Vancouver Craft Beer Week’s 2016 Kickoff Event
Vancouver Craft Beer Week started as a small, beer-geek event and over the course of a few years has emerged as a large-scale beer-centric festival that rivals any in North America. Through 10 days of craft beer focused events attendees can immerse themselves in the culture, the people and of course, the liquid of BC craft beer.
The last three years have seen the kickoff event take place at Vancouver’s Roundhouse Muse. Located just steps away from the Yaletown/Roundhouse Skytrain station this is a great venue. Once again presented by CRAFT beer market the night saw swarms of bee-like visitors chasing the canape trays around the room as they periodically emerged. The real story here though is about beer.
32 different breweries showed up to pour their beers including several newcomers to the BC beer scene. Of particular interest Port Moody’s Parkside Brewery and Vancouver’s Luppolo Brewery were pouring beer. These two breweries have not yet opened their doors. Luppolo was pouring a crowd favourite IPA that sold out very quickly while Parkside had their Pale Ale on tap. Watch for these two at upcoming VCBW events as their beer is not to be missed.
The full list of breweries in attendance included: 33 Acres, Bomber, BRB, Bridge, Callister, Central City, Driftwood, Doan’s, Faculty, Fernie, Field House, Hoyne, Luppolo, Mission Springs, Moody Ales, OK Spring, The Parkside, Persephone, Powell St, Spinnakers, Stanley Park, Steamworks, Steel &Oak, Stiegl, Strange Fellows, Tofino, Trading Post, Twin Sails, Yaletown, Yellow Dog, Unibroue and on the cider front, BC Tree Fruits.
As the tokens flowed freely throughout the evening 2016 appears to be the year of the sour. A significantly increased number of kettle-style sours were being offered bey the attending breweries. From the 33 Acres of Frank to Fieldhouse’s puckering brew sour beer fans can rejoice. At the other end of the scale though, Saisons, Lagers and IPAs found their way into many of the booths. If there is one thing that VCBW is all about it is diversity. Diversity of people, breweries and beer. That was on display at this year’s opening event!
Learn more about VCBW and other events at vancouvercraftbeerweek.com
