beer column
here are my notes for yesterday's beer column on cbc radio one's on the coast with stephen quinn
Vancouver
This
is the fourth annual VCBW, and runs this year from Friday, May 31st to Saturday
June 8th. This year's theme is "All In", and when you see the line up
of events, you are going to want to go all in!
VCBW
is a jam-packed 9 day tour of all that is fabulous in the craft beer world here
in Vancouver, including the craft beers we import from other places like the
United States. Each day of the festival features a signature VCBW event. There
are also 6 feature events and 6 walk up events.. The signature and feature events are
ticketed, and you will need advance tickets to attend. Tickets are available
through the website, vancouvercraftbeerweek.com and eventbrite.com. The walk-up
events are just that, events that you show up to.
VCBW
is like oktoberfest meets christmas meets cultural festival - there's beer,
there's anticipation and there are events at venues all over town. It is my
favourite week of the year, and I think most beer geeks feel the same way.
People book off that week from work, clear their schedules and kiss the rest of
their lives good-bye for those 9 glorious days. But the week is not just for
the beer geek, it is for everyone who appreciates quality beer, delicious food,
well-organized events and supporting their community.
The
theme is a nod to all the new breweries opening up in the City - and how
they're going all in despite the nay-sayers who tell them the City can't
support another craft brewery, that the craft beer bubble is going to burst any
day now. Sure, there will be a tipping point eventually, but the brewers don't
believe it is here yet, and neither do the beer geeks and VCBW is just another
way we show that the craft beer movement isn't slowing down any time soon.
Only
a couple of the events are already sold out, but I would suggest getting your
tickets to the remaining events soon! In particular I would suggest people get
tickets to one of the festival days that close out VCBW, Friday June 7th and
Saturday June 8th. The two day beer festival is being held outside Vancouver
for the first time, but fear not, it will be easily accessible as it will be
held in tents in the East parking lot of the River Rock Casino in Richmond -
right on the Canada Line. What can you expect from this event? Lots of beer, of
course, from more than 50 breweries from as near as East Van and as far as Belgium , and a dj spinning tunes to delight your
ears and some of Vancouver
Also
a great event for those of you not yet converted to craft beer is the 2nd
annual Battle
The other signature event I
would suggest you get tickets to if you already know you are into craft beer
and are a hop-head, is Brothers In Hop on Thursday, June 6th. Tickets are $75
which may sound a little steep, but let me tell you what you get for that $75: samples
of beers from Ninkasi, Gigantic, Central City and Parallel 49; food to pair
with those samples and a gift bag that includes giveaways from Dominion
Barbers, which is valued at $75 - so there's no possible way for you to not get
your money's worth. Additionally, the brewers from those four breweries will be
on hand to talk about their hoppy brews. Since the other hoppy VCBW event,
Hoppapalooza sells out in minutes every year, this is your chance to taste and
discuss all things hoppy with other hop-heads. (at the Butcher & Bullock
from 6-10 p.m.)
The
Feature event I would recommend is the Portland Beer Week preview being held on
Wednesday, June 5th at, appropriately enough, Portland Craft on Main Street.
$49 gets you a taste of what Portland Beer Week has to offer, without having to
travel to Portland
The
walk-up event I would recommend is at the Yaletown Brewpub on Monday June 3rd
from 7-9:30 p.m.. Called “Join the Revolution" it will feature the book
launch of Joe Wiebe's "Craft Beer Revolution" about B.C.'s breweries,
and revolution themed casks from brewmaster Iain Hill and friends. Joe's book
will be available for purchase at the low price of $19.95, which price includes
one beer ticket.
Besides checking out the website for a listing of all the
events, there are two other things I'd like to mention. Firstly, there is a
special collaboration brew every year to celebrate Craft Beer Week. This year
it is based on an old recipe of James Walton of Storm Brewing - the Red Sky
Alt. Brewed by all of the brewers in the province who were available to attend
at Parallel 49 on brew day, it will launch at the opening of VCBW and be
available around town during the 9 day festival, proceeds of which will be
donated to A Better Life Foundation who will use the funds to support the Save
On Meats Meal Token program.
And last, but not least, check out the 'Specials"
section of the VCBW website for specials that are running throughout the
festival at places such as Donnelly Group Pubs, Dockside Brewpub, Romer's
Burgers and the Regal Beagle.
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