WHAT WE LOVE NOW

Lovingly called “The Fitz,” this pub is a cozy spot where locals, beer nerds and couch potatoes converge. Decked out with comfy sofas, communal board games and a new patio, this is the perfect place to sip a craft beer, fresh-pressed cider, or Insta-worthy cocktail. When you enter, look straight ahead at the colourful chalkboard that lists what’s currently on tap. If you don’t know your Fuggles from your Warlocks, Daydreamer IPA from your Magic Lake Porter, ask for a sample of whatever looks good or opt for a taster tray. The team here is passionate about beer and the eight rotating taps highlight local brewers and festival award-winners that they’re eager to tell you about. With the summer sun in full force, the après hike/bike fruity options like the Fuggles and Warlock Strawberry Wit, Steel and Oak Roselle and Coast Mountain Brewing Juice Box Wit are popular choices. They also have 10+ ciders including their favourites the Nomad Pinot Noir Barrel Aged Cider and Salt Spring Island Bitter Orange & Rosemary Apple Cider, a Sangria that comes packed full of fresh fruits from the local Farmers’ Market, and a Caesar that satisfies that afteraction salt craving with a huge slab of beef jerky. Open daily from 2 p.m., this locals’ favourite gets busy, especially if there’s a tap takeover, quiz night, or a regular is celebrating a birthday. Be prepared to try something new, share a table, and join an impromptu game of Scrabble.