This annual event is definitely one that many local (and out of town) craft beer enthusiasts have circled on their busy events calendar and for good reason! It’s ten days of non-stop, fun-filled beer festivities and related events that begin on May 31 with the can’t miss Kick Off Party and will continue throughout the week with events and programming all over the city. It all culminates at the historic PNE Fairgrounds on Saturday, June 8 and Sunday, June 9 where an estimated 15,000 festival goers will have the opportunity to sample from an extensive list of over 300 offerings from breweries and cideries around BC and beyond!

When they say, “Time flies” I imagine the handful of beer enthusiasts that founded Vancouver Craft Beer Week would wholeheartedly agree that it feels like just yesterday that they were sitting around, after the 2010 Olympics came to an end, discussing their dreams of a week-long event that would showcase “real beer” made right here in BC. They brought their dream to fruition and hosted the first event later that year at Heritage Hall on Main Street. With a mere 15 craft breweries pouring their wares and 100 attendees taking it all in, I’m sure if you had told them then, that the event would evolve into what it is today, in just 10 short years, they would have had a good laugh. Well…here we are. As Joe Wiebe, one of our founders here at BC Ale Trail would say, “The craft beer revolution is clearly alive and well here in BC”!

So what is in store for the 2019 edition? Want to find out what events tickle your fancy? Well here is a bit of a taste for you to peruse so that you can start booking off the necessary day in June or at least preparing your excuses for why you might be rolling into work a bit rough around the edges on a few days in early June.

VCBW Kickoff Party at Beaumont Studios – May 31st

With this being the kickoff celebration of the milestone anniversary, you know it’s going to be one heck of a party! Guests are encouraged to dress up in their shiniest silver outfits in honour of the Aluminum Anniversary while they groove the night away to the sensational sounds of Mark Woodyard, Coach Fernley and K-Tel. All while enjoying an extensive selection of canned beer from over 40 BC breweries including the official festival collaboration beer “10” created by Four Winds, Dageraad and Powell. As a bonus to all this, it’s also ArtSee night! Take some time to appreciate the creative minds of local artists whose work will be on display for your viewing pleasure!

Tickets are just $25 and are available here along with further details about the event.

City Wide Events – Various Locations – May 31 to June 8th

Around town, you will find a number of venues taking part in the festivities during Vancouver Craft Beer Week. With trivia nights, beer pairing dinners, tap takeovers, tours and full-on festival nights, there is bound to be something for everyone. You can check out the entire list of events here but I’m going to breakdown couple for you.

SOUR BEER SEMINAR W/ IAIN HILL – STRANGE FELLOWS BREWING – June 5th

Strange Fellows’ co-founder Iain Hill has a long-standing love of Sour Beer. Join him for an informative evening where you will learn about the history and making of Sour Beer and enjoy the opportunity to taste a pre-release of this year’s Lil Red One, a limited release black currant sour over a year in the making!

Tickets are $55 and are available here.

Take a 3-hour sunset tour around the Vancouver Harbour while enjoying a selection of BC craft beer, a “build your own snack bar” and dance the night away on the 3000-foot topside sundeck to music provided by the onboard DJ.

Tickets are $45 and are available here.

Events continue to be added, so keep checking back for the latest information on all the City Wide Events page!

VCBW Festival – PNE Fairgrounds – June 8th & 9th

SATURDAY – Time to kick this craft beer week into high gear! I mean, you don’t win the 2018 Golden Owl Awards Social Event of the Year, the 2018 Growler Awards Best Beer Festival/Event and the 2019 Georgia Straight Golden Plates Best Beer Festival if you don’t know how to throw one hell of a party!

It all gets started on Saturday at 2pm when the gates officially open to the public and over 100 breweries and cideries start offering up samples of their latest and greatest creations. This event runs until 7pm so there is no need to rush as you make your way around. Some true festival purists will research the brewery map and put together an action plan of all the ones that they want to make sure they hit and others will meander with no rhyme or reason, sliding into whatever line up is the shortest.

Whatever your plan of attack is, you can rest assured you are going to get the chance to enjoy some seriously delicious beer, and cider, all while a non-stop soundtrack of groovin’ music fills the air. Friday will feature a number of local performers such as: Campfire Shitkickers, The Carnival Band, DJ Sheldon Knight, Hip Hop Tricycle, Spillionaires, Mark Woodyard & Friends, Vinyl Ritchie and many more.

If all that beer drinking and involuntary toe tapping makes you hungry, you can expect a plethora of food options to keep your sustenance levels up! So how many food trucks would you consider “a lot’ at a beer festival? Six? seven? How about a whopping 16 options!! That’s right, you will get to choose from all of these mouthwatering providers: Bandidas Food Truck, Big Day BBQ, Big Red’s Poutine, Cheese Please, Come Arepa, DownLow Chicken Shack, Greek on the Street, Henry’s Hip Eats, Holi Masala, Old Country Pierogi, Waffles with Benefits, Porky’s German Sausage & BBQ Pulled Pork, REEL Mac and Cheese, The Reef Runner, Triple O’s and Wings Outdoor Grill!!  No matter what your preferred tastes are, they’ve got you covered.

Typically known as the ‘slightly quieter day’ at the fest, the Sunday event gets going at high noon and goes through until 5pm. While all of your favourite breweries, cideries and food trucks will return for round two, the second day will feature a fresh line up musicians including BB, Dead Soft, Hebegebe, Rain City as well as encore performances by Mark Woodyard & Friends, Young Friend, Woodhead and more!

Be sure to check out the live interactive Painting by Vancouver Mural Festival, kick back and relax in the Go RV’ing camp style lounge complete with one of their retro trailers, check out the BC Ale Trail-er pouring beering from ten craft breweries from the furthest reaches of B.C. and the list of cool stuff just goes on and on!!

