Mark your calendars for beer festivals and anniversary celebrations
Beer festival season is gearing up and I wanted to let you know about two that are on my radar for May 2017. Beyond beer festivals local craft beer pub and restaurant chain Tap & Barrel is preparing for their 5 year anniversary with some unique collaboration beers with BC breweries.
Fort Langley Beer Festival
Photo courtesy of Fort Langley Beer + Food Festival
The Fort Langley Beer + Food Festival was announced last week and with luck will become a essential stop on the Fraser Valley beer festival calendar.
Taking place in historic Fort Langley, the Fort Langley Beer +Food Festival brings together local breweries and restaurants at a one-of-a-kind setting to support community and local businesses. The festival is spearheaded by Trading Post Brewing in Langley and are partnering up with the KPU Brewing Program among other locally-based organizations and businesses to make this event happen.
Organizers are expecting a turnout of around 1,500 people. With a setting such as Fort Langley for a backdrop – complete with its heritage buildings and costumed cast – expect a different festival than others you may attend this year.
Tickets are on sale now and with plenty of Valley breweries represented including Ravens Brewing and 2016 BC Beer Awards Rookies of the Year Field House Brewing from Abbotsford, it’s worth heading out Fort Langley way for this late spring outdoor beer festival.
Great Okanagan Beer Festival
Photo courtesy of Gibbons Whistler
If you’re looking to go a bit further afield to get your festival fix, head up to Kelowna for the Great Okanagan Beer Festival.
In its third year, the GOBF is held outdoors at Kelowna’s beautiful Waterfront Park for a picturesque festival setting. A laid-back atmosphere coupled with sun, music, food, and great beer are this festival’s calling cards. The festival sold out last year so expect another record setting crowd. But don’t let the numbers fool you, there’s always plenty of elbow room, grass, and lake-front-views to go around.
The GOBF is also known for the cider and gluten free options available making the festival a viable option for those that don’t drink beer. Kelowna is in the heart of cider country so the festival is bringing back Cider Street with at least six cideries available. Coupled with plenty of gluten free food options there’s definitely something to enjoy for someone that can’t (or won’t) drink beer.
This year the GOBF is expecting even more people to attend and enjoy Kelowna’s hospitality while soaking up some sun with a beer (or cider) in hand. Be sure to pick up your tickets soon before the festival sells out for another year.
Tap & Barrel celebrates 5 years
Vancouver-based pub and restaurant chain Tap & Barrel are gearing up for their 5 year anniversary in July with some delicious collaboration beers with BC breweries and speciality burgers perfect for pairing.
The first beer in the collaboration series is a North East IPA made by Phillips Brewery in Victoria and paired with fantastic bacon and blue cheese burger with fig and balsamic jam.
Each month Tap & Barrel will announce a new collaboration beer paired with another delicious burger leading up to their official birthday bash later this year in July. Keep your eyes open for what should be a great outdoor bash on one of their exquisite patios.
In the meantime, be sure to get down to your local Tap & Barrel location to try out these limited collaboration beer and burger pairings.
