![BC Beer Awards 2018 - Vancouver Brewery Tours](https://vancouverbrewerytours.com/wp-content/uploads/BC-Beer-Awards-2018-Vancouver-Brewery-Tours.jpg)
Photo: BC Beer Awards
And the Winner is…
This past Saturday October 20th the 9th BC Beer Awards returned to the Croation Cultural Centre in East Vancouver. This popular event not only crowns some of the best brews in BC, but also doubles as a beer festival giving beer lovers the opportunity to taste many of the top beers in the province.
This year over 100+ breweries submitted over 1000 beer entries for a chance to win from 30 different categories.
So who won? Thanks to CBC we have a full list of all the winners across all categories, enjoy!
2018 BC Beer Awards Winners
International Lager
1. Langford Lager, Axe & Barrel Brewing Co.
2. Rye Lager, Steel & Oak Brewing Co.
3. Bomber Pilsner, Bomber Brewing
Pale German Beer
1. Klutz, Brassneck Brewery
2. 311 Helles Lager, Coal Harbour Brewing Co.
3. The Highway: Lager, Silver Valley Brewing Co.
German Pils
1. Hüftgold, Four Winds Brewing Co.
2. German Pilsner, Sooke Brewing Co.
3. Post Ride Pilsner, LoveShack Libations
Amber German Beer
1. Steamworks Winter Lager, Steamworks Brewing Co.
2. Vienna Lager, Sooke Brewing Co.
3. Marzen, Steel & Oak Brewing Co.
Dark & Strong European Beer
1. Bear Beach Baltic Porter, Sooke Oceanside Brewery
2. Dissimulator, Twin City Brewing Company
3. Black Lager, Spinnakers Brewpub
German Wheat Beer
1. Sundown Hefeweizen, Sundown Brewing Company Ltd
2. 50/50 Hefe, KPU Brewing | Kwantlen Polytechnic University
3. Wiffen Wizen, Sooke Oceanside Brewery
UK Pale Ale
1. 33 Acres of Nirvana, 33 Acres Brewing Co.
2. Adrift Blonde Ale, Britannia Brewing Co.
3. Baldwin and Cooper, Howe Sound Brewing
UK Brown Ale
1. Renfrew Red Ale, Sooke Oceanside Brewery
2. Humble Hive Brown Ale, East Vancouver Brewing Co.
3. Ashore Porter, Britannia Brewing Co.
UK Stout
1. Oatmeal Stout, Luppolo Brewing Company
2. 52 Foot Stout, Barkerville Brewing Co.
