First Ever BC Beer Awards by Brewery Creek
Tuesday, March 16th, 2010 | Beer | 1 Comment
Brewery Creek, Vancouver’s finest beer store, is putting on the first ever BC Beer Awards as part of Vancouver Craft Beer week. I’m told that 35 of BC’s breweries and brewpubs (almost all of them) will be entering over 190 beers (almost all of them) in ten categories. I don’t know what the categories are yet, but will let you know when I find out.
In the past I’ve expressed concerns about beer awards because I feel like they aren’t true selectors of good beer. Awards should be fairly and honestly given, especially when considering beer companies tend to use the awards they win extensively in their marketing. I’ve heard that winning some awards can be as simple as entering a beer into one of thirty or more style categories. That’s ninety medalists right there, and then we aren’t told who actually entered what beers into what categories. I’ve got it on good authority that almost every beer in BC will be entered into these awards and that the list of competing beers will be disclosed. When you consider that this blind taste test will be judged by beer, wine, and food writers with considerable palates, I’m encouraged to think we have ourselves a true competition that will select BC’s finest brews.
The blind tasting will take place next Monday at an undisclosed (super secret) location and the winners will be announced during Vancouver Craft beer week. All the pertinent details are in the following press release:
The Vancouver Craft Beer Week organizing committee is proud to announce the first ever BC Beer Awards by Brewery Creek. On Monday, March 22nd, an expert judging panel will review over 150 beers from all across British Columbia at [a location I'm supposed to keep secret]. Media are invited to join judges and volunteers at 9:00am to witness the judging process, as well as learn about the intricacies of craft beer and to find out more about the upcoming Vancouver Craft Beer Week.
The only blind judged beer competition in British Columbia, the BC Beer Awards judging panel boasts such beer experts as:
• Don Tse – A BJCP Certified beer judge, freelance beer writer and consultant, Don has been writing professionally about beer for seven years. His articles have appeared in beer publications such as All About Beer, Ale Street News and Beers of the World.
• Abram Goldman-Armstrong – A beer writer in Portland, Oregon, Abram has been a BJCP National Rank Judge since the age of 21, judging at competitions such as the Great American Beer Festival, the Okanagan Fest-of-Ales, and Portland’s Spring Beer and Wine Fest. He co-organizes the North American Organic Brewers Festival, the world’s largest organic beer festival.
• Megan Flynn – The publisher of Beer Northwest, a quarterly magazine covering beer, food, and lifestyle in the Pacific Northwest, Megan travels North America in search of the best beer and beer personalities, continuing to develop her pallet into one of the most diverse on the continent.
• James Nevison – Columnist for The Province newspaper, where his “Wine Guy” column appears weekly each Thursday. He is the co-author of five bestselling wine books, the latest is Had a Glass: Top 100 Wines for 2010 under $20, $25, and $30. Recently James was named a “Top 40 Foodie Under 40” by Western Living magazine.
Winners will be announced at the BC Beer Awards by Brewery Creek award show on Friday, May 14th, one of Vancouver Craft Beer Week’s signature events. For further information please contact:
http://vancouvercraftbeerweek.com
http://twitter.com/vcbw
Cheers,
Chris
Rad Beer Festivals Coming Soon
Monday, March 15th, 2010 | Beer | No Comments
Spinnakers is hosting their Spring Cask Beer Festival this weekend, Saturday March 20th. Alas, I am too late in writing about it, for it is already sold out. It would have cost $30 for entry, souvenir glass, and three beer tickets, plus $1 for every extra beer ticket after that. It will be good times for those lucky enough to have tickets. The lineup is said to include beers from Driftwood, Phillips, Lighthouse, Vancouver Island, Central City, Elysian, Deschutes and more.
If you missed out on Spinnakers, don’t get too down because the Washington Cask Beer Festival is the following Saturday, March 27th in Seattle. For $35, this one includes twenty tastes to drink from your very own commemorative cup. I went last year and had a really good times. With so many free tastes and such a stellar beer lineup, my group had a hard time keeping it together. We had a really good time until things got out of hand. Id’ say the Washington Cask Beer Festival is the best beer event in the Northwest, so don’t miss this one.
