As of June 15th, travel within BC is encouraged. This means there are extra opportunities to enjoy a craft beer picnic!

Over the last few months, certain municipalities have gradually rolled out rules allowing alcohol consumption in certain areas.  This means you’re able to enjoy a delicious craft beer with your homemade snacks or favourite takeout as you soak up the sun in a beautiful park. It’s all very European, isn’t it? Since we’re also now allowed to have gatherings of up to 10 people outside, it’s an excellent way to safely gather with friends over food and drink.

If you don’t live in a municipality that allows public consumption of alcohol, you can still visit local craft breweries that have picnic-esque outdoor spaces. Many either offer great food along with their beer or encourage folks to bring their own food. We’ve rounded up a few noteworthy spots in this post.

Celebrating summer and BC’s new Restart Plan Step 2, here are several excellent craft beer picnic options on the BC Ale Trail.

New Westminster

As of May 17, 2021, residents and visitors of New Westminster can enjoy an alcoholic beverage in certain designated areas of select parks. Scope out one of the parks below, pick up some craft beer, and bring along a picnic to enjoy with a small group!

• Pier Park: On the grass picnic field and the grass knoll beside it
• Moody Park: On the mixed-use grass fields north of the multi-use path (not on the paved areas or sports courts)
• Hume Park: Upper Hume Park south of the off-leash dog and forested areas
• Sapperton Park: Open field portion of the park facing East Columbia Street
• Port Royal Park: By the crescent field and the picnic shelters, north of the restrooms
• Grimston Park: At the open field and picnic area north of the wading pool

Discover craft breweries on the New West, Delta, Surrey & Richmond Ale Trail. 

Coming Soon: Metro Vancouver

Vancouverites will soon be able to enjoy drinks in certain areas of nearly two dozen of the city’s parks. (When the liquor act comes into force, that is.) The Vancouver Park Board says to keep checking back for updates on the official launch. This will be part of a pilot project set to expire in October. The changes in Vancouver will apply to 22 of the city’s parks, and include areas in Stanley Park, Kits Beach, Locarno, David Lam Park and Trout Lake, among others.

For more information, check out the Vancouver Brewery Creek and Yeast Vancouver Ale Trails.  

North Vancouver

The City of North Vancouver passed a bylaw allowing alcohol consumption at specific public locations as part of their commitment to make life in the City during COVID-19 a little easier. The locations include several parks, the civic plaza, Cates Deck by Lonsdale Quay, home to Green Leaf Brewing, and Shipbuilders Square in the Shipyards district close to where several new breweries have recently opened: Streetcar Brewing, North Point Brewing, House of Funk Brewing, and Beere Brewing.

For more information, check out the Vancouver’s North Shore Ale Trail.

Celebrate Picnic-ton in Penticton 

The beaches and waterfront parks along the Okanagan Lake waterfront are some of the great pleasures of Penticton life so when Penticton City Council voted to allow alcohol consumption there, many locals and potential visitors rejoiced. The beach is within walking distance of a few of the city’s breweries, including Bad Tattoo Brewing, Cannery Brewing, Neighbourhood Brewing, Highway 97 Brewing, and Slackwater Brewing. Recently, Penticton also expanded this to include Skaha Lake Beach which is within walking distance of Tin Whistle Brewing and Barley Mill Brew Pub & Bistro. 

The city has also launched a cool Picnic-ton program that began on Monday, May 10th in support of Penticton restaurants, breweries, and wineries. Registered businesses are handing out picnic packs to customers who order takeout. And there are multiple prizes to be won! In addition, the City of Penticton is adding 36 new picnic tables to these locations, making it easier for people to enjoy beer and food to go in these scenic spots.

For more information, check out the Penticton Ale Trail.

Port Coquitlam

The City of Port Coquitlam allows alcohol consumption in seven of its parks. This decision comes after what the city said was a successful pilot project last summer and “strong approval” in public feedback.

The seven parks to allow alcohol consumption are Castle, Settlers, Gates, Lions, Aggie, Evergreen, and Cedar Drive.

Breweries in Port Coquitlam include Patina Brewing, Taylight Brewing, Tinhouse Brewing, and Northpaw Brewing. There are also several great options in Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge.

Victoria’s Historic Market Square 

While public alcohol consumption is still not allowed in Victoria, historic Market Square’s inner courtyard area has become an ideal urban picnic-with-beer spot, thanks to resident brewery Whistle Buoy Brewing’s tented patio, which it was allowed to expand under COVID-19 provisions. You are allowed to bring your own food or order it from one of the nearby restaurants, including Green Cuisine, which has been serving up vegetarian fare there for as long as there have been vegetarians (or just about).

Whistle Buoy Brewing can be found on the Victoria Ale Trail.

Port Moody’s Brewers Row

The five breweries on Brewers Row in Port Moody all have patio spaces and they all welcome patrons to bring food with them or order it from food trucks, which tend to park right in front of the breweries for obvious reasons. The breweries all face Rocky Point Park along the shore of the Burrard Inlet so you can plan a hike or kayaking adventure while enjoying your picnic meal and sipping a beer. Brewers Row includes: The Bakery Brewing, Moody Ales, Parkside Brewery, Twin Sails Brewing, and Yellow Dog Brewing.

For more information, check out the Port Moody Ale Trail.

Fraser Valley 

The Fraser Valley is agricultural heaven, and several of the breweries there have ideal outdoor spaces that are perfect for picnicking. It’s hard to beat Field House Brewing’s Beer Lawn out front of their Abbotsford brewery, and Old Yale Brewing in Chilliwack also has a big new Front Porch space along with its Campfire Kitchen in a converted Airstream Trailer. 

For more information, check out the Fraser Valley Ale Trail.

Most of Langley’s breweries have outdoor spaces, including two of its newest operations, Five Roads Brewing and Camp Beer Co., which has the picnic vibe down perfectly on its patio.

For more information, visit the Fraser Valley Ale Trail.

Persephone Brewing

Farm-based Persephone Brewing has a fantastic space for picnicking, including wooden benches, tables, and grassy areas where you can spread a blanket. Bring your own food or enjoy something from the Farmhand Food Truck.

For more information, visit the Sunshine Coast Ale Trail.

Other Possibilities

Throughout British Columbia, many craft breweries have been allowed to expand their patio spaces or open new patios so that customers can stay outside. So check with your local brewery about their food options or to see if they are okay with you bringing your own food. Presto: a patio craft beer picnic!

BC Ale Trail App

Don’t forget to download the free BC Ale Trail app before you go! Check-in at each brewery you visit to collect points and earn rewards (at participating locations). You’ll also find a selection of liquor stores, taphouses and visitor centres in the app.

Explore BC NOW

BC has now entered Step 2 of BC’s Restart Plan; travel throughout the province is now encouraged. It’s time to #exploreBCnow as #newexperiencesarebrewing. Book your summer getaway now (at exploreBC.com) and let the BC Ale Trail be your guide for your next Ale-venture. Travel safely and responsibly this summer. For those outside of British Columbia – we look forward to welcoming you soon.

BC’s breweries are strictly adhering to recommended COVID-19 safety protocols to keep both guests and staff safe. They are ready to welcome you for on-site patio tasting, with limited capacity indoors, or to pick up your favourites to go.

