Beer & Culinary: Tall Sails & Ales in the Gulf Islands, B.C.
Beer aficionados and cultural travelers note: B.C.'s foremost brewing historian leads a five-day gourmet beer tour of B.C. craft breweries and islands by sail.
For a twist on the typical beer tour, join B.C.'s Tall Sails & Ales Cruise and discover the rich flavors and colorful history of the province's micro-brewing industry.
Arguably as diverse as wine in their flavors, the 50 fine beers included on this tasting tour introduce you to the range of options, from the crisp, cold Swans' Arctic Ale to the chocolate creaminess of Gulf Islands Brewery's Saturna Island Extra Stout.
Add to that the guidance of B.C. brewing experts, succulent food prepared to match the brews, and the spectacular beauty of sailing the Gulf Islands and you've got a world-class tour.
There is plenty to satisfy the educated beer aficionado as well as the traveler interested in local culture and nature.
On this five or six-night cruise under the sails of the historic tall ship Maple Leaf, you will sample the best micro-brews of B.C. and visit breweries that range in size from a luxe brewpub to a bucolic Gulf Islands brewery housed, suitably, in a barn-like building.
You'll sample the local cuisine (some infused with beer flavor) prepared by the onboard chef. (Samples include cheddar and ale soup, cream ale apple fritters, Salt Spring Island lamb, and stout brownies.) And you'll learn about the islands' history and do some wildlife viewing.
Highlights include:
Special tasting tours with brew masters, not available to the general public.
A full range of flavors through sampling 50 B.C. micro-brews, many of them award-winning.
Chef-cooked meals of local cuisine matched to the brews.
Conversations over a beer with historian and guide Greg Evans, about brew types, brewing history, pairing food and beers, the "unbuttoned" social history of drinking on Vancouver Island, local prohibition lore, and more.
Experiencing the natural beauty of the islands, with visits to spring wildflower meadows, shell beaches, and rainforests.
Visiting wildlife hot spots most people can't access, including places popular with porpoises, sea lions and seabirds.
Local history and nature talks by experts.
Sailing the 92-foot tall ship Maple Leaf in the Gulf Islands.
Personalized service and camaraderie with a small group of guests.
An extensive resource booklet crammed with tasting notes, historical anecdotes, collectibles and more.
Cruise Details
Duration
6 Days/5 Nights
Location
Gulf Islands, B.C.
Season
October
Cruise Type
Overnight
Nearest City
Victoria/Vancouver
Physical Condition Required
Fair
Destination(s)
British Columbia, Canada
Guest Capacity
8
About the Crew
In addition to expert professional crew and chef, your guides include:
Greg Evans, Brewing Historian
Historian, museum director, beer consultant and raconteur, Greg Evans is known in many circles as a man who knows a lot and makes it fun to learn from. He is an active member of the Victoria chapter of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and the executive director of the Maritime Museum of British Columbia. He has previously been director of the Vancouver Maritime Museum and the B.C. Museums Association, president of the Heritage Council for B.C. and a member of many boards and cultural organizations.
His master’s thesis is on the Vancouver Island brewing industry from 1858-1917. His extensive knowledge is enhanced by a quick wit, as evidenced in the names of some of his lectures, including Maple Leaf’s favorite, Hic Hic Hooray: How Canadians Kept Americans Wet During Prohibition.
Capt. Kevin Smith, Captain and Naturalist
Kevin Smith was piloting boats at an age when most hadn't learned to ride a bike. He grew up in the Gulf Islands and has owned and captained Maple Leaf since 2001. His experience includes a decade as backcountry park ranger, marine park ranger, coast guard auxiliary trainer and outdoor program instructor. He is a graduate of Brentwood College and the University of Victoria, where he specialized in Geography.
In Maple Leaf Adventures, Kevin has combined his love of boats and the coast with his belief in responsible, locally-based tourism. Kevin also teaches the natural history aspects of this tour.
Other Experts
You will also be joined by leading experts in the B.C. micro-brewing industry, from pioneering brewpub founders to the brew masters themselves.
Dining
Three wilderness gourmet meals per day are served by the ship's private chef, along with two gourmet snacks. Some meals on this trip will be sumptuous tasting dinners led by brewmasters at local establishments. The chef can accommodate most dietary requirements, with notice.
Activities
Beer tasting, beer/food pairing meals, educational sessions with leading brewmasters and expert historian, and tours of breweries of all sizes. Cruising, sailing, wildlife viewing, forest and meadow walks with naturalist. Zodiac explorations, beachcombing, natural history, and kayaking (optional).
Plus, if you want, you can help raise sails and steer the ship.
What's on Board
The 92-foot, classic schooner Maple Leaf is a fully equipped expedition ship, custom designed for upscale adventure tourism.
In addition to all the comforts of a wilderness passenger carrying vessel (Maple Leaf is NOT a cruise ship!), she has an extensive natural and cultural history library and a library of field guides.
We have a good supply of binoculars to loan (although we suggest you may want your own pair along).
We have two stable kayaks should you wish to go for a quite paddle in our remote anchorages.
What to Bring
You'll be sent a comprehensive "Welcome Aboard" package upon booking that will include a packing list. Generally, you'll want to bring a camera and LOTS of memory cards or film, binoculars, a book or two, swimsuit, and clothing layers suitable for boating and walking on land.
Rates
$1,850.00per personCurrency Converter (Rates shown are in US Dollars. Rates and terms are subject to change.)
Additional Rate Info
Trip price is set in Canadian dollars, so US dollar price depends upon the day's exchange rate. Taxes extra.
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