This weekend I'll be in Vancouver for a wedding and my schedule is VERY tight. I get in around 1:30p (I have a rental) and have to be at the hall in Surrey at 6p. The next day, I'm free between around 2p and 6p, but i'll be in Surrey. Then I fly out first thing the next morning. I want to do 2 things: 1) find a nice beer bar with lots of local stuff on tap and maybe have a few samplers - gotta be open at 2p; and 2) find a liquor store with Driftwood's Fat Tug so I can buy as many as will fit in my suitcase to pack for the trip home. I wanted to hit the Alibi Room right when I fly in, but just realized it opens at 5p. So maybe St. Augustine? BierCraft? I'm staying somewhere in New Westminster - looks like The Terminal Pub is my only option there. But I may be checking in late to accomodate a stop before the wedding. As best I can tell, Surrey is a lost cause (Is Central City, Surrey as big as the website makes it seem?) As to liquor stores - time is tight, so I'll trade price for convenience and large selection (especially to ensure they have Fat Tug). Not a lot of time to drive around checking places out. Thanks for any suggestions
Central City Liquor in Surrey Central had a pretty good selection when I was there in the spring. It will at the very least have Fat Tug, you should be able to find that in most liquor stores. If you like Fat Tug a lot I suggest looking for a 4 pack of Play Dead by Yellow Dog or a six pack of Flagship IPA from Steamworks as well. If your staying near a skytrain station in new west it is very easy to take to the Commercial Drive station and go to St Augustine. Are you driving from YVR to New West? Four Winds in Delta and Fuggle & Warlock in Richmond are not too far out of the way. Steel and Oak in New West is also worth a stop in.
Just in case you don't know, there's a river between Surrey and Vancouver... And not nearly enough bridges. Travelling anytime around rush hour can be an absolute nightmare! Weekend certainly isn't as bad, but give yourself time.
Feel free to DM me, I live in Surrey... But seriously I know a few good spots that won't require pulling your hair out to go into Vancouver and waste all your time stuck in traffic/transit. The actual CC brewery is huge size wise. Their sours right now are great though ($$$) and their IPA is still great when fresh. I'd recommend hitting the actual brewery rather than the brewpub and/or liquor store. Terminal Pub actually has a pretty decent little bottle shop. You might even luck out and still find Sartori Harvest from Driftwood, their fresh hop. Also recommend their Raised By Wolves if you like Fat Tug so much. 120 Pub is your best bet in Surrey for local tap selection and decent food. If you're in New West, there's a few spots, Hops Northwest by the train. You're not too far from 'Brewers Row' in Port Moody where you could hit 4 breweries all within walking distance. No train yet. Fat Tug is everywhere. Still great, but we have an insane amount of good IPAs out right now from multiple breweries. IMO the best liquor store in Surrey is Pacific Liquor Fleetwood. Sounds like a tight schedule. If I had to pick Alibi or St Augs I'd say St Augs just because it's right beside the train and closer to where you're staying.
I'll be visiting Whistler next week and was looking for recommendations for any breweries or beers that I should be on the look-out for that are available at the British Liquor Store(s) in Whistler. I don't think I'll have access to other stores as I won't have a car. Thanks for any and all suggestions!
You can actually look up beers available at each BCL location on their website (bcliquorstores.com) although you'd have to check each individual beer, tedious...you'll likely find better selections at: Nesters: twitter.com/nestersliquor Blackcomb Liquor: twitter.com/BlackcombLiquor/ Blackcomb is more accessible. You'll probably find lots of local breweries at either spot though. How many of their seasonal/special offerings not sure. Also make sure to check out Whistler Brewhouse (http://www.mjg.ca/brewhouse/). Note: not the same thing as Whistler Brewing. Very different.
There's a not bad private liquor store right by New West skytrain station. It's called 8th Street Liquor Store and it's attached to a pub right by the entrance to the skytrain station from 8th Street. I've never been to the pub, just the liquor store, so I have no idea if the pub is worth a visit. You should be able to get Fat Tug at pretty much any liquor store. I would expect every BC Liquor Stores location to have it. As has been mentioned, you can check their stock online, but you have to look it up by the individual product. St. Augustine's is only a block north of Commercial-Broadway skytrain station, so it's pretty easy to get to using transit. One thing I love about St Augustine's is that their selection is always changing and they have their live beer menu online, so you can always see exactly what's available before you go. Their selection is mainly local with a few US beers thrown in.
I'll be staying at the Fairmont, so this place will definitely be handy. I will have access to a car, but can't drive it-so that's why I said I didn't have access to a car. I'll be there with my wife, who is attending a work-related conference. So it's a company rental and I can't drive it. She won't have that much free time, so I'd rather not bother her with driving me around to stop at liquor stores. Based on their websites, I'll be to find plenty of local beers to try. Many thanks to you and @souvenirs for the suggestions!
Oh ya, if you're driving there's a couple spots in West Vancouver right after you get over Lion's Gate Bridge from downtown Vancouver. Would only be 10 minutes off the highway to Whistler, a bit more of a detour if you're coming from the East side of Vancouver/Iron Workers bridge. Park Royal BC Liquor Store 16th Street Liquor Store