3. Diamond Head, Howe Sound Brewing
Strong Ale
1. Hellroaring Scottish, Fisher Peak Brewing Company
2. Woolly Bugger, Howe Sound Brewing
3. Barleywine, Sooke Brewing Co
Fruit Beer
1. Emerald Lake Lime Sour, A-FRAME Brewing Company
2. Steamworks Frambozen, Steamworks Brewing Co.
3. Quayside, Steel & Oak Brewing Co.
Specialty Fruit Beer
1. Late Bloomer, Twin City Brewing Company
2. Raspberry Fields, Sundown Brewing Company Ltd
3. Blueberry Blast Kettle Sour, Dead Frog Brewery
Spice Beer
1. Spruce Tip IPA, R&B Brewing
2. 250 London Fog Ale, Faculty Brewing
3. Beet Buck, Mayne Island Brewing Company
Smoke & Wood Aged Beer
1. Clayburn Smoked Scotch Ale, Ravens Brewing
2. Rum Barrel Aged Imperial Con Leche, Twin Sails Brewing
3. Parting Kiss Bourbon Barrel Ale, Twa Dogs Brewery
European Sour
1. Little Red One, Strange Fellows Brewing
2. 323 Sourweisse, Faculty Brewing
3. Sunrise Gose, Coal Harbour Brewing Co.
Specialty Beer
1. Launch Pad Belgian-Inspired Rye Ale, Whitetooth Brewing Company Ltd.
2. Semi-Formal – Brut Pale Ale, Bridge Brewing Company
3. Skittlebrau, Main Street Brewing
North American Light Beer
1. Hooligan, Nelson Brewing Co.
2. Islander Lager, Vancouver Island Brewing
3. Jerkface 9000, Parallel 49 Brewing
North American Blonde Ale
1. East Van Smash For Bash, Bomber Brewing
2. Sundown Blonde, Sundown Brewing Company Ltd
3. Golden Ale, Ravens Brewing
North American Pale Ale
1. Suck It Trebek, Backcountry Brewing
2. Outdoorsy, Steel & Oak Brewing Co.
3. Chase My Tail Pale Ale, Yellow Dog Brewing
North American Amber & Brown Ale
1. Steamworks Heroica Red Ale, Steamworks Brewing Co.
2. Side Project Amber Lager, Category 12 Brewing
3. James Brown Ale, Monkey 9 Brewing Co.
North American Porter & Stout
1. Truth, Dare, Consequence Nordic Imperial Stout, Whitetooth Brewing Company Ltd.
2. Gladstone Brewing Porter, Gladstone Brewing Company
3. 2018 Commander Imperial Stout, Dead Frog Brewery
North American IPA
1. Tail Slap IPA, Three Ranges Brewing Company
2. Jagged Face, Mount Arrowsmith Brewing Company
3. West Shore IPA, Axe & Barrel Brewing Co.
Specialty IPA
1. 33 Acres Of Echo, 33 Acres Brewing Co.
2. Obsidian Dagger IPA Noire, Dead Frog Brewery
3. Magical Musicians & Musical Magicians, Fuggles & Warlock Craftworks
Hazy IPA
1. Orange Slices, Twin Sails Brewing
2. Juice Plus, Twin Sails Brewing
3. Single Whammy, Twin Sails Brewing
Imperial IPA
1. Red Racer Imperial IPA, Central City Brewers & Distillers
2. Spaghetti Western-Ish DIPA, Coal Harbour Brewing Co.
3. Just the Hits, Boombox Brewing
Belgian Ale
1. Jongleur, Strange Fellows Brewing
2. Take A Walk Witbier, Yellow Dog Brewing
3. 33 Acres of Sunshine, 33 Acres Brewing Co.
Saison
1. West Coast Farmhouse Saison, Granville Island Brewing
2. Mistress of My Soul Saison, Twa Dogs Brewery
3. Russell Belgian Saison, Russell Brewing
Strong Belgian Ale
1. Brune, Dageraad Brewing
2. Belgian Blond, Sooke Brewing Co.
3. Antwerpen, Dageraad Brewing
Wild Ale
1. Boomer Wild Ale, Iron Road Brewing
2. New World Sour, Luppolo Brewing Company
3. Multi Malt, Steel & Oak Brewing Co.
Specialty Wild Ale
1. Mistral, Strange Fellows Brewing
2. Vanishing Act, Twin City Brewing Company
3. Late Bloomer, Parallel 49 Brewing
Dan Small Homebrew Award
Jeff Tichbourne, Annie, I’m a Hawk
Rookie of the Year
Sooke Brewing
Best Tap Handle
Luppolo Brewing
Best Can Design
Holotape, Boombox Brewing
Best Packaging Boxes & Carriers
Craft Camper, Old Yale Brewing
Best Bottle Label
A Good Life, Field House Brewing
Best Website
Field House Brewing
Best Social Media
Electric Bicycle Brewing
Best Tasting Room
Sooke Brewing Company
Best Merchandise
Riot Brewing
Best Flight Paddle
The Parkside Brewery
Brewers Challenge
Yellow Dog Brewing, Alpha Dog
Best in Show
Late Bloomer, Twin City Brewing Company
CBC People’s Choice
BREWHALL, Mighty Morphin’ Sour Rangers
Innovator of the Year
Field House Brewing
Legend Award
Lundy Dale
Brewery of the Year
33 Acres Brewing Company
Join Our Team! Now Hiring Brewery Tour Guides
/in Brewery ToursDo you like talking about craft beer? Do you enjoy showing people a good time? Or maybe you’d like to meet the staff, brewers and owners of almost every brewery in Vancouver? If you answered yes to any of these then we think you’d make a great brewery tour guide and you should apply now!