Regardless of which day you choose to attend, I can all but guarantee a memorable experience that will have you planning your return next year!

Whether you are a seasoned beer enthusiast visiting for your 10th year in a row or you are completely new to the craft beer scene, this event is for you. Take it from my wife Theresa who for many years, swore that there wasn’t a beer out there for her, then at the 2018 Festival she officially became a beer fan after sampling a number of the fruity and sour beers being poured. It was the best day EVER! And the rest, as they say, is history.

The post 2019 Vancouver Craft Beer Week Preview appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

This thriving and prosperous community comprised of the City of Langley and The Township of Langley (Brookswood, Murrayville, Aldergrove, Walnut Grove, Willoughby and Fort Langley) is  located in the Fraser Valley in the heart of the Lower Mainland. Geographically, it is almost the exact middle point between West Vancouver and Chilliwack. It covers over 300 square kilometres and has a total population estimated at over 150,000 yet until this year, it has only had two breweries to call its own. Dead Frog first started offering locally brewed beer in Aldergrove way back in 2007. This was well before the craft beer boom that kicked off in March of 2013 when the BC liquor laws were relaxed and tasting rooms were finally permitted at BC breweries. For nearly nine years they were the area’s only craft brewery until Trading Post Brewing joined the scene in February of 2016.

Fast forward to present day, over three years later, and even though around the province it seems there is a new brewery opening every couple weeks, in Langley, the players have remained the same. This is about to dramatically change in the coming months. There are currently four breweries under construction in the Langley area. Camp Beer Co., Five Roads Brewing and Farm Country Brewing all found homes in existing buildings that they are currently renovating and all of them anticipate being open by mid summer. Up in North Langley,  Smugglers’ Trail Caskworks is being built from the ground up and is working hard to be open before the end of the year.

Starting at Farm Country in the heart of Langley City and ending at Smugglers’ Trail Caskworks in the very northwest corner of Langley you can drive door to door to all six breweries and only cover 11.6 kms with Camp Beer Co., Trading Post and Five Roads all located within a one kilometre stretch along 64th avenue. I clocked it the other day when I dropped by each of the breweries to check in on the progress of the ones under construction as well as the other two where I got to say hello to some familiar faces.

I really wanted to get to know the breweries a bit better and learn some of the back story that brought them to where they are right now. They all welcomed me and gave me a tour of their space while painting a picture of what’s to come. I asked them all the same set of questions.

CAMP BEER CO.

19664 64 Ave, Langley

Located in a portion of what used to be Langley’s Bingo Hall, Camp Beer Co. will have a south facing 5000 square foot space with three distinct areas to enjoy your beer. Inside, the tasting room will feature 23-foot ceilings with communal tables, big glass roll-up doors that open up to the patio as well as a more intimate area with lower ceilings, a fireplace and comfy seating. Outside, the patio licensed for 55 people will be surrounded by landscaping, with picnic tables, Adirondack chairs and a fire pit because at Camp, they feel beer tastes better outdoors. They will have a 20 Hectolitre brew system with 5 x 40 Hectolitre fermenters as well as 6 x 15 hectolitre serving tanks above the bar. I spoke with owner and general manager, Kevin Larsen about some of the details behind his path to get to this stage.

What is the story behind your brewery name?

“We wanted something that people would instantly recognize as comforting. An escape from the daily grind. We’re both longtime campers and enjoy cracking a beer while sitting around the fire. Beer is better outdoors.”

Does the ownership have a connection to Langley?

“Both partners, brewer and investor group are all longtime residents of Langley and have a strong desire to grow something really cool here in our own backyard. We’ve been regulars at Trading Post and the local craft beer lounge and have become well known in the Langley craft beer scene. Our focus is to grow this beer community into something special so that enthusiasts from this side of the river have somewhere close to gather.”

How would you describe your brewing philosophy? 

“Make the best product possible. We love traditional beer styles but are open to experimenting with new styles and would like to keep the taps changing as much as we can. We will always have some sessionable beers available and will offer everything from lagers to sours. We want folks to have a reason to always stop by to see what’s on tap.”

Who is your head brewer and what is their history in the industry? 

“Dave Henry is new to commercial brewing but is well known in the industry. He has a long homebrewing history and has brewed his recipes on a number of different pro systems. He started Langley’s first homebrew club with Tristan Stewart (now of Temporal Artisan Ales and Luppolo) which went on to win a Pro-am festival during the first year. Dave is well known for his wild and farmhouse style ales but he is skilled at brewing pretty much any type of beer. He has had some opportunities to turn pro but this was just the perfect fit.”

What are your thoughts on the growth of craft beer in Langley?

“It’s long overdue. The population is booming here but there are still folks who are just discovering craft beer. We believe there is room for us all and we can now begin to really grow the craft beer culture in Langley. We know all the players well and often share beers with some of them regularly. We’re excited to work together and make Langley the next great beer destination in BC.”

What makes your brewery unique?

“Right from the planning stages, we wanted something a little different. We envisioned a nice outdoor space and we found it. We will have a large, south facing beer garden patio with a gas fire pit surrounded by Adirondack chairs and picnic tables. The dog and kid-friendly outdoor space is over 2000 square feet and away from the road. We’re hoping it becomes an oasis for all craft beer enthusiasts in the heart of downtown Langley.”

DEAD FROG BREWERY

#105 – 8860 201 St, Langley

In the summer of 2018, Dead Frog closed the doors at their Aldergrove location and took a giant step forward with their new, state of the art brewery and tasting room location near Highway 1 and 200th street. At 12,800 square feet, Dead Frog is by far the largest Langley brewery. The shiny new tasting room, with its industrial feel, has seating for 65 inside and 25 outside on the patio. The menu is focused on snacks that pair well with their beer and is constantly evolving. They offer live music, trivia nights, cask nights and Tom Cruise Tuesdays where they offer a $1.00 off of flights. 

