Coming on Monday for a week for work. Staying right downtown at the Carmana Plaza on Alberni. I pulled a list of the shops to buy at and tried looking at other inquiries on here for good ones to hit up but hoping some people can give me a little more advice. I won't have a car so anywhere I'm able to walk to would be ideal! I am looking for more interesting things I can't get easily in the Chicago distro or US for that matter such as: Any Loons if even possible. Interesting stouts. IPAs that are a must. Not sure when DDC Solstice D'Ete comes out but my wife and I really love it too. Any help is appreciated.
You've got a couple of walking distance options nearby - Viti is the best known, but the Steamworks Liquor store is managed by a very serious beer guy and they've really turned the place around over the past few months. Space and selection is much more limited than Viti, but for instance you'll not find the Cascade beers that arrived throughout the city a couple weeks ago anywhere cheaper, for instance, and as of this morning (it's on my way to work, I usually swing by and say hello) there's some good DDC around etc. It's on the way to / from the alibi room for you, so check it out on the way! As far as specific beer requests... Loons: Unless a shipment arrives next week, you won't find any, but some tilquin is still around at steamworks and 16th st. Interesting stouts: DDC Peche Mortel & Aphrodisiac are on shelves and well worth your time, but locally there's nothing I'd recommend that's currently available. IPAs: You must try these three - Yellow Dog Play Dead IPA (tallboy cans only - not dated, but production is small enough that whats on shelves is still fresh), Central city IPA (check the bottom of the can for date and make sure it's fresh, and Fat Tug (check cap for freshness date). And Solstice D'Ete doesn't reach BC I'm afraid.
Driftwood Naughty Hildegarde just hit stores too if you like those sweet sweet hops. Same with four winds Juxtapose, but it's just under a month old now.
The real white whale, is a thread about Canada that doesn't start with someone asking about Cantillon. I will add though, we have Zipcar and Car2GO here, both of which you can use if you have a membership in the US/Canada now. If you're near Stanley Park at all and looking for a few beers, your best bet would be the 'My Liquor Store' on Denman.
