The fifth installment of Vancouver Craft Beer Week promises to be the biggest and best of all, with more than 20 events for local craft beer lovers.
The week-long brewsapalooza is being hosted this year by Prevail of Swollen Members, and events will feature a decidedly hip hop feel with freestyle battles, DJs and plenty of samples (of beer). It culminates with the VCBW Beer Festival on June 6 and 7 at the Olympic Village Event Grounds with more than 70 breweries taking part.
Tickets are on sale now, and some events have already sold out, so visit VancouverCraftBeerWeek.com to get yours.
Here’s a taste of what we’ll be ordering when Craft Beer Week hits:
Friday, May 30
The Peak Presents VCBW Opening Night hosted by Prevail • Gossip Night Club • 5-10pm • $49 (+tax/fees)
102.7 The Peak proudly presents VCBW 2014 opening night, hosted by Prevail of Swollen Members, DJ Flipout, the Hip Hop Karaoke All Stars, and 20 of the craft brewing industries finest. This party is the top of the hops, the beast of the yeast! Your ticket also gets you unlimited craft beer samples, a souvenir VCBW tasting glass, and door prizes for the those dressed in their hip hop best.
Saturday, May 31
New Belgium vs Steamworks Collaboration Throw Down! • The Bimini • Noon-6pm • $49 (+tax/fees)
The Bimini will be tapping 12 amazing beers from New Belgium and 10 amazing beers from Steamworks including their very special Collaboration Golden Ale. Your ticket gets you access to taste and enjoy all of them, all day!
Rare Brews & BBQ • Darby's Pub • 2-7pm • $60 (+tax/fees)
This event features limited release or never before seen beers from 10 local breweries, served up on tap, infused, or by the cask. While you savour these rare brews enjoy a selection of locally sourced meats barbequed by Chef AJ Jackson. Some beers are more limited than others so come early!
Pumphouse’s 35th Birthday Celebration • Pumphouse Pub • 3-10pm • $10 (+tax/fees)
The Pumphouse Taproom is celebrating its 35th anniversary with a US Craft Beer Tap Takeover and Homebrewer’s Contest. 30+ US Craft Breweries on tap at $3 a glass. Shuttle service from the Landsdowne Mall Skytrain Station and anywhere in Richmond.
Sunday, June 1
Hoppapalooza V • Alibi Room • 5-9pm • $49 (+tax/fees)
Hop heads don’t die, they multiply! This legendary event has already sold out, which is a shame, because Nigel Springthorpe's epic party featuring Rich Hope rocking the house is always a VCBW highlight.
The 5th Element – B-boy & IPA Battle • FanClub • 4-8pm • $20 (+tax/fees)
Ten of BC’s premier breweries are throwing down to find out who brews the best damn IPA on the market in a blind, winner-take-all competition. Who is the top of the hops? You decide! Your $20 ticket gets you entry, a souvenir tasting glass, three beer tokens, entertainment provided by the infamous Jheric b-boy crew, and a vote in deciding BC’s best IPA.
Craft Beer Bingo! • Doolins Irish Pub • 7-9pm • $30 (+tax/fees)
Guests will receive a traditional bingo board filled with 25 1oz. tasters glasses, one for each square. Guests will get three rounds of 25oz Craft Beer Bingo and have the chance to win some amazing prizes.
Monday, June 2
BierCraft Belgian Showcase • BierCraft Cambie • 6-11pm • $65 (+tax/fees)
This all-inclusive event will feature a wide cross section of Belgian beer styles from the old world and the new. Abbey ales, Trappistes, saisons, strong blondes, strong darks, Flemish reds. So grab a glass and enjoy a journey of the palette and the history of beer itself.
Hyper Local • Merchant's Oyster Bar • 6-10pm • 66 (+tax/fees)
Six beers, six courses, $66! A very limited number of tickets will be released to what is sure to be one of the most talked about VCBW dinners in years. Storm Brewing, Powell Street Craft Brewery, and Parallel 49 Brewing Company’s Brewmasters will have their beers expertly paired with the finest offerings from Commercial Drive’s own community gardens, Ocean Wise seafood, and Fraser Valley meat.
Maenam Has Company • Maenam • 6-9pm • 90 (+tax/fees)
An evening of fine beers from Upright, Four Winds, and Brassneck paired family style with the Thai culinary creations of award-winning Chef Angus An.