What is the story behind your brewery name?

“Our name comes from our Founder Derrick Smith’s sarcastic, irreverent, and occasionally abrasive sense of humour.  At a time when breweries were all named after family names and locations, Derrick wanted something that was different and stood out.  After many hours brainstorming, and more than a few Nut Browns, the name Dead Frog leapt off the page.”

What is the ownership history/connection to Langley?

“Dead Frog Brewery was established in Aldergrove in 2007 by Derrick Smith and his family.  The Smith family grew up in and around Langley, loved great craft beer, and wanted to bring it to the area.  We have a number of long term employees that were born at Langley Memorial, went to school in the area, and with the recent move, now proudly brew and serve craft beer in the area.”

How would you describe your brewing philosophy? 

“We think brewing craft beer should be all about creativity, innovation, and having a hoppin’ good time, and that’s what we strive for. We believe quality ingredients make quality craft brews, and we spend a lot of time making sure we choose the perfect ingredients for each of our brews.  We’re also committed to informing people about the brews they’re enjoying, so we put all of the ingredients in each beer right on the label.  We want everyone enjoying a Dead Frog brew to know exactly what they’re drinking – premium malts and hops with no artificial anything, ever.”

Who is your head brewer and what is their history in the industry? 

“Cole Smith – owner/founders son. Completed the KPU brewing program and has been brewing for us for the last 4 years. Before school, Cole spent time touring the world trying different beers and breweries!”

What are your thoughts on the growth of craft beer in Langley?

“We think it’s great, and we’re happy to be a part of it.  We always knew Langley was thirsty for great craft beer, and we’re glad to finally be able to bring it to people with our new Tasting Room.  We can’t wait to keep growing the market here with all of the other existing breweries, and the new ones coming up.”

What makes your brewery unique?

FARM COUNTRY BREWING

#5 – 20555 56 Ave, Langley

Located in Highland Centre just steps away from the Cascades Casino, Farm Country Brewing will be the first official brewery within the city limits of Langley City. The 8000 Square foot space is projected to have seating for 80 inside, a 20 seat patio outside their front doors a stage for local live music and a special event space behind the building they will be able to use 8 – 10 times a year. They will also be the only brewery in Langley to have their own canning line! I had a chance to speak with owners Arnold Tobler and Travis Keyworth as well as Jack Bensley the brewmaster about their journey.

What is the story behind your brewery name?  

“We struggled with this for a while as we are sure many others have. At one point we had a long list of different names but none of them really felt like the one. We wanted to find a name that tied into the history of Langley and represented our memories of growing up in the area and what we wanted our brewery to be. After much debate, Travis finally came out one day and said “I think we are overcomplicating this, why don’t we just call ourselves Farm Country because that’s what the valley has been and in many areas still is today. Once you come over that bridge and exit the highway that’s really the first thing you think, this is farm country. The name stuck and the rest is history.”

Does the ownership have a connection to Langley?

“Both of us were born and raised in Langley and went to the same elementary and high schools together and have been family friends from a very young age. We spent our younger years playing a lot of ball hockey together and as we got older also played on a co-ed slo-pitch team in Langley for a few years. We have shared a lot of good times together over the years from house boating, camping, many nights at Roosters and the Merritt Mountain Music Festival to name a few. We have both developed a strong love for craft beer and although we both separately pursued vastly different career paths we realized that together we possessed all of the skills and passion necessary to build a successful business together.”

How would you describe your brewing philosophy? 

“Our focus first and foremost is to brew beer of the highest quality and to brew that beer consistently time and time again. We want to celebrate our community and those individuals and families that make it such a great place to live and to reward them with great beer to accompany all of the great moments and achievements in their lives. Langley has historic roots as a farming community and is now one of the fastest growing areas for young families in all of B.C. It is this unique blend of tradition and youthful enthusiasm that inspires us to create beers that are fresh, flavorful and innovative, yet still, stay true to old-world styles. “Do you want another?” Our goal with every beer we brew is for you to answer yes to that question.

Our core beers will be traditional recipes with slight variations and twists to make them our own. Our goal is to brew beer that you can drink multiple of while enjoying the company of friends and family. We will use nothing but the finest ingredients and give our beers the extra time that it takes to reach perfection.”

Who is your head brewer and what is their history in the industry?   

“Words really can’t express how excited we are that Jack Bensley decided to join our team as our brewmaster. After a number of years of teaching in the public school system (at Langley Secondary nonetheless) Jack started his brewing career in 2008 with Russell Brewing and remained there until 2013. Jack then joined the team at Main Street Brewing and helped them build the brewery from the ground up and spent the past 5 ½ years as their brewmaster. Over the past 11 years, Jack has won multiple BC Beer awards, Canadian Brewing awards and World Beer Cup medals and we can’t wait to see what he comes up with at Farm Country.”

What are your thoughts on the growth of craft beer in Langley?

“We love it! It is long overdue and we are super excited that we are going to be a part of making it happen. About 4 years ago we were down in Portland for Travis’ bachelor party, which surprise surprise centred around breweries. When we came home we said why do we not have any craft breweries in Langley? Knowing the demographics of the area and the rapid growth in population we were positive that the area could support it so we started putting a business plan together. We soon found out that Trading Post was in the works. We will be forever grateful to them for leading the way and being so helpful to us in our journey!”

What makes your brewery unique?

“I think what will make us unique is our deep connection with Langley and its surrounding communities and that we have a really good sense of what the local consumer is looking for. We are very excited to be joining the local business community in Langley and plan to entrench ourselves in our community and give back in as many ways as possible. Our belief is that ‘craft’ is about the care and effort that is put into the products you are creating. Our beers will please the pallets of both craft beer enthusiasts and newcomers alike.”

