activities.

Cranbrook is home to Fisher Peak Brewing at the Heid Out Restaurant. Heidi’s Restaurant was already a popular Cranbrook establishment for years. When the owners chose to renovate and update the restaurant in 2013, they added a brewery. The result is a welcoming and comfortable restaurant that has a kitchen focused on seasonally produced local ingredients and serves delicious, fresh and award-winning craft beer.

Encore Brewing is a place where adults can be kids with a craft brewery, arcade, bowling centre, and tasting room along with a full kitchen. Located in a bowling alley from the 1960s that was restored with modern amenities but retains all the retro charm, it’s a one-of-a-kind space with cozy booths for couples or long tables made from old bowling lanes that are perfect for larger groups or folks looking to meet new friends.

Kimberley, BC, was recently named BC’s best small town by the CBC as voted on by audience members. It is a charming mountain town with a Bavarian theme, including a car-free downtown square, the Platzl, where you can put a coin in the world’s largest cuckoo clock and then witness the emergence of Happy Hans, a yodelling, mustachioed man clad in lederhosen, hoisting a beer stein. Pros’t!

You can sample craft beer flights at Grist & Mash Brewery, which was founded by a couple who relocated to British Columbia from Oregon in 2019. They honed their brewing approach at Freehand Brewery in Eugene, Oregon, which focused solely on barrel-aged sours and specialty ales.

Also in Kimberley is Over Time Beer Works, which was founded by an entrepreneur who grew up in the area, moved away and then returned to Kimberley in his 30s because he felt that “No self-respecting mountain town should be without a brewery.” Over Time took advantage of “time off” during the pandemic to add a comfortable patio beside the brewery, complete with a bocce pit. It even has heaters for the cooler months.

Where can you pick up a Passport?

The Cranbrook and Kimberley Tasting Passport is available for free at any of the participating businesses, as well as the local tourism Visitor Information Centres:

Cranbrook

Brixx Brewhouse
209 Van Horne St S

Ella’s
300 Cranbrook St N

Encore Brewing
1400 4 St N

Fenwick & Baker Public House
1017 Baker St

Fire & Oak
209 Van Horne St S

Firehall Kitchen & Tap
37 11 Ave S

The Heid Out & Fisher Peak Brewing
821 Baker St

Hot Shots Café
1924 8 St N

Modern Olive
1019 Cranbrook St N

St Eugene Resort
7777 Mission Road

Visitor Information Centre
800C Baker St

Kimberley

Biscuit: A Place To Sup
180 Spokane St

Bohemian Spirits
215 Mark St

Grist & Mash Brewery
345 Wallinger Ave

The Hourglass
130 Spokane St

Over Time Beer Works
136A Wallinger Ave

Visitor Information Centre
270 Kimberley Ave

The post Embark on a Flavour Adventure: Cranbrook + Kimberley Fall Tasting Passport is Back appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

Between March 28 and April 30, 2024, visit at least three breweries from both Vancouver Ale Trails (Brewery Creek and Yeast Vancouver), get your passport stamped, and drop it off at a participating location to be entered to win the Grand Prize Giveaway. If you don’t manage to fill out the whole thing, you’ll still be eligible for other prizes so make sure you hand it in! 

The Vancouver Tasting Passport’s 31 breweries, distilleries, tap houses, and liquor store are divided into two Ale Trails: Brewery Creek, where Vancouver’s very first breweries took root in the 1880s, and Yeast Vancouver, the birthplace of modern Vancouver craft beer back in the 1990s. On my journey through Vancouver this past week, I visited both Ale Trails to fill out my passport. 

Brewery Creek

My first brewery was R&B Brewing, whose taproom features a large stuffed raven standing guard and shelves crowded with books and games. It’s just a brief walk from Main St. Brewing, Brassneck Brewing, 33 Acres, and Electric Bicycle, but R&B is the oldest of the bunch, having opened its doors in 1997. It didn’t get its own tasting room and food service until after its neighbours, but it’s now known for having the best pizza around – as well as award-winning beer (Dill Pickle Gose, anyone? It might sound a bit crazy for a beer, but you should try it). 

I visited with some fellow beer history fans: Melanie Hardbattle and Richard Dancy of the Simon Fraser University craft beer archive project, and Mitch Taylor, founder of Granville Island Brewing. The tasting room was buzzing with happy energy when we arrived; couples with young children enjoyed flights, groups of friends gathered around game boards, and everyone was having fun. After ordering a couple of their fresh, homemade pizzas to accompany our beer, we sat back to catch up on one another’s news and chat about BC beer history. My flight included two fantastic IPAs (the Vancouver Special and R&B’s new Double IPA, Absolute Unit), the Stolen Bike German Pilsner, and the classic Raven Cream Ale – a much-loved Vancouver beer modelled after Shaftebury’s Cream Ale from back in the 1980s. And I couldn’t resist a taster of their cask ales, which were both served from a cask engine: a cask version of the Raven, and their East Side Bitter (R&B’s version of the classic English ESB – Extra Special Bitter). If a brewery has cask beers on the menu, I always recommend trying them. R&B did not disappoint.

