Based in San Diego, they have spent many years enjoying the local breweries in that world-renowned craft beer destination. In the summer of 2016, two of them discussed how fun it would be to rent a van and travel across the state visiting breweries. As teachers, they had spring breaks off together, so for spring break in 2017, four of them were on their way, joined by all their spouses. A fifth couple met up with them along the way, and their journey began.

After touring California, Oregon and Washington, they found themselves on a beach in Mexico, discussing how much they enjoy drinking great beer and telling stories. That was the genesis moment for I Like Beer the Podcast.

Every year since then, the PGW Crew (“Parents Gone Wild”) have planned an annual spring break trip to visit a different beer destination. Back in 2020, they intended to travel north of the border to check out British Columbia, but, of course, COVID cancelled those plans.

Two years later, they finally made it to Canada! All in all, they visited more than 20 different breweries and taphouses in Vancouver, Squamish, Whistler, and Victoria. They conducted interviews at six of the breweries, which they released in three separate podcast episodes. There were 16 people (8 couples) in total on the trip so the logistics were quite complicated. They even had branded hoodies with their intended itinerary printed on the back.

They spent their first full day in Squamish and Whistler. The team took the Sea to Sky Gondola up to the peak to view Howe Sound and stomp around in the snow.

“Snow, of course for us San Diegans, has a magical effect on us turning us giddy!” said Jeff Spanier, one of the members of the podcast team. “To our delight, there was a beer at the summit! We enjoyed several pitchers of local brew before heading down and continuing on to Whistler.”

There, they went to Forged Axe Throwing to throw axes and enjoy beer and embrace their inner lumberjacks.

“Over cans of Whistler Brewing‘s Lumberjack Kveik ale we learned that we may not be lumberjack material. We had a lot of fun, but clearly the trees are safe with us.”

Easter Sunday was spent at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, including brunch at the Cliff House Restaurant and a stroll atop the trees. They also managed to build in a visit to Strange Fellows Brewing in Vancouver where they recorded an interview. 

Amazingly, they only had one rainy day the entire trip — and luckily, it was a day they had planned to visit breweries all day. They enjoyed breakfast at the Granville Island Public Market followed by stops at Liberty Distillery, Faculty Brewing, Brassneck Brewery, and Main Street Brewing.

The first podcast episode they released after their return to San Diego featured interviews with Mauricio Lozano at Faculty Brewing and Conrad Gmoser at Brassneck.

 

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After a couple of days visiting North Vancouver, Squamish and Whistler, they took the ferry across the Salish Sea to Vancouver Island where they spent a few days based in Victoria. One of their non-beer goals was to see some orca in the wild.

“On our previous trip to the San Juan Islands, we struck out,” lamented Jeff Spanier. “Not this time! Our whale watching guide made sure we found a pod, and we were in awe at the spectacle of a pod moving along the shore in unison.”

A half day at the Butchart Gardens was another BC spectacle they were glad they didn’t pass on. Same to be said for drinks at the Empress Hotel.

The second episode they posted following their trip featured Strange Fellows Brewing in Vancouver and Phillips Brewing in Victoria.

As part of their time in Victoria they visited the nearby community of Sooke where they visited Sooke Oceanside Brewery and Bad Dog Brewing.

“The long country road to Bad Dog Brewing made half our group feel certain that we were heading to our doom. Random ‘Brewery Ahead’ signs as we traversed deeper into the woods set off alarm bells inspired by every horror movie we’ve ever seen. All for nothing, Bad Dog Brewing was an amazing find!”

They managed to pack in a lot of brewery visits over their time in Victoria, including stops at Whistle Buoy Brewing, Herald Street Brew Works, Phillips Brewing, and Lighthouse Brewing.

The third and final episode they recorded features interviews with Gary Lindsay at Driftwood Brewery and Jeff Wright at Vancouver Island Brewing.

All in all, the “Parents Gone Wild” crew from San Diego had a great experience visiting British Columbia, and say they hope to return again soon since they feel like they only just scratched the surface of the BC craft beer scene.

Biggest surprises/happy moments:

> Bears, bald eagles and orcas!

“We definitely had our full American tourist on whenever an eagle flew by. The spectacle of all 16 of us eating ice cream, pointing frantically in the air while yelling ‘Bald Eagles!’ must have been humorous for the regulars. A truly American Tourist Moment.”

> Stereotypical politeness.

“We found Canadians — everywhere we went — just as polite, helpful and pleasant as reported. We are from a tourist town, and I am afraid we might not always be so wonderful and accommodating. We will work harder at that!”

