“And everybody wants to be special here. They call your name out loud and clear.Here comes a regular! Call out your name! Here comes a regular! Am I the only one here today?”
VIA UNPLUGGED ALE
We asked, you voted and the results are in just in time for the weekend.
Below the fold is a sneak peek for VIA readers only (shhh don't tell anyone else) at the article that will appear in The Hopscotch News this coming November.
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It’s five o’clock on a Friday night and you are looking for someplace to help you forget about the workweek. It must be a place with just the right combination of style, attitude and spirits to help you forget your troubles and quench your thirst. You could just settle on a Cactus Club or Earl’s but that wouldn’t be very special now would it?
So where do you go?
Worry not lost denizen of Lotus Land, VancouverIsAwesome.com has done all the work for you. We asked the omniscient readers of The Georgia Straight’s Best Local Blog of 2010 to name their favourite local watering holes and they did not disappoint. The value of what you hold in your hands may only be surpassed by Ponce de Leon’s map to the Fountain of Youth. As a matter of fact you could call it a map to the top ten fountains of youth in Vancouver. Or you could simply call it:
Vancouver Is Awesome’s Top Ten Places to Have A Beer in Vancouver
#1 - Alibi Room
alibi.ca | www.twitter.com/alibiroom | 604.623.3383
Located at 157 Alexander Street in Gastown, the Alibi Room was the overwhelming favourite of our readers.
Stefan said, “They have probably the best selection of craft beers in Vancouver. Read the recent article in the courier, it has a funny story about the flack they took when they dropped Stella off their menu. Regardless great atmosphere, best beer selection in the city, and they are Timothy Taylor blood to a T.”
Peter V. (www.twitter.com/peter_van) added, “Alibi Room without a doubt. The beer list is impeccably curated and changes frequently. Nearly every draught beer is from BC, though there are always some top-notch imports from the States.”
And one of our Editors, Boon, sealed the deal with, “Gotta give shouts to the Alibi Room as well for holding it down for so many years. Great space, and the room downstairs is unique. One of the few places to hear real funk/soul/jazz…”
#2 – Stella’s Bierstro
stellasbeer.com | www.twitter.com/StellasOnCambie | 604.874.6900
Stellas actually has two locations one on Commerical and this one at 3305 Cambie Street. Both are great but the votes came in for the Biestro on Cambie.
Reader Dave (www.twitter.com/dave_munroe) said, “You haven’t had beer until you’ve had Belgian beer…Stella Artois doesn’t count. After living in Belgium, I was worried I would go into beer withdrawl in Vancouver, but Stella’s has all my favourites, including Delerium Tremens on tap, and then some! A great selection of local craft brews on tap and in bottles as well.”
#3 – The Railway Club
therailwayclub.com | www.twitter.com/RailwayClub | 604.681.1625
Located at 579 Dunsmuir Street, Downtown, The Railway club is a cozy live music venue.
msmithphoto said, “Always a good time. And if you like live music, there’s always a band later!”
TheFab added, “meet people from all walks of life and listen to great tunes!”
#4 – Irish Heather
irishheather.com | www.twitter.com/theirishheather | 604.688.9779
The Irish Heather is an authentic Irish Pub through and through. Located in Gastown at 210 Carrall Street, the Heather is so Irish that it has a hardwood floor made from old Guiness vats.
Jenn had put it best when she said, “A classic for stouts & day drinking without judgement.”
# 5 – The Morrissey Tavern & Kitchen
morrisseypub.com | What? No Twitter? | 604.682.0909
The Morrissey is located at 1227 Granville Street at the corner of Davie Street in downtown Vancouver. They pride themselves a “Rock N’ Roll hideaway” with a different musical theme every day.
Once again Stefan – who might want to get a gig as a food and drink critic hey? – had this to say about The Morrissey, “a decent beer selection, but more important has a great vibe. Low key, Gothic, great fireplace, fantastic place to end a night with a Chocolate porter.”
#6 – Six Acres
sixacres.ca | www.twitter.com/sixacres | 604.488.0110
Another Gastown favorite, Six Acres is located a stones throw from the Irish Heather so when you are done with your “day drinking” you can stumble on over in true Gassy Jack form.
#7 – Steamworks Brewing Co.
steamworks.com | www.twitter.com/SteamworksPub | 604.689.2739
At 375 Water Street at the top of Gastown Steamworks Brewing is one of the best brewpubs in town. The atmosphere is fantastic and their craft brews are stellar.
Jenn – who apparently has not seen a pub she didn’t like – said, “Pumpkin ale makes me look forward to the fall. Like pie in a glass. Minus the whip cream and crust.”
#8 – The Loose Moose Tappas Bar & Grill
no website | Twitterless | 604.633.1002
724 Nelson Street, Downtown.
Bret Taylor (www.twitter.com/BretInVancouver) said, “one of the few places left where you can hear good music.”
Allan (www.twitter.com/allanlarson) called it, “a good time East Coast style.”
#9 – Guilt & Co.
guiltandcompany.com | www.twitter.com/guiltandcompany | 604.288.1704
If you are like our readers and are into the arts then you will love Guilt & Co. Located at 1 Alexander Street (under Chill Winston) Guilt & Co. bills itself as “guilty of being strange.”
Marcel tell us, “every Tues-Thurs, they host “1900 Belgians” in which they pair a limited run of a Belgian beer with a cheese for $6.75.”
And Allan added, “Listen to live music, sip imports and watch two guys paint a picture all whilst playing scrabble.”
#10 – The ANZA Club
anzaclub.org | 3 West 8th Avenue | 604.876.7128
ANZA stands for Australia-New Zealand Association. This members-only club set up shop in Vancouver in 1935 and has been attracting locals ever since. Not from Australia or New Zealand? Don’t let that bother you, associated memberships are available to the rest of for a measly $10.
Michael Tedesco
UNPLUGGED Editor, VancouverIsAwesome.com
