Sure Vancouver Island is already well-known for its spectacular collection of trails.
But this, this is something else altogether
Instead of trudging from one muddy brown puddle to the next while drinking in the spectacular views, the Vancouver Island Ale Trail will let you skip from one smooth amber oasis to the next while drinking in the spectacular brews.
The ale trail isnB次元官网网址檛 even an official entity yet B次元官网网址� although thatB次元官网网址檚 coming B次元官网网址� but the footprint is here, powered by a recent explosion in the number of craft breweries north of the Malahat.
B次元官网网址淭here are more and more people who have really gotten excited about craft beer. We have world-class brewers here,B次元官网网址� said.
Wiebe, the Victoria-based author of said the way the market has expanded in a relatively short period of time is in line with a boom happening across B.C.
When the Tofino Brewing company opened its doors just six years ago it entered a north Island fraternity occupied by a pair of brew pubs B次元官网网址� NanaimoB次元官网网址檚 Longwood and the Craig Street in Duncan B次元官网网址� and not much else.
Today, in addition to Tofino, there are two craft breweries in Duncan, three in Nanaimo, two in Courtenay and one in Cumberland, with others expected to open later this year in , and
Combine that with Greater VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 well-established craft scene being poised to a B次元官网网址� not including a pair of operations pending in B次元官网网址� and you may have a brand-new Island tourist attraction.
B次元官网网址淏eer tourism is really picking up. ItB次元官网网址檚 becoming quite an attraction in certain areas,B次元官网网址� media specialist Heather McEachen said. B次元官网网址淏.C. is making a a name for itself.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚 just think itB次元官网网址檚 something different, the whole food culture thing is a big part of tourism. I can definitely start to see it as an attraction outside of B.C.B次元官网网址�
Because of growing demand, Leif Bogwald, who operates out of Nanaimo, has added craft beer tours to a roster of expeditions that includes food, wine and wilderness adventures.
B次元官网网址淚t really started with people asking. ItB次元官网网址檚 sort of grown organically,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭his summer I have a fair amount (booked).B次元官网网址�
Wiebe sees a natural partnership between the breweries and the cyclists, kayakers and hikers already trekking to the Island B次元官网网址� a West Coast culture offering something unique for all your senses.
But itB次元官网网址檚 not just about the visitors. In fact, part of what makes the IslandB次元官网网址檚 craft brew community attractive is its fiercely local, independent character, reflected both in the brews themselves and in the way they are served. YouB次元官网网址檒l find everything from full-fledged food-serving brew pubs, to sparse, high-character hole-in-the-wall tasting rooms B次元官网网址� each one doing what they love, their own way.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 pretty typical of Vancouver Islanders: weB次元官网网址檙e a fairly independent (bunch); weB次元官网网址檙e not going to beg you to come over,B次元官网网址� Wiebe said.
At the same time, if you do come knocking, expect a laid-back atmosphere full of people happy to share in a wide variety of creations without much judgement on the sophistication B次元官网网址� or lack thereof B次元官网网址� of your palate.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 approachable. ThereB次元官网网址檚 not much of a beer snob culture,B次元官网网址� Bogwald said. B次元官网网址淏eer is more laid back, more of a group atmosphere. Beer culture is very social.B次元官网网址�
The beer scene is mostly fed by 25- to 40-year-old males, but Bogwald thinks Vancouver IslandB次元官网网址檚 craft breweries also do a good job of crafting brews that can convert their dads and grandfathers, even those exclusively weaned on 30 years of Lucky lager. ItB次元官网网址檚 not all about adding the most exotic flavours and thickest consistencies imaginable. ItB次元官网网址檚 about good beer and finding which ones appeal to you.
B次元官网网址淭hey sort of pigeonhole themselves. This will get you out of your comfort zone and try to stretch your boundaries. IB次元官网网址檝e had a lot of people say B次元官网网址榦h, thatB次元官网网址檚 a different takeB次元官网网址� I actually like that.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a large wave of creativity going on. You definitely would cover a wide range of beer styles,B次元官网网址� Wiebe agreed.
For Wiebe, the ideal craft brewery is like an independent artist that captures and reflects the culture of the community he or she serves. The Vancouver Island scene is building that and the Cumberland Brewing Company is a poster child, as unique as Cumberland itself, and one of his favourite stops.
B次元官网网址淐umberland is the ideal. They have been completely embraced by the community. They brew to capacity and donB次元官网网址檛 bottle a drop. Places like that really appeal to me and make perfect sense.B次元官网网址�
That way of doing things has inspired Matthew Fox, one of three partners working to have Campbell RiverB次元官网网址檚 first brewery, Beach Fire Brewing, open by September.
HeB次元官网网址檚 not surprised to find craft breweries popping up like weeds. The love of beer, the love of friends and the desire to have something unique and real, as opposed to pre-packaged off an assembly line, is strong. The movement is important to a lot of people and the art of a good brew has widespread attraction.
B次元官网网址淚 really like beer and I really like the culture around it. ItB次元官网网址檚 a lot more than drinking and hanging out at the pub,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hat phrase has really been echoed back to us on almost a daily basis: Campbell River really needs something like this.B次元官网网址�
Fox said liquor law changes by the B.C. government has helped spark the boom by making it easier to get proper licensing and approvals. Wiebe said the number of craft breweries in B.C. has gone from about 50 to more than 100 in three years. The reports 140 are expected to be opening by the end of this year.
Bringing the industry together is a new initiative funded by Launching province-wide in October, will detail and market a series of throughout the province B次元官网网址� including Vancouver Island B次元官网网址� suitable for driving, cycling and walking, as well as maintain a list of all B.C. craft breweries.
Fox believes like anything else, the craft brewery trend will peak, then fall off, but it still has room to grow B次元官网网址� particularly in places outside the largest urban areas. And once an equilibrium is found, he expects the industry to be here for the long haul.
B次元官网网址淲hen I go into a town, itB次元官网网址檚 something I look for,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏eer is not going out of style. Right now, business-wise it does make a lot of sense.B次元官网网址�
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