YVR Part I
Opening a brewery is a lot of work. I don’t think there is anyone that would be surprised by that. But between all the permits and approvals and tough decisions to make, there is also a lot of fun. Some of that fun includes research. And by research I mean drinking beer.
(photo via 33 Acres Instagram @33acresbrewing)
We’re the rookies in this whole craft beer world (as brewers, not as drinkers) and checking out those who have paved the way for us to exist is as important as it is enjoyable. On a recent visit to Vancouver, I was able to hit up a number of its plethora of breweries. It made me jealous that full-time Vancouverites have a seemingly endless array of choices when it comes to good craft beer, but also wickedly excited to bring that vibe to Kelowna. Our friends at Tree Brewing have done an awesome job satiating the demand for craft beer, but as that demand grows, we hope both visitors and residents will delight in having more options, and in really making Kelowna and the Okanagan a part of the craft beer community.
(photo via 33 Acres Instagram @33acresbrewing)
Back to Vancouver. One of the breweries that stuck out to me the most was 33 acres. I feel like a latecomer to this fandom but man am I glad I joined. Stepping in the door at their Mount Pleasant location feels instantly like being welcomed to the club. I was fangirling all over their décor, the tasty-sounding descriptions of their tap offerings, and the general vibe of the place. Sometimes a place this cool can make one feel isolated and intimidated, but somehow 33 acres felt like home. But let’s focus on the beer. I had a flight of four different brews:
> 33 acres of Ocean [American Pale Ale]
> 33 Acres of Reverance [Belgian Dubbel]
> 33 Acres of Nirvana [IPA]
> 33 Acres of Darkness [Schwarzbier]
I’ll start with the Pale Ale. This beer was everything a Pale Ale from the Pacific Northwest should be. It smelled shockingly similar to the grapefruit I had eaten for breakfast, but with just enough of a hint of pine to make me feel as though I had eaten that grapefruit in the midst of a majestic forest. I would serve this beer as an introduction to anyone just entering the hops universe, and I mean that as a compliment. The hop flavor is strong but finishes mellow and even my brother who drinks beer that shall not be named enjoyed it. Again, I mean that as a compliment. 33 Acres of Ocean is a well-crafted, accessible beer.
33 Acres of Nirvana is somewhat similar to 33 Acres of Ocean, but the flavor profiles are almost reversed. Whereas 33 Acres of Ocean is citrus-forward with a pine accent, 33 Acres of Nirvana has a strong intial pine bitterness with a citrusy finish. Even with the parallels, these two beers are certainly distinct enough to stand out on their own. This IPA was a little much for my faint-hearted brother but with an IBU of 70 it hit the spot for me.
On to the Dubbel. I think this is probably a love it or hate it beer. I loved it, but it has stong and distinct flavours that would be hard to overlook if you didn’t like them. I’m not an expert on the style but from what I gather this is a solid attempt at recreating the Belgian style. Although 33 Acres seems like they do their own thing, in which case this is likely not an attempt to recreate but more of an homage with their own spin. The beer has a beautiful dark amber colour and bold notes of banana and dried fruit on the nose. I got a bit of clove spice and maybe some nutmeg from the flavor, and not as much caramel as expected. I’ll have to try a few more Dubbels and re-visit the 33 Acres of Reverance. Poor me.
33 Acres of Darkness is both a surprise and everything you expect all at once. I like a beer that blocks out any sliver of light, so on looks alone, this one had me. This beer drinks much lighter than one might expect given its opaque obscurity, but it does not miss any of the flavour. Its smells and tastes like chocolate, but not in an overwhelmingly sweet way; in a beer way. Subtle coffee notes join the party too. This beer is well-balanced, well-crafted, and well, one of my new favourites.
(photo via 33 Acres Instagram @33acresbrewing)
I mentioned before how inviting the space was, and I think the patrons are a perfect example of that. Seated at their large family-style table were a family of 5, a man in his late twenties reading a book, and three older gentlemen who were likely just complimenting the beauty of retirement with beautiful beer. 33 Acres has new regular whenever I am on the coast. It’s dangerously close to my condo and I can just picture my small fridge being overtaken by growlers filled with delicious beer.
(photo via 33 Acres Instagram @33acresbrewing)