FIVE ROADS BREWING

6263 202 St #1, Langley, BC

Five Roads is just around the corner from Trading Post and has a cozy tasting room licensed for 50 seats. They will be brewing on a 10 hectolitre system and will have 14 fermentors so they can always offer a good variety of exciting beers. The plan is to always have 10 or 11 taps pouring their beer as well some local cider. They will also have a small kitchen and will have a menu of locally sourced cuisine. There is also discussion of putting in some shuffleboard and possibly some old arcade games. I had the pleasure of meeting the owner Aaron Fourt and brewmaster Patrick Moore who were nice enough to show me around and give me some insight on where they are at. After a very long journey, they anticipate being the first of the new breweries to open for business.

What is the story behind your brewery name?

“The name Five Roads Brewing was inspired by the historic Five Corners intersection in the Township of Langley. We wanted to incorporate something local that could also apply more broadly to anywhere but we discovered a Six Corners Brewing in Alberta so we decided on Five Roads, which in the end we like even more! Our thinking behind the name also came from the fact that there are five of us involved in the project and we thought it was a cool way to describe the space and our beer as a meeting point of sorts where roads and people intersect and the community can come together. Historically this was the case where crossroads brought people from far and wide together and remains true to this day. Langley is a place experiencing a great deal of change and growth in this phase of its history so what better way to signify this by creating a new community hub that allows everyone to come and meet. We want people to see our brewery as a welcoming space to cross paths with friends, both old and new! In the same sense, we incorporate both historic and contemporary elements of this area in our brand influence so we reflect the intersection of old and new, urban and rural, and past and future, all the things that make this community so vibrant and awesome!”

Does the ownership have a connection to Langley?

“We have all lived and worked in nearby cities but in the same way, as our name suggests, we found a happy meeting point and a place where things jelled right here in Langley. It wasn’t until we set up here that things really came together and we attribute that in huge part to the community and the Township. There is something special here and once we discovered it we knew we didn’t want to be anywhere else and so we have found a very happy home. We are looking forward to collectively raising the awareness that Langley is becoming the next craft beer boomtown and definitely the quality of brewers and breweries established already and in the process of setting up speaks to the great things that are coming for the region.”

How would you describe your brewing philosophy?

“In the dynamic craft beer market in BC, we want to do things well and stick to producing high-quality craft beer products. Importantly, we are focused on creating an environment and space that is both a reflection of the local community and brings people here to experience the uniqueness of Langley and the Fraser Valley. Our brewing philosophy aims to pair the products, the people, and the space into an experience that is more than the sum of these parts.”

Who is your head brewer and what is their history in the industry? 

“Our head brewer is Patrick Moore who has over 20 years of experience in all aspects of the craft brewing industry from being an exceptional brewer to sales and marketing, and building and managing a range of breweries. He recently opened Crossroads Brewing in Prince George as head brewer and manager and was previously at Howe Sound Brewing for a number of years as well as R&B Brewing.”

What are your thoughts on the growth of craft beer in Langley?

“It’s fantastic! Langley is a fast changing and growing community that deserves its own craft beer scene that reflects what’s going on here. The collection of breweries in Langley, both established and upcoming, will certainly inject some excitement into the local beer culture and carve out a place in BC for Langley’s craft breweries. It’s very exciting to be a part of this especially since a boom appears to be imminent and we have already established great relationships with the other breweries here. It does seem like something special is taking shape and with Langley already positioned as a culinary and winery hub, craft brewing is going to help round out this amazing diversity of food and drink available in the region.”

What makes your brewery unique?

“Definitely the space and environment we have created are conducive to socializing and being open to new things and that’s really what we want to enhance in the experience people have here. It’s a place where you will always be able to find a rotating lineup of great beers that offer up new tastes and certainly is a physical space that is a true reflection of a vibrant and growing community, full of life and always a place you can cross paths with friends and good times.”

TRADING POST BREWING

#107 – 20120 64 Ave, Langley

Trading Post now boasts three locations in the Lower Mainland. The brewery and tasting room just had their third anniversary but they also have a well-established eatery in historic Fort Langley as well as a brand new 190 seat Eatery in West Abbotsford that opened its doors this past December. With fresh, locally sourced menus created by talented chef Andi Cruise paired with their own beers, they offer a true adventure in gastronomy. If that isn’t enough, they also host the Annual Fort Langley Beer & Food Festival coming up on May long weekend. Last year they sold out 3000 tickets so don’t delay on grabbing your tickets for this year. I spoke with marketing manager Hannah Brown about Trading Post’s history and about getting some new neighbours around town.

What is the story behind your brewery name?

“We wanted a name that related back to our community and celebrated the history here but didn’t keep us stuck in one place as we knew we would have a couple of different locations. Trading Post is a nod to Fort Langley which is a former trading post of the Hudson’s Bay Company” 

 Does the ownership have a connection to Langley?

“Lance and Paul (our co-founders) and their families live in Fort Langley so building the Brewery close to home was a natural choice. Lance fell in the love with craft beer and the craft beer community he found in Tasting Rooms when he and his wife Marissa were living downtown while she went to school at UBC. When they moved back to Langley to start a family, they realized that nothing like that existed here, so they decided to bring craft beer to Langley and open a brewery here.”

How would you describe your brewing philosophy? 

“Our brewing philosophy revolves around a balance of creating fun styles that we like to drink, and what the people in Fraser Valley also love to drink. We focus on creating beer that fits with the season, as well as highlighting some of the amazing local ingredients that we can forage in this agriculturally rich area.”

Who is your head brewer and what is their history in the industry? 

