The 2019 Whistler Village Beer Festival is happening from September 9-15 in beautiful Whistler, B.C. This fantastic festival of craft beer features two days of tasting events in Whistler Olympic Plaza and an array of beer-infused events including Axes & Ales, Craft Cultures, Sip N’ Stretch, Master Crafters, Tap Takeovers and of course live music at the main event! What a week we have in store for you!
If you are planning on heading to the festival for the good times and the huge variety of craft brews – we’re talking over 60 breweries worth by the way – you should also check out some of the other activities, both beer and non-beer related. Work up a thirst with some hiking or mountain biking then indulge guilt-free! You know that whole earning your apres concept that we as mountain folk love so much, but hey, they are no judgments here if you operate on a beer festival only program, wink-wink.
Best Non-Drinking Whistler Village Beer Festival Activities Outside the Fest
First things first, here’s what to do when you’re not wrapped up in the festivities! If you’re only interested in what’s happening on a beer front, keep scrolling, you’ll find what you’re after. From scenic views to gnarly trails, there’s plenty of ways to earn your après and weekend of beer appreciation! Here’s the list of our favorite non-beer activities.
Peak to Peak Gondola
The Guinness World Record-breaking PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola runs from the alpine areas of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. This 4.4 kilometer ride takes you 436m/1,427ft above the valley floor, making it the highest in the world! 50 kilometers of hiking and walking trails await as well as incredible alpine views, custom guided tours, and viewpoints in every direction. We recommend a great half-day hike to Blackcomb Lake on the Lakeside Loop Hiking Trail; the vistas won’t disappoint! Rest your legs and hoist a cold one at the Roundhouse afterward.
Mountain Biking
The Whistler Mountain Bike Park is considered the number one lift-accessed downhill bike park in the world. It contains more terrain than any other bike park in North America with 4,900 vertical feet of lift-serviced descending trails. The Bike Park features four distinct zones with over 80 km of trail for you to explore. If cruising is more your speed, explore the Valley Tail System, with miles of smooth, paved trails that run around Whistler by multiple lakes with beautiful vistas. Bicycle and E-bike rentals can be found at shops throughout the village. After a hard day of shredding the park or cruising the Valley Trail, kick it on the Longhorn patio with one of their famous Gibbons Après Lager! Not sure what you’ll need to hit up the trails? Check out our essential mountain biking gear list.
Biking in the valley or on the mountain peaks, Whistler has plenty of options to earn your apres via bike. Photo by Abby Cooper.
Golfing
Beer enthusiasts who enjoy swinging on the green are in luck because not only is Whistler is Canada’s premium golfing destination but the Whistler Village Beer Festival has a golf-specific event this year, check out Beer and Balls. With three beautiful courses for golfers; the Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club, Nicklaus North Golf Course, and the Whistler Golf Club, a short drive north of to Pemberton will also take you to two more great courses; the Big Sky Golf Club, and The Meadows at Pemberton Golf Course. All of the courses offer world-class golfing in some of the most stunning surroundings on the planet. Even better still, Nicklaus North is one of the best locations for brunch in Whistler – brunch, golf, beer. Sounds like a winning combination of Whistler Village Beer Festival activities to us!
Get out and enjoy one of Whistler’s many spectacular Golf Courses.
Audain Art Museum
The Audain Art Museum is a 55,230-square-foot museum with one of the most unique collections of British Columbia art. Located in Whistler Village, the museum has one of the world’s finest collections of original First Nations masks and an exceptional collection of Emily Carr paintings. It also features works by some great Canadian artists including Jack Shadbolt, E.J. Hughes, and Gordon Smith. A great cultural (and indoor) activity in case the weather changes.
Scandinave Spa
Scandinave Spa is the perfect destination to relax in quiet, natural surroundings. Rejuvenate after a tough day of tastings at this sprawling outdoor spa just minutes from Whistler Village. Enveloped by peaceful forest on the edge of Lost Lake Park, this Nordic-inspired spa offers hot baths, a wood-burning Finnish Sauna, a eucalyptus steam room, refreshing waterfalls, and cold plunges.