Please remember to be a Considerate Craft Beer Consumer. Let us each do our part now, so we can explore BC again, soon. We’re all in this together.

The post How to plan a craft beer picnic this summer appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

Once upon a time — and someday again, soon — the long weekend meant planning a little getaway to live it up and take advantage of extra time off. Or maybe a day trip where getting up early was going to be especially worth it at the destination. The present reality is that we need to stay local and support local this May long weekend. But that doesn’t mean it needs to be boring.

Wherever you live in BC, there are ways to both support local and have an excellent long weekend experience on your local BC Ale Trail.

1. Picnic possibilities

As the only way to gather these days is outside*, picnics in the park aren’t just for kids’ birthday parties anymore. In North Vancouver, Port Coquitlam and NEW New Westminster, it is now legal to responsibly consume alcohol at specific pubic locations — and Penticton will be known as Picnic-ton now through the summer. Many breweries also let you bring food to enjoy at their patio picnic tables. Check out these picnic possibilities on the BC Ale Trail.

*Remember: Only up to 10 people, and must be the same people each time.

2. Brewery patio pints and flights

What better way to finish off a day of local explorations, hiking, etc than to enjoy a patio pint or flight with your core bubble or immediate household over the long weekend!? Mother Nature might like to keep British Columbians on their toes with the spring weather, but most breweries on the BC Ale Trail have covered and heated patios. This means you can sip and savour rain or shine, Many brewery patios are also pup-friendly, but make sure to call and check.

3. Enjoy your brews from the comfort of your home patio oasis

Everyone’s comfort level is at a different level, and for some, that means keeping things close to home. If you’re not keen to dine or drink out, you can still support your local brewery by picking up your long weekend beverage supplies on your way home from the grocery store or a hike. Some breweries are also offering delivery across the province — which means you can “travel” anywhere in BC through craft offerings.

4. Freshen up at the farmer’s market

A really fantastic way to support local right now is to visit your local farmer’s market. Many BC craft breweries take part in these outdoor events, so make your shopping list and go say “hi” with a “smize“. Check out the BC Farmers’ Market Trail to find a market near you!

5. Take a self-guided tour of your local ale trail

What inspires you about where you live? Connect with a bubble buddy and make a day of exploring your local Ale Trail! This is a fun activity by foot or by bicycle — and is obviously location-dependent. For some inspiration (and something to add to your ale-venture bucket list), check out what Victoria residents have on the go with the Victoria Ale Trail Brewery Passport.

6. Make a staycation of it

Okay, so we can’t (and shouldn’t) go to Penticton from Vancouver, or from Prince George to Victoria until it’s safe to do so again. But we can support local hotels and Airbnbs in the area. Change up your scenery and get out of the house with a reservation at local accommodations. Many hotels have a resident or other fab rate for you to take advantage of! These rates often include a meal credit or other perks for making the reservation.

Pssst! Squamish residents, have you ever stayed at the HOWE SOUND BREWery‘s inn? Victoria locals, SPINNAKERS BREWPUB‘s guesthouses are calling your name! (If this is not local to you, add them to your future list!)

7. Be a considerate craft consumer

Of all the things you can do this long weekend to support local breweries and businesses, being a considerate craft consumer is the biggest one is to remember. Please be patient with brewery staff, wear your masks when not at your tables, and respect the protocols that have been put in place to keep you and the staff safe as we navigate the ever-changing landscape of the pandemic. We’re all in this together!

Yasmine Hardcastle is the Social Media Manager for the BC Ale Trail. Originally from Vancouver, she’s a yogini and passionate local tourist who enjoys keeping well and enjoying life. She chronicles her adventures on her blog, westcoastcitygirl.com through which she has worked with both local and international companies and attractions. Yasmine can be found enjoying a #pintandaflight at a craft tasting room with her Englishman, The Brit. Connect with her on Instagram or on LinkedIn.

The post Seven Local Ways to Enjoy the Long Weekend appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

The weather’s warming up across the province and indoor tasting rooms are still closed for the time being. Luckily, many craft breweries have excellent patios for all your flight and pint enjoyment needs — and many are now heated, covered and/or are dog friendly. You’re bound to find one in your own community to enjoy while we all stay close to home. We’ve highlighted one from each Ale Trail below, so read on and take note!

 

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Fraser Valley – Smuggler’s Trail Caskworks

The patio at Smuggler Trail Caskworks is perfect rain or shine. Fully covered, dog-friendly, and complete with heaters and a fireplace, you can’t go wrong.

 

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Kamloops – Noble Pig Brewhouse

Fun Fact: The Noble Pig Brewhouse patio is built atop what was once an outdoor pool. Look closely and you will see that the bench seating around the outer edge is actually the original pool’s rim. The pool was filled in to make the floor of the patio and then the hop-covered pergola was built on top, but you can still see the blue paint and tiling on the underside of the seating.

Kelowna – Kelowna Beer Institute

The recent patio extension at Kelowna Beer Institute is roomy, adding space for seven picnic tables, complete with umbrellas and dog-friendly. They also have a rooftop patio that is covered with heaters, and a lake-view patio with heaters that’s dog friendly.  Just in time for sunny spring days!

Kootenay Rockies East – Mt. Begbie Brewing

If you’re a Revelstoke local, look no further than Mt. Begbie Brewing for your patio needs. Offering umbrellas, it’s dog-friendly and promises some of the best views of any patio on the BC Ale Trail.  It’s settled amidst the rugged mountainous beauty for a delicious bevy or lunch.

Kootenay Rockies West – Angry Hen Brewing

After a few days of maintenance and cleaning, Angry Hen Brewing is excited to welcome Kaslo locals back to their fabulous patio. They have shiny new taps, a new point of sale system, and a cosy setup featuring plenty of heaters and barriers for social distancing. Also dog-friendly!

Maple Ridge – Maple Meadows Brewing

Maple Meadows Brewing has a sleek new patio set up, ready to roll and it’s dog-friendly! Locals, dress warmly if needed, bask in the sun when you can, and get ready to claim your spot at Maple Ridge’s oldest microbrewery.

New West, Delta, Surrey &  Richmond – Barnside Brewing

Farm-based, Barnside Brewing has loads of outdoor seating on its dog-friendly lawn and tented patio (tent comes down when weather permits).

Northern BC – Sherwood Mountain Brewhouse

Terrace locals, rejoice! Nestled among beautiful mountain peaks and raging rivers, Sherwood Mountain Brewhouse has a great patio set up for you to unwind on. They do have heaters but recommend you bring your own blanket as spring can still be a bit chilly.

Penticton – Barley Mill Brew Pub & Bistro

The Tudor-style design of the Barley Mill Brew Pub & Bistro stands out in Penticton. And their patio? Absolute perfection for soaking up that Penticton sunshine and nursing a delicious burger alongside a wonderful flight or pint.

Port Moody – The Bakery Brewing

The Bakery Brewing’s patio is perfect for sipping their creative sours (or anything they make, really). With lovely patio lights and umbrellas, Port Moody locals are sure to be satisfied. You’re welcome to bring your furkid along as it’s dog-friendly.