“Tony Dewald. He’s been brewing for almost 30 years after he moved from Montreal to Vancouver. He started brewing at Dix Brewery downtown where he helped develop Vancouver’s cask beer scene and was one of the first to brew a big, hoppy IPA in BC’s craft beer market. After moving to the Fraser Valley, Tony asked to switch to MJG’s Big Ridge Brewing which was significantly smaller than Dix. Looking for more opportunities, he took an offer from Dead Frog brewing where he worked for a year before moving on to Old Abbey Ales.  then to Dead Frog in Langley. Shortly after he was approached by Lance and Paul to join us at Trading Post.”

What are your thoughts on the growth of craft beer in Langley?

“Having been the only brewery in downtown Langley for the last 3 years, we think that the craft beer scene in Langley is ready for more craft beer! We’ve seen the industry and market grow so much here and are happy to have some brewery friends joining us to make Langley a craft beer destination!” 

What makes your brewery unique?

“It’s our beer and our food. We brew all the beer on site (which is the norm), but all the food we serve comes from our Eatery just down the road in Fort Langley. The ingredients are from local farms and suppliers and it’s all made fresh. We believe great food and great beer are the perfect pair and want to provide a place where people can get together with their friends, families, coworkers etc. to spend quality time together.  We also have our own beer festival in May, the Fort Langley Beer & Food Festival, that we put on to celebrate the craft beer and food scene here in the Fraser Valley!”

SMUGGLERS’ TRAIL CASKWORKS

9339 200A St., Langley

Longtime friends and rugby buddies Stephen Gregorig and Jamie Overgaard had been homebrewing together for some time on a pilot system in Stephen’s garage. They often talked about opening their own brewery and in the winter of 2015, they finally decided to do it. Finding their ideal location in the  Langley area proved to be quite challenging but thanks to the opportunities available at Craft Collective Beerworks, they were able to scale up their recipes and get some of their beer to market while they continued the search for the perfect spot. With four beers currently on the shelves around Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, they finally found their new home on the border of Port Kells and Walnut Grove in North Langley. The 5400 square foot space will feature loads of natural light, 28 foot ceilings and a 30 Hectolitre brewhouse. They plan to bring back the British style of real ales with multiple bar mounted beer engines. At Smugglers’ Trail, every night will be cask night! The construction of the building is in the very early stages but things seem to be progressing quickly. 

What is the story behind your brewery name? 

“Jamie is a history teacher and was intrigued by the name of an old trail that he saw on an old map on the wall in one of the local stores.  We did a bit of digging and got into the story of the Smugglers’ Trail – the old name for much of Hwy 10 and Glover Road.  We really liked the thought of charismatic individuals finding different ways to get things done.  Good guys with bad streaks.  Also, a real attachment to the area and for generating commerce.”

Does the ownership have a connection to Langley?

“Both Steve and Jamie are relatively new to the area coming here from other areas of the lower mainland and quickly adopting their new homes!”

How would you describe your brewing philosophy? 

“We want to perfect familiar styles and focus more on the drinking experience and quality rather than experimentation or following brewing fads.  We also plan on making beers that folks like us will drink!”

Who is your head brewer and what is their history in the industry?   

“We currently contract brew our recipes through Craft Collective Beerworks.  We have not hired a brewer for our location yet.  The four beers that we currently have  commercially available have been written and developed by the Smugglers themselves.”  

What are your thoughts on the growth of craft beer in Langley?

“So excited. Langley is primed and ready for a thriving brewery scene.  The people in Langley are social, they have a strong sense of community and they are craft beer lovers!  Also, selfishly, more breweries in Langley means less travel to other brewery districts…local is better!”

What makes your brewery unique?

“We have a couple of unique things happening at Smugglers Trail: the honour house series fundraiser beers, a tasting room featuring hand pumped ales and a full-time cask-conditioned beer program.”

The common theme that appears in these responses is clearly that everyone is excited for the growth to take place and very eager to put Langley on the map as a craft beer destination. They believe that the people of Langley are more than ready to support a few more brewery options. As a lifelong resident of Langley and hardcore craft beer enthusiast, I would have to agree with them!

If you are interested in taking a look inside all of the new breweries, check out the video I made after visiting them during their construction. Take a tour of each space with the owners and brewmasters themselves. It’s an awesome opportunity to dive further into Langley’s brewery scene explosion!!

The post Is Langley The Next Craft Beer Boomtown? appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

I have recently fallen in love with the beauty and diverse hike options available in and around Golden Ears Provincial Park. Named for the prominent twin peaks of Mount Blanshard, the park covers over 550 square kilometres and lies to the north of the mighty Fraser River in the municipality of Maple Ridge. I’m going to highlight three trails of varying difficulty for you and then once you’ve “earned your beer”, take you to explore four breweries nearby.

The trail system in the park is extensive with varying degrees of length and difficulty. From the relatively flat 5.5km Lower Gold Creek Falls Trail, to the 12km Canyon Loop Trail and the 24km Golden Ears Trail that takes you all the way up to the 1717 metre high peak. I have personally done the first two but have yet to tackle the big one.

Lower Gold Creek Falls Trail – 5.5km – Easy

Following along the east side of the Gold Creek, this trail is relatively flat and is perfect for early season warm up, novice hikers and small children. The trail begins near the parking lot, close to the water and heads into the moss covered woods for a short way on a nice wide pathway. Eventually, it emerges alongside Gold Creek again. Along the way, you will be treated to beautiful views of Blanschard, Edge and Alouette mountains. The sound of the falls will be heard well before it comes into sight. Depending on the time of year visit, the power of the falls can really vary but it is always a stunning sight. Once you have taken in the view, make your way back the way you came.

Golden Ears Canyon Loop Trail – 12km – Intermediate

The Canyon Loop trail can be started from two points. If you prefer to the get the hard work out of the way first, I suggest taking the West Side to begin. To access this trailhead, park in the same lot but make your way back across the small bridge and look for signs to Menzies Trail located not far up on the right then follows signs for the West Canyon Trail. If you want to kick it off with a more gradual terrain The entrance to the East side of the Canyon is in the back right corner of the parking lot. This trail is more of an intermediate difficulty with some challenging rolling hills, abundant root systems and loose gravel to contend with. Watch for signage to access to the Upper Falls for a nice break and then continue on to the halfway point where you will cross over Golf Creek on a long wooden bridge. Either way you attack it, it’s a great trail with lots of natural wonders to see.