BC Ale Trail Interview

As a follow-up to their visit, I joined the gang remotely: listen to this episode to hear our conversation about their trip and the BC Ale Trail.

The post I Like Beer the Podcast Visits British Columbia appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

You know, there was a time when Fall in Whistler stood as a placeholder for Winter.  Everyone left town in September, leaving a skeletal crew to make due until the masses returned, mid-November.  Only these fortunate few got to appreciate the trees in repose as their limbs lost their clothes.  But secrets seldom stay so for long and, as word spread of Whistler’s most magnificent autumnal transformations, the “slow” season eroded away while Fall’s fanatics came to play. 

But it’s thirsty work, watching chlorophyll leave the leaves. Thirsty, ravenous work.  And how, you ask, could this town possibly satisfy all these fall aficionados?  

Enter Whistler Craft Beer Month.

Whistler takes Craft Beer Month up a notch

Not content with merely partaking in the province’s proclamation that October is, in fact, BC Craft Beer Month, Whistler turned their dials up to eleven. They married the myriad businesses in town to their liquid counterparts in fun and wonderful ways. 

“Whistler has a long-standing history of celebrating food and drink through the fall,” says Karen Goodwin of Tourism Whistler.  “Whistler Craft Beer Month will bring together over 30 community partners to offer more than 50 beer-themed experiences for craft beer lovers to enjoy this October.” 

And what are some examples of these aforementioned mergers?  Let me count the ways: 

Offered all month long:

• Boulder & Beer at the Whistler Core Climbing Centre – Includes a bouldering drop-in session at Whistler Core, followed by a beer at Tapley’s Neighbourhood Pub.

• 14 Beer Paddle Tasting Flight at the Braidwood Tavern (you read that right: 14 samples per paddle, partner!) highlighting the best breweries across the Sea to Sky region. *Minimum of three people to share.

• Huck it in the Bucket: A month-long special featuring HumbleBee Meadery and Axewood Axe Throwing at the Whistler Racket Club. Any Axewood Axe Throwing booking of 4+ people comes with a bucket of mead from HumbleBee Meadery and a flatbread from Courtside Cafe.

• The Bomber Brewing Blowout at the Pangea Pod – Enjoy any pizza plus any Bomber brew on the menu (355 ml) for just $9.90.

• Beer Brunch at Stonesedge (and don’t forget their “Thanksgivin’er” dinner!) Every Friday morning during the month of October pop by the restaurant and enjoy a delicious beer-infused breakfast feature.

• Cluck Cluck Brew at the Longhorn Saloon – Chef Frank Sham has stuffed whole chickens with a can of Deep Cove Brewers Lemon Radler and slow roasted them to juicy perfection. This delicious feast will be available Sunday nights from 5:00 PM and will have very limited quantities. Reservations are recommended.

Mark your calendars for:

• October 6: Battle of the Beer Cocktail Dinner at the Raven Room –  Four local bartending teams compete against each other to create the best cocktail using craft beer and spirits. You are the judge – taste these creative concoctions and vote for your favourite! Cocktails will be paired with a three-course family-style dinner by Chef Erin Stone. Tickets on sale soon!

• October 7 + 14 + 21 + 28: Sip n’Stretch at the Westin Resort & Spa Mountain Club – participate in a 1-hour yoga session followed by a beer. Entry by donation to a local charity.

• October 13: Beer Trivia at Tapley’s Neighbourhood Pub – test your beer knowledge for a night of beer-themed trivia, and your chance to win awesome prizes.

• October 15: Live music & beer with Pierre Eady at Whistler Brewing – Pierre plays the old classics, from outlaw to new country, with a healthy side of classic rock.

• October 22: Twin Sails and Parkside Brewing Tap Takeover at Brickworks Public House – these two Port Moody Breweries join forces for an epic tap takeover.

… and the list goes ever onward and more coming, so check back!  I chose those examples for their alliterative flare and salivary response but check out Whistler Craft Beer Month for every delicious detail. Choose from several beer-themed events and experiences HERE.

Whistler Ale Trail breweries have something special for you!

And if you want to try an incredible Flanders Sour straight from three years in the barrel, you’ll need to go to High Mountain Brewing (lovingly known as the Brewhouse). And if you can’t wait to taste the Lumberjack Kveik collaboration beer betwixt Whistler Brewing and Forged Axe Throwing, you’ll need to go to Whistler Brewing Company.  And if you’d like to slake your thirst with an impeccable barrel-aged Peach Sour Blonde you’ll need to go to Coast Mountain Brewing.  And if (like me) you’d like to greedily sip all three but don’t want the hassle of having to drive, look no further than the Brew Bus: an easy, affordable option for private groups to check out Whistler’s brewery bounty.