Squamish – A-FRAME Brewing

In Squamish, A-FRAME Brewing’s patio is always a win-win. Soak up mountain views, grab some tacos, and enjoy some of their core beers or rotating taps. They’ve even got a propane fire pit to keep you toasty when you need it. Don’t leave the furkid at home, it’s dog-friendly.

 

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Sunshine Coast – Persephone

Persephone Brewing in Gibsons is spoiled with their serene outdoor space on The Beer Farm. Lots of space for your family (dogs included). They’ve also got a stellar food menu featuring local providers.

Vancouver – Brewery Creek – Faculty Brewing

Faculty Brewing now has two dog-friendly patios open for Vancouver locals to choose from. Between “Experimental Beer Thursday,” food truck features, and kombucha cocktails, there’s bound to be something new to try on the patio.

Vancouver – Yeast Vancouver – Superflux Beer Co.

Superflux Beer Co. has just installed a brand patio to make the most out of one of Vancouver’s busiest industrial streets! With 30 seats up for grabs, rain or shine, it’s just the place to sip on a pint of one of their new releases. Dogs welcome!

 

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Vancouver Island Part 1 – Riot Brewing

Chemainus locals are in for a treat with Riot Brewing’s patio. With sunshine that hits just right and the cheery backdrop of their red walls, it’s an excellent spot to soak up spring and enjoy a cold brew with your core bubble or your furkid.

Vancouver Island Part 2 – Beach Fire Brewing

In Campbell River, Beach Fire Brewing has TWO patios for locals to choose from. The one in the back is covered by tents and complete with patio heaters and clean blankets, while the one out front is also covered, dog-friendly and looks out onto 11th Ave. The perfect spot(s) for enjoying their delicious bites and brews before heading out to a literal beach fire.

 

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Vancouver’s North Shore – North Point Brewing

North Point Brewing‘s adorable dog-friendly patio in the Shipyard District is full of a springtime atmosphere. Complete with spacious picnic tables and plastic dividers, it’s an excellent spot for locals to hang out with their core bubble.

Victoria – Howl Brewing

Howl Brewing is a perfect space to hydrate after exploring the Saanich peninsula (especially via bike). Rain or shine, locals can enjoy this micro brewery’s airy outdoor space and their beers, which often feature local ingredients like rhubarb, berries, and plums.  

Whistler – Coast Mountain 

The dog-friendly patio at Coast Mountain Brewing offers glimpses of the local mountains to enjoy along with the delicious range of beers on tap.

Support Local, Stay Local:

COVID-19 Travel Restrictions: Like you, we’re passionate about exploring BC on the #BCAleTrail. But now is the time to stay local and support local businesses with just your immediate household or core bubble.⁠ We want to welcome you as soon as we can. Due to travel restrictions in B.C. effective April 23, 2021, people are not allowed to travel outside of their regional zone until May 25, 2021. To learn more about British Columbia’s travel restrictions, essential travel inclusions, and identify which health area you currently
reside in visit www.gov.bc.ca/covidtravel.

BC’s breweries are strictly adhering to recommended COVID-19 safety protocols to keep both guests and staff safe. They are ready to welcome you for on-site patio tasting or pick up your favourites to go.

For now, please remember to stick close to home and be a Considerate Craft Beer Consumer. Let us each do our part now, so we can explore BC again, soon. We’re all in this together.

This spring, explore your local breweries. New Experiences are Brewing Nearby!

The post 20 Great Brewery Patios Around BC appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

Seven Ways to Support Your Local Breweries

1. visit a brewery patio

Good news! Breweries are allowed to continue serving beer on their outdoor patios or picnic areas. Last year, the government allowed BC’s craft breweries to add or expand their outdoor serving areas. As a result, most breweries do have an outdoor option so as long as the weather is good enough for you to sit outside, you should still be able to enjoy that unique in-person experience. Most may have added heaters, tents, or covered areas, but remember to bring along a blanket and dress warmly if the weather isn’t optimal. Some breweries like Camp Beer Co, Ursa Minor Brewing, Townsite Brewing, Faculty Brewing, Smugglers Trail Caskworks, and Riot Brewing to name a handful, allow your fur-kid to tag along as well!

2. ORDER beer delivery

Stuck at home? Get your craft beer fix delivered to your door! Since the pandemic arrived, many craft breweries have added online stores and direct delivery options to their websites. Some even ship province-wide using Canada Post — so if you’ve been dying to try the latest beer from Wheelhouse Brewing in Prince Rupert, Twin City Brewing in Port Alberni or Superflux in Vancouver, you’re in luck. Who doesn’t love beer mail? 

3. Purchase off-sales &/or TAKE-OUT

Support your local brewery by dropping in or driving through! Many BC Ale Trail breweries have converted their tasting rooms into an off-sales service and some who serve food are now doing take-out. Perhaps check in advance to see if you can pre-order and bring a debit or credit card for contactless payment. Patrons may need to wait their turn outside and will need to respect physical distancing guidelines of staying two metres apart.

Click here to find your local brewery to see what their off-sales and take-out options are.

4. Buy packaged beer with your restaurant take-out/delivery

Here’s a way to support a local restaurant and a local brewery at the same time! Restaurants are now allowed to sell packaged beer and/or growlers along with take-out or delivery orders. Some eateries have put together great packages pairing their dishes with local breweries, such as the amazing $35 Parrot Pack from the Barking Parrot in Penticton, which includes a six-pack of beer from Cannery Brewing along with not one but two cheeseburgers! Wow, I wish I lived in Penticton right now…

5. Buy gift cards that you can use later

A wonderful way to help your local brewery at this time is to buy gift cards that you can “enjoy” later — or consider gifting them or donating them to a charity so they can fundraise. By doing so, you help breweries stay open and might also help pay their staff. Note: some breweries like Container Brewing and House of Funk offer electronic gift cards so no need to go in and pick anything up!

6. support on social media

We’re always on our phones anyway, so let’s put our tapping fingers to good use! Let your brewery know how much you love them with a follow, likes, encouraging comments, and sharing your experience and/or their posts on your social channels. Download the BC Ale Trail app to have their social tags at your fingertips!

You can also tune into our Instagram channel once a month for a LIVE Virtual Hoppy Hour hosted by Joe Wiebe – The Thirsty Writer (and BC Ale Trail Content Manager). Every month we feature guests from the BC craft beer community. We talk about what’s happening in the beer world, perhaps taste a couple of beers, and answer questions from the general public. You can also find past episodes under the IGTV tab.

7. Leave a good Yelp or Google Review

Kind words go a long way — particularly online. Please leave a nice review about your brewery off-sales or delivery experience.

Share how you’re supporting your local craft breweries in BC by tagging us on social @bcaletrail on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. 

Support Local, Stay Local

COVID-19 Travel Restrictions: Like you, we’re passionate about exploring BC on the #BCAleTrail. But now is the time to stay local and support local businesses with just your immediate household or core bubble.⁠

BC’s breweries are strictly adhering to recommended COVID-19 safety protocols to keep both guests and staff safe. They are ready to welcome you for on-site patio tasting or pick up your favourites to go.

