Give me fresh hops, give me Märzen, give me Festbier—hell, even give me pumpkin beer—the ‘Ber months are, without question, THE best time of year in B.C. craft beer!
Need proof? I submit to you the slew of Oktoberfest celebrations and releases, which bring giant pretzels and all of my favourite beer styles served by the litre; fresh hop harvest and the subsequent brews that both need and deserve to be imbibed ASAP; awards season; and, of course, our brand-new issue featuring the Growlies results!
It’s a marathon rather than a sprint, so don’t forget to hydrate, stretch, and let’s get into it:
NEWS
The New Old Yale – Old Yale Chilliwack Is Back!
It’s true: after almost exactly a year under renovation, the OG location is back and better than ever!
The newly refreshed 11,000 square foot production facility features a 100 seat brewery and kitchen with another 100 seat seasonal patio. The new Old Yale has 16 beers on tap, along with wine, cider, cocktails and a delicious campfire-inspired menu.
The official reopening date is set for September 24th, but they might just be open for previews in the meantime…
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Get a Piece of East Van Brewing
Ever wanted to own a piece of a brewery? Here’s your chance! East Van Brewing Company has launched a crowdfunding campaign.
In the campaign video, founder and operator Steve Jennings shares that the intention is to build out canning capacity and expand offerings to include cider, non-alcoholic options and seltzer to better serve the community.
The brewery opened in 2018 and has 130 seats across its indoor and patio spaces, with Glitch Bar occupying the mezzanine, and Barley & Rye providing a full-service food program below.
Investments start as low as $250 with a $250,000 goal.
Learn more about the brewery and check out the campaign here.
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2026 World Beer Awards Winners Announced
Congratulations to the Canadian winners of the 2026 World Beer Awards!
Here in B.C., Smugglers’ Trail Caskworks took top honours, including two golds for Canoe Chase IPA, two gold for Flaskers British Ale, and silver for Wedgewood Kölsch. Other B.C. winners include Mt. Begbie Brewing with gold for High Country Kölsch and Revelstoke Lager, and Granville Island Brewing winning gold for Island Lager, Cypress Honey Lager, and English Bay Ale.
See all the results here.
EVENTS
APPLE-PALOOZA—September 26, 2026
Presented by Summerland Heritage Cider, proceeds from the annual Apple-Palooza support Summerland wildfire recovery and community rebuilding efforts. Entry by donation.
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Cider Harvest Festival—September 27, 2026
Merridale’s 8th annual Cider Harvest Festival is here! Join 12 of the best cider makers in B.C. for another unforgettable afternoon of live music, eats, pop-up shops, sips and stories. Only a few tickets remain! Get yours here.
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DriftWet—October 4, 2026
An uncomplicated celebration of fresh-hopped beers! Join Driftwood in a celebration of the best season, with Sartori Harvest, three Tideline fresh hop, and four fresh hop guest taps.
Get on the waitlist here.
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BC Beer Awards—October 16, 2026
Recognizing and celebrating excellence in BC craft beer and cider (new this year!), the BC Beer Awards is the most anticipated event of the year! This province-wide competition is blind-judged by certified experts according to BJCP style guidelines. The event immediately follows BC Beer Con, and showcases the craftsmanship, innovation and quality leading the province’s craft beverage space. Can’t make it in person? Watch the live stream! Get your tickets here.
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Want your craft beer or cider event featured? Drop us a DM!
