2009 CAMRA Vancouver Awards

 

“While it may seem curious that the best beer is in Surrey and the best brewery in Victoria, this year’s results reflect the growth in popularity of Real Ale in Vancouver,” explained CAMRA Vancouver President, Rick Green. “We are fortunate to have brewers throughout the province willing to meet the demand here.”

Dix BBQ & Brewery began the trend in 2002, featuring a cask-conditioned ale once a month. With the encouragement of CAMRA Vancouver, the following has grown. Now Dix features a weekly cask ale and hosts a semi-annual cask festival.

“We are very pleased to be awarded favourite brewpub in the Lower Mainland,” said Dix brewer, Derrick Franche. “On behalf of the Dix BBQ & Brewery staff, I’d like to thank CAMRA Vancouver for their support.”

In January of 2007, The Whip Restaurant & Gallery partnered with local microbrewery, R&B Brewing, to offer a weekly cask from brewers all over BC. Last year, they inaugurated the annual Feast of Five Firkins, a special brewmasters’ dinner featuring five courses paired with five firkins from five brewers. Their success is reflected in the three rewards they received this year.

Real ale is also reaching the suburbs. Taylor’s Crossing brewpub in North Vancouver offers a monthly cask ale, as does Surrey’s BigRidge brewpub. Central City Brewing, also in Surrey, launched their annual cask festival last summer.

Not only is Gastown an evolving dining destination, it’s also a growing focal point for craft beer. Steamworks has been the standard bearer since 1995. Two years ago, the Alibi Room changed direction to become a true free house showcasing all of the province’s best beers. Publican, Nigel Springthorpe, noted:

“We went out on a limb to try something different. The build has been slow, but I really feel things are coming together. We pick up our own beer from the Island; we even have small breweries in the Interior carpooling their beer or getting visitors to throw kegs in their trunks to bring to us. Things are changing. Craft beer is becoming a bigger part of our culture here in BC.”

Last year, the Irish Heather moved across the street into a newly-renovated location. As part of their makeover, they became the first establishment in Vancouver to offer cask-conditioned ale daily, supplied by R&B. And with first-rate imports being sold through progressive retailers, such as Brewery Creek, we can expect the bar to be raised in Vancouver.

The results of the 2009 CAMRA Vancouver Awards are:

Best Local Brewpub

Gold: Dix BBQ & Brewery

Silver: Central City Brewing

Bronze: Yaletown Brewing

Best Local Beer Cafe, Pub, or Restaurant

Gold: The Alibi Room

Silver: The Whip Restaurant & Gallery

Bronze: The Wolf & Hound

Best Local Liquor Store

Gold: Brewery Creek Cold Beer & Wine Store

Silver: Firefly Fine Wines and Ales

Bronze: BCLS Signature Store (39th & Cambie)

Best Local Beer Event

Gold: The Whip Real Ale Sundays

Silver: CAMRA On a Mission to Mission; Feast of Five Firkins (tie)

Best BC Brewery

Gold: Phillips Brewing Co., Victoria

Silver: Storm Brewing Ltd., Vancouver

Bronze: Crannóg Ales, Sorrento; R&B Brewing, Vancouver (tie)

Best BC Beer

Gold: Central City Empire IPA

Silver: Storm Black Plague Stout

Bronze: Crannóg Back Hand of God Stout

Best BC Seasonal Beer

Gold: Yaletown Oud Bruin

Silver: Steamworks The Grand espresso stout

Bronze: Granville Island Winter Ale

About the Campaign for Real Ale

In 1971 angry beer lovers in England formed the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) to combat the replacement of traditional regional beers with “mainstream” factory beers. Affiliated with the now 97,000-strong CAMRA UK, CAMRA BC was incorporated in 1990 as an independent consumer organization to:

• maintain consumer rights
• promote quality, choice, and value for money
• campaign for greater appreciation of traditional beers, ciders, and perries as part of our heritage and culture
• promote and preserve full-flavoured & distinctive beers and decent pubs

CAMRA Vancouver was established as a chapter of CAMRA BC in 2002.

What is Real Ale

“Real ale is a natural product brewed using traditional ingredients and left to mature in the cask (container) from which it is served in the pub through a process called secondary fermentation. It is this process which makes real ale unique amongst beers and develops the wonderful tastes and aromas which processed beers can never provide.”

— CAMRA UK

Media Contact:

Rick Green

President

CAMRA Vancouver

pres@camravancouver.ca

Tel: (604) 879-5548

** Photos courtesy of Brian K. Smith Photography.