For now, please remember to stick close to home and be a Considerate Craft Beer Consumer. Let us each do our part now, so we can explore BC again, soon. We’re all in this together.

The post Seven Ways to Support Your Local Breweries During the Pandemic appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

As of March 30th, drink and dine-in service is prohibited, except for outdoor patios. ⁠People dining on patios should do so only with their immediate household or core bubble (groups of six maximum). ⁠

Please don’t travel outside of your community to visit our breweries. Consider delivery options where available. Many BC breweries have new patio and outdoor spaces for locals to enjoy. You can also do beer take-out and, in many cases, order for delivery. We also recommend you check out this post for more ways to support your breweries beyond visiting them in person.

To help you support your local brewery, we’ve outlined a few things to keep in mind as a considerate craft beer consumer.

Let’s stay local and support local mindfully, safely, and responsibly on the #BCAleTrail.⁠ Your support makes a difference — we’re all in this together. ⁠⠀

Brewery 101 on the BC Ale Trail [Spring 2021 Edition]

Patio etiquette: Breweries kindly request

Make it easy for servers and staff to get you to your patio table safely and swiftly.

• Arrive together, sit together
• Wear a mask at all times when not seated*
• Groups of six or less
• One member of your party must provide contact info
• Don’t move the tables or chairs
• Don’t mingle with friends at other tables

*Masks are now required for everyone in all public indoor settings and workplaces. You may remove them only when seated at your outdoor patio table. 

Be mindful

Stay aware of other people around you and respect the space and distance available.

• Getting take-out? Upon entry, ensure you are wearing your mask and sanitize your hands
• Remain aware of physical distancing 
• Respect the protocols in place
• Look for arrows and markers for physical distancing on the floors

Be kind

Remember that people are doing their job when asking you to respect their establishment’s policies.

• The staff are doing their best to keep you and them safe
• Don’t ask staff the bend the rules for you
• Be patient; things may take a bit longer 

*Many breweries are now offering delivery if you’re not comfortable dining on their patio or picking up takeout yourself.  

Be respectful

Bring your patience and listening skills to every outing.

• Different breweries have different rules, so please be respectful and adaptable as you acknowledge the work that’s being done to keep you and staff safe
• Take a moment to understand the protocols in place and ask questions if you’re uncertain

We’re all in this together!

Each one of us is experiencing this pandemic in our own way. We must all do our part and make sure the time we do spend at a craft brewery with people in our bubble is safe, responsible, and respectful — we want to continue to enjoy these spaces, after all!

When you’re going out for a pint or a flight, don’t forget to:

• TIP your server!
• Be thoughtful, compassionate, and considerate.
• Don’t travel outside of your community. Look for delivery options instead.
• Please drink responsibly!

Save and share!

Click below to save our Tasting Room 101 Instagram post and share it to your Instagram stories.

 

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Know before you go

When exploring the BC Ale Trail, make sure to look up important information about the area you’re visiting and check on cancellation policies.

This spring, explore your local breweries. New Experiences are Brewing Nearby!

The post BC Breweries 101: How to Be a Considerate Craft Beer Consumer (2021 Spring Edition) appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

That said, we can still find ways to enjoy traditions, both new and old. In the BC Craft Beer community, people in the industry are finding solace in traditions that fit this year’s restrictions or adapting them to make sure the time still feels special. 

We checked in with a few of our brewery friends to see how they’re celebrating this year. Some enjoy traditions inspired by their cultural roots, from places like Italy, Germany, Colombia, and Belgium. Perhaps they’ll inspire you to take up a new tradition or adapt an existing one. And, in case you missed it, definitely be sure to check out our holiday beers round-up and beer gift guide for more festivities.

As for myself, just two days ago, I moved from Victoria to Campbell River. I’m going to miss YYJ’s hub of breweries and the friends that join us inside them, but you better believe we’ll be starting a new holiday tradition that includes some Beach Fire Brewing beverages (and perhaps an actual beach fire if it doesn’t rain too hard).

So take a gander and let us know on Instagram what traditions you’re celebrating, adapting, or adopting this season!

Staff Christmas tree cut-down with Susi Foerg of Rustic Reel Brewing Co.

“Growing up in a German household, we always celebrated Christmas on Christmas Eve.  I prefer this to celebrations on the 25th, because there’s really nothing like opening presents by a fireplace, or just even in the evening with the twinkle lights and candles. 

The mood is amazing and always feels more cosy and wholesome!  For this reason, we close our brewery in the early afternoon on the 24th so that we can all enjoy the evening with family and friends.

What I started last year (our first year of business) was an annual staff Christmas tree cut-down event! We headed up on a logging road, where we had a fire with pallets, roasted smokies, enjoyed some hot apple cider, and then went into the woods to cut down the Christmas tree for the brewery. It’s such an awesome team-building event where we can all laugh, relax, and enjoy each other’s company. 

It was definitely much-needed this year with all the stress of the restrictions and regulations we have to uphold every day. At the end of our wilderness outing, we head back to the brewery where we trim the tree, enjoy a few more drinks, and share a staff meal. Nothing beats those wholesome, real moments!”

Rustic Reel Brewing is located in Kelowna.

Italian treats with Anique Ross of Luppolo Brewing Company

“There are a bunch of Italian Christmas traditions that we enjoy, but I was thinking specifically of panettone. It’s an Italian Christmas cake that is very traditional. A friend of ours makes a version locally, which is to die for, that we sell every year at the brewery. My in-laws in Italy always keep it close to the fireplace before eating it so the butter in the cake warms up a bit before serving. We’ll usually try to pair panettone with a seasonal release or crack a vintage bottle of ours from the cellar.”

Luppolo Brewing can be found on the Vancouver Ale Trail.

Special Belgian-style brews with Ben Coli of Dageraad Brewing

“Christmas traditions are a bit weird this year, of course, and they’re going to be a bit pared down. We always wanted to make a Christmas/New Years/Festivus tradition of Anno, and a lot of people tell me that they open a bottle on Christmas day every year, which warms my heart to the cockles.

Running a brewery, we’re always looking a month or two or three ahead, so we’re thinking about spring in December and getting our summer lineup planned in March. For me, the Christmas season starts in September, when the pears are being harvested. We buy a hundred pounds of Okanagan pears and lay them out to ripen wherever we have room in the brewery, which takes a few days or a week, depending on how warm it is.

Then a few of us get cutting boards and knives and (often with a beer) we pare the pears and put them into ziplock bags and freeze them. Even though it’s still warm out, sometimes positively sweaty, for me that’s the first step in Christmas.

It’s always a little jarring because mentally we’re all still in summer mode, and the realization that we’ve got to get to work on our Christmas/New Year’s beer is bittersweet.

Anno is a unique beer for us in that it gets a new label every year. We usually get to see what kind of magic Lexane and Eli have cooked up for us by late October, so while everyone’s carving pumpkins, we’re seeing the design of our Christmas beer label for the first time, which this year has accompanying matching glassware. I think this year’s label is the best yet. It doesn’t even say Anno on it, but all of our fans know what it is.

