Tour the BC Ale Trail

A guide to some of the most exciting - and flavourful - routes in the heart of British Columbia.

by

Words by Steve Fennell

Walk into any pub throughout BC and chances are likely there will be a variety of local craft brewery brands on tap, touting exploding flavours, smooth aftertastes and above all, new experiences all poured into a pint glass or served in a taster fight.

It’s this diversity plus the popularity of BC craft beer and the dedicated following that inspired the BC Ale Trail. It comprises 20-plus easily accessible routes across the province that promotes locally made brews and the scenic, active communities where they are produced.

The History and Craft Beer Culture

The calling for craft beer in BC was first recognized by John Mitchell and Frank Appleton who, during the early 1980s, opened the Horseshoe Bay Brewery in Howe Sound. Although it’s no longer in operation, it’s now established in the history books as the first craft brewery in Canada and set a definite course for many to follow throughout the province.

Today, more than 220 craft breweries across BC quench the thirst of locals and visitors alike. The BC Ale Trail - in partnership with Destination British Columbia and the BC Craft Brewers Guild - offers a world of discovery. A variety of organized itineraries can lead RVers (and other curious travellers by nature) through urban centers, rural mountain communities, and coastal island villages to provide new adventures.

To begin your experience at your own pace and preferences, we have listed in detail the highlights of five scenic routes that make up part of the BC Ale Trail. All encompass unique craft breweries, their tasting rooms, as well as historical and natural attractions to enhance your visit. For more detailed day-to-day itineraries and more travel ideas along the BC Ale Trail, be sure to visit www.bcaletrail.com.

BC Ale Trail: Kelowna, West Kelowna and Penticton

The routes and passages in the Okanagan are very RV-friendly. Provincial parks, campgrounds, and a vibrant waterfront with easy access to Okanagan Lake are just some of the  ‌highlights in BC’s third largest city. But a stroll downtown will reveal that Kelowna is a hub of craft breweries. All feature full-service kitchens, outdoor patios, entertainment, social activities, and of course, a range of craft beers to sample and savour.

One of the first craft breweries in the city was Tree Brewing. After closing its plant in 1998, it evolved into the Kelowna Beer Institute located in Delta Hotels by Marriott Grand Okanagan Resort. It still pours local favourites today and some of its options include Hophead IPA, Grape Fruit Radler and the Dukes Dry Apple cider, to name a few.

You’ll also want to visit the city’s North End Brewery District, which has more than half a dozen craft breweries. Kettle River Brewing, Red Bird Brewing and Vice and Virtue Brewing are just a few of the options. All have tasting rooms, menu items, and tasting flights. Don’t be surprised to see live entertainment on select nights.

If you cross the William R. Bennett Bridge to West Kelowna, you’ll come to Lakesider Brewing, one of the newest  craft breweries in the area. The exclusive tap offerings in its tasting room range from wheat, amber and pale ales to hazy IPAs, stouts and pilsners. Another option is Kind Brewing, which opened in 2017 and is known for its German-style dunkelweizen, Belgian-style witbier, hazy IPAs and brown ales.

Although it’s worth staying a while in Kelowna, travelling south on BC Hwy 97 leads to Penticton, which has been serving local craft beers for more than two decades. There are six locations downtown alone including Cannery Brewing, Bad Tattoo Brewing, Highway 97 Brewing, Tin Whistle Brewing Co., Slackwater Brewing and Neighbourhood Brewing. The latter two are the newest to open while Abandoned Rail Brewing, just outside of Penticton, opened in March 2022.

BC Ale Trail:  Squamish and Whistler

Halfway between Vancouver and Whistler is the community of Squamish. Situated just off the Sea-to-Sky Highway (BC Hwy 99), it’s widely known for its extensive, well-maintained hiking and biking trail systems, two golf courses and, when the season allows, a variety of watersports.

A good way to end your day outdoors is by visiting the Copper Coil Still and Grill that’s popular for serving craft beers from producers throughout BC. With its Cajun-style atmosphere, also expect excellent BBQ and fulfilling menu items.

Nearby (about a three-minute walk) is Howe Sound Inn and Brewing. Its craft beers have earned multiple awards and some of the well-known selections include Howe Sound Lager, Garibaldi Honey Blonde, and Rail Ale Nut Brown. Seasonal limited releases are also available.