For those of you not willing to make the trip south of the border, you’ll soon have an opportunity to party in your hometown. Vancouver Craft Beer Week is happening May 10-16, but I still haven’t heard what it will entail. That being said, I’m sure it will be super rad and something to look out for.
Cheers,
Chris
Belmont Station in Portland
Saturday, March 13th, 2010 | Beer, Pubs | 3 Comments
I went to beer mecca Portland last weekend. I’d never been there before and I was pretty impressed. I’d liken the city to one big Commercial Drive, at least the places I saw. What impressed me most about Portland was the constant selection of fantastic beer and food. Everywhere we went we had an abundance of local craft selection sold at extremely low prices, as little as $3 per pint. We went to a lot of cool places in Portland, but my favorite place we visited was Belmont Station.
Belmont Station is an epic beer store stocked with an enormous selection of amazing beers from around the world. The closest comparable we have here is Brewery Creek, but our liquor laws and taxes prevent them from competing as well as they’d like to. I was overwhelmed when I walked in to Belmont Station. I wanted to buy everything, but was obviously limited as to what I could bring back across the border after a two day trip. I picked up some Russian River brews I’d never seen anywhere else before. I also bought Aphrodisiaque, a cocoa vanilla bean stout brewed by Quebec’s Dieu du Ciel. I’d never seen this beer in BC before, which I find upsetting. You’d think we’d be able to procure some of Canada’s finest? Another notable purchase was Chatoe Rogue Dirtoir Black Lager, which is made from Rogues home grown barley and hops. There were others, but these were the notables of consumed and enjoyed so far.
If you can believe it, Belmont Station also has an attached beer bar with 22 taps of top notch beer. We all ordered something different and all received something wonderful. For me, it was my first chance to drink the legendary Pliny the Elder. It stands up to it’s reputation as being one of the greatest beers in the world. Erik and I were actually angry at how amazing and affordable Belmont Station is. Why can’t we have something like that here? Any future trips to Portland will involve a visit or two to Belmont Station. If you love beer, you must go.
Cheers,
Chris
Raiding the Beer Cellar
Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 | Beer, The Cellar | No Comments
I’ve been raiding my beer cellar recently because I’m moving in the not too distant future. Why move perfectly good beers when I could drink them, right? I’ve had mixed results with the beer in my cellar, which may be a byproduct of poor cellaring on my part. My beer cellar was originally just a dark, cool corner of my garage, but as the weather got warmer I had to invest in a beer fridge. I kept the fridge as warm as I could (ideal cellar temperature is about 8 degrees Celsius), but it sill might have been too cold in there. The temperature fluctuations from warm to cool might have produced the off flavors in my aged beers, but then who knows? That being said, it wasn’t all bad; I got some pretty good results too.
The bad:
I had one of those ceramic bottles of Rogue Old Crustacean Barleywine from Christmas 2008. It was atrociously bad. It tasted extremely bitter and almost metallic. It was a high alcohol beer, so my only guess as to what happened is that the beer may have interacted poorly with the bottle? Anyway, this was a big waste of a beer; I wish I’d consumed this one fresh.
Another beer that didn’t age well was a Phillips The Hammer Imperial Stout from January 2009. It had the tangy, almost sour flavor of a beer containing a bacterial infection. I consumed both the 2009 and 2010 versions of this beer fresh and bother were tasty, so it’s a shame this one didn’t age well.
Fuller's Vintage Ale 2008 and 2009, delicious
The good:
I saved a 2008 Fuller’s Vintage Ale and drank it along side the 2009 version. Fuller’s uses a new recipe every year, so the two aren’t really comparable, but it was fun to do anyway. I found the aged 2008 bottle to be far superior to the 2009 bottle, where both were good. Drinking the aged 2008 version was like taking a trip to flavortown. It had great apply, fruity, caramel flavors and I wish I had ten more of them, half to drink and half to cuddle.