We’re a small team with a big passion for our local craft beer community and take pride in connecting locals and tourists with the craft breweries of Vancouver. We’re seeking passionate and knowledgeable brewery tour guides to join our growing team. The position is part time and on call, with weekday and weekend shifts available. Shifts are 5-8 hours long.
We offer industry leading hourly rates with access to competitive gratuities, and provide a comprehensive beer and brewery training program to support your success.
Think you’re right for the job? Here’s what we’re looking for:
Primary Requirements
We are seeking candidates with either a Class 4 drivers license, or be willing to obtain one. We provide FREE driving training, and 100% reimbursement on the cost of the license. If you can drive a car, you can drive a brewery tour van!
We are searching for 3 types of candidates:
Other Requirements
How to apply
Due to the amount of applications received, we will only be contacting potential candidates. Thank you for your interest and good luck!
Dine Out Vancouver 2019 – Italian Brewery and Culinary Tour
/in Brewery ToursDine Out Vancouver 2019 – Vancouver Brewery Tours is Proud to Present an Italian Brewery and Culinary Tour
Now in our 6th year with Dine Out Vancouver, we are proud to connect you with the food, beers and history of the Italian community in Vancouver on our Italian Brewery and Culinary Tour.
We have handpicked a few of our favourite Italian owned and operated businesses in Vancouver for this delectable Dine Out tour, starting at the award winning Luppolo Brewing Co. where it’s all about craft beer. Your journey continues into the heart of Little Italy on Commercial Drive to visit the deli legends at La Grotta del Formaggio. Next up, we slow the pace down at the renowned Marcello’s Ristorante & Pizzeria for a masterfully handmade meal of fresh pasta, gnocchi or pizza along with a drink. Finally, a sweet surprise awaits to end a wonderful evening on the town spent with new friends and old. Salute!
What’s included? You’ll enjoy full transportation aboard the Vancouver Brewery Tours bus including pick up and drop off. Our knowledgeable and fun tour guide will take you behind the scenes at Luppolo Brewing Co. for some brewing 101 and a full flight of beer before moving on to the culinary stops to enjoy your tasty treats.
Dine Out Tour Details
Each Dine Out tour is approximately 3.5 hours long and departs from inside Waterfront Station in downtown Vancouver at 601 West Cordova. Please meet at 3:45pm as tours leave promptly on time. Your tour guide will meet you there, blue clipboard in hand, near the entrance of Starbucks and Small Business BC located inside the station. Note Waterfront Centre is NOT the meeting location. A reminder email will be sent 24 hours before your tour with final details.
*Includes all taxes and fees, beer and food. A 10-15% recommended gratuity is not included in the ticket price but is greatly appreciated by your guide. Must be 19+ with government issued ID. Each meal may include meat, dairy and gluten products. Sorry, we cannot guarantee vegetarian options at each stop on this tour.
3:45pm-7:30pm
January 18th, 19th, 22nd, 25th, 26th, 29th
February 1st, 2nd
Tickets $99 each and sold exclusively through the Dine Out website.
Visit the Dine Out Website to Purchase Tickets
Perfect Holiday Gift Idea For Beer Lovers
/in Brewery ToursBeer Lovers Holiday Gift Packs
Back by popular demand, our festive Beer Lovers Holiday Gift Packs are only available each December and make a perfect holiday gift idea. Each pack includes a gift certificate for our popular Vancouver Brewery Tours, a free beer glass AND a 2 litre growler of beer!
