We’ve got a hand for you the next time you want to head out for a stellar night in Port Alberni. The hand – a khamsa in Moroccan – will chase away evil and negative energy, which your hosts Dan and Buchara Savard, owners of the Swept Away Inn, would rather you leave behind when you visit their converted tugboat moored in this community located at the heart of Vancouver Island.
Sipping on some local lagers, we feasted on some delicious Moroccan cuisine, the specialty of these five-year running AirB&B superhosts, fuelling up for a big night out in this dynamic small city.
The good time vibes carried right through the evening as we caught up with a collection of Port Alberni night life attractions that have the community brewing with social life.
Twin City Brewing is in the centre of town, just off what is the world’s longest ocean inlet, walking distance from the marina where you might have gone out for the day to catch your own Poke bowl or next salmon BBQ. Head brewer and founder Aaron Colyn and his team run a tight ship in this brewery with an almost every Friday seasonal release and a collection of cask nights that keep locals and travelers stoked on their scene.
Twin City Brewing’s 411
- Named in tribute of how the region operated in the past as two separate municipalities, Alberni and Port Alberni, now together as one city.
- Twin City’s Facebook page lists events, seasonal releases and cask nights – check out their Great Canadian Beer Festival 2019 Release; a whole lot of aloha love with their Vanishing Act Pineapple & Coconut Sour.
- Chomp down on a wide range of ‘za in the brewery lounge that includes mozzarella made from water buffalo milk 10 km away at Coleman Meadows Farm (FYI, they welcome visitors).
Dog Mountain Brewing is on the horizon
The Vancouver Island Ale Trail is about to score another spot, Dog Mountain Brewing, founded by a yeast biotech grad who has a nose for all things barley-based. For Andy Richards and Robin Miles, it’s about controlling their own destiny by moving to a smaller community, out of the big city and into their best life. Savouring their test batch of Dog Mountain Oatmeal Stout, I couldn’t help but comment on how light of a stout it was, a taste that left my palate thirsty for more. When the brewery opens later this fall, its rooftop patio will serve those looking for a top-notch sunset location, ideal for scouting a new hike while basking in the glow from a day on the water.
“Dog Mountain Brewery is in homage to the almost resort-like community at Sproat Lake, which is how we discovered Port Alberni,” explains head brewer Miles. Sproat Lake, about five minutes from Port Alberni, is flanked by a mountain named Dog. As we’ve discovered at ZenSeekers, when you go #ExplorePortAlberni, there is a ton to discover both indoors and in the great outdoors.
Port Alberni’s night life
Known for a brilliant music festival every summer, the Five Acre Shaker, music fans can now visit Port Alberni to have their bones rattled at the Rainbow Room. Owner and founder, Dave Rutherford, likes it loud, and this new bar will certainly add a great amount of spice to any Saturday night.
“Growing up here, there was not much going on in town and I saw opportunity in that.” If Rutherford has it his way, it’ll be live music all the time all along Fourth Ave.
Rally a crew and go #ExplorePortAlberni this fall. You’ll be surprised by how much is going on in this community located at the heart of Vancouver Island. For more on what to expect, read the full story on ZenSeekers all about Port Alberni’s good times vibes.
For where to stay and help on planning your getaway, friends at Alberni Valley Tourism will get you sorted.
Creative and fun-loving people are moving to Port Alberni, a great place in the heart of Vancouver Island with realistic real estate, a collection of craft breweries, and boundless adventures out the back door. Those looking for a change of scenery can use the City of Port Alberni’s 411 to get their bearings.
See you around town soon!