Enter to WIN a Whistler Craft Beer Month Prize Package valued at over $1000! 

Tourism Whistler and the BC Ale Trail are giving away some amazing prizes!

• Grand Prize: A $700 voucher for whistler.com, to book accommodations and activities in Whistler for your own Whistler Craft Beer experience! Plus receive a $100 gift certificate to a Whistler restaurant, and a BC Ale Trail deluxe swag pack valued at $200.
• Additional Prizes: $100 gift certificate to a BC Ale Trail brewery of your choice, a $100 gift certificate to a Whistler restaurant of your choice, and a BC Ale Trail swag pack. There are five of these prize packs to win, and we’ll be drawing one per week throughout October!

For full details and to enter follow this link. 

Planning to join in the festivities and travelling from out of town?

Well, whistler.com has a great accommodation deal of lodging from $129 per night plus a $100 dining gift voucher, on 3 night stays!

I’ll close by once again quoting Karen Goodwin: “Health and safety remain top of mind in Whistler as we put together our Craft Beer Month programming.  All venues and experiences are following COVID-19 safety protocols and provincial health orders.” 

Eat and drink responsibly, my fellow fall aficionados, and I’ll see you in Whistler – Malcolm

The post Whistler Craft Beer Month: Celebrate Fall in the Mountains appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

The wait is finally over. It’s time to get back out there and explore British Columbia this summer. When you visit BC attractions that offer craft beer, it just makes your sightseeing adventures that much more refreshing.

You’ll find great craft beer whether you’re visiting BC’s lush parks and gardens or its lively museums and art galleries. From iconic hotels and lodges to exhilarating bike rides and wildlife experiences, the BC Ale Trail has got you covered with numerous brews to sample all over this Western Canadian province.

Let’s check out 15 British Columbia attractions that offer craft beer from BC. And remember – this is just a little taste!

Note: Some of these attractions do require skill and coordination, so perhaps save the beer for a post-excursion reward, and always drink in moderation.

Vancouver

1. Stanley Park

Burgeoning with huge western red cedar and Douglas fir trees, Stanley Park remains Vancouver’s most popular tourist attraction. The iconic 1,000-acre urban park bordering the West End is home to herons, beavers, raccoons, and coyotes.

Whether you’re strolling around Lost Lagoon, admiring the Lions Gate Bridge from Prospect Point, or biking around the 8.9-km Seawall, you’ll naturally work up a thirst. Head to the Stanley Park Pavilion or the Prospect Point Bar & Grill to throw back Central City’s Red Racer IPA or Red Truck Beer Company’s Blackberry Bourbon Ale.

2. Vancouver Art Gallery

The Vancouver Art Gallery attracts visitors with world-renowned Emily Carr paintings like Big Raven and Red Cedar and contemporary art exhibitions like Vancouver Special: Disorientations and Echo.

The in-house 1931 Gallery Bistro serves flavourful brews from Four Winds Brewing’s tart Nectarous Sour to Bomber Brewing’s heavy-hitting Russian Doll Stout. Afterwards, you can explore the recently refurbished Robson Square and šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square, the plaza north of the Vancouver Art Gallery that received a new Indigenous name in 2018.

Vancouver’s North Shore

3. Capilano Suspension Bridge

In North Vancouver, the 1889-launched Capilano Suspension Bridge offers Indiana Jones-style thrills, including the Treetops Adventure’s viewing platforms perched high in the rainforest and Cliffwalk’s vertiginous views overlooking the Capilano River.

Catch your breath at the Cliff House Restaurant, whose beer list ranges from Backcountry Brewing’s Widowmaker IPA to Off the Rails Brewing Co.’s Czechmate Pilsner.

4. Grouse Mountain

Just up the road from the Capilano Suspension Bridge, Grouse Mountain offers an awesome athletic challenge with the Grouse Grind, a steep 2.9-km climb that takes most hikers an hour and a half.

Even if you opt to ride the Skyride aerial tramway 1,610 metres to the summit, you’ll likely be in the mood for liquid refreshment after checking out the lumberjack show, the Eye of the Wind turbine, and the wildlife refuge with wolves and grizzly bears. You’ll definitely need some fluids if you go mountain biking or ziplining at Grouse Mountain.

On the Altitudes Bistro patio, enjoy a spectacular panorama of Metro Vancouver while sipping Wildeye Brewing’s Choppy Waters IPA or Deep Cove Brewers and Distillers’ POG Sour, which is fermented with passionfruit, orange, and guava.

