As I mentioned last week, 2017 was B.C.’s biggest year ever for craft beer growth, with 26 new breweries opening around the province. There are currently 154 craft breweries and brewpubs operating in B.C., and that number is set to grow again in 2018.
Here’s a look at some of the breweries we have our eye on this year…
Bulkley Valley Brewery
Smithers (summer 2018)
Craft beer is coming back to Smithers in a big way, five years after the closure of Plan B Brewery. Rumour has it the Buckley Valley folks even tracked down the old Plan B beer fridge in Prince Rupert and brought it back to its rightful home. BulkleyValleyBrewery.ca
Electric Bicycle Brewing Company
Vancouver (spring 2018)
Named after its building’s former tenant, an electric bicycle manufacturer, this brewery has a 10-barrel brewing system feeding eight draft lines and six dedicated growler lines in its 50-seat tasting room. Bonus: gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches! The paint job on the building looks pretty spiffy, we’re hoping the beers are just as vibrant and interesting. ElectricBicycleBrewing.com
Île Sauvage Brewing Co.
Victoria (early 2018)
The newest brewery in Rock Bay will be focusing on wild ales and sours, as the name suggests (literally, “wild island” en français). The beers will be aged in the traditional manner—in barrels and in oak foeders, and unlike many of the other Rock Bay breweries Île Sauvage will have a tasting room, too. IleSauvage.com
Metal Edge Brewing Co.
Langley (spring 2018)
Heavy metal and craft beer, together at long last! This new Langley brewery hit a couple roadblocks (what brewery doesn’t) and should be opening its doors any day now. MetalEdgeBrewing.com
Mighty Peace Brewing Co.
Fort St. John (spring 2018)
Craft beer is coming to the north in a big way, with Mighty Peace hoping to be the second craft brewery to open up in Fort St. John in the last 12 months. MightyPeaceBrewing.ca
Northpaw Brew Co.
Port Coquitlam (early 2018)
Northpaw is already brewing beer offsite, so it won’t be long now before Port Coquitlam’s first craft brewery is open to the public. NorthpawBrewCo.com
Small Block Brewing Co.
Duncan (spring 2018)
The Cowichan Valley’s newest brewery is going to be focusing on hand-crafted British ales and will be located south of downtown on the same block as Red Arrow Brewing Company. SmallBlockBrewery.com
Streetcar Brewing
North Vancouver (spring 2018)
Lower Lonsdale is quickly becoming a great place to drink craft beer. Streetcar will be the fourth brewery to open within walking distance of the SeaBus terminal, along with Green Leaf, Beere Brewing, and Black Kettle. StreetcarBrewing.ca
Trench Brewing and Distilling
Prince George (spring 2018)
Trench was hoping to be open last summer, but got caught up in red tape (a familiar story here in B.C.). Here’s to hoping they can cut their way through and open their doors before the year’s out. TrenchBrew.ca
The Wildwood Pub
Powell River (summer 2018)
Former NoMeansNo drummer and prolific homebrewer John Wright bought the old Red Lion Pub and is turning it into a brewpub. Wildwood promises innovative lagers and punk rock, which sounds like the best thing ever. TheWildwoodPub.com
