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I’m a sucker for any kind of beer collab. A mocha stout featuring a local coffee roaster? Let’s go. A Sriracha Hot Ale? I’ll at least try a sip. A Lucky Loonie IPA featuring ice shavings of the ice from the upcoming Winter Olympics? OK, I made that one up, but when this inevitably happens next year, I’ll probably buy it. 

So when I heard that some of Canada’s best breweries were teaming up with Delta-based Four Winds Brewing Co. to create a pack of lagers and pilsners, I was excited. Four Winds pulled this off last year with pilsners from other acclaimed B.C. breweries. But it upped the ante this year with a national “Lagerbier Series”. Four Winds’ chosen partners are essentially a who’s who of awesome breweries in the country: Montreal’s Dieu du Ciel, Toronto’s Godspeed, Calgary’s Establishment, and Tofino Brewing. 

Anyone who knows me knows that I absolutely love a ranking. And since it’s been approximately four days since I ranked something (the three sushi spots directly in the vicinity of Main and Broadway with our creative manager Jessica Bernard—I’ll save that for another time), we’re diving straight into it. 

One caveat: All of these beers are, in my mind anyway, very good. Pilsner isn’t my favourite type of beer, but I very much enjoy a good one. (And, like mentioned before, I’ll drink just about anything in hop form.) But yes, all of these are excellent, and this Pils Pack is not only a great idea by Four Winds but also a lesson in how to pull something like this off, from the branding to the beers themselves. 

4. Rotbier with Brasserie Dieu du Ciel!

Honestly, I was shocked. I love Dieu du Ciel!, having visited a few times while seeing family back east (and also on my bachelor party but the less said about that, the better). And again, everything in this pack is good, so this isn’t me hating on a wonderful brewery. It’s also a bit surprising it comes in low as I usually like dark beers. I think the issue is that it doesn’t quite work as well as the other does as a pilsner. In any case, still a strong (in both senses of the word) beer, but I was expecting DDC to easily win this ranking and it didn’t. Which says more about the strength of the others, to be honest. 

3. Smoked Helles with Godspeed Brewery 

Again, another darker beer, and I usually love beers with some subtle smokiness. It is about as crisp and drinkable as a smoked helles lager could be. But if that’s the theme of the pack—and it kinda is—the other two just met that criteria at a higher level, in my opinion. Sorry, Hogtown.  

2. West Coast Pils with Establishment Brewing Company

I’ve never been to the Establishment Brewing Company in Calgary despite visiting the city a number of times. It’s on the list now. This West Coast pilsner is smooth, bright, and crisp. It’s extremely drinkable without being boring at all. The tropical aromas and citrusy hops are evident. An absolute joy. 

1. Oyster Pils with Tofino Brewing 

I know what you’re probably thinking. “Sweet, the B.C. media outlet picked the B.C. collab as its favourite. Sick.” I know how it looks. The fact of the matter is that Four Winds and Tofino Brewing promised an Oyster Pilsner, which is a big swing. And then they delivered on it. Much like Tofino Brewing’s Kelp Stout, this beer really nicely works in the ocean elements. This is a briny, crisp beer with an absolutely refreshing finish. It’s delicious. And both breweries deserve all the pearls for pulling it off. 

The Four Winds Pils Pack is available now.