Celebrate BC Craft Beer Month by visiting these 10 “Off-the-Beaten-Track” Craft Breweries

By Mary Ann Bell

British Columbia has long been recognized as the capital of craft beer in Canada. With over 200 craft breweries and brewpubs, it really is a great time to be a beer lover in BC. It seems that every week an amazing new microbrewery is popping up to provide locals and visitors the opportunity to discover new styles of beer. Whether your taste runs to hoppy IPAs and dark, creamy Stouts or to mouth-puckering Sours and crisp Pilsners, there is a craft beer for everyone.

October is BC Craft Beer Month and in celebration of all things beer, we recommend heading off the beaten track, and out of the city, to try a few of the more unique craft breweries. Be sure to bring your designated driver, take advantage of the public transit system or hop on a guided tour, and let someone else do the driving!

Mariner Brewing – Coquitlam

Mariner Brewing was so named in homage to Coquitlam’s Mariner Way and to NASA’s Mariner program. This was Coquitlam’s first craft brewery and offers a range of modern and classic beers. A 45-seat tasting room provides the perfect setting for tasting a Sour Weisse or their flagship Northeast IPA while tucking into the gourmet hotdogs featured on their food menu. For those who like a low-carb, keto-friendly beer try one of the Low Gravity series.

Dageraad Brewing – Burnaby

Dageraad Brewing, in Burnaby, is named after the Dageraadplaats, a neighbourhood square on the east side of Antwerp, Belgium and in keeping true to their name they brew only Belgian style beers. Winners of the 2018 Brewery of the Year by Canadian Brewing Awards, they regularly have a large selection of beers on tap. Try the Burnabarian, a Belgian session ale, brewed with oats and lightly spiced with coriander.

Trading Post Brewery – Langley

Located on the Fraser Valley Ale Trail, the Trading Post’s core values include authenticity, innovation and quality which is expressed in their brewing and tasting kitchen. Brews such as English-style ales and IPAs, stouts, sours and more. Try their orange inspired Dry Hopped Sour for a refreshing drink. The tasting menu includes foods from their eateries in Fort Langley, and Abbotsford that focus on fresh, local ingredients and offer a friendly and inviting atmosphere for the community to gather.

Beere Brewing – North Vancouver

Beere Brewing, named for the family name (it’s true!) in North Vancouver is located in the Shipyards Brewery District next to Lonsdale Quay, and is a popular gathering place in the areas solid craft brewery scene. With fruity and citrusy IPAs plus stouts and lagers, make sure you try their raspberry flavoured Pink Tuscdaero Lemon Sour made from local Fraser Valley raspberries.

Tapworks Brewing Company – Sunshine Coast

Opened in early-2017 by 3 friends, Tapworks is located in historic Gibsons Landing and is part of the Sunshine Coast Ale Trail. The tasting room is bright and airy and the rooftop patio overlooks stunning views of Howe Sound. Their Burger Shack offers tasty sharing plates and of course amazing burgers which are perfect accompaniments to the beer. Dedicated to being an integral part of the community, Tapworks Brewing hosts local musicians and artists works. Try their fruity and tropical Backwoods Hazy Pale Ale.

Barnside Brewing Company – Ladner

Started by four farm families who realized they could create farm fresh beer from the hops, malting barley etc. they grow on their land. Patrons will appreciate the custom-made barn with 100 year old beams and wood from heritage Delta farms while sampling the brew. Try an IPA, sour, brown or pale ale and partake of some hearty farm fare from their kitchen.

Fuggles & Warlock Craftworks – Richmond

Keeping beer weird is Fuggles & Warlock’s motto and while their marketing is definitely on the “weird” side, there’s nothing weird about the beer and they have won many awards. Their tasting room in Richmond is open daily and they have a small, tasty, menu of paninis and snacks to accompany your beer. Their core brews are IPAs and Pilsner. Try their fruity The Last Strawberry Wit and sample some of their seasonal offerings.

Foamers Folly Brewing Co. – Pitt Meadows

A foamer is a term used to describe someone who is obsessed with trains. And while Foamers Folly Brewing is near the train tracks in Pitt Meadows, the owners state, in no uncertain terms, that they are foamers when it comes to craft beer!  And with 20 taps in the taproom it certainly looks like the work of someone obsessed. With so many taps, the choices are almost endless – try a Rye’d The Lightening Amber Ale or the Lavender Earl Grey Bitter. There’s plenty of seating including an outdoor patio, a limited menu of pizzas, hot dogs and nachos, board games and occasional entertainment.

Field House Brewing – Abbotsford

Located near the downtown historic core of Abbotsford, stepping into Fieldhouse Brewing feels like stepping into a cabin. It’s warm and welcoming and if you’re lucky, you can grab a seat by the fireplace! In the summer pick a table on the Beer Lawn and enjoy live music. With a good selection of taps including sours, saisons, foeder and barrel-aged IPAs, there is something for everyone. Try their Whiskey Sour Ale or Lemon Gin Berliner Weisse. And when it’s time for food, grab one of their selection of tasty treats.

Backcountry Brewing – Squamish

Soaring ceilings and a warm, inviting atmosphere in this log-cabin-themed brewery welcomes visitors to this Squamish craft brewery. The 6000 square-foot facility boasts a 50-seat taproom and a kitchen serving delicious homemade pizzas. With an extensive selection of beers try a hoppy IPA, sour beer, porter or pilsner.

Other Craft Breweries

For information on other craft breweries and the various Ale Trails around British Columbia go the BC Ale Trail.

For accommodations in British Columbia go to https://www.travel-british-columbia.com/

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Published: October 19, 2023
Last Updated: October 19, 2023

About the Author

As a tourism marketer and community manager for some of British Columbia’s most spectacular destinations, Mary Ann Bell spends her days writing, tweeting and posting! When she’s not online, Mary Ann can be found exploring Vancouver’s North Shore trails with her family and her camera, and trying new restaurants in the hunt for the best taco in Metro Vancouver.