Victoria

5. Butchart Gardens

In a typical year, Victoria’s world-famous Butchart Gardens gets more than a million visitors. There are a million things to see at this 1904-founded attraction just north of the provincial capital, ranging from the old limestone quarry that was transformed into the Sunken Garden to the wooden footbridges and traditional boar-scarer that grace the Japanese Garden.

At the Butchart Gardens dining room, you can get Hoyne Brewing core beers like Hoyne Pilsner and Hoyne Dark Matter.

6. Fairmont Empress Hotel

Overlooking the Inner Harbour, the recently revitalized Fairmont Empress Hotel is as much a symbol of Vancouver Island’s biggest city as the nearby Parliament Buildings. Built in 1904, the Empress has hosted famous guests like Barbra Streisand, Harrison Ford, and Queen Elizabeth II.

While this Francis Rattenbury-designed luxury hotel is best-known for serving afternoon tea, you can grab a seat at the Q at the Empress bar and choose from BC craft beers ranging from Category 12 Brewing’s Juicy Data Hazy IPA to Vancouver Island Brewing’s Q Blonde Lager. On the luxurious, perks-laden Fairmont Gold Floor, the honour bars include Phillips Brewing’s Blue Buck Ale and Central City’s non-alcoholic Red Racer Street Legal IPA.

7. Victoria Whale-Watching Tours

Vancouver Island Brewing sells limited-edition 2021 Pod Packs – featuring four collaborations with other Island breweries – in support of resident killer whales in the Salish Sea.

Pod Packs furnish a nice complement to your whale-watching tour with Prince of Whales or Eagle Wing Whale & Wildlife Tours, launching out of the Inner Harbour. You can find Pod Packs at Vancouver Island Brewing’s Government Street brewery or local liquor stores. (To be clear, you’ll want to drink them after your tour, not on the boat. The orcas thank you in advance.)

Tofino

8. Wickaninnish Inn

The luxurious Wickaninnish Inn is an ideal launching pad for a day of surfing or fat biking at Tofino’s 2.5-km-long Chesterman Beach. Facing the open Pacific Ocean on Vancouver Island’s west coast, this Relais & Chateaux property near Pacific Rim National Park offers infinite ways to relax, from the fabled Ancient Cedars Spa to the in-room hot tubs and gas fireplaces.

Beers available on draft at The Pointe Restaurant include Tofino Brewing’s Blonde Ale and Longwood Brewery’s Island Time Lager.

9. Ultimate Adventure Tour

For those seeking an adrenalized outing with wind, waves, and wildlife, the Tofino Resort + Marina’s Ultimate Adventure Tour brims with variety.

When you head out with your guide on a 21-foot Grady White fishing boat, you could spot grey whales surfacing near Vargas Island or black bears foraging on the shores of Vancouver Island for clams and mussels.

Drop crab traps in Lemmens Inlet and come back later to pick up Dungeness crab that you can enjoy freshly cooked at the resort’s waterfront 1909 Kitchen restaurant for dinner.

1909 Kitchen’s excellent selection of draft beer includes Yellow Dog’s High 5 IPA and Driftwood Brewery’s Blackstone Porter.

Whistler

10. Whistler Olympic Plaza

In 2010, Whistler served as the official host mountain resort of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, co-hosting with Vancouver. Fun fact: after Canada’s Jon Montgomery surprised the experts by winning the gold medal in men’s skeleton, he swigged a pitcher of beer that he was handed outside Black’s Pub in the Whistler Village during his celebratory march.

Today, while Whistler remains best-known as North America’s top ski resort, a two-hour drive north of Vancouver, it also abounds with summer activities like axe throwing, bear viewing, hiking, rock climbing, and riding the Peak 2 Peak Gondola.

When you’re ready to kick back with a gold medal-worthy brew or two, the BrewHouse at the Whistler Olympic Plaza awaits with such flagship beers as Grizzly Brown Ale and 5 Rings IPA. Also, head to Function Junction to sip a pint of Black Tusk Ale at Whistler Brewing or Hope You’re Grapefruit IPA at nearby Coast Mountain Brewing.

Squamish

11. Sea to Sky Gondola

Situated roughly halfway between Vancouver and Whistler, the Sea to Sky Gondola offers unparalleled views overlooking Howe Sound.

Take the 10-minute gondola ride up to the Summit Lodge, 885 metres above sea level, and enjoy an easy, family-friendly hike along the 1.3-km Panorama Trail or get your heart rate up on the epic, 8.4-km Al’s Habrich Trail through the backcountry. The 100-metre-long Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge is another can’t-miss experience at this Squamish attraction.

