Vancouver Craft Beer Week is back for it’s 3rd year of week long (May 18 – May 26, 9 days), craft beer focused events. ‘Are You Ready to Rock’ is this year’s theme and slogan. So, are you? You better be, cause it’s going to be bigger and better then ever.

What to expect:

• 9 Headliner events
• 6 Opening Acts
• 36 Neighbourhood Gigs
• 12+ week-long specials dedicated to all things craft beer

There will be plenty of amazing craft beers to go around and every shape, size and colour of event to assist you in elevating your appreciation. Visit the Vancouver Craft Beer Week website for all details.

Come say hello to your favourite CAMRA Exec. members at many of the VCBW headliner events. You can visit us to sign up or renew your membership. Also, we’ll have our new CAMRA Vancouver t-shirt designs on-site for the first time. Get ‘em while they’re hot.

See ya there!

East Vancouver is quickly becoming a hot bed for Vancouver’s craft brewing scene – which, as an East Van dweller, I am totally okay with. After a heads up from a fan on the CAMRA Vancouver Facebook page (thanks Warren Boyer!), I found out that Powell Street Craft Brewery will open up shop this summer at Powell and Victoria. Earlier this week, I was able to get in touch with president & founder David Bowkett for a quick chat about the brewery:

Originally posted on the Pint Sighs beer blog April 25th, 2011
By Leah Poulton, CAMRA Vancouver Communications Director

A bit about you – how did you get involved in the industry?
I’m actually a home brewer looking to go commercial on a nano-scale; Nano-Brewing that is. I’ve been a beer lover for the greater part of my life and have been home-brewing about three years; I just love every aspect of the craft. Up to this point, my involvement in the “industry” has been on the low end of the scale, however, I’m looking for that to change with this venture. I’m hoping that this nano-brewery along with others will inspire home brewers around Vancouver, BC, and even the rest of Canada to bring their wonderfully crafted beers to the general public by going commercial. The nano-brewing community has grown tremendously in the US over the past few years and I feel that Canadians should get right in there on it.

What’s the story behind the brewery? Where did the idea/concept come from?
It all started with a trip to Portland, OR. about a year and a half ago. You might think that the idea to open a brewery came from a visit to one of the many breweries in the region, but no, it came to me in the hotel room by way of the television. Late one night after a day out on the town I caught my first viewing of the television series “Brew Masters”, a show that is centered around Sam Calagione and his brewery Dogfish Head. After seeing Sam’s journey from humble beginnings to becoming one of the largest craft breweries in the US (all while staying true to his vision), I thought,”that’s something I could see myself doing”. Once I got back from my trip, I started doing some research to find out what was going on in the industry. Quickly I saw the Nano-Brewery revolution coming about in the US, that’s when I made up my mind and decided to open my own nano-brewery. And now, Powell Street Craft Brewery is only a few months away from opening its doors.

Have you hired a brewer yet? Can you reveal who it is?
Yes, I suppose he’ll be ok with it… it’s me!

Any hints on what style(s) of beer you’ll be brewing?
We’re planning on releasing two styles to start. The first will be an American Pale Ale with a strong Northwest influence, then an IPA for those serious hop lovers. Other than these, we have no boundaries, leaving us open to all other styles.

Where is the brewery located?
1824 Powell Street, just west of Victoria Drive. The area is quickly becoming Vancouver’s “Brewery District” with three other breweries already established.

Will the brewery have a taproom? Will you do tours/tastings?
At the moment there’s no taproom, but tours will be offered at specific dates and times.

Will the beer be available on tap at local bars and restaurants? In bottles in liquor stores? What about at the brewery (growlers, etc.)?
The beer will be available in bars, restaurants and at liquor stores.

Do you have a target release date?
We’re planning on releasing our first beer in August.

How will Powell Street stand out from its competitors?
Our beers will be handcrafted using all natural, and when available, local ingredients. We’re brewing on a much smaller scale then most of our competitors, which allows us to produce a wider variety of beers. No matter what we put out, quality will always rein supreme. Oh yeah, and we’re always open to your ideas and suggestions; let us know what you’d like, and it might be on the shelf before you know it.

With Powell Street, Parallel 49 and North Vancouver’s Bridge Brewing all set to release their first brews over the the next few months, we Vancouver beer nerds have lots to look forward to! Thanks to David for the interview, and be sure to check out Powell Street Craft Brewery on Facebook.

Join fellow beer lovers in a four-stop cask carouse through Kitsilano! Each stop will feature a unique and interesting cask conditioned ale made by one of BC’s talented craft breweries, as well as an appetizer to pair with each sleeve.All four stops will feature a guest speaker educating cask carousers on a variety of beer related topics.

The Details
Saturday, April 21st, 2012
12-6pm (meet at the Safeway at the corner of 4th and Vine at 11:30 to check in)

Locations include:

• Sunset Grill Tap House & Whiskey Bar  – Red Truck French Oaked Strong Ale paired with either arancino crispy risotto wrapped around bocconcini, served on bed of lightly seasoned marinara for the vegetarians or Lion’s Head meatballs served over a bed of baby bok choy for the meat lovers.
• The Bimini – Parallel 49 Imperial Wit paired with slow roasted pork tacos with smoked pepper hot sauce, pickled vegetables & avocado mash. Served with a side of roasted corn & potato salad. Vegetarian option will replace pork for squash and asparagus.
• Darby’s Pub – Lighthouse Brewing Switchback IPA paired with Wimpy Burger with roasted garlic polenta fries or Vegetatian Wimpy Burger with roasted garlic polenta fries.
• Displace Hashery – R&B Brewing Strawberry IPA – food pairing TBA

We will be splitting up into 4 groups. If you would like to be in a group with your friends, email events@camravancouver.ca and we’ll do our best to accommodate.

BUY TICKETS
$50 per person, $45 for CAMRA Members (valid card required)
Not yet a member? Join here

If you require a vegetarian meal, or have any questions, email Amanda at events@camravancouver.ca

As usual, Serving It Right Rules apply.

Please note that we will be taking photos at this event. By purchasing this ticket you acknowledge that your photo may be used on CAMRA Vancouver’s website, Facebook, Twitter, Flikr and promotional materials. If you wish to have your photo removed, please contact Leah Poulton communications@camravancouver.ca

Originally Posted in VanEast Beer Blog on February 5th, 2012
By Wandering Paddy

With one ill-advised, short-sighted move, Ayers created a grassroots movement that has outraged the general public, captured the attention of the mainstream media and rallied politicians, both civic and provincial, to join the swelling numbers who believe the LCBC are being heavy-handed and unreasonable by barring all movies at the iconic 74-year-old, Eastside theatre.

I’m assuming that if you are reading this blog you are fairly up-to-date on the whole fiasco, but if not, in a nutshell, the RIO was forced to stop screening movies due to a “condition” placed on their liquor primary license 30 minutes before owner Corrine Lea was to sign off on the license stating the theatre could not screen any films at any time.

Lea had applied for a liquor primary license so she could sell alcohol at the multi-purpose venue’s live events at night knowing she could not sell booze when screening films due the LCLB’s law prohibiting movie theatres from doing so. What she planned to do was show films during the day, with the alcohol safely locked away and then use the liquor primary license, which is valid from 6 PM to 1 AM when, when The Rio was hosting live music shows, burlesque or any other number of live events they book.

To the majority of us, this seems like a reasonable and responsible way to operate. Movies, popcorn and soda during daytime, all-ages movies and beer and burlesque at over-19, no-minors-allowed shows at night.

Not so says the LCLB who fear that…actually, I have no idea what they fear in this situation as the logic is so illogical and downright unreasonable. The law is in place to stop minors from buying booze at the theatre’s bar and then drinking it cloaked in the darkness of the theatre. But Lea was planning on having the booze locked away during the daytime, all-ages shows.

Come on, teenagers have been sneaking alcohol into theatres forever and don’t need a concession stand bar to secure booze.

And because of this, adults are not allowed to sip a cold beer or glass of wine while enjoying a movie here in BC, something that is not the case in much of the world where public order and safety seems to be intact. I have even read that Manitoba is allowing the screening of films with booze and that Ontario is not far behind.

January 31st, Vancouver City Council voted unanimously to support Lea in getting the restrictive condition removed so The Rio can show films during the day, sans alcohol, and plan to lobby Solicitor General Shirley Bond, whose ministry is ultimately responsible for the LCLB, to get Ayers to do the right thing and do it quickly as The Rio is losing $2,000 a day, according to Lea.

NDP MLA Jenny Kwan has spoken out in the media and written an open letter of support to Bond and stated on a CKNW radio call-in show that “with a single stroke of the pen” Ayers could remove the condition and get The Rio showing movies on their silver screen. Kwan should have a fairly good idea as to how the system works as she has been involved at the provincial level for close to 20 years so when Ayers says her hands are tied, I wonder just how hard she is trying to loosen the ropes that bind them.

This show of support by elected politicians of any level for anything pro-alcohol is almost unprecedented.

