Ask a Tri-Cities beer fan where to find good craft breweries near Coquitlam and the conversation almost always starts with Mariner Brewing, the taproom that brought craft beer inside Coquitlam’s own city limits back in 2017. It remains the city’s home base for a pint, but the honest picture is that most of the region’s brewery density sits just next door in Port Coquitlam, close enough that a single afternoon can cover several taprooms without much driving at all.
This guide walks through Mariner Brewing in Coquitlam proper, then covers the Port Coquitlam cluster that most locals treat as part of the same night out, including the Fremont Village pocket of breweries built around the Traboulay PoCo Trail. We also cover practical details on getting between them, what to expect at each, and tips for building your own self-guided crawl.
Mariner Brewing: Coquitlam’s Own Taproom
Mariner Brewing, located at H-1100 Lansdowne Drive, was the first craft brewery to open within Coquitlam’s actual city limits, pouring its first pints in the summer of 2017. It was founded by Byron Vallis and Lauren Ang, and the name nods to Mariner Way, the commuter route that runs through the city, along with the founders’ interest in navigation and discovery as a theme for the brand.
The taproom is a genuinely local spot rather than a destination brewpub, with a kitchen serving food to go alongside the beer and a laid back, neighbourhood feel that has made it a regular stop for people who live nearby rather than a special-occasion outing. It set the tone for craft beer in Coquitlam and, years later, remains the city’s main representative in a region otherwise dominated by its Port Coquitlam neighbours.
Because Mariner sits close to Barnet Highway and Lansdowne Drive, it works well as a starting or ending point if you are planning to spend the rest of the day exploring the Port Coquitlam breweries a short drive away.
The Fremont Village Cluster in Port Coquitlam
Cross into Port Coquitlam and the brewery scene changes shape entirely. The Fremont Village neighbourhood, reached from Sherling Place, has become home to a cluster of craft alcohol businesses within easy walking distance of one another, including Side Quest Brewing Co. and Tinhouse Brewing, along with other craft beverage makers that have followed them into the area.
Tinhouse Brewing sits directly on the Traboulay PoCo Trail, the roughly 25 kilometre pathway that loops around Port Coquitlam, close to the protected wetlands along the Pitt River. Side Quest Brewing Co., a few doors down on the same stretch of Sherling Place, opened in the summer of 2018 under the Northpaw Brew Co. name and was rebranded under new ownership in late 2025. It has built a reputation for rotating through a large number of different beers on its taps over the years.
Because the breweries in this pocket are clustered so tightly together, it is realistic to park once and walk between several taprooms in an afternoon, which is part of why the area has become a popular stop on organized and self-guided ale trail visits alike.
Patina Brewing: Beer Meets Southern BBQ
A little further into Port Coquitlam, Patina Brewing Co. Brew House and BBQ at 2332 Marpole Avenue takes a different approach than the Fremont Village taprooms, pairing its house beers with a full Southern BBQ menu rather than a lighter food offering. It has built a following as much for the food as for the beer list, and it makes a good option if you want a sit-down meal to anchor a brewery visit rather than a quick flight of tasters.
The combination of a full kitchen and a dedicated brewing operation gives Patina a different feel from the more compact tasting rooms nearby, closer to a neighbourhood brewpub than a production brewery with a small attached bar. It is worth building extra time into a visit here if you plan to eat as well as drink.
Planning a Self-Guided Crawl
The simplest way to see the most of this scene in one day is to treat Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam as a single loop rather than two separate destinations. Starting at Mariner Brewing keeps things simple if you are coming from central Coquitlam or the Evergreen SkyTrain line, and from there it is a short drive to the Fremont Village cluster, where Side Quest Brewing Co. and Tinhouse Brewing sit close enough together that parking once and walking between them makes sense.
Patina Brewing, being a little further into Port Coquitlam and built around a full BBQ menu, works well as a final stop where you can sit down for a proper meal rather than rushing to fit in one more tasting flight. Because none of these locations are far apart in absolute terms, the whole loop is realistic as a single afternoon or early evening outing, especially if you space out your visits with food and water along the way.
Cyclists and walkers can also connect several of the Port Coquitlam stops using the Traboulay PoCo Trail itself, which passes near the Fremont Village cluster, making a car-free version of the same route possible for anyone comfortable with the distance.
The North of the Fraser Ale Trail
Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam’s breweries are both part of the officially designated North of the Fraser Ale Trail, a self-guided route put together by the BC Ale Trail that also takes in breweries in New Westminster and Burnaby. It is a useful reference point if you want to plan a longer crawl beyond the Tri-Cities, or simply confirm hours and current tap lists before heading out, since those details change more often than any article can track.
If patios and outdoor seating matter to your plans, it is worth checking our guide to Coquitlam’s best patios for sunny days as well, since several breweries in the area offer outdoor seating that is worth timing a visit around in the warmer months. For up to date event listings and any new openings, the City of Coquitlam’s official site and each brewery’s own social channels are the most reliable sources.
Tips for a Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam Brewery Day
Start at Mariner Brewing in Coquitlam if you want to anchor your day in the city itself, then treat the short drive into Port Coquitlam as part of the same outing rather than a separate trip, since the Fremont Village cluster and Patina Brewing are only minutes away.
If you plan to visit more than one taproom, arrange a designated driver, rideshare, or transit in advance, and pace yourself with food between stops, particularly if you are trying flights at more than one location.
Check each brewery’s own website or social media before you go, since taproom hours, seasonal patios, and rotating tap lists all change more often than a general guide can keep current.
Questions Often Asked
Is there a craft brewery actually inside Coquitlam city limits?
Yes. Mariner Brewing, at H-1100 Lansdowne Drive, was the first craft brewery to open within Coquitlam’s own city limits, pouring its first beers in 2017, and it remains the city’s primary taproom.
Why do so many Coquitlam brewery guides mention Port Coquitlam?
Because most of the region’s brewery density sits just across the boundary in neighbouring Port Coquitlam, particularly in the Fremont Village area, and locals typically treat a visit to both cities as part of the same outing rather than two separate trips.
What is the Fremont Village brewery cluster?
Fremont Village is a Port Coquitlam neighbourhood reached from Sherling Place that has become home to several craft alcohol businesses within walking distance of each other, including Side Quest Brewing Co. (formerly Northpaw Brew Co.) and Tinhouse Brewing, with Tinhouse sitting directly on the Traboulay PoCo Trail.
Are these breweries walkable or do I need to drive between them?
Within the Fremont Village cluster in Port Coquitlam, several taprooms are close enough to walk between once you have parked. Getting from Mariner Brewing in Coquitlam to the Port Coquitlam breweries, however, is a short drive rather than a walk.
Is there an official ale trail that covers this area?
Yes. Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam breweries are part of the North of the Fraser Ale Trail, an officially designated route from the BC Ale Trail organization that also includes breweries in New Westminster and Burnaby.