Whether you wind up feasting on pizza, poutine, or pork ribs on the Sky Pilot Restaurant’s spacious, sunny patio, you can wash it all down with a pint of Sky Pilot Northwest Pale Ale from Howe Sound Brewing, which has been brewing beer in Squamish for 25 years. Reservations are recommended.

And once you’ve taken the gondola back down, be sure to check out A-Frame Brewing and Backcountry Brewing, which are both located in Squamish.

Penticton

12. Kettle Valley Rail Trail

As one of BC’s best-loved rail trails, the Kettle Valley Rail Trail runs close to 650 km from Hope to Castlegar. For recreational cyclists, the scenic, easygoing ride from Penticton to Naramata – a 21-km, four-hour round trip – is an unquestioned highlight. Biking through the rolling hills next to the soul-soothing expanse of Okanagan Lake, many visitors enjoy checking out the award-winning Naramata Bench wineries. Look for Abandoned Rail Brewing to open along this stretch later this summer.

Indeed, beyond the vineyards and orchards, Penticton is also home to a captivating craft beer scene. You can easily kick off or wrap up your Kettle Valley Rail Trail odyssey with some outstanding brews.

Just a five-minute ride from where the trail starts on Vancouver Avenue, hit up Cannery Brewing’s taproom for a pint of Sunblink Berry Sour or Naramata Nut Brown Ale.  Also check out Highway 97 Brewery‘s new location right next door.

Golden

13. Kicking Horse Grizzly Bear Refuge

Orphaned at just five months old, Boo the grizzly bear got a new lease on life at the 20-acre Kicking Horse Grizzly Bear Refuge.

Located at Golden’s Kicking Horse Mountain Resort on the BC-Alberta border, the refuge offers multiple interpretive tours to view this magnificent bear, including the Ranger Assist Program. Twice daily (9 am and 3 pm), rangers – accompanied by up to five guests – visit Boo in his habitat and make sure he gets his daily vitamin supplements.

To enhance your beer nutrition, check out the Peaks Grill, just a 10-minute chairlift ride down from Boo’s refuge. It serves such thirst-quenchers as Moody Ales’ Lavender Sour and Fernie Brewing’s First Ascent Gose.

14. Golden Skybridge

Debuting in June 2021, the Golden Skybridge is currently Canada’s highest suspension bridge, swaying 130 metres above a valley in the Columbia Canyon. Teeter across a second, 80-metre-high suspension bridge, and gaze at the Columbia and Purcell mountain ranges and a towering waterfall. Ziplines and a giant swing are in the works for this exciting new Kootenay Rockies attraction.

Craft beer lovers can quaff the likes of Whitetooth Brewing’s Thread the Needle Witbier or Nelson Brewing’s Hooligan Organic Pilsner at the on-site Village Grill.

Bella Coola

15. Tweedsmuir Park Lodge

When a lodge is located within eyeshot of a site known as Stupendous Mountain, you’re setting the bar high. Fortunately, Tweedsmuir Park Lodge – marking its 90th anniversary in 2021 – has all the fresh air, natural splendour, and upscale amenities required to deliver a stupendous British Columbia experience for adventurous souls.

Just over an hour’s flight from Vancouver on the Central Coast, the Bella Coola-area lodge offers luxury chalet stays, e-biking, and fly-fishing excursions along the Atnarko River. Ancient First Nations petroglyph-viewing opportunities, a new 1.1-km Via Ferrata climbing route overlooking the Great Bear Rainforest, and the chance to see grizzly bears and black bears foraging in their natural habitat are other key highlights.

With dinner, guests can drink BC craft beers like Steamworks Brewing Co.’s Flagship IPA and Whistler Brewing’s Hazy Trail Pale Ale.

For more information about British Columbia attractions, see Destination BC.

Travel in BC

Travel is part of our DNA and we’re all excited to see it return and welcome our neighbours from Alberta and the rest of Canada. Summer 2021 is a great time to #exploreBCnow and connect with family and friends and explore everything British Columbia has to offer – great cities, incredible nature, and parts less travelled ready to welcome people. Step 3 has a lot of changes, such as masks being optional for those who have had both vaccination shots, and showing proof of vaccination is not required. It’s important to remember we are all learning as we go, and we need to have kindness and patience at the heart of everything we do. We’re asking everyone to be patient as we work to get our services to the same high levels they were before the pandemic. We’re improving quality all the time as we address staffing shortages, train new staff, and adapt to new guidelines. The B.C. government information on travel and business rules are online at www.gov.bc.ca/covidtravel.

