This blog was originally published January 8, 2025, and has been updated to reflect current brewery offerings as of January 2026.

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Gone are the days when “non-alcoholic beer” meant relegating yourself to a dusty bottle of O’Douls hiding at the back of a grocery store shelf. The craft brewing landscape is undergoing another transformation, driven by a growing wave of consumers embracing alcohol-free alternatives not out of necessity, but by choice. Whether motivated by health consciousness, lifestyle changes, or simply curiosity, more and more craft beer enthusiasts are discovering that cutting back on alcohol doesn’t mean compromising on beverage quality or craft brewing excellence.

BC’s craft breweries have risen to meet this growing demand, creating complex, flavourful beers that contain 0.5% ABV or less. Beyond traditional beer styles, you’ll also find a growing number of creative alternatives like hop waters, offering craft beverage experiences that maintain the artisanal spirit of craft brewing while eliminating alcohol content. Choosing not to drink no longer means missing out on the craft experience.

So why doesn’t everyone brew non-alcoholic beers?

Unlike making a mocktail, where one ingredient is easily left out, the traditional processes of brewing beer are what lead to alcohol being created during fermentation. What’s a brewer to do?

Without going into too much technical detail – because let’s face it: brewing is both an art form and a highly developed skill set that depends on chemistry, math, and biology, takes years to learn, and would take even longer to type into a single blog – there are two basic ways to create a non-alcoholic brew.

One is to brew a beer as normal, and then remove the alcohol. The second is to use specific ingredients and/or techniques that limit the production of alcohol during fermentation.

Sounds easy enough, right? So… what’s the catch? Well, the actual production of an NA beer might not be too complicated for a talented brewer given enough time to create a recipe, but both methods require specialized equipment that isn’t exactly available at your local homebrew supply shop and certainly does not come cheap. Add in the requirement for additional physical space in the brewery for said equipment, and more often than not, you run into a wall (literally, and figuratively). As the prevalence of NA beers increases, equipment suppliers are working to design equipment suitable for smaller breweries, while brewers are working to create more efficient recipes and find workable solutions to preservation methods such as small-scale water bath pasteurisation.

If you want to learn more about the process of brewing NA beers, I would highly recommend checking out this video produced by KPU Brewing and Brewery Operations. They definitely know their stuff: in 2024, a group of first-year KPU students took home a silver medal for their non-alcoholic Stout at the US Open College Beer Championships. 

What it all boils down to is this: brewing a tasty non-alcoholic beer is just as complex, if not more so, than crafting the next seasonal (alcoholic) beer release. It takes time, care, dedication, and significant investment. And, as we know, all BC craft beer is nothing if not exceptionally crafted. Keep reading to discover some of the incredible non-alcoholic beers, hop waters, and other non-alc beverages produced at breweries around the province.

(note: beers and beer alternatives are listed alphabetically by brewery)

Non-Alcoholic Beers

4 Mile Brewing Co. in Victoria, BC

4 Mile currently has three different offerings in their Point Four (0.4% ABV) lineup of low/non-alc beers. These tasty brews are only available on tap at the 4 Mile Brew Pub.

• Point Four: A blonde/golden ale
• Mandarin Point Four:  Made with real fruit puree
• Dark Point Four: A new, small batch Nitro Stout

Hero .5 from Buffalo Rouge Brewing Co. in Kelowna, BC

Lively and dynamic, with peach and tropical fruit flavours up front. This hazy non-alc brew is only available on tap in the tasting room. 

Dry Goods from Good Life Brand Collective

Originally crafted by the folks at Powell Brewery, the Dry Goods brand of NA beers is now under the umbrella of the team at Good Life Brand Collective. Their current lineup includes:

• West Coast IPA: Bright, hoppy, and unapologetically West Coast. With notes of citrus peel, pine and resin on the nose, it has a bold hop flavour with grapefruit and orange over a dry, golden malt base.
• Grapefruit IPA: Vibrant and punchy; a fruit-driven IPA that still drinks like a craft beer. Fresh grapefruit zest and tropical hops on the nose are backed with juicy citrus upfront, light sweetness, and a dry, pithy finish.

LOGO from Fernie Brewing Co. in Fernie, BC

Launched in June 2023, LOGO by Fernie Brewing Co. sets the standard for mountain-brewed, adventure-inspired, non-alcoholic craft beer. There are currently three brews available:

• LOGO Pilsner: Light and clean, with slight malt flavour. This non-alc Pils is a classic, go-to for the adventure lifestyle enthusiast.
• LOGO IPA: All the hop, none of the alcohol, this non-alc IPA is fruity and delicious. An accessible, hop-forward option that ensures no one gets left behind.
• LOGO Citrus: A bright, crisp brew bursting with lemon and lime. Big on refreshment, without the alcohol, this non-alc beer is made for adventure.

Field House Brewing Co. in Abbotsford and Chilliwack, BC

Field House is introducing non-alcoholic versions of two of its core beers:

• Salted Lime Mexican Lager: This non-alc beer is light, crisp and endlessly crushable, crafted for when you want the taste without the compromise. The style is elevated with real lime and a touch of sea salt, adding a bright, citrusy kick and just the right savoury edge.
• Salted Black Porter: Brewed with traditional ‘dutch droppies’ (salted black licorice candies), the Salted Black Porter offers flavours of coffee, licorice, chocolate, and caramel, for a balanced malt profile and residual sweetness.

iOTA from Phillips Brewing & Malting in Victoria, BC

Launched in late 2021 by Phillips Brewing, iOTA beers are brewed for craft beer fans who are “experimental, flavour-focused, confident, and self-aware.” 

