Whistler Fest features Sea to Sky breweries and craft cideries

One of BC’s best-known annual beer festivals kicks off again this week in Whistler BC. Home to a over 60 breweries and over 120 beers, the Whistler Village Beer Festival includes a four-day series of events with seminars, cask nights, food pairing dinners and other great parties. You may already have plans to head up and take in the festivities; either way, here are a couple of things to know about this year’s Fest.

The Sea To Sky connection

Highway 99 north of Vancouver features its own craft scene, and this year’s Festival celebrates that with the inclusion of Coast Mountain Brewing, based in Whistler. This family business is bringing the love of beer to the local community.

Of course, the Sea To Sky region has its share of already-established breweries, and they’ll be on hand as well. Whistler Brewing will be there, as well as Whistler’s famous Brewhouse, aka the Mark James Group’s High Mountain Brewing Company. So too will be venerable Howe Sound Brewing of Squamish. If you want to experience not only the Sea To Sky scenery but taste its creativity as well, you’re definitely covered. See the full list of breweries here.

The craft cider connection

One of the great things about this year’s Festival is that it reflects the explosion of BC craft cider. We recently featured a story about how the Okanagan has given birth to a new wave of small cideries, and you’ll be able to taste the fruits of their labour this weekend. Wards will be pouring their new Ginger Apple Cider. BC Tree Fruits will be pouring their Broken Ladder Apples and Hops craft cider. Lonetree Cider will have their craft cider also produced from Okanagan apples.

Also on hand are offerings from larger commercial operator Okanagan Cider, as well as Rider Cider, also from the Okanagan (produced by Kelowna’s very own Big Surf Brewing people). Compare and see which style you like in the new world of BC cider.

Check out all of the amazing events taking place throughout the Village, including the main tasting events on Saturday and Sunday, for the 4th annual Whistler Village Beer Festival.

Event details are here,
https://www.whatsbrewing.ca/event/whistler-village-beer-festival

Tickets: https://wvbf.securetickets.co

Full information:
http://gibbonswhistler.com/festivals-events/whistler-village-beer-festival