The post 15 BC Attractions That Offer Craft Beer appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

I’ve travelled to a top holiday destination in British Columbia. Whistler is known for its skiing, but it is also home to a lot of fantastic summer and shoulder-season activities. Not to mention, great craft beer. I spoke with brewer Derrick Franche at High Mountain Brewing at the BrewHouse and owner/brewer Kevin Winter at Coast Mountain Brewing.

Some highlights:

• Derrick was offered the job and moved to Whistler for his current position.
• Kevin and his wife have spent most of their lives in Whistler so they wanted to set up in their local community.
• Derrick said the beer sells so fast in the summer he can actually see the level in the tank dropping.

Listen to the episode here:

You can also listen to Aaron’s earlier interview with Whistler Brewing here:

The post Cascadian Beer Podcast: Coast Mountain Brewing and High Mountain Brewing at the BrewHouse in Whistler appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

For weeks I’d been planning a family camping trip to Pemberton. This was the plan: my own family and I would drive up there to meet up with our friends from the Interior, then spend five days and four nights hiking mountains, climbing rocks, swimming in cold rivers, and, of course, visiting a couple of the up-and-coming mountain town’s local breweries on behalf of the BC Ale Trail. It was a fantastic plan.

But then our friends, for some very understandable reasons which are irrelevant to this piece, pulled out. And then my wife, for some similarly understandable reasons, did too. My family camping trip had imploded in the way that fantastic plans sometimes do, and through no fault of its own. Still, I had a job to do, and I’m not one to shirk my duty to society. So that’s why, on a promising August morning, I found myself alone, driving northward on the Sea to Sky highway with the music loud, coffee in the cup holder, and my bike on the back of the car. It would have been nice if the original plan had happened as intended, but I wasn’t upset because things were looking up.

Biking towards beer

After arriving in the late morning and pitching my tent in a campsite high above the Green River at Nairn Falls Provincial Park, I climbed onto my bike and set off toward my first destination. I’d sketched out a rough itinerary for myself that saw me biking from the campsite to Pemberton Brewing Company, the Pemberton Distillery, and finally, to The Beer Farmers, before heading back to the campsite at the end of the day. I knew it would be a manageable forty-five kilometres, over almost entirely flat ground, no less.

Somehow, though, I entirely neglected to research the finer details of my route beyond connecting the three points on Google Maps, and, so, I never found this detailed map produced by the Pemberton Valley Trails Association, which would have made my travels significantly easier in parts. So, rather than rolling out of the provincial park onto the wide, smooth grade of the Sea to Sky Trail, I turned onto what I thought was the only trail into town, which turns out to have been rated “more difficult,” and I’d like to think that I didn’t disgrace myself too badly as I wrestled my bike over massive roots, rocks, and steep climbs. Either way, nobody was around to see whether or not I walked any of it.

Eventually I found my way, and I rolled into Pemberton itself past the bustling public beach at One Mile Lake. And this is where the true greatness of my day came into crystalline focus: I was alone, on a bike, headed for a brewery that required no hill-climbing to reach, and all around me stood the kind of jaw-dropping mountain backdrop that we British Columbians take for granted all too often. Cruising past a line of cars stopped for construction on Highway 99, I wore a giant, bug-inhaling grin on my face, which grew wider when a helpful flagger directed me onto a trail running parallel to the highway that I’d failed to notice. Gravel crunching under my tires, I sped eastward in peace.

Pemberton Brewing Company

I arrived at Pemberton Brewing Company exhilarated from my ride and glowing with the kind of self-satisfaction I experience when I arrive at far-flung places on a bike. Some of that feeling vanished when the brewery’s friendly social media representative and bartender, Kate Sangster, asked if I’d arrived on “Cream Puff,” which, as my trail app revealed, is one of Pemberton’s best-known downhill mountain bike trails, descending three hundred and fifty metres over two kilometres. I had to admit that I’d come the flat way, but all wasn’t lost — one of the brewery’s most popular beers, a remarkably juicy hazy pale ale, is also named Cream Puff, so I still got a little piece of the action (despite being terrified of downhill mountain biking).

Assistant brewer Mark Franzen was kind enough to tour me through the spacious production area, which includes not just one of the most impressive cold rooms I’ve seen in a small brewery, but two of them. I’ve been a brewer myself and I get excited about details like these. Seriously, if you’ve ever tried to maneuver a full pallet of cans around a brewery floor, you know just how nice a few extra square feet of cold space can be. Also, there’s nothing that refreshes like walking into a massive refrigerator on a hot August afternoon. Meanwhile, the kettle wafted sweet, malty steam throughout the building.

