This week, we continue our new series of interviews with organizations who support CAMRA and the craft beer heroes behind them. Ryan Mackey, Owner/Operator of Vancouver Brewery Tours, chatted to CAMRA about his visions for brewery tourism in the general Vancouver vicinity.
How would you describe what goes through your mind when you think of Vancouver being a destination for Brewery Tourism?
An idea whose time has come. When I started building this business I found that almost all major beer cities in the US have brewery tour companies and was surprised to learn Vancouver didn’t have one yet. With the recent explosion of new local breweries and increasing craft beer sales, there hasn’t been a better time to promote Vancouver as a brewery tourism destination. I believe our tours offer this city a unique platform to showcase our craft beer scene and promote it to a local and international audience.
What would you think somebody would think in 
comparison of a Vancouver destination versus Portland for Brewery Tourism?
Whether you’ve ever had a beer from Portland or not, you probably know the city’s reputation for craft beer. They have an established beer market and have multiple brewery tour companies in operation.
That being said, a city’s reputation for brewery tourism is only going to be as good as the beer that is produced there and Vancouver makes damn fine beer. Vancouver is ready to compete with established markets like Seattle and Portland for these tourism dollars and I think our tours offer beer travelers another reason to visit our city.
How well do you think British Columbia’s existing tourism program promotes Brewery Tourism ?
Vancouver hasn’t had a dedicated brewery tour company before so I’m not sure there is an existing program in place yet for brewery tourism, but that’s the exciting part. We’re getting an incredible amount of support and encouragement from industries like tourism and hospitality who want to be a part of raising this city’s craft beer profile by working with us.
What gave you the drive and motivation to create a 
brand independent of any other tourism program in BC?
My idea of fun in my down time is visiting local breweries, buying way too much beer and talking to the folks who work there. I realized that if I enjoyed doing this so much, maybe others would too? Vancouver Brewery Tours was born out of a passion for craft beer and the desire to share it with others.
What should people expect on a tour?
You can expect to have fun, meet new people and drink a lot of different styles of beer while on tour. I’m finding that our customers appreciate the opportunity to go behind the scenes at our partner breweries and just look around, take in the smells, and learn how beer is made from the people making it. Like anything in life, I would say our tours are what you make of them so be curious, try new beers and have a good time!
Do you have any favourite styles of beer that you might just get a growler-to-go while on the tour for the end-of-shift?
The hardest part of my job is watching other people drink on tour while I don’t so I really look forward to getting a few growlers for afterwards! I picked up growlers of Parallel 49 Lord of the Hops and Whiskey Vanilla Stout from Storm Brewing this past weekend and couldn’t have been happier with my choices.
What is your promise for Craft Beer Tourists? For CAMRA members?
My promise is to support craft beer in Vancouver through our tours and to continue connecting people with our breweries. Drink Locally my friends.
Vancouver Brewery Tours offers all CAMRA Vancouver members a 20% discount, per single order, with valid up-to-date CAMRA membership. Register for a Vancouver Brewery Tour at http://vancouverbrewerytours.com
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