Earth Day is celebrated annually on April 22 to raise awareness about the environment and sustainability, and to help inspire, support, and facilitate innovative actions for individuals and organizations to reduce their environmental impact. Many of British Columbia’s craft breweries strive to improve their environmental sustainability on an ongoing basis. Most breweries divert the spent grains leftover after the brewing process from the landfill by giving them to local farmers who use them for animal feed or as compost. Some breweries work towards reducing their waste to near-zero levels. Oth ..read more

The BC Ale Trail’s newest Tasting Passport contest includes some of the province’s longest-running craft breweries and some of its newest. Between March 28 and April 30, 2024, visit at least three breweries from both Vancouver Ale Trails (Brewery Creek and Yeast Vancouver), get your passport stamped, and drop it off at a participating location to be entered to win the Grand Prize Giveaway. If you don’t manage to fill out the whole thing, you’ll still be eligible for other prizes so make sure you hand it in!  The Vancouver Tasting Passport’s 31 breweries, distilleries, tap houses, and liqu ..read more

It’s time to start planning your spring and early summer ale-ventures, and what better way to kick things off than with a beer festival? Dozens of craft breweries (and maybe even a cidery and distillery or two) all coming together at one venue, with good food, music, and your fellow craft beer lovers — what could be better? Here are the craft beer festivals on the calendar for spring and early summer 2024. Stay tuned for summer and fall festival announcements coming soon. Start planning your next beer-themed getaway to attend one or some of these fun events. And be sure to check out the Sip &a ..read more

Vancouver’s dynamic and diverse craft beer scene has something for everyone. From the early brewing history at the foundation of the Brewery Creek Ale Trail to the modern entrepreneurial spirit of the Yeast Van Ale Trail, you can be sure you’ll find the perfect vibe — and your next favourite beer!  From March 28 – April 30, 2024, visit any of the participating businesses listed below and ask for a stamp with purchase. Once you have collected six unique stamps – three from each ale trail – hand in the passport at any participating location to be entered in the draw for a chance to win the ..read more

A toast to the women in the beer community! As the world gears up to commemorate International Women’s Day this Friday, it’s a fitting moment to raise our glasses to the women who have been making significant strides in our industry and the beer community at large. From ancient civilizations where women were the primary brewers to the modern craft beer revolution, women have played pivotal roles in shaping the culture, innovation, and business of brewing. This year, breweries are celebrating in different ways around the province. There are women-led tap takeovers, ladies’ brew days, and plenty ..read more

The hallmark of a great ski town is its après culture. Where do you go for that post-ski drink? The traditional après is right off the slopes to the closest pub, but not everyone wants to party in their ski boots. And, not everyone wants to drink all night. What about an après massage? What about something more low-key, chilled out? On a recent weekend trip to Revelstoke, my much younger sister Victoria became my après ski partner-in-crime. Victoria, 30 years old, still enjoys the traditional bright lights and beer pitchers vibe. She has boundless energy and late-night endurance. But as a chil ..read more

Our fearless correspondent Rob Mangelsdorf taste-tested nine high-ABV beers from BC Ale Trail breweries. It wasn’t so long ago that thirsty beer drinkers with a hankering for a high-test brew had very few options. Big beers were once brewed only to give drinkers more bang for their buck, and flavour was an afterthought for these “malt liquor” offerings. The early days of the craft beer boom soon brought more options, but not many. If you were lucky enough, you might be able to find a barleywine or a barrel-aged imperial stout with a double-digit ABV—but even then, they were likely to be s ..read more

Launched in 2014, Victoria Beer Week returns March 1-9 for a 10th annual celebration of our capital city’s craft beer culture. The event that kicked off Victoria Beer Week back on March 1, 2014, was a Cask Night featuring 30 cask-conditioned beers from a great mix of breweries located on both sides of the Salish Sea/Georgia Strait. About an hour into the sold-out event, after all the hectic setup and the flurry of opening the doors and letting in all the ticketholders, I found myself at the top of the stairs overlooking the main hall of the Victoria Public Market where I paused to take a breat ..read more

Hops Among Friends is designed to showcase the people who make up the craft beer scene on the BC Ale Trail. In this latest installment, Kim Lawton interviews Isaiah Archer and Matt West-Patrick from Whistle Buoy Brewing. My most recent Hops Among Friends interview was with Tessa Gabiniewicz from Land & Sea Brewing. At the end of our discussion, Tessa recommended that I speak with Matt West-Patrick and Isaiah Archer from Whistle Buoy Brewing for my next Hops Among Friends interview. Matt is Co-owner and Head Brewer, Isaiah is Co-owner and Sales & Marketing Manager at Whistle Buoy Brewin ..read more

10 Must-Do Richmond Experiences Are you yearning for the delight of fresh experiences and flavours? Join us on a captivating journey — wander through vibrant streets and historical sites, immerse yourself in the enchanting sounds of the seaside, and connect with the lively and diverse restaurants, breweries and attractions that define the authentic Richmond experience. There’s never a dull moment in Richmond.   Five Roads Brewing Co – Steveston Tasting Room Enjoy local craft beer with a farm-to-table food menu. At the intersection of good beer and great company, Five Roads Brewing is a cr ..read more