Rumours are circulating around that Bond and the Liberal Government are looking to make changes to the current BC liquor laws, many of which date back as far as the 1920′s, to bring them into the 21st Century. Bond herself has admitted to the press in a prepared statement that her government is looking for, “ways to streamline and modernize our regulation of liquor in British Columbia,” and are specifically looking for a solution to address The Rio’s current predicament.

Maybe it is the lingering sting of the defeated HST that began with the voters of BC voicing their outrage against the way the hated tax was introduced and ended with Gordon Campbell running off to London, England with his tail between his legs that has those in power backpedaling and those in opposition salivating. That public outraged was harnessed by a very clever and opportunistic Bill Vander Zalm and turned into an organized grassroots’ movement that quashed the tax. I think the BC Liberals, fearing another campaign of organized public protest has them and the LCLB hunkering down in their ivory tower trying to figure out a way to defuse the situation before it grows stronger.

On a daily basis, residents of this province who drink alcohol get screwed royally by the LCLB and we mostly take it with a smile or, at worst, take it with little more than the odd grumble and the occasional rant to our friends, family or the unlucky stranger sitting next to us in the bar. But hardly ever do we get organized and political and truly let LCLB & GM Ayers and her out-of-touch brain trust know how we really feel about their arrogant, patronizing, we-know-better-than-you attitudes towards our province’s out-of-date, archaic and often down-right illogical & restrictive liquor laws which are apparently the way the are in the name of “public safety”.

Ayers and the LCLB are claiming their hands are tied, as they do, when they interpret the often loosely worded laws in a manner that suits them. Ayers claims she has to enforce the law that states movie theatres cannot have liquor primary licenses because the law exists therefore must be adhered to.

But in this case, it is not so cut and dried. There is no legal definition of what a movie theatre is. The RIO Theatre has many functions, screening films being one of them. Lea has insisted all along she would comply with not serving any alcohol during the time she showed movies and would do so until the law was changed to allow for such activities. There are venues, including The RIO in the past, that apply for Special Occasion Licenses to serve alcohol during movie events and they have been successful and you know what, public safety did not disintegrate and drunken rioters did not take to the street.

That only happens related to hockey games. On that note, why is Rogers Arena allowed to serve booze? Are there not a significant amount of minors who attend those events who could easily obtain booze and consume it in anonymity while hiding amongst the 18,000+ fans?

“There was no dialogue,” stated a frustrated Lea about her interactions with the LCLB and Ayers. “Literally 30 minutes before I was to sign off on the license I received an email stating I could not show any movies and any time so I was forced to chose between having my liquor license and not showing movies or losing the license and showing movies. I was hoping that I could work out a solution (with Ayers) that would work for everyone.”

Ayers and LCLB have been described by many in the BC alcohol industry as being heavy handed with their it’s-our-way-or-the-highway style of operation. They have been called vindictive by many and very few speak out publicly against them or rock the boat for fear of reprisal. Lea had been vocal in the press about the need for liquor law reform specifically in regards to the law preventing theatres from selling alcohol during film events prior to the condition being placed on her license and rammed down her throat.

Last September the LCLB almost crippled the Great Canadian Beer Festival when Ayers sent an email to festival organizer Gerry Hieter, who has often been openly critical of the LCLB and Ayers in particular, advising him less than 24 hours before the event that US breweries could not pour beer. The decision was again unexpectedly reversed less than four hours before the festival, which was expecting 7,000 beer lovers to attend, opened and to this day Hieter has no idea what prompted these bizarre, last-minute decisions other than the LCLB sending him a message that they can and will make life very difficult for him because they do not like the idea of a great, two-day celebration of craft beer.

And it seems this need by the LCLB to operate by the letter of the law, without flexibility or compromise is selective. There are some liquor laws out there that make sense and actually are in place to protect consumers and promote public safety. Take the liquor law that dictates that all licensees must provide serving size-price lists to customers that is widely ignored by licensees and completely unenforced by Ayers and the LCLB. CAMRA Vancouver’s Fess UP to Serving Sizes (FUSS) Campaign, is currently trying to get the LCLB to enforce the one liquor law that might actually make sense. It seems that all liquor laws are not created equally and that the LCLB enforce only those they feel like enforcing.

Let’s hope that the public and politicians keep voicing their support loudly for The Rio, which now symbolizes the very real need to make some major changes to our liquor laws. It is not often where those of us in Lotusland get riled up enough to take on the establishment. It is time we say enough is enough and demand that the politicians treat us like adults who can fend for ourselves. We don’t always need protection from ourselves. It would be brilliant to see the LCLB give licensees and the people of BC the chance to prove they can operate responsibly if given the latitude with more liberal liquor laws.

Punish those who do not choose to operate in a responsible manner and leave the rest of us alone to enjoy a delicous beer while watching a movie at our local cinema.

Read more from VanEast Beer Blog

Originally published in The Ubyssey on February 5th, 2012
By RJ Reid

The AMS has committed to the construction of a fully operational brewery in the new SUB to provide beer to the UBC community, including the Pit and the Perch (two of the establishments slotted for the new building). There is also the potential for beer to be sold at other venues on campus.

“If we want to make more money we have to control the cost. And how do you control the cost? You make the beer,” said AMS President Jeremy McElroy. McElroy, along with AMS VP Finance Elin Tayyar, was responsible for commissioning a feasibility report on the brewery over a year ago, partnering with First Key Consulting.

“The report came back positive, saying that due to the craft beer culture in Vancouver as well as the nature of being isolated on campus and the amount of beer we go through right now, that it would be feasible to brew our own and in fact do really well while doing it,” said McElroy.

Many details of the brewery still have to be finalized, including the name, the number and types of beers brewed (likely four different varieties), the hiring of a full-time brewmaster, and the locations on campus besides the Pit and the Perch that the beer will be sold. The brewery has now been allocated an approximately 1000 square foot area in the basement of the new SUB.

The AMS is in initial talks with different establishments on campus, and depending on licensing, is also hoping to provide kegs to licensed events on campus.

The cost of the beer has also not been finalized but should be at a cheaper cost than commercial beer, where, as McElroy pointed out, “the majority of the mark-up is in profit and government taxes.”

Since the financial report, the brewery has been approved by the AMS and UBC administration, and a formal submission is currently being worked on to present to BC Liquor Control and Licensing. The AMS has also reached a partnership deal with First Key Consulting, which McElroy said will add veteran experience to the project.

Other universities have attempted similar projects, but didn’t follow through. The University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union (USSU) in 2010 looked into opening a brew pub, but found it unfeasible due to provincial regulations, cost and the lack of required infrastructure.

“We didn’t really have a location to do it in which would be suitable as it was,” said Reid Nystuen, USSU vice-president of operation and finance. “So we would have to probably do another million dollars in renovations and retrofittings to an existing space.”

Adding the brewery to the construction of the new SUB substantially reduces the initial start-up cost for the AMS. “The biggest cost associated with the space is the equipment,” said McElroy, “but within a few years the equipment is paid off with the volume of beer we expect to be going through.”

Overall, McElroy is proud of the project and hopes it creates “UBC’s beer.”

Jill Alport, a second-year Science student, is in favour of the new addition to the SUB. “I think it’s a great idea,” said Alport. “I would definitely drink UBC beer, especially if it was cheap.”

“The new SUB is pushing the envelope with new student space to begin with,” said McElroy. “Why not have a brewery?”

You may also be interested:

AMS looking to install brew pub in new SUB

Originally Published in the Georgia Straight Blog on January 26th, 2012
By Carolyn Ali

You’re not alone. In fact, members of the Vancouver branch of the Campaign for Real Ale are tired of ambiguity when ordering draft beer in local restaurants and bars. As consumers, they want clearer information about serving sizes prior to ordering so they can make informed decisions and know exactly what they’re paying for. Not only that, it’s a matter of public safety, they say.

In a phone interview with the Georgia Straight, CAMRA Vancouver president Paddy Treavor explains that there are no standardized serving sizes for a glass, sleeve, or pitcher of beer in B.C. However, a legal pint in Canada is 20 imperial ounces (568 millilitres), so if a restaurant is claiming to serve pints, that’s what the consumer should get.

Unfortunately, they often don’t. According to Treavor, many restaurants use a 16-ounce glass, “which is an American pint, but it’s not legal here. A lot of people are advertising pints and serving sleeves or glasses.”

Sleeves are anywhere from 12 to 16 ounces. Pitchers can range from 40 and 50 ounces; they’re often equivalent to about two-and-a-half pints, but “they’re all over the charts”.

Knowing how much beer is in your glass is important not just as a consumer but so you know how much you’re drinking. Despite the variety of sleeve glasses, Treavor says, “they all look exactly alike” and servers frequently can’t tell you the size. “So if you’re driving, it’s really important to know whether that’s a 12- or 16-ounce glass, because some of these beers are seven- or eight-percent [alcohol]. So it becomes a public safety issue.”

He adds that restaurants also have a responsibility to not over-serve, and “a lot of servers don’t know what size the glasses are because their employers don’t tell them.”

B.C. law requires that licensees provide customers, upon request, a complete serving size/price list for every alcoholic beverage they offer. But in practice, “probably 95 percent” of places Treavor has checked out don’t have such a list, and “the servers don’t have any idea about what size of glassware they’re serving.”

