A strange new limited-edition brew, and much more, will be on tap for Nanaimo Craft Beer Week.
Nanaimo Craft Beer Society’s craft beer celebration runs from Saturday, Feb. 15 to Sunday, Feb. 23, with numerous events around town, including the unveiling of El Presidente Spanish Imperial Stout on Wednesday, Feb. 19. Stu Setch, society president, says the dark beer was brewed especially for, and will only be available during, Nanaimo Craft Beer Week.
Setch said the idea was conceived about a year and a half ago when he and Harley Smith, Longwood Brