I work in Vancouver most days during the week, and people in the city marvel that I commute “all the way from Squamish” daily. I think they have some vague idea that the trip takes far longer than the less-than-an-hour it takes to go door-to-door from Garibaldi Estates to my office in downtown Vancouver.
But although many Vancouver folks may not know how long it actually takes to get to Squamish… they certainly have heard what our town has to offer.
“Have you been up the Sea to Sky Gondola yet?” I’ve been asked more times than I care to count. Ever since that particular destination/venue opened, I’m constantly describing the gondola’s trails, activities and the whole experience to curious city dwellers. Those who have already taken the trip to Squamish and up to the gondola’s Summit Lodge absolutely adore telling me all about their own hikes or the activities they’ve done, and how much they too “love Squamish.”
But lately, instead of gondola talk around the ol’ watercooler at work in Vancouver, I’ve had a fair number of people who want to chat about beer.
“Have you been to Backcountry Brewing?” they ask, eyes shining with this I-have-a-secret look. “My friend tells me the beer there is superb.”
Of course, craft brews aren’t anything new to Squamish. Howe Sound Brewing has been serving up delicious and flavourful Squamish-brewed beer for a very long time. I’m particularly fond of their lager, actually, and the full pub experience they offer. They also have the full complement of pub grub to go with their brews, plus the occasional band. All-in-all, Howe Sound has been a lively community favourite for years, but it’s almost been like Squamish’s best kept secret. It seemed only locals knew about the Sound’s superior suds.
But now, Squamish has been blessed with two more craft breweries – Backcountry Brewing and A-Frame… and our reputation as a top stop on the BC Ale Trail has now been solidified. Now, people in Vancouver – after learning I live in Squamish – ask me which craft brewery to visit, and which IPA, Pilsner, stout or lager to try.
Around 40 breweries will come to town for the Squamish Beer Festival this weekend. It’s an event that gets bigger and more widely known every year. And on weekends, you’ll find all three breweries jam-packed with folks immersing themselves in our new craft beer culture.
So, the next time you’re in the city chatting with friends, make sure to mention the new reason to visit Squamish… and try to convince them it’s really not that far a drive to get here.
