In recent years, Vancouver's thriving craft brewing scene has made it has favourite destination for beer enthusiasts.
Brewpubs such as Steamworks Brewing, Yaletown Brewing and Central City Brewing create beer on-site, while taverns such as the Alibi Room and St. Augustine offer a vast selection of local craft beer.
Vancouver has a number of craft breweries producing local beers. Granville Island Brewery, Canada's first microbrewery, produces award-winning beers named after local landmarks. Take a tour or sample beer in the taproom. Try the Robson Street Hefeweizen – a silver medal winner at the World Championship of Beers (2010).
Other notable craft breweries include:
- R&B Brewing: Sun God Wheat Ale won a silver medal at the 2010 North American Brewing Awards.
- Russell Brewing: IP'eh! and A Wee Angry Scotch Ale brought home medals at the 2010 World Cup of Beer.
- Storm Brewing: Often included on lists of local favourites.
Vancouver Brewpubs
Central City Brewing, voted best local brew pub in 2010 by the Vancouver branch of Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), offers a warm atmosphere and brew-infused pub food in Surrey. Pair dishes with beers such as Red Racer IPA, voted best beer in BC three years in a row by CAMRA Vancouver.
Yaletown Brewing, one of Vancouver’s oldest brew pubs, is found in the trendy neighbourhood that shares its name. Play pool, watch sports, and sample the pubs’ seven signature beers. Seasonal beers are always being added and cask nights are held weekly.
Steamworks, in historic Gastown, uses steam to heat their brewing kettles. Enjoy a freshly-brewed beer on the patio, which has a view of the North Shore mountains. The 10-page menu has something for everyone.
Pubs With a Great Selection
The Alibi Room in Gastown was the gold medal winner of CAMRA’s Best Local Beer Cafe, Pub, or Restaurant award (2010). Twenty-five local beers and three casks are regularly rotated and complemented by a selection of international bottles. It's popular for brunch, too. Get there early to avoid the line-up!
St. Augustine’s, named after the patron saint of beer, boasts 40 taps and is located in the Commercial Drive neighbourhood of Vancouver. A few favourites are mainstays, while most of the taps are constantly rotated. They tap casks weekly and host numerous Vancouver beer events.
Granville Island Sake
Artisan Sake Maker is the first boutique premium sake maker in Canada. Located on Granville Island, Osake sake is hand-pressed and hand-bottled in small batches. Flavours often change with the seasons. Tours and tastings are available.
Beer Festivals and Events
Vancouver Craft Beer Week (May) is a celebration of craft beer culture. Some of Vancouver’s top chefs and breweries create ideal pairings, classes teach everything from beer tasting to cooking with beer, and numerous events let aficionados sample the best beer in BC.
Every July, thousands come out to bask in the sun, watch live performances, and choose from more than 200 types of beer at the Canada Cup of Beer, Vancouver’s largest beer festival.
Lovers of whisky and craft beer converge at Hopscotch (November). Events include tastings, educational seminars and dinners that pair food with some of the world's best scotch and beer.
Beer and Liquor Stores
A few beer and liquor stores around Vancouver cater to the tastes of refined drinkers.
Brewery Creek stocks local favourites as well as hard-to-find beer, wine and spirits. Firefly Fine Wines and Ales features a great selection of handcrafted beer and a food pairing wall to help customers find the ideal dinner complement. Viti Wine and Lager Store carries more than 350 BC and imported beers and an impressive selection of spirits, including more than 160 whiskies. Beer tastings are offered on Friday afternoons.
Practical Points
- The legal drinking age in BC is 19. Two pieces of valid I.D. are required as proof of age.
- Some breweries tours are available by appointment only.
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