The name iOTA comes from the Greek letter iota, meaning an extremely small amount. For the folks at Phillips, this was a reflection of their belief that craft beer is not defined by its alcohol content, but rather the community it builds. Even though there’s only a minute amount of alcohol (less than 0.5% ABV), iOTA is still authentically craft-brewed. The line-up includes: 

• Peach Wheat Ale – Brewed with equal parts wheat and malted barley, this delightful non-alcoholic summer seasonal is infused with the alluring sweetness of peaches, resulting in an easy-drinking and refreshing non-alcoholic beer drinking experience that is ripe for patio sessions and good times.
• Cerveza – iOTA Cerveza is the epitome of a thirst-quenching beer. A vacation in every sip, this light-bodied lager delivers big on refreshment with a crisp, clean finish.
• Pale Ale – iOTA Pale Ale is light gold in colour, crafted for smooth and highly balanced malt and hop profiles. This delicious brew brings rounded honey and cereal notes, a straightforward mouthfeel, and deliciously floral hops. This ale strikes a harmony between drinkability and flavour.
• Pilsner – iOTA Pilsner pours pale straw in colour, with an easy and effervescent mouthfeel. The body is light and malt-driven. On the finish, smooth German hop notes complement this even-keeled and delicious lager.
• Hazy IPA – iOTA Hazy IPA is low on bitterness & full of citrus and juicy fruit notes. Our house malted barley lends a hand in creating a smooth sip and helps carry that tropical hazy hop profile.

Steamworks Brewing Co in Burnaby, Mount Pleasant, North Shore and Vancouver, BC

The folks at Steamworks have developed a biological approach to crafting their non-alcoholic brews that respects the brewing process from start to finish. Using specially selected yeast strains and a carefully controlled brewing method, they create beer that naturally contains only trace amounts of alcohol: no harsh removal processes, no compromised flavour. They work with biology, not against it, allowing the natural fermentation process to deliver the full-bodied taste and aroma you expect from craft beer.

Steamworks crafts non-alc beers inspired by beloved styles, using quality ingredients to create brews that satisfy your expectations while standing proudly on their own merit. The result is a clean, authentic beer experience that maintains all the character and complexity of traditional brewing, because it never had that character taken away. Two current releases include:

• Lions Gate Lager (0.3% ABV) – Our Gold Medal winner at the 2025 BC Beer Awards in the non-alcoholic category. A crisp, refreshing lager that proves you don’t need the alcohol for authentic craft beer flavour.
• Hazy IPA (0.3% ABV) – All the juicy, hop-forward character you expect from a hazy IPA, just without the buzz.

Nevertheless from Strange Fellows Brewing in Vancouver, BC

It took the brewers at Strange Fellows years to perfect the recipe for their first NA brew, Nevertheless Pale Ale. Soon after having perfected it, a hazy IPA version followed, and then a Pilsner. Full-bodied, aromatic and flavourful, these brews are nevertheless non-alcoholic.

In 2023, Nevertheless Pale Ale made history by taking home a 3rd place medal in the Specialty Beer category at the BC Beer Awards. It was the first non-alcoholic brew to go head-to-head with alcoholic beers – and win!

Non-Alcoholic IPA from Superflux Beer Co. in Vancouver, BC

Bright and aromatic hop expression. Flavours of orange creamsicle and lemon rind, rounded out with a soft, lingering sweetness that carries everything through cleanly. 

Tin Whistle Brewing in Penticton, BC

Tin Whistle Brewing’s iconic Peach Cream Ale has gone 0.5%. The same beer you know and love, at only 0.5% alcohol. A luscious peach aroma with a light peach taste make this beer a true taste of the Okanagan. Brewed and packaged in Penticton in BC’s only carbon-neutral brewery. Available on draught and to go in the Tin Whistle’s tasting room, and in liquor stores throughout the Okanagan and Kootenays (for now!).

Whistle Buoy Brewing Company in Victoria, BC

Whistle Buoy’s non-alc line-up includes two ‘core’ NA brews: the NA Pale Ale and NA Hazy IPA. They’ve also released two seasonal NA options: the  NA Fuzzy Peach Sour and NA Shaft Coffee Stout. No matter what style of beer you’re craving, Whistle Buoy has an NA option to match.

Co-owner Isaiah Archer says, “Our NA beers are made the same way as our full-strength beers: in small batches with high-quality local ingredients, but with a non-alcohol-producing yeast strain, and they are pasteurized for shelf stability.”

• NA Hazy IPA – This bestseller features Citra and Mosaic hops, providing a fruity aroma and flavour profile with a gentle bitterness that satisfies without overwhelming the senses.
• NA Pale Ale – Inspired by Whistle Buoy’s forever favourite child, Coastality, this beer strikes the perfect balance of all things beer – malty, fruity and hoppy. It’s the right fit for a balanced lifestyle.
• NA Shaft Stout – Created from a luxurious blend of dark malts layered together with chocolate, coffee, and coconutty hops. This classic combo kicks things up a notch to get the tastebuds buzzing.
• NA Fuzzy Peach Sour – This gose-style sour beer has big peach energy and a tangy citrus zip from a dry hop of HBC 1019. We get notes of fuzzy peaches, honeydew melon, and coconut. We’ve also added Vancouver Island sea salt for a slight saltiness that rounds out this light, fruity, and refreshing sour beer.

Other Non-Alc Options

Road Pop from Barnside Brewing in Delta, BC

Try January is about trying something new – not giving anything up. Road Pop Sparkling Hop Water offers a crisp, refreshing experience with zero alcohol and all the flavour you’d expect from a BC craft brewery. Now available in four flavours – Original, Cranberry Orange, Lemon Lime, and Ruby Red Grapefruit. Road Pop is 100% alcohol-free, with zero calories, zero sugar, zero carbs, and zero gluten. Easy to enjoy anytime, it’s a refreshing alternative for brewery visits, trail stops, and everything in between.

