vancouver craft beer week

my liver is happy that vcbw is over for another year
the rest of me is a little relieved too – so many good times and good beers, but a person’s gotta sleep!

i may have only made it to a few events
but those events were of the all you can drink persuasion
and i do take the list as a personal challenge to complete

i have already given my low-down on the business of craft beer
so i will begin my vcbw list with the opening night last friday
i was volunteering, so there wasn’t much drinking at all for me
holding this event at a nightclub (gossip) was great from a couple of standpoints:  the performance space was in the same room so there was no need for anyone to have to choose between beer and the show; all the breweries were pouring their beers from an actual bar with access to water so there was no running out of rinse water; and the club provided plenty of different areas, including several with seating, to get away from the fray
somehow though, it still managed to be crowded
i think if they hold opening night at gossip again next year i’ll give it a miss

sunday found me at my favourite event of the year, the alibi room’s hoppapalooza
it felt like there were fewer people there this year
which was a very good thing – no crowding, short lines for beer and chili and none of the beers ran dry
nigel opened up the cellar and brought out some vintage sours, barleywines and imperial stouts
such a great way to spend an evening
it was over far too quickly!

on wednesday i went to pdx love at portland craft
this is quickly becoming one of my favourite events of the year
where else can i find all my favourite portland people in one place at the same time, without having to travel?


obviously i’m having a really rotten time photo by Two Peas Photography

there were sixteen beers on tap

i made it through all sixteen

and still managed to have my wits about me – i do love small pours for that!



photo by Two Peas Photography

 

attendees included abe of cider riot

jamie of hopworks

gigantic ben love

base camp, upright, occidental, the commons, breakside and alameda

highlights for me were the commons madrone which i hadn’t had the pleasure of trying before and the breakside india golden ale, which i just can’t get enough of

photo by Two Peas Photography

my only complaint about this is event is the lack of a vegetarian option for dinner

i’m sure everyone else loved the pulled pork on a bun though

how everyone will be wearing their beard next season photo by Ben Love

thursday my oregon love continued at brothers in hop (or bros in hip-hop this year) at the butcher and bullock
plenty of delicious food, including oysters and crab cakes, accompanied the beers by parallel 49, central city, gigantic and ninkasi
there were some service issues at the beginning of the night, but as it wore on the hard-working staff ironed out the kinks and brought the beer faster than i could drink it
i think i made it through the list again
which, even though it was a bit shorter of a list, was an accomplishment because they were bringing sleeves of many of the beers rather than all taster sized pours
the highlight of the night was gigantic’s too much coffee man, which i had not had tried before

photo by Kurtis Sheldon

my liver hurts!
i would say that i’ll never drink again
but that would be a really big lie!

legacy liquor store

new and delicious beers at legacy liquor store in vancouver:

Ommegang Take the Black Stout – $11.25

Now this is a stout that even the brothers at Castle Black can call their own. As dark as the abyss itself, this beer is darker than the fates of those that venture beyond the wall. Roasted dark malts, smoky oak and Belgian yeast own the nose of this beer while the palate is all about chocolate, mocha and warming alcohol. This medium bodied beer is rich, delicious and perfect for these cold months. Remember, winter is coming.

Evan Doan | Beer Team | Legacy Liquor Store

Burnside Thundarr the Bavarian Imperial Wheat Ale – $7.55

Don’t let the fact it’s a wheat ale turn you away; this imperial beer can hold its own amongst the dark beers that dominate the season. German through and through, boasting a hazy golden appearance and an aroma dominated by banana, clove and citrus and a flavour profile that is all about that German hustle, specifically orange peel, lemon peel, coriander, banana and clove, this light-bodied brew hides its ABV well at 7.2% with a quaffability that is out of this world.

Chris Bonnallie | Beer Supervisor | Legacy Liquor Store

Alameda Stubs Old Crow Hazelnut Porter – $7.95

A waxed bottle means two things: a lot more difficulty getting to the beer, but a beer that is well worth the extra work. This particular brew is nearly black in colour with a dark tan head and aromas of chocolate, espresso and vanilla that leap from the glass, while in the mouth rich and medium bodied with all sorts of roast malt flavours, chocolate and a defining nuttiness. A spectacular American Porter that has been taken to the next level courtesy of defining hazelnut flavours.

Joel Wilson | Beer Team | Legacy Liquor Store

legacy liquor store

fun beers available at legacy liquor store in vancouver:

Parallel 49 Brewing – From East Van With Love – $13.75A collaboration between Parallel 49 and Gigantic Brewing is responsible for this Bourbon Barrel-Aged Maple Stout. Rich and dark, with notes of maple subdued by barrel-aging, makes this beer a must for your cellar.

Alameda Brewing – Bad Bunny – $7.75
Easter may be in the rearview, but Alameda is leading the pack with Bad Bunny, a lightly malted and hopped Cream Ale with subtle malt and fruit on the nose. On the palate fruit dominates, making this an excellent Cream Ale by any standard.

