The days when beer was a man’s drink are gone, and every weekend more women are embracing the beauty of a good pint. Are you a beer connoisseur looking for more info on your fave brew? Or are you a beginner, just starting to dabble in the complexities of tasty, frothy beers? For any level, a brewery tour is the perfect excuse to drink your way through an afternoon.

Start with the little guys: Central City Brewing. Despite its Surrey locale, Central supplies beer to fans across the lower mainland. This year, they even won the coveted Canadian Brewery of the Year award. Head there early, take the tour, and stay for dinner and drinks. The Skytrain is stumbling distance, so you don’t have to worry about getting home from the ‘burbs.

Your next stop should be Granville Island Brewery. A larger scale operation, this tour will offer you insight into how a bigger, but still micro, brewery works. The Granville Island brewery location only brews seasonal specialties, but the tour goes into some of the workings of their larger location in the interior.

Finally, the big guns: Molson. If you’ve ever left Kits via the Burrard Street Bridge, you’ve doubtless seen this monster of a brewery. While you’re touring, be sure to ask about the beginnings of the company. You’ll also be surprised by how many brands are owned by this behemoth.

While you’re on your beer-ducation tour, compare the quality of beer between brewers and how the flavour differs in terms of large and small scale production. Or just get drunk. Whatever works. Happy beering!