If you love small-batch beer with personality, The Parkside Brewery in Port Moody is worth the trip. For more than a decade they have become known for hop-forward West Coast styles and experimental one-offs, brewing on a modest 1,200 square-foot production and taproom space that keeps things hands-on and local. You’ll notice the difference between mass-market beer and a brew made by people who taste every batch.

On tap you’ll find year-round favourites like Parkside IPA and Coal Harbour Pale Ale alongside rotating releases such as a barrel-aged porter and a fruited sour called Raspberry Lane. They also bottle seasonal limited runs and sell crowlers for take-home. The brewery manages grain-to-glass tracking for each batch, so staff can tell you when a beer was mashed, hopped, and packaged. If you prefer a tour, their weekday behind-the-scenes walk-throughs show the 500-litre fermenters and explain their dry-hopping and yeast management processes.

The Parkside team are neighbourhood people first, brewers second. Owner-brewer Jamie Lee trained at a Vancouver brewing programme and works with two full-time brewers plus rotating apprentices from the local college. Expect friendly, informed conversation at the bar, honest recommendations based on your taste, and tasting flights that move from light to dark so you can compare. They host monthly release nights and taproom sessions where the brewers answer questions and pair fresh cans with simple food from local pop-up kitchens.

Port Moody locals choose The Parkside Brewery because it feels like a community project, not a chain. They support nearby events, stock beer in local restaurants and shops, and donate kegs to charity fundraisers. Drop in after a hike along the Shoreline Trail or call ahead for can availability. Phone: 604-492-2731. Website: http://www.theparksidebrewery.com/