A few sips of the sessional ales at CAMRA brewer’s challenge make Vancouver’s slow-out-of-the-gates spring season feel more tolerable.
By Jenn Laidlaw – Originally published in Granville Magazine on April 21, 2011
More than 200 folks cheersed to good craft beer and great weather at the CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) Vancouver Fest of Ale Spring Sessional, which took place at Main Street’s London Pub on Saturday, April 16, 2011.
The all-day event—part tasting, part brewer’s challenge—saw 17 local breweries enter 18 beers into a contest judged by a panel of “certified” beer tasting judges. A people’s choice award was also handed out, determined by ballots distributed to “the people” upon entry to the pub, with the winner getting a temporary guest tap at London Pub.
People started lining up outside before 11 a.m. to sample the “sessional” ales from the wall of casks—a pyramid of beer kegs stacked against a wall—and stayed through sundown. (I learned from event organizers that the term “sessional” is British for drinking a large quantity of beer during a social gathering without becoming intoxicated.)
Brewer’s Challenge at Fest of Ale Spring Sessional
To participate in the event, brewers were asked to brew a beer big in taste and low in alcohol by volume (abv), with a maximum abv content of 3.5 percent. To put this in some kind of perspective, a regular beer averages about 5 percent.
With no style limitations, the resulting brews ranged from mild ales and pale bitters to wheat ale and even a stout.
The drinking list was as follows:
Damon’s Mild Ale – Barley Station Brew Pub, brewed by Damon Robson
Tariq’s Pale Bitter – Big Ridge Brewing Company, brewed by Tariq Kahn
Claire’s Northern English Brown Ale – Big River Brew Pub, brewed by Claire Connolly (who, I might add, knocked my socks off with a delicious coconut concoction at CAMRA’s Winterfest event in December)
Dave’s Berliner Weisse – Brewhouse at Whistler, brewed by Dave Woodward
Terry’s No Justice Pale Ale – Cannery Brewing Company, brewed by Terry Schoffer
Daniel’s Saison – Coal Harbour Brewing Company, brewed by Daniel Knibbs
Vern’s Ordinary Beer – Granville Island Brewing, brewed by Vern Lambourne
Dean’s Light American Wheat Ale – Lighthouse Brewing Company, brewed by Dean McLeod
Ron & Don’s Best Bitter – Moon Under Water Brew Pub, brewed by Ron and Don Bradley
David’s Honey Badger Pale Ale – Noble Pig Brew Pub, brewed by David Beardsel
Brent’s Blood Orange Berliner Weisse – R&B Brewing, brewed by Brent Mills
Gary’s Eat Your Breakfast Stout – Red Racer Beer, brewed by Gary Lohin
Anders & Jack’s Ordinary Bitter – Russel Brewing Company, brewed by Jack Bensley and Anders McKinnon
Anders & Jack’s Sessional Brett Pale Ale – Russel Brewing Company, brewed by Jack Bensley and Anders McKinnon
Conrad’s Ginger Beer – Steamworks Brewing Company, brewed by Conrad Gmoser
Dave’s Two Lions Pale Ale – Taylor’s Crossing Brewery, brewed by Dave Varga
Jeff’s Peach Cream Ale – Tin Whistle Brewing Co., brewed by Jeff Todd
Iain’s Dry Hopped Pale Ale – Yaletown Brewing Company, brewed by Iain Hill
Spring Sessional awards go to…
CAMRA judges presented the Brewer’s Challenge Award to Ron and Don Bradley of Moon Under Water Brew Pub for their much talked about Ron & Don’s Best Bitter. Along with a little prestige, the brewers were presented with a copy of Yeast by Chris White and Jamil Zainasheff, $100 cash and a coveted pair of tickets to a Vancouver Whitecaps FC match.
The People’s Choice Award was given to Tariq Kahn of Big Ridge Brewing Company for his pale bitter—a fitting way to celebrate his birthday, which was the day before. As part of the prize, Kahn’s beer will be on exclusive guest tap at London Pub with four kegs in rotation. Get over there in the near future to sample some of the winner’s brew.
Gary’s Eat Your Breakfast Stout from Red Racer Beer was a close second, with a three-way tie for third that consisted of Noble Pig Brew Pub’s Honey Badger Pale Ale, Lighthouse’s Light American Wheat Ale and Moon Under Water’s Best Bitter.
Campaign for Real Ale promotes quality ale and pubs
These advocates for traditional beer are volunteers dedicated to promoting good-quality real ale and pubs. CAMRA chapters around the world work toward proper quality, value and choice; support the community of public ale houses; call for improved licensing and the general appreciation of good pints as a part of our culture and heritage.
Just a thought, but I think Roger’s Arena could use their help…
Next up, Vancouver Craft Beer Week – May 6–14, 2011
If you are kicking yourself for not attending the spring sessional, don’t fear! Vancouver Craft Beer Week is coming up from May 6–14, 2011.
With nine days of thirst-quenching events, tastings and workshops, there are plenty of opportunities to get in on the hops.
Just a warning, in case you are someone that likes to mull things over, tickets are getting downed like hotcakes, with a few events already sold out. My personal recommendation is the Dead Famous Pub Crawl, a day-long brewpub-crawl through Yaletown and across to Granville Island. Prizes for the best dead people.
Read the whole article at Granville Magazine online: http://www.granvilleonline.ca/beer/camra-spring-sessional-beer-fest-ale
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