And then there’s the bottling. Our bottler can’t fill the big 750ml bottles we use for Anno, so we bottle this beer by hand. It’s a long day of work. I think we did 240 cases this year. That’s a lot of throws of the old bench capper to get all of those bottle caps on. We try to make it fun, play some music, and there’s always a beer break about an hour before we’re done, but it is exhausting work.

And then every Christmas the brewery makes a gift pack with Anno and a few other fancy beers and glassware in it. We give one to every member of our staff because I want to force every member of my staff to enjoy Christmas the way I do, with a glass of Anno in my hand.”

St. Nicholas with Chloe Smith & Cédric Dauchot of Townsite Brewing

“We celebrate St Nicholas on Dec 6th [which is common in several countries, including Belgium, which is where Cedric is from]. The kids put out speculoos cookies and a beer for him, which Cédric and I enjoy once they are in bed!”

Located in Powell River, Townsite Brewing can be found in the Sunshine Coast Ale Trail.

Krampus festivities at Strange Fellows Brewing

The folks at Strange Fellows Brewing celebrate Krampus, who’s kind of like Santa Claus’ evil distant cousin…

In the past, Strange Fellows Brewing has done an event called Krampusmarkt, but it was cancelled this year due to the restrictions on events. Instead, the brewery decided to do socially-distanced photos with Krampus! 

The brewery writes, “KRAMPUS may seem a little flat this year but he’s doing his socially-distanced best to accommodate his annual photo session under the circumstances. He’d love no better than to sit you on his knee, to wrap his arms around you, but Dr. Henry said not this year — so that will have to wait ’til next.”

Visit Strange Fellows Brewing any time 12-8pm Sun-Thurs / 12-10pm to take your own photo with KRAMPUS. They also have a KRAMPUS inspired beer available, a Belgian style Abbey Dubbel.

Late-night Colombian-style festivities with Andres Amaya of Andina Brewing Company

“Christmas in Colombia is celebrated most prominently on Christmas Eve, so the important date you can’t miss is December 24th.

 Growing up, we would dress up and visit with parents, siblings, and grandparents. A big tradition was to go buy fireworks and burn them either on the street or in the back yard. The sounds and colours of burning fireworks lifted our spirits while enjoying a nice cold beer or a stiff drink. Afterwards, at dinner, usually, everyone spoke at the same time and there were many conversations going around the table, but somehow everyone knew what everyone was talking about.

Of course, we can’t spend the holidays with the whole family and do fireworks this year, but I’m grateful to have my own family at home now to spend it with. We’ll still have a big dinner of ham or roast, lots of salads, bread, cheese, buñuelos, natilla, fruits, and many desserts. Plus some great spirits and beer, of course.

We’ll still stay up late and, eventually, we’ll gather around the Christmas tree and open presents. Then we’ll probably stay up even later into the earlier hours of the morning (which we always do), enjoy some more beer and drinks, just telling stories and talking and enjoying our time together.”

Andina Brewing Company is located on the Vancouver Ale Trail.

Feliz Navidad with Mauricio Lozano of Faculty Brewing

While Mauricio’s Lozano’s favourite Mexican Christmas tradition isn’t possible this year, he’s remembering it fondly.

“The most Mexican Christmas celebration is a Posada. Posadas are super popular in Mexico, but not exclusive (they come from the Spanish colonial tradition, so most Latin American or Spanish colonies like the Philippines have a version of it). It has a very deep Catholic root.”

It’s a large gathering (a neighbourhood, extended family, even co-workers, etc.) that starts with a re-enacting of Mary and Joseph asking for ‘posada’ (which means shelter, hostel, refuge, etc.). Half the party goes outside the house and half stays inside. The outside group has lit candles. You can bring small figurines of Mary and Joseph; some go as far as to dress a couple as Mary and Joseph. There is a call-and-answer-type song with each side singing different verses.

At the end, the whole outside group is welcomed inside and there are traditional foods and songs, but specially in posadas is where the star-shaped piñatas are broken, which are filled with traditional candy, but mainly sugar cane and fruits.”

Lozano says he usually travels back home to Mexico to celebrate Christmas at least every other year. “Going home for the holidays will mean going to several posadas, which is pretty much the main type of Christmas party everyone hosts.” He has also hosted them here, but obviously won’t be doing that this year. His immediate family will be doing a mini “adapted” version or at least enjoying a celebratory meal of traditional Mexican dishes and some piñata treats.

Faculty Brewing can be found on the Vancouver Ale Trail.

When it doubt, go all out

This year, many breweries are going all out with their decorations. I don’t know about you, but my mood instantly improves a little when I come across an extravagant Christmas tree, pretty lights display, or kooky decorations. 

So, to all of you breweries that have been decking the halls: we see you, we appreciate you. 

Give them a socially distanced high five when you stop by!

And for those who don’t celebrate

Another Beer Co. co-founder Alex Jopson and his wife Nadine Hansen don’t celebrate Christmas, but last year they decided to open up the brewery on Christmas day. No decorations, just lots of good, welcoming vibes. 

“We figured there were others that either didn’t celebrate Christmas themselves, or maybe didn’t have anywhere to go on the day. We were quite busy throughout the day.”

They’re doing the same this year. So whether you celebrate Christmas or not, if you live in New Westminster and want a place to hang out socially-distanced, drop by alone or with your core bubble to simply enjoy some nice fresh beer. 

That’s always worth celebrating. 

Another Beer Co. can be found on the New West, Delta, Surrey & Richmond ale trail.

Cheers to traditions new, old, and re-imagined!

From everyone at the BC Ale Trail, we wish you a healthy, happy, and warm season. 

The post How BC breweries are celebrating this weird holiday season appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

This story was originally published on the Hoyne Brewing WEBSITE.

Cans have always been something that we considered, but we wanted to be able to do them right before we made the investment. Sean [Hoyne]’s view was that only the best machine that delivers the highest quality canned beer would do. In 2019, shortly before the world turned inside out, we found that machine and made the leap, putting down substantial deposits on a state-of-the-art canning line from Italy.

Had we known what was coming with the pandemic, it’s highly unlikely we would have ventured into this new realm — but we’d made the choice and there was no turning back.

When COVID emerged in Canada in late February into early March, we’d already seen the toll it was taking on Italy, which was under severe lockdown measures and suffering from high infection rates. It was next to impossible for anyone to enter or leave the country and with our canning line already in transit, the next few months looked impossibly complicated.

And then came the shutdowns here. Overnight, along with just about every other craft brewery, we lost about 50% of our sales as pubs and restaurants shuttered. It was a scary and bleak moment, filled with uncertainty — which, for us, was compounded by the fact that our pricey canning line was set to arrive any day without the support of technicians who usually facilitate the install.

Our Pledge

As the pandemic grabbed hold and uprooted our routines, jobs, and social lives, [Hoyne’s owners] Sean and Chantal made a decision: anyone who wanted to keep working would be able to keep working.

“Our team is what keeps us moving, so we wanted to support them as best we could,” said Sean Hoyne, Brewmaster.

“It didn’t mean the business wasn’t stressed to the max,” Sean explained, “but we’ve long believed in investing in our community and that meant getting creative with our team.”

Sales reps became home delivery people, our front office took on new projects, and our brewers, who’d seen production slow dramatically, were enlisted to become the missing technicians we’d been expecting from Italy.

