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The Canada Day Long Weekend Guide
Patios worth visiting, and beers worth drinking this weekend
Joseph Lavoie
July 01, 2022
Happy Canada Day! 🇨🇦
Is there a better weekend to explore BC's craft beer scene? I think not. To celebrate Canada Day, we've thrown in a couple extra recommendations for what to drink and where to go this weekend. Get out there and enjoy the long weekend y'all!
- Joseph Lavoie
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WHAT TO DRINK THIS WEEKEND
An easy-going Kölsch
Farmhouse Brewing Co. has a refreshing lagered ale if you're looking to quench your thirst with a clean and dry finish. You'll get a touch of sweet malt, bitter hops for balance, and restrained yeast character.
What's a lagered ale? Check out our primer in this Beer School segment from one of our first newsletters.
Details: 4.7% ABV, 17 IBU
Where to get it: Available on tap and in 6-packs to go at the brewery, and in select private liquor stores
Location: 6385 Lickman Rd.. Lot 2 Southsumas, Chilliwack | Map
Two intense IPAs
Strathcona Beer Company has two new IPA releases that screen summertime fun, especially if you're in the mood for something a little more intense:
Their 16th iteration of Headbanger Triple IPA, double dry-hopped with Cashmere, Amarillo, and Vic Secret hops. It fermented at a colder temperature than previous versions to give it a cold IPA profile—crisp and crushable despite clocking in at 9.2% ABV.
Their third iteration of their West Coast IPA. This one is hopped with Simcoe, Amarillo, Azalea, and Centennial. The grain bill features Maris Otter and light crystal malts for a bit of a malt backbone. You should expect notes of citrus, stone fruit and pine.
Where to get it: Both beers are now available in four-pack tall cans to go from the brewery, and at select liquor stores.
Location: 895 E Hastings St., Vancouver | Map
A butterfly lemonade sour 🦋
If you're looking for something a bit more tart and wild, Bakery Brewing is at it again with another release this weekend. They're bringing back a refreshing sour ale, brewed with butterfly pea flowers, BC clover honey from Honey Bee Centre, and pure lemon juice. The result—Butterfly Lemonade Sour—is a deep purple beer with floral and blueberry notes.
Where to get it: Available on tap and in 750 ml bottles at the brewery.
Location: 2617 Murray St., Port Moody | Map
WHERE TO GO: FEATURED PATIOS
Beere Brewing Co.
This family-run brewery—the family's name is actually Beere!—has a cozy patio with a chill atmosphere. Dog owners love it for its dog-friendly vibe and others love the friendly staff, unpretentious atmosphere, and inclusive feel.
🍺 What to drink: Pinky Tuscadero is a raspberry lemonade sour packed with Fraser Valley raspberries. It's not too sour, and the use of oats in the grain bill gives it a smooth mouthfeel.
Food options: Basic snacks. If you need food, you might want to start here and then walk to one of the other breweries in the area for part two of your session.
Brewery location: 312 Esplanade East, North Vancouver | Map
Looking to explore more patios in North Vancouver? Check our list of best brewery patios in North Vancouver
All the camping fun without the camping hassle
With campground bookings up for Canada Day, if you haven't already reserved your campsite, you may have a tough time getting spot this weekend. We've got the next best thing: a trip to Camp Bee Co. in Langley. It offers everything you want from a camping trip, with none of the hassle.
Firepit? ✔️
Picnic Table? ✔️
Hot dogs topped with Kraft Dinner and ketchup chips? ✔️
Cold beer? ✔️
S'mores? ✔️
Outhouse? Better, washrooms with running water. ✔️
🍺 What to drink: Upstream Pale Ale is fermented with Kveik, a Norwegian yeast that brings citrus, tangerine, lemon, and grapefruit notes to the beer. Toss in West Coast hops and you've got the perfect campfire sipper.
Food options: You'll find a full kitchen at Beer Camp Co. with the type of comfort foods that pair well with beer, including nachos, hummus, warm pretzels, Bavarian smokies on a garlic buttered brioche bun (veggie dogs also available), baked potatoes, chili, and of course, s'mores.