Holiday Gift Packs have been featured on Global TV, Miss604, the Westender and much more!
To learn more and buy yours today, visit our shop page at www.vancouverbrewerytours.com/shop
1 Seat – Beer Lovers Holiday Gift Pack – $99.99+tax
2 Seats – Beer Lovers Holiday Gift Pack – $179.99+tax
Easy Planning for your Holiday Staff Party!
/in Brewery ToursTop Tips for Planning a Successful Holiday Staff Party Brewery Tour!
We know how it works. Each year a lucky staff member gets the task of finding options of holiday staff party ideas for the annual holiday staff party, and while the search can be fun it can also be a bit challenging with so many things to do in Vancouver! Where to start? First of all, we suggest choosing Vancouver Brewery Tours for your staff party this year and take advantage of our years of expertise in delivering the ultimate craft beer experience in Vancouver. Craft Beer + good times = the perfect networking event for your staff and company.
So what exactly is a holiday staff party brewery tour and how does it work? We know organizing can be a lot of work so we’ve put together a handy list of things to consider when planning a staff or corporate brewery tour to get you started.
1) Choose Craft Beer
There’s no shortage of options for holiday staff party ideas, so check with your staff and ensure everyone’s into craft beer and a brewery tour, or if not, take note of how many wine or spirit lovers there are and keep this in mind for later. Check out our Private Tour options on our website to get an idea of your options with Vancouver Brewery Tours.
2) Food or Not to Food
Eating a meal before, during or after a brewery tour is a must, so also think about how you’re going to incorporate food into your holiday staff party. With a full meal included, our popular Craft Beer and Food Tour is worth keeping in mind when you contact us for your holiday staff party.
3) Set a Budget
What is your per person budget? Do you have a maximum you’re able to spend on a holiday staff party?
4) Pick a Date
Are you flexible on dates, or is there only one day when everyone is available? Either way, make a list of all available dates and times when your staff are available for a holiday staff party
5) Request a Holiday Staff Party Tour and Availability with Vancouver Brewery Tours
Let’s get started! The first step is to complete our convenient online brewery tour request form for your holiday staff party as early as possible. You don’t have to know all the details of your request, or even the exact date, but getting your request in early gives you an idea of cost, the options available and most importantly if your dates are available for your holiday staff party. Phone calls are also welcome if you prefer some human contact!
6) Review the Options
Vancouver Brewery Tours will respond to your staff party request within 24 hours providing you with everything you’ll need to make an informed decision on whether a brewery tour is right for your staff party.
7) Pull the Trigger
You’ve talked it over with your boss, you’ve got some excitement going with your work friends so keep the momentum going! Remember, while we may originally say yes to your request, holiday and corporate holiday brewery tours can fill up fast meaning availability can change. Do your best to get back to us as soon as you can and say beer me! We’ll then send you an invoice for the tour deposit that once paid, locks down your date and time.
8) Relax!
Your work is now done, so relax, enjoy a beer and let us take over and guide you through to a successful holiday staff party brewery tour!
Have questions, we’d love to hear from you! Reach out anytime and we’ll gladly support your planning and give your more info on our holiday staff party brewery tours!
Cheers,
The Vancouver Brewery Tours team
Request a Holiday Staff Party Brewery Tour HERE
Holiday Gift Certificates – Now Available
/in Brewery ToursThe Perfect Gift for the Beer Lover in Your Life – Holiday Brewery Tour Gift Certificates![Vancouver Brewery Tours Gift Certificate](https://vancouverbrewerytours.com/wp-content/uploads/Vancouver-Brewery-Tours-Gift-Certificate-1500x630.jpg)
What to get the beer lover in your life who has all the “stuff”? You know they love beer but not sure what kind they like because they’ve got particular tastes? Oh the stress! Thankfully we’re here to help.