Tastings at the Pemberton Distillery

Walking outside, I saw that the Whistler Wood Fired Pizza Company’s bright red truck had pulled up to the edge of the patio and smoke was beginning to curl from its chimney. My stomach rumbled in response, but I had more stops to make and my ride wasn’t close to halfway done. So I climbed on to my bike and rode for — three, maybe four minutes? — to the Pemberton Distillery and climbed off again. A Pemberton institution, the distillery’s best known products include Schramm Gin and Vodka, spirits produced with potatoes grown only a short distance away at the farm that’s home to The Beer Farmers, my third destination. But I was already familiar with those spirits and I was craving something oaky, so I asked assistant distiller Jake Schramm to pour me a sample of Pemberton Valley Organic Single Malt Whisky. The aroma of the peat-smoked malt lingered with me as I strolled through the distillery, admiring the rows of oak barrels filled with the same golden nectar that was in my glass. A wash boiled away inside the copper pot still, and strong, clear spirit trickled out through the sample port.

With a bottle of Nocino — black walnut liqueur — tucked away in my bag, I said goodbye and got back on my bike to begin the ride to my final stop. Once again, my lack of research led me slightly astray. If I’d had any sense, I would have left on the Friendship Trail, which would have brought me directly from the distillery all the way back to central Pemberton without having to to ride on the (admittedly generous) shoulder of Highway 99. But the highway ride went quickly, even after the friendly flagger from earlier in the day convinced me to take a beautiful, but winding detour along Pemberton Creek. Soon I was rolling through downtown Pemberton and then out the other side, following the Lillooet River upstream.

Getting to The Beer Farmers

Pemberton Meadows Road is a dream come true for the exertion-averse and beer-focused cyclist. The reward offered is out of all proportion to the effort exerted, which is to say: it’s dead flat and absolutely stunning. For 12 kilometres I pedaled between farm fields, here and there crossing canals and tributaries of the Lillooet River, resisted by nothing more serious than a gentle headwind. I could have kept riding up that road all day — (it’s easy to say things like this after the fact) — but a sign painted on a farm outbuilding announced that I’d reached The Beer Farmers, my destination, so I rolled down a gravel driveway and took the last available space in the crowded bike rack.

On a sunny August afternoon, The Beer Farmers resembles a community picnic on a farm more than it does a brewery and tasting room. A handful of tables dot the front lawn, but small groups of people were just as comfortable sprawling on the grass enjoying a meal from the food truck. The Beer Farmers comes by its rural charm honestly — the Miller family has owned and farmed the land it’s on since 1911, and brewing is just the most recent activity it’s taken on. In some ways, it’s an afterthought — as if to illustrate this point, farmer and brewery hand Will Miller led me briskly through the compact production area into a much larger adjacent storage room, stacked floor to ceiling with crates of organic potatoes from the surrounding fields. And yet, brewing is also very much an extension of farming for the Millers, who have planted 30 acres of their land in malting barley. Farmer Bruce Miller, that’s Will’s dad for those keeping up, poured me a glass of last year’s Wild Saison, brewed from barley farmed on the Miller lands and fermented with locally wild-cultured yeast. And, to complete this picture of bucolic charm, it was brewed by head brewer Brenda Miller, who is Will’s mom.

By now it was late in the afternoon. I’d felt absolutely no time pressure all day, but now my stomach was rumbling louder than ever. As I sped back toward Pemberton, I kept my eyes fixed on Mount Currie’s jagged form, as if it were guiding me towards my evening meal. Where every kilometre of road felt welcoming and spacious on the way up the valley, now it just felt endless. I, of course, had not bothered to bring anything by way of a snack on my ride. Next time I will, and I’ll read the map too! But relief wasn’t that far off. Not more than an hour after I left The Beer Farmers I was on the patio at the Mile One Eating House, staring at the cheese curds topping both my Hillbilly Deluxe burger and the poutine I’d ordered in a hunger panic.

Mount Currie stood above it all, radiant in the early evening sun. It had guided me well on this adventure.

Know before you go

As you plan a late summer or fall holiday on the BC Ale Trail, make sure to look up important information about the area you’re visiting and check on cancellation policies (and maps!) before heading on your adventure. Practice safe and respectful travelling as you explore the communities in our wild backyard that are open to visitors and make sure to be a considerate craft beer consumer while you’re out and about.

The post Biking and Beers in Pemberton, BC appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

Whistler rules, but I need to tread carefully here.

