Comox Valley Breweries and Pubs With Food

Comox Valley breweries are a young scene with a short, good history, centred on Courtenay, Cumberland and Comox. Regional beer writers say Cumberland Brewing Company was the first craft brewery in the valley, and Gladstone Brewing has a tasting room in Courtenay. Start with lunch, taste at two or three places and end with a walk.

Rate the plate and the pint separately, in your own words. Look for a place with a fireplace, a short menu and a local crowd for a quiet evening, and plan a driver or a ride.

What are Comox Valley breweries like?

Small, friendly and local. Most are taprooms with a handful of taps and a snack menu, and some have kitchens. The beers range from pale ales and lagers to stouts and seasonals. Staff are often the brewers. Expect a relaxed room, a patio if you are lucky and dogs under tables.

Which was the first craft brewery in the valley?

Cumberland Brewing Company, according to craft beer writers and the BC Ale Trail. It opened in the village, with a rival in Courtenay finishing a close second. It has kept a modest profile, selling mostly in the valley and by growler fill. A visit means a trip to Cumberland, which suits a half day. The Cumberland guide lists what else to eat.

What does Gladstone Brewing offer in Courtenay?

A tasting room in the city with a rotating list of beers, according to island tourism listings and local news. It is a few minutes from downtown, and within walking distance of another brewery, so a pair of stops is easy. Check what is on tap and whether food is served. Ask about the seasonal beers.

What are Courtenay pubs like?

Casual and varied. Hotel pubs, neighbourhood locals and sports bars serve burgers, wings, fish and chips and pizza, and some have patios. A Courtenay pub is the right place for a loud night or a quiet pint. The downtown guide describes the streets where they cluster.

What is Comox Valley craft beer food?

Pub food with attitude. Taprooms offer pretzels, nachos, burgers and pizzas, and food trucks often park outside. Brewpubs may cook with the beer. Ask what pairs with what is on tap. The best pairing is the one you enjoy, so taste and decide. Vegetarian choices usually include a bean burger or a salad.

What is Comox pub food like?

In Comox, a few waterfront pubs and bistros serve seafood, burgers and salads with views of the harbour. Fish and chips is the staple. A pub in a coastal town should serve fresh fish, and a good one will say where it came from. The oyster guide shows what else the area has to eat.

How do you plan a taproom day?

Start with lunch, taste at two or three places and end with a walk or a nap. Share a flight, drink water and leave the car. A designated driver, a taxi or a shuttle keeps the day safe. The valley's breweries are spread across three communities, so plan the order.

How do you rate the plate and the pint?

Separately, in your words. "The pretzel and a pale ale, a Thursday at four, soft pretzel, sharp mustard, clean beer" tells a stranger what to expect. Add Taproom or Brewpub, Dog-Friendly or Group Dining tags where they fit. Tags are notes from raters, and a rating that names the dish is more useful than a score alone.

How can friends join in?

Open the Mosey app, rate each stop and save it in a list called Comox Valley taps. Invite friends through a link, and tag the people you tasted with, who can add their own rating of the same flight. On the map, Friends' picks shows places the people you follow rated or saved.

What about a pub for a quiet evening?

Look for a place with a fireplace, a short menu and a local crowd. Weeknights are best, when the kitchen has time and the server can explain the beer list. A pub in Comox or Courtenay with a view of the water or the street suits a long dinner. Order the special, ask what is on tap and settle in. Rate the room as well as the plate.

What are the small details worth noting?

The flavour of the seasonal pour, the quality of the pretzel, the dog asleep under the next table, the shelf of board games by the window. Taprooms live on detail, and a rating that mentions one helps a stranger picture the room. Write what you noticed, in your own words, and keep it kind.

Can I do it by bike? Parts of the valley are bikeable, but plan carefully with alcohol.

Are taprooms for children? Some welcome families at certain hours. Ask.

For the winter side of the valley, read the Mount Washington food guide, and for the province start at the Food in British Columbia page. Other provinces are in the Canadian food guides.

After the last pour, grab the Mosey app, rate the plate that went with it and share the list with whoever drove.