The Brewers Association participated in the 2011 Vancouver Craft Beer Week (VCBW) by hosting its own festival of American craft beers and a beer-paired dinner for invited trade and media. Both activities were successful in promoting American craft beer in Vancouver and raising awareness of the quality and diversity of products offered by America’s craft breweries.
The festival (called Brewery Creek Beer Festival) was held on May 13 at the Beatty Street Drill Hall in downtown Vancouver – the US tasting sold out in advance with over 750 tickets sold at $30 each. Nineteen EDP member breweries participated in the event, showing up to four different brands per brewery.
The following American craft breweries were featured in Canada:
• Alltech’s Lexington Brewing Co
• Anderson Valley Brewing Co
• Buckbean Brewing Co
• Deschutes Brewery
• Eel River Brewing Co
• Elysian Brewing Co
• FX Matt Brewing Co
• Green Flash Brewing Co
• Hopworks Urban Brewery
• Lagunitas Brewing Co
• Moylan’s Brewing Co
• North Coast Brewing Co
• Rogue Ales
• Shipyard Brewing Co
• Sierra Nevada Brewing Co
• Ska Brewing Co
• Southern Tier Brewing Co
• Stone Brewing Co
• Uncommon Brewers
Eric Rosenberg (Bryant Christie Inc.) and Mark Snyder (Brewers Association) attended on behalf of the EDP. Industry representatives from Elysian Brewing Company, Lagunitas Brewing Company, Deschutes Brewery, Hopworks Urban Brewery, and North Coast Brewing Company also traveled to the market to represent their companies at the tasting and other events organized by their respective importers during the week.
The following night, the BA hosted a five course dinner for 40 trade and media guests at the Shebeen Whiskey House in Vancouver’s Gastown area. The dinner was co-hosted by Beerthirst and AFIC, two import companies handling a majority of American craft beers in the province. Beerthirst and AFIC contributed the beer for the dinner while the EDP covered venue costs.
Overall, this was a successful activity in meeting all objectives. The BA’s presence undoubtedly raised awareness and the image of American craft beer among the beer community in British Columbia. Importers, restaurant and bar owners, consumers, and media alike were exposed to various American craft beer brands and styles, highlighting the quality, diversity, and innovation taking place within the industry. And enabled the BA to interface and strengthen relationships with trade members who purchase American craft beer and those who are interested in learning more about the products.
Look for announcements of our upcoming activities coming out soon: Great British Beer Festival, Stockholm Beer & Whisky Festival and European Beer Star.