Spring Is For Everything: Part 1

Words by: Brent Hillier   Photos by: Brent Hillier & Chad Hillier

Last week my brother, Chad, came out for a visit with his girlfriend, Katie. With springtime here on the coast of British Columbia it was a great opportunity to take advantage of all the many activities that are possible. It proved to be a great reminder for myself as to just how amazing this place really is. We explored the mountains on foot, bike and skis and toured the city, taking advantage of the food, culture and beer.

After some brunch at Chateau Brento, we went for a stroll across the street in Lynn Canyon. The weather was wet, but I've always felt that the rainforest of the North Shore is better experienced in the rain. The Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge is always a highlight for those visiting and a coffee stop at the End of the Line Cafe made for a great afternoon.

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With the rain continuing we decided to explore some of the local craft breweries here on the North Shore. Our first stop of the day's brew tour was the new Green Leaf Brewing Co. located in the Lonsdale Quay. Relatively new on the scene, I'm excited to see what they produce in the way of beer, but the location itself is certainly fantastic.

The next stop was the at Bridge Brewing Company. Despite their size, their beers have big taste, and they have the best Pale Ale that I've found. Mac set us up with some tasters as he filled our growler with some of the North Shore Pale Ale.

We skipped across the road for our last stop on our North Shore brew tour, the always popular Deep Cove Brewers & Distillers. If you enjoy a West Coast style IPA their Star Struck Rye IPA is no slouch and their Gin is something to rival. What's more, is their tasting room often has live music playing and a specialty food truck parked out front in case you need a bite to eat.

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So far day one was a success! With our collection of growlers we made a stop at the local grocery store, picked up the appropriate cheese and meat pairings, and headed home to celebrate.

When I first heard about pairing craft beer with cheese I thought it was a bit silly. As I've learned more about beer and really started following the craft movement, the thought began to intrigue me more and more. Now that I've tried it, I can't believe I ever doubted it. Wether it's a Smoked Gouda with the North Shore Pale Ale or Blue Cheese with a pint of Star Struck Rye IPA I'm hooked, and the rest of the crew that night agreed; including Eli.

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Up next, a road trip and some skiing on Whistler / Blackcomb, featuring a surprise from mother-nature I was definitely not expecting in late April. Stay tuned!