Further North on BC Hwy 99 (but still in the Squamish district) is A-FRAME Brewing. With its cozy, modern atmosphere, A-FRAME has many homegrown core offerings on tap that include Barrier Lake Aussie Pale Ale, Shuswap Lake West Coast IPA and Cheakamus Lake Czech-Style Pilsner.

Just two minutes away is Backcountry Brewing. It opened in 2017 and after its first year in business, it earned ‘Rookie of Year’ and ‘Best Social Media’ during the BC Beer Awards. Some recommended craft beers include RidgeRunner pilsner and Window Maker IPA. Both craft breweries offer light menu options plus takeout packages and growlers, as the selection is impressive.

It’s tough to resist the allure of Whistler and its many natural attractions. But the tasting rooms at one or all three local craft breweries are almost as popular. Located next door to Olympic Plaza is High Mountain Brewing/The Brew House. With its excellent restaurant, be sure to try its 5 Rings IPA, which earned Beer of the Year in 2012 and 2014 at the BC Beer Awards.

To see more of the area, drive to Whistler Brewing Co. just outside of the village in Function Junction. With an interesting history of ownership over the years, it has developed a fine choice of on-site-produced craft beers. Be sure to try its Forager Gluten Free Pale Ale and lightly hopped Mountaineer Pilsner in its tap room. About a minute away is Coast Mountain Brewing. Sour ales are popular here (along with its IPAs and pale ales) and inquire about its seasonal releases.

BC Ale Trail: Northeast BC

This BC Ale Trail may be more remote than others, but travelling this deep in the province doesn’t come without merit. North of Kelowna and Kamloops, the highways and byways of the area are flanked by rolling hills, rivers, streams and rural communities. All offer smooth passage for most RVs with many outdoor activities to enjoy and RV parks to stay at along the way.

Five communities make up this BC Ale Trail including Fort St. John, Dawson Creek, Quesnel, Williams Lake and Valemount. Geographically, the communities and routes form a loop, each one easily accessible regardless of the direction you’re travelling.

  • Fort St. John and Dawson Creek

Fort St. John is the most northerly community along the loop and is ‌in Peace Country where RV parks abound and views of the Peace River are stunning. Beard’s Brewing Co. and Mighty Peace Brewing are the two local craft breweries and both make craft beers on site. They both offer a diverse selection, many with BC-grown hops, wheat and even honey, berries, nuts, and fruit.

Post & Row Taphouse in Dawson Creek is one of the latest additions to this BC Ale Trail. According to its website at the time of publication, plans are underway to develop a brewery and tasting lounge. Nonetheless, it serves a variety of craft beers from across Northern BC (as well as other areas of the province) based on “a rotating 14-tap draught system.”

  • Quesnel and Williams Lake

Should your travels lead east-west along BC Hwy 16 (or vice versa) an ideal detour is driving south on BC Hwy 97 to Quesnel and Williams Lake.

With its unique shopping and popular art scene, Quesnel is about one hour from Barkerville Historic Town and Park. This is a living history museum and one of the largest heritage sites in Western North America, which commemorates the importance of the area during the gold rush from 1862 to 1870.

Following your return trip to Quesnel, take a break at Barkerville Brewing Co, which touts a rich gold rush theme in its tasting room and serves a selection of flavourful craft beers. You’ll want to try its light menu that consists of artisan pizza and other items. The brewery also earned two golds and a bronze at the 2016 BC Beer Awards.

If you drive further south to Williams Lake, take a break at one of the local RV parks. Once settled, you’ll want to sample the variety of ales, lagers, or IPAs at nearby Fox Mountain Brewing Co. Locally sourced menu items are available and with many craft beers to sample, six packs and growler refills are available to enjoy later at your campsite.

  • Valemount

To the east of this Ale Trail is the village of Valemount, an outdoor playground that serves RVers throughout the late spring, summer and fall. One highlight here is Mount Robson Provincial Park, which is a great place for camping and enjoying outdoor recreation.

Stay in its campground or at one of the local privately owned RV parks, including Yellowhead RV Park and Campground. It’s just four minutes to services in Valemount and the popular Three Ranges Brewing Company.

