With ongoing restrictions against non-essential travel, BC residents are seeking warm weather fun close to home… and what’s better than chilled beers on a sunny patio? Now is the perfect time to park yourself at a local watering hole, with BC’s craft brewers releasing over 50 new beers encouraging residents to stay and support local.
Whether lounging on a patio with your nearest and dearest, or picking up beverages for a picnic in the park, breweries across BC are fully stocked to fuel your spring and summer. Check out the BC Ale Trail’s blog for the full list, or sample the selection below for starters:
- More Often Than Not Apricot Blonde Ale – Twin City Brewing & Dog Mountain Brewing (4.7% ABV | 18 IBU, pictured – left)A collaboration between two Port Alberni breweries, this fruit-forward blonde ale was lightly hopped with citrusy simcoe and fruity amarillo, then conditioned on apricot. Dog Mountain Brewing and Twin City Brewing can be found on the Vancouver Island Part 2 Ale Trail.
- Bloem Saison – Coast Mountain Brewing (5% ABV)The pink peppercorns and hibiscus flowers in this beautiful pink-hued blend add sparkle to traditional European malts and hops. Coast Mountain Brewing can be found on the Whistler Ale Trail.
- Mango Party Cream Ale – Faculty Brewing (5.2% ABV | 22 IBU)A collaboration with Wize Coffee Leaf, this smooth and crushable cream ale is infused with Wize’s Mango Party tea and enhanced by citrus notes from Mandarina Bavaria hops.Faculty Brewing can be found on the Vancouver – Brewery Creek Ale Trail.
- Vibrant Things Tropical Pale Ale – Steel & Oak Brewing (4.6% ABV)This light-bodied beer is brewed with barley, oats, wheat and rye, then enhanced by exotic amchoor (green mango) and fermented with Kveik yeast.Steel & Oak Brewing can be found on the New West, Delta, Surrey & Richmond Ale Trail.
- Super Neat Saison – Mighty Peace Brewing (6.4% ABV | 12 IBU)This saison was brewed with haskaps and blackcurrants harvested in the Peace region.Mighty Peace Brewing can be found on the Northern BC Ale Trail.
- Faux Paw Cherry Saison – Mt. Begbie Brewing (6.5 ABV, pictured – right)When Mt. Begbie was building its new brewery a few years ago, a bear walked across a freshly poured concrete slab, leaving its paw prints forever etched in the brewery’s floor. This limited release beer, made with delightfully sweet cherry purée, celebrates the curious bear’s faux paw.Mt. Begbie Brewing can be found on the Kootenay Rockies East Ale Trail.
- Hula Hula Shake – Main Street Brewing (5.4% | 12 IBU)This Berliner Weisse-style beer combines fresh passionfruit, orange and guava purée with subtle hints of vanilla.Main Street Brewing can be found on the Vancouver – Brewery Creek Ale Trail.
- Powerslave Pilsner – Backroads Brewing (5% ABV)Named for one of Nelson’s most iconic mountain biking trails, Powerslave is a German-style Pilsner whose light, crisp body is balanced by a delicately spicy hop profile.Backroads Brewing can be found on the Kootenay Rockies West Ale Trail.
- Salted Lime Mexican Lager – Field House Brewing (ABV 4.9% | 15 IBU) Light, clean and crisp, this Mexican lager is supremely crushable thanks to the addition of lime and salt.Field House Brewing can be found on the Fraser Valley Ale Trail.
- To see the full list of new beer releases, and learn where to find them in your neighbourhood, visit the BC Ale Trail website.