BC Ale Trail's Winter Warmers & Holiday Hops

Hatch Comms
Dec 11
4 min read

Updated: 6 days ago

For Immediate Release

December 12, 2025

Winter Warmers and Holiday Hops:

BC Ale Trail Showcases Award-Winning Seasonal Beers and Festive Releases Across British Columbia

Photo Credit: Hoyne Brewing, Gratitude Winter Ale

North Vancouver, B.C. - As winter settles in across British Columbia and festive gatherings fill the calendar, craft breweries on the BC Ale Trail are releasing some of their most imaginative beers of the year. From medal-winning winter warmers to playful holiday packs and climate-conscious collabs, more than 100 seasonal beers are now available in taprooms and on shelves throughout the province.

This year’s Winter Warmers and Holiday Hops line-up balances rich, slow-sipping stouts and spiced ales with bright, hop-forward releases and dessert-inspired sours, all designed for gifting, sharing and celebrating close to home.

“Winter is when BC brewers really lean into storytelling,” says Monica Frost, Project Lead of the BC Ale Trail. “You see award-winning classics return, new collaborations with chefs and artists, and seasonal beers that reflect the communities they come from. It’s a perfect time to explore a new brewery or pick up something special for a holiday table.”

Award-Winning Winter Warmers

Several of this year’s seasonal releases arrive with serious hardware attached:

Kindling Imperial Stout – Cannery Brewing (Penticton)
A gold medalist at the Canadian Brewing Awards, Kindling returns this year with an updated recipe and label. Brewed with vanilla beans from three countries plus toasted coconut, this limited-release imperial stout is crafted as a rich, celebratory winter sipper.
Old Man Winter – Smithers Brewing Co (Smithers)
A Scottish-style dark ale and local favourite, Old Man Winter earned Silver at the Canadian Brewing Awards this year. It is part of the Skeena Seasonal Series featuring artwork by renowned artist Roy Henry Vickers, tying the beer directly to Northwest BC’s landscape and culture.
Winter Ale – Mariner Brewing (Coquitlam)
A classic spiced winter ale with a deep chestnut colour, Winter Ale recently won Gold at the 2025 Canadian Beer Awards, cementing its status as a seasonal standout.
Vanishing Act Sour – Twin City Brewing (Port Alberni)
A pineapple and coconut sour that tastes like a tropical holiday in a glass, Vanishing Act captured Gold at the 2025 BC Beer Awards.

Icons, First-Time Cans and Collector Packs

This year also marks the return – and reinvention – of some iconic BC beers:

Back Hand of God Stout – BNA Brewing / Crannóg Ales (Kelowna, Vernon, Penticton)
One of BC’s most storied stouts is now available in cans for the first time in its 25-year history. Still brewed with the original Crannóg Ales recipe and organic hops from Left Fields Farm, Back Hand of God brings its bold coffee and cocoa profile to a new format for winter.
Reinbeer Mixed Pack – Phillips Brewing & Malting (Victoria)
A limited eight-pack of “mystery reindeer” beers, each with its own personality and style. From hot chocolate lagers to sparkling ales and coffee-inflected IPAs, Reinbeer is built for gifting, sharing and discovering something new.
Dark Room V.2 – Luppolo Brewing (Vancouver)
The second release in Luppolo’s barrel-aging series blends one- and two-year imperial stouts aged in freshly emptied bourbon barrels, with layers of dark chocolate, caramel and oak.
Eggnog White Stout – Taylight Brewing (Port Coquitlam)
A festive white stout that delivers the silky, creamy sweetness of a classic stout without the roasted notes. Brewed with real eggnog spices, it offers a soft, warming profile that makes it an ideal companion for winter gatherings.

Collaborations, Community and Climate-Conscious Pints

Beyond the brewhouse, many winter releases connect to broader stories:

Protect Our Winters Hazy Pale Ale – Backcountry Brewing (Squamish)
Brewed with Mosaic, Simcoe and Krush hops, this hazy pale ale supports Protect Our Winters Canada. A portion of proceeds from every four-pack and keg is donated to the climate advocacy organisation; since 2023, the partnership has raised more than $24,000.
Easy Stout (Non-Alcoholic) – Wildeye Brewing x Thomas Haas (North Vancouver)
A non-alcoholic stout collaboration with acclaimed chocolatier Thomas Haas, offering layered cocoa, roasted malt and hazelnut notes in an approachable 0.5% ABV format – ideal for mindful drinkers and Dry January.
Farm to Barn Apple Pie Saison – Locality Brewing x Barn Owl Brewing (Langley / Kelowna)
A farmhouse saison inspired by apple pie, brewed as a farm-to-glass collaboration that brings together Fraser Valley grain and Okanagan fruit.
Trans Atlantic Collaboration IPA – Spinnakers Brewpub (Victoria)
An “old-world meets Northwest” IPA brewed with Fuller’s yeast, local malts and a mix of European and West Coast hops, reflecting Spinnakers’ long role in BC’s craft beer history.

Explore Winter on the BC Ale Trail

Across the Kootenay Rockies, Northern BC + Cariboo, Thompson Okanagan, Vancouver Coast and Mountains and Vancouver Island, breweries continue to release new winter warmers and holiday hops throughout the season, from eggnog-inspired white stouts and salted caramel porters to barrel-aged sours and dessert-like imperial stouts. Visitors and locals are encouraged to visit brewery taprooms, check local liquor stores for seasonal releases.

“Whether it is an award-winning stout, a climate-focused pale ale or a playful mixed pack, there is a winter beer that tells a story about every corner of this province,” adds Monica Frost, Project Lead of the BC Ale Trail. “This season is about discovering those stories and sharing them.”

Learn more and view the full list of Winter Warmers and Holiday Hops at bcaletrail.ca.

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About the BC Ale Trail

The BC Ale Trail serves as a comprehensive guide to exploring British Columbia’s craft beer culture, linking over 220 craft breweries across 21 self-guided Ale Trails. Each trail combines BC’s distinctive craft breweries with the province’s breathtaking natural landscapes, providing a complete experience for beer enthusiasts and adventure seekers. In partnership with Destination British Columbia and the BC Craft Brewers Guild, the BC Ale Trail showcases the finest of BC’s brewing scene through thoughtfully curated itineraries. Whether a local resident or a visitor, the BC Ale Trail offers an ideal way to plan a brewery tour holiday and discover why BC’s craft beer scene is world-class.

To learn more visit bcaletrail.ca, and connect socially at @bcaletrail on Facebook and Instagram.