Welcome to Atlantic Canada’s Craft Brewing Captial! Sip your way through taprooms and try new craft alcohol producers across the Region, where you’ll find award-winning craft beer and alcohol producers who feature a unique selection of flavours. With over 25 producers, the Fredericton Capital Region has the highest concentration of craft alcohol producers in Atlantic Canada, meaning you’re sure to find your new favourite! With so much to discover, let’s dive into some of what makes the Fredericton Captial Region the perfect destination for craft alcohol enthusiasts!
Fredericton Taproom Trail
The first of its kind in the province, the #FredTapTrail entails a passport-style map that allows craft beer, cider, and libation fans to choose their own taproom adventure. Every time you grab a pint or flight at one of the local taprooms, you will receive a stamp, enabling you to collect exclusive #FredTapTrail swag. Eight stamps will get you a #FredTapTrail t-shirt, and crafty connoisseurs who collect stamps from all participating partners will be entered into the grand prize draw: a Fredericton Capital Region-craftcation! Check out our blog for all the details and get your #FredTapTrail map here, or grab one at participating taprooms or the Visitor Information Centre
Regional Craft Beer and Cider
On top of the Taproom Trail, there are a number of other craft beer and cider producers in the Fredericton Capital Region where you can keep the adventure going! Take a day trip to any of these breweries to sample delicious craft beer and cider and explore new parts of the Capital Region!
Off Grid Ales
Located in Magaguadavic, NB, Off Grid Ales is New Brunswick’s first off-grid microbrewery, crafting premium ales using only solar energy since 2016. Take a trip to the OG Brewtique and get a taste of some delicious locally crafted English ales! Make a weekend out of it! Off Grid Ales is also home to ‘OG Domes’ – four luxury geodesic dome suites located just 15 minutes from the brewery!
Off Grid Ales
Big Axe Brewery
Beginning as a Bed & Breakfast before expanding into a brewery, Big Axe Brewery now boasts a tasting room with a rustic atmosphere that overlooks the Wolastoq (Saint John River). The tasting room offers six taps of their own craft beer as well as mead and cider from other local producers. Big Axe produces a variety of different styles including stout, IPA, porter, Belgian-style witbier, sours, and blonde. They are also known as one of the more creative brewers in the area and often add locally-sourced and wild-foraged ingredients to their beer, creating seasonal mushroom, sap, and berry beers. In addition, you can find maple syrup, mead, and local leather crafts for sale at the Big Axe tasting room.
Big Axe Brewery
Gagetown Distilling & Cidery
Gagetown Distilling & Cidery started as a fruit farm, before learning distilling as a way to reduce fruit waste. Set in the picturesque Village of Gagetown, they share their love of apples by inventing new flavour combinations, such as apple brandy, gin, and moonshine, and perfecting old favourites to enjoy year-round. Whether you’re cooling down with an iced cider on a hot summer day or warming up with a creamy Apple Brandy hot chocolate on a brisk winter day, Gagetown Distilling and Cidery provides refreshing spirits and ciders for all Canadian seasons. Visit their store to sample their ciders and purchase your favourite!
Gagetown Distilling & CideryFestivals & Events
The Fredericton Capital Region hosts numerous craft beer and alcohol events throughout the year showcasing local, provincial, and national brewers and distillers! Check out one, or all, of these unique festivals to sample sips from around the province and country, while listening to live music, and indulging in some delicious local eats!
Fredericton Craft Beer Festival
Launched in 2013, the Fredericton Craft Beer Festival quickly became one of the fastest-growing festivals in New Brunswick. Promoting unique brews and diverse flavours, FCBF brings together the largest selection of local beer available on the East Coast every March in the Fredericton Convention Centre.
Fredericton Craft Beer Festival
Beer on the Bridge
What’s more Fredericton than the Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge? Celebrate summer in the Fredericton Capital Region with Beer on the Bridge, July 5. This truly unique event takes place directly on the iconic Fredericton landmark, offering a breath-taking view of the Wolastoq (Saint John River). Spend an evening on the bridge sipping various beers and ciders, all in support of the Rotary Club of Fredericton.