Golden Ears Summit Trail – 24km – Difficult

If you really want a work out that will pay off with some of the most stunning views the park has to offer, then consider challenging yourself on this gruelling 24km round trip. Doing it in a day is a tall order with most people planning to camp overnight at Panorama Ridge and tackling the summit the next day. There are many great articles loaded with tips on doing this one so be sure to do your homework before you go!

With the hiking in the books and the beers more than earned, its time to venture back to town and discover the great breweries Maple Ridge has to offer.  A big bonus is that all three of them are located within one kilometre of each other!!

MAPLE MEADOWS BREWING COMPANY

Opened in 2015, owner Carlo Baroccio operates a true microbrewery working hard to offer a solid variety while working in a fairly small space. The tasting room is very intimate but boasts 10 beers on tap and fun experimental casks on occasion. The Pineapple Mandarin SMaSH IPA Cask they had recently was delicious!

RIDGE BREWING COMPANY

Nearby, across Dewdney Trunk Road, you will find Ridge Brewing Company tucked away just off the street. It also opened in 2015 and has an open space feel with the tasting room basically feeling like you’re sitting in the brewery where all the magic happens. I recently tried their Ladies And Gentlemen of the GED Class of 1999Brut/Champagne IPA and was pleasantly impressed. If you’re ever in the neighbourhood on a Tuesday, pop in for their open mic nights!

Silver Valley Brewing

Also nearby is Silver Valley Brewing owned by husband and wife duo Kevin and Brandi Fulton. They opened up in 2017 which makes them the new kids on the block. Kevin’s focus is English style ales but he has produced a number of styles since opening. I was a big a fan of their Black IPA and also picked up a 4-pack to go of The Lion ESB. The tasting room is quaint with a nice selection of locally sourced snacks to pair with your flight.

FOAMERS’ FOLLY BREWING CO.

Heading east out of Maple Ridge along the Lougheed Highway, hang a left at Harris road. There you will find one more brewery east of the Pitt River Bridge, less than 10kms away from the other aforementioned breweries. Foamers’ Folly in Pitt Meadows opened late in 2015 by owner + brewer Rob Davis. It features a big outdoor patio as well as plenty of space inside. I recently stopped in for the double launch party of their most recent releases, Tiger of the Eye Fruited Berliner Sour Ale with Currants and Saskatoon Berries and In a Guava Da Vida, a Guava Fruit Smoothie IPA. Both were full of flavour and went down easy after a day on the trail.

This is all just a small sample of the hike and brewery pairings that you can discover in small communities all over BC. With our picturesque landscapes, endless trails and a booming craft beer scene, there is surely a hike and brewery to suit everyone’s taste. Destination BC’s website is a great resource for discovering new hikes all over beautiful BC.

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Having never been to this part of Vancouver Island before, I was eager to do some research on the area and discover what it has to offer, and the more I learned, the more excited I became. The Comox Valley is on the eastern coast of Vancouver Island and includes the cities of Comox, Courtenay and Cumberland. It is also in very close proximity to Strathcona Provincial Park, a 2458 sq. km park known for its amazing hiking trails, lakes, waterfalls and glaciers, not to mention pristine forests and colourful alpine meadows.

The region is also home to some great craft breweries, Gladstone Brewing, and Cumberland Brewing, which can be found on the Vancouver Island Ale Trail Part 2. A little ways up the Island Highway in Campbell River you can also find Beach Fire Brewing and Nosh House making the region a perfect place to explore the beautiful wonders of the great outdoors as well as some tasty BC trail beers!

Day One 

Our flight out of Vancouver with Harbour Air was scheduled for an early morning departure so we arrived at the marina as the sun was about to rise above the horizon making for a gorgeous start to the day. The near cloudless sky made for quite a sunrise!

Check-in was a breeze and before we knew it we were already making our way down the ramp to the dock where we would soon board our DHC-3 Turbine Single Otter Seaplane, a rather cozy plane that only seats a maximum of 14 people. This was my first ride aboard a seaplane so I was excited and a bit nervous to be honest, but that went away quickly as the plane gently lifted off the water and climbed towards the east over the Lions Gate Bridge. The views along the way were spectacular as the plane’s cruising altitude is below 3000 metres. With the Vancouver skyline disappearing into the distance, we did our best to figure out what islands and cities we were seeing below us while marvelling in the breath-taking views of the Howe Sound, coastal mountains and Sunshine Coast. Fifty minutes later we were touching down at the Comox Valley Marina.

We had yet to have a proper breakfast and found a cool local breakfast joint called The Hen and the Hog Cafe. It’s a tiny little place with limited seating, but trust me when I say it’s worth the wait. I had their daily feature which was two poached eggs in a chipotle marinara served with smoked bacon, toast and hash browns, while my wife enjoyed a much healthier option of quinoa, yogurt and fresh fruit. Both of us thoroughly enjoyed our meals and we left with our solid base for a day that about to be spent touring some wineries and breweries.

We dropped our bags off at our accommodation, the beautiful Crown Isle Resort, and awaited our tour guide to pick us up for our tour.  We booked a day tour through Discover Comox Valley and were excited to get started! Our guide Brent informed us that we were the only ones on the tour that day so we basically had our own private driver who encouraged us to just go at our own pace and take it all in. Our first stop was 40 Knots Winery. As we rolled in the first things we noticed were the lush rows upon rows of grapes and a beautiful, rustic barn-shaped building with the double doors swung wide open, inviting us into the tasting room.

