A tropical ale for the long weekend

What beer to drink and beer events to visit this long weekend

Author

Joseph Lavoie
May 20, 2022

Happy Friday!

The summer (un)officially starts this weekend and it looks like Mother Nature's joining in with a load of sunshine and warm weather. In that spirit, we have a number of summer-inspired or summer-appropriate beers for you to take in with all that vitamin D. And after suffering through one of the coldest May days in recorded history, you will be going out for some sun, yeah? Look at this beautiful forecast!

  • Today: ☀️ 17ºC

  • Saturday: 🌤️ 19ºC

  • Sunday: 🌤️ 20ºC

Enjoy the long weekend y'all!

-Joseph Lavoie

What to drink this weekend

Summertime for Summertime

You'll need to hit the road today if you want this 2022 Canadian Brewing Awards bronze medal-winning beer in the German-style wheat beer category, as the brewery is open today from 1 to 6 pm. Worth a stop if you're in the area or driving through the area for your long weekend getaway. Another reason to pick this one up? You get to taste the work of second-year brewing students Michael Hodgson and Mike Patterson.

  • Description: "This refreshing Witbier gets its smooth body from wheat and oats, while coriander balances the flavour and adds notes of citrus. El Dorado hops add fruit flavours and aromas. A thirst-quenching beer for a warm, sunny day!"

  • Where to get it: On tap and in cans at the KPU Langley Campus

  • Location: 20901 Langley Bypass | Google Maps

Keep it light

Sometimes warm and sunny weather screams for light lager. And if you're already in Langley to get the Summertime Wit, you may want to load up on Camp Lite to fill your cooler. Designed to be crushable, sometimes it's all you need.

  • Details: 3.9%, 95 Calories (pretty much, tasty water)

  • Where to get it: In 12-packs at the brewery

  • Location: 19664 64 Ave., Langley | Google Maps

I've got sunshine in a glass

Not leaving the city? No sweat, how about this beautiful beer? Passionfruit Popper is 33 Acres' latest release is a 5% tropical ale with a most enticing profile for a patio session: spritzy tropical punch in the nose, mandarin flavours, tart and juicy finish with notes of passionfruit, honey, and guava.

  • Where to get it: In cans at the tasting room, online and at select stockists across BC

  • Location: 15 W 8th Ave., Vancouver | Google Maps

A-Maiiz-ing

n Victoria for the weekend? Here's another lovely summer beer, a Mexican-style lager with corn addition from @maiiz.nixtamal. Why add corn to beer? To lighten the mouthfeel and give you a super crispy and refreshing beer. The joy of a light lager, with a lot more flavour.

  • Where to get it: On tap and in cans at the brewery

  • Location: 2960 Bridge St., Victoria | Google Maps

What to eat

The Italian Job

If you're heading up to the mountains, Backcountry Kitchen has a new pizza creation on offer — sausage, grape tomatoes, Caciocavallo cheese, house-made arugula pesto, sometimes, all a long weekend needs is pizza and beer.

  • Available: Friday to Monday, starting at noon

  • Location: 405-1201 Commercial Way, Squamish | Google Maps

What to do

Loading Doc Party

Hopefully, you caught this in last week's update, but if not, not to worry, we have you covered. Storm Brewing is back with its once/month outdoor party, with the first one taking place Sunday from 12 pm to 8 pm. Rotating DJs including DJ Native, The Willist, Beatfarmer, Canzino, DeeVee, At Your Leisure, and the Strategist.

  • Details: No cover, kids allowed if accompanied.

  • Eats: Food by East Van-based Top Rope Birria food truck.

  • Location: 310 Commercial Dr., Vancouver | Google Maps

Vintage Pop-Up

It's Vintage Market on Sunday, so if you're in need of a wardrobe change or just want to take in music from DJ Alex @fotherecord, this pop up brings you beer, pizza, ceramics, and music, all under one roof.

Plan Ahead

Nashville Nights

Farm Country Brewing is hosting a night of music with live performances from @antoniolarosa, @parkergraye, and @kassandraclack! The trio of performers will bring you a mix of modern country-rock numbers that have lit up the charts in major radio and satellite radio markets.

  • Date: Thursday, May 26

  • Tickets: $30 to $90 and selling quickly

  • Location: Farm Country Brewing, 20555 56 Ave. #5, Langley | Google Maps

Weekend Reads

  • A close kinship — how distillers look to beer for inspiration and purpose (Good BeerHunting)

  • A history of Brussels beer in 50 objects (Brussels Beer City)

  • The joy of a good pub crawl (Beer 42)

  • A profile of one of Vancouver's newest breweries, Shakedown Brewing (The Growler)

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