Our Vancouver Brewery Tour Gift Certificates are the perfect experience gift for that someone special in your life. Family or friends, co-workers, neighbours and more, send your friend on the ultimate craft beer experience with Vancouver Brewery Tours.
Vancouver Brewery Tours gift certificates are available at any denomination and are also conveniently priced at $79.99+tax for a seat on our Vancouver Brewery Tour. Purchase through our convenient online shop and receive an instant confirmation that includes a gift certificate coupon code and instructions on how to book a tour along with a printable and customizable paper gift certificate. You can even send the email directly to a recipient of your choice! It’s that easy.
Visit our online shop page now to get your brewery tours gift certificates, or check out other cool gift ideas.
2018 BC Beer Awards Winners List
/in Brewery ToursPhoto: BC Beer Awards
And the Winner is…
This past Saturday October 20th the 9th BC Beer Awards returned to the Croation Cultural Centre in East Vancouver. This popular event not only crowns some of the best brews in BC, but also doubles as a beer festival giving beer lovers the opportunity to taste many of the top beers in the province.
This year over 100+ breweries submitted over 1000 beer entries for a chance to win from 30 different categories.
So who won? Thanks to CBC we have a full list of all the winners across all categories, enjoy!
2018 BC Beer Awards Winners
International Lager
1. Langford Lager, Axe & Barrel Brewing Co.
2. Rye Lager, Steel & Oak Brewing Co.
3. Bomber Pilsner, Bomber Brewing
Pale German Beer
1. Klutz, Brassneck Brewery
2. 311 Helles Lager, Coal Harbour Brewing Co.
3. The Highway: Lager, Silver Valley Brewing Co.
German Pils
1. Hüftgold, Four Winds Brewing Co.
2. German Pilsner, Sooke Brewing Co.
3. Post Ride Pilsner, LoveShack Libations
Amber German Beer
1. Steamworks Winter Lager, Steamworks Brewing Co.
2. Vienna Lager, Sooke Brewing Co.
3. Marzen, Steel & Oak Brewing Co.
Dark & Strong European Beer
1. Bear Beach Baltic Porter, Sooke Oceanside Brewery
2. Dissimulator, Twin City Brewing Company
3. Black Lager, Spinnakers Brewpub
German Wheat Beer
1. Sundown Hefeweizen, Sundown Brewing Company Ltd
2. 50/50 Hefe, KPU Brewing | Kwantlen Polytechnic University
3. Wiffen Wizen, Sooke Oceanside Brewery
UK Pale Ale
1. 33 Acres of Nirvana, 33 Acres Brewing Co.
2. Adrift Blonde Ale, Britannia Brewing Co.
3. Baldwin and Cooper, Howe Sound Brewing
UK Brown Ale
1. Renfrew Red Ale, Sooke Oceanside Brewery
2. Humble Hive Brown Ale, East Vancouver Brewing Co.
3. Ashore Porter, Britannia Brewing Co.
UK Stout
1. Oatmeal Stout, Luppolo Brewing Company
2. 52 Foot Stout, Barkerville Brewing Co.