“The law’s not being followed and the law’s not being enforced,” he explains. “So we’re going after both sides of it.”

CAMRA’s Fess Up to Serving Sizes (FUSS) campaign was launched in November to address issues related to draft beer serving sizes. According to the website, it’s not about advocating pints over sleeves. It’s about advocating for transparency by ”persuading licensees to comply with this law so serving sizes are properly identified for the consumer, eliminating the misrepresentation of serving sizes, whether this misrepresentation is intentional or not.”

Treavor notes that CAMRA has already had success with some of its corporate members who have added serving sizes to their menus. The group is also asking consumers to sign an online petition to be sent to the BC Liquor Control and Licensing Branch. This calls on them to “strictly enforce their legal requirement that all licensees must provide to consumers, upon demand, a complete list of serving sizes and prices for all draft beers served and that licensees fulfil their obligation to provide the complete measure of draft beer promised by their serving-size list.”

“It’s about education,” he says. “The consumer has the right to know what they’re ordering. And they have the right to have that promise delivered to them.”

Follow Carolyn Ali on Twitter at twitter.com/carolynali

Originally Published in the Vancouver Sun on January 21, 2012
By Randy Shore with a file from Larry Pynn

The Campaign for Real Ale Vancouver is putting pressure on B.C.’s bars and restaurants to con-fess to the real size of their draft beer servings.

CAMRA Vancouver – the local chapter of the 100,000-member international beer drinkers advocacy group – is urging its members to ask their servers how much beer is in their glass as part of its FUSS campaign, or Fess Up to Serving Sizes.

Draft beer is commonly served as either a pint or a sleeve, according to CAMRA president Paddy Treavor.

By law, a pint in Canada is 20 ounces or 591 mL, but in practice few establishments serve a true pint, he said. So-called pints of beer typically range from 16 to 19.5 ounces, according to The Sun’s research.

A sleeve is defined in the B.C. Liquor Control and Licensing Branch as 14 ounces or 414 mL. But sleeve glasses come in three sizes – 12 ounce, 14 ounce and 16 ounce – all of which are widely used in the service industry.

“I get complaints from people all the time,” said Treavor. “I order a pint and a sleeve comes, or I order a sleeve and I don’t know how much is in it and neither does the server.

“There’s just no regulation. You could go to two places right next door to each other and for the same price get 25-per-cent more beer in one com-pared to the other.”

Licensees must make information available to customers on the amounts of liquor contained in their drinks in millilitres or ounces, according to the B.C. Liquor Control and Licensing Branch.

One serving of beer may not exceed 24 ounces (710 mL), but licensees are permitted to serve any amount of beer under the maximum that fit their existing glassware, according to an email interview with the branch.

CAMRA is working with its roster of 60 corporate members, many of B.C.’s brewers, and watering holes to post their serving sizes either on the wall or on the menu.

“To a member they’ve all agreed to support us,” said Treavor. The Whip and Central City Brew Pub have been most enthusiastic about adopting serving size transparency and both are now serving true 20-ounce pints, he said.

The Alibi Room, St. Augustine’s and the Cascade Room and the Donnelly Group pubs are also making changes to support the FUSS campaign.

CAMRA International favours the use of oversized glasses with a pouring line on the side to show that a full measure is poured. Lined glasses are widely used in Australia and the U.K. Not every beer needs to be served in full 20-ounce pints, said Treavor. Full pints served in the U.K. tradition are typically lower alcohol session beers such as bitter or British mild.

“Higher alcohol beers should come in smaller servings, but people need to know what those servings are,” he said.

Treavor considers standardization a public safety issue.

“With the new tough drinking [and] driving laws you need to know whether you are getting 12 ounces or 20 of a seven-per-cent IPA,” he said.

CAMRA is collecting signatures with an online petition urging the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch to require licensees to provide customers with a serving size price list.

“It’s the one liquor law we actually want them to enforce,” Treavor said with a laugh.

About 250 people have already signed on.

Read More

Sign the FUSS Petition.

Originally Posted January 17th, 2011
By The Green Man, Randy Shore of the Vancouver Sun

A recent investigation by my colleague and fellow beer enthusiast Larry Pynn found that a pint can be anywhere from 14 to 19.5 ounces. Of the 15 establishments he visited not one sold a true 20-ounce pint.

Though to be fair, when he did his rounds, it was technically illegal to sell a 20-ounce pint in B.C. That rule has since been changed. But has the size of your beer?

In most cases, no.

CAMRA Vancouver is collecting e-signatures on petition calling on the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch to enforce their own rules for liquor service, which require licensees to post the actual size of alcoholic beverages on the wall or in the menu or at least provide information to customers who ask.

The truth is many bar and restaurant managers don’t even know how big a true pint is and most servers don’t know how many ounces or millilitres of beer are in the sleeve they are handing you.

Which brings us to the biggest scam in the beer world: The Sleeve.

The LCLB defines a sleeve in its guidelines for licensees as 14 ounces, but sleeve glasses used in the real world range anywhere from 12 to 16 ounces. And a lot of places call them pints, which is outright illegal in Canada.

Truth is all we are asking for here.

Bars that use branded glasses from Stella or Guinness provide some assurance that the consumer is getting the appropriate measure, whether that’s 330 millilitres or 500, said Trevor Kallies, food and beverage manager for Donnelly Group which runs ten establishments in the Vancouver area.

Donnelly properties – Bimini, Bar None, Repulic, Library Square Public House, Granville Room and the Lampighter among others - are adding serving sizes to their menus as new menus are printed.

The Whip has introduced full 20-ounce pints on some of its offerings. Central City Brew Pub, too.

To reward bars that are up front about their serving sizes, CAMRA BC is considering awarding “CAMRA-approved” stickers for establishments that meet the standard to help guide beer drinkers in their quest for value and transparency.

I will have a full treatment on this story in The Sun later this week.

In the meantime feel free to post the names of establishments that respect their customers enough to tell the truth.

Read original posting from the Green Man.

2012 CAMRA Awards Results are in!

By Sarah Berman, 30 Dec 2011, TheTyee.ca

The year is 1949. British reporter Noel Monks walks into the Hotel Vancouver and orders a pint. The barman turns him away — not because he’s intoxicated or even poorly dressed — Monks was bounced for standing on two feet.

The journalist later wrote Canada is “a tremendous, virile country… Yet you’ve apparently let yourselves be legislated into a state of adolescence when it comes to the use of alcohol.”

Monks had reason to be miffed. At the time, B.C.’s beer-serving establishments outlawed music, dancing, food of all kinds, unescorted women and standing upright with a beer. Wine or whisky weren’t on the menu, and mocking the rules by crawling from one table to the next was presumably more than frowned upon.

In other words, fun was synonymous with contraband.

Local historian Robert Campbell (author of Sit Down and Drink Your Beer) explains these laws were a reaction to the “wild west” era before prohibition. “There was intense debate. The government wasn’t necessarily against liquor, but against the 24/7 public drinking and drunkeness in saloons.”

Following the First World War (a brief time of temperance in Canada), B.C. axed its prohibition laws and brought back booze under heavy government control. “They banned all the trappings of the former saloons,” says Campbell. “Anything that might encourage one to drink.”

We’ve come a long way since those puritanical days, but change has been astonishingly slow. Despite a culture predisposed to bonding over bevvies, B.C.’s liquor laws remain among the most archaic and outdated in North America.

1. No beer on stage!

An example: until earlier this year, it was against the law for performers to sip beer on any stage in the province. For rock bands touring anywhere from Nanaimo to Vancouver to Prince George, liquid courage was technically off limits.

It’s a rule still enforced by many B.C. bar owners who fear inspections and penalties. The Astoria pub in Vancouver is one such venue: “You can’t drink or even dance on the stage with a drink,” confirms Astoria bouncer Buck Lafontaine. “We tell them before they go up: water, but nothing else.”

“I want to drink a beer in between songs,” shrugs musician David Rogria after a recent show at the pub. Rogria books live gigs for the Astoria and plays in a band called Basketball. “Security [staff] have a lot more important things to do than bother musicians drinking on stage.”

Campbell says the law was likely a “hangover” from the post-1920 restrictions on entertainment. “It has very deep roots, I suspect.” After the better part of a century, this relic of screwy prohibition-era logic was finally laid to rest.

But the historical hangover doesn’t end here. Among B.C.’s entrepreneurs, culturites and politicians, there’s an emerging critical voice.

“We’re looking at some deeply antiquated policies,” Vancouver Councillor Heather Deal says of B.C.’s Liquor Control and Licensing Act. “It’s not about being permissive to the point of encouraging abuse, but bringing legislation into the modern age.”

2. No wine with that movie!

For starters, movie theatres cannot sell liquor in British Columbia.

It’s an old law, thrown into question by an equally ancient theatre: the 1938 Rio in East Vancouver. Functioning as a single-screen multimedia venue for many years, the theatre has been locked in liquor licence limbo for nearly a year.

The City of Vancouver has endorsed the Rio’s application for a full-time licence, but the provincial government has ruled the heritage space would have to stop functioning as a theatre.

