January 14, 2021, Prince George BC -Kiwanis AleFest invites you to celebrate their annual festival at home, with an exclusive Kiwanis AleFest 8-pack featuring brews you’ve never had before.
The Kiwanis AleFest typically takes place in Prince George in January each year and has grown to be one of B.C.’s most highly anticipated beer events each year. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of AleFest 2021, so organizers decided to bring the festival to the living room of B.C. beer lovers while trying to raise additional funds to support kids who need it the most.
AleFest organizers asked nine breweries from all across Northern British Columbia to produce a unique beer for inclusion in the 8-pack of cans. These limited-edition, never-before-canned beers will be available for sale at breweries and liquor stores throughout Northern BC and interior BC on Friday, January 29, 2021.
The BC Ale Trail’s Virtual Hoppy Hour on @BCAleTrail on Instagram will showcase the beers on Thursday, January 28 at 6:00 pm, followed by a Virtual Tasting of all eight brews on Friday, January 29 at 7:00 pm. The virtual tasting will be co-hosted by Aaron Johnson, the Cascadian Beer Podcaster, and Joe Wiebe, the Thirsty Writer and Content Manager for the BC Ale Trail.
The 8-pack includes one beer each from the following breweries (listed in geographical order from west to east):
- Wheelhouse Brewing (Prince Rupert)
- Sherwood Mountain Brewhouse (Terrace)
- Smithers Brewing (Smithers)
- Trench Brewing & Distilling (Prince George)
- CrossRoads Brewing & Distillery (Prince George)
- Barkerville Brewing (Quesnel)
- Three Ranges Brewing (Valemount)
- Mighty Peace Brewing (Fort St John) in collaboration with Iron Road Brewing (Kamloops) and Smithers Brewing (Smithers)
Founded in 2015, the Kiwanis AleFest is a volunteer-run fundraiser organized by Kiwanis Prince George as an annual signature event to support local children charities and Ronald McDonald House.
“It was apparent by spring 2020 that we were not going to be able to host Kiwanis Alefest in 2021,” said AleFest organizer Jamie Cunningham. “However, we felt collectively that if there was a time that the breweries needed a little extra attention and people needed a little bit more happiness, it was this year. This project has been so much fun to plan, and the cherry on the top is that all the proceeds go to the Ronald McDonald House BC and Yukon, and charities that support kids and families in the North.”
“Wheelhouse Brewing has participated in the Kiwanis Ale Fest every year since it started in 2015,” said Craig Outhet, co-owner, and brewmaster at Wheelhouse Brewing in Prince Rupert. “It’s an oasis for craft breweries and craft beer lovers in January. In one of the slowest times of the year, it provides an economic and social shot-in-the-arm for participating breweries. Wheelhouse Brewing is happy to give back and support the Prince George Kiwanis charity by participating in the 8 pack!”
“All of the breweries on the Northern BC Ale Trail share a bond because of geography,” said Monica Frost, BC Ale Trail Project Lead. “The Kiwanis AleFest 8-pack showcases their spirit of generosity, partnership, and innovation while they are already dealing with pandemic-related challenges to their businesses.”
