[Vancouver] Winter/Spring 2016

Discussion in 'Canada' started by JonnyBeers, Jan 13, 2016.

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  1. JonnyBeers

    JonnyBeers Savant (1,211) Oct 24, 2012 Canada (BC)

    The Vancouver beer scene is at a point where you pretty much need weekly updates to keep up with all that's going on. We aren't quite Portland, but the influence is obvious. Of course we have the usual suspects releasing seasonals on a somewhat predictable schedule, but the trend now is for smaller, more neighbourhood based breweries and tasting rooms who do whatever the heck they want, when they want. It's a beautiful thing :slight_smile:

    In Vancouver, you can swim, ski, snowboard, kayak, bicycle, and drink beer. All in the same day. You might even get a tan and frostbite in the same day. I'm pretty sure there are summer and winter beers on the shelves of local beer shops every month of the year...

    We have so many options for travelers. The food scene is expanding even faster than the beer scene. If you also like cocktails, this is your place. We're 2-3hrs away from Seattle, and about 5 from Portland. It does not rain every day. There have been more whales swimming the beaches around downtown than there have been snow days.

    Many BC/Vancouver based BA's on here. If you have a questions or a travel schedule you'd like tips on, let us know!
     
    #1 JonnyBeers, Jan 13, 2016
    shadyhipsta, westcoastbeergeek, PaulQuinn and 1 other person like this.
  2. PaulQuinn

    PaulQuinn Initiate (0) May 27, 2011 Canada (BC)

    I guess this should be something similar to the PNW's Visiting... threads. I'll start:

    (Almost) Universally Recommended "Must-Hit" Breweries
    • Brassneck
    • Four Winds
    • Callister
    • Strange Fellows
    • 33 Acres

    Other Highly Recommended Breweries & Brewpubs
    • Yaletown
    • Main St
    • Steel Toad

    Highly Recommended Beer Bars
    • Alibi Room
    • St Augustine's

    Highly Recommended Bottle Shops
    • Brewery Creek
    • Denman Beer Wine & Spirits
    • Viti Wine & Lager
    • Legacy

    (A Few) Beer-centric Restaurants
    I'll leave this one to the locals...
     
    #2 PaulQuinn, Jan 18, 2016
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  3. lordofthelambics

    lordofthelambics Initiate (0) Feb 14, 2014 Washington

    Hi guys --

    A bunch of us are going to Victoria B.C. for the weekend. Where can we find the loons?

    I kid, I kid.

    Looking to pick up cans of local sessionable Pale Ales/IPAs. Preferably something we can't find in WA. Recommendations?

    Cheers!
    -C
     
    #3 lordofthelambics, Mar 1, 2016
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  4. Beervana

    Beervana Initiate (0) Apr 15, 2014 Canada (BC)

    Yellow Dog is the first to come to mind. Not exactly sessionable, but Play Dead is a pretty killer IPA when fresh.
     
    #4 Beervana, Mar 1, 2016
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  5. JonnyBeers

    JonnyBeers Savant (1,211) Oct 24, 2012 Canada (BC)

    Moon Under Water does cans, haven't had in awhile but they're usually pretty decent. Play Dead IPA 02.08 cans are amazing, not sure how many made it over to the Island. Yellow Dog also does a pale ale, again limited deliveries to the island afaik
     
    #5 JonnyBeers, Mar 1, 2016
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  6. PaulQuinn

    PaulQuinn Initiate (0) May 27, 2011 Canada (BC)

    Can say about specific dates but Play Dead is all around the city most of the time. Shouldn't be a problem to find it. Other BC PAs/IPAs in cans that I can think of right now: Moon Under Water, Strange Fellows and Red Racer.
     
    #6 PaulQuinn, Mar 1, 2016
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  7. LampertLand

    LampertLand Grand Pooh-Bah (3,163) Nov 2, 2011 Canada (BC)
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'll also show some love for Strange Fellows 'Talisman' dry hopped pale ale in tall boy cans , :grinning:

    & of course Central City Red Racer IPA , can't go wrong , prost
     
    #7 LampertLand, Mar 2, 2016
  8. bylerteck

    bylerteck Grand Pooh-Bah (3,167) May 17, 2009 Canada (ON)
    Pooh-Bah

    I walked from Granville Island to Alibi Room. Good 'sightseeing'


     
    #8 bylerteck, Mar 2, 2016
  9. PaulQuinn

    PaulQuinn Initiate (0) May 27, 2011 Canada (BC)

    @lordofthelambics It's not directly related to IPAs or cans, but Victoria Beer Week will be happening this weekend. Maybe one of the events might interest you and your party.
     
    #9 PaulQuinn, Mar 4, 2016
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  10. mjmcnns

    mjmcnns Aspirant (257) Jan 28, 2014 Canada (BC)

    The first thing that comes to mind for me is definitely Strange Fellows Talisman (four pack, tall boys), as mentioned by an earlier poster.

    Central City makes a solid ISA that I believe is 4.5% and comes in a six pack of cans.