Beer on the Bridge
Big Axe Craft Beer Fest
Escape to Nackawic for the Big Axe Craft Beer Fest on July 11! Atlantic Canada’s largest outdoor craft beer festival, this event features dozens of craft beer producers from the Maritimes and beyond. Held on the grounds of the World’s Largest Axe, shuttle service is offered from Woodstock, Saint John and Fredericton, and a free water taxi service is provided for patrons staying at any of Nackawic’s waterside campgrounds!
Big Axe Craft Beer Fest
NB Spirit Festival
Canada's oldest whisky and spirits festival is back this November with a full 5-day slate of events, including dinners, master classes, a Friday showcase, the on-site ANBL store and exclusive Saturday master classes - all featuring world-class presenters.
NB Spirit FestivalBeyond the Brews
The Fredericton Capital Region tasting rooms go beyond craft beer. Once you’ve had your fill of hops and barley, mix it up by visiting a local distillery, or cidery.
Big Fiddle Still
Located in Harvey, Big Fiddle Still is a craft distillery that specializes in flavour-infused vodka. Book a tour and get Screamed in to become an Honorary New Brunswicker!
Big Fiddle Still
Black Galley Distilling
A small-batch distillery in Hanwell, Black Galley ferments, distills, bottles, and ages their spirits on-site. Stop in to try their vodka, rum, gin, or whisky!
Black Galley Distilling
First Light Distillery
First Light Distillery is the Fredericton Capital Region’s newest tasting room. With a gorgeous indoor space and two outdoor patios, First Light is a popular venue choice for weddings and private events and is open to the public on a regular basis. First Light Distillery has recently opened The Cove in Downtown Fredericton, a micro distillery with something for everyone- vodka sodas and local craft beer on tap, cocktails, wine, and non-alcoholic options! Inside you can also find Scouts Original Sandwich Shop, where you can order specialty and deli sandwiches and homemade desserts.
First Light DistilleryTours
Experience your favourite local breweries and distilleries in a new way by taking a tour! Picaroons Brewing and Big Fiddle Still each host their own tours. These are a must for brewing and distilling enthusiasts!
Picaroons Brewery Tour & Tasting
Embark on a captivating tour of the historic Picaroons Roundhouse, an iconic establishment that has stood since 1874 as a home for trains, automobiles, and now Picaroons Brewing Company. Learn the history behind it all and the craftsmanship that goes into their beers during this two-hour tour. Finish off the tour with a tasting of four carefully curated craft beers, each with its own unique story. Click here to book!
Picaroons Brewery Tour & Tasting
Big Fiddle Still Screamed In Tour
Tours of this family-run distillery specializing in flavour-infused vodkas include touring the facility, sampling their award-winning vodkas, captivating tales of the history of moonshining and prohibition, and the chance to get Screamed In to become an honorary New Brunswicker!
Big Fiddle Still Screamed In TourSip and Stay!
To fully immerse yourself in the region’s craft alcohol scene, you’re going to need a place to rest and recharge. The Fredericton Capital Region offers dozens of options for accommodations, and many have local brews on tap! The Crowne Plaza’s Joyce Pub offers the largest selection of New Brunswick craft beer and cider in the world. Their 36 taps, paired with their robust food menu, make them an obvious choice to start sampling the tastes of the Fredericton Capital Region’s Craft Brewing scene!
We have small-batch producers in the Fredericton Capital Region who are churning out great products, but don’t have a public tasting room (yet!). You can check out retail outlets for local producers such as Red Rover Cidery, Sunset Heights Meadery, and Devil’s Keep Distillery.
As you can see, there is lots brewing in the Fredericton Capital Region! We look forward to seeing you in Atlantic Canada’s Craft Brewing Capital and can’t wait to hear about your new favourite brews!
Please remember to enjoy your drinks responsibly.