Have a hoppy holiday
The fourth annual Christmas Craft Beer Show is literally spreading holiday cheers this weekend at the Save on Foods Memorial Center. The show will feature 40 craft breweries and cideries from the Pacific Northwest and runs from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm on Nov 29 and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Nov 30.
Over 1 800 jolly craft beer lovers are expected over the weekend. There are prizes for those that decide to dress up in Christmas-y attire.
The arena’s concession will have food available, with some Christmas-themed food. Trevor Thors, one of the event organizers, spoke to the Martlet before the event — but he would not give away what “special products” the concession will have available.
Breweries will bring along classic favourites, and mostly feature dark wintery beers — including some exclusive holiday brews only available at this event.
“The opportunities at a beer show are endless, you could never sample every beer — it would be impossible” Thors said, noting the over 100 beer flavours available at the event. “Everybody has their pallette, which is why a beer show is perfect.”
This year, nine breweries will be new to this event — including Victoria’s Whistle Buoy Brewing Co. and Nanaimo’s Cliffside Brewing Company, which just opened this year.
“The craft beer breweries are giving the opportunity to have their artistic development of the beer and put it out there, whereas mainstream breweries are looking for volume and money,” Thors said. “Not that the craft beer [brewers] don’t want money, but they’re also giving their design on it.”
Dirk Slot, the president of the UVic Wizards of Beer Club, is particularly looking forward to the show this weekend. Slot said he’s excited to see so many different and unique flavours.
“Craft beer is always excelling at being able to produce new beer quicker,” Slot said. “The market can quickly change, it’s definitely not getting stuck in a rut.”
The club educates interested students about how to brew craft beer in workshops, which Slot call “labs.” One of Slot’s goals is to open his own brewery one day, and he’s watched others in the club get hired by craft breweries in Victoria.
Slot’s strategy for these types of shows is to go in with a particular style of beer in mind, and try all beers from that style to refine your craft beer palette.
At the Christmas Craft Beer show, Vessel Liquor Store will also have some of the beers from the show available for sale at the event, so show go-ers can buy bottles of their favourite festive flavours to take home.
With over 100 different beers to try, the Christmas Craft Beer show is sure to be a jolly time. After all, Christmas is the most wonderful time for a beer.
Tickets to the Christmas Craft Beer Show can be purchased online here.