    Not an IPA/pale, but in the "surprisingly sessionable" category right now, Powell Street Craft Brewing (out of Vancouver) has a 6% BA porter that I personally think is outstanding given it's only 6%.
     
    #10 mjmcnns, Mar 4, 2016
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  11. westcoastbeergeek

    westcoastbeergeek Initiate (0) Sep 16, 2015 Canada (BC)

    Totally, just wrote about this one, it's nice to enjoy a BA porter on a weekday for once!
     
    #11 westcoastbeergeek, Mar 5, 2016
  12. pda22

    pda22 Initiate (0) Apr 9, 2013 California

    I'm going to be in Whistler this weekend and the downtown Vancouver the following week. Any suggestions on breweries to hit, beers to try, places to stop that aren't mentioned above?
     
    #12 pda22, Mar 8, 2016
  13. JonnyBeers

    JonnyBeers Savant (1,211) Oct 24, 2012 Canada (BC)

    Looks like all the stands outs have been mentioned above, but need to double triple extra mention Callister's Machine Ales. It's kind of a co-op brewery/art gallery and with 4 different breweries making all relatively different styles. The Machine IPAs are incredible.

    Steel Toad appears to be pouring some Dunham beers, and the bottle list includes Tilquin Gueuze which is actually the >2Squared version. Great deal if they still have bottles, that program is being phased out.

    Lots of restaurants in the gastown/cambie/main/commercial area serve decent local beers on tap. Too many food places to list unless you have a specific request.

    If you're near Stanley Park, check out the Denman Liquor Store in the Denman Place Mall (Comox/Denman), ask for Mark he'll show you what's good.
     
    #13 JonnyBeers, Mar 8, 2016
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  14. walterfredo

    walterfredo Savant (1,032) Nov 22, 2011 California
    Trader

    I realize this isn't foodadvocate, but can any locals provide some restaurant recs? With awesome seafood! Only gonna be in for one night, a week from this Monday. Looking for some amazing food without a pretentious environment. Staying in Gastown, so preference to that area.

    Also, which of the above-recommended beer spots are in or near Gastown
     
    #14 walterfredo, Mar 11, 2016
    Last edited: Mar 11, 2016
  15. distantmantra

    distantmantra Pooh-Bah (2,954) May 23, 2011 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Alibi Room is right there.
     
    #15 distantmantra, Mar 11, 2016
  16. JonnyBeers

    JonnyBeers Savant (1,211) Oct 24, 2012 Canada (BC)

    Alibi Room, Bitter, Pourhouse, Clough Club (good cocktails) are in gas town. What's your budget for fish? There's a huuuuuuge gap. If you want something super casual and cheap Sea Monster sushi in gastown is/was a fun spot for lunch. Miku/Minami (more downtown) are great sushi spots that aren't too too crazy$, and then there's Tojos which could run you $100+ per person if you're not careful. Blue Water in Yaletown always gets high praise. There's tonnes more. Avoid all you can eat sushi.

    Meat & Bread is a local sandwich institution of sorts. Get the porchetta. For coffee check out Revolver. Tacofino is a great spot as well, fish tacos! Nothing in gastown is overly pretentious, overly hipster potentially :wink:. Pidgeon has great eats and cocktails.

    There's lots of great little spots not too far away down Main Street. Maybe a 15 min walk. The upstairs at Campagnolo has an ever famous 'Dirty Burger'. Bodega on Main (Spanish) is really cool. Farina has good pizza.

    Protip: ask for the burger at Alibi Room medium rare.

    To keep this on topic, most of those places I listed also have local beers on tap. You won't find 20+ taps but maybe 3 or 4 decent local craft
     
    #16 JonnyBeers, Mar 11, 2016
    Last edited: Mar 11, 2016
  17. walterfredo

    walterfredo Savant (1,032) Nov 22, 2011 California
    Trader

    thanks for the info. We're ok with spending some money on a nice meal. Doesn't have to be strictly a seafood restaurant. Chambar is looking good!
     
    #17 walterfredo, Mar 11, 2016
  18. Beervana

    Beervana Initiate (0) Apr 15, 2014 Canada (BC)

    Chambar does have a nice Belgian beer list and really great mussels but take a look at Wildebeest too. A great beer list and some really well done seafood.
     
    #18 Beervana, Mar 11, 2016
  19. distantmantra

    distantmantra Pooh-Bah (2,954) May 23, 2011 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Chambar's beer list has never wowed me. Always seems quantity over quality.

    My wife and I really enjoyed Tavola this past Summer. Great Italian food and they've always got some seasonal Four Winds stuff on tap.
     
    #19 distantmantra, Mar 11, 2016
  20. walterfredo

    walterfredo Savant (1,032) Nov 22, 2011 California
    Trader

    Any shouldn't-miss beers being released by local Vancouver breweries next week? I'll be in town next monday/tuesday, looking forward to visiting a couple local breweries.
     
    #20 walterfredo, Mar 16, 2016
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