I mean, there are factors at play that potentially sway what I write and I say.  Oh, don’t get me wrong, Whistler does rule.  But there’s something you need to know about me before we continue.  In the spirit of digital transparency and, lest I be accused of location bias, I need to come clean here.

I work for Whistler Blackcomb.  There, I said it. I have a stake in whether or not you frolic in this playground because your play fuels my pay.  Okie-dokie, now that’s out of the way I shan’t mention it again.  Other than to say you should come skiing and snowboarding and mountain biking and hiking because, brothers and sisters, this place is brilliant.  Moving on.

Wet your whistle in Whistler

Whatever your pretense is for coming to Whistler, it essentially comes down to thirst: for adventure, for exploration or, indeed, that all-inclusive saliva-inducing thirst for life itself.  So let us first quench our most basic thirst and get a drink.

First up happens to be first on the scene, Whistler Brewing Company.  These cats have been batting the ball around since 1989. And while there’s been a few iterations, locations and hibernations (WBC went dark for a couple years, back before the 2010 Olympics) they’re currently rolling strong and rolling deep.  Get a glass of one of their cores (I suggest their classic Black Tusk Ale) or sample a seasonal, like their Black Tusk Chocolate Milk Ale.  Wait a second, WBC.  Did you just take a thing and put another thing in it?  The only way to know for sure is to ask your server and try it out for yourself!

Green revolution? I’m in?!

On to our next locale for a non-alcoholic palate cleanser.  Yes, you read that right: while the name of the Whistler Ale Trail is Ale, one can not simply survive on good cheer and good beer alone.  Welcome to the Green Moustache Organic Cafe! Owners Nicollette and Pierre Richer take their health and their food very seriously.  These locals built an empire upon delicious, nutrient-rich, plant-based food. They’re 100% organic and gluten & dairy free.

Listen, I’m old school.  As soon as you start sprouting that green revolution rhetoric I tended to tune out. Tended to: past tense. My tune has since harmonized with the song they’re singing because you cannot argue with good food.  And that’s all these guys make! Grab a Magnum Smoothie and get your own green grass grin on before crossing the street to Coast.

And now, back to the Ale

Coast Mountain Brewing has been busting out boutique beers for three damned years!  Grab a flight then grab yourself a seat at the table and take notice of the nuance.  If you like your IPA on the hazy side, Day Dreamer’s got you covered. Or if you prefer your IPA on the west side, Surveyor’s got you covered.  Like your beer brown? Then check out the Woodnutt. Their tap list isn’t limitless, but the space I have here to gush about them is, so let me just say this; these Coast Mountain cats & kittens are constantly killing it.  Go see for yourself and you’ll see what I mean.

Get your plaid on

Whistler Village is calling your name, but something else is whispering in your ear before leaving Function Junction and it sounds like this: “Hey.  You wanna throw an axe or two?”  Listen to that voice, channel your inner lumberjack, and walk next door to Forged Axe Throwing prepared to have some exhilarating fun. There’s nothing quite like having that hatchet leave your hands, spin a time or two, then bury itself into the target with a hearty T-CHUNK sound.

Put the finishing moves on your Whistler Ale-venture

Okay team, we’re in a bit of a pickle.  I’m running out of exploration time and you’re nowhere near finished your Ale Trail.

Here’s the deal: I’ll dole out one more location and after that, you’re on your own.  In the unlikely event BC Ale Trail wants me back to pen another tale or pin another ale, I’ll give you a little backstory (and maybe even some front!) on some of Whistler’s most righteous restaurants and treasured taverns.  For now, let us finish off with the High Mountain Brewing Company. What? You’ve not heard of this one? You probably have, actually. Or at least, you have by another name. It’s simply known around town as the Brewhouse.

These guys do craft beer right and they’ve been doing it for over two decades. Read that again. There just aren’t that many places in BC where that’s true, but the Brewhouse has been holding it down since 1997.

The Lifty Lager is an ode to one of Whistler’s oldest professions (no, not that profession) and the 5 Rings IPA won the BC Beer Awards top spot twice and still ranks as a great West Coast IPA.  With delicious food to nosh, a crazy double-sided fireplace to keep you cozy, and a model train running ‘round the room to the absolute delight of adults and children alike, the Brewhouse is a strong finishing move, my friends.

Head up to Whistler — the mountains are calling!

Be sure to know before you go and double-check what’s open in BC before embarking on your journey. Find some more tips on travelling safely and exploring communities respectfully as you plan your adventure to the mountains and beyond.

For more information on COVID-19 and the ongoing public health emergency, please consult the BC CDC website.

The post Wet Your Whistle on the Whistler Ale Trail appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.