Loading

The BC Ale Trail Press Kit

About the BC Ale Trail

Launched in partnership with Destination British Columbia and the BC Craft Brewers Guild in 2016, the BC Ale Trail showcases the vast bounty and amazing breadth of breweries pouring pints across the province. The mission of the Guild is to support the ongoing creation and discovery of truly great BC craft beer by helping British Columbians understand the cultural, community and economic benefits of BC’s vibrant craft beer scene. Our business is not merely about dedication to our craft, innovative brewing, and our ingredients. Our business is formed to fulfill the needs of not just our customers but our people who drive and serve it passionately and purposefully.

Each Ale Trail offers ample opportunities to explore this province’s rich brewing history and culture by highlighting BC’s award-winning craft beer, breathtaking geography, and potential for adventure. It takes beer enthusiasts on unique adventures in each region of BC by showcasing self-guided tours that shine a light on local craft brewing destinations and the super, natural British Columbia landscapes that surround them.

The BC Ale Trail’s team of dedicated and passionate beer lovers work collectively to showcase BC’s world-class brewing scene. Comprehensive itineraries that link breweries throughout BC showcase the true sense of community that exists across the province.

The Background: BC's Craft Breweries

Welcome to Super, Natural British Columbia’s burgeoning and bountiful craft brewing community — home to one of the fastest-growing craft beer markets in Canada, and North America.

The roots of BC’s craft beer scene run all the way back to 1982, when John Mitchell and Frank Appleton opened Canada’s first microbrewery — Horseshoe Bay Brewery — in the heart of the BC Ferry terminal town on Vancouver’s North Shore. Ever since then, a family of think-outside-the-box brewers, creative entrepreneurs, and innovative business owners have continued to work together to build BC’s craft beer community into one that’s steadfast in its desire and determination to be the best at what they do.

Today, more than 220 craft breweries are members of the BC Craft Brewers Guild across BC, with new operations opening at an unprecedented rate.

The Breweries

Story Starters

How BC's Craft Breweries are Adding Sustainability to their Brewing Processes

Barnside Brewing Co., on the South of the Fraser Ale Trail offers a true farm-based brewery experience

The almighty modifier ‘farm-to-table’ isn’t just exclusive to locally sourced ingredients that chefs are incorporating in dishes they serve at bars, restaurants, and cafes around BC. It also applies to an ever-growing number of breweries that are stepping up to do their part to embrace sustainability and ensure they are doing whatever they can to diminish their footprint.

It’s not just about moving beyond plastic — it’s about adopting sustainable farming practices, reusing spent grain in new and innovative ways, and coming up with truly unique, out-of-the-box ideas that let everyone enjoy a cold pint without worrying about their impact on the environment.

There’s no shortage of good-news stories to shout about when it comes to the environmental stewardship displayed among BC’s tight-knit craft-brew crews.

Quesnel’s Barkerville Brewing Co. (on the Northeast BC Ale Trail) recently switched from single-use plastic can rings to fully compostable holders for its four-packs, and Vancouver’s Andina Brewing Company (on the Vancouver Ale Trail) uses an Ozonator to sanitize its tanks and a thermal heat recovery system to offset emissions produced by the brewery’s gas-fired steam generator.

Bulkley Valley Brewery in Smithers (on the Northwest BC Ale Trail) is 100% solar powered, and Victoria’s Phillips Brewing & Malting (on the Victoria Ale Trail) has won awards for its environmental stewardship programs and CO2 recapture system.

Bottoms Up! More Stories on the BC Ale Trail Blog

Looking for more BC Craft Beer stories to share? Check out our blog, which contains just enough tidbits to get you started - and it promises to leave you wanting more. Not sure where to start? We've got you covered:

Meet the Team behind the BC Ale Trail

The BC Ale Trail was created by a dedicated team of craft beer allies to connect British Columbia's world-class brewing scene with tourism organizations across the province. The goal is to showcase BC's delicious craft beer, inspiring geography, and potential for adventure with beer enthusiasts across our province, region, and the rest of the globe.

Ken Beattie, Executive Director, BC Craft Brewers Guild/Lead Administrator

Building on decades of experience in the beer industry, Ken currently sits as the Executive Director of the BC Craft Brewers Guild and Lead Administrator for the BC Ale Trail, working tirelessly to support craft breweries of all sizes across BC. Ken is a founding board member of the Canadian Craft Brewers Association and a faculty member in the Brewing and Brewery Operations Program at Kwantlen Polytechnic University.

Monica Frost, BC Ale Trail Project Lead, BC Craft Brewers Guild Communications

Since her fist sip of a Shaftebury Cream Ale back in the late 90s, Monica has been a craft beer enthusiast, and it became her mission to build a community around it. Her tool of choice - Social Media. After stints in the banking and travel industry, Monica has now spent a decade working in communications and social media roles across a variety of industries with a focus primarily on the craft beer industry. Monica joined the BC Craft Brewers Guild in 2017 as a Communications Coordinator and the BC Ale Trail as a Social Media and Community Manager. She was promoted to BC Ale Trail Project Lead in 2019 when the BC Craft Brewers Guild took over as Lead Administrator.

Joe Wiebe, Content Manager

The "Thirsty Writer," Joe is BC's busiest beer writer. He is the author of two editions of Craft Beer Revolution: The Insider's Guide to B.C. Breweries, the definitive guidebook to the province's burgeoning craft beer industry. A co-founder of Victoria Beer Week, he is also the beer columnist for CBC Radio's All Points West program. Joe has hosted numerous beer events and seminars and has emceed the Canadian Brewing Awards twice.

The Number, Creative Partner

The Number is a multidisciplinary creative marketing agency based in Victoria, BC proudly a part of the BC Ale Trail development team since day one. With capacity for everything creative, from graphic and web design, to consultation and facilitation, The Number helps keep the BC Ale Trail connected to craft beer enthusiasts everywhere.

Stay in touch!

Media Contacts