“That’s what the province has told us. They’ve made it very clear,” owner and general manager Corinne Lea says. “With this application process we must now be a live venue exclusively.” It’s a strange violation, considering the Rio has regularly served drinks at live events using temporary licences.

That news came as quite a shock back in September — eight months into Lea’s application — after she’d spent $100,000 on a 3-D projector. “We’re fully equipped for film. Our fans like to see movies here. It’s a big blow to our business.”

Liquor Control and Licensing Branch general manager Karen Ayers says the law is in place to prevent minors from accessing alcohol. Kids like movies, she says, and aren’t easily monitored in a dark theatre.

“I have seen letters from individual people wanting government to change regulations to permit the Rio Theatre to serve liquor and screen films.” Ayers confirms. “Our response so far has been that the regulations don’t permit what they’re looking for.”

Lea insists there’s a demographic difference between a Toy Story 3 matinee at Cineplex and the Rio’s midnight screenings of Rocky Horror Picture Show. “It seems to be very black and white,” says Lea. “They tend to make sweeping rules that don’t take care of the subtleties. It really ends up affecting the arts.”

An online petition calling for the law to be repealed has collected a couple thousand signatures since October. With the City and public in full support, the Rio must wait for legislation to catch up.

3. No cross-border boozin’!

Alberta can be forgiven for its lack of wine country. But as visitors, British Columbians might be tempted to bring over a bottle or two from Canada’s oldest wine region.

However, thanks to the Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act, doing so is a federal offense. No liquor is allowed to cross provincial borders without express consent from each province’s liquor board.

“It’s not right that someone from the United States has an easier time shipping wine home,” says Okanagan-Coquihalla MP Dan Albas, who has spearheaded a private members’ bill to amend the 83-year-old law. Albas says the legislation hurts his constituents’ family-run wineries and the region’s tourism industry.

“I don’t think they normally bother people like you and me,” Campbell says of the limits on cross-provincial imbibing. Liquor boards in Alberta and Ontario have both issued statements that give allowance for personal use. “But it certainly doesn’t encourage inter-provincial trade.”

Albas’ Bill C-311 has passed through two readings, and will undergo committee scrutiny sometime in the new year.

He hopes the amendment will help B.C.’s small-scale wineries reach bigger markets. “They’re not permitted to market their wares outside the province unless they sell to a provincial liquor authority,” says Albas, adding that most artisan wineries don’t yet have the capacity to sell large orders.

If all goes according to plan, consumers will even be allowed to — gasp — purchase B.C. wine online within Canada. Craft breweries, of course, would still be inhibited by the outdated rule. (That might take another half century to fix).

4. Cheese only, party planners!

They can choose your cheeses, but under current laws, catering companies are unable to stock or distribute the wine to match. Party planners across the province are calling for change.

“Right now caterers are not eligible for licence,” says Ayers. “The government is considering that request along with other requests.”

The law caused a stir earlier this month, when a California-based company planned a retreat at one of Whistler’s Olympic legacy venues.

It was the first time the Whistler Olympic Plaza was reserved for a private function. According to Whistler’s weekly independent news mag Pique, roughly 650 people flew in from across the continent for a six-night stay at the Fairmont.

With a week of Olympic-themed activities planned, the uninitiated ex-pats got a taste of B.C.’s liquor laws. It was dry. Very dry.

It had to be. If the group wanted a special occasion liquor licence, the foreign company would have had to apply in advance, transport the booze and take on responsibility for the liquor service. It’s a job usually reserved for event planners.

Organizer Joanne Burns Millar, president of the catering business Pacific Destination Services, told Pique the incident was embarrassing. “It’s crippling our business. It is absolutely crippling our ability to deliver to international corporate conference and incentive groups.”

But until the provincial government comes up with a new class of liquor licences for caterers, B.C.’s cheese stands alone.

5. No happy hour!

They’re allowed in Washington and Alberta, but you won’t find a half-priced afternoon drink in B.C.

British Columbia is one of the most expensive places to buy alcohol. There’s a set 123-per-cent markup on every bottle of wine and a 170-per-cent markup on every bottle of spirits sold in the province. No bars or restaurants are offered wholesale discounts.

Government price-fixing affects restaurant bottle sales, pushing competitive advantage south of the border. As one Vancouver Magazine guide points out, to get the best restaurant price on a B.C. wine, you have to travel to Berkeley, California.

Taking a look at the labyrinth of legalese known as the Liquor Control and Licensing Act, it’s no wonder many local businesses hire consultants to navigate provincial restrictions. And unfortunately for Vancouver’s cultural entrepreneurs, change is neither fast nor easy.

“We’ve almost gone out of business just getting this to happen,” says Lea. “If they don’t hurry up and do something, there’s not going to be a business to give a liquor licence to.”

It’s like waiting for happy hour, when happy hour never comes.

Read original article in The Tyee.

Vancouver Food Tour Craft Beer ‘n Bites TourWhat’s more, a range of exciting food events is also taking place. Vancouver Food Tour fully on board with our latest culinary adventure: Craft Beer ‘n Bites Tour.

Sign up now to explore Gastown’s exciting craft beer scene on our beer-centric culinary tour. With a passionate beer educator as your guide, enjoy and learn about various aspects of craft beer in 4 hot restaurant destinations. Numerous craft beer tastings and delicious food pairings are all included.

Dine Out Vancouver

Dine Out Vancouver celebrates its 10th anniversary January 20 to February 6! 225 restaurants will offer a three-course dinner menu at either $18, $28, or $38. The festival will also feature food tours, cooking classes, culinary events, and hotel reservations program.

For more information, or to view the participating restaurants visit www.tourismvancouver.com.

Craft Beer ‘n Bites Tour

Monday to Saturday $80

Vancouver Food Tour Craft Beer ‘n Bites TourBy no means a pub crawl, explore Gastown’s exciting craft beer scene on Vancouver Food Tour’s beer-centric culinary tour.

With a passionate beer educator as your guide, curious beer lovers and serious beer enthusiasts alike will discover, enjoy and discuss craft brews alongside a variety of food pairings.

Each destination features unique aspects of beer such as: beer history and brewing process, beer cocktails, modern gastropub snacks, how to pair beer and food, North West style beers, International selections, and more.

Hop on board and meet fellow beer devotees as we taste, sip, and bite through historic Gastown.

Tour Includes:

* Beer tastings at each of the 4 destinations

* Delectable, hand-selected food pairings

* Informative and interactive guided walking tour

* Gratuities to your guide are highly appreciated

Time: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm or later. Saturdays: 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm or later.

Dates: Debuting during Dine Out Vancouver, from Jan 20th- Feb 4th, 2012. Regular tour dates will be added after Dine Out ends.

Price: $80 CDN per person, HST included.

* $3 ticketing fee added upon check-out

* 5% off 6-11 guests, 10% off 12+ guests

Minimum capacity: 6 guests (guests will be notified if minimum is not met)

Maximum capacity: 14 guests

Meeting and Ending Spot: At Waterfront Station in Gastown, Vancouver. Exact location provided upon registration.

Register Now

Spaces are very limited so register quickly.

This is a 19+ event.

Originally published in Vancouver Beer Blog on November 10th, 2011
By vancouverbeerblogger

However, when we find something interesting that we want to be a part of, where do we start?  Where do we go?  Who do I talk to so that I can experience and learn more about this amazing discovery?  Well, if you’re new to the world of craft beer but you want to learn more about it, there’s a new tasting and social club that you might want to be a part of.  The club is called On Tap, and they’re planning to bring craft beer to the mainstream.

On Tap is a beer tasting and social club, and it’s hoping to become an accessible entry point for people wanting to learn about craft beer and a place for fans to learn more about beer, brewing and food pairings from the hosts and special guests.  Sort of like what wine clubs have been for the wine business.  On Tap is led by president, brewer Shae de Jaray.  He’s a brewer at Steamworks Brewing Company, who works along side Steamworks brewmaster Conrad Gmoser.

So on Wednesday November 9^th, I made my way down to the Miele Gallery for the On Tap launch party, to check out Vancouver’s up and coming craft beer club.  It was a very fun and casual event with some great food and beer pairings with very generous servings of beer.  What’s great about this kind of event is that you can learn about food and beer pairings without committing to a whole beer dinner.  Also, it’s going to be a lot more affordable.

Each pairing started off with Shae talking a bit about the beer, and how it’s going to pair with the food.  First on the menu was the Steamworks Great Pumpkin Ale, and that was paired with grilled crostini with a pumpkin mascarpone spread, persimmon, and stilton cheese.

Second on the docket was the Driftwood Fat Tug IPA.  That was paired with duck confit taco with caramelized grapefruit, watercress, and a honey-ginger vinaigrette.

The third was my favorite.  It was the Crannog Back Hand of God Stout paired with Imara espresso crusted heritage angus rib eye steak with an amarena cherry and stout reduction.

On Tap provides a very fun and easy going vibe, so it’s nothing to be intimidated by if you know nothing about craft beer.  You’ll definitely learn a lot, and it’s very affordable.  There are plenty of great craft beer events that cater to the die-hard beer nerds in Vancouver, but it’s great to see something catered to the mainstream.  But On Tap is something the beer nerds would enjoy as well.  So if you want to learn about local craft beers, the local craft beer scene, and how craft beer pairs well with food, you might want to become a member of On Tap.  There seems to be benefits such as specials on beer and events.