The Machine

Our initial reservations on moving into cans were based on quality, which is central to everything we do at Hoyne. Most entry-level canning lines permit oxygen into the cans, which affects the beer in very short order, so we knew we didn’t want that level of machine. The one we purchased not only purges all oxygen from the cans as they’re capped, but also uses ionized air to sterilize the cans and an automatic fill-detection system that detects low fills and kicks them out — so every beer that is canned is perfect.

It was the machine we’d been waiting for and excitement was high. We’d carefully mapped out the footprint for the machine, having it custom built to fit our space and create the most efficient use of our packaging floor — but then the challenges of assembly emerged with technicians being unable to come to help.

Putting It All Together

“It’s like a giant jigsaw puzzle,” said Sean when he first considered putting it together ourselves.

The entire line was delivered in pieces — very large,  expensive, heavy pieces. Putting it together was complicated and required an assembly manual that would cause panic in anyone who’s ever put together an IKEA shelf. Our core team of installers included brewers Chris McCrodan, Antoine Foukal, and Dylan Hoyne, Sean and Chantal’s son. With a steady and practical approach, along with some Zoom calls to technicians abroad, everything was arranged into place. Then a Vancouver company called Bevco came to assist with the final hook-ups, with our team there to help and learn.

“The unforeseen benefit to all of this is that we now understand the canning line way better than we ever would have.” – Chris McCrodan, brewer.

Up And Running

As things slowly reopened into a new reality, the canning line served as a lifeline for us. It helped keep our crew busy, not just in assembly but once it was up and running with more home deliveries and stores around the province. We couldn’t have predicted it, but the project helped us save jobs.

In July, we released our first cans for retail sales. Hoyne Pilsner and Dark Matter rolled off the line and into stores, then into fridges or camping coolers throughout our great province. Now we have a long list of offerings in cans, including Helios, Entre Nous and more.

Like everyone else, we’re hopeful for the days after the pandemic but are very proud of the way our team pulled together to keep the ship afloat during one of the biggest economic challenges we’ve ever faced. We’re also very excited to be in cans!

Hoyne Brewing can be found on the Victoria Ale Trail.

The post How A Canning Line Helped Hoyne Brewing Save Jobs appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

How is it already time to think about holiday season gifts?!?? I don’t know about you, but 2020 has been the longest, yet quickest year. But since it is that time of year and we’re sticking close to home, the best way to shop for your nice list is local all the way. Just in case you need some inspiration, I’ve put together a craft beer lover’s gift guide to help you get things done!

LIKE YOU, WE’RE PASSIONATE ABOUT EXPLORING BC. BUT NOW IS THE TIME FOR US TO STAY LOCAL AND SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES WITH JUST YOUR IMMEDIATE HOUSEHOLD OR BUBBLE. LET’S EACH DO OUR PART NOW, SO WE CAN EXPLORE BC AGAIN, SOON. WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

Stocking stuffers

One thing that will never go out of style is the stocking stuffer. These are the tiny but mighty gifts that delight any giftee because the kid in us loves to unpack a Christmas stocking. This is where the thought truly counts and hits our hearts. (It’s sappy, but true.)

Gift Cards

Hear me out on this one. Giving the gift of choice so someone can purchase something they actually want is an amazing gift. Especially in a year where we’ve been stripped of most of our choices — like vacations. Gift cards are also a fantastic way to support your local breweries, brewpubs, liquor stores, etc. Wildeye Brewing and Andina Brewing Co. are just two examples of breweries with gift card options. (Psst! They are also super easy to add to a holiday card and pop in the mail!)

Swag

Kit your gift list out with swag from their favourite breweries (or your favourite). Many breweries like Steel & Oak, Vancouver Island Brewing, Sherwood Mountain Brewhouse, Howe Sound Brewing, Fisher Peak Brewing, and Townsite Brewing have swag available for purchase in their tasting room. You name it, they’ve probably got it:

• Baseball caps
• Growlers
• Toques
• Bottle openers
• T-shirts
• Sweatshirts
• Plaid shirts
• Glassware (Pssst! Strange Fellows Brewing has re-released their Krampus beer with a beautiful, branded glass!)
• Masks
• Dog accessories
• Socks
• And more!

This reminds me that I have my eye on some socks for my partner — which also reminds, me, I need to see if VIB ships!

Local craft Beer

Whether it’s a tall-boy pack, bomber, full-on mix pack, or glassware-beer combo, local breweries have got you covered for gifting tiers. And if you’re shopping for someone elsewhere in Canada or the world, consider supporting their local breweries for any and all of the above. Vancouver Island Brewing, Parallel 49 Brewing, Steamworks Brewing, and other breweries have mix packs available this year and they look fantastic!

For more craft beer gift inspiration, check out our guide to this year’s winter beers!

Experiences

Help your giftees create some memories and keep busy with amazing experiences to enjoy at home or out and about on the BC Ale Trail.

Give a flight to taste some flights

(For when we can travel again!) Travelling to visit breweries is always fun, but amp up that experience with a flight on a helicopter or floatplane! Your giftees can enjoy a scenic flight to sip craft beer flights on a mountaintop or facing amazing water views. We shared details on this type of ale-venture with SKY Helicopters and Sunshine Coast Air here.

Staycation weekend

I love a staycation, and it’s the perfect idea for a couple. Victoria residents have the bed and breakfast at Spinnakers Brewpub in their “backyard”, while Squamish and the Sea to Sky Corridor have the hotel at Howe Sound Brewing to get cosy in. My partner and I had a staycation at Spinnakers when we lived in Victoria and it was wonderful — be sure to book the Cozy Up for Winter package. (It includes dinner, breakfast, beer and truffles pairing, and one night’s stay.)

DIY Beer “advent” collection

Craft beer advent calendars sell out very quickly, so why not make one for the craft beer lover in your life? Or create a mini version to open from Christmas into the New Year.

craft beer Books

Share the knowledge of craft beer, homebrewing, and cooking with beer!

• Craft Beer Revolution (By our very own Joe Wiebe!)
• Cooking with Craft Beer
• Methods of Modern Brewing
• Beer School
• The Brew Your Own Big Book of Craft Beer

Beer it forward

Many breweries give patrons the opportunity to purchase a pint or a flight (or two!) for a friend, essential worker, or just the person behind them! Their name will go on a board and it’s a nice way to say “Happy Holidays!”.

#bcbeercon tickets

The BC Craft Brewers Conference has gone digital for 2021! Craft beer professionals and enthusiasts can virtually attend a three-day (February 3 – 5) offering of keynotes, workshops, networking, and more! Tickets start at $20 + applicable taxes and make for a great stocking stuffer!

Let the BC Ale Trail be your guide to craft beer-themed gifting this holiday season. Happy shopping!

The post Give the Gift of Craft Beer this Holiday Season appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

Travel makes us laugh, cry, ponder life’s greatest questions, and ignite our taste buds—and so do these shows! So make an event out of it. Gather some special snacks and choose your film-watching beverages carefully. 

To help you out, we’ve paired BC Craft beers to go along with a variety of travel movies.

Bon Voyage!