I had another Phillips brew aging away in my garage, this one a Burley Barleywine from Christmas 2008. Unlike the imperial stout, this one aged wonderfully. There was none of the harshness of a young barleywine present, no detectable alcohol or hops whatsoever. What remained was a wonderful medley of caramel and molasses type flavors, with maybe a bit of fruit in there too. I’m glad I saved this one.
Erik and I took a trip to Portland this past weekend and, now that we’ve overcome our Olympic hangovers, we’ll have a lot to write about in the coming weeks.
Cheers,
Chris
One more weekend of Vancouver 2010, check out Gastown House
Friday, February 26th, 2010 | Beer | No Comments
I finally got into German Fan Fest earlier this week. It was a rainy Tuesday night, the hockey game had just ended, and there was no line at all. I still had to pay the $10 cover charge, but I made it in! It was satisfying to accomplish a goal, but the German Fan Fest did not live up to expectations. I’m glad I didn’t wait in line for the 2-4 hours quoted to me the past two weekends. The Köstritzer Schwarzbier was tasty, but not worth the $9 I paid for a plastic cup full. The band was loud and the atmosphere was as good as you could expect for a tent covering plastic tables and chairs in a parking lot. If I’d had a few (too many) and the party was in full swing, I could see myself having a lot of fun there. I could also see myself having a lot of fun dancing with a street light. Anyway, I won’t be trying to get in again this weekend.
This weekend I’m going to check out Gastown House, again. Turns out I’ve been there a few times already and didn’t know it. Gastown hasn’t seen the crowds or lines that have plagued the rest of the downtown core. It’s true, I haven’t had much trouble getting into Cobre, Alibi Room, Irish Heather, or anywhere else in Gastown. To get some attention on the quality food and drink available at reasonable prices, Gastown House was started. It’s a clever ploy to get you into Gastown, but what do you have to lose by not waiting in huge lines?
An aside, I watched the Canada vs Russia game at Schanks Sports Grill in New Westminster. It was packed out and the atmosphere was amazing, but guess where you sit when you don’t show up soon enough?
In a mini golf hole, that's where.
And here’s a few pictures of the inside of German Fan Fest:
Inside of German Fan Fest
More Inside German Fan Fest
Rachel still had fun
Cheers,
Chris
BC Beer on the Today Show
Thursday, February 25th, 2010 | Beer | 3 Comments
This is pretty cool, some love for BC beer on NBC’s Today Show:
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Cheers,
Chris
Where to drink beer in Vancouver during the 2010 Olympics?
Friday, February 19th, 2010 | Beer | 4 Comments
Question: Where are the best places to drink beer in Vancouver during the 2010 Winter Olympics?
Answer: The same places as always! Dix, Steamworks, Yaletown Brewing, and the Alibi Room.
Since the Olympics started last weekend I’ve been downtown quite a bit and I’ve had a lot of fun waiting in lines and not getting into stuff. I never thought Vancouver could get this crazy and I didn’t think the Olympics would be this exciting. I also never thought I’d feel as proud to be Canadian as I do right now; turns out we throw a good party. I’m going to have a huge Olympic hangover come March for more reasons than one.
German Fan Fest
I’ve tried to get into both the Irish House and the German Fan Fest, two of the most popular temporary pavilions setup for the Olympics. I opted not to wait in line for hours and hours for $10 beer night and I don’t regret my decision. The atmosphere downtown is crazy enough (just walk Granville or Robson streets) and there are plenty of other reasonably priced places to visit. While I may try German Fan Fest one more time for their Köstritzer Schwarzbier, I’ve had much better luck at my usual haunts. Both Dix and Steamworks have provided me with the Olympic atmosphere, TV’s to watch the events, tasty beer at reasonable prices, and, most importantly, a seat. I’ve also heard that the Alibi Room has abandoned their no TV policy, bringing in some tubes to watch the events on downstairs. I walked by Yaletown Brewing and it was packed out with a line forming outside. If you are looking for a beer downtown in the next week or so, try the regular places for quality beer.