A couple days later, my husband Rich and I stepped out into the Vancouver sunshine to visit one of the city’s newest breweries: Brewing August, which opened in the summer of 2022. Located near the Granville Island bridge, Brewing August is in a perfect location to capture the heavy foot traffic of, well, Vancouver in August. Or any other time of year. But August was their inspiration, according to co-founder Tate Lillies. Through casual backyard conversations at family gatherings, Lillies and his brother-in-law Travis Rea discovered they both had the same idea: to start their own craft brewery. Rea was a chef and a homebrewer, and Lillies had a wide range of business experience. With a third co-founder, Adam Jones, they turned their dream into a reality, creating a brewery and tasting room inspired by the long, warm nights of a Vancouver summer. 

Brewing August has a street-level tasting area and an upstairs space as well. Both are light-filled, and you can enjoy looking out at the Kitsilano neighbourhood while sipping your beer. They don’t offer flights, but you can purchase 6-ounce pours rather than full pints, which gives you a chance to try more of their offerings. Their hazy IPAs are popular, but their flagship beer is really their Blonde IPA, a delicious beer that somehow balances on the edge of several styles but keeps you guessing (also, sip slowly – it’s a higher ABV than its taste suggests!). It has features of an IPA, a Belgian blonde, and maybe something in between. I loved it. I was also a fan of their Golden IPA and Rich loved their Tart Cherry Sour – another hit for a hot day. Our beers were accompanied by some of the best tacos I’ve had, delivered by neighbouring Las Autenticas Tacos & Tortas (you just text them your order, and it’ll come to the tasting room). I highly recommend checking them out if you enjoy Mexican food! The cherry blossoms on the leaves outside, combined with Brewing August’s beachy taproom, summery beers, and tasty snacks, made me anticipate the warmth and sunshine of Vancouver’s spring and summer.  

From Brewing August it was only a ten-minute walk through Granville Island – crowded with visitors on this sunny Sunday – to reach the Aquabus terminal. Our plan was to commute through False Creek to reach our final Brewery Creek destination. We only had a few minutes to wait before Vancouver’s famed rainbow-coloured Aquabus came to pick us up and take us across the water to the Olympic Village terminal. Another ten minutes of walking and people-watching and we arrived at Red Truck Beer Company. 

Red Truck was immediately recognizable – a large white tower with the brewery’s name in red letters rose above the industrial surroundings, and many of the vehicles surrounding its Truck Stop diner were classic 1950s-style red trucks. These are modelled after owner Mark James’ original red truck, which he used to deliver his beer two decades ago. The tasting room is spacious, casual, and comfortable (and I was a fan of the bathrooms, too – I haven’t seen sinks made out of tires before!)

Red Truck is the place to go if you want some tasty diner food with your beer – and enough to take home in a doggie bag! We tried some of their appetizers – wings, fries, garlic fries, and deep-fried pickles – and the food was both filling and plentiful. While sharing our appies, we each sipped on a flight. The Red Truck lager is a solid example of the style (clean, crisp, and clear), but I was partial to their North West and North East IPAs, which have a good malty backbone to balance out the hops. These are approachable IPAs that are neither overly bitter nor super sweet. And this approachability is what I expect from Red Truck, which has remained a steady presence in the Vancouver craft beer scene since the company was founded in 2005. To my mind, this is due to its consistency – consistency in its branding and atmosphere, as well as in the beer styles and how it produces them. 

Yeast Vancouver

Our first stop on the Yeast Vancouver Ale Trail was Container Brewing, tucked in on the north side of Hastings and not far from Superflux, Bomber, Off the Rail, and Strange Fellows. It may be hidden from the main drag, but once you turn the corner you see that Container is much larger than expected. With its two-floor tasting room and large patio area (with room for food trucks), it has lots of room for patrons and – in this case – musicians. We arrived just in time for an open-mic session, so we enjoyed local musicians while sipping our flights.  

Container always has an interesting variety of beers on tap, and today was no exception. My flight included their Noch Mal German Pils, the Forgotten Trail West Coast IPA, a decoction Hefeweizen, and their Fresh Horizons Hazy IPA. There was also a hazy on a nitro tap and some Belgian and dark beers that I (sadly) didn’t get a chance to try – I’ll save them for my next visit. The creativity in Container’s offerings is balanced by solid brewing skill. Their current head brewer, David Dayco, came to Container from Red Truck. Combining the rigorous quality control practices and reliable recipe development learned at Red Truck with the creative flexibility of a smaller brewery has helped Dayco produce Container’s diverse yet consistently high-quality beers. I’m a fan of their branding as well – make sure you check out their gorgeous labels while you’re there. 