Also, On Tap will host will be hosting a public beer pairing event on Dec. 10 from 6-8 at the Miele Gallery for $30.  So make sure you check it out and visit their website:

www.thatswhatsontap.com

Originally Published in VanEast Beer Blog on November 7th, 2011
By Wandering Paddy

You should have seen the look on their faces when I told them they had just violated a federal law by importing alcohol from one province to another within Canada. In one fell swoop, I was aiding and abetting criminals and was in possession of contraband alcohol.

Yes, in case you did not know, thanks to the Importing of Intoxicating Liquor Act (IILA) of 1928, it is indeed illegal to transport alcohol from one province to the next as all alcohols must be purchased through the provincial liquor boards, which have absolute power to do what they please. It is a law that has long since outgrown its purposefulness, originally enacted after prohibition to give provincial governments a monopoly on importing, exporting, distribution and sales of all alcohols in order to keep things under control and in check in the post-prohibition era.

Many of us have unwittingly broken this federal law by purchasing liquor in other provinces while on vacation in other parts of this great country of ours and bringing it back home. I once brought back a whole box of Sortilege, a delectable blend of distilled maple syrup and rye whiskey from Montreal and labelled the box “fragile, bottles of alcohol” on the box, literally announcing my criminal activity to all!

Today, the LDB continues to maintain a complete monopoly on the alcohol trade here in BC and answers to no one. Even the private retail liquor stores (LRS) must buy their alcohol through the LDB, who mark up the price, creating an uneven playing field, cost-wise, with the LDB government liquor stores having the unfair advantage. The LDB also has the ability to restrict consumer choice by simply not purchasing products they don’t want to distribute, whether there is a consumer demand for those products or not.

But there is a movement afoot to change some of these restrictions in regards to the IILA and free trade between provinces, but unfortunately it seems that the laws that will be changed to allow limited amounts of wine only to be transported over provincial borders without having to go through the provincial liquor boards concerned.

Dan Albas, Conservative MP for Okanagan/Coquilhalla, recently introduced a private members bill , Bill C-311, in the House of Commons that is attempting to amend the IILA to allow for limited amounts of wine, for personal use, to be brought/shipped directly by/to the consumer across provincial borders. Bill C-311, is currently undergoing its second reading before the House of Commons and if it passes, will be sent to a committee to be examined before going before a third and final reading in the house. If passed in the third reading the bill will be enacted into law and the proposed changes will be made to the archaic IILA.

Bill C-311, if successful, will allow for,

“the importation of wine from a province by an individual, if the individual brings the wine or causes it to be brought into another province, in quantities and as permitted by the laws of the latter province, for his or her personal consumption, and not for resale or other commercial use.”

My question is why does the wording of Bill C-311 include wine only and not include beer? Have the BC Craft Brewers Guild (BCCBG) missed the political boat being steered by the BC wine lobby?

According to the BC Craft Brewers Guild Chairman, Tod Melnyk, the BCCBG are aware of Bill C-311, but don’t consider it pertinent to the BC craft beer industry.

“We have not lobbied to have beer included in Bill C-311 as it has not been as issue in our segment,” stated Melnyk in an via email.

For me, as a consumer, this is the exact kind of political lobbying and advocacy that the BC craft beer industry is in need of and the powers that be associated with the BC Craft Brewer’s Guild seem to have been asleep at the switch. How can opening up inter-provincial transportation of your products, even just a little, not be an advantage to your business and the industry as a whole? If you go by the coverage Bill C-311 is getting on wine blogs and wine-related websites, there is quite a buzz of excitement about these proposed changes the the IILA. It is just a toe in the door, in regards to opening up free movement of alcohols between provinces, but a toe in the door is better than a door slammed shut in your face and once pried open a little, there is room to push that door open further.

If Bill C-311 passes and get enacted into law, the craft beer industry have a legitimate grounds to claim the wine industry have an unfair advantage and that beer and other alcohols should be included in the amendment to the IILA. We, as consumers should insist on these changes to be made. It might not be important to the BCCBG, but to me, as a consumer and lover of craft beer, it is important to me to have as much access to great craft beers no matter where they are brewed. Why shouldn’t I be able to order a case of craft beer from Ontario, or Quebec if I am willing to pay the price? It may seem far-fetched, but trust me, there would be people interested. In the past, I have paid to fly briskets of Schwartz’s Montreal smoked meat out to Vancouver for special occasions so why not fly out a few cases of Dieu du Ciel beers to accompany the meal if I so desire.

I truly hope that the BCCBG’s apathy towards this law changes and that they do lobby in the future to amend further these archaic liquor laws that restrict them as an industry and restrict us as consumers.

In the meantime, I am going set about the task of getting rid of the contraband ice wine in my possession. Come to think of it, I had better “dispose” of that Sortilege as well.

Originally published by The Powell River Peak on November 23rd, 2011
By Kyle Wells – reporter@prpeak.com

With the arrival of an official brewmaster to town, Powell Riverites are now one step closer to enjoying their first cold one from Townsite Brewing Inc.

Cedric Dauchot and his wife Chloe Smith moved to Powell River about a month ago so that Dauchot could take the position of brewer engineer at Townsite Brewing, Powell River’s soon-to-be-open microbrewery. The brewery is being established in what was once the post office and later a fish canning facility in Townsite on Ash Avenue.

Dauchot is from Belgium, south of Brussels, and went to university to earn an engineering degree in brewing technologies. From there he went to work in France for a chain of brewpubs called Les 3 Brasseurs (The 3 Brewers) before the company sent him to Montreal to oversee the opening of Canadian locations.

Smith, who is also a brewer, and Dauchot met in Montreal and were married two years later. They moved to Smith’s home province of Saskatchewan to open their own brewery but the venture did not work out. Dauchot became aware of the position in Powell River while looking for brewing jobs online. He came in August to meet with brewery owner Karen Skadsheim and tour the area and decided that it would be a good fit.

Smith and Dauchot recently had a baby and Smith is on maternity leave. For now she is not involved in Townsite Brewing but the hope is that the brewery will become successful enough that it will require two brewers.

“We took our time, we interviewed a lot of candidates,” said Skadsheim. “He and Chloe both have an interest…in keeping it local and just a passion for beer.”

“We really wanted to make an impact on the city,” said Dauchot, “and make the people in Powell River proud of our product too.”

Licence approval in principle has been verified from the provincial Liquor Control and Licensing Branch and the equipment is due to arrive in mid-December. A couple of pieces are already there and renovations to the building are ongoing. Dauchot is beginning to start homebrew batches of the planned beers to tinker with recipes and if everything goes smoothly the first batches of brew should be ready for the public by the end of January.

Initially, the brewery will produce three staple ales. First is Zunga Golden Blonde Ale, which Dauchot envisions as an easily drinkable session beer. Next up is Tinhat IPA (India pale ale), which Dauchot describes as a very West Coast IPA with lots of piney and citrus undertones. Rounding out the big three will be PowTown Porter, the darkest member of the family.

Seasonal suds will also be a specialty of the brewery and there are plans for pumpkin, blackberry and stinging nettle beers, among others. Local hops are also slated for use in a wet hops ale. Dauchot plans to bring his Belgian background to the endeavour and brew some more traditional beers from his homeland, which is famous for tantalizing tipples.

As the only brewery on the entire Sunshine Coast, deals are already in the works to have Townsite Brewing beers sold on the lower Sunshine Coast. Also Skadsheim hopes to break into the Lower Mainland market to some degree and already the brewery has two taps in Vancouver set to pump out the Powell River brew.

Skadsheim said, however, that the goal isn’t to become a big brewery. Her and Dauchot’s focus is on brewing high-quality product, on establishing a business that is sustainable and on being environmentally friendly.

“We just want to be the beer on the Sunshine Coast,” said Skadsheim.

At the brewery, tours and tastings will be offered and beer will be sold on site in 650 millilitre “bombers” and 1.9 litre “growlers.” Gift certificates are already available as Christmas presents and T-shirts are on order. Coasters featuring local artist Meghan Hildebrand’s drawing of the brewery building can already be found around town.

CHEERS: Karen Skadsheim [left], owner, Cedric Dauchot, brewer engineer, and Chloe Smith raise a glass to the soon to be open Townsite Brewing Inc.

Photo Credit: Powell River Peak

One of the legal obligations of a licensee in BC is that they must provide customers, upon request, a complete serving size/price list for every alcoholic beverage they offer. This list is not optional, as per the BC Liquor Control and Licensing Branch (LCLB) which states, in their Guide for Licensees in British Columbia, that, “you (licensee) must have a list available showing the types of liquor available, the size of each drink you sell and its price. Your price list should also include any drink specials you are currently offering. You (licensee) may post the price list as a printed list or on a board, or it can be available at all tables. At a minimum, it must be available to customers on request.”

The FUSS Campaign is focusing on persuading licensees to comply with this law so serving sizes are properly identified for the consumer, eliminating the misrepresentation of serving sizes, whether this misrepresentation is intentional or not. It is a fact that the majority of licensees do not comply with this law and the LCLB do not enforce this law, leaving the consumer at a disadvantage by not knowing what they are in fact ordering and paying for in advance. This is a basic consumer right.

Stage One of CAMRA Vancouver’s FUSS Campaign will see us writing a letter to our Corporate member licensees outlining their legal obligation to provide serving size lists and soliciting their support of the FUSS Campaign in order to set the “Gold Standard” in the hospitality industry. We hope by highlighting how not providing serving size-price lists negatively affects their customers, our Corporate members will comply, better serving CAMRA members and draft beer consumers in general. We will also be sending out similar letters to the appropriate hospitality industry associations urging them to have their members comply with the LCLB requirement of providing a serving size/price list to patrons.

To further encourage Corporate members and the hospitality industry in general to respect consumer rights, CAMRA BC is launching a “CAMRA BC Approved” decal campaign which will see local branches awarding decals to licensed establishments each year signifying the establishment meets CAMRA BC standards. One of the standards that must be met to be “CAMRA BC Approved” is to have a serving size/price list available for customers.

CAMRA Vancouver will also be providing education to members and consumers in general, about their legal rights as consumers by providing written material which will be made available on our website and at CAMRA sponsored and other craft beer events. We hope that by educating the general public about their consumer rights they will be better informed and able to insist that their rights be respected.

The second prong of Stage One of the FUSS Campaign will target the LCLB. CAMRA Vancouver will do so by sending a letter to the LCLB highlighting how the non-compliance of licensees in regards to providing serving size lists is negatively effecting consumers and urging the LCLB to enforce their laws to help eliminate the misrepresentation of draft beer serving sizes. Today we will also be starting our on-line
petition for draft beer consumers to sign.  The petition will be presented to the General Manager of the LCLB at a future date.

CAMRA Vancouver will also send out a news release to local media advising them of the FUSS campaign. Also, we will be notifying local bloggers in order to create a buzz and publicize what we are trying to achieve. It is our hope that the FUSS Campaign spreads beyond the craft beer community as it affects all consumers of draft beer, not just craft beer drinkers.

Strategies and actions for Stage Two of the FUSS Campaign depend a lot on the response we get from Step One actions. We hope there will not be a need for Step Two but be rest assured there is an action plan in place to be announced when the time is right.

To begin supporting the FUSS Campaign, please take the time to sign the on-line petition and spread the word to any and all who enjoy draft beer in BC. Let’s make our voices heard and effect some positive changes for draft beer consumers of BC!

Paddy Treavor
CAMRA Vancouver President
pres@camravancouver.ca

Executive Nominations

We are accepting nominations for all positions on the executive until 5:00pm January 13^th, 2012. Candidates will be announced on Tuesday, January 17^th, 2012. It is also possible to make a nomination at the AGM. Read more…

See you all there.

Renew you CAMRA Vancouver membership before January 6th, 2012 and we will have a pair of CAMRA Vancouver taster glasses available for you along with your new member card, ready for pick-up at our AGM in late January. Your new card will be valid for year after your current card expiry date.

To renew your membership visit our Membership renewal section and follow renewal process. It’s easy! You can renew online via PayPal.

Tasting glasses available while supplies last.

Beerthirst & CAMRA Vancouver are pleased to present the Tour de Richmond

Saturday, December 3^rd, 2011
11:45am pick up – 8pm drop off
Brighouse Skytrain Station, Richmond (look for the yellow school bus)

Come experience how Richmond is fast becoming one of the ultimate destinations for craft beer in BC! Our classic school bus will pick us up at Brighouse Skytrain Station (Canada Line) in Richmond at 11:45 sharp and whisk us off on a journey filled with fun, friends, prizes, craft beers and appetizers at each stop.

Tickets

EVENT IS SOLD OUT

Participating locations include:
Fogg N Suds
Kingswood Pub
Hog Shack Cook House
Blue Canoe Waterfront Restaurant
O’Hares Gastropub
Pumphouse Pub

Need to stock up on beer to go? Well never fear! Both O’Hares and Kingswood have beer stores!

Beerthirst would like to invite you to O’Hares during our stop for a complimentary tasting, featuring a seasonal release, a Marzen, an IPA and a Double Stout!

And just to make this event even more awesome, we’ll be supplying a Homebrew Collaboration cask courtesy of Russell Brewing and Scott Butchart of VanBrewers at our first stop!

We know you’ll be thirsty therefore each location will be offering additional pints for only $4 (+ tax & gratuity).

Follow @Beerthirst, @CAMRA_YVR & all of the participating locations on twitter and/or Facebook – @FoggBeerBar @HogShackca @bluecanoeresto @OHaresPub @PumphousePub to find out what the beer will be at each stop. #tourderichmond – keep the conversation going before and during the event.

Prizes! Because Beerthirst loves everyone so much, they’ll also be handing out extra special items on the bus, including free t-shirts! Email your size to Amanda at vp@camravancouver.ca before Nov 25^th.

The fine print: Please note that gratuity has not been included in the ticket price, so don’t forget to tip your server. We ask that you bring cash to pay for any additional drinks or food you may order.

Serving it Right rules will apply.

Questions?
Jared contactjaredwilliams@gmail.com
Amanda vp@camravancouver.ca

See you all there! And remember; what happens on the bus stays on the bus.

Beerthirst & CAMRA Vancouver
www.Beerthirst.com
www.CAMRAVancouver.ca

What The Faker said: You don’t have to be a connoisseur to enjoy the cornucopia that is the craft beer “revolution.” It’s that time of year to hoist the horn of plenty and celebrate its diversity in offering something for just about every taste, leaving no excuse for those who may feel they just want to throw up their hands when the choices overwhelm.

Originally Published in The Bellingham Herald on November 1, 2011
By Amy Fickling – McClatchy-Tribune

Since the Brewers Association was in Washington in June and hosted a panel on “The American Craft Beer Revolution” at the National Press Club on June 3, we’ve been fascinated with the ingenuity of the sector. The Brewers Association is a trade group for small and independent U.S. beer brewers, which promotes craft beers and the craft beer community that imbibes. It says its members make more than 99 percent of the beer brewed in America.

The panel discussion was introduced with a rat-a-tat-tat of absorbing facts about craft beer (the growth of craft brewers is accelerating, the U.S. brewery count is the highest since the 19th century, large brewers’ sales are declining but profits are at record levels, retailers are expanding shelf space for craft beers even as some of the small brewers are struggling to satisfy demand, beer drinkers have a PASSION for craft). Brew pubs are getting into packaging for off-premises sales, the BA said. Nano breweries (the craft of the craft?) are sprouting all over. Microbreweries are relying on tasting rooms to build sales (at the time, there were 56 microbreweries that sell more than 25 percent of their beer onsite that way).

It has long been the lament of small business owners that so-called big business controls too much of the economy, and there remains little room for effective competition. This sentiment would seem to ring truest in the Canadian beer industry, but small players are making surprising headway with innovative approaches to marketing and operating their craft breweries.

Originally published By CBC News on October 24, 2011
By Ryan Charkow, CBC News

For more than half a century, the lion’s share of the suds Canucks have poured back has come from two breweries: Labatt, founded in London, Ont., and now owned by Belgian mega-brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev; and Montreal-based Molson, the country’s oldest brewery, which is now part of the Molson Coors Brewing Company. But in the 1980s, a number of independent craft brewers began setting up shop across the country with hopes of offering consumers an alternative to Canada’s big breweries, a duopoly since the merger of Carling-O’Keefe and Molson in 1989.

Among those independent brewers was Peter McAuslan, who that same year founded the McAuslan Brewery in Montreal. Twenty years later, McAuslan Breweries has blossomed into a Canada-wide business with $20 million in beer sales from brands like St. Ambroise Pale Ale and St. Ambroise Apricot Wheat Ale.

He says instead of competing directly with the big brewers, it was always his intention to offer consumers something different. “Our whole plan was to never compete head-to-head with them. We would make beers that would appeal to an emerging consumer group that was interested in more flavourful, authentic, local products.

“So we always saw ourselves as being in a different beverage category than the beers made by the big brewers,” he adds.

In Quebec, there are now upward of 70 craft breweries catering to an increasingly diverse client base. McAuslan says the choice for consumers has never been more robust.

“The emerging specialty beer consumers are much more numerous – there is a younger clientele than when we started,” he said. “The beer landscape is totally different now than it was and consumer attitudes about beer have changed as well.”

Community connection

A key facet of any micro-brewery is its connection to the local community, something that Toronto-based Steam Whistle Brewing co-founder Cam Heaps says harkens back to the time when local breweries dotted the country and were synonymous with their communities.

“The breweries used to be located in the centre of [a town] and be active participants within those communities,” he said.

Heaps comes from legendary Canadian brewing stock. His father, Frank, founded Toronto’s first micro-brewery in 1985, the Upper Canada Brewing Company. The younger Heaps was working for Upper Canada when it was purchased in 1998 by Canada’s third-largest brewer, Sleeman Breweries, itself since bought out by Japanese mega-brewery Sapporo.

He was fired from the company in the following year along with Greg Taylor and Greg Cromwell. The so-called “three fired guys” went on to found Steam Whistle in 1999, deciding to focus solely on brewing a beer in the European pilsner style.

“We chose the pilsner style, which is dominated by the oldest European breweries in the world,” Heaps said. “If we’re going to compete with that style, one of the most challenging in the world to perfect, we’d better just do one thing so we can be masters at it.”

McAuslan says he attributes part of his success to maintaining an active connection with the thriving arts community in Montreal, sponsoring a number of art exhibitions and concerts.

“In the beginning we did a lot of small, supportive things for various arts and community groups,” he said. “That helped us establish a reputation as good brewers and good members of the community, a position we still maintain – we just sponsored the free Arcade Fire concert at Pop Montreal in September.”

He adds that the marketing strategy plays off the weaknesses of his larger competitors. “The big breweries have changed, becoming even larger and less locally focused which is good for small, local breweries.”

Chipping away at a big rock

Gary Lohin, master brewer and co-owner of Central City Brewing Co. in Surrey B.C., says the Canadian brewing industry is unique because, as a small business offering a first-class product, he feels no pressure to compete with a huge multinational corporation like Molson Coors. His marketing approach is differentiation.

“I’m making such full-flavoured and full-bodied beers that the big breweries don’t make,” he said.

Lohin is responsible for the wildly popular line of Red Racer beers, which have been flying off shelves so swiftly that Central City is expanding its facilities to handle the increased demand. Indeed, the craft brewing industry in B.C. is the country’s most thriving. Through March, craft beers accounted for 12.7 per cent of all beer sold in the province and sales have skyrocketed from $56 million in 2007 to $111 million in 2010.

Lohin says there remains immense room for further growth. “Nearly 90 per cent of people are still buying a case of big-brewery beer,” he said. “We just have to keep innovating and offering the customers something they can’t get from the big breweries, and we’ve so far been successful with that formula.”

In Ontario, where craft beer represents six per cent of the province’s total beer sales, the public’s appetite for independent brews is growing despite the fact alcohol consumption on the whole is flat.

“Generally, people aren’t drinking as much as they used to — per capita consumption is flat or down,” said Gary McMullen, president of Muskoka Brewery and chair of Ontario Craft Brewers. “So if people are only looking to have one beer, they want something special to enjoy.”

Heaps says the dominance of the big brewers has worked in Steam Whistle’s favour.

“It’s somewhat similar for any industry that’s dominated by one or two major players – you know what you’re getting into,” he said. “Because their market share is so huge, you can just chip away a little piece and survive off it.”

Big brewers taking notice

McAuslan says the growing challenge for small brewers is that the changes in the beer industry over the past two decades have led the big breweries to take an interest in what craft brewers are doing.

“They themselves are in the specialty beer business now, whereas 20 years ago they had no interest in doing that whatsoever,” he said.

In May, Molson announced the creation of its new Six Pints Specialty Brewing Company. According to a press release, Molson’s intention for the company is to “nurture and grow specialty and craft beer brands.” Molson has been quite active in the craft brewing segment in recent years, purchasing Ontario brewer Creemore Springs in 2005 and Vancouver-based Granville Island Brewing in 2009.

Heaps says Molson’s foray into the segment must mean the brewers are doing something right.

“I think it’s great, because it’s an open acknowledgement by them that the craft industry is legitimate and has something to offer that’s different than what they offer,” he said. “But I don’t think the consumer likes opening the paper and seeing another craft brewery bought up.

“Ultimately, as the craft segment gets stronger, there will be more people who have the resources and ability to stay independent.”

Peter McAuslan, who has seen it all in his two decades as a craft brewer, says in order for the segment to continue to thrive, brewers must do all they can to continually reinvigorate their businesses.

“We have a policy at the brewery to come out with at least one new beer each year, if we can,” he said. “You’ve got to get out there and do new things in order to keep your key constituency interested in what you’re doing.

“Between the small brewers and consumers, we’ve made this pact and we’ve changed the beer industry forever.”

Visit us online: http://www.stoutday.com

Check out the CAMRA Events Calendar for stout events near you.

Originally published in The Province on October 5th, 2011
By Jan Zeschky

October 2011 marks the inaugural B.C. Craft Beer Month – and if you’re thinking, “Oh yeah, says who?” just ask a certain Queen Liz, who gave the idea her official stamp of approval.

A range of events – including tastings, beer dinners and Oktoberfest parties (for it is that time of year, too, of course) – have been organized across the province, from the Gulf Islands to the Okanagan and as far north as Smithers.

A majority of events seem centred on Victoria, which is really no surprise if you consider that B.C.’s capital is probably the nation’s best beer city (on a quality-per-person ratio, at least — and remember it’s now the home of Canada’s best beer).

Much like Vancouver Craft Beer Week, the events seem designed to accommodate both those with just a passing interest in beer and hard-core hopheads.

Some of the more intriguing events include a tour of Ross Bay Cemetery in Victoria (2 p.m., Oct. 8, free, 90 minutes) led by beer historian Greg Evans, who will guide the group around the graves of B.C.’s pioneer brewers and give insights into the province’s brewing past; a guide to pairing craft beer with chocolate at Cocoa Nymph in Kitsilano (7 p.m., Oct. 12, $35); a joint Oktoberfest and Harvestfest organized by CAMRA Vancouver (noon, Oct. 15); and a Vancouver Island Brewing brewmaster’s dinner at Oak Bay’s Penny Farthing pub (6 p.m., Oct. 23, $50).

All month long, there will be modified cask nights from the usual suspects, such as the Railway Club, St. Augustines, The Whip and London Pub in Vancouver and Spinnakers and The Beagle in Victoria.

Moreover, many breweries will be showcasing their seasonal releases at the many tasting events across B.C. I wonder if Queen Liz likes pumpkin beer?

For a full catalogue of events and ways you can support B.C. craft beer and B.C. businesses, visit the official website at craftbeermonth.ca. Happy drinking.

jzeschky@theprovince.com
twitter.com/jantweats

Please find the complete Homebrew Challenge Rules and Guidelines below. Beers entered should have a harvest/fall theme (fresh hops, pumpkin/vegetable beers, spice/herb beers etc.)

Please direct any questions regarding the challenge to Matt Anderson, our membership coordinator at membership@camravancouver.ca

Homebrew Challenge Rules and Guidelines

1. Beers entered should have a harvest/fall theme (fresh hops, pumpkin/vegetable beers, spice/herb beers etc.)

2. Fee is $5 per entry and requires 2 standard 12 oz. bottles with no label and blank or blacked out caps.

3. Each bottle must have an entry id attached to it with a rubber band: http://www.bjcp.org/docs/SCP_BottleID.pdf with the category and sub category that the beer belongs in: http://www.bjcp.org/2008styles/catdex.php  Please also include basic information on any special ingredients on the back of the label (Brewed with pumpkin and pie spices, apricot wheat ale, etc.)

4. Entries will be accepted at Malone’s, 608 West Pender Street between Friday, October 7th and the close of business Wednesday, October 12th as well as at the September VanBrewers meeting http://www.vanbrewers.ca/

5. Winners to be announced during the Malone’s/CAMRA Oktoberfest/Harvest Fest

Originally Published in EAT Magazine by Treve Ring
September 12th, 2011

The CBA have emerged as the premiere competition for judging the quality of Canadian brewed beer. The contest is the only truly national competition that invites breweries of all sizes from across the country to compete in a blind tasting to see who brews the best beer in 31 style categories.

A Canadian Brewing Award medal is now a widely recognized symbol of brewing excellence in Canada. A panel of approximately 20 Certified Beer Judges (BJCP), consider five criteria: aroma, appearance, flavour, mouth-feel, and overall impression. A maximum of fifty points can be attained.

The competition also serves as an important vehicle for informing the Canadian beer-drinking public about the variety of and quality of commercially available beers throughout the land. Every year the competition attracts new entries from small startup breweries, to the largest of the large that are dedicated to carefully crafting their product.

As always, BC brews fared very well, with many breweries snagging medals of various colours in highly varied categories.

Without further adieu, here are the 2011 Canadian Brewing Awards Winners:

North American Style Lager

Gold: Moosehead Lager, Moosehead Breweries Ltd.

Silver: Carling Lager, Molson Coors Canada

Bronze: Red Baron Lager, Brick Brewing Co. (ON)

North American Style Premium Lager

Gold: Muskoka Craft Lager, Muskoka Brewery (ON)

Silver: Great Western Pilsner, Great Western Brewing Co. (SK)

Bronze: Brewhouse Pilsner, Great Western Brewing Co. (SK)

European Style Lager (Pilsner)

Gold: Creemore Traditional Pilsner, Creemore Springs Brewery (ON)

Silver: Rickard’s Blonde, Molson Coors Canada

Bronze: Overboard Imperial Pilsner, Lighthouse Brewing Co. (BC)

North American Style Amber Lager

Gold: King Vienna Lager, King Brewery (ON)

Silver: Buzz Beer, Cool Beer Brewery (ON)

Bronze: Thirsty Beaver Amber Ale, Tree Brewing Co. (BC)

North American Style Dark Lager

Gold: King Dark Lager, King Brewery (ON)

Silver: Hermann’s Dark Lager, Vancouver Island Brewery (BC)

Bronze: Brewmaster’s Black Lager, Okanagan Spring Brewery (BC)

Light (Calorie-Reduced) Lager

Gold: Carling Light, Molson Coors Canada

Silver: Moosehead Light, Moosehead Breweries Ltd.

Bronze: Molson Canadian 67, Molson Coors Canada

Bock – Traditional German Style

Gold: Hermannator Ice Bock, Vancouver Island Brewery (BC)

Silver: Navigator Doppelbock, Lighthouse Brewing Co. (BC)

Bronze: Captivator Doppelbock, Tree Brewing Co. (BC)

Kellerbier

Gold: Creemore Kellerbier, Creemore Springs Brewery (ON)

Silver: Helles, Microbrasserie Hopfenstark (QC)

Bronze: Howe Sound Lager, Howe Sound Brewing Co. (BC)

Porter

Gold: Coffee Porter, Mill Street Brewery (ON)

Silver: La Gaspesienne No. 13, Microbrasserie Pit Caribou (QC)

Bronze: Muskoka Dark Ale, Muskoka Brewery (ON)

Strong Porter (Baltic)

Gold: Grand Baltic Porter, Garrison Brewing Co. (NS)

Silver: Porter, Okanagan Spring Brewery (BC)

Cream Ale

Gold: Northumberland Ale, Church Key Brewing (ON)

Silver: Original 16, Great Western Brewing Co. (SK)

Bronze: Sleeman Cream Ale, Sleeman Breweries

Kolsch

Gold: High County Kolsch, Mt. Begbie Brewing Co. (BC)

Silver: Harvest Moon Organic Hemp Ale, Nelson Brewing Co. (BC)

Bronze: Analog 78, Phillips Brewing Co. (BC)

North American Style Amber/Red Ale

Gold: Sea Dog Amber Ale, Vancouver Island Brewery (BC)

Silver: Yukon Red Amber, Yukon Brewing Co. (YT)

Bronze: La Bringue, Acadie-Broue Inc. (NB)

North American Style Blonde/Golden Ale

Gold: Red Cap, Brick Brewing Co. (ON)

Silver: Moosehead Pale Ale, Moosehead Breweries Ltd.

Bronze: Garibaldi Honey Pale Ale, Howe Sound Brewing Co. (BC)

Brown Ale

Gold: Brown Ale, Mill Street Brewery (ON)

Silver: Nut Brown, Amsterdam Brewing Co. (ON)

Bronze: Bytown Brown Ale, Clocktower Brewpub (ON)

Scotch Ale

Gold: St. Ambroise Scotch Ale, McAuslan Brewing Inc. (QC)

Silver: Scotch Ale, Swans Buckerfields Brewery (BC)

Bronze: Wellington Iron Duke, Wellington Brewery. (ON)

English Style Pale Ale (Bitter)

Gold: Best Bitter, Picaroon’s Traditional Ales (NB)

Silver: Baldwin and Cooper Best Bitter, Howe Sound Brewing Co. (BC)

Bronze: Pandora Pale Ale, Swans Buckerfields Brewery (BC)

North American Style Pale Ale (Bitter)

Gold: Crazy Canuck Pale Ale, Great Lakes Brewery (ON)

Silver: Miami Weiss, Great Lakes Brewery (ON)

Bronze: East Side Bitter, R&B Brewing Co. (BC)

Wheat Beer – Belgian Style White/Wit

Gold: Belgian Wit, Granville Island Brewing Co. (BC)

Silver: Oranje Weiss, Amsterdam Brewing Co. (ON)

Bronze: Blanche de Chambly, Unibroue (QC)

Wheat Beer – German Style Hefeweizen

Gold: Hill’s Special Wheat, Yaletown Brewing Co. (BC)

Silver: Summer Weiss, Muskoka Brewery (ON)

Bronze: True North Wunder Weisse, Magnotta Brewery (ON)

Wheat Beer – North American Style

Gold: Sir John A Honey Wheat, Gahan Brewery (PEI)

Silver: Grasshopper Wheat, Big Rock Brewery (AB)

Bronze: Dooryard Summer Ale, Picaroon’s Traditional Ales (NB)

Belgian Style Abbey Ale

Gold: Dominus Vobiscum Hibernus, Microbrasserie Charlevoix (QC)

Silver: Dominus Vobiscum Triple, Microbrasserie Charlevoix (QC)

Bronze: Noire de Chambly, Unibroue (QC)

Belgian Style Strong Specialty Ale

Gold: Don de Dieu, Unibroue (QC)

Silver: Trois Pistoles, Unibroue (QC)

Bronze: Quatre-Centieme, Unibroue (QC)

English Style Barley Wine

Gold: Thor’s Hammer, Central City Brewing Co. (BC)

Silver: St. Ambroise Vintage Ale, McAuslan Brewing Inc. (QC)

Bronze: Woolly Bugger, Howe Sound Brewing Co. (BC)

American Style Barley Wine

Gold: Frappabord, Microbrasserie du Lac Saint-Jean (QC)

Silver: Unicorn Ale, Great Lakes Brewery (ON)

Bronze: Ol’ Fog Burner, Garrison Brewing Co. (NS)

Stout

Gold: Timber Hog Stout, Picaroon’s Traditional Ales (NB)

Silver: Diamond Head Oatmeal Stout, Howe Sound Brewing Co. (BC)

Bronze: St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout, McAuslan Brewing Inc. (QC)

Imperial Stout

Gold: Tartan Tsar Russian Imperial Stout, Bushwakker Brewing Co. (SK)

Silver: Dude Where’s My Czar?, Great Lakes Brewery (ON)

Bronze: Stout Imperiale, Microbrasserie La Chouape (QC)

English Style India Pale Ale

Gold: Beaver River, Beau’s All Natural Brewing Co. (ON)

Silver: Hoppelganger IPA, R&B Brewing Co. (BC)

Bronze: Yippee IPA, Picaroon’s Traditional Ales (NB)

American Style India Pale Ale

Gold: Fat Tug IPA, Driftwood Brewing Co. (BC)

Silver: Mad Tom IPA, Muskoka Brewery (ON)

Bronze: Citra IPA, Dead Frog Brewery (BC)

Imperial India Pale Ale

Gold: Ten Bitter Years, Black Oak Brewing Co. (ON)

Silver: Red Racer Imperial, Central City Brewing Co. (BC)

Bronze: Hop Head Double IPA, Tree Brewing Co. (BC)

French and Belgian Style Saison

Gold: No Chance With Miranda, Great Lakes Brewery (ON)

Silver: Saison Station 55, Microbrasserie Hopfenstark (QC)

Bronze: Nit Wit, Garrison Brewing Co. (NS)

Special Honey/Maple Lager or Ale

Gold: Sap Sucker Maple Porter, Fernie Brewing Co. (BC)

Silver: Cypress Honey Lager, Granville Island Brewing Co. (BC)

Bronze: Royal York Stinger, Mill Street Brewery (ON)

Fruit Beer

Gold: Pepper Lime Lager, Dead Frog Brewery (BC)

Silver: St. Ambroise Raspberry Ale, McAuslan Brewing Inc. (QC)

Bronze: Ginger Beer, Granville Island Brewing Co. (BC)

Fruit Wheat Beer

Gold: Framboise, Amsterdam Brewing Co. (ON)

Silver: Ephemere Pommes, Unibroue (QC)

Bronze: Thai Wheat, Pump House Brewery Ltd. (NB)

Pumpkin Beer

Gold: St. Ambroise Pumpkin Ale, McAuslan Brewing Inc. (QC)

Silver: Pumpkineater Imperial Pumpkin Ale, Howe Sound Brewing Co. (BC)

Bronze: Highballer Pumpkin Ale, Grand River Brewing Co. (ON)

Wood and Barrel Aged Beer

Gold: Serendipity #3, Tree Brewing Co. (BC)

Silver: American Whisky Barrel, Cameron’s Brewing Co. (ON)

Bronze: Winter Ale Barrel-Aged, Great Lakes Brewery (ON)

Wood and Barrel Aged Strong Beer

Gold: Buteuse Brassin Special, Microbrasserie Le Trou Du Diable (QC)

Silver: Singularity Russian Imperial Stout, Driftwood Brewing Co. (BC)

Bronze: Ol’ Fog Burner (Glenora Barrel-Aged), Garrison Brewing Co. (NS)

Wood and Barrel Aged Sour Beer

Gold: Dulcis Succubus, Microbrasserie Le Trou Du Diable (QC)

Silver: Yaletown Oud Bruin, Yaletown Brewing Co. (BC)

Experimental Beer

Gold: Cache-a-epices, Microbrasserie du Lac Saint-Jean (QC)

Silver: Megadestroyer Imperial Licorice Stout, Howe Sound Brewing Co. (BC)

Bronze: 666, Le Saint-Bock Brasserie Artisanale (QC)

Beer of the Year – Fat Tug IPA, Driftwood Brewing Co. (BC)

Brewery of the Year – Picaroon’s Traditional Ales (NB)

Read the full article at:  EAT Magazine
Learn more about the Canadian Brewing Awards