In this wacky world of beer in which I live, there are three “great” beer fests: The original Great British Beer Festival, the slightly younger Great American Beer Festival and the least recognized of the lot, the Great Canadian Beer Festival.
The youngest of the lot, although also, at 15 years, the oldest beer fest in Canada, the GCBF is the only one held outdoors and, to my knowledge, also the sole one which consistently sells out all of its sessions.
It is where I’m headed this morning.
Air Canada flight 181, with a connection through Vancouver, should put me in at the Spinnakers Gastro-Brewpub and Guesthouses around late afternoon, in plenty of time for a look around Victoria’s brewing community, including Hugo’s, the Canoe Club – now apparently known as the Canoe Brewpub, Marina & Restaurant – and Swan’s. Then it’s overnight in one of luxurious garden suites at Spinnakers and off to the Royal Athletic Park for 3:00 p.m. and the start of the two-day fest.
At the festival, I’m looking forward to renewing my acquaintance with some long-time British Columbia stalwarts like Nelson Brewing, R&B, who are bringing with them a cask-conditioned 10th Anniversary Ale, and Tree Brewing; getting to know a few of BC’s neighbouring breweries, such as Washington’s Winthrop Brewing and Lazy Boy Brewing; and introducing myself to some new (to me, at least) Canadian arrivals, such as the Half Pints Brewing Company from Winnipeg, about whom I’ve heard so much, and Salmon Arm, BC’s Shuswap Lake Brewing Company. In particular, I’ll be on the lookout for handpumps, since the GCBF has for its entire existence shone a strong spotlight on cask-conditioned ales.
Along the way, I’m hoping to find an animal or two for tomorrow’s “Brew Zoo” edition of The Session. Wish me luck.
