OK, so we’ve moved to Phase 2 of COVID-19 beer consumption. We’re regularly ordering our favourite beers for home delivery, but cracking a can in front of the only Netflix show you’ve got left on your sad, dwindling list is a far cry from your regular taproom trivia night, or sidling up to the bar at your local brewery on a Friday afternoon.

But do not fear, craft breweries and beer experts are creating virtual spaces for communing over a beer.

Here’s a roundup of some fun beer hangouts or education sessions to join. They’re listed them by day, so you can fill those gaps in your social calendar. We’d love to add to this list, so please send us your favourite virtual beer happenings.

Mondays

Monday Night Virtual Trivia

Tapworks Brewing Co. in Gibsons, B.C., is hosting this fun-filled, wacky trivia night. One part skill-testing and two parts goofy, it’s sure to have you laughing and virtually high-fiving your teammates. Join the fun every Monday from 7-10pm on Zoom here.

Wednesdays

The Exchange Brewery Virtual Trivia Night

To replace their weekly taproom trivia night, Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Exchange Brewery hosts a Virtual Trivia Night — it includes prizes, and a Growler dropped to their door for those in the brewery’s delivery zone. The Virtual Trivia package needs to be ordered by 2pm (EST) on the day of the Trivia Night — those who don’t live in the region can still play along. All the details are here.

Thursdays

Beers with the Brewmaster

Virtually join Red Racer’s head brewer Gary Lohin in the taproom at Central City Brewers + Distillers for Beers with the Brewmaster. Grab a cold one and join him on Facebook Live for this unique Q&A session every Thursday at 4pm.

Virtual Hoppy Hour

Each week BC Ale Trail hosts a Virtual Happy Hour on their Instagram Channel with a new host and special guests from B.C.’s craft beer community, every Thursday at 6pm.

Trivia Live from Another Beer Co.

This live trivia night is being broadcast from ABC HQ on Instagram and Facebook, every Thursday at 7pm. Play along at home and you could even win some prizes. Better yet, order some beer online from AnotherBeerCo.com/store and really get in the mood!

#BeerChat on Twitter

@LipstickNLager is a Boston beer fan who recently revived her popular #BeerChat on Twitter after a four-year hiatus. She knew how much people wanted to seek social connection. The chats are for beer lovers and each week @LipstickNLager introduces a few new topics, from giving shout outs to breweries doing cool stuff during the pandemic, to more update topics like plans for your dream #beercation. The chats get underway at 530pm every Thursday.

Muskoka Brewery Stay at Home Trivia Night

Three hundred trivia night fans joined the first edition of Muskoka’s popular online Trivia Night. It’s hosted weekly by Adam Crockatt. The fun gets started at 5pm.

Fridays

Stay at Home Pub Trivia Night by Cascadian Beer Podcast

Hosted by the B.C.-based Cascadian Beer Podcast, these engaging live trivia nights air weekly on Fridays across YouTube and Facebook Watch. Host, Aaron Johnson, brings in guests—including brewers and beer writers to lead trivia in different areas from beer knowledge to Harry Potter. All information, and how to play along is at stayhomepubquiz.com.

Throughout the Week

Collective Arts Virtual Happy Hour

Collective Arts is teaming up with artists, musicians, brewers and other creatives to continue to share creativity and positivity during the pandemic. Past live episodes airing on their YouTube and Instagram channels, have included Dear Rouge doing a live set from their living room and Miami-based street artist, Surge, giving a private home studio tour and doing some live painting. Follow the brewery’s IG or subscribe to their YouTube channel to find out what’s happening.

One-Off Events

Craft Brewers Conference

After cancelling the CBC, a massive brewer’s conference hosted by the Brewer’s Association in America, the Association is now offering a five-week virtual version until May 15. Geared toward industry, the conference includes 40 educational seminars across on topics covering brewing operations, sales and distribution, marketing and social media, safety, ingredients and supplies, and more. The sessions can be watched live or replayed later and will remain free to access online until May 31. See the full seminar lineup here.

Old Yale’s Weekend For The Kids

Old Yale Brewing has a full weekend of virtual entertainment lined up in support of an amazing local initiative in Chilliwack helping to fund hampers going out to 340 families in Chilliwack whose children aren’t able to be supported through their school’s breakfast and lunch programs due to COVID-19. Old Yale will be accepting donations on behalf of the Chilliwack Salvation Army here and will be matching all those donations. Friday, April 17: Cliff Prang will be taking over Old Yale’s Facebook page for an hour of live comedy at 7pm. Saturday, April 18: Old Yale’s Back Porch Music Series takes to Facebook Live with Johnny Bootleg and Jordan Klassen performing from 6:15 to 8pm. Sunday, April 19: Old Yale presents an online virtual trivia night with IQ2000 from 7-9pm. Visit https://www.twitch.tv/iq2k to play along at home.

• Do you know of an awesome virtual craft beer event that we should add to our list? Give us a shout at editor@thegrowler.ca!