Victoria + Vancouver beers

As your here on Tuesday Aug12/14 in Victoria , Driftwood is open , most brews available also on tap at Garrick's Head or any local bottle shops

here's a website (http://victoriabeers.com/) click on growlers , that will let you know what is being poured at the other breweries/brewpubs

and in Vancouver - Alibi Room , a must ,

cheers/prost LampetLand

 

Alibi Room is definitely worth a visit in Van. St. Augustine's is worth a stop too I'd say. I've found Cantillon at BierCraft a few times before if that's something you're after.

Most important part of every BC beer trip though, drink as much fresh Fat Tug as you can! One of my favourite IPA's out there.

 

I probably should have made it more clear but BierCraft is a restaurantish bar so the Cantillon would be for drinking on site. Don't quote me on this, but you may actually be able to bring kids in there too.

 

Hi Charlie,

For Vancouver here is a thread and another from October 2013 that should be useful.

Lots of great options in Vancouver right now - the nano and micro brewery scene is booming. You can also get a bunch from the US (including seasons from Upright, Logsdon, Commons etc) and from Quebec and Belgium etc in our shops.

Breweries - Hit Main Street. There are a bunch here that are producing some great and interesting stuff (including barrel and sour programs). Check out Brassneck, Main and 33 Acres. If you end up near Delta (by one of the ferry terminals) you will want to check out Four Winds. Very new but producing some beers along the lines of Commons and Logsdon.

There are another bunch over on the east side (Parallel 49, Storm) that produce some good beers.

All of the above generally have food trucks stationed in front.

For bars you will want to hit The Alibi Room and maybe St. Augustines.

Have a great trip.

EDIT: I assume you will not be hauling beer up with you, but if you do feel free to PM me about IP trades.

 

Apologize for hijacking the thread: Any recommendations for bottle shops up in Victoria that will have Tilquin? Looking to stock up on early vintages, if possible (esp. 2010-11 750mls)

Also, I'll be staying in Victoria during the beginning of September. Happy to do IP trades. Have plenty of WA/OR goodies to trade as well as beers from around the US. Contact me for a cellar list. Looking for lambics, obviously, and more than willing to be fair/reasonable $-wise.

 

Not likely to find any early vintages of Tilquin, probably only 2012-2013 and they're not likely to be 750mls either. I'd try The Strath first and Cook Street Liquor second. I know both have had Tilquin, don't know if if they currently have it though.

 

Still some 750s in Vancouver but like @Beervana said, not likely to find earlier vintages.

 

Three best bars in Victoria are; The Garrick's Head, The Churchill and The Drake.

If you're going to Driftwood (it's just a growler filling station) it would be a shame to not stop by Moon Under Water around the corner. Honestly, everything in Victoria is a 20 minute walk from each other, except 4 Mile, but avoid them.

 

second the main street recommendation. few new breweries all within walking distance of each other. brassneck is my fave!

 

As a Washingtonian that occasionally visits I'll say this:

1. Victoria seems to be a far inferior beer city to BC (sorry Victorians!). Moon under water is good, the Strath is a solid bottle shop ... but I don't think you'll find beer's there that you won't find in Vancouver.
2. Garrick's is a good place to tick locals ... but in the few times I've been there, the quality sort of hovers in the 3.5 - 3.75 range based on BA ratings. That felt about right. Still a good stop.
3. In Vancouver, Brewery Creek and 16th Street are the bottle shops where I have the most luck. Solid selection of locals and European stuff. Tilquin? Yep.
4. The Vancouver beers that I've had that compare well to just about anything are Fat Tug by Driftwood, Belle Royale (a cherry sour) by Driftwood (still available in Vancouver), Naughty Hildegard by Driftwood (Fresh batch!), Juxtapose Brett IPA by Four Winds (just released and you should find it around town in Vancouver), Pilsner by Four Winds (don't sleep on this cuz it's a Pils ... it's phenomenal). Persephone beers are also pretty good.
5. Tap rooms I like in Vancouver are Brassneck, 33 Acres (though selection is small), Storm (an odd place ... seemingly dirty and steampunk-esque, but producing good beers), and Four Winds. I've heard Steel & Oak out by Four Winds is also worth a stop.
6. Alibi Room in Vancouver is a must.

Cheers!

 

1. Victoria seems to be a far inferior beer city to BC (sorry Victorians!).
4. The Vancouver beers that I've had that compare well to just about anything are Fat Tug by Driftwood, Belle Royale (a cherry sour) by Driftwood (still available in Vancouver), Naughty Hildegard by Driftwood (Fresh batch!),

Driftwood Brewing Company
Phone: (250) 381-2739
Web: www.Driftwoodbeer.com
Email: [email protected]
Address: Suite 102-450 Hillside Ave, Victoria, BC

 

Yup, while I wouldn't mind calling that one our own, Driftwood is Victoria's pride

 

Mea culpa. In #4 I meant to say the BC beers that compare well but typed too fast. I stand by my assertion in point 1. I enjoyed visiting, moon under water is nice, bit the options pale in comparison to Vancouver. Not at all intended to be insulting - just an outsiders observation.

Cheers!

 

Hey guys,

Going to be in Vancouver next Thursday and Friday, and was curious what current releases you'd all recommend? Checked out the links above, but figured I'd follow up to see if there was anything else current/recent worth targeting in particular. Already grabbed a reservation for Alibi Room, so that'll definitely be a stop. I'm with my wife on the trip, so can't really make this TOO beer-centric of a trip -- so beers that can be found on tap at local food spots are fine by me.

Thanks!

 

In terms of BC beers, right now you can find Driftwood's Belle Royale and Naughty Hildegard which are both worth picking up along with Four Winds Juxapose all of which @Kurmaraja notes above.

 

In addition to the bottles mentioned, Fat Tug will probably be on tap places. Four Winds Pilsner may be too. Both are excellent. If you make it to a bottle shop and see Les Trois Mousquetaires' Grande Cuvee Porter Baltique, grab it. I got a couple bottles when I was there earlier in the week and it's excellent. Brewery Creek also had bottles of Golden Blend and the price of Tilquin in BC is better than in the states ... about $8 - $10 cheaper?

 

No more Golden Blend I'm afraid.

+1 on the Les Trois Mousquetaires' Grande Cuvee Porter Baltique

 

Thanks for the recommendations, @Kurmaraja and @FondueVoodoo! Wife's a big dark beer fan, so Les Trois Mousquetaires' Grande Cuvee Porter Baltique should go over well. Will be checking out the rest, too. Want to make the most out of our two days in town.