3. Diamond Head, Howe Sound Brewing
Strong Ale
1. Hellroaring Scottish, Fisher Peak Brewing Company
2. Woolly Bugger, Howe Sound Brewing
3. Barleywine, Sooke Brewing Co
Fruit Beer
1. Emerald Lake Lime Sour, A-FRAME Brewing Company
2. Steamworks Frambozen, Steamworks Brewing Co.
3. Quayside, Steel & Oak Brewing Co.
Specialty Fruit Beer
1. Late Bloomer, Twin City Brewing Company
2. Raspberry Fields, Sundown Brewing Company Ltd
3. Blueberry Blast Kettle Sour, Dead Frog Brewery
Spice Beer
1. Spruce Tip IPA, R&B Brewing
2. 250 London Fog Ale, Faculty Brewing
3. Beet Buck, Mayne Island Brewing Company
Smoke & Wood Aged Beer
1. Clayburn Smoked Scotch Ale, Ravens Brewing
2. Rum Barrel Aged Imperial Con Leche, Twin Sails Brewing
3. Parting Kiss Bourbon Barrel Ale, Twa Dogs Brewery
European Sour
1. Little Red One, Strange Fellows Brewing
2. 323 Sourweisse, Faculty Brewing
3. Sunrise Gose, Coal Harbour Brewing Co.
Specialty Beer
1. Launch Pad Belgian-Inspired Rye Ale, Whitetooth Brewing Company Ltd.
2. Semi-Formal – Brut Pale Ale, Bridge Brewing Company
3. Skittlebrau, Main Street Brewing
North American Light Beer
1. Hooligan, Nelson Brewing Co.
2. Islander Lager, Vancouver Island Brewing
3. Jerkface 9000, Parallel 49 Brewing
North American Blonde Ale
1. East Van Smash For Bash, Bomber Brewing
2. Sundown Blonde, Sundown Brewing Company Ltd
3. Golden Ale, Ravens Brewing
North American Pale Ale
1. Suck It Trebek, Backcountry Brewing
2. Outdoorsy, Steel & Oak Brewing Co.
3. Chase My Tail Pale Ale, Yellow Dog Brewing
North American Amber & Brown Ale
1. Steamworks Heroica Red Ale, Steamworks Brewing Co.
2. Side Project Amber Lager, Category 12 Brewing
3. James Brown Ale, Monkey 9 Brewing Co.
North American Porter & Stout
1. Truth, Dare, Consequence Nordic Imperial Stout, Whitetooth Brewing Company Ltd.
2. Gladstone Brewing Porter, Gladstone Brewing Company
3. 2018 Commander Imperial Stout, Dead Frog Brewery
North American IPA
1. Tail Slap IPA, Three Ranges Brewing Company
2. Jagged Face, Mount Arrowsmith Brewing Company
3. West Shore IPA, Axe & Barrel Brewing Co.
Specialty IPA
1. 33 Acres Of Echo, 33 Acres Brewing Co.
2. Obsidian Dagger IPA Noire, Dead Frog Brewery
3. Magical Musicians & Musical Magicians, Fuggles & Warlock Craftworks
Hazy IPA
1. Orange Slices, Twin Sails Brewing
2. Juice Plus, Twin Sails Brewing
3. Single Whammy, Twin Sails Brewing
Imperial IPA
1. Red Racer Imperial IPA, Central City Brewers & Distillers
2. Spaghetti Western-Ish DIPA, Coal Harbour Brewing Co.
3. Just the Hits, Boombox Brewing
Belgian Ale
1. Jongleur, Strange Fellows Brewing
2. Take A Walk Witbier, Yellow Dog Brewing
3. 33 Acres of Sunshine, 33 Acres Brewing Co.