Good times at Quebec House
Other Olympic venues I’ve visited include LiveCity Yaletown and Downtown, neither of which serve beer, not even $10 cans of Canadian! I found them a bit boring and, unless you are really into the musical performance going on, not really worth waiting in line for. Quebec House was pretty cool. I was excited to hear they had Quebec microbrews, but then disappointed to find it was Archibald Microbrasserie. I hadn’t actually heard of them (neither had my French Canadian coworker), it was that the beer didn’t taste very good, especially not for $10. What made Quebec House worth visiting was the 7 Fingers, who were like a little Cirque du Soleil. I also got a kick out of Saskatchewan Pavillion, which appeared to me to be a big tent full of bored/drunk looking people dressed in Rider green. The $8 Pilsner didn’t float my boat either. Once place I’d really like to check out is Atlantic Canada House, who I hear have brought in top notch maritime brews by Propeller and Garrison. I hear it’s a good time there too.
Skunky Pilsner and Rider Pride at Saskatchewan Pavillion
I hope to be able to provide further insight after another weekend of engaging in Olympicosity. Go Canada go!
Cheers,
Chris
Bad BC Beer News
Sunday, February 14th, 2010 | Beer | 2 Comments
A couple of my favorite BC breweries are going through some turmoil. Old Yale Brewing from Chilliwack is a very small brewery that brews really good beer. Their beer is available direct from the brewery, in some BC Liquor stores, and in the better beer stores. Canadian Beer News is reporting that the brewery is up for sale. I’m hoping that whoever buys Old Yale preserves their recipes and quality standards. I imagine that anyone purchasing the brand would move the brewery from their tiny strip mall location and I can only hope that such changes wouldn’t tarnish the beer. I can imagine why the two man team at Old Yale would want to sell; they are likely over worked and underpaid. I really hope Old Yale stays alive.
Central City Brewing, my favorite local brewery from Surrey BC, is being sued by California’s Bear Republic Brewing for trademark infringement. Bear Republic brews beers with the names Racer 5 and Red Rocket, which they claim are being confused with Central City’s Red Racer brand. The dispute arose when Central City began distributing its highly acclaimed beer (for good reason, it is wonderful) in the USA. Bear Republic likely views Central City as a threat now that they’ve moved into some of their markets, but Bear Republic can be purchased here and you don’t see Central City complaining (FYI Bear Republic, I won’t be buying your beer anymore). Both breweries brew wonderful beers and it is a shame to see small time craft brewers like these fighting each other. I hope the dispute is quickly and cheaply resolved, but I have a feeling that Central City will either have to re-brand or pull out of US markets. To support Central City, start buying their delicious beer from BC Liquor Stores. Not only are the Red Racer beers delicious, but they are one of BC’s cheapest beer options. Both Canadian Beer News and BeerNews.org have more coverage of the lawsuit.
Cheers,
Chris
Molson Canadian Hockey House Media Preview
Thursday, February 11th, 2010 | Beer | 2 Comments
Inside the Molson Canadian Hockey House
If you are from Vancouver and you haven’t heard of the Molson Canadian Hockey House, then you’ve been living under a rock. It’s a big tent between Science World, I mean Telus Sphere, and GM Place, I mean Canada Hockey Place, for people to party at during the Olympics. Before I tell this tale, I should let you know what my stance on the Olympics is. If I was given $7billion dollars, I wouldn’t spend it on the Olympics. That being said, the Olympics are here and they aren’t coming back, so I’m going to try to enjoy them as much as I can. I’m going to soak up as much of the good the Olympics has to offer and I might as well; we’ll be paying this party off for a while.
Anyway, the organizers behind the MCHH emailed me a couple weeks ago to let me know that “due to overwhelming demand for media access” I should apply for my media accreditation asap. The funny thing was, I never asked. I did apply for media accreditation, which for me would really just be free tickets, but I haven’t heard back yet. I suppose somebody actually important, or maybe actually part of the media, was accredited instead. I did, however, get an invite to the media preview that took place yesterday.