East Vancouver Brewing was our next Yeast Van watering hole. Stepping into the brewery feels like you’re in a cozy beer cellar; the tasting room is below street level, furnished in warm wood, decorated with beer barrels and local artwork, and filled with natural light from its south-facing position. Open since 2017, it has found its niche in its East Van neighbourhood. We enjoyed flights while sharing an excellent beef panini with sauerkraut. I loved all four of the beers I tried, which included two award-winners, but my favourites were the Black IPA and their Back Porch Pilsner, which was *chef’s kiss* perfect. Rich tried the barrel-aged cherry sour, which he dubbed #1 on his flight. Kettle sours can be nice summer sippers, but there’s something about barrel-aged beer that provides an entirely different level of complexity. They were out of most of their IPAs when we visited, but I was told that a Brut IPA may soon be in the works.

Our final visit was to Powell Brewery, which was just a brief walk from East Van Brewing. Their small tasting room is warm and cozy, providing a sense of intimacy that I enjoy in a local craft brewery. Rich and I took a seat on two comfy low-set 80s-style chairs that brought up happy memories of my grandmother’s house. The familiar feeling made me want to stay there for the whole afternoon, just watching people and sipping on good beer. And there is definitely good beer there – Powell has won numerous awards over the years, including three at the BC Beer Awards this past fall. Big hits for me on this visit were their Belgian witbier and their Dive Bomb Dark Ale – this used to be their famous Dive Bomb Porter, but with a recipe tweak, the style has shifted. On our way out, we picked up a bottle of their Mystery Farmhouse Saison, a collab beer they made with Dageraad Brewing in Burnaby.

The Vancouver Ale Trail has so many craft breweries for you to explore – from the large to the tiny, the older to the brand-new. Take the opportunity to check out breweries you haven’t heard of or revisit old favourites. Wherever you visit, make sure you get your passport stamped so you can be entered to win the BC Ale Trail’s Grand Prize Giveaway!

Get all of the Vancouver Tasting Passport contest details here. Collect six unique stamps, three from each Ale Trail, and hand in your passport at any participating location to be entered to win the Grand Prize Giveaway. Multiple entries are encouraged, and don’t forget to turn in any partially filled passports for your chance at subsidiary prizes.

Not from Metro Vancouver? It’s the perfect time to plan a road trip combining Tasting Passport ale-ventures with a Sip & Stay package! Choose from a variety of accommodation partners and enjoy the best of Vancouver this spring.

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From the early brewing history at the foundation of the Brewery Creek Ale Trail to the modern entrepreneurial spirit of the Yeast Van Ale Trail, you can be sure you’ll find the perfect vibe — and your next favourite beer! 

From March 28 – April 30, 2024, visit any of the participating businesses listed below and ask for a stamp with purchase. Once you have collected six unique stamps – three from each ale trail – hand in the passport at any participating location to be entered in the draw for a chance to win the Grand Prize Giveaway. BONUS — it overlaps with the annual Vancouver Brewers Fest running April 19-28th! 

Fill Your Passport to Win!

How do you participate?

1. Visit any of the participating businesses listed below from March 28 – April 30, 2024 and ask for a stamp with purchase.
2. After collecting three unique stamps from each of the two ale trail groups hand in the completed passport to be entered to win the Grand Prize Giveaway (details below).

The random prize draw will take place following the contest period once all of the completed passports have been collected.

The Grand Prize Giveaway includes:

• a one-night stay for two people at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver, including breakfast for two at Mosaic Grille
• VIP Tasting with Brewmaster Iain Hill at Strange Fellows Brewing
• $100 gift card to Tap & Barrel
• $75 gift card to The Cascade Room
• $75 gift card to a brewery on the Yeast Van Ale Trail
• $75 gift card to a brewery on the Brewery Creek Ale Trail
• 2 x Day Passes on the Aquabus False Creek Ferry
• BC Ale Trail Swag pack

Congratulations to the winner of the Grand Prize: M. Harris of Vancouver!

Vancouver Brewers Fest

April 19-28, 2024

The Vancouver Brewers Fest is a 10-day celebration of the breweries, the people and the communities that have developed hand in hand. Different events will be held at many of the local breweries.

Attending events during the festival is a fun and easy way to collect stamps on your passport!

Check vancouverbrewersfest.com for all the info.

The Vancouver Brewery Creek Ale Trail 

Vancouver’s earliest breweries set up along a creek that paralleled present-day Main Street from Tea Swamp (roughly Ontario Street and 15th Ave) all the way down to False Creek, which then extended east to where Clark Drive is now. The City Brewery and Mainland Brewery (both built in 1887) and the Columbia Brewery (1888) were the first to use the stream to power their machinery and provide water for their recipes. Population growth in the 1890s was rapid, and the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood soon became Vancouver’s first suburb beyond the downtown peninsula. The creek itself was covered up by streets and sidewalks, and although that early brewing industry was short-lived, you can find it echoed in a progressive and exciting brewery scene there today.

