Celebrate Craft Beer Week

From May 10 – 16, Vancouver will showcase 27 local micro breweries with a Vancouver Craft Beer Week celebration. Local restaurateurs, bar owners and brewers will host this inaugural fest with tastings and events at restaurants around the city.  It’s the first of its kind in Canada, paying tribute to the many micro breweries that produce fine beers using products like whole grains, creating an excellent tasting brew without  the added flavors of rice and corn used by macro breweries to make their beers cheaper.

What is ‘craft beer’?  It’s a broad term used by several small breweries to describe their style of beer.  They offer a large selection of flavors brewed in small batches, prepared in true artisan spirit.  BC has more than 30 craft breweries including some that never appear in liquor stores.

The idea of launching VCBW originated at the Yaletown Brew Pub and Dix Barbecue & Brewery where enthusiasts gathered to sample the latest beers from local breweries and to meet members of the Vancouver Chapter of Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) an international organization that supports craft beer culture.

Eventually they convinced more restauranteurs and bar owners to put craft beers on tap and now Vancouver is on the map as far as micro breweries and their products are concerned.  Brands like India Pale Ale, Blue Buck Beer and Chocolate Poster are now popular in Victoria as well.  The craft beer market in BC has become mainstream, and trendy with the foodie crowd.

Some of the popular craft beer restaurants are Incendios and Stellas, and the Alibi Room where Hoppapalooza, a celebration of hop-focused beer is a sell-out and Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson will tap the inaugural cask.  Stellas is already sold out for the VCBW beer dinner.  On May 11, Chambar Restaurant will host a five course meal prepared in beer and paired with authentic Belgian brews.  Elixir Bistro had a Mother’s Day brunch buffet with ten percent of each bill donated to BC Children’s Hospital.

Steamworks Brewing Company, Gastown

Venues where you can get a taste of home-crafted beer:

• The Alibi Room, 157 Alexander Street.  A selection of craft beers from around the province. (map)
• Stellas,  3305 Cambie St. (map) and 1191 Commercial Drive (map). Beers from across the globe paired with delicious eats.
• Incendios, 2118 Burrard St. (Kitsilano map) and 103 Columbia St. (Gastown map) good food, pizza and beer.
• Steamworks Brewing Co 375 Water St. Located in Gastown with patio seating. (map)
• Yaletown Brewing Co, 1111 Mainland St. Fresh handcrafted ales and lagers served in a lively atmosphere. (map)
• Granville Island Taproom, 1441 Cartwright St.  Features in-depth daily brewery tours @ $9/75 that include four tasters. (map)
• Chambar Restaurant 562 Beatty St. A Belgian restaurant noted for fine dining. (map)
• Elixir Bistro, 350 Davie St. Located in the Opus Hotel in Yaletown. Classic French cuisine in a vibrant atmosphere. (Vancouver?s most stylish and contemporary boutique hotel. Set in Yaletown, Vancouver?s fashionable heritage district, Opus is steps away from the inner harbour, recreation, shopping, entertainment, spas and some of the city?s best restaurants. Opus Hotel?s stunning guestrooms and suites feature vibrant colours, oversized windows and luxe furnishings. There are five unique decor schemes to choose from, ranging from sleek minimalist to eclectic modern, with comfort and style as the unifying elements. Magnificent spa bathrooms feature oversized walk-in showers or deep soaker tubs lit by natural light from picture windows. Select guestrooms offer a fireplace or balcony, and the penthouse floor boasts a wraparound balcony and floor-to-ceiling windows. [less]___lat___49.27460098___lng___-123.1224976___address___ 322 Davie Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada" href="http://www.planeteye.com/Place/Opus-Hotel+319468.aspx?refcon=wp&refid=0" target="_blank">map)
• Dix Barbecue & Brewery, 871 Beatty St.  Home of Vancouver Craft Beer culture. Hosts special Beerapalooza nights and monthly Cask nights. (map)

For locations and events see Vancouver Craft Beer Week