Road Pop reflects Barnside’s farm-based roots, using farm-grown Cascade and Triple Pearl hops to bring subtle citrus and grapefruit notes to every flavour and showcasing the local terroir.

Take the Alternate Route and find Road Pop at Barnside’s tasting room, as well as at a wide range of liquor stores and specialty grocers throughout the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island.

Hopped Up! from Category 12 Brewing in Victoria, BC

All fizz. No fuzz. Just pure, aromatic refreshment. The folks at C12 have taken their love of hops beyond beer. Hopped Up! is their line of zero-alcohol, zero-sugar, zero-carb, sparkling waters infused with the same hops used in their craft beers.

They have captured the delicate aromatics of citrus, tropical fruit, and berries without any bitterness. The result: a scientifically precise, guilt-free refreshment for any time of day.

Choose from three flavours: Juicy, Citrusy and Berry.

Island Soda from Hornby Island Brewing Company on Hornby Island, BC

In addition to award-winning beers, Hornby Island Brewing also craft a line-up of bright, refreshing sodas perfect to take along on any Island adventure:

• Island Bliss Sparkling Tea: Contains Hornby Island Tea (organic black tea, citrus peel & lavender), delightfully combined with Westview Farm blackberry lavender simple syrup. Lightly carbonated.
• Delight Sparkling Tea: Contains Hornby Island Tea (Assam green tea, lemongrass, orange peel, horsetail, lavender, calendula and spearmint). With an added touch of local Hornby Island honey to provide a subtle sweetness with carbonation.
• Mango: Tropical beach vibes in a can.The perfect companion to sun-soaked days on Big Trib’s white sand, after an adventure through the trails of Mt. Geoffrey. Lightly sweetened with reduced sugar—never too sweet—so you can sip and savour your perfect Hornby Island moment.
• Ginger Lime Fizz: Contains fresh ginger and lime with zero sweetener, lightly carbonated with a delicious and refreshing kick.
• Sparkling Blackberry Soda: Simply delicious and never too sweet. A sip brings you back to late summer on Hornby Island—the scent of sun-warmed blackberries in the air.
  

  

Hydra Hop Soda Water from Jackknife Brewing in Kelowna, BC

Hydra hop soda water blasts you with refreshing notes of citrus from fresh New Zealand Motueka, Cascade and Mosaic hops. This bright, sparkling infusion is fuelled by a sacrificial offering of crimson hibiscus or juniper and butterfly pea blossom. Quench your soul with a can of Hydra on your next adventure! Zero sugar, Zero Calories, Zero Alcohol and only available in the dungeon…(aka: Jackknife’s taproom for the uninitiated)

Hop Soda from Longwood Brewery on Boxwood Road in Nanaimo, BC

The crisp, clean taste of soda water is complemented by the subtle floral notes of hops, providing perfect hydration for those looking to expand their palate and try something new. Enjoy it on its own, or mix it with your favourite spirits for a truly refreshing cocktail experience. Crafted with West Coast Hops: Amarillo and Cascade. Alcohol free, sugar-free and gluten-free.

Two non-alc, house-made options from Persephone Brewing Company in Gibsons, BC

Farm Fresh Lemonade: Bright, bubbly and bold – this farm fresh, sparkling lemonade is a refreshing take on a timeless classic.

Craft Brewed Iced Tea: A lightly sweetened, fresh-steeped iced tea, kissed with lemon and a balanced level of tannins.

Take your Try January experience to the next level with our photo contest.

January isn’t about skipping the fun, it’s about discovering something new. From now until January 31, 2026 head to your local brewery, try something a little different, snap a photo, and upload it to the BC Ale Trail mobile app for your chance to 𝗪𝗜𝗡

Because BC breweries are about so much more than just beer:

• Non-alcoholic beers, hop water, and craft sodas
• Seasonal menus and seriously good food
• Cozy merch you’ll want to live in
• Trivia nights, games, and reasons to linger a little longer

Every eligible photo submission scores you 25 bonus points and enters you to win one of two BC Ale Trail shirts or a swag pack. Head to the app now, or, if you don’t have the app, you can submit your entry here.

January is for curiosity, connection, and trying something new.
Let’s TRY it.

Every Pint Tells a Story

Supporting Local. Celebrating Community.

The post Craft Without the Kick: The Evolution of Non-Alcoholic Beer in BC appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

My most recent Hops Among Friends interview was with Tessa Gabiniewicz from Land & Sea Brewing. At the end of our discussion, Tessa recommended that I speak with Matt West-Patrick and Isaiah Archer from Whistle Buoy Brewing for my next Hops Among Friends interview. Matt is Co-owner and Head Brewer, Isaiah is Co-owner and Sales & Marketing Manager at Whistle Buoy Brewing, which was established in 2019 in Victoria on the Greater Victoria Ale Trail.

Matt and Isaiah are doing great things at Whistle Buoy Brewing and it was a really interesting discussion. I enjoyed hearing more about their commitment to featuring local ingredients in their beers.

This interview also reminded me that it’s been too long since I’ve been to Victoria. The last time I visited Victoria, I had the opportunity to peek inside the windows at Whistle Buoy Brewing before it opened in 2019.

I’m super honoured to share that this is my 20th interview in this series over the last 7 years. You can read through all of my previous Hops Among Friends articles here. It’s been an absolute privilege to interview so many amazing leaders in the craft beer industry.

Kim: What was your first experience with craft beer?

Matt: Growing up in Victoria, my first experience with craft beer was seeing Phillips Brewing boom as I came to be of legal drinking age. They were the big player in the craft beer market here and doing lots of great stuff. They were my inspiration to later on chase the craft beer dream.

