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Vancouver Craft Beer Week had a few problems
Plus we've got a bunch of new summer beers to try out
Joseph Lavoie
July 12, 2022
Good morning!
The lines at Vancouver Craft Beer Week were intense this weekend, for which the organizers have apologized. If you were one of the folks caught up in Saturday's delays, we hope you'll be made right by. If you attended this year's festival, we'd love to hear from you. What was the highlight? Hit us up with a reply.
This week's lineup of new releases leans into tropical summer notes. We have a lot of pineapple and a lot of fruit on the roster. Have you noticed how popular Galaxy hops are? We get into the why in this week's Beer School.
Plus, we have a new job board, for those of you in the industry. Hiring? Shoot us a note and we'll add your beer jobs.
— Joseph Lavoie
NEW BEER RELEASE
Strawberries and sichuan
Ravens Brewing Co. released two new beers at VCBW and the great news is you need not have waited in line to taste these interesting beers, as they will be available in stores in the coming weeks. Social Butterfly is a strawberry rhubarb sour, which we're sure will be tasty, but the one that has us most interested is the Sichuan Farmhouse Ale. We're a sucker for peppery saisons and cannot wait to try Homestead.
Available: The Butterfly 2.0 is available at the brewery and in stores this week; the Homestead in the coming weeks.
Location: 37455 Kilgard Rd., Abbotsford | Map
NEW BEER RELEASE
Of gin and blossoms
Callister Brewing is celebrating its seventh anniversary with the release Gin Blossom, a collaboration with Odd Society Spirits, which features gin botanicals, lavender, juniper, and citrus notes mixed with fresh hay, and toasted oak. Sounds delish.
Available: At the brewery, High Point BWS and Legacy Liquor Store
Brewery Location: 1338 Franklin St., Vancouver | Map
NEW BEER RELEASE
Wildflower farmhouse wit
Land and Sea Brewing in Comox has a new Hoegaarden-inspired Belgian wit beer, Wildflower Farmhouse Wit. This version features lemon peel, foraged elderflowers and a green cardamom spice. You can expect a dry finish and a bright 'n easy finish.
Available: At the brewery
Location: 2040 Guthrie Rd., Comox | Map
NEW BEER RELEASE
A spritely blonde ale
Dageraad has canned its Pride beer, Rozedag, for the first time, benefiting Saige Community Food Bank. This year's version is a blonde ale with pineapple and grains of paradise. You can expect tropical aromas with a touch of pepper. The artwork by Odera Igbokwe is stunning too.
Available: In the tasting room July 14 and via pre-orders online. Hits store shelves next week.
Location: 3191 Thunderbird Cres. #114, Burnaby | Map
NEW BEER RELEASE
Peach creamsicles
Camp Beer Co. is releasing a string of collaboration brews with Farm Country. Peach Campsicle promises sweet vanilla ice cream with "lashing of peaches." Designed to be served very cold on a patio.
Available: At the brewery in glasses or for growler fills, and in cans.
Location: 19664 64 Ave., Langley | Map
NEW BEER RELEASE
Pineapple and coconut smoothie
House of Funk Brewing's Funk Juice is back with pineapple and coconut, and brewed with oats, wheat, and lactose milk sugar. It was soured with the brewery's wild house yeast and fermented with Kveik before conditioning on an "irresponsible amount of pineapple and coconut."
Available: At the brewery and online.
Location: 350 Esplanade E #101, North Vancouver | Map
Even more beer releases
Old Abbey Ales has a new strawberry and kiwi sour.
A-FRAME Brewing has brought back its Czech Pilsner, poured from a proper Czech faucet.
Old Yale Brewing has a limited release sour with pineapple and Galaxy hops and another release packed with orange.
Backcountry Brewing has brought back their Key Lime Pie Sour.
Strange Fellows as a super dry rice lager.
Bridge Brewing has brought back its Lemon Gin Saison.
Beacon Brewing is brining us a British golden ale.
Farm Country is re-releasing a lemongrass lime gose.
BC BEER NEWS
What went down at Vancouver Craft Beer Week
What happened: Let's just say it didn't go quite as organizers planned... According to reporting by CTV and many social media users, the event faced a bunch of unforeseen problems.
Entrance lines of up to two hours long, lack of water and malfunctioning RFID bracelets were just a few of the complaints voiced by attendees.
VCBW's response: The company said staffing issues were to blame, causing huge problems on the Saturday. The company also said the RFID bracelets that were supposed to simplify purchasing beer didn't function as intended.
It should be noted that Sunday didn't have the same level of problems.
Our thoughts: Problems with the biggest beer event in the city is, to put it lightly, unfortunate. Hopefully the company addresses the issues and does right by anyone who was affected. But we shouldn't let one event take away from the incredible beer industry and community in this province. On the bright side, clearly BC beer is as popular as ever.
Don't miss out: Here's some upcoming beer events throughout BC to check out, that hopefully won't leave you stranded in line.
LEARN SOMETHING NEW
What are Galaxy Hops?
You may have noticed that rarely a week goes by without a new beer release showcasing the use of Galaxy hops, usually as a dry-hopped ingredient. Why is this hop variety so popular?
It's flavour profile has something to do with it, lending bright citrus, peach, and passionfruit to any beer it touches, especially when dry-hopped. If you love those flavours, you'll want to drink the beer fresh, as these flavours tend to mellow out as the beer ages. So don't put these beers in the cellar—enjoy them as fresh as you can.
Did you know? Galaxy hops are (in brewing years) very new, having first enjoyed commercial production in 2009 and first becoming popular in Australia. In 2021, Galaxy hops accounted for 60 percent of hop production from Australia.
JOB BOARD
Field House Brewing is looking for a sales rep to sell in the Fraser Valley.
Fernie Brewing is looking for a territory manager in Vancouver.
Steamworks is on the hunt for a brewery production assistant and production co-packer in Burnaby, as well as a store clerk in Vancouver.
Stanley Park Brewing needs a bartender.
WHAT ELSE IS BREWING?
British Columbia
You can still enter to win $250 of brewery gift cards to some of BC's best breweries. Enter here.
How one man founded Canada's craft beer industry, right here in BC. (Vancouver Sun)
Speaking of John Mitchell, here's how he left his mark on Squamish. (The Squamish Chief)
Vancouver named second-best city in the world for beer lovers. (Dished)
Canada
How craft brewers are saving historic sites across Canada. (London Free Press)
The best Ontario-made light beers for summertime drinking...essential for surviving those hot and humid Ontario days. (Toronto Life)
International
Maybe Big Beer outperforms craft beer on environmental sustainability? (Corporate Knights)
Can you guess which states ranked at the top for beer lovers and which ranked at the bottom? (Vinegar)
FIFA and Qatar are sorting out how to sell beer at this year's World Cup. Looks like they have a solution, but there's a catch. (Bloomberg)