Brewery Location: 19664 64 Ave., Langley | Map
Read our other brewery reviews:
Bakery Brewing has cozy booths and a taproom that invites you to enjoy the many experimental and small-batch brews on offer.
North Point Brewing has a lodge-like ambience, a unique Hefeweizen and awesome pizza.
Container Brewing for a relaxed lounge, their hazy IPA and a food truck offering chicken/eggplant parmesan.
Beer Rankings
And finally....Justin McElroy's Top 10
The ratings-palooza has reached its climax this week with the release of the top 10 breweries in South-Western British Columbia. Here are the breweries that made the cut:
1. Brassneck
2. Twin Sails
3. Île Sauvage
4. 33 Acres EXP
5. Field House
6. Superflux
7. Strange Fellows
8. Four Winds
9. Dageraad
10. Yellow Dog
What Joseph thinks: I'm so happy to see these breweries in the top 10. I especially love that we see a range of styles reflected in this list.
Dageraad went out on a limb by focusing on Belgian Ales in the face of of the haze craze. They have excellent craftsmanship and have kept things exciting with interesting and complex limited releases, many of which we have featured in The Beer Loop. If Dageraad wasn't already doing it, they'd be the brewery I'd hope to build one day. We're lucky to have access to such good Belgian-inspired ales in BC.
Strange Fellows deserves its place on this list for a couple reasons: the quality of each beer they produce is always top-notch, and the variety they offer means there's always something for everyone on the tap list, whether you're a hop head or want to try the wild side.
Brassneck makes exceptionally good beer and I'm a sucker for their lagers. Geoff and I especially love the Schwarzbier, when it's available. It carries a wonderful cocktail of roasted notes while being incredibly approachable. When it's not on the menu, the Kölsch is a suitable backup with its soft-rounded palate, light bready notes, and restrained hoppiness.
THE GREAT BEER-OFF
Blue Buck vs Fat Tug
We've chosen these two titans of BC's beer scene to go head-to-head. Which is your favourite? The easy-drinking Blue Buck or the signature Fat Tug? Vote today!
WHAT TO DO
Canada Day Live Music in Langley and Steveston
Five Roads Brewing is kicking off the weekend with a day-long concert at both of its tasting room locations.
In Langley, you can catch Nelson Padilla from 2 to 5 pm, and Jonas Wilson from 6 to 9 pm.
In Steveston, Randy Wesley Morrison and Midnight Lace will be performing from 12 to 2 pm.
Canada Day at Farm Country
Farm Country isn't taking it easy this weekend, with a full roster of Canada Day activities lined up, starting today
Music and Canadian music trivia with DJ Byron James, July 1 from 3 to 9 pm
Live music with Dennis Bouwman, July 2 from 7 to 9 pm
Dragged Out Sundays with The Sparkling Carlettrose, July 3 at 7 pm.
Tickets: Free, but you'll want to reserve a spot in the tasting room for today or tomorrow by calling the brewery directly.
Location: 20555 56 Ave. #5, Langley | Map
PLAN AHEAD
Upcoming events
We're constantly refreshing our list of upcoming beer events in and around B.C. Check them out and send us any suggestions!
🗞️ Long Reads🗞️
What is a beer spa? Ontario is host to the world's largest one. (Globe and Mail)
Can alternative ownership save craft beer from the cult of the singular male genius? (Good Beer Hunting)
Another craft brewer sells to macro beer. This time it's Stone Brewing selling to Sapporo. Kate Bernot tells us why it matters. (Good Beer Hunting)
The necessary evil of Instagram in beer. (Hugging the Bar)
Summer Pairings
Planning a BBQ this weekend? How to pick your beer and food pairings.
Get ready for #IndependenceDay with these backyard BBQ and beer pairings.
— Em Sauter (@PintsandPanels)
1:50 PM • Jun 30, 2022
Share and enter to win the BC Summer Beer Giveaway
Did you know there's five different ways you can increase your chances of winning the BC Summer Beer Giveaway of $250 to some of BC's best breweries? Just head over here, input your email address and discover how to increase your chances.