Isaiah: I moved to Victoria when I was 19. I think my first real craft beer experience was going to Sombrio Beach to surf and driving home through Sooke. We would always stop at 17 Mile House Pub after surfing, and we’d eat chowder paired with Race Rocks. This nice, hearty beer from Lighthouse Brewing was part of the whole experience. It was so different than just drinking a cheaper, commercial beer. Then I got introduced to the different beers in the mixed pack from Phillips and the White Bark Witbier from Driftwood Brewery.

Kim: How did you get started in craft beer together?

Matt: There were three of us that started this project together. We founded the company, and then we brought in two more partners during the process. Isaiah, Iwan and I were the three original founders. We spent a lot of time together in 2016 and 2017. We all really enjoyed the coastal life – freediving, spearfishing and other outdoor activities. I was working at Spinnakers at the time. Isaiah had previously worked with Phillips, and we started talking about opening a brewery.

The three of us started to put together our business plan in 2017. We started going to banks in 2018 once we found the space that worked for us. I am the head brewer, Isaiah handles our sales and marketing, and Iwan looks after business development.

As we were dealing with the banks, we started talking about the need for extra investors, and so we brought on two more partners. Colin and Nina were in Windsor at the time and wanted to move back to Victoria. They came on board and Colin is our front-of-house manager, and Nina handles our financials and HR. In the beginning, though, it was all hands on deck, and everyone helped with everything.

Isaiah: Iwan, Matt and I got together based on our mutual interest in craft beer, playing on the same softball team, and our love of freediving and spearfishing. Freediving is a bit of an obscure sport that all three of us were interested in. That shared interest led the three of us to some fishing trips in Bamfield. We were diving near a spot marked by a nautical beacon, which is called a whistle buoy. That is what inspired our branding and logo.

Kim: Tell me more about the Whistle Buoy theme.

Isaiah: The theme really resonated for all of us because of our love of outdoor adventures and our natural and inspiring environment. Plus, we are located in downtown Victoria, which is also a coastal environment. We are young professionals working downtown in the city, but we also have a keen interest in the outdoor environment. So it’s a balance of opposites. We are all about embracing our vibrant, downtown community, full of culture and hospitality, while also making sure we get outside and explore everything that the outdoors has to offer.

A big part of what we try to get across is reflecting the quality of the place that we are in. We are on the southern part of the island, which is a very productive growing region. We want our beers to reflect the growing climate here, and the variety of things that grow around us. We are looking to connect our brewery and beers to our local community in this way. We look at our taproom as an “experience centre”. People can come and try a taste of Vancouver Island.

We have a clear vision to make sure we are buying ingredients that are grown here first, and we work with a lot of local producers before we go elsewhere. A lot of value that we offer comes from this philosophy. It differentiates and highlights the place we are in. We are a tourism destination and we like to reflect the good stuff that is coming from our community. Our beers are made for the people who live here and our visitors.

An example is using bull kelp in our Under Sea Gose. The kelp is from the ocean just up the road from us. The grain for most of our beers is grown near BC Ferries on the peninsula. For our sour beers and fruit beers, we look for local farmers for these ingredients too. It’s important to us to use quality ingredients that are grown as close to home as possible.

Matt: I was at Field 5 Farm today, which is about 20 minutes away from our brewery. They grow and malt their own grains there for us. About 95-98% of the grains that we use for our beer right now are coming from them.

I think it’s also worth noting that we won two silver medals back-to-back in the 2022 and 2023 Canadian Brewing Awards in the Historic/Regional Beers category for our Backyard IPA and our Garden City Fieldberry. Then we won a bronze at the 2023 Canada Beer Cup for our LoJo Lite in the Canadian Grain-Forward category. These awards reflect our commitment to working with local suppliers and featuring local ingredients, so it’s very cool when we win awards for this reason.

The seed to glass film above talks about Whistle Buoy’s commitment to working with local suppliers.

Kim: What makes Whistle Buoy unique?

Isaiah: Our commitment to local, sustainability and quality are front and centre. Another thing that makes us unique is our location. We are located on the courtyard level of the historic Market Square in downtown Victoria. We are able to have a light industrial business in an urban area, which is quite rare for a brewery. We have 170 seats in our taproom and year-round patio. Most of the beer we produce is consumed in our taproom space, and that is because we are in a high-traffic environment.

Kim: Tell me something you are really proud of at Whistle Buoy.

Isaiah: We are proud of creating an inclusive community space. We’ve had a lot of feedback over the last couple of years that groups of people from different backgrounds say they feel welcome in our space. We have worked towards this very intentionally. We have our values and our code of conduct really clear.

Intolerance and discrimination aren’t welcome here. We have fostered a nice community space where people feel welcome. – Isaiah

I’m also really proud of the progress we have made towards using local ingredients. This doesn’t just happen by chance. It was really intentional. It can be more costly to go with local producers, but we have made some very awesome beers because of that commitment.

Matt: It circles back to the awards that we’ve won for our beers. We set the intention to use as many local ingredients as possible, and we’ve done that. We’ve been lucky to have such great partners, like Field 5 Farm.

In addition to kelp, we also add blue spirulina to our Under Sea Gose. This was a bucket list beer for me to be able to make, and it won the silver award at the 2022 BC Beer Awards. To be able to produce this and have it be an award-winning beer is pretty cool.

Plus, we do all that we do in a very small space. Our production area is only 600 square feet. We really have to utilize our space to maximize output. People are always shocked when they see our small space. I’m pretty proud of how we are able to use our space and produce what we do.

We brew about 1,000 hectolitres a year. We are looking to increase that volume this year with our new single-head canning line. We’ve been running it now for about two months. It does about seven or eight cans a minute. It’s small and slow, but works for us. About 90% of our beer is sold through our taproom, and we intend to keep it that way, but our new canning line gives us more flexibility. Previously we were just doing 1-litre crowlers, so we couldn’t can in a way that allowed us to put cans into liquor stores. This new canning line now gives us the ability to package more of our beers in 473ml cans.