Today, the eclectic Mount Pleasant neighbourhood is home to an exciting assortment of contemporary craft breweries and tap houses, as well as one of the city’s best beer-focused liquor stores. Welcome to Brewery Creek!

The Yeast Vancouver Ale Trail 

An innovative craft beer community, true to its industrial roots, “Yeast Van” is the tongue-in-cheek nickname for East Vancouver’s thriving craft beer scene. Because of its industrial history and connection to Canada’s busiest port, East Van has long been seen as a “rough-around-the-edges” part of the city, not necessarily the place you’d choose for a fancy boutique, perhaps, but perfect for a gritty microbrewery. Indeed, that’s what attracted Storm Brewing, East Van’s original craft brewery, to set up there back in the 1990s — and since then more than a dozen other breweries have followed suit.

This is definitely a multicultural area — Commercial Drive’s Italian roots are reflected at Luppolo Brewing. East Van’s industrial foundations are showcased front and centre at Container Brewing and East Van Brewing, while it’s all about style and contemporary design at Superflux, Strange Fellows, and Strathcona Brewing.

Yeast Van is also home to two creative small-batch distilleries and a meadery — so no matter where your tastes lie, you will be able to find something tasty and interesting here.

The post Go on a Tasting Tour this Spring with the Vancouver Tasting Passport appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

Easily accessible by SkyTrain, the riverfront communities of Burnaby, Coquitlam, New Westminster and Port Coquitlam offer great food, shopping, and outdoor activities to go along with a diverse and dynamic craft beer scene.

Fill Your Passport to Win!

How do you participate?

1. Visit any of the nine participating businesses listed below from February 1-29, 2024 and ask for a stamp with purchase.
2. After collecting six unique stamps hand in the completed passport to be entered to win the grand prize DELUXE WEEKEND GETAWAY package.

The random prize draw will take place following the contest period once all of the completed passports have been collected.

The Grand Prize includes:

Burnaby:

• one night stay at the Delta Burnaby
• Burnaby brewery swag pack

Coquitlam

• one night stay at the Executive Plaza Hotel & Conference Centre Coquitlam
• beer package from Mariner Brewing
• Tourism Coquitlam swag package

Port Coquitlam

• one night stay in a theme room at the PoCo Inn & Suites
• $50 GC to the John B Neighbourhood Pub
• Port Coquitlam swag basket 

New Westminster

• 2 tickets for the Hidden Wonders Speakeasy Magic Experience
• beer package from Steel & Oak Brewing

BC Ale Trail swag pack

This prize has been awarded to P. Stadius (Vancouver BC).

The North of the Fraser Ale Trail — Four riverfront communities that share a diverse and dynamic beer scene.

The four municipalities of New Westminster, Burnaby, Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam are aligned in many ways — not just by geography, but also through their bustling craft breweries.

Before Vancouver even existed, New Westminster was a traditional meeting place along the Fraser River and a thriving capital city. A long love affair with beer began in 1860 and continued until 2005 when the local Labatt Brewery closed, but the tantalizing smell of malted barley and hops returned to New West in 2014 when Steel & Oak Brewing opened its doors.

The City of Burnaby might be Vancouver’s little sibling, but it has its own dynamic brewery scene that sets it apart.  Meanwhile, the beer scene in Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam is one of the freshest and most interesting you will find anywhere in BC.

Where Can You Pick Up a Passport?

The North of the Fraser Ale Trail Tasting Passport is available for free at any of the participating breweries:

New Westminster:
Another Beer Co – 11-30 Capilano Way
Steel & Oak Brewing – 1319 3rd Ave

Burnaby:
Dageraad Brewing – 114-3191 Thunderbird Cres
Steamworks Brewery – 3845 William St

Coquitlam:
Mariner Brewing – H-1100 Lansdowne Dr

Port Coquitlam:
Boardwalk Brewing – 2155-575 Seaborne Ave
Northpaw Brewing – 2150-570 Sherling Pl
Patina Brewing & BBQ – 2332 Marpole Ave
Taylight Brewing – 402 – 1485 Coast Meridian Rd
Tinhouse Brewing – 2140-550 Sherling Pl
Poco Brothers Brewing – 1979 Brown St *NEW*

Drink Responsibly & Take Transit

The BC Ale Trail and all the businesses participating in these promotions are committed to ensuring that beer is enjoyed responsibly by those adults who choose to consume it. 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. We encourage everyone to take transit as you visit the participating businesses.

The post Embark on a Tasting Tour with the North of the Fraser Ale Trail Tasting Passport appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.