To help celebrate the holiday season, many craft breweries in British Columbia have been busy brewing up something special.
Some of these holiday-themed beers are made with spices, cranberries, chocolate — or even candy canes! These wintry beers are often a little darker and stronger, making them well suited for colder, darker days.
Here are some suggestions for holiday-themed beers that can be found on the BC Ale Trail.
BC Cranberry Sour by 33 Acres Brewing (5.7% ABV)
This gorgeous beer was a major hit last December. Brewed with barley, wheat and spelt, and fermented with a special mixed culture in an oak foeder, it was refermented on BC cranberries for a delicate berry character and complex acidity. 33 Acres is re-releasing it at their tasting room in limited bottles on December 17th.
33 Acres Brewing and 33B Experiment can be found on the Vancouver-Brewery Creek Ale Trail.
Patrona Barrel Aged Imperial Stout by Andina Brewing (9% ABV | 50 IBU)
An extremely limited release, Patrona was conditioned in oak barrels for a full year waiting to be just perfect. The result is a combination of rich malt, dried fruit, chocolate and coffee stout flavours infused with bourbon and oak.
Andina Brewing can be found on the Vancouver-Yeast Van Ale Trail.
Fruition 4th Anniversary Ale by Angry Hen Brewing (4.5% ABV | 15 IBU)
Angry Hen is celebrating its fourth year with the traditional gift of fruit. Locally-picked raspberries, yellow and purple plums, fox grapes and sea salt were added to some of the gose base from their 200th brew. After conditioning for four months, the brewery offers this gift of fruit to salute loyal and new customers alike.
Angry Hen Brewing can be found on the Kootenay Rockies West Ale Trail.
Alright I Believe you, But My Tommy Gun Don’t by Backcountry Brewing (10% ABV | 40 IBU)
“Merry Christmas ya filthy Animal and a Happy New Year… I’m gunna give you to the count of three… to get your lousy, lyin’, lowdown, four flushing carcass out my door…1… 2…”
This imperial stout conditioned on vanilla beans was aged in bourbon barrels sourced from Heaven Hill.
Backcountry Brewing can be found on the Squamish Ale Trail.
Winter Cranberry Sour by The Bakery Brewing (7.1% ABV)
Brewed with cranberry juice, fresh lemon zest, and fresh ginger, this fruity winter sour ale is tart and zingy with a light ginger warmth to bring on festive cheer.
The Bakery Brewing can be found on the Port Moody Ale Trail.
Two Winter Beers from Barkerville Brewing:
- Prescription Porter (5.2% ABV | 30 IBU) A throwback to the old Barkerville days of snake oil, miracle cures, and invigorating hair tonics, Prescription Porter is a healthy dose of malty, warming, spicy, chocolatey goodness.
- Cold Snap Winter Ale (5.5% ABV | 17 IBU) This winter ale has a bright nose (like Rudolph!), with citrus, vanilla, ginger, and just a hint of molasses, and finishes dry with a lasting flavour of orange peel and roasted barley.
Barkerville Brewing can be found on the Northern BC Ale Trail.
Four (!) Imperial Stouts from the Barnside Brewing:
- Peaches & Cream Imperial Brandy Milk Stout (11.2% ABV) Brewed as an imperial milk stout and aged in peach brandy ex-bourbon barrels for 12 months.
- Spiced Apple Brandy Imperial Milk Stout (11.2% ABV) Imperial milk stout as the base, then aged for 12 months in apple brandy ex-bourbon barrels.
- Bourbon Imperial Oatmeal Stout (11.2% ABV) This stout was aged in Union Horse bourbon barrels for 12 months and left unblended.
- Maple Bourbon Imperial Stout (11.2% ABV) Aged for six months in ex-bourbon barrels most recently used for maple syrup.
Barnside Brewing can be found on the South of the Fraser Ale Trail.
Everything’s Vine by Bright Eye Brewing (6% ABV | 15 IBU)
A saison that underwent a secondary fermentation on 150 lbs of Cabernet Franc grape skins from Harper’s Trail Winery, resulting in a wine/beer hybrid that finishes dry with a fantastic perceived sweetness from the Saison yeast blend. Perfect for a holiday meal!
Bright Eye Brewing can be found on the Kamloops, Shuswap, Vernon & Merritt Ale Trail.
Flannel Pyjamas by Camp Beer Co. (10% ABV)
A Wee Heavy Scotch Ale that was aged in bourbon barrels for 11 months, this winter warmer is a strong, dark, and malty Scottish-style ale with complex flavours of toffee, caramel, and smoke.
Camp Beer Co. can be found on the Fraser Valley Ale Trail.
Two Winter Beers from Cannery Brewing:
- Kiek in de Kök Baltic Porter (8% ABV) The label features an image of Kiek in de Kök, a cannon tower built in 1475 in Tallinn, Estonia. Its name translates to “peek into the kitchen,” because from this tower, it was possible to watch what the enemy was doing in their ‘kitchen.’
- Kindling Imperial Stout (9% ABV) Kindling is brewed with locally roasted coffee beans, chocolate, oats, and coconut. (Cannery is also barrel-aging some of this batch in wet whisky barrels from Okanagan Spirits in Vernon for release likely in March 2022).
Cannery Brewing can be found on the Penticton Ale Trail.
Seasonal Mixed Crate from Container Brewing:
12 different beers in ONE Crate, including: Seeing Doppel Doppelbock, Seawise Giant Imperial Stout, Forty Footer West Coast IPA, All Season Nitro Stout, Plummet Dark Sour, Three Legged Mare English Brown Ale, Noch Mal German Pils, Tapestry Belgian Tripel, Trade Winds Dry Hopped Sour, Manifest Hazy Pale, Origin NEIPA, and Panamax ESB.
Container Brewing can be found on the Vancouver-Yeast Van Ale Trail.
Old Puddin’ Head Winter Ale from Crannóg Ales (7.5% ABV | 20 IBU)
Crannóg’s annual winter ale is back, this year featuring juice from their own plums, organic mace and farm-grown coriander. Plum and mace are both evident in the nose, which is warm and spicy. The finish is dry and the body is full and malty.
Crannóg Ales can be found on the Kamloops, Shuswap, Vernon & Merritt Ale Trail.
Anno 2021 by Dageraad Brewing (8.5% ABV)
Anno is a strong golden ale brewed with Okanagan pears and Indian coriander, and bottle conditioned with Brettanomyces claussenii, a strain of wild yeast that adds funky, fruity flavours and slowly develops over time in the bottle, preserving freshness and adding layers of complexity as the beer ages. Dageraad is also selling Anno Vintage Gift Packs featuring one bottle each of Anno 2021, Anno 2020, Anno 2019, and Anno 2018 plus two limited edition holiday glasses.
Dageraad has several other holiday-appropriate beers, including: 10° Strong Belgian-style Quadrupel, Irresolution Dry-hopped Belgian-style Pale Ale, Entropy No. 16 – Raspberry Sour, and Entropy No. 17 – Balaton Sour. The brewery is selling a variety of gift packs, and you can even build your own gift pack .
Dageraad Brewing can be found on the North of the Fraser Ale Trail.
Winter Beeracle Chocolate Mint Winter Ale by Dead Frog Brewery (7.5% ABV | 24 IBU)
Every winter brings with it a new beeracle. This year’s beeracle is a warm winter ale with rich chocolate malts, cocoa nibs, and a burst of mint.
Dead Frog Brewery can be found on the Fraser Valley Ale Trail.
Angry Elf Cocoa Peppermint Holiday Stout by Dog Mountain Brewing (6.5% ABV)
Many candy canes were sacrificed to make this tasty treat! Brewed with cocoa, vanilla, and, yes, candy canes, it tastes like a peppermint hot chocolate, except it’s cold and carbonated.
Dog Mountain Brewing can be found on the Vancouver Island Part Two Ale Trail.
Imperial Cookie Stout from Faculty Brewing (9.5% ABV | 24 IBU)
A massive imperial dessert stout, bursting with flavours of silky roasted chocolate, smoky Madagascar vanilla, and undertones of dark fruits from an expressive San Francisco strain of ale yeast. The Dominican cacao was sourced and roasted from East Van Roasters and contributes notes of mango, honey, and red grapes.
Faculty Brewing can be found on the Vancouver-Brewery Creek Ale Trail.
Black Mammoth Winter Ale by Fernie Brewing (8% ABV | 25 IBU)
Rich, strong and decadent, this black ale is complemented by additions of chocolate malt, plus dark organic cocoa and curaçao orange peel. Aged on oak for added smoothness and complexity, this big and boozy brew brings forth rich notes of orange and cocoa, pairing perfectly with dark skies and fresh falling snow.
Fernie Brewing can be found on the Kootenay Rockies East Ale Trail.
Several Holiday Beer Releases from Field House Brewing
- Clementine + Cranberry Spritz (5% ABV) Sensibly low on calories and carbs while extremely flavourful, authentic, and easy drinking, this starts with a slightly tart and light-bodied based beer, which is then loaded with clementine + cranberry.
- White IPA w/ Mandarin (6% ABV | 25 IBU) this collaboration with Four Winds Brewing merges the refined nature of a Belgian Witbier with the boldness of a Hazy IPA.
- Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout (10% ABV) This big stout was racked into bourbon barrels adding notes of vanilla, oak and caramel. (Release date: Dec. 9)
- Imperial Stout with Rum & Vanilla (10.7% ABV | 25 IBU) Field House pushed the limits of its brewhouse to create this intense beer. (Release date: Dec. 16)
- BRRL ROOM – Bourbon Barrel-Aged Chocolate Orange Old Fashioned Ale (7.5% ABV) A strong ale brewed with dried orange peel and aged in bourbon barrels for six months, then racked out of the barrels onto fresh orange skins, roasted and raw cacao nibs, milk sugar and second-use coffee beans. (Release date: Dec. 28)
Field House Brewing can be found on the Fraser Valley Ale Trail.
Two Holiday Beers by Fisher Peak Brewing:
- Bourbon-Aged Scottish Ale (8% ABV) The brewery’s award-winning Scottish Ale is aged in wet whiskey barrels from Basil Hayden for three months.
- Kain Ginger Beer (5.2% ABV | 10 IBU) Named after the mountaineer Conrad Kain, this seasonal favourite is a crisp amber beer brewed with fresh, hand-peeled ginger.
Fisher Peak Brewing (at the Heid-Out Restaurant in Cranbrook) can be found on the Kootenay Rockies East Ale Trail.
12 Beers of Christmas Advent Box by Five Roads Brewing:
This features some returning classics like Jordy Mac’s ESB, and new beers like the Strawberry Lemon Farmhouse Ale and a Helles Lager.
Five Roads Brewing can be found on the Fraser Valley Ale Trail.
Four Holiday Seasonals from Fuggles & Warlock:
- Dragoon: Imperial Stout with Rum & Raisins (8.45% ABV | 50 IBU) Originally brewed in England to withstand the journey to Imperial Russia. This rich ale boasts caramel and roasted malts with spiced hops. A decadent profile begins with chocolate and coffee before elevating to rum soaked raisins, vanilla, and French oak.
- 442 Squadron Double Rye IPA (7.3% ABV | 55 IBU) Named in honour of the 1951 Royal Canadian Air Force Reserve Fighter Squadron based out of Sea Island flying de Havilland Vampire Jets. A collaboration with Tourism Richmond, the BC Ale Trail, and Monkey 9 Brewing.
- The Dark Cow: Chocolate Hazelnut Belgian Stout (6.7% ABV| 30 IBU) A decadent, creamy stout slightly sweetened with lactose for a smooth exquisite delight.
- Hexflare Goji Sour IPA (6.3% ABV | 20 IBU) A meeting of two worlds: a fruit-infused sour India Pale Ale. Wonderfully tart, bitter, piney, and filled with the fruity magic of Goji berries.
Fuggles & Warlock can be found on the South of the Fraser Ale Trail.
Czech Dark Lager by Gladstone Brewing (6% ABV | 25 IBU)
This dark brown lager provides a lovely aroma of toffee, roasted breadcrumb, hints of dark fruit, cocoa and cold-extract coffee. With peppery notes and a pleasantly bitter finish, this malt-forward lager is a fantastic winter-warmer beer. Enjoy it and a bunch of other lagers at Gladstone’s Lagerfest on Friday, December 10.
Dog Mountain Brewing can be found on the Vancouver Island Part Two Ale Trail.
Two Winter Ales from Howe Sound Brewing:
- Father John’s Winter Ale (5.5% ABV | 18 IBU) A rich, malty seasonal ale for the winter months with a blend of fresh ginger and nutmeg.
- Woolly Bugger Reserve Packs (11% ABV | 50 IBU) Featuring three different vintages of this award-winning barley wine.
Howe Brewing can be found on the Squamish Ale Trail.
Two Scandinavian-style Christmas beers from Howl Brewing:
- Finnish Sahti (6% ABV | 0 IBU) A historic Viking ale made with yarrow, juniper branches and berries.
- Juleøl (7% ABV | 0 IBU) A Norwegian dark solstice ale from the Viking era.
Howl Brewing can be found on the Victoria Ale Trail.
Three Special Releases from Île Sauvage Brewing:
- Au Currant Dark Sour with Black Currants (6.8% ABV) Aged on huge amounts of black currants from Silver Rill Berry Farms.
- Loral Barrel Aged Brett Saison (6% ABV | 30 IBU) A blend of foeder- and barrel-aged saisons that was dry-hopped with Loral hops.
- Achtung Passionfruit Hibiscus Berliner Weiss (4% ABV) Brewed with 50% wheat malt and aged on passion fruit and hibiscus, and dry-hopped with El Dorado.
Île Sauvage Brewing can be found on the Victoria Ale Trail.
2021 Winter Ale by Kelowna Brewing Co. (7.5% ABV | 33 IBU)
Kelowna Brewing Co.’s 2020 Winter Ale was so popular that they decided to make it an annual tradition. This is a beer to crack open in front of the fire after coming in from a cold, dark winter night. Heavy on the malt bill, and with a generous addition of molasses in the boil, expect a balanced sweetness with notes of treacle and coffee.
Also, Kelowna Brewing offers personalized cans as a delicious alternative to traditional Christmas cards.
Kelowna Brewing Co. can be found on the Kelowna and West Kelowna Ale Trail.
Depth Charge Oak-Aged Barley Wine from Lighthouse Brewing (10.7% ABV):
The 2021 vintage of Depth Charge is a wheat wine that was aged in brandy barrels resulting in a complex mixture of slight caramel, oak, brandy, red fruit, and honey wrapped in a warm bready embrace. Lighthouse also has some gift packs that include the 2020 vintage.
Lighthouse Brewing can be found on the Victoria Ale Trail.
Barrel Aged Bundle from Luppolo Brewing:
This three-bottle gift pack includes two recent beer releases – Evoluta V Bourbon Barrel Aged Dubbel (9%) and Rosalba Barrel Aged Sour with Fraser Valley Raspberries (7%) — plus a mystery vintage bottle from Luppolo’s cellar! Available at the brewery or on BeerVan. Luppolo is also offering a six-can mixer gift box at the brewery.
Luppolo Brewing can be found on the Vancouver-Yeast Van Ale Trail.
Two Winter Beers from the Longwood Brewery:
- Cake Chocolate Raspberry Stout (5% ABV | 26 IBU) No fork needed! This sweet stout is layered with dark chocolate notes followed by tart raspberry and a long smooth finish.
- Winter’s Own Weizenbock (6.5% ABV | 18 IBU) Traditional Bavarian yeast creates notes of clove and banana that play with your senses making this seasonal brew malty, spicy, fruity and refreshing.
Longwood Brewery can be found on the Vancouver Island Part 1 Ale Trail.
Total Eclipse Dark Lager from Mariner Brewing (5.8% ABV)
This tasty dark lager was brewed with coconut and cacao. Also watch for Into the Abyss Triple Bean Stout, which is brewed with vanilla, coffee and cacao, and should launch right before Christmas.
Mariner has a great deal on during December: get a $5 gift card for your next visit when you buy two four-packs of Blueberry Sour. And the brewery is throwing an Ugly Holiday Sweater party on December 17.
Mariner Brewing can be found on the North of the Fraser Ale Trail.
Two Winter Ales from Moody Ales:
- Chocolate Mint Stout (5.6% ABV | 30 IBU) This beer adds the festive essence of candy canes to a smooth chocolate stout to create a sweet and minty treat perfect for the holidays season.
- Bourbon Barrel-Aged Russian Imperial Stout (11% ABV) Aged for two months in Woodford Reserve bourbon barrels.
Moody Ales can be found on the Port Moody Ale Trail.
Candy Cane Dunkel by the Moon Under Water Brewery, Pub & Distillery (5.4% ABV)
This dark lager is brewed using a single decoction process that gives the beer an intense malt flavour without leaving too much residual sugar for a dry, refreshing finish. They added candy canes and vanilla for Christmas flare.
The Moon Under Water can be found on the Victoria Ale Trail.
Thirsty Monk Juicy Golden Strong Ale by Mount Arrowsmith Brewing (8.5% ABV | 25 IBU)
Modeled after a traditional Belgian style with a moderate bitterness and dry effervescence, this was brewed using southern hemisphere Motueka and Ella hops to give it a fruity, spicy finish.
Mount Arrowsmith Brewing can be found on the Vancouver Island Part Two Ale Trail.
Three Winter Beers from Nelson Brewing:
- Faceplant Organic Winter Ale (6.0% ABV – 19 IBU) – “New Look, Same Legendary Taste.”
- Hibernaculum – Chocolate Raspberry Pastry Stout (6.5% ABV | 30 IBU) Hibernaculum translates as “winter quarter” in Latin. This rich and velvety pastry stout was brewed on bittersweet organic cacao and 800 lbs of raspberry puree was added to accentuate the decadence.
- POWder Leopard White IPA (6.5% ABV) An unfiltered White IPA brewed with cashmere and mosaic hops, along with orange peel providing notes of citrus, berries and fresh melon, all complemented by flavours of anise, clove, banana, and bubble-gum from the Belgian Witbier yeast.
Nelson Brewing can be found on the Kootenay Rockies West Ale Trail.
Two Holiday Infusions from the Noble Pig Brewhouse:
- Chocomint Mocha Porter infused with Peppermint (5.5% ABV | 22 IBU)
- Mulled Swine Belgian Pepper Ale infused with seasonal spices (5% ABV | 20 IBU)
The Noble Pig Brewhouse can be found on the Kamloops, Shuswap, Vernon & Merritt Ale Trail.
“It’s The Most Wonderful Time for a Beer” from Parallel 49 Brewing:
If you can still find one of these Beer Advent packs you can enjoy 24 unique beers, one for each day of the month leading up to Christmas. Every day, Parallel 49 is also donating $1000 to a charity featured on the can.
Parallel 49 Brewing can be found on the Vancouver-Yeast Van Ale Trail.
Two Winter Beers from Patina Brewing:
- Earl Grey Stout (5.8% ABV | 15 IBU) Beer and tea collide in this limited release. This beer is a cozy hug perfect for a cold night!
- Dark Cherry Porter (7% ABV | 20 IBU) Dark cherry makes a subtle and delicious appearance in this creamy porter.
Patina Brewing can be found on the North of the Fraser Ale Trail.
Imperial Gingerbread Porter from Persephone Brewing (8.2% ABV):
This dark strong ale has notes of molasses, ginger, vanilla, roasted malt and cinnamon.
Persephone Brewing can be found on the Sunshine Coast Ale Trail.
Several Holiday Options from Red Collar Brewing:
- Diana Baltic Porter ( 8.7% ABV | 25 IBU) This traditional Baltic Porter is dark and luscious with notes of coffee and chocolate. (Released on November 1)
- Doppelbock Dark Lager (7.7% ABV | 36 IBU) Dark in colour with a silky, rich sweetness and a surprisingly smooth finish. (Released on November 22)
- Kraanbere Cranberry Saison (6.8% ABV | 8 IBU) Fermented with cranberries and a French saison yeast to create a lightly spiced and deliciously fruity seasonal brew. (Released on December 6)
- Double Dubbel (7.75% ABV | 6 IBU) A dark, rich, Belgian Ale fermented on freshly ground coffee. (Release date: December 10)
- No Fun Frank Triple Tripel (9.0% ABV | 70 IBU) Blends the styles of a Belgian Tripel with a Northwest IPA. (Release date: December 29)
- Black Dog Quad (11.69% ABV) Red Collar will be releasing boxed sets of this big Belgian Trappist-style ale with vintages from 2015-1018 and branded glasses.
Red Collar Brewing can be found on the Kamloops, Shuswap, Vernon & Merritt Ale Trail.
The Holiday Classic Collection from Red Racer:
This boxed set includes 12 unique holiday movie-themed beers to help celebrate the season with family and friends.
Red Racer (Central City Brewers & Distillers) can be found on the South of the Fraser Ale Trail.
Two Holiday Seasonals from Riot Brewing:
- Happy F@#$ing Holidays (6% ABV | 29 IBU) This classic porter is flavoured with hazelnut, coffee and vanilla making it a festive and fun holiday beer.
- Black Ales in the Sunset (6.5% ABV | 70 IBU) Celebrating Riot’s 5th anniversary, this Black IPA celebrates the sunset, symbolizing the end of one cycle and the start of a new one.
Riot Brewing can be found on the Vancouver Island Part 1 Ale Trail.
Christmas Mixer Pack from Rossland Beer Co.:
This 12-pack of 650-ml bottles features four beers:
- Seven Summits Milk Stout (5.8% ABV)
- Green Jacket Pale Ale (5% ABV)
- Staff Party IPA (6.5% ABV)
- Cruzin’ Cozumel Cerveza (5.5% ABV)
Rossland Beer Co. can be found on the Kootenay Rockies West Ale Trail.
Tackle Box Beer Advent Calendar from Rustic Reel Brewing:
This 24-pack features two each of 12 different beers, including four never-before brewed beers and nine that have never been canned before.
Rustic Reel Brewing can be found on the Kelowna and West Kelowna Ale Trail.
Three Holiday Beers from Silver Valley Brewing:
- A Great Big Sled Gingerbread Scottish Ale (5.5% ABV | 20 IBU) This festive take on a Scottish Ale features caramel, toffee, and toasty biscuit flavours, along with a healthy dose of gingerbread spices.
- Don’t Shoot Me Santa Chai Milk Stout (5% ABV | 25 IBU) A milk stout infused with the signature chai mix from T’s Once Upon A Tea Leaf in Maple Ridge.
- Frozen Pond English Strong (7.5% ABV | 40 IBU) A tasty winter warmer with hints of caramel, toffee, dark fruit, and treacle.
Silver Valley Brewing can be found on the Maple Ridge Ale Trail.
Three Wintry Beers from Smugglers’ Trail Caskworks
- Black Gold Coffee Stout (5.6% ABV | 43 IBU) Brewed in collaboration with Smoking Gun Coffee Roasters of Abbotsford, this beer is roasty, bold and balanced.
- Rum and Eggnogg Stout (6.5% ABV | 36 IBU ) All of your favourite holiday drinks in one smooth, velvety pint! (Cask only in taproom.)
- Scrumpers Dark Sour (7% ABV | 10 IBU) Brewed with cherries and black raspberries, this is not too sweet, not too sour, just scrumptious.
You can also stock up on non-beer gifts like socks, mugs and dog collars through the brewery’s online store.
Smugglers’ Trail can be found on the Fraser Valley Ale Trail.
Holiday Mix Pack from Storm Brewing (5.7% ABV)
This is a special collection of some of Storm’s favourite Christmas brainstorms from throughout the years. It retails for $21 (tax included) and is available only at the brewery.
Storm Brewing can be found on the Vancouver-Yeast Van Ale Trail.
Spiced Pear Sour by Strathcona Beer Co. in collaboration with Field House Brewing (7% ABV | 6 IBU)
This festive sour ale was brewed with generous amounts of pear puree with the addition of lactose, brown sugar, a healthy dose of cinnamon, and touches of clove, allspice, ginger and orange.
Strathcona Beer Co. Brewing can be found on the Vancouver-Yeast Van Ale Trail.
Two Winter Seasonals from Tin Whistle Brewing:
- Winter Whimsy Chocolate Cherry Porter (6% ABV) Inspired by Black Forest Cake this porter was brewed with 50 lbs of Belgian chocolate and 330 lbs of fresh cherries.
- One Piece Wonder Hazelnut Flaye White Stout (5.6% ABV) Made with locally roasted coffee and added lactose that delivers a silky smooth, creamy, and slightly sweet finish that is rounded out by the subtle hazelnut flavor.
Tin Whistle Brewing can be found on the Penticton Ale Trail.
Century Grove Chocolate Orange Stout by Townsite Brewing (6% ABV | 28 IBU)
This dessert stout is a warm, comfy, cozy blanket of chocolate notes with sparks of blood orange flavours. Think Terry’s Chocolate Orange in a beer!
Townsite Brewing can be found on the Sunshine Coast Ale Trail.
Persnickety Salted Caramel Altbier by Twin City Brewing in collaboration with LoveShack Libations (5.0% ABV & 28 IBU)
Persnickety is a German-inspired Altbier with an infusion of sea salt and caramel. The beer was fermented cool and lagered for several weeks resulting in a clean, quaffable malt-forward pseudo-lager with restrained flavours of crème brulée and sticky toffee pudding. Plus, “persnickety” is just way too much fun to say!
Twin City Brewing and LoveShack Libations can be found on the Vancouver Island Part Two Ale Trail.
Hermannator Ice Bock from Vancouver Island Brewing (9.5% ABV)
This is BC’s original holiday seasonal beer — VIB’s original brewer Hermann Hoerterer first brewed it as a special Christmas treat for friends and family back in 1987, and it’s been an annual release ever since. In this Vintage pack which includes the 2020 and 20201 editions. you can see how the beer develops with a year of cellaring.
Vancouver Island Brewing can be found on the Victoria Ale Trail.
Angel Delight Ale from Welton Brewery (4.8% ABV | 15 IBU):
A strawberry and white chocolate ale, this delicious dessert beer pairs perfectly with sticky toffee pudding or a trifle. (Release date: December 23).
Welton Brewery and the Welton Arms can be found on the Kelowna and West Kelowna Ale Trail.
The Holiday Box from Whistle Buoy Brewing:
This hand-selected box of crowlers, tall cans, and coffee makes the perfect one-stop gift for the beer lover in your life. It includes:
- 1 x exclusive tall can (473mL) of Hidden Gem – Vic Secret Hazy IPA. This beer has not been released and can only be found in the Holiday Box.
- 1 x tall can (473mL) of Western Clash IPA. A collaboration beer with Blindman Brewing.
- 1 x tall can (473mL) of Coastality Pale Ale
- 1 x tall can (473mL) of Gulagubben Scandinavian Ale
- 1 x crowler (946mL can) of Discovery Coffee Mild Ale
- 1 x mystery crowler (946mL can) containing 1 of 3 unique seasonal beers.
- 1 bag (340 grams) of Discovery Coffee Rock Bay Blend whole bean coffee. (5% of sales from each bag go to the Victoria Cool Aid Society.)
Here is the link to the box on the brewery’s website.
Chocolate Porter from White Sails Brewing (5% ABV)
Brewed with a robust dark malt bill and conditioned on Ugandan cacao nibs, the Chocolate Porter is a White Sails holiday classic.
White Sails Brewing can be found on the Vancouver Island Part 1 Ale Trail.
