February 11, 2010 | Tips from Us >
Vancouver, Breweries, Distilleries & Cideries
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View a larger image on flickr.com
BC’s award winning wines and wineries are well known, but if you wine isn’t your thing, the province offers a great selection of beer, ciders and spirits.
Beer: There are over 50 breweries across the province and together they make hundreds of different types of beer. About six months ago I decided I was going to eventually try every beer brewed in BC (to which my wife sarcastically replied “I love it when you have goals, honey.”)
So far the two best places I have found for selection are the Alibi Room (147 Alexander St. in Vancouver), a restaurant with over 25 beers on tap many more bottled.
If you just want to grab an assortment of beers and to take home, try Brewery Creek Beer and Wine Store at 3045 Main Street in Vancouver. There staff is super friendly and knowledgeable and they have an amazing selection of local and international beers.
Another great thing I’ve found with BC breweries is that many of them offer tours where you can go behind the scenes and find out about the art / science of brewing. All of the tours I have been on have ended with a sampling.
If you don’t care how it is made and just want a drink or a bite to eat visit a brew pub. Many also offer beer samplers where you can try numerous small (usually 3 or 4 oz) beers. Many brew pubs are starting to hold cask nights, where one (or many) beers that have never been made available to the public are opened. This is an opportunity to try some really unique flavours and to meet fellow beer enthusiasts.
Cider: I might not be ambitious enough to try every cider made in BC, I do enjoy having a cider on a hot summer day. The suggestion I listed above for large beer selection (Alibi Room and Brewery Creek Beer and Wine Store) also have the best selection of ciders I have seen. Like breweries, many of the cideries offer tours and many offer dinners or lunches with meals paired with their ciders.
Spirits: If you are looking for something with a bit more alcohol, BC has that as well. Recently a couple of “boutique” distilleries where spirits are hand-crafted in small batches have opened.
Pemberton is home to Schramm Distillery who makes the only certified organic potato vodka in the world. Island Spirits Distillery on Hornby Island take their time making high quality gin and vodka: the distillery produces a maximum of 60 bottles per day.
Photo above by Jonathan Sparks
January 30, 2006 | Tips from Us >
Vancouver, Breweries, Distilleries & Cideries
Find more information about Vancouver - Breweries, Distilleries & Cideries
I know that
Vancouver may not be Prague, and British Columbia may not be Ireland, but we do have plenty of great local beers, and places to drink them, just the same. I recently picked up a copy of the
Passport to Beer guide book which highlights all these great beers, and watering holes. It cost $20 and includes $500 worth of coupons for free beer tours (e.g., Vancouver Island Brewery, Gulf Islands Brewery), 2 for 1 admission (Granville Island Brewing Tours, False Creek Ferries), 2 for 1 appies at local restaurants and even a few merchandise and accommodation discounts.
Might be worthwhile if you are planning on hanging out for a while, or just plan to hit all the best brew spots during your stay. 2 for 1 tapas at Stella’s – let’s go!!
October 11, 2005 | Tips from Us >
Vancouver, Breweries, Distilleries & Cideries
Find more information about Vancouver - Breweries, Distilleries & Cideries
It's Autumn! You can always tell - the air is crisper and cooler, leaves start turning colour, and
Steamworks Brewpub serves up their delicious Pumpkin Beer. Located in Vancouver's Gastown area - the most historic
neighbourhood in Vancouver - Steamworks brews this unique beer the beginning of every Autumn. Lightly spiced and ripe with pumpkin flavour, it's a great way to ring in cool season in the city. If you like beer, head down for a pint or two. But don't wait too long, they only serve the brew till Halloween.
October 01, 2005 | Tips from Us >
Vancouver, Breweries, Distilleries & Cideries
Find more information about Vancouver - Breweries, Distilleries & Cideries
I have a wee bit of a headache. Yep, that's right, I went to the
Autumn Brewmasters' Festival in
Vancouver last night. It was my first time and I don't think it will be my last. For $25 I received a four ounce plastic beer glass and three token chips to trade in for BC brew samples (I have one left I would now love to trade in for a Tylenol). I purchased more tokens at a price of 3 for $5. As the night went on, the crowd got busier, the music got louder and the beer needed to be lighter. I started out with a good hearty chocolate and coffee infused Stout, by half-time I was drinking Amber ales, and at the end of the night I was looking for golden Lagers. The other thing that progressed throughout the evening was the length of the line-up for the washroom. In total I tasted about 20 samples from Breweries all over BC; my top picks were from Crannog Ales, located in Sorrento, and Steamworks Brewing Company, located in
Gastown. The event sells-out each year, so if you are already planning on going next year purchase your tickets in advance.