Exhilarating – Hoppy and intense 

In the mood for an adventure that will leave you on the edge of your seat and wondering what will happen next? Check out one of these movies and pair it with a beer that will excite your taste buds with intense hop profiles.

Free Solo

In this insane documentary, professional rock climber Alex Honnold attempts to conquer the first free solo climb of the famed El Capitan’s 900-metre vertical rock face at Yosemite National Park. By the way, free solo climb = no rope! Whether you’re a die-hard climber yourself or have never touched a bag of chalk, this movie will ignite your sense of adventure. 

The Beach

Based on the book by Alex Garland, a young guy named Richard travels to Thailand in pursuit of adventure. After growing sick of the beaten path, he discovers an odd map to a secret beach, rumoured to be home to a hidden island community. This movie starts withby sparking your memories (or dreams) of travelling in South East Asia before taking a wacky twist.

Interstellar

Fantasizing about travelling out of this world? Throw on the 2014 hit, Interstellar. It takes place in the future where Earth is becoming uninhabitable and needs to be saved by Cooper (aka Matthew McConaughey), a farmer and ex-NASA pilot. Cooper is asked to pilot a spacecraft along with a team of researchers to find a new planet for humans and it is a wild ride. 

Beers to Pair

• Backcountry Brewing: Widowmaker IPA (channelling the Chief in Squamish)
• Driftwood Brewery: Fat Tug IPA (on the beach)
• Central City Brewers & Distillers: Red Racer Super Solar IPA (out of this world)

Soul Searching – Dark, smooth, and complex

Maybe it’s cliche to say we travel to “find” ourselves, but, you know, sometimes it’s just so true. If you’re wanting to relive those soul searching feelings, check out one of these favourites. They pair excellently with rich and smooth brews to soothe your soul. 

Into the Wild

This one will leave you pondering some of life’s biggest questions—but it’s also a great story about exploring and the types of characters you meet while travelling. It’s a true story about Christopher McCandless, a young American who decides to leave his life behind to hitchhike across America and into the Alaskan wilderness. It’s heartbreaking yet uplifting and perfectly captures an intense passion for life. Excellent viewing for sipping a rich stout or porter.

Secret Life of Walter Mitty

We can all relate to a life tinged with monotony these days. In Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Walter (aka Ben Stiller) dreams up romantic and action-filled adventures to escape from his dull life. When his job is threatened, he sets out on a real journey to Greenland.

Wild

If you’re yearning for a great outdoor adventure, take a walk in Cheryl Strayed shoes in this adaptation of her book by the same name.  Recently divorced, Cheryl decides to kickstart her new life by hiking along the 1,100 mile-long Pacific Crest Trail. The simplicity of her trip makes for an emotional journey that channels her mentally and physically. She meets interesting characters along the way but ultimately gets to know herself better.

Thelma and Louise

Thelma and Louise is a feminist icon and the perfect mix of hysterically funny and brutally sad. Thelma and Louise intend to head out on a brief fishing trip, but it leads to a sexual assault and Louise shooting the perpetrator. So they flee to Mexico. While you’re probably not hoping to be fleeing the law on your next trip, it’s an awesome story about two women bonding on the road.

Beers to Pair

• Hoyne Brewing: Dark Matter 
• Old Yale Brewing: Sasquatch Stout
• Mount Arrowsmith Brewing: Low Pressure Porter
• Field House Brewing: Dark Sour
  

Heart Warming – Playful and fun, yet still very satisfying

Looking for some feel-good adventure stories to make you feel all cosy inside? We’ve got a romantic getaway, an animated favourite, and some tear-jerking reality TV on tap for you. Pair them with a rich, fun, drinkable beer. 

Under the Tuscan Sun

Who doesn’t love fantasizing about picking up and moving to Italy? In Under the Tuscan Sun, Frances Mayes, a writer from San Francisco, gets a divorce that leaves her with terminal writer’s block and depression. So, she decides to buy a house in Tuscany to change up her life. There’s romance. There’s beautiful Italian scenery. There are heartwarming moments and a zest for adventure. What more can you ask for?

Up

Name a better Pixar movie, I dare you. Up tackles some of life’s biggest lessons while leaving you with a constant grin plastered on your face. Whether you haven’t seen it yet (is that possible?) or you’ve seen it 10 times, it may be the perfect pick-me-Up for these trying times.    

Queer Eye in Japan

Another laugh until you cry/cry until you laugh must-see. In this Netflix mini-series, the Fab Five brings their quintessential message of self-care and compassion to Japanese men and women while exploring the country’s rich culture and cuisine. You get the Fab Five treatment while also experiencing a sneak-peek of Japan!

Beers to Pair

• Fernie Brewing: The Professor Amber Lager
• Main Street Brewing: Cosmic Dancer Australian IPA
• Fuggles & Warlock Craftworks: Kiwami Plum Sour

Culinary – A curated tasting flight

Travelling to eat has got to be one of the best ways to see the world. Meet people and cities from lands near and far through the eyes of some of TV’s most likeable chefs and the amazing dishes they try. Since every cuisine pairs with a different type of beer, we’ve curated a suggested tasting flight so you can embark on a taste bud adventure while you feast your eyes on delicious visuals. 

Salt Fat Acid Heat

Get ready to spend four episodes with your new best friend in this Netflix series. Chef and food writer Samin Nosrat travels around the world to explore the central principles of what makes food delicious. You get gorgeous travel content and amazing cooking knowledge! Based on her James Beard Award-winning book of the same name, Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat is an essential guide for the basic elements of good cooking.

Breakfast Lunch and Dinner

Chef David Chang is, in many ways, the polar opposite to Samin’s personality, but his no BS attitude and down-to-Earth ways are just as likeable. In this Netflix series, he joins celebrity guests like Seth Rogan and Chrissy Teigen to explore the cuisines and culture in different cities around the world. It’s hilarious, introspective, and full of delicious food. 

Parts Unknown

The late, great Anthony Bourdain’s travel series are always worth revisiting. Parts Unknown may be the ultimate show for transporting you to other lands in a way that feels amazingly authentic. He travels across the globe to uncover little-known areas of the world and celebrate diverse cultures by exploring food and dining rituals and meeting fascinating people along the way. 

Curated tasting flight

• Luppolo Brewing: La Piazza Italian Pilsner
• Four Winds Brewing: Forgotten Fruit Farmhouse Ale with Quince
• Île Sauvage Brewing: Yuzu Gose

Goofy – Light and refreshing

Looking for some easy drinking and a light profile? Sounds like the job for a classic rom-com or goofy family adventure. Sit back, relax, and enjoy a light and refreshing brew while satisfying your travel nostalgia with some laughs.

Mamma Mia

Grab your tambourine and let yourself be whisked to a Greek Island, why don’t ya? Mamma Mia is always an instant mood booster, no matter how many times you’ve seen it. Set to ABBA hits, bride-to-be Sophie secretly invites three men who were her mother’s past lovers to her wedding, with the hope that one of them is her father. Scandalous!

National Lampoon’s Vacation 

Missing your crazy family road trips? Re-live their trials and tribulations with this classic as Clark Griswold embarks on a cross-country expedition with his family. There’s always a hurdle around the bend when it comes to family travel (especially for the Griswolds)—that’s where the fun is.

