(This article is sponsored by Sunshine Coast Tourism.)

For many years, Vancouverites have been reading about farm-to-table dining.

But not nearly as much has been written about the nascent farm-to-beer movement, which is thriving on B.C.’s Sunshine Coast.

Situated on the eastern shore of the Strait of Georgia, the Sunshine Coast can be reached via a short ferry ride or floatplane from the Lower Mainland. Already a mecca for lovers of the outdoors and its funky artisan culture, the region is also attracting tourists intrigued by its craft breweries.

The best known on the southern Sunshine Coast is Persephone Brewing Company in Gibsons. Lauded internationally for its sustainable 4.5-hectare beer farm and innovative ownership model, Persephone was named after Nick's boat on the old Beachcombers show.

Here visitors can wander through the hops yard and learn how they’re farmed and later applied to the beer-making process. Then it’s off to the tasting room for some outstanding beverages.

Persephone's Keller Pilsner came second at last year's B.C. Beer Awards in the German pale lager category. And its Wee Heavy was the runner-up as B.C.'s best strong ale.

Another highly regarded craft-beer destination is Powell River's Townsite Brewing, which is on the northern Sunshine Coast.

Townsite won silver for its Belgian Triple at the 2016 Canadian Brewing Awards. It was crafted by Cédric Dauchot, the only Belgian-born brewmaster in B.C.

The executive director of Sunshine Coast Tourism, Paul Kamon, said that Townsite's tasting room recently underwent a major expansion. It includes displays explaining the origins and history of craft beverages, as well information on the beer-making process.

"It has all these educational components, including a viewing window to see the brewers at work," Kamon said.

The newest microbrewery on the Sunshine Coast is Gibsons Tapworks, which is behind the public art gallery in Gibsons Landing.

"It's a beautiful little space and they're making some good beer there," noted Kamon, also a cofounder of Vancouver Craft Beer Week. "It's a great day trip from Vancouver."

Easily accessible by ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale, the southern Sunshine Coast is connected by Highway 101, which runs through Gibsons all the way up to Earls Cove. The road offers access to the communities of Roberts Creek, Sechelt, Halfmoon Bay, Pender Harbour, and Egmont.

About 23 kilometres up Highway 101 from Gibsons is the Bricker Cider Company in Sechelt. The region's first cidery is putting the finishing touches on a new taproom and recently advertised to hire two servers. There are also plans to build a brewhouse and distillery in the area.

The northern Sunshine Coast can be reached by ferry from Earls Cove and from Comox. It includes Powell River and Lund, which marks the end of Highway 101. The entire region is full of outdoor recreational opportunities for those who want to cycle or windsurf or hike before stopping by one of the craft breweries.

"We're encouraging people to spend time in the communities," Kamon said. "Of course, you're not going to drink and drive. You're going to have a few pints and enjoy yourself and then stay at a B&B or a hotel."

The Sunshine Coast also has plenty of independently owned and operated accommodation of all types. It’s also home to the highest number of artists per capita in Canada, as well as a strong environmental ethic. And this is reflected in the creation of its craft beverages.

At Persephone, waste water is reused for irrigation and the spent ingredients are composted. The beer farm also hosts regular performances featuring local musicians.

This helps explain why Persephone has been certified by the B Lab, a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit that's trying to do for business what the fair-trade movement has done for coffee.

B Lab bestows a "B corp" designation on companies that meet "the highest standards of verified, overall social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability".

It praised Persephone for its "farmhouse" approach, which integrates the production of hops and honey with B.C.-grown and malted barley.

"Their brewery and farm is in part owned by the Sunshine Coast Association for Community Living (SCACL), a non-profit organization providing services for people with developmental disabilities, a number of whom work at the farm," the B Lab states on its website.

Kamon likened Townsite Brewing to "a living museum". That’s because it is in Powell River’s Townsite neighbourhood, which was named a National Historic Site more than 20 years ago.

These breweries, and likely more to come in the future, are part of the Sunshine Coast Ale Trail, which is part of the larger B.C. Ale Trail network across province.

"Sure, it’s possible to drive straight through from Gibsons at the bottom to Lund up top in a day," says the B.C. Ale Trail website, "but who would want to when there is so much to discover and experience along the way?" 

(This article is sponsored by Sunshine Coast Tourism.)