Charlene greeted us and we got down to wine sampling right away, running through four different wines: White Seas, Uncloaked Chardonnay, Rose and the recently released Stall Speed Meritage. All of them were quite tasty and we settled on a bottle of the Chardonnay to bring home. We took a little stroll from there down into the vineyard and snapped a couple of photos before loading back into the minivan for our trip to the next stop.

From there we headed to Coastal Black Winery, which lies just on the outskirts of the Comox Valley. It is a fruit winery that also specializes in mead and honey. This was a unique experience for us as this winery does not use any grapes! We settled into the tasting room where we were greeted by Sam, one of the winemakers, who offered us up some samples of their blueberry table wine, Blueberry Mead, Sparkling Raspberry Brut and a Blackberry Sparkling Brut. These styles and flavours were all new to us and both of us really enjoyed them. So much so that we got a bottle of each! We then went on a quick tour in the back and got a little inside scoop that they are currently doing some test runs on making their own ciders. I’m sure they will be amazing as well.

Next up, we arrived quickly at Gladstone Brewing, which had a vibrant atmosphere, great music and a very unique overall design that was still themed around the building’s history as a car mechanic’s shop.

With a selection of eight beers to choose from, I narrowed it down to some unique styles, a Belgian Stirling Single, Munich-style Festbier, Gose and a Burton Ale, which was a collaboration with Vancouver Island Brewing. We grabbed a seat outside on the patio and soaked in some sunshine. By this time we decided we should probably get something to eat and ordered a sampling of the tacos from Taqueria Guerrilla located in the brewery. The chorizo and the pork belly tacos were my favourites, while my wife enjoyed the cauliflower and kimchi one. I also grabbed a couple 4-packs to go and a pint of the Burton Ale, as it was my favourite on the flight. We enjoyed the heck out of our little feast while chatting with some locals about their favourite hiking spots and hidden gem restaurants.

That brought our tour to an end, so we hopped into the minivan and our driver delivered us back to the hotel for an afternoon siesta. The early morning flight and afternoon sampling session had taken its toll and besides…we were on holidays!

The room itself at Crown Isle Resort was a stunner! It had a full kitchen, living area, huge walk out deck that faced the first tee of the golf course, fireplace and a big 50 inch TV. The bedroom had a jacuzzi tub big enough for two, another TV and a fireplace. We crashed on to the comfy king size bed and had a power nap.

Later that night we made our way into town for a nice dinner at Locals Restaurant. They had a three-course meal deal that had options that appealed to both my wife and me so we went ahead and ordered those.  She had the seafood chowder, a grilled halibut and prawn entrée, and a dessert sampler, while I enjoyed a crab cake starter, chanterelle mushroom risotto with poached pear as my main, and a berry pie with custard filling. Everything was presented exceptionally well and tasted amazing. With our bellies full, we headed on home for a good night sleep.

Day Two

We decided that a day of hiking and exploring would suit us just fine so we set out in search of some nourishment and found another great local restaurant recommended on the BC Ale Trail. This place was called Atlas Cafe. The food there was also creative and delicious, and the coffee was tasty. From there, we headed out on a hike in Strathcona Provincial Park called Lake Helen Mackenzie, an 8.5-km hike with a modest 450m of elevation gain. We drove the 30 km up Forbidden Plateau towards the Mount Washington Ski resort where we found the trailhead for our hike.

The trail begins with a beautiful walk through an alpine meadow along a wooden boardwalk that stands just above the ground. With it being the end of September there was no snow on the ground and the leaves were starting to show signs that autumn was setting in. After a kilometre or two, the trail heads uphill, and soon it emerges alongside Battleship Lake.

The views from here are so pretty. Looking out across the still water towards Mount Washington, you can see the ski runs that carve up to the peak, all of it reflecting on the water like a mirror. Further along the trail we were entertained by a few squirrels and some extremely confident grey jays that happily ate from the palm of your hand if offered food.

As we were leaving, it was decided that we would make one more quick stop to see Nymph Falls before continuing our way along to Cumberland Brewing Co. The trail in is very short and well-groomed so it only took a few minutes to get to the river’s edge and see the active area of rapids knows as Nymph Falls. We snapped a couple of pictures and made our way back. Having now walked over 11 kms, we were ready for some beer sampling and food.

We arrived at Cumberland Brewing and immediately scoped out a spot to sit on the packed outdoor patio. It was late afternoon and this place was hopping! With one eye scanning for patio vacancies and the other reading over the menu board, we were greeted by the energetic staff and offered a flight of five beers. Of course, I accepted while my wife opted for a cider.

The moment I was handed my flight I saw a couple leaving so we made a B-line for the table. After starting off my flight we began perusing the food menu, and man did that get my mouth watering.

We ordered some vegetarian tacos and a spicy Indian chicken dish with fresh pita and neon pink beet hummus. We enjoyed the food so much that we had to get more, so we ordered their baked Focaccia bread with melted cheese, marinara and a selection of sliced meats. It too was unreal!

While we were sitting there enjoying our meals we were fortunate enough to meet Darren, one of the owners. He joined us for a short while and shared his stories about the opening and growth of the brewery. His energy and enthusiasm for what he does is very evident. I could really hear the passion in his voice as he spoke. This is truly my favourite thing about drinking craft beer. I love supporting our local economies and occasionally walking into a brewery in a small town and meeting the people who actually make the beer and sign the paycheques. Overall, much like our visit to Gladstone, this too was a genuinely fantastic experience.

Back to Crown Isle for a soak in the jacuzzi tub to soothe the muscles and to get ready for another night out. We had been told by some of the locals that if I loved craft beer, The White Whale would be a great option, so we ordered up a cab and were on our way. We drank the night away and enjoyed some tasty nachos while chatting with the bar staff and some local regulars. Another great place to check out while you’re in town.