Emily in Paris

Okay, this Netflix series is a bit of a meme thanks to its cheesiness and overall “badness”, but it’s also pretty fun to watch while enjoying a drink. It’s the classic “American girl gets swept off to Paris to fulfil her dreams,” plot, which serves as a lovely distraction with the added bonus of French scenery. Make yourself a cheese plate, pour a light and delicious beer, and imagine yourself in Emily’s size 6 shoes for a couple of hours.

Beers to Pair

• Strange Fellows Brewing: Jongleur Wit
• Longwood Brewery: Honey Hop Pale Ale
• Parallel 49 Brewing: Trash Panda Hazy IPA

Perfect for every craft beer lover

Looking for some good old fashioned beer stories instead? Try these on for size:

Strange Brew

This is less a travel movie but, if you’re reading the BC Ale Trail, you’re bound to get a kick out of Strange Brew. In a quest for free beer, Canadian brothers Bob and Doug McKenzie end up working at the Elsinore Brewery. Turns out the evil Brewmeister Smith is plotting to take over the world by tainting the beer. Intrigued? 

The Beer Hunter

Famed beer writer Michael Jackson’s six-episode TV series, “The Beer Hunter,” from 1989 is available to watch on YouTube, and it is still relevant and interesting today. It includes tours and interviews at famous breweries in Europe as well as some incredible coverage of the early North American craft beer scene.

Happy viewing, everyone!

Show us what pairings you try or what other movies you’re enjoying while sipping BC Craft Beer at home. Tag us on Instagram @BCAleTrail to let us know!

The post Beer and Movie Pairings to Soothe Your Wanderlust  appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

One of the ways that many craft breweries have adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic is by expanding their outdoor patios to allow more patrons to visit the brewery and sample beers in person. This has helped to mitigate the reduced capacity of indoor tasting rooms and provided an alternative for people (me included!) who are simply not comfortable sitting inside even with social distancing rules in place. 

Back in May, the provincial government’s Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) announced a new measure allowing breweries to apply to temporarily expand their service areas until October 31, 2020. This generally led to outdoor patio expansions, since most breweries’ tasting rooms are fixed spaces that can’t be expanded. Throughout the summer and into the fall, this worked well for all involved. The breweries could accommodate more customers outside and customers who were wary of sitting indoors could spread themselves out in the summer sunshine.

Please Note: Travel Restrictions & Recommendations

Until at least December 7, there are travel restrictions throughout British Columbia. At this time, all non-essential travel should be avoided. This includes travel into and out of B.C. and between regions of the province. Do not travel for a vacation, and do not travel to visit friends or family outside of your household or core bubble. Stay close to home, and socialize only with those in your immediate household or core bubble. Enjoy beer from your local breweries and stay close to home.

Earlier this fall, with the prospect of colder, wetter weather looming, the LCRB extended all temporary service area expansions for another year to October 31, 2021. With this assurance, many breweries have chosen to invest in winterizing infrastructure, including tents, pergolas, heaters, and awnings.    

On southern Vancouver Island, winters certainly get cold and wet, but the temperatures usually stay above freezing, snow is not a guaranteed event, and it isn’t unusual to enjoy days of sunny weather where the thermometer registers double digits in the early afternoon. Heck, the Cowichan Valley boasts Canada’s warmest mean temperature annually. So it isn’t beyond the realm of possibility to imagine sitting on an outdoor patio here in December or January. 

Here is a rundown of what some of the Island’s breweries are doing to winterize their outdoor facilities as we head into the coldest, darkest, wettest time of year.

Victoria’s newest brewery, Whistle Buoy Brewing, was less than a year old when COVID-19 hit. Located on the bottom level of Market Square, Whistle Buoy opened in the summer of 2019, with a small tasting room and an outdoor patio that is guaranteed to be busy on sunny days. The brewery has always depended on customers drinking its beer on site, so its patio expansion is crucial to its financial survival. Recently, it installed a 1,100-square-foot tent over its expanded patio, with partial side panels that block the bitterest wind while still allowing for airflow. It seats up to 50 people with tables well spaced out to keep parties apart. Several propane heaters keep the chill away, although it’s still a good idea to bundle up or BYOB (blanket). You are allowed to bring your own food with you, too, or you can buy something from a food cart that often parks at one end of the patio.

Not far away on Government Street, Vancouver Island Brewing has winterized its parking lot patio in front of the brewery with patio heaters, tents, and lanterns for the tables. 

Even though Hoyne Brewing does not have a tasting room or patio, the brewery has installed an awning to help keep customers dry as they wait in line to buy beer at the brewery’s store, which only allows one person at a time.

Twa Dogs Brewery at Macaloney’s Caledonian Distillery has installed a big tent over its parking lot patio space, complete with walls and windows to keep the winter winds out but let the sunshine in. String lights hang from the ceiling and there are heat lamps over each table. This was done while still keeping accessibility for wheelchairs as well as bicycle parking. 

Howl Brewing’s tiny tasting area cannot accommodate many people, and although it has a small picnic area across the parking lot where patrons can enjoy sample flights or glasses of beer, government regulations prohibit the addition of any infrastructure like tents or even patio umbrellas to picnic areas at breweries. That said, the folks at Howl say, “Rain or shine we will be brewing beer, and for the winter we will provide hand-held umbrellas that will be sanitized before and after every use along with a warm smile and craft beer.” (It’s one of my favourite destinations by bicycle from Victoria so I can vouch for the smiles and the quality of the beer!)

Howl Brewing, Hoyne Brewing, Twa Dogs Brewery, Whistle Buoy Brewing, and Vancouver Island Brewing can all be found on the VICTORIA ALE TRAIL.

Looking Up Island, Duncan’s Red Arrow Brewing recently upgraded the licencing on its outdoor picnic area into a full-service patio and the brewery took the opportunity to add some tenting and heaters. There are five tables of four and one table of six available under the tented space.

Red Arrow Brewing can be found on the Vancouver Island Ale Trail Part 1.

In Port Alberni, Dog Mountain Brewing’s awesome rooftop patio has also been significantly winterized. It is now covered with a giant circus tent with walls and windows so that customers can still enjoy the views. There are two natural gas heaters that can heat about 1,500 square feet, and 10 socially distanced tables with six seats each.

Courtenay’s Ace Brewing has built a pergola above its parking lot patio and is looking into tenting options for covering it and gas heaters to keep it warm. It is dog friendly and has room for 30 people.

Also in Courtenay, Gladstone Brewing has expanded its outdoor seating, adding some tenting and heaters as well.

And up in Campbell River, Beach Fire Brewing created a large outdoor seating area behind the brewery earlier this year. Beach Fire has covered and enclosed the space, and added heaters and a wood-fired pizza oven to help keep things cosy. Blankets are provided (washed between uses), but customers are definitely recommended to bundle up. 

Ace Brewing, Beach Fire Brewing, Dog Mountain Brewing, and Gladstone Brewing can be found on the Vancouver Island Ale Trail Part 2.

Know before you go

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

The post Vancouver Island Breweries Are Ready for Winter Weather appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.