The ‘buy local’ movement, cheaper equipment from the U.S. and the loosening of B.C. laws have fed into the craft-beer boom.Two Peas Photography
For Vancouver beer drinkers, it's been a sudsy revolution.
Craft breweries have cropped up across the city, and over the past several years sales in B.C. have more than doubled. The Vancouver Craft Beer Week Festival, which caps off a week of beer-themed events, began with 150 people at Heritage Hall just five years ago; this year, it's expected to attract 5,000 people a day.
"We were a bit of an island of misfit toys. We weren't the coolest people in the world," said VCBW co-founder Chris Bjerrisgaard, who also works at Parallel 49 Brewing Co., looking back at the early days of the craft-beer boom. "But everybody welcomed everybody with open arms, and as more and more people join the fray, it's just gotten better and better."
So why the sudden spike? Mr. Bjerrisgaard credits the worldwide "buy local" movement; the 2010 Winter Olympics, which shone a light on homegrown products; more affordable equipment, thanks to the popularity of craft beer south of the border; and the easing of B.C. laws – a key move that allowed small breweries to open lounges and sell their suds directly to customers.
The craft-beer revolution has also helped propel other cottage industries, from craft wines and spirits to food trucks, which make a good living in the winter by setting up outside pint-sized brew pubs.
At this year's craft beer week, beer lovers can taste, nosh and take in an awards show at the opening night gala, then check out myriad midweek events, from Rare Brews & BBQ at Darby's Pub – which features limited releases and locally sourced meats on the grill – to the unpronounceable Gigantabiroomcobaltapalooza, which pairs top craft breweries with live music curated by Zulu Records.
The week culminates at the PNE grounds, where more than 100 breweries will serve some 400 lovingly crafted brews. In keeping with this year's lumberjack theme, Stihl Timbersports is holding its Western Canada finals at the festival, so revellers can sip local suds and cheer on beefy competitors as they saw, climb and pole buck. ("Half the brewers in the industry look like they could walk off a brew house and into the woods anyway," Mr. Bjerrisgaard quipped.)
And while there will be plenty of beer connoisseurs on hand, Mr. Bjerrisgaard says they know to check any attitude at the door.
"Sometimes, the more hard-core beer nerds get a little precious and I always remind them, 'Guys, it's beer. Nobody is curing cancer here,'" he said with a laugh. "It's just fun, you know?"
Vancouver Craft Beer Week runs Friday until June 7 at various venues. The Vancouver Craft Beer Week Festival will be held at the PNE grounds on June 6 and 7 (vancouvercraftbeerweek.com).