Local Craft Beer

Not only is Parksville Qualicum Beach home to four craft breweries, but it's also only minutes from thirteen more in the neighbouring communities of Courtenay, Cumberland, Nanaimo, and Port Alberni.

Parksville's home for craft brewing is the Mount Arrowsmith Brewing Company. Mount Arrowsmith Brewing features a tasting room and three patio options. Mount Arrowsmith Brewing won "Brewery of the Year" at the 2017 BC Beer Awards, a Gold at the World Beer Awards for their Blonde Ale and Sprut ale, and numerous BC Beer Awards since opening in 2017.

Mount Arrowsmith Brewing is also famous for its Arrowsmith Pizzeria. Sit down, grab a beer, and enjoy some delicious pizzas and hearty salads either in the tasting room, patio, covered tent, or picnic tables.

LoveShack Libations is a nano-brewery in Qualicum Beach. Founded by Dave Paul who moved from Whistler to Qualicum Beach in 2005, LoveShack Libations was inspired when Dave lived in a tent for six weeks while he built a 12' x 16' shack - The Love Shack. It was there that he experienced the abundance of love that can flourish in such small spaces and developed the art of brewing beer. LoveShack Libations has opened a tasting room where he sells and serves small-batch, hand-bottled, bottle-conditioned beer, crafted with love. His four staple beers will be available alongside other seasonal batches. LoveShack Libations won a Bronze at the 2018 BC Beer Awards for its Post Ride Pilsner.

The newest additions to the PQB craft beer scene are Fern + Cedar Brewing Company and Rusted Rake Brewing. Fern + Cedar is a West-Coast Gastropub with a food menu that compliments an ever rotating selection of quality craft beer in Qualicum Beach. Fern + Cedar is true to its surroundings with a fresh look and feel and a local, inclusive food menu. Its beautiful sunny patio, open air interior, and pedestrian access is unrivaled in downtown Qualicum Beach.

Rusted Rake is a new farm-to-tap craft brewery & gourmet eatery in Nanoose Bay where the vibes run high and the beer runs cold. The Rake is a good-for-the-soul kind of place, and at the heart of it all is their beautiful farm. They grow the barley for their delicious beer where they dream up and create their gourmet local fare.

Plan the rest of your Vancouver Island breweries tour with the help of the BC Ale Trail.