With all the commotion the Olympics (am I allowed to use that word?) promise to bring us in February, you’d think we might at least get some interesting beer out of it?
WARNING!!! There have been many reports of establishments adding higher-than-normal automatic gratuities to bills (20% or worse). Be sure to ask ahead of time what you will be charged, if this is something you are concerned with.
This page will attempt to be a clearing house of places to go and beers to drink, both before and during the Olympics. Be sure to let me know if you hear of anything I could add, or if you’ve given any of these a try.
And, okay, Palle’s making me really JEALOUS!!!!
Provinces
- Atlantic provinces – Propeller, Picaroon, Garrison … maybe they could sneak Adam and Gillian in with the kegs?
- given Palle’s review I’m definitely heading down there at least once!
- Feb 18: Peter sends this sad news: “Atlantic House is out of many of their on-tap local (to the Atlantic) brews. They got sent only small kegs, which ran out in the first day after 4 hours, according to the barkeep. They had a few left on tap, mostly Keiths and Moosehead. Otherwise the local (to them) was still available in bottle only.”
- Feb 18: Better news from Ryan! “I just got back from the Atlantic house and the info on the CAMRA website is a bit wrong. The craft beer is at the Revue stage across from the arts club), and they still have atlantic craft beer. I just got back from there and they had (and I drank) bottles of Garrison nut brown, Pumphouse Cream Ale, and Picaroon Bitter. (They also had propeller bitter). Candahar has Whistler Black Tusk and Lager on tap. Cover during the day (before 4?) is $5.75 and includes your first beer. don’t bother buying another beer as extra drink tickets are $6.90!!! (whistler pale ale and honey larger were apparently cheaper). I’m still amazed that cover + beer is cheaper than beer… (and no, they wouldn’t let me leave and buy cover again… :P)”
- Feb 23: Alas, word is there is NO genuine Atlantic beer to be had there anymore. Maybe they’ll get some, but why go through the expense if the hoards are happy with swill? Regardless, be sure to ask before you stand in line.
- Ontario will be featuring Mill St, Steam Whistle, Beau’s and Great Lakes.
- @OntarioCulinary has been mentioning beer tastings.
- see Palle’s review
- Quebec (which doesn’t seem to have a site?) is featuring Archibald Microbrasserie brews at $9 for a large can (see Palle’s review)
- Northern House
- According to Yukon Brewing‘s Bob Baxter, “we have our Yukon Red (top ranked beer in the Canadian Brewing Awards 2009 at 45/50) as well as Yukon Gold, Lead Dog Ale, Midnight Sun Espresso Stout, and Ice Fog IPA.” Alas Bob let me know that their brews are being served only for “special” events…
Countries
- German beer gardens! Serving up Köstritzer Schwarzbier (very nice!) and Wernesgrüner Pils Legende (haven’t tried it yet), $8.25 for a plastic cup’s worth.
- Also bratwurst on a bun for $7 and a really yummy pork sandwich for $9
- it’s free from 10-5, then they boot people out, and it’s a $10 cover after 6pm
- yeah it’s a bit pricey, but it’s better quality than GM Place by far, and probably cheaper
- And, alas, Fräuleins are yet to be seen…
- check Palle Hoffstein’s review here
- Feb 23: Can you be TOO successful? Apparently they are selling 70-80 kegs per day rather than the expected 30, and they ran out of the genuine German beer by last weekend. They are reported to be flying more in, and in the meantime have purchased huge amounts of fresh beer from R&B, Central City and no doubt other local breweries (at least they have the good to buy local). If you’re heading there, be sure to ask what’s pouring before standing in line… and to compensate the punters for serving “lesser” beer they’ve raised the evening cover to $20. !?!?
- the Irish might put on something interesting… though hopes are not high it will be from Ireland… and at $9 for a pint of Guinness?!?
- Heineken House is listed here only for the sake of completeness… yawn. Though they ARE bringing in a dozen shipping containers of kegs from Holland, so at least it will be real Heine.
- reports suggestion “don’t bother” beer-wise with Russian, French or Swiss pavilions…
Locals
No doubt some Vancouver establishments will be trying to impress the visitors. Anyone heard of anything?
- don’t forget about Gastown!
- R&B are selling their special Iceholes brew and are having trouble keeping stores stocked! Grab one beFORE Colbert puts it on TV, or you’ll have to go to Ebay to get one…
- Howe Sound have released their own take on the festivities with their Three Beavers Imperial red ale, but since their site is annoyingly nothing but one giant Flash, I can’t link to it.
- I did get one email from someone rather annoyed at Steamworks: “Our experience was marred somewhat by the 18% service charge added to the bill. Despite my British heritage I am usually a good tipper but was somewhat miffed by this, especially as we were subjected to the unusual occurence of an airhead waitress wearing an ‘I couldn’t give a shit pin’.”
Weird
- How about a fake Irish pub that’s actually a piece of performance art? The Candahar on Granville Island…
Some General Resources
City Caucus seems to be keeping on top of the freebies quite well, and they have a very nice Google map
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