IIHF room at Molson Canadian Hockey House
Since the preview was around lunch time and close enough to my office, I walked. It was tough to navigate through all the fencing and clueless security staff (nobody seemed to know where it was) to actually find MCHH, but I made it and nobody ever once asked me where I was going. I had no badge and could have blow up everything had I been a terrorist. I thought that was funny. Nobody even asked me who I was as I entered MCHH. I thought that was funny too, anyone could have walked in. Inside, I didn’t expect to find much of anything impressive. I expected a giant beer garden with picnic tables and plastic chairs, but what I found was a setup to rival some nicer nightclubs. This tent, which is apparently the largest ever built in North America at 65000 sqft, was decked out. I wandered around the throngs of actual media (they even had big fancy cameras, don’t they know the iPhone has a camera?) and into all of the rooms. Yes, there are rooms. There was the chump area for common folk, VIP rooms, an IIHF lounge, an NHLPA lounge, and a Team Canada lounge where the players and their hangers out will actually be hanging out.
Tyler Stewart on stage at MCHH
The proceedings started shortly after my wanderings and featured talks by the organizers, a speak by Hockey Canada President Bob Nicholson, and entertainment by Tyler Stewart of the Barenaked Ladies. Stan Smyl was there and so were many scantily clad Molson girls serving beer, zoinks! There were HD TVs and giant projection screens everywhere, a giant stage where the bands will play, and there will be famous people milling around throughout the two weeks. They have quite the set of entertainment lined up.
The whole place was quite impressive, much more impressive that my crappy pictures can show, and the preview actually made me want to go hang out there. Sadly, the common folk tickets are sold out, but maybe I’ll get accredited as media? One can dream. Seriously though, it’s going to be an epic party in there, especially when Canada is playing. The only downside to the MCHH? The beer. All Molson all the time. Still, go Canada go!
Cheers,
Chris
Molson Girls at MCHH
Team Canada Lounge at MCHH
Iceholes, Beer Wars, Stone, Oh My
Saturday, February 6th, 2010 | Beer | No Comments
Some beer notes from this week, each not enough for a post, but worth posting about:
- Beer Wars On Demand – I missed the Vancouver screening of Beer Wars last weekend, which I’d heard was a really good time (could have been the ten or so kinds of beer available). At the screening, it was announced that Beer Wars would be available on demand from your cable provider. I watched it last night at my convenience and it only cost me $5.99 from Shaw. I really enjoyed the explanations of the three tier distribution system, the beer lobbyists in Washington DC, and the plight of craft brewers like Dogfish Head’s Sam Caglione, which made the movie worth watching. I also found the documentarian Anat Baron insufferable. She eventually gets into the movie after enlightening us as to how great she is for ten minutes or so. She also describes her experience in the beer industry with Mike’s Hard Lemonade. Wait, what?
- Stone! – At the same Beer Wars Screening, Stone Brewing’s Greg Koch did announce that Stone would be making a one time shipment to BC. I was mostly right in my prediction, but I’m pretty choked at the one time part. Brewery Creek got their shipment in on Thursday, what followed was my single most expensive beer purchase of all time. I got one of everything, those being their Imperial Stout, Old Guardian Barley Wine, Smoked Porter, Vertical Epic Ale, Ruination IPA (six pack), Pale Ale (six pack), Levitation Ale (six pack), and Oaked Arrogant Bastard. If you want to buy any of these, it would be best to get to your local independent purveyor of fine beer as soon as possible.
R&B Iceholes Celebration Lager is now available! Colbert can suck one.
- Syrup Sucking Iceholes – I was the first person on the entire internets to write about R&B’s Iceholes Celebration lager, but now the bigger sites have gone and stolen my SEO. Oh well, who wants to be the first search result on Google anyway? R&B launched the beer last night at Capones in Vancouver and the Pumphouse Pub in Richmond. I managed to get a bottle last week. I haven’t had it yet, but I’ve heard it’s a good pilsner. Apparently Iceholes will be available at Capones and independent beer stores this February only. And it has reportedly been arranged for Colbert to suck as many Iceholes as he pleases.
- Olympic Beer Selection Fail - Since Molson is the official sponsor of the Olympics, the only beers available at anywhere affiliated with the Olympics will be Coors Light, Molson Canadian, Molson Ex, and maybe Rickards (sometimes, if you’re lucky). And get this, venues that used to server other, better beers can no longer do so. Lame.
Cheers,
Chris