Tree Brewing – Captivator Doppelbock – $7.75
Once a staple of fasting monks, this style of beer has recently exploded in popularity in the modern world. Sweet, malty and lightly hopped, this strong ale is full of dark fruits and biscuit, making it an excellent variation of a European classic.

legacy liquor store

blergh, i’ve been a bit under the weather
not a great start to a long weekend
but fortunately the amazing vancouver weather has healing qualities
(or maybe it was the beer)
and i’m on the mend – with a tan!

new beers at legacy liquor store in vancouver:

Southern Tier – Imperial Mokah – $13.15
Exclusively at Legacy, this east coast beer packs a serious punch. Jamaican coffee beans and Belgian chocolate are the stars of this dark and powerful brew, with serious malt and a touch of bitterness making it a beer best enjoyed with dessert.
 
Alameda – Rose City Red – $7.45
Named after the Rose City, this beer pours red amber in colour and has hoppy floral notes on the nose. Malt, brown sugar and caramel balance well with the Nugget hops used in the brewing process. The laidback lifestyle of Portland, Oregon is complimented by this easy drinking red.
 
Hofbrau – Schwarze Weisse – $5.15
Straight from the heart of Germany, this Schwarze Weisse is chestnut in colour and has a nose of roasted malt, caramel and spicy cloves. Bread, wheat and banana represent the palate of this quaffable brew from Munich, the perfect example of German beer craft.

legacy liquor store

new and exciting beers at legacy in vancouver:

Alameda El Torero IPA

Bursting with floral and orange flavors, El Torero is a bullfighter among Northwest IPAs. This beer won’t step out of your way. It wants you to enjoy it.

Red Bull Strong Beer 7.1%

This isn’t affiliated with the classic energy drink we all know…This is Red Bull Strong Beer, developed in Eastern US and ready for drinking!

Staropramen

Our latest Czech import. In every glass of Staropramen lies the free spirit of Prague. Within this city of lovable sins, Staropramen will inspire to savour your zest for life amongst your friends.

and: free european beer tasting on sunday from 2:00 – 6:00

tasty

spent all day sunday vending at a craft fair
(didn’t make much money, but the people watching was pretty good)
so what’s a girl to do after being so virtuous?
go for a beer (or three) of course!

i’m talking about the alameda yellow wolves of thailand people
go have it!
gingery and melony
and oh so hoppy!
definitely yellow in colour
i could have gone for a little more basil in it
but so, so good!

currently available on tap at st. augustine’s
and i believe it is on the list at portland craft for the #yvrtweetup on wednesday

legacy liquor store

new and exciting beers:

Alameda Black Bear XX Stout

A surprisingly light-bodied stout with hints of chocolate and coffee. Despite being the same color as the dark side of the moon, this beer has a subtle and intricate mouth feel. The Black Bear XX Stout has won two medals at the Great American Beer Festival.

Phillips Brewing Pandamonium The 11th Hour Anniversary Ale

Even the Mayan prophesy couldn’t predict the Hopquake Beerageddon about to be unleashed from this bottle. 11% for 11 years of Brewing.

Bad Attitude Hobo IPA

It’s a beer that’s been made for thirsty people, to be drank without too much thinking, to be enjoyed while strolling down the streets on warm evenings.

happy #ipaday!

happy #IPADay everyone!

in honour of the day
(well, before i am allowed to start drinking delicious ipas anyway)
i bring you some ipa myth-busting

then, in real celebration of the day
i will be at portland craft in vancouver to savour india pale ale
on for sure for tonight:

Alameda El Torero IPA
Alameda American Rye IPA
Hopworks Organic IPA
there may be more depending on whether any kegs run dry in time to replace them with ipa

cask

got cancelled on last night
so rather than go home and do all the stuff i should have done with a free night
i went out drinking with bridget!

we started at bitter
where she had the flight of from left to right: lighthouse switchback, driftwood fat tug and alameda yellow wolf ipas
isn’t it pretty?

there was another, boozey flight on offer as well

but i went for a glass of the elysian prometheus ipa
(still felt like i was in seattle, you know?)
it was a good decision
i like the prometheus!

from there we went to st. augustine’s for the cask of storm’s masala ipa
a lot like james’ basil ipa, it was a pleaser!
not very carbonated, not overly spiced, it was just right

all in all a successful night of drinking
and i made it home in time to do a load of laundry!

tuesday boozeday

the railway club’s cask last night was driftwood’s naughty hildegard
driftwood rep ian mackay says that it is the last cask of naughtiness for the season
so i’m extra glad that i got my mouth on some
potent, delicious, happy-inducing

after the railway we skipped on down to portland craft

i had the ninkaski double red ale and an alameda yellow wolf

paired with the olives, pickles, and rainbow trout

portland craft is coming along nicely

it was full, the beverages board is up now, food was prompt and delicious

there are still a few small wrinkles being worked out

but i love it there!

i think the locals and craft beer folk alike are past the novelty and fully embracing it

i predict a long, happy relationship with portland craft is in my future!