Port Coquitlam, BC – Oct. 28, 2021… Port Coquitlam’s burgeoning craft brewery and distillery industry is highlighted in the new North of the Fraser Ale Trail launched today.

Port Coquitlam businesses make up five of the 11 breweries featured in the latest self-guided itinerary produced by the BC Ale Trail, a project of Destination British Columbia and the BC Craft Brewers Guild. The North of the Fraser Ale Trail showcases craft breweries in Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam, New Westminster and Burnaby along with nearby restaurants, outdoor activities, accommodations and more at bcaletrail.ca or through the BC Ale Trail app. 

“Being added to the BC Ale Trail is great boost for our growing craft alcohol industry,” Mayor Brad West said. “Port Coquitlam residents have embraced our local craft brewers and distillery, and we’re sure this new broader audience will enjoy them as much as we do. And while they’re here in Port Coquitlam, we encourage them to check out all that our community has to offer.” 

Seven craft alcohol businesses have opened in Port Coquitlam over the past several years, with three located on the south side of Lougheed Highway (Patina Brewing, Taylight Brewing and PoCo Brothers Brewing) and four in the north-side’s Fremont Village area (Northpaw Brewing Co., Tinhouse Brewing, Boardwalk Brewing and Provincial Spirits). 

The City launched Port Coquitlam’s craft liquor industry with bylaw changes in 2016 that permitted liquor manufacturers to set up tasting lounges in industrial areas for the first time. 

In 2018 Council doubled the lounge seating capacity to 50 and relaxed parking limits (providing they didn’t impact neighbours), and in 2020 extended lounge closing times. 

More City assistance came in 2021, including more flexibility for venues to enlarge their patios and shift capacity between indoors and outdoors. Craft alcohol producers also benefited when  Port Coquitlam permanently adopted a pandemic-support program in September allowing businesses to set up patios on public rights-of-way such as streets, sidewalks and parking lots. 

“Our craft alcohol businesses have been a great addition to our community and to our local economy over the past few years,” Mayor West said. “As a City, we’ve been doing what we can to support them with our typical commonsense approach.”

The BC Ale Trail includes 21 self-guided itineraries highlighting more than 180 B.C. craft breweries and the natural landscapes surrounding them. Each itinerary at bcaletrail.ca features video, photos and an interactive map to guide beer lovers to craft breweries as well as nearby pubs, taphouses, restaurants, cafes, liquor stores, outdoor activities, sightseeing, accommodations and more. Those with the free mobile app can collect points at stops to redeem for a reward at participating locations.

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MEDIA CONTACTS

Ximena Ibacache
Manager of Communications & Administrative Services
City of Port Coquitlam
Tel 604.927.5499
Email ibacachex@portcoquitlam.ca