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10/06/2011 - Celebrating Craft Beer Month in Vancouver

If you didn't know already, it's Craft Beer Month in BC. Craft Beer Month celebrates everyone involved in the craft beer industry across the province, and the more than 50 breweries and brewpubs that contribute to our thriving craft beer community.

So, what is craft beer, exactly?

Well, according to the Campaign For Real Ale - otherwise known as CAMRA - real craft beer is regionally-made without additives and brewed in its traditional style, using traditional ingredients.

The CAMRA movement actually began in England in 1971 by beer enthusiasts angered by the replacement of traditional regional brews with factory-produced mainstream beers. Today, the volunteer-run CAMRA promotes the responsible appreciation of craft beers and survives through memberships and other sources of revenue.

British Columbia is fast-adopting a love for craft beers, and many local establishments are picking up the trend. According to a spotlight on the industry in BC Business Magazine "Over the past five years, microbrewers sales through the Liquor Distribution Branch (through which all beer flows) have doubled from about $56 million in 2007 to $111.5 million in the 12 months ended March 2011."

Here is a sampling of popular, independent craft brewery brands around British Columbia producing everything from lagers to ales to stouts:

Tree Brewing Company - Kelowna

Crannog Ales - Sorrento, in the central interior

Driftwood Brewery - Victoria

Phillips Brewing Company - Victoria

Spinnaker's Gastro Brewpub - Victoria

Swans Brewpub - Victoria

Howe Sound Inn and Brewing Company - Squamish

Dead Frog Brewery - Aldergrove, Langley

Central City Brewing - Surrey

Russell Brewing Company - Surrey

Red Truck Beer Company - North Vancouver

Dockside Brewing Company - Granville Island, Vancouver

Steamworks Brewing - Downtown Vancouver

Yaletown Brewery - Yaletown, Vancouver

Stanley Park Brewery - Vancouver

Main Street Brewing Company (brewed in partnership with Russell Brewing) - Vancouver

Storm Brewing - Commercial Drive, Vancouver

Occasionally you might see an advertisement for a pouring of 'real ale' or cask-conditioned beer. Very basically, cask ales continue to ferment (or mature) in their casks and get their carbonation through secondary fermentation in the cask, rather than human infusion of carbon dioxide. These are considered by aficionados to be the finest of craft beers.

'Cask nights' are increasingly popular social events in Vancouver, and there is no shortage of local brew pubs and establishments offering a chance to taste limited edition casks - a must-try if you're into craft brews. But get there early, as they often run dry.

We've designated a special category of our directory to establishments that serve craft beers. By no means is it an exhaustive list. We encourage you to recommend your favourite pubs and breweries serving craft beers with readers in our comments section!