Pride Month beers across the province are raising funds to support Pride-related causes.
This includes an extra special collaboration among six breweries in Comox Valley and Campbell River.
You can’t spell community without “C.”
This collaboration includes the communities of Comox, Courtenay, Cumberland and Campbell River.
“Since breweries are businesses that are community gathering spaces we felt it important to show our pride in diversity by brewing a beer together,” said Patti Savard, co-owner and heard brewer at New Tradition Brewing in Comox. “Our breweries and our communities are inclusive, diverse and beautiful. The purpose of making this beer together is to stand up for that belief.”
The six participating breweries include: Ace Brewing and Gladstone Brewing in Courtenay; Land and Sea Brewing and New Tradition Brewing in Comox, Cumberland Brewing in Cumberland; and Beach Fire Brewing in Campbell River.
Brewers from all six breweries met up at the host brewery, New Tradition Brewing, on April 16, socially distanced and masked, of course.
“We chose to brew a Session IPA that is funky and juicy because it is an excellent patio crusher for the season and, hey, it’s fun and very approachable.”
The brewers used pilsner and wheat malt for the base to give the beer a fluffy mouthfeel and the hazy appearance of a Northeast IPA. Sach Trois was the choice for yeast strain for its tropical flavours and funky nature. As for hops, on brew day, each brewery showed up with a hop they felt would fit a juicy session beer and then the brewers hashed out what to do with them.
“With six breweries we had six hops: Mosaic, Mandarina Bavaria, Belma, Amarillo, and just to keep us on our toes, we had Columbus and Nugget thrown into the mix,” explained Savard. “A good cook should be able to open the fridge and make a great meal with what they have available, right?”
The resulting beer, Love Wins Juicy Session IPA, is a perfect patio beer. It is very approachable at 4.5% ABV and delicately hopped at 20 IBU. Light and smooth, with tropical and passion fruit characteristics, its creamy mouthfeel gives it a pina colada vibe.
In honour of the beer release, each brewery will be donating to Diversity in Brewing.
“It was important for us to show our support with us being brewers and Diversity in Brewing’s mandate being inclusion in the brewing world,” Patti Savard said. “If we can help be a part of productive change it may as well start with our own industry.”
Love Wins Hazy Session IPA was released on all six brewery patios on May 29th to kick off Pride Month. Cans of the beer are also available at New Tradition Brewing, which will also sell t-shirts featuring the rainbow hop logo to raise additional funds.
All of the breweries participating in the Love Wins collaboration can be found on the Vancouver Island Part 2 Ale Trail.
Ruby-hued royalty, crowned with a lively pink head.
Kaslo’s Angry Hen Brewing has brewed a special three-berry Pride Month beer called Berry Queen (5.5% ABV) that is available as of June 1, 2021.
Berry Queen is the perfect companion to kick off and celebrate Pride Month in Kaslo! Raspberry, blueberry and blackberry offer tart and sweet aromas on the nose. The beer lands crisp and sharp with a distant rye finish.
Angry Hen Brewing can be found on the Kootenay Rockies West Ale Trail.
Riot Brewing – JIMBO Boysenberry Blackberry Sour (5.3% ABV)
This is a Boysenberry Blackberry sour named after the Victoria drag queen superstar, Jimbo.
Riot Brewing is re-releasing this beer they originally made last year in time for the Victoria Pride Week Festival, which runs June 28 to July 4. Riot has wanted to make a Pride beer for a while.
“It was important for us to have a beer that wasn’t a cash in on Pride but instead a reflection of our genuine commitment to the LGBTQI+ community. We decided to make Jimbo initially simply because we were so impressed with Jimbo and their run on Drag Race Canada. Since she is a local queen it was a no-brainer, so we reached out to Jimbo and they were thrilled to be honoured. Now with Pride rolling back around, what better time to bring back Jimbo’s eponymous beer — this time with proceeds going to a cause very close to Jimbo’s heart.”
A portion of proceeds for Jimbo will go to support Rainbow Railroad.
“I love it! It’s MY SPECIAL BEER!!” – Jimbo.
Riot Brewing can be found on the Vancouver Island Part 1 Ale Trail.
Parksville’s Mount Arrowsmith Brewing is also brewing a beer for Pride Month called Fight for Your Right! Kiwi Hibiscus Blonde Ale. Details were still in the works at press time but we will add more info here when it is put on tap.
Support Local, Stay Local:
COVID-19 Travel Restrictions: Like you, we’re passionate about exploring BC on the #BCAleTrail. But now is the time to stay local and support local businesses. Due to travel restrictions in B.C., people are not allowed to travel outside of their regional zone until June 15, 2021. To learn more about British Columbia’s travel restrictions, essential travel inclusions, and identify which health area you currently reside in visit www.gov.bc.ca/covidtravel.
BC’s breweries are strictly adhering to recommended COVID-19 safety protocols to keep both guests and staff safe. They are ready to welcome you for on-site patio tasting, with limited capacity indoors, or to pick up your favourites to go.
For now, please remember to stick close to home and be a Considerate Craft Beer Consumer. Let us each do our part now, so we can explore BC again, soon. We’re all in this together.
This spring, explore your local breweries. New Experiences are Brewing Nearby!