Day Three

It may be check-out day but we still had some adventuring to do! After turning in the room access cards and having some breakfast at the golf course, we tossed our luggage in the Explorer and headed north up the Island Highway to 49 North Helicopters at the Campbell River Airport for a 45-minute tour over the Comox Glacier. Campbell River was about 60 kms away but thanks to the 120km/hr speed limit on the inland Island Highway, we were there in no time flat. We arrived and signed our life away and headed out the door to the awaiting chopper. We were joined by a tourist from Sweden who we let ride shotgun in the four-seater Robinson R44 Helicopter beside our pilot Bastian who was ready to roll. After a quick chat with the tower to warn us of some parachuters in the area, we were off.

Flying due west over the runway we were instantly greeted by a landscape clinging to its lush green colours as of summer and the awe of the experience began to sink in. As we got closer to the glacier itself I was at a loss for words at the natural beauty that was below us. The vibrant deep blue water of the glacier lakes that sat silent, filled to the brim, at the top of the various peaks were a sight to behold.

Bastian flew the helicopter tight to the mountains and up and over peaks, giving us a close of view while I snapped picture after picture. After circling in and out of the peaks we looped back and flew over top of Lake Helen Mackenzie. It was pretty cool to see the entire hike we had done the day before from above.

We ventured over to the peak of Mount Washington and did a couple tight circles to entertain the hikers below and then made our way back the airport. 45 minutes was over in the blink of an eye. It was an exhilarating adventure that must be experienced to appreciate.

Back on solid ground, we said our goodbyes and headed into downtown Campbell River to visit the local craft brewery, Beach Fire Brewing and Nosh House. The place has a cool look inside: a rustic bar with stools, long harvest tables, local artwork adorning the walls, and a cozy sitting area, as well as some patio space.

I ordered up a flight and we snacked on some tortillas chips and house-made salsa. The Wheel Bender Stout and their Kettle Sour were both noteworthy, but I enjoyed them all. With the clock ticking down on our return flight, it was time to head back to the marina.

As we boarded the seaplane, we were already discussing when we would come back to the Comox Valley. It was truly a fantastic experience visiting the region. It has everything we look for when we travel: natural beauty, great options for craft beer, adventurous excursions and a list of restaurants making some memorable meals. Can’t wait to return soon and explore a little more!

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As an avid hiker, I spend a lot of time exploring the wilderness here in BC. A little trail therapy does wonders for the mind. Perched near the top of the Stawamus Chief, I was enjoying a well earned, refreshing beverage when the conversation led to the upcoming Earth Day on April 22nd, and I wondered what steps our local breweries were taking to reduce their environmental footprint. Later that night I began to do some research and was elated to learn that there are several BC breweries working hard to protect our precious ecosystems and are striving for a green future.

Five breweries that are making a difference

As one can imagine, there are many environmentally conscious practices a brewery can employ. Some are common and traditional and some are born out of innovation. Matt Phillips of Phillips Brewing and Malting Co on the Victoria Ale Trail, is known for the latter. At Phillips, they have implemented several steps to reduce their impact on the environment including; capturing the heat from their refrigeration units to heat their offices, recapturing the steam from the brewing process to heat the water for their next batch and building a one-of-a-kind system that recaptures the C02 emitted during fermentation which actually won them an Award of Excellence in sustainability. As part of a bottle pool group they use recycled bottles, they gift their spent grain to local farmers to feed their cows and have implemented a water reduction strategy that uses 30% less water per pint than they did just 5 years ago.

Crannóg Ales in Sorrento opened in 2000 as Canada’s first certified organic farmhouse microbrewery. They operate with a zero waste policy in all areas. Spent grain is fed to the many farm animals such as pigs, chicken and sheep, as well as being added to compost to then fertilize the land. The grey water from the brewing process is used for irrigating and even the brewing equipment itself is second hand. It was actually the original equipment used at the Horseshoe Bay Brewery back in 1982.

Red Truck Beer Co has a massive state of the art facility in the heart of the Vancouver Ale Trail with many innovations in place. By running a variable frequency drive compressor to operate the control valves and automated processes, they save enough energy to power 4.5 households per year. They recapture 99% of the heat from the brewhouse and kettle stack which is used to heat cold city water, and they have reduced their lighting energy demands by 37% with the use of natural light and the installation of LED lights throughout the facility.

Persephone Brewing Co in Gibsons, on the Sunshine Coast Ale Trail is also a thriving beer farm. Like Crannóg, they produce their own hops onsite as well as apples for cider. They use their greenhouse and market garden to produce organic field vegetables that are used in the onsite food service and sold at their farm stand and have developed systems to reclaim the runoff water to use for crop irrigation. They also compost all their grain, hops and yeast from the brewing process as seen in the picture below. Bronson Moore from Bricker’s Cider is lending a hand after a collaboration brew day with fellow Sunshine Coast breweries where they created an “Orchard Ale”. 

The brand new Bulkley Valley Brewing in Smithers has a very unique set up. In the summer, all of their electrical, heating and cooling with be run with solar power thanks to panels installed on the building. They are grid-integrated with a 60 hour battery back up. As part of the grid, any excess energy generated in the summer time is credited to get them through the darker winter months. They also have all LED lighting, LED TVs and heat the facility using a pellet stove. They will even be sourcing their hops from nearby Hazelton Hop Farm that is also powered by solar!

The more I looked into the breweries around the province, the more evident it became that many of them already have systems in place to reduce energy use, water consumption and repurpose their byproducts. With the collaborative nature of the craft beer community, many are sharing their best practices and working together to find new ways to be more efficient.

So this Earth Day, as you turn off the lights, light some candles and crack into that newly released IPA, know that as an industry, the craft brewers of BC are not only creating some world class beers, they are also taking steps to ensure future generations will be able to enjoy them out in the pristine beauty of our province.

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