Soak in the views at Scandinave Spa
Best Whistler Village Beer Festival Activities that Involve Some Drinking
Happy 7th anniversary to the Whistler Village Beer Festival! We’re thrilled to be celebrating all week long, 7 days for 7 years! Here are the highlights and the schedule is available online so you don’t miss a thing. Happy beer festing friends!
Axes and Ales
Whistler Village Beer Festival is partnering with Forged Axe Throwing for the popular by demand, Axels and Ales event! Don your best plaid and start by hurling axes at targets at their venue in Function Junction followed by beers at Coast Mountain Brewing and food and more beers at Whistler Brewing Co. It doesn’t get more Canadian than this! Mark your calendars for 2-7pm on September 9th to get in on the axe action.
Tour the local breweries and see how the process works.
Cask Nights and Tap Takeovers
Just in case you’re worried about not getting to try enough beer, there are a few special events taking place at venues throughout Whistler Village. First up is on Sept 11th from 5-11pm at Fitz pub, Backcountry Brewing will be taking over the place and your taste buds! On the 12th the “Pod Pack” aka Vancouver Island brewing will be sharing its magic at Blacks Pub from 5pm-10pm and a Sea-to-Sky tap takeover happening at Stonesedge Kitchen from 6pm-11pm. Triple up? Yes, it’s possible! Cask Que C’est will take place at Brewhouse from 7 pm – 11:45 pm. On Sept 13th there is another triple up opportunity to hit tap takeovers at Brickworks, Beacon Pub, and Fitz pub. Last chance for a tap takeover is on the 14th at Hunter Gather. Enjoy a “Rare Beer Take Over” from 5:30 pm – 10:30 pm at Hunder Gather. Check out the WVBF schedule to keep all of these awesome events straight, because there’s a lot to not miss out on.
Nightlife
If you want to carry on your Whistler Village Beer Festival activities into the night, then the village is full of opportunities for a great time when the sun goes down. There is a wide range of restaurants, bars, and clubs which offer everything from chill relaxed lounges to full-on dance parties. Bar Hop Whistler offers a guided tour that takes you to four iconic Whistler venues, along with five drinks of your choice, food, and good times.
Keep the good times rolling. Extend the party by hitting up the Bar Hop Whistler.
Craft Cultures
Join us at the stunning Audain Art Museum for a swanky evening complete with mouth-watering bites and brews, live music and entertainment. The evening will flow through the venue in stages, celebrating the themes of sea, land, and sky, with the décor and food offerings following suit. Your ticket includes passed appies plus a few varieties of beer and cider served throughout the evening.
Sip N’ Stretch
Beer: good. Yoga: good. Beer yoga: Great! Come check out this amazing event and sip on suds during an hour-long beer yoga session taught by Connor Eccles, from Lululemon. This event includes a complimentary beer, provided by Gibbons Après Lager, during your practice plus entry for your chance to win prizes, including Lululemon gear and tickets to Whistler Village Beer Festival. Registration is by donation and the suggested amount is $10. All donations will go towards BC Children’s Hospital.
Happy times ahead at the 2019 Whistler Village Beer Festival. Photo by Abby Cooper.
Master Crafters
Master Crafters, presented by Grimm’s Fine Foods, will be returning for WVBF 2019 and this year the future is looking hazy. Choice breweries will bring their best hazy brew to this blind taste test competition, where all the fancy branding will be stripped away. Equipped with only tasting notes, alcohol percentage and IBU, attendees are encouraged to try a sample (or two, or three) of each unidentified hazy beer throughout the evening before casting their vote for their favorite. At the end of the night, we unveil each brew and crown the winner. DJ Stache will be playing the platters at this cannot-miss event. Ticket includes 8 x 4oz. samples.
Main Event
Bring your dancing pants, it’s going to be one awesome show all weekend long! Photo by Abby Cooper.