Kim: What do you have planned at Whistle Buoy for this winter? 

Matt: Because we just added our new canning line, we’ve been focusing on getting our core brands dialled in. We’ve had some core, flagship beers like our Coastality Pale Ale, however, most of our beers were previously experimental, taproom exclusives. But with the canning line and the ability to now roll out our beers to stores, we are looking to have more regular offerings of our core beers available to our stores.

We anticipate this continuing for the foreseeable future. With an 8-hectolitre system, our distribution is focused on the Greater Victoria area for now. Our focus is to be in all 50 local liquor stores in our community.

Isaiah: Having said that, we have shipped some beer to the Okanagan with some other small breweries. We will co-ship a pallet to interested stores. So this collective approach is the way that we’ll have beer available outside of the area.

In terms of other activities this winter, we do a lot of activations in our space such as comedy, quiz nights, film screenings and other weekly events. We are focused on staying busy and staying open for the people who are in town and want to come through. We are open every day from noon until late. We are staying open, staying consistent and staying inspired to continue offering people in our community things to do. We are planning for a good year ahead. We are anticipating a busy tourism year in 2024, so we are focused on being steady and being consistent as we plan for a great year ahead. Plus, we’ve got some cool collabs coming up.

Kim: What do you love most about the craft beer industry?

Matt: The community and the people that we get to work with. For me, from the outside looking in, you see the collabs and you see the camaraderie. You don’t see this in other industries. We are competitors that are working together.

Isaiah: For me, it’s the fact that we are able to really grow as people and entrepreneurs. There are so many different demands we face on a daily basis. We deal with logistics and shipping. We are leading hospitality teams and managing people. We are doing graphic design, working on packaging, manufacturing beer, and working with local producers. We are selling merchandise that we are designing. There are so many moving parts that make it challenging and yet also so fun. It’s so dynamic. We have a vision, then we execute it, and we make money doing something that makes people happy. It’s very special in that way.

Kim: What keeps you up at night?  

Isaiah: Lots. There is a lot of uncertainty right now. The industry is changing a lot and there are fewer people buying beer. People are making decisions for their health and drinking less alcohol, and that’s OK. The younger demographic is making different choices, and there is economic uncertainty. We are dealing with these changes and uncertainties while also trying to maintain a healthy business. We are working to keep demand for our products at a point where there will always be a market for what we are doing. I believe we are at a scale where this is sustainable.

I think it’s important to be really present to the changes that are happening, otherwise, the market conditions could change so drastically that if you aren’t paying attention you could really get into trouble. This is certainly an inspiration for us to stay on top of things and know why we exist. I think it’s important to know who your best customers are and what they are looking for. Some businesses let this slip, and they pay the price as they discover that their business models don’t work anymore.

Matt: Through this, we are now doing things like NA (non-alcoholic) beer. Five years ago that wasn’t on anyone’s radar. For me as a brewer, I resisted this.

Now I look at it like how do we make an NA beer the best it can be? It’s an interesting challenge, but I’m really proud of what we’ve been able to produce. – Matt

Isaiah: In our taproom space, we try to welcome all people from different demographics and different interests. So it’s always been a priority that we are a welcoming space with a diverse list of offerings. We have local wine, local cider, local kombuchas, craft sodas from Phillips, cocktails, mocktails and more. Whether you like drinking beer or not, we want everyone to feel comfortable. We want to offer something for everyone, and we want those who don’t drink beer or alcohol to be comfortable. We want to offer something for everyone who wants to be social. We are a hospitality company, so we think it’s important to be hospitable to all.

Kim: If you had one piece of advice for someone wanting to get into the craft beer industry, what would it be?  

Isaiah: Honestly, it would be don’t. If there is a town that doesn’t have a community gathering space, then maybe yes. But otherwise, the market is oversaturated and changing so rapidly right now, that my advice would be to wait until the dust settles on the cycle of what our businesses are in right now. I think it’s a huge risk to enter the craft beer market at this time.

Matt: I agree, especially if you don’t know beer. These days, you have to come with your A-game. The level of beer is so high right now and there is no room to make bad beer anymore. It used to be that you could be a home brewer and open a brewery and just figure it out. Now you need education or experience. You better be good because just making beer isn’t enough anymore.

This is maybe a bleak answer. But it is what we feel right now. Good breweries are closing that made good beer.

Kim: What is your favourite beer to enjoy in the winter?

Isaiah: It’s Stout season. I’ve been drinking our Stouty McStoutface, which is an American Stout, 5.8% ABV. It’s plain and simple, easy drinking. I also go to the Drake a lot, and I enjoy the Old Rasputin, a Russian Imperial Stout on nitro from North Coast Brewing Company.

I also like the 1019 Hazy Double IPA collab from Field House and Town Brewing. It’s really great. I like bigger beers at this time of year.

Matt: We just did a Dark Cold IPA as a collab with Another Beer Co. We used rice and tried to make it as light as possible, and hit it with some dark malts. It’s really interesting and one of my favourite beers of late. It was a challenge for us when we came up with the concept. You don’t see a lot of dark IPAs lately, but I was stoked about it. I like something to chew on in my beers at this time of year.

Kim: It’s dry February. What are you drinking when you aren’t drinking alcohol?

Isaiah: Water or SodaStream water with freshly squeezed citrus. I like lemons, limes and oranges with soda water. Having the carbonation is nice. And of course, there’s always going to be coffee involved too.

Matt: For me, it’s water first. We also have Culture Craft Kombucha on tap at the brewery, and it’s a nice alternative. It gets you and your guts feeling good.

Kim: Festival season is coming. What are your favourite craft beer festivals? 

