All Star Beer Festival Coming

Craft beer enthusiasts are growing in numbers all over Canada. The increase of beer festivals on Vancouver Island makes me wonder if we have more than our share of those dedicated individuals. BC being the birthplace of craft beer in Canada supports my theory.

Beer geeks can’t be categorized as the dudes with the rectangular shaped beards eating bacon. Lots of them wear suits and ties and another big bunch wear skirts. Men and women from all walks of life are appreciating the exciting advances and fresh flavours coming out of the expanding number of craft breweries in BC.

The latest all star addition to Vancouver Islands’ flourishing beer festivals is the Cowichan Craft Beer and Food Festival coming up for their second annual  go at it on August 12th.

Centrally located in Chemainus at the Artisan Park Expo Grounds, the Cowichan festival offers all the usual good times with the added bonus of sampling the wares of three breweries not available in stores yet.

In attendance on August 12th will be Two Wolves Brewing, Sooke Oceanside Brewery and Gladstone Brewing.

Two Wolves in Vancouver just released their first two beers, Arctic Blonde Ale and Great Plains Brown Ale, in late July. While distribution to Vancouver Island is pending, we will be able to check them out on August 12th.Two Wolves advocate the protection of wolf habitats in Canada. Five cents from every can or bottle sold will be used to aid in the prevention of Canadian wolf extinction.

Sooke Oceanside has been working hard to get up production for Island wide distribution. So far they have a regular line up of a Pale Ale, a Red Ale, an IPA and a Blonde Ale. A sneak tasting of the brew without driving to Sooke will be worth the entry price to the festival based on what I have heard from the beer geek grapevine!

Gladstone in Courtney has been heaping up the consumer accolades in their home town and it will be a treat to taste their wares. They have an impressive selection of Belgian Ales, European Lagers and Northwest Pale Ales. At the festival we will have chance to taste two of their exciting seasonal releases, a Dark Mild and the other still top secret.

Another bonus at this festival is the huge improvement on your average beer fest food.  Ten respected local

restaurants will be on hand with tasting dishes of gourmet pub fare.

For the advance ticket price of $20.00 that includes five tokens and a keepsake glass, how can you go wrong? Tickets available at Lucky’s Liquor in Nanaimo and they are going fast.

‍