Tuesday, June 3
Battle of the Bartenders Beer Cocktail Competition III • The Blackbird • 6pm-Late • $20 (+tax/fees)
Ten of Vancouver’s top bartenders will square off at The Blackbird with only bar tools and their imagination to create a beer-cocktail using one feature Craft beer. Your $20 ticket includes cocktail samples, beer samples, & canapés.
Beest & Da Bloc • Wildebeest • 5-11pm • $99 (+tax/fees)
Wildebeest presents an evening of deliciousness from La Belle Province. Les Bons Vivants will enjoy six impeccably satisfying courses of Québecois fare as seen through Wildebeest’s carnivorous prism, each paired with a different beer from three of Quebec’s finest craft breweries.
In Da pourHouse! • Pourhouse Restaurant • 7-9pm • $75 (+tax/fees)
This year’s spread is a four-course experience featuring a creative menu from head chef Jean-Christophe Poirier with beers from Driftwood Brewing, 33 Acres Brewing, Derrick Franche (Whistler Brewhouse), and Dageraad Brewing.
Wednesday, June 4
Cicerone vs Sommelier • ARC Restaurant at the Fairmont Waterfront • 6-10pm • $115 (+tax/fees)
Returning beer champion cicerone Don Farion (BierCraft, Bomber Brewing) will square off against wine expert Michaela Morris from House Wine over a luxurious five course tasting menu created by ARC Executive Chef Alessandro Vianello. Each course will be paired with a selected beer and wine with the dinner guests choosing the winner!
PDX Brewers Delight • Portland Craft • 5-9pm • $55 (+ taxes & fees)
Come join Gigantic, Breakside, Upright, The Commons, Alameda, Basecamp, Hopworks, Cider Riot!, and Occidental for a tap takeover you’ll never forget! Tickets include beer samples, dinner, and some special treats you’ll have to be in the house to find out about!
The ANZA Presents: Craft Beer vs Kyprios & The Chaperones • Anza Club • 8pm-2am • $30 (+tax/fees)
Phillips, Bomber, and Hoyne breweries are being tapped for this open-mic freestyle jam session. Vancouver hip hop legend Kyprios and his band will hang out with ticket holders and knock down a few craft-brews before taking the stage and rocking the house. Guests receive three 8oz samplers, with additional beers available for purchase.
Thursday, June 5
Brothers in Hip-Hops • The Butcher and Bullock • 6-10pm • $49 (+tax/fees)
Four Pacific Northwest brewers have teamed up to host a night of Hop-tastic food and drink. Ticket includes all the beers in question along with abundant beer-paired food stations. Swag, takeaways and door prizes will be given away throughout the night.
Cider Rules • The August Jack • 6-9pm • $15 (+tax/fees)
Six premium ciders from Anthem, Reverend Nat, and Finn River will be expertly paired with a different appy/amuse-bouche. Ticket includes entrance, one cider sample, and one appy. Once the pairings are done, there will be a "cider mingler" with live music.
Portside Samples • The Portside Pub • 4pm-Late • $10 (+ tax/fees)
Sample upcoming products from some of Vancouver’s hottest breweries, purchase never-been-seen items from Vancouver’s most imminent clothing and shoe stores, all while listening to hip hop samples played on 45s by the Stuntman with a late night show by hip-hop DJ Flip Out.
Friday, June 6 & Saturday, June 7
The VCBW Beer Festival presented by CRAFT Beer Market • Olympic Village event grounds • Friday 4-9pm • Saturday 2-7pm • $35/day
After a week of amazing events it’s finally here, the event you’ve all been waiting for, the VCBW Beer Festival presented by CRAFT Beer Market. This epic evening features more than 70 of the best craft breweries in the industry at the amazing Olympic Village event grounds. Tickets include a commemorative VCBW taster glass and three drink tokens. Additional tokens are $1.25 each.
WE Vancouver is the official weekly media sponsor of Craft Beer Week. Be sure to pick up our May 22 & 29 craft beer special editions for all you need to know about this booming BC industry. And check out our month long My Guide to the Good Life contest, sponsored by Craft Beer Week and some incredible supporting businesses. You could win a trip for two to Portland, Squamish Music Fest tickets, a Sunshine Coast adventure getaway and a massive shopping spree. Enter here.