Matt and Isaiah: Whistlemania. It’s our annual birthday party, which we hold on the last weekend in June. We’ve done two now. We host a small music festival with live, local wrestling. We take over the courtyard of Market Square and we have an all-day festival. We had about 650 people last year. We had food vendors and food trucks, drag shows, live wrestling, and other wacky stuff all day long.

Isaiah: Phillips Backyard weekend is great. It’s a good music event tied to craft beer. It’s a premier event in our city. Plus of course, GCBF is always fun, with breweries from all over BC and beyond. It’s a great way to celebrate the industry and try lots of different beers. It’s really an iconic beer festival.

Kim: If budget and space weren’t an issue, if you could have any musician or band perform at your brewery, who would it be? 

Isaiah: Taylor Swift.

Matt: Taylor Swift and Drake. Funny story. We were in Seattle for a Blue Jays game. Taylor Swift was playing next door that same weekend. The whole town was all about the Blue Jays and the Swifties. The Swifties caused an earthquake that night in Seattle from so many people dancing at her concert. It was registered as the equivalent of a 2.3 magnitude earthquake.

And funny enough, I was just talking about our new Dark Cold IPA collab with Another Beer Co. We actually called it Friendship Bracelet, and it was inspired by Taylor Swift.

Kim: Can you tell me about some hidden gems in your area? 

Isaiah: We’re on Lower Johnson (LoJo), which is a boutique retail shopping district in Victoria. There are tons of really high-end shops, clothing stores, coffee shops, amazing restaurants and more. Hey Happy is an amazing coffee shop in Market Square that we go to all the time. Some of my favourite restaurants are The Tapa Bar and Wind Cries Mary. Plus there’s Green Cuisine right next door to us. These are all great dining options in Victoria.

Matt: The Drake is a great place to start. You can see our patio from their patio. Eva Schnitzelhaus is 2 blocks away at the bottom of Chinatown, and it’s really great. Shuck Taylor’s oyster bar is really awesome. It’s a seafood restaurant with local oysters, West Coast seafood, lobster rolls, po boys, local beer, wines and spirits.

Isaiah: Beacon Hill Park has a great petting zoo. It’s like the Stanley Park of Victoria. It’s huge and right downtown by the water. I would recommend everyone walking around there and on the breakwater. It’s a protected area, so there are lots of cool fish species to look for.

I also recommend walking around the inner harbour area. Take the seawall walk from James Bay to downtown and you’ll go past the Empress Hotel and the Legislature Parliament Buildings. It’s also cool to check out the buskers and performers. Plus there are lots of great areas to explore by bike, downtown and beyond.

Matt: Oh and lots of breweries. There are 5 breweries within easy walking distance.

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

Matt and Isaiah: We want you to talk to Alex Jopson from Another Beer Co. in New Westminster next. We just did a collab beer with Another Beer Co. and Land & Sea Brewing. Another Beer Co. is a super tiny brewery. They are very experimental and they are producing very high-quality beers.

Stay tuned for the next instalment of the Hops Among Friends blog series, where I speak with Alex Jopson, the Co-Founder and Director of Another Beer Co. in New Westminster, on the North of the Fraser Ale Trail. Until then, cheers!

The post Hops Among Friends: Isaiah Archer and Matt West-Patrick of Whistle Buoy Brewing appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

BC’s local craft breweries are responding to this demand by creating their own alternative options that top out at 0.5% ABV or less.

One of the biggest craft beer trends right now is the growth of non-alcoholic beers. Over the past couple of years, we have seen the number of “near beers” produced by BC craft breweries rise dramatically as more and more local breweries figure out how to make beers with 0.5% ABV or less that taste good and reflect their high standards for quality.

In addition to low-ABV beers, some breweries have come up with alternative beer-adjacent booze-free beverages to add to their menus, including so-called “hop waters” and hop teas, that provide options for customers looking to cut back on their alcohol consumption.

Liquor stores and beer-focused restaurants are also getting involved in this trend, stocking their shelves and fridges with alcohol-free options and sometimes even offering special promotions to reflect and amplify the dry theme. There is even a booze-free beverage room that recently opened in Coquitlam: Bevees.

Here are some examples of alcohol-free beers produced by BC craft breweries, as well as some other venues you can visit to explore this burgeoning category.

For more info check out JC Sorensen’s blog about non-alcoholic beers from January 2023.

NEVERtheLESS Pale Ale by Strange Fellows Brewing (Vancouver – Yeast Vancouver Ale Trail)

Full-bodied, aromatic and flavourful, this pale ale is nevertheless non-alcoholic. Dry-hopped with Citra and Mosaic, expect aromas of tropical fruits and citrus in this crushable and satisfying craft-brewed NA beer.

Also, Strange Fellows is excited to announce that they have a new non-alcoholic beer launching later this month: the NEVERtheLESS IPA,  a classic Hazy IPA with all the big flavour, hop character and aroma consumers expect to find in that style. Look for it to be released before the end of January.

Also, Tacofino has a promotion connected to NEVERtheLESS: from January 5 to 31, 2024, $2 from all NEVERtheLESS non-alcoholic pale ale and Tacofino mocktail sales (at all six Tacofino Vancouver locations and Tacofino Squamish) will be donated to the Coast Mental Health Foundation.

LOGO by Fernie Brewing Co. (Fernie – Kootenay Rockies East Ale Trail)

 Launched in June 2023, LOGO is a category of mountain-brewed, adventure-inspired, non-alcoholic craft beers, including LOGO Pilsner and LOGO Hazy IPA.

Little Vis IPA by Whistle Buoy Brewing (Victoria – Greater Victoria Ale Trail)

This 0.5% ABV Hazy IPA delivers all the same hoppy goodness with a lighter touch. It features Citra and Mosaic hops, providing a similar fruity aroma and flavour profile with a gentle bitterness that satisfies without overwhelming the senses. It’s perfect for any occasion where you want to savour the flavours of a Hazy IPA without the buzz.

