Launched in 2016, the BC Ale Trail offers self-guided itineraries to breweries around the province. Meanwhile Vancouver Brewery Tours and others offer popular guided visits to the best and most diverse local breweries in the city, allowing you to learn all about the beer-making process, taste plenty of beer, and get shuttled around safely. Joe Wiebe, author of Craft Beer Revolution: The Insider’s Guide to B.C. Breweries, and co-founder of the BC Ale Trail, gives us a handy list of where to start.
Brassneck Brewery (Vancouver)
One of the first tasting-room-forward breweries to open in Vancouver in 2013, Brassneck remains one of the best places to enjoy a beer in the city.
Cannery Brewing (Penticton)
Although the Okanagan is known as wine country, Penticton is also home to a vibrant craft beer scene that Cannery Brewing has led for more than 20 years.
Dageraad Brewing (Burnaby)
This special brewery, which was named Canadian Brewery of the Year in 2018, celebrates Belgian beer culture with a delicious and creative beer lineup and a gorgeous tasting room.
Field House Brewing (Abbotsford & Chilliwack)
In both of its locations, Field House celebrates the agricultural roots of the Fraser Valley with delicious beer and food featuring local ingredients.
Jackknife Brewing (Kelowna)
Jackknife stands out from the crowd of new breweries in Kelowna with unapologetically “weird” and delicious beer and amazing pizza.
Locality Brewing (Langley)
A farm-based brewery on a beautiful property. Pick up a tasting flight and wander over to sit next to the pond and listen to the frogs while you sip and savour.
Mayne Island Brewing (Mayne Island)
A cottage brewery on a gorgeous island in the Salish Sea between Victoria and Vancouver. Once you visit you’ll never want to leave!
Spinnakers Brewpub (Victoria)
Every beer lover should go on a pilgrimage to Canada’s first brewpub, which opened in 1984. Be sure to order a pint of the cask-conditioned Mitchell’s ESB.
Townsite Brewing (Powell River)
Based in a gorgeous 1950s building in the Townsite neighbourhood, a National Historic District, this brewery is definitely worth taking two ferries from Vancouver or Victoria.
Twin City Brewing (Port Alberni)
Located in a traditional forestry town at the centre of Vancouver Island on the way to Tofino, Twin City has put Port Alberni on the craft beer map thanks to its solid beer and pizza.
For more suggestions, check out Craft Beer in Vancouver Primer from our resident craft beer reviewer, Gary Kalmek.
