vcbw

Vancouver Beer Happenings

Thursday, May 27th, 2010 | Beer | 4 Comments

I’ve been keeping a list of things to blog about, but I’ve been taking my sweet time and most of the things no longer warrant their own post.  So here’s a collection of blurbs about things I meant to post about last month:

  • Dix is closed.  I wrote about how Dix was going to close, but now it actually is closed.  I will miss Caskival and pre-sporting event eating and drinking.  It still bothers me that I still can’t comprehend why MJG would do this to me.
  • Big Ridge is reopening. Big Ridge moved across the street to a new location because of parking disputes with the YMCA (really YMCA?).  My former local brewpub closed down last winter and is now opening in their new location with a revamped beer menu (an IPA replaces the Clover ale).  I can’t wait to check it out when I get back.
  • BC Beer Awards Awarded.  The first annual BC Beer Awards were doled out during VCBW (a rousing success from what I’ve heard).  The winners were selected via a blind tasting panel at the Alibi Room.  I can’t say they are who I would have picked, but then I’m biased by things like seeing.  Canadian Beer News has the list of winners here.
  • Dead Frog Pepper Lime Lager.  Dead Frog is from small town Langley, where I grew up, and so I’ve long been fond of them.  My pride has been replaced with disappointment with Dead Frog’s launch of their bandwagon Pepper Lime Lager.  I haven’t tasted it yet, but I can’t imagine it’s any good, although BC Beer gives it a decent review.  It is my opinion that lime and beer should only be involved when dropping a fresh wedge of lime into a bad beer like Corona.  All other marriages are abominations.
  • Phillips is rad. Phillips is brewing CAMRA BC homebrew competition winner Gary Giesbrecht’s Oatmeal Stout and including it in their Showcase mix pack.  How’s that for audience participation?
  • Berlin. I’m going to Berlin tomorrow morning to meet Erik and drink German beer, woooo!

Cheers,

Chris

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Dix Brewery Closing Down?

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010 | Beer | 8 Comments

I just heard via an invite to the Four Beers and a Funeral Brewpub Crawl, a VCBW event, that Dix Brewery is closing down permanently.  Can anyone confirm if this is true and why?  As far as I can tell, Dix does booming good business so I doubt the reasons are financial (just try getting a table before a Canucks game).

If Dix is indeed closing down permanently in a few weeks time, this is sad news to say the least.  Dix Cask Thursdays, Dix Caskival events, and pre-sporting event beer drinking will all be sorely missed.  I spent a good part of the Olympics at Dix and I can’t imagine it not being there when I return to Vancouver.  At least I’ll always have the memories of the good times.

Anyway, apparently the pub crawl will feature a march from Steamworks to Dix where a Dix Funeral will be held, then onto Yaletown and Dockside.  Tickets are $65 and include beer and food.  If Dix was special to you, now’s your chance to say goodbye with a rip roaring good party.

Cheers.

Chris

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Vancouver Craft Beer Week Events and Tickets

Friday, April 23rd, 2010 | Events | 4 Comments

Vancouver Craft Beer Week is shaping up with many tantalizing events announced recently.  If you haven’t heard, VCBW is a week long celebration of local beer taking place around Vancouver May 10-16.  There will be many events at many different venues, for the full list click here.  I’ve just learned that tickets to two of the most exciting looking events have just come on sale and aren’t expected to last long.

Hoppapalooza at the Alibi Room on Monday, May 10 is looking like the pick of the litter so far.  Apparently Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson will be on hand to kick off this event, which marks the beginning of VCBW.  For $50, your ticket gets you a taste of over 25 hop forward beers, a dish of bison chili, and the enjoyment of local blues musician Rich Hope.  Buy tickets here.

The BC Beer Awards Tasting Event brought to you by Brewery Creek will be held Friday, May 14 at Heritage Hall on Main street.  At this event, $30 for your ticket lets you taste the winning beers from the first annual BC Beer Awards.  The winners haven’t been announced yet, so that will be part of the fun too.  Buy tickets here.

There are many other beer dinners and pubcrawls to choose from, so make sure to check out the other events. Also, take a look at this video released for VCBW:

I am a Canadian Craft Brewer from VancouverCBW on Vimeo.

Sadly, I’m not going to be able to go to any of the VCBW events, what with moving to another continent and all.  I have consoled myself, if only a little, by buying tickets to the Great British Beer Festival coming up in August.

Cheers,

Chris

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Vancouver Craft Beer Week?

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010 | Events | 1 Comment

I read on the honourable Rick Green’s BC Beer Blog today a mention of a Vancouver Craft Beer Week being planned for May 10-16.  This was the first I’d ever heard of such a thing (even Google didn’t know about it!) and was naturally intrigued.  When I asked Rick what it was all about he indicated it would be in the vein of San Francisco Beer Week. From that I can only assume that CAMRA, in association with our local breweries, brewpubs and beer bars, will be planning a series of beer related events in Vancouver.  Sounds good to me!  I wonder if this is the first annual VCBW?  I also wonder if those beyond us beer geeks and hangers on will take notice and take part?  If the first VCBW is well staged, I imagine the masses will be clamoring to partake.  What I am sure of is that this first VCBW is a step in the right direction and will surely be good times.  I will post any details that make their way to me.

Cheers,

Chris

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