Let’s not beat around the bush: craft beer is fucking delicious. Friday night’s Lift Off! event at the Victoria Public Market made that abundantly clear. After five years in operation, Victoria Craft Beer Week—which runs until March 10—kicked off the night with 12 new-to-market brews, and some tasty snacks from the market’s in-house food stalls. It’s the end of winter, we have a handful of days left until spring—why not drink some tasty beer? Especially the local (and from elsewhere in BC) microbrewed kind.
Let’s begin with Spinnakers, Canada’s oldest brewpub, still going strong. Tonight, they offered a preview of their Iced Tea Pale Ale, more of a summer sweetener than a spring fling to my palate, but notable nonetheless. Situated next to Spinnakers at Lift Off! was Duncan’s Small Block Brewery, who aren’t even open to the public yet. Their Nail Head Canadian Pale Ale was smooth and a promising note from a newcomer to the island scene.
Fernie Brewing came down from their Kootenay base with a knockout Belgian tripel, which I saved for the end of the night. In the strong-beer boat with them was Vancouver’s Brassneck Brewery and their Double Negative Golden IPA, which had me going back for seconds; I even had to purchase some from the event pop-up store, because the only way you can get Brassneck is to go to their Vancouver storefront and fill growlers. That they had it in cans is some kind of miracle.
Faculty, Fuggles & Warlock, Category 12, Ravens, Yellow Dog, and Vancouver Island brewing companies were also in attendance, with some decent beers unique to this event. However, the standout for me may have been Qualicum Beach’s LoveShack Libations’ Witty Otter White IPA. Brewer Dave Paul runs his nano-brewery out of a small building; the brewery is open to the public just a few hours a week. The Witty Otter was light, golden, frothy, and deliciously refreshing; I took a couple home, too. The love that goes into this beer is very apparent.
Find more info on Victoria Beer Week here.