Canada is home to a vibrant craft beer scene. On Oct 17 British Columbia celebrated its best and we’ve got all the big winners for you…

This year’s competition included more than 883 beers from across the province. Awards were given to the top three beers in 30 style categories, and a number of special awards were also distributed.

Langly, BC’s Camp Beer Co. took top honors being named Brewery of Year and Smithers Brewing won Best in Show for its Smithersbräu Festbier.

Paul Hadfield, who co-founded  Spinnakers Brewpub in Victoria received the Legend Award, and Shirley, BC-based Checkerhead Brewing was named Rookie of the Year.

And now (drum roll please) ALL of this year’s big winners…

The 2025 British Columbia Beer Award Winners

International Lager (40 entries)

• Gold: Tin Whistle Brewing – Black Widow
• Silver: Yellow Dog Brewing – El Perro Cerveza Clara
• Bronze: Hoyne Brewing – Por Favor Cerveza

Pale Malty European Lager (20)

• G: Smithers Brewing – Smithersbräu Festbier
• S: Bomber Brewing – Oktoberfest Munich Lager
• B: Trading Post Brewing – Helles Lager

Pale Bitter European Beer (22)

• G: Hoyne Brewing – North Star Light Lager
• S: The Beer Farmers – Kolsch
• B: Slackwater Brewing – Headwaters Pilsner

Czech Lager (31)

• G: Four Winds Beach House – Antithesis 13°
• S: Gladstone Brewing – Gladstone Pilsner
• B: Kelowna Beer Institute – Pilsner

German PIls (37)

• G: Parallel 49 Brewing – Bierfest German Pilsner
• S: Four Winds Brewing – Huftgold Pilsner
• B: Slow Hand Beer – Mediterranean Pilsner

American Light Lager (22)

• G: Red Truck Brewing – Red Truck Lite Lager
• S: Camp Beer – Camp Light
• B: Neighbourhood Brewing – Amigos Crisp Lager

German Wheat Beer (14)

• G: Brassneck Brewery – Umlaut
• S: Shaketown Brewing – Banana Brown
• B: Mariner Brewing – Hefeweizen

Amber and Dark British Beer (33)

• G: Mountainview Brewing – Serpent’s Back Caribbean Stout
• S: Camp Beer – S’mores Milk Stout
• B: Whitetooth Brewing – Dogtooth Rover Red

Amber and Dark European Beer (28)

• G: Sherwood Mountain Brew House – Munich Lager
• S: Vancouver Island Brewing – Hermann’s Dark Lager
• B: Mile Zero Brewing – Porter

Pale Commonwealth Beer (23)

• G: Off The Rail Brewing – Kama Citra
• S: Russell Brewing – A Wee Scotch Ale
• B: Copper Brewing – House IPA

American Pale Ale (65)

• G: Vancouver Island Brewing – Mystic Haze Pale Ale
• S: Beach Fire Brewing – High Tide Pale
• B: Wildeye Brewing – Ramble On Pale Ale

American IPA (62)

• G: Smithers Brewing – Hipster Fuel IPA
• S: Mount Arrowsmith Brewing – Jagged Face IPA
• B: Steel & Oak Brewing – The Breaks

Hazy IPA (80)

• G: Fern + Cedar Brewing – Organized Chaos
• S: Boombox Brewing – Juicy AF
• B: Fern + Cedar Brewing – Stick Together NEIPA

Specialty IPA (35)

• G: Beere Brewing – Okay, Bye
• S: Driftwood Brewing – Naughty Hildegard
• B: Beach Fire Brewing – White IPA

Standard American Beer (38)

• G: Slackwater Brewing – Lo-Tide Light Lager
• S: Dageraad Brewing – Dart Lager
• B: Tin Whistle Brewing – Coyote Lager

Strong American Ale (14)

• G: Beva Brewing & Blending – Triple Denim
• S: Camp Beer – Merchants Of Barley
• B: Streetcar Brewing – Double West Coast IPA

American Amber and Brown Beer (21)

• G: Deadfall Brewing – Basal Brown Ale
• S: Gladstone Brewing – Gladstone Red Ale
• B: Bayview Brewing – Cowichan Valley Common

American Porter and Stout (9)

• G: Camp Beer – Barrel-Aged Flannel Pyjamas 2025
• S: Herald Street Brew Works – Archfiend
• B: Abandoned Rail Brewing – Bellhop Porter

Specialty and Historical Beer (17)

• G: Tin Whistle Brewing – Cherry Blossom Japanese Lager
• S: Brassneck Brewery – No Brainer
• B: Smithers Brewing – Let’s Get Ready To Crumble

Mixed Style Beer (24)

• G: Superflux Beer – FOM
• S: Patina Brewing – Italian Pilsner
• B: Tin Whistle Brewing – Real Good Light Beer

Alternative Fermentables Beer (6)

• G: Abandoned Rail Brewing – Gluten Schmuten Gluten-Free Citrus Pale Ale
• S: Camp Beer – Tequila Sunrise
• B: Whistler Brewing – Whistler Forager Grapefruit Ale

Non Alcoholic (20)

• G: Steamworks Brewing – Non-Alcohol Lions Gate Lager
• S: Strange Fellows Brewing – Nevertheless IPA
• B: Central City Brewing – Street Legal Pilsner

Specialty and Spice/Fruit Beer (45)

• G: Twin City Brewing – Vanishing Act
• S: Land & Sea Brewing – Sunset Gose
• B: The Office Brewery – Circle Back Raspberry Porter

Fruit Beer (53)

• G: Phillips Brewing – Dinosaur Dragonfruit Lychee
• S: Deadfall Brewing – Cherry Porter
• B: Phillips Brewing – Dinosaur Passionfruit Orange Guava

Spiced Beer (34)

• G: Category 12 Brewing – Spruce Tip IPA
• S: Tin Whistle Brewing – Glorious Hazelnut Coffee Milk Stout
• B: Phillips Brewing – Crooked Tooth Nitro

Wood Beer (6)

• G: Mountainview Brewing – Barrel-Aged Serpent’s Back
• S: The Path Brewery – 1879: The Patch Pilsner
• B: Rustic Reel Brewing – Barrel-Aged Whiskey Stout

Belgian Ale (21)

• G: Dageraad Brewing – Field Theory
• S: Driftwood Brewing – White Bark
• B: R&B Brewing – Picnic Table Beer

Belgian Strong Ale (15)

• G: Dageraad Brewing – Blonde
• S: KPU Brewing – Dubbel Date
• B: Dageraad Brewing – Antigoon

European Sour Ale (13)

• G: Copper Brewing – Oud Bruin
• S: 33 Acres – Mezcal Lime Gose
• B: Ile Sauvage Brewing – Pinot Sour

American Wild Ale (35)

• G: Whistle Buoy Brewing – Fuzzy Peach
• S: Beva Brewing & Blending – Sprezza
• B: Sooke Brewing – Saison Brett

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Congratulations to all of this year’s big winners…Live long and prosper!