The good, the less good, and the delicious of the Chilliwack craft beer scene
During the pandemic I moved from Abbotsford to Chilliwack. It wasn’t the vibrant city life that drew me here, but rather the location of my parents’ basement. Though I wasn’t initially jumping for joy at what Chilliwack had to offer, my opinion changed rather quickly when I checked out the craft beer scene here.
Currently Chilliwack has four craft breweries that are all great options to hit for a beer and a snack. But here’s more of the nitty gritty.
Keep in mind, I am no beer expert. I’ve frequented many local breweries in my adulthood and just genuinely care about craft beer, breweries, and all the joy that comes with them. Please don’t take my words as the final call on these breweries; go try them for yourself!
Farmhouse Brewing Co.
This brewery opened during the pandemic, so everything is catered to COVID-19 protocols — always a good sign. This entire property is massive: there are large wooden tables scattered throughout, the tasting room delightfully merges into an outdoor area for sunny days, plus there’s ample parking. Their five core brews were all tasty but didn’t have very many distinctive features between them, leaving me feeling a bit disappointed and craving something punchier. Their rotating taps are more diverse with sours and more IPAs. Since it’s still a new brewery, they have room to improve their brews because right now the brewery’s star is their pizza. The menu offers eight different types of pizza, all made with fermented dough and quality ingredients cooked in a wood-fired oven. The pizzas were delicious and cooked perfectly. One downside to visiting here is that you have to go up to the counter to order. I normally wouldn’t have a problem with this, but last time I visited it seemed like the crew behind the bar didn’t have an efficient system in place, resulting in a long customer wait time. Otherwise, bring your pup for a sunny afternoon filled with beer and ‘za.
Other things to note:
- Dog-friendly
- Not taking reservations
- Non-beer options available
- Growler and crowler fills and off sales available
Old Yale Brewing (OYB)
Started in 1999, this is an old brewery compared to the new ones popping up left and right across B.C. OYB did a great job at adapting to pandemic protocol: they moved the majority of their seating outside, creating a massive patio where part of a parking lot used to be, complete with music, tents, and picnic tables. During the colder months they still have an extra room inside for socially distanced seating plus one heated tent outside. This place is best in the summer when you can enjoy all they offer outside and when seating is more abundant.
Their seven core beers are solid; I would consider each of them a winner. (My personal favourite is their Cranberry Mandarin Orange Witbier.) Plus their seasonal rotations are always fun. The brewery recently revamped their Campfire Kitchen where all of the food from cauliflower tacos to pulled pork sandwiches are top notch. This is the most dependable brewery in Chilliwack: the beer selection is quite vast, so there’s always something for everyone, and their food offerings range from snacks to full-on meals, so visiting here any time of day is great.
Other things to note:
- Dog-friendly
- Not taking reservations
- Non-alcoholic options available
- Growler and crowler fills and off sales available
Fieldhouse Brewing
When Fieldhouse opened in 2016 in Abbotsford they really set the bar for what a hip place to hang out should be like: lounge seating, cozy/contemporary aesthetic, and yummy food and drinks. Their new location in Chilliwack boasts those same qualities, sans beer lawn (a magnificent feature at their Abbotsford location). I used to prefer Fieldhouse’s good vibes in their tasting room over their actual beers, but my most recent visit to their Chilliwack location changed that for me. The rotation brews were much better than what I’ve had before at the Abby location — the North German Pilsner and Queen Citra Hazy IPA were my favourites. They also have at-table service, which is easier to navigate and more efficient than the counter service at other breweries. Another plus for the new location is a wood-fired oven for pizza, but unfortunately my pizza came back with a crust that was burnt to a crisp and a super blond bottom. This unfortunate pizza situation showed me that they’re still not sure how to master a pizza in a wood-fired oven, but I hope they do soon. Other than that, this is an easy-going place for an evening beer.
Other things to note:
- Dog-friendly
- Not taking reservations
- Non-beer options available
- Growler and crowler fills and off sales available
Bricklayer Brewing
Bricklayer is a quaint, new brewery that’s landed in downtown Chilliwack. During my most recent visit they only had five house brews on tap plus a few guest ones — my favourite was their Date Dopple Bock. Their beers were nothing to rejoice over but certainly not terrible either, and they’ve done a great job at having a good balance between crushable beers and experimental beers. Now let’s talk food: the pizza was great — basic and hearty — but the pretzels were the real superheroes on the menu. At their Abbotsford location, Fieldhouse serves a fantastic beer pretzel that used to be the best pretzel I’ve ever had, until Bricklayer came along. Bricklayer’s beer pretzel is incredibly soft inside and crunchy and salty on the outside. The tasting room has a funky mid-century vibe, and the bathrooms are super fun. (I heard through a friend that the owner’s children painted the walls!) This brewery is definitely worth a visit.
Other things to note:
- Not taking reservations
- Non-beer options available
- Growler and crowler fills and off sales available