Opened in 2013 and popular among local and visiting craft beer lovers alike, Three Ranges has a cozy taproom and offers a range of flagship beers, rotating seasonals and the occasional specialty beer. Long after you leave Valemount, you can continue to enjoy its flavours as their craft beer is available in many pubs and beer retailers throughout BC and Alberta.

BC Ale Trail: Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island

Victoria is a mecca for craft beer and even has its own designated Ale Trail. After seeing the many sights in the provincial capital, drive the Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 N to the Cowichan Valley, which has the warmest year-round climate in Canada, making it an agricultural hub.

The region has many working farms that reap the benefits of a long growing season. Many of the flavours can be experienced at the farmer’s markets, restaurants, and even in the local craft breweries’ tasting rooms.

Just off the highway is Duncan, which is home to Craig Street Brewing, Red Arrow Brewing, and Small Block Brewing Co. All have a variety of exclusive choices and you can even enjoy farm-to-table experiences from its menu.

Continuing north on the Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 N leads to Chemainus, which is a nice stopover with RV parks and a vibrant art and entertainment scene. Following a concert or musical, perhaps experience the skills of the brewmaster at Riot Brewing. A winner of two gold medals at the 2018 World Beer Cup is a true testament to its fine selection of ales, lagers, IPAs and more.

If you decide to visit Ladysmith, there are a few RV parks in the immediate area and you’ll want to visit its downtown, which was honoured as the best street in Canada by the Canadian Institute of Planners in 2017. Other recent news is the opening of Bayview Brewing in April 2022. Complete with a full-service kitchen offering a farm-to-table experience, Bayview offers such classics as ales, blondes, pale ales, west coast IPAs, hazy IPAs and Saisons.

Rounding out the craft beer experience of this Ale Trail are the five options in Nanaimo, including Cliffside Brewing, the Longwood Brew Pub and Restaurant (with its second location, Longwood Brewery), Wolf Brewing and White Sails Brewing. Each offers a unique tasting and/or dining experience, and is a great way to round out a day of enjoying outdoor activities or seeing the local attractions.

For more information and direct itineraries along any part of the BC Ale Trail visit www.bcaletrail.com

October is the Time Celebrate BC Craft Beer Month

To promote the works of local craft breweries and their brewmasters, October was proclaimed BC Craft Beer Month by the Provincial Government in 2011. In its 11th year, festivities are held from October 1 - 31 and include special events, festivals, exclusive tastings, and more throughout BC. Other special events include Whistler Craft Beer Month, Penticton Beer Week, and new this year, Kelowna Beer Week.

Watch for Tasting Passport promotions throughout the fall. These month-long events encourage residents to collect stamps at their local breweries and then enter completed passports in a draw to win prizes. Some of the events include:

  • Kimberley-Cranbrook (Sept. 15 - Oct. 30)
  • Maple Ridge (Sept. 15 - Oct. 15)
  • Cowichan-Nanaimo-Parksville Qualicum Beach (October)
  • Langley (October)
  • Vancouver's North Shore (Nov. 3 - 30)

Of special note, you’ll want to try the Explore BC Peach Farmhouse Ale, which is the result of six microbreweries of the BC Ale Trail who combined their efforts to formulate "a one-of-a-kind ale inspired by the bounty of BC." It will be available in BC Liquor Stores and private stores, craft breweries and restaurants throughout the province. For more details visit www.bcaletrail.ca/beer and for more information about BC Craft Beer Month go to www.bccraftbeermonth.com.

The acclaimed BC Beer Awards and Festival, normally held in October, has moved to November 6 and tickets are on sale at www.bcbeerawards.com.

BC Ale Trail App 

To more easily find information about the province’s craft beer scene, be sure to download the BC Ale Trail App, a comprehensive guide that includes information on 200-plus craft breweries, liquor retail stores, cideries, Sip & Stay offers and more.

The app is available at Google and Apple stores and as a special incentive, points can be collected after every visit to a BC craft brewery. According to the BC Ale Trail, “10 points are awarded per check-in at a craft brewery and/or related businesses and accumulated points can be redeemed for merchandise or discounts at participating rewards locations.”

For more information about the app www.bcaletrail.com