Saison
1. West Coast Farmhouse Saison, Granville Island Brewing
2. Mistress of My Soul Saison, Twa Dogs Brewery
3. Russell Belgian Saison, Russell Brewing
Strong Belgian Ale
1. Brune, Dageraad Brewing
2. Belgian Blond, Sooke Brewing Co.
3. Antwerpen, Dageraad Brewing
Wild Ale
1. Boomer Wild Ale, Iron Road Brewing
2. New World Sour, Luppolo Brewing Company
3. Multi Malt, Steel & Oak Brewing Co.
Specialty Wild Ale
1. Mistral, Strange Fellows Brewing
2. Vanishing Act, Twin City Brewing Company
3. Late Bloomer, Parallel 49 Brewing
Dan Small Homebrew Award
Jeff Tichbourne, Annie, I’m a Hawk
Rookie of the Year
Sooke Brewing
Best Tap Handle
Luppolo Brewing
Best Can Design
Holotape, Boombox Brewing
Best Packaging Boxes & Carriers
Craft Camper, Old Yale Brewing
Best Bottle Label
A Good Life, Field House Brewing
Best Website
Field House Brewing
Best Social Media
Electric Bicycle Brewing
Best Tasting Room
Sooke Brewing Company
Best Merchandise
Riot Brewing
Best Flight Paddle
The Parkside Brewery
Brewers Challenge
Yellow Dog Brewing, Alpha Dog
Best in Show
Late Bloomer, Twin City Brewing Company
CBC People’s Choice
BREWHALL, Mighty Morphin’ Sour Rangers
Innovator of the Year
Field House Brewing
Legend Award
Lundy Dale
Brewery of the Year
33 Acres Brewing Company
7 Great Craft Beer Tours Across Canada
/in Brewery ToursVancouver Brewery Tours Named One of the Great Craft Beer Tours in Canada
Craft beer has been gaining in popularity ever since some of Canada’s first microbreweries like Granville Island Brewing or Big Rock Brewery opened their doors over 30 years ago. While our country’s craft breweries continue to grow and mature, a new business model has popped up across the country to aid in their continued growth and success – craft beer tour companies.
There are currently only a handful of craft beer focused tour companies across the country, so when Lucas Akroyd from G Adventures got in touch and wanted to profile Vancouver Brewery Tours as part of a Canada wide article about Great Craft Beer Tours Across Canada – we were happy to host Lucas and honoured to be alongside such great company.
Here’s what Lucas had to say about his experience with Vancouver Brewery Tours, and our craft beer community:
“You know you’ll get a complimentary 16-oz pint glass from Vancouver Brewery Tours, but you don’t know who you’ll meet while exploring this budding West Coast beer mecca by van. On my latest three-hour odyssey, I encountered a bachelorette party from Philadelphia and two brothers from Minnesota attending a prosthetics convention. This tour company, founded in 2013, hits up such East Vancouver staples as Main Street Brewing, which boasts tasty seasonals like the Barking Mad Plum Porter, and Strange Fellows, whose flourishing tasting room features the Belgian-style Jongleur Wit and also displays quirky local artwork.”
Read the full article here to see all the great craft beer tours across Canada www.gadventures.com/blog/7-great-craft-beer-tours-across-canada
The Rise, Fall and Rise Again of Brewery Creek
/in Brewery ToursLocal Podcast Captures the 100+ Year Story of Brewery Creek
Did you know that Vancouver Brewery Tours partners with 22 different local craft breweries? Did you also know that all of these breweries are located within 3 main brewing districts – North Vancouver, East Vancouver and Brewery Creek located in the Mount Pleasant/Main Street neighborhood.
The oldest of these neighborhoods has affectionately become known as Brewery Creek. The area has a rich and storied history dating back to the late 1800’s when a fresh water creek ran down from Main Street and emptied into what is now False Creek.
Recently Vancouver Brewery Tours Owner Ryan Mackey was featured on the Echoes Podcast of BCIT Radio Station Evolution 107.9 to talk about what the area is today – one of the most popular neighborhoods for craft breweries and beer fans alike. Also featured is local historian John Atkin who speaks to the storied history of the area.
To learn more about the area, check out the following link, happy listening!
www.soundcloud.com/evolution1079bcit/echoes-podcast-brewery-creek
The 2018 Fresh Hop Season is Here!
/in Brewery ToursThe 2018 Fresh Hops Season is Here!
It’s that time of the year again… the season we have all been waiting for… when we are able to welcome back fresh hop beers back into our favourite breweries!
What are Fresh Hops?
You might be asking yourself, “what is the difference between fresh hops and regular hops?” and today, we are here to tell you that there really is quite a substantial difference! For example, regular hops are available year-round because they have been dried and frozen in order to preserve them for use whenever the brewers need them. Fresh hops, or ‘wet’ hops, are harvested as whole flower cones and not dried or frozen at all. This preserves the precious hop oils necessary for making an amazingly fresh tasting and delightfully smelling beer that only comes around once a year.
Hops in the wild
What are the origins of Fresh Hop beers in B.C.?
The first craft brewery to make a fresh hop beer in B.C. was Victoria’s very own Driftwood Brewing back in 2009 with their Sartori Harvest IPA. In fact, the story goes that when Driftwood started making this beer they used to harvest the hops first thing in the morning, then race back to the ferry in order to make it back to the brewery where the brew kettle was waiting to brew a freshly hopped beer on the same day of picking said hops. How fresh is that?!
A hop farm
Old Yale Brewing, always the innovators out in Chilliwack, have a fresh hopped beer that has the newly harvested hops thrust into the brew kettle after just 45 minutes! Since 2014 we have seen this delectable beer style explode in popularity with more new breweries jumping on board every year. The next year was also the initial installment of our own fresh hop festival, the B.C. Hop Fest, and it was so successful it has become an annual event. This year, slated to occur again at the end of September. Now in 2018 it seems like just about every brewery has a fresh hop beer in this seasonal style. The number of hop farmers has been increasing rapidly in B.C. to service the growing B.C. Craft Beer scenes thirst for fresh, and regularly provided, hops.
When are Fresh Hops coming to the breweries?
The time is now! Late summer and early autumn is when hop farmers everywhere start to harvest their hops for use in brewing. The fresh hops are meant to be utilized as soon as possible, usually within 24-48 hours, to preserve those fragile oils which produce all the coveted flavours and aromas we obsess about so much. Brewers love to get these amazing fresh hops into their beers, making them super vibrant and fresh tasting while adding pleasant grassy/chlorophyll sensations with a softer hop bite.
You can see a variety of styles like IPA’s, Pale Ales, Amber Ales and Lagers used to showcase the fresh hops. Many of our brewery partners produce fresh hop beers and when hopping (pun intended) onto one of our tours during this limited time, you are certainly in for a treat! Here’s just a few of the breweries where you can expect to see fresh hop beers on tap:
Hoppy hunting!
Cheers, Cam
Vancouver Brewery Tour Guide
Hip Hops – BRUT IPAs Have Arrived in Vancouver
/in Brewery ToursArticle by Cam Gerard: Vancouver Brewery Tours Guide & graduate of the SFU Craft Beer and Brewing Essentials program
What’s in a Name?
So what exactly is a Brut IPA? The name “brut” is taken from the terminology used to rank sweetness in
Champagne and other sparkling wines — brut is the driest category in that ranking (although it is sometimes subdivided into brut and extra brut). Doing my best craft beer math we get Brut + IPA (which is the most dominant beer style on the West Coast of North America if not the continent) = “Champagne” like beer.
You can expect the beer to be super dry and highly carbonated with a light body. The appearance is a brilliant gold as well as startling clarity. The aroma is complex throwing out fresh citrus fruits, dankness, and petrol like aromatics. The ABV (alcohol by volume) is also on the higher end.
Origins of the BRUT IPA Style
I have yet to try this particular beer style but it is high on my ISO (in search of) list. I hope it can maintain a place amongst all the other IPAs out there and give us thirsty IPA fans a different alternative. Here’s my list of known Brut IPAs in town, let us know if we’ve missed any!
– Parallel 49 Brewing just recently released a Brut IPA in a cork and cage reminiscent of a champagne bottle – June 15th, 2018.
– Steamwork “Brute IPA” just bottled last Friday – June 15th, 2018 **from an inside source ;)!
– Bridge Brewing Brut IPA – June 8th, 2018 (check out the Beer Brawlers YouTube video!)
– Faculty have also recently come out with a Brut IPA called “729 Brut IPA” – June 7th ,2018.
– Postmark Brut IPA – May 23rd, 2018
– Yellow Dog “Pop It Like It’s Hop Brut IPA” – May 11th, 2018