Week 2: Local Breweries
Did you know that the Tri-Cities boasts one of the most vibrant craft beer communities in Canada?
From the Pitt River to Rocky Point we have our very own Ale Trail filled with delicious beer, fresh food and welcoming atmosphere. Each brewery is unique, but they have all managed to come together to create a community of craft beer like never before.
Whether you are looking for a hoppy IPA or a light pale ale, the Tri-Cities has a beer for you!
Read on to see a Summer Tasting Guide from Tri-Cities’ own Nick Andersen, Strategy Manager at Moody Ales & Co. and to find out more about our Tri-Cities Summer Sour collaboration!
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@moodyales
Finding The Perfect Sip to Savour The Summer
Summer Tasting Guide By Nick Andersen, Moody Ales & Co.
Have you ever stepped into a brewery, looked up at the menu and felt absolutely overwhelmed by the sheer number of options listed? With so many different types of beers and so many style interpretations, ordering a beer can be quite difficult. Don’t worry, I have you covered with some handy info to guide your choice so you can be sip-savvy at your next brewery visit.
Lager
Arguably one of the most popular styles of beer consumed around the world, lagers are crisp, bright and easy to drink. Your basic lager will quench your thirst quickly, especially on a hot summer day and paired with tasty barbecue.
Sour
Ranging from mildly tart to lip-puckering, sour beers are fast gaining momentum in beer circles as more breweries start to dive into the world of sour beers. You’ll often find sours combined with fruit or floral flavours and are an excellent choice for typical fans of cider wanting to venture into beers.
IPA
Looking for something with a little more bite? Look no further than the mighty IPA, where the hops are king. The neat thing about hops is each variety comes with its own unique aroma and flavour profile. Citra will bring fresh citrus notes, Galaxy punches with intense peach and passion fruit, while Willamette introduces herbaceous and floral notes. Little tip: take note of the hops listed for a beer you really like and seek out more beers that use that specific hop. There are loads of sites online that contain libraries of hop aromas and flavours to peruse at your leisure. Sip and learn at the same time!
Saison
Feeling a little fancy? Try out a Saison: a lighter beer originating from Belgium. It features some nice peppery and fruited notes, generally has a lower alcohol percentage and comes with a higher carbonation level.That sounds like the perfect recipe for a highly quaffable drink you can enjoy on a sunny summer patio.
Radler
Last but not least on this Summer Beer Guide is the Radler. Originating from the European tradition of mixing beer and lemonade, Radlers have evolved a bit to encompass any beer and juice combo. It’s an effective way of responsibly enjoying low-alcohol beer, perfect for those wanting to pace themselves or those still hesitating to fully embrace drinking beer. Either way, look for this light and refreshing beer style for something new to taste this summer.
Hopefully this guide helps to steer you in the right direction next time you’re staring up at a brewery’s giant menu board filled with too many options. If you’re still feeling stuck, make sure to ask one of the friendly staff there to help you find your next favourite beer.
- Nick Andersen, Moody Ales & Co.
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Community
One of the things that makes our local craft beer scene so unique, is the sense of community that our breweries share.
Breweries on Brewer’s Row: Twin Sails Brewing, Yellow Dog Brewing, The Parkside Brewery, The Bakery Brewing and Moody Ales & Co.
If you have never been to Brewer’s Row in Port Moody, we highly recommend stopping by. From Twin Sails to Moody Ales, Murray St. boasts five breweries and a distillery. The owners of these establishments came together and created Brewer’s Row - the perfect cocktail of beer, food trucks and atmosphere. Right across from Rocky Point and near the Inlet Trail (and Fraser Mills Fermentation Co. just over the train tracks!) Brewer’s Row makes for the perfect destination on a sunny afternoon.
On the other end of the Tri-Cities, you can find Boardwalk Brewing, Tinhouse and Northpaw Brew Co. all nestled in together near Provincial Cocktails in the Fremont area. Sitting next to the beautiful Pitt River and along the Traboulay PoCo Trail, these breweries make for an excellent bike ride rest stop or reward after a scenic walk!
And you want to know my favourite thing about our local breweries?
Their patios are pet friendly! Bring your whole family (four-legged or other) and enjoy a brewery hop through some of our prettiest areas.
Or - if you just want to sit and relax, you can always visit Mariner on the Barnet Hwy, Patina on Shaughnessy or PoCo Brothers Brewing on Brown St.
Make sure to follow our local breweries to stay up-to-date on their specials, markets, events and more!
@trilocalnow
Tri-Cities Summer Sour
The Tri-Local Collective is proud to invest in our community to help boost our local businesses after the craziness of COVID.
One of our goals was to spend some of our Federal Funding on direct community investments that will put money in the hands of the business owners, leaders and workers.
With this in mind, we reached out to our vibrant craft beer community to see if there was anything we could do to provide support after the industry was effected by lock-downs, capacity restrictions and government mandates.
7 local breweries answered our call!
They put their heads together and came up with the largest collaboration beer our cities have seen yet! Our Tri-Cities Summer Sour, produced by Patina Brewing Co. in partnership with Fraser Mills FC, Mariner Brewing, Moody Ales & Co, Northpaw Brew Co, Tinhouse Brewing Co. and Yellowdog Brewing, is a mouth-watering mix of papaya, peach, pineapple, pink guava and passionfruit!
With these 5 powerhouse fruits in the mix, this delicious Summer Sour is the ultimate patio pounder! Best enjoyed with friends, family and four-legged pals.
The best part is - since we covered the cost of production, the participating breweries get to keep 100% of the sales of this collaboration beer. Supporting local has never been easier, or as delicious!
So be sure to stop by one of the participating breweries after June 14th to try our Tri-Cities Summer Sour! And make the most of your summer in the Tri-Cities by visiting our local breweries to enjoy beer, cider, wine or non-alcoholic beverages of your choice!
There is something for everyone here in the Tri-Cities!
Tri-Cities Summer Sour Collaboration
Pictured: Patina Brewing, Mariner Brewing, Moody Ales & Co, Tinhouse Brewing and the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce