We are beyond spoiled for choice when it comes to fantastic locally-brewed craft beers here in B.C., but sometimes the choice itself can be paralyzing. Just what is the perfect brew to tip back on a hot summer day?
This is where the BC Ale Trail comes in to solve this modern dilemma. They've compiled a list of their picks of the summer's best beers around the province, made by breweries showcasing the latest and freshest in B.C.
"Each beer was hand-crafted and inspired by the warm-weather adventures and experiences the province is known for, and most include special ingredients such as mango, cucumber or even jalapeño pepper," explains the BC Ale Trail.
The BC Ale Trail, if you're not familiar, is a provincial program that creates guides to B.C.'s regions for craft beer lovers. Use them at home or in your travels around this epic beer-producing province. As a fantastic bonus, this roundup of crushable summer beers also includes where on the BC Ale Trail you can find each beer's brewery. Choose your own beer-venture!
Here are the BC Ale Trail's Best Summer Beers of 2019:
Would Crush Raspberry Wheat Ale by Twin Sails Brewing
Would Crush Raspberry Wheat Ale by Twin Sails Brewing. Photo courtesy BC Ale Trail
Picked as Best in Show at the Okanagan Fest of Ale in April, this gorgeous beer is absolutely jammed with raspberries. It has a creamy mouth feel thanks to the use of flaked and malted wheat. Both beautiful to look at and very, very tasty, this is the perfect summer patio beer. (5.1% ABV | 12 IBU)
Twin Sails Brewing can be found on the Port Moody Ale Trail.
Two To Tango Mango Jalapeño Gose by Ravens Brewing
This Abbotsford brewery already has one world-class Gose in its lineup — its Corvus Lingonberry Lime Gose won a World Beer Cup gold medal last year. This beer features a unique and unusual combination of mango and jalapeño, balanced by a touch of lime and salt. (4.4% ABV | 5 IBU)
Ravens Brewing can be found on the Fraser Valley Ale Trail.
Freshly Squeezed Juicy IPA by Backroads Brewing
Freshly Squeezed Juicy IPA by Backroads Brewing. Photo courtesy BC Ale Trail
Jam-packed with juicy goodness, this beer features copious amounts of hand-zested grapefruit and a healthy dose of fresh squeezed grapefruit and other citrus fruit juice. Add to this an absurd amount of late addition/dry hopping with Simcoe and Mosaic hops and the result is a big, juicy IPA. (6.8% | 60 IBU)
Backroads Brewing can be found on the Kootenay Rockies West Ale Trail.
CuLeKö Cucumber Lemongrass Kölsch by Foamers’ Folly Brewing
Located in Pitt Meadows, Foamers’ Folly makes lots of interesting and unusual beers. This one featuring cucumber and lemongrass is ideal for the summer. (5% ABV | 20 IBU)
Foamers’ Folly will be part of the new Maple Ridge Ale Trail coming later this year.
Monkey’s Lunch Banana Hefeweizen by Monkey 9 Brewing
Monkey’s Lunch Banana Hefeweizen by Monkey 9 Brewing. Photo courtesy BC Ale Trail
A golden yellow wheat beer that bursts with banana flavour thanks to the special German yeast used, no bananas were actually used (or harmed) in the process. (5.1% ABV | 12 IBU)
Monkey 9 Brewing can be found on the New West, Delta, Surrey & Richmond Ale Trail.
Swedish Gymnast by Twin City Brewing
One of this Port Alberni brewery’s core beers since it opened, this “blonde with lots of hops” is a light and refreshing beer that bursts with tropical hop flavours. (5 ABV | 24 IBU)
Twin City Brewing can be found on the Vancouver Island Part 2 Ale Trail.
True Love Kölsch by Bad Tattoo Brewing
True Love Kölsch by Bad Tattoo Brewing. Photo courtesy BC Ale Trail
The cheeky label for this beer features a “True Love” tattoo followed by “Lager, Pilsner, Kolsch” — true love indeed! Bad Tattoo uses a classic strain of German yeast for its authentic taste, resulting in a light, crisp and very refreshing ale with slight aromas of peach and almond blossom in the nose. (4.5% ABV | 10 IBU)
Bad Tattoo Brewing can be found on the Penticton Ale Trail.
Sluice Juice Pale Ale by Barkerville Brewing
Hazy and golden, this juicy beer features big aromas of apricot, peach and tangerine. It’s a popular pick for locals and tourists alike at this Quesnel-based brewery. (5% ABV)
Barkerville Brewing can be found on the Northern BC Ale Trail.
Mango Brut IPA by Marten Brewing
Vernon’s brewpub is featuring this champagne-esque IPA infused with mango and dry hopped with fruity and citrusy American and Australian hops. (6.2% ABV | 0 IBU)
Marten Brewing can be found on the Kamloops-Shuswap-Vernon Ale Trail.
Margarita Kettle Sour by Tapworks Brewing
Margarita Kettle Sour by Tapworks Brewing. Photo courtesy BC Ale Trail
Loaded up with an absolutely loco amount of lime and the perfect proportion of salt, this might just taste more like a margarita than some margaritas! (4.6% ABV | 10 IBU)
Tapworks Brewing can be found on the Sunshine Coast Ale Trail.
