Cheers To Holiday Magic

Hops, Cheers & Holiday Magic: Search for Hops, the Elf on the Bar Shelf + Gift A Flight Log!

‘Tis the season for twinkling lights, warm laughter, and a little mischief — especially if that mischief comes in the form of Hops, our very own Elf on the Bar Shelf. This holiday, the Barrels Bottles & Brews Trail is turning up the festive fun and inviting you to embark on a merry, merry treasure hunt across Windsor Essex’s craft beer, cider, and distillery scene. And if you’re looking for the perfect gift for the craft-beer aficionado in your life? The Barrels Bottles & Brews Flight Log is the ultimate stocking-stuffer: part passport, part tasting adventure, and all locally inspired.

Meet Hops: The Elf Bringing Holiday Cheer to the Barrel Trail

Meet Hops, the cheeky elf hiding on the Barrels Bottles & Brews Trail this holiday season. This isn’t your average shelf-sitting elf — Hops is all about craft breweries, cideries, and distilleries, scaling bar stools and checking IDs so you don’t have to. The goal? To spread holiday spirit, help you explore the trail, and give you chances to win prizes!

Here’s how the adventure works:

1. Register for your FREE Elf on the Bar Shelf Pass.
2. Between now and December 21st bring your pass to participating stops.
3. At each location, keep an eye out for Hops — scan the special QR code when you find him to unlock exclusive offers
4. Every QR scan equals points. With up to 11 stops, you could score 11 entries into the grand prize draw.
5. After scanning, check your email (just make sure you opted in when you registered) for your exclusive offer. Some offers are only valid the day you scan, so keep your eyes peeled.

What’s the grand prize? Think of the ultimate treat: a Barrels Bottles & Brews Trail gift basket, complete with a $25 gift card from each participating location, and two Frequent Flyer Flight Logs (each valid for one year). With that many entries, your chance to win is real — and so is the festive fun!

Why You’ll Want to “Hop” Around This Holiday

Discover New Favorites – The trail includes a stellar lineup of craft breweries, cideries, and distilleries — places like BREW Microbrewery, FRANK Brewing Co., Walkerville Brewery, Wolfhead Distillery, and more. Even if you’re already into local brews, Hops is your excuse to revisit, explore new spots, or go off the beaten path.

Special Offers Just for You – Every time you scan Hops, you’ll unlock something special. Think free tastings, discounts, and exclusive holiday offers. It’s a way for Hops to say thanks — and for you to sip and save.

Enter to Win Big – With up to 11 QR scans (one per participating stop), you can rack up entries for the grand prize — plus enjoy the holiday vibes while doing it.

Support Local – By weaving your way through the Barrel Trail during this campaign, you’re supporting local breweries, cideries, distilleries — and driving business to community spots that make our region uniquely delicious.

Gift the Experience: Flight Logs for the Beer & Spirit Lover in Your Life

Okay, now for the gift-giving gold. If there’s someone on your list who lives for hops, barley, and barrel-aged magic, the Barrels Bottles & Brews Flight Log is about to become your holiday MVP.

Flight Log Options to Suit Every Adventurer

1. 1-Day Flight Log – $25
   Valid for 24 hours from first use. Includes 5 tastings at any participating Barrels Bottles & Brews stops.
2. 7-Day Flight Log – $40
   Your passport to 9 tastings over a week — perfect for a crafted-out weekend getaway or an extended local crawl.
3. Frequent Flyer Membership – $75
   For the true local (or “local-adjacent”) craft connoisseur: this gives you a full year of tastings at every location on the trail — plus birthday perks, exclusive monthly offers, early access to releases, and more.

Here’s what makes the Flight Log extra special: it’s fully digital. No paper passports, no lost tickets — just hop between spots at your own pace, scan your code, and enjoy.

The Perfect Holiday Gift

There’s something undeniably thoughtful about gifting a Flight Log:

Adventure in a Voucher – It’s not just a gift — it’s an invitation to explore. Whether someone is new to the Barrel Trail or already a regular, the Flight Log encourages discovery.

Flexibility Built In – The recipient can redeem at their own pace. They can do 5 stops in one day, stretch it out over a week or even enjoy year-round benefits with the Frequent Flyer pass.

Supports Local Makers – Every tasting helps support Windsor Essex breweries, cideries, and distilleries — so you’re not just giving a gift, you’re supporting your craft community.

Easy to Gift – When purchasing online, simply choose “Give As A Gift” and you can enter the recipient’s email, a custom message, and even schedule when the “pass” is delivered. Or, if you prefer to hand-deliver, you can print a voucher yourself.

Memorable & Shareable – It’s a gift that creates memories. You might even buy one for yourself to join them on tastings, cheers over flights, and discover new favorites together.

How to Make the Most of the Elf + Flight Log Experience

To really lean into the festive, festival-style vibes, here are a few ideas for how to combine your Elf on the Bar Shelf fun with your Flight Log adventures:

• Plan a “Hops Hunt” Day
  Round up some friends, divide into teams, grab your Elf Pass, and hit the trail. See who can spot Hops first at each stop, scan the QR codes, and pick up seasonal offers. Make it a festive scavenger-hunt-style crawl — bonus points for elf hats.

• Holiday Gift Hopping
  Use the Flight Log to pick spectacular local gifts along the way. Many of the breweries and distilleries have on-site retail — whether it’s cans, bottles, growlers, or spirits. Buy a few gifts and wrap them into a craft-beer-themed holiday gift basket.

• Make It a Date Night
  Bring someone special along for a cozy, local tasting journey. Start at one spot for a beer flight, then wander (responsibly) to another for a spirit tasting. Use your QR scans, stack up those entries to win, and maybe end the night exchanging gifts — like giving them their very own Flight Log.

• Elf Selfies & Social Sharing
  When you spot Hops, snap a selfie! Share your find on social media and tag @twepi. It’s a fun way to light up your feed and spread holiday cheer

• Holiday Host Gift
  If you’re hosting friends or family for holiday gatherings, why not drop a Flight Log into their welcome bag? It’s a classy, thoughtful gift that brings local flavour to the festivities — no wrapping paper required.

A Few Friendly Reminders Before You Hop Off

Drink responsibly. This campaign is all about celebration, but that means planning ahead. Use a ride-share or have a designated driver

Check hours. Some Trail stops may have holiday hours, so double-check before you head out.

Gift early. If you’re buying Flight Logs as gifts, don’t wait too long — digital delivery gives you options, but holiday surprises move fast.

Final Pour:

If you’re looking for a way to celebrate the holidays that’s upbeat, local, and uniquely YQG, this is it. The Elf on the Bar Shelf campaign is your invitation to roam the region’s craft scene, have fun spotting Hops, earn rewards, and maybe even score big in the grand prize draw. And for gift-givers? The Flight Log is a truly inspired idea — part ticket, part adventure, all heart.

So, what are you waiting for? Register for your free Elf Pass, get scanning, and start plotting your holiday hops around the trail. And don’t forget: the perfect gift for the beer-lover in your life might just be a digital passport to local discovery. Grab that Flight Log, give it with love, and let the festive (responsible) sipping begin.

Here’s to holiday magic, local flavour, and finding Hops wherever you roam!

As always head to barrelsbottlesbrews.ca for all things Barrel Trail!