Fire Drill Non-Alcoholic IPA by Firehall Brewing (Oliver)

This popular beer started off as a one-off experiment but now the brewery intends to keep it on tap and in cans year-round!

Tropical Pale Ale by Moody Ales & Co. (Port Moody – Port Moody Ale Trail)

This 0.25% ABV non-alcoholic pale ale features a mix of Citra, Mosaic, and Galaxy hops, bursting with sunny flavours of peach and apricot. To add even more fruit-forward notes, the brewery used yeast native to fruit skins in the brewing process. Hazy gold in colour with aromas of papaya and mango, this refreshing beer brings the tropics to any season.

iOTA Beer from Phillips Brewing (Victoria – Greater Victoria Ale Trail)

The iOTA beer brand was founded by Phillips in 2021. “Responsibly brewed by irresponsible brewers. We believe that the magic of craft beer is not defined by its alcohol content but rather the community it builds.”

The full line-up includes non-alcoholic Pilsner, Pale Ale, Hazy IPA and Blackberry Lemon Ale.

Non-Alcoholic Peach Cream Ale by Tin Whistle Brewing (Penticton – Penticton Ale Trail)

Tin Whistle makes a non-alcoholic version of its iconic Peach Cream Ale that is available on draught in their tasting room. They hope to package it in the future, but for now, it is only available at the brewery.

Dry January at Kettle River Brewing in Kelowna (Kelowna & West Kelowna Ale Trail)

Although Kettle River does not make its own non-alcoholic beer, it is running a Dry January & February passport promotion encouraging customers to try at least one NA option for a chance to win a $200 gift certificate. They have brought in over 17 different non-alcoholic options from around the province and beyond to sample, boasting Kelowna’s largest non-alcoholic beverage selection.

In the works…

Four Winds Brewing in Delta (South of the Fraser Ale Trail) reports that it is working on a non-alcoholic beer to complement its Ultralite IPA (2.9% ABV).

Tapworks Brewing Co. in Gibsons (Sunshine Coast Ale Trail) is working on ways to brew a non-alcoholic beer, but in the meantime, they have come up with an agave-ginger craft soda that’s been selling well.

Beer-Adjacent Craft Beverages

Some BC craft breweries also produce non-alcoholic beverages that have a connection with beer. Here are some examples…

Road Pop Sparkling Hop Water by Barnside Brewing in Delta (South of the Fraser Ale Trail) 

Road Pop is sparkling water refreshingly flavoured with Cascade and Chinook hops grown on the brewery’s own farms in Delta, showcasing the unique terroir that amplifies the citrus characteristics of the hops.

The brewery says they plan on releasing a Cranberry Orange version in the near future.

Hopped Up! from Category 12 Brewing in Victoria (Greater Victoria Ale Trail)

Category 12 makes two varieties of sparkling hop-infused waters.

“Crisp, unsweetened, all-natural flavour at your fingertips! All the fruity freshness of hops (without bitterness!) gives a zing of calorie-free refreshment.”

HOP2O from Russell Brewing in Surrey (South of the Fraser Ale Trail)

HOP2O is a non-alcoholic, hop-infused, zero calorie sparkling water.

Experience a burst of Citra Hops, where citrus, lime and grapefruit unite for a lively, effervescent symphony of flavours.

Trade Winds Ginger Beer by Wheelhouse Brewing in Prince Rupert (Northwest BC Ale Trail)

Whet your whistle in dry January with Wheelhouse’s non-alcoholic Trade Winds Ginger Beer at the new Wheelhouse Brewpub in Prince Rupert! This Kingston-style small-batch ginger beer is the perfect blend of nicey and spicy. Made from unpasteurized BC honey, fresh ginger and just a hint of tropical lemons, it delivers a healthy zip with every sip. Whether you’re gluten-free, alcohol-free, or health-conscious, it’s the soul-warming drink that will brighten up your palate with honey and heat. 

Yuzu NPA from Île Sauvage Brewing in Victoria (Greater Victoria Ale Trail)

Yuzu NPA is a delightful blend of Genmaicha tea and yuzu juice, with a touch of Citra dry hopping.

Liquor Stores, Restaurants and Bars

Most places that sell or serve BC craft beer likely stock some non-alcoholic options from local producers, too. Here are a few places we suggest you seek out:

Bevees – Port Coquitlam

Brewery Creek Craft Beer & Wine Store –  Vancouver (Vancouver – Brewery Creek Ale Trail)

Cascadia Liquor Stores – throughout Vancouver Island

The Drive Canteen – Vancouver

Vessel Liquor – Victoria (Greater Victoria Ale Trail)

The post Refreshing Perspectives: Non-Alcoholic Beers Produced in British Columbia appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

Dry January. Sober October. SepTemperance.

Okay, the last one is a fugazi. But as we’ve all borne witness to a proliferation of occasions and events promoting sober-centric choices of late, we’ve likewise seen a wave of low-ABV wines, mocktails and non-alcoholic beer flooding a dry market. A realm that was once but an empire of dust in the backs of bar fridges ruled over by a skunky bottle of O’Douls and his trusty man-at-arms, Beck.

These are halcyon days for non-imbibers, teetotalers and the sober-curious who walk among us. You know ’em. Always in fine fettle. Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed in the morning. Our dependably designated drivers.

A personal note: As I write this, I’m nine months clean and sober. Long and mostly embarrassing story short: COVID got the best of me. And brought out the worst. The isolation, the malaise, the fact that private liquor stores got into the third-party delivery game. It all added up to one bittersweet boilermaker that had me looking up from a bottom and realizing I needed to take an honest appraisal of my lifestyle and habits. Not to mention the fact that once you blow past your twenties the hangovers come at you as fast and furious as Dom Toretto.

I took my cues and inspiration from fellow travellers navigating the beam, and sober celebrities who had decided to carry a message to others like Robin Williams, who dropped this gem in his iconic A Night at the Met standup album: “I’ll have to sip a Perrier here. I had to stop drinking alcohol because I used to wake up nude in front of my car with my keys in my a**.”

Whether you’re cutting calories, cutting back or cutting it out altogether, there’s never been a better time to sally forth into the sober zone.

Just ask Iain Hill, Brewmaster/Principal at Strange Fellows Brewing. The East Van brewery just dropped a truly satisfying substitute they (and by “they” I mean Strange Fellows’ creative design wizard Christine Moulson) brilliantly dubbed Nevertheless.

“We opened eight years ago, and if we had tried to do this back then, people would have really looked down their nose at it,” he says. “In those days, no self-respecting brewer would have ever considered making a non-alcoholic beer.”

But he was open-minded about exploring that avenue — so long as he didn’t have to cede an inch of ground on one very key ingredient.

“It had to have integrity,” he says.

And while it’s as fresh as petrichor after a long spell without rain, it instantly was an integral part of the Strange Fellows mystique. The can is characteristically on-brand, with Christine’s trademark woodcut-style design showcasing an elephant with only three legs and a wee ditty on the label that hits the sober nail square on the head:

Regarding the beast in the corner,
So great we cannot ignore her,
Delightful to share,
A breath of fresh air,
We thank her for keeping us sober.

The elephant in the room. Not a leg to stand on. It really works.

And so does the beer. 

“I’m so happy with it. It’s BEER, you know?” he says, giddily.

In spirit, it’s a close cousin to their Talisman Pale Ale. 

“It’s got a lovely hop aroma (specifically, Amarillo, Mosaic and Citra), it’s aromatic and fruity, the bitterness is a little bit pithy, but one of the things I really appreciate is that it’s not lacking body,” he says.

And it’s not. As Iain said, it’s BEER. Or as near to beer as one can get, dear.

Down the street a few blocks in Yeast Van where all the cool kids hang and scratch their IPA itch, Superflux also jumped on (or is that off?) the wagon and released its small-batch Experimental Non-Alcoholic IPA #37 with Citra.

All the ’Flux. No capacitor.

How cool was it? So cool that the school flew through all its cans the same week it debuted.

Looking for a gateway into sobriety that’s as smooth and silky as that first sip of a frosty Orange Julius? This beauty instantly transported me to Arizona and my first taste of Huss Brewing’s iconic Papago Orange Blossom.

Tasting notes? Orange Creamsicle in a Pint Glass. How does that hit you?

Their initial press release was unnecessarily self-effacing — almost apologetic — stating “The dry hop presents itself in the aroma in a much more ‘raw hop pellet’ way than we’re used to”.

Fiddlesticks. Let hints of lemon rind, orange blossom and vanilla be the real mea culpa for this beauty.

It’s good. Damn good. I tried to grab an extra four-pack to go the Friday of the week it was released and left empty-handed.

“We approached this non-alcoholic IPA the same way we approach all the beer we make,” says Superflux Head Brewer Simon Jonsgma. “We pay close attention to every detail, use the best possible hops and create something delicious that we are proud of and want to drink ourselves.”

Simon says: give the people what they want.

“We’ve noticed a positive response from our guests who usually drink beer but are looking for something that (they) can enjoy a few more of. We believe beer is inclusive and for absolutely everyone. Just because someone is choosing to not consume alcohol for whatever reason doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be able to drink beer.”

Across the Strait, Victoria’s Phillips Brewing became one of the pioneers in helping folks stay on the straight and narrow by launching its iOTA suite of non-alcoholic beer.

Labelled with a cheeky “Responsibly brewed by Irresponsible Brewers” tagline atop each 355-mL can, its Pilsner and Hazy IPA appeared on shelves in time for pandemic shut-ins to make their toasts to Auld Lang Syne in late 2021. The pilsner is light, malty and even-keeled, while the hazy is equal parts juicy, citrusy and smooth.

The response and demand for the first two quickly ushered in a third entry — a pale ale with a profile balanced equally between malt and hops with a note of honey, floral hops and plenty of flavour.

It was a natural progression for Phillips, though, considering it had already carved out a corner for itself in the non-alcoholic sphere with its line of Sparkmouth and Phillips sodas. Now you can find iOTA right there in the drink aisles at major retailers like Thrifty’s and London Drugs and get your favourite near-beer delivered through its online store.

“We saw an opportunity in the market to bring a great-tasting non-alcoholic craft beer to life,” says Phillips Marketing Manager Samantha Beck. “We’ve always been deeply passionate about brewing great craft beer, but sometimes there are times you want to share a beer with friends but it doesn’t work to have an alcoholic beer. So we decided to brew a delicious, flavour-forward craft non-alcoholic beer that lived up to our standards. The response so far has been very positive, especially for our Hazy IPA.”

Taste profiles and personal preferences aside, it also makes sense from a business standpoint for craft breweries to cut themselves in on a piece of the non-alcoholic action.

According to 2021 articles by Forbes, consumption of low and no alcohol products is expected to rise by 31% in Canada by 2024, and 66% of U.S. adults in the 21-34 age bracket are reducing their alcohol consumption.

Low-ABV beers like Nevertheless, iOTA and the long-winded Experimental Non-Alcoholic IPA #37 with Citra not only appeal to consumption curbers and those looking for ways to cut calories. They also give sober or sober-curious folks a good reason to head to their local brewery with friends for a guilt-free night out and fresh morning to follow.

Once again with feeling, and in the sage words of Iain Hill: It’s BEER. In taste. In mouthfeel. In aroma. In every delicious way except the waking-up-nude-in-front-of-your-car part.

The post A Sober-Curious Guide to Non-Alcoholic Beer in BC appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.