Hello and happy New Year craft beer fans! As we look ahead to 2019, it’s clear the craft beer revolution shows no signs of slowing down. In every corner of the province, there are new breweries being planned. Could B.C. top hit the 200-brewery milestone before year’s end? We’ll have to wait and see!
Here’s a look at the many new breweries being planned around the province for 2019.
Ace Brewing Co.
Courtenay (summer 2019) The Comox Valley is getting yet another craft brewery; this one plans to pay homage to the history of the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Another Beer Co.
New Westminster (early 2019) This one has been on the drawing board for a while now, but it looks like ABC is creeping closer to reality with a facility on Capilano Way in Sapperton. AnotherBeerCo.com
The Bakery Brewing Co.
Port Moody (summer 2019) Can Murray Street handle another brewery? Moody Ales’ Adam Crandall thinks so, and judging by the lineups on a Saturday night (or a Tuesday, for that matter), we think so too.
Barnside Brewing
Delta (summer 2019) A true on-farm brewery started by four multi-generational farm families, Barnside will be growing all of its malting barley on-site in Ladner. BarnsideBrewing.ca
Cloverdale Brewing
Surrey (spring/summer 2019) Located near 176th St. and 64th Ave., the team behind this craft brewery has started construction and hopes to be pouring early in the new year.
Container Brewing- Vancouver (summer 2019)
This new craft brewery will be right at home in Yeast Van, just blocks away from Powell and Callister on Franklin Street. Tim Juul, formerly of Fort Hill Brewery in Massachusetts, is tapped to be the head brewer.
Copper Brewing
Kelowna (Summer 2019) Kelowna’s exploding beer scene is shaping up to be the biggest story in craft beer for 2019. Copper Brewing is one of four new breweries planned for K-Town.
Dog Mountain Brewing
Port Alberni (summer 2019) The Twin City’s second craft brewery is looking to open shop at the heart of Port Alberni’s historic downtown at Third and Argyle. Brewer/owner Robin Miles is hoping to offer sessionable classics and mixed fermentation experiments. DogMountainBrew.com
Farm Country Brewing
Langley (summer 2019) The first craft brewery in the City of Langley (Trading Post is technically in Langley Township), Farm Country hopes to open its tasting room (complete with patio!) next to the Cascades Casino by the summer. FarmCountryBrewing.com
Fraser Mills Fermentation Co.
Coquitlam (late 2019) The centerpiece for the new waterfront Fraser Mills development in South Coquitlam. Expect beer, wine, cider, mead, spirits and delicious food—everything you could ever want, really. FraserMillsFermentation.com
Hakie Brewery
Squamish (2019) The newest addition to the Sea-To-Sky beer scene has its branding and merch ready to go, but no word yet on the beer. Instagram.com/hakiebrewing
Hatchery Brewing
Penticton (summer 2019) This welcome addition to the Penticton beer scene will feature an open concept tasting room with seating for more than 250, barrel-aged beers and a food program to rival any restaurant in town. HatcheryBrewing.com
The Herald Street Brew Works
Victoria (2019) The good folks at The Drake Eatery and Steel & Oak Brewing are teaming up to make this brewery just north of downtown a reality. Given the people involved, it’s safe to say this place is going to be friggin’ sweeeeeet.
House of Funk Brewing
North Vancouver (spring 2019) This brewery is going to get funky with its wild and Brett-fermented ales. The doors aren’t open yet, but cans of Funky Street, its recent collab with Streetcar, have already popped up in North Van. HouseOfFunkBrewing.com
Jackknife Brewing
Kelowna (late 2019) Kettle River brewer Brad Tomlinson is moving right next door and opening his own brewery, promising a heavy metal edge and big weird beers.
Merridale Brewery and Distillery
Victoria (fall 2019) Merridale’s spiffy new purpose-built boozatorium at Dockside Green in Vic West will feature a brewery, cidery, distillery, full-service restaurant, tasting room and retail space. This one is going to be spectacular. Merridale.ca
Mountainview Brewing
Hope (2019) One of the last craft beer holdouts in the Fraser Valley will hopefully get its first brewery next year. Mountainview will be located on the Old Hope Princeton Highway at Fourth Ave.
Neighbourhood Brewing Company
Penticton (2019) This new project from Yellow Dog’s Mike Coghill will be located at the corner of Westminster and Winnipeg, smack dab between Bad Tattoo and the Hatchery Brewing. Penticton was named the second best Beer Town in Canada this year by Expedia, and it looks like it’ll be gunning for No. 1 in 2019.
New Tradition Brewing
Comox (spring 2019) New Tradition is just steps away from the former site of the Lorne Hotel, B.C.’s oldest licenced drinking establishment before it burnt down in 2011. NewTraditionBrewing.com
Rodeo Brewing
Surrey (2019) Rodeo will be paying tribute to the Cloverdale’s cowboy culture and focusing on crisp, refreshing lagers. RodeoBrewing.com
Rumpus Beer Company
Revelstoke (spring 2019) This funky little brewery and tasting room is opening up in downtown Revy and is going to focus on farmhouse ales and session-strength beers. RumpusBeerCo.com
Rustic Reel Brewing Company
Kelowna (summer 2019) An ethically and socially conscious brewery focussed on creating community around craft beer. Also home to The Tackle Box, an artisan market featuring local crafts and goods from the Okanagan and beyond. RusticReel.com
Stanley Park Brewpub
Vancouver (summer 2019) The historic Fish House restaurant in Stanley Park is currently being renovated by the eponymous beer brand owned by AB-InBev and will feature a full-service kitchen, tasting room and small batch beers brewed on site. StanleyParkBrewing.com
Streetcar Brewing
North Vancouver (early 2019) The tanks are in and the test batches are being brewed, the next stop for this Lower Lonsdale brewery is opening day! StreetcarBrewing.ca
Superflux Brewing
North Vancouver (2019-ish) Everyone’s favourite IPA-makers are working on getting a brewery of their own on the North Shore. No timeline yet for when that will happen, though. SuperfluxBeer.com
Tin House Brewing
Port Coquitlam (2019) The craft beer floodgates have opened in PoCo. After being the largest municipality in Metro Vancouver without a craft brewery, the ‘burb saw two open last year and Tin House is poised to be the third. Conveniently located just around the corner from Northpaw Brewing on Sherling Place. TinHouseBrewing.ca
Ucluelet Brewing Co.
Ucluelet (summer 2019) Located in a former church, Ukee’s first craft brewery hopes to have a full beer and food lineup ready to go for the tourist season. UclueletBrewing.ca
The Wildwood Pub
Powell River (2019) The former Red Lion Pub is getting a makeover and hopefully will be brewing it own beer before long.
– Rob Mangelsdorf, The Growler
Editor’s note: This article has been edited after publication to include Container Brewing and to remove Four Winds, as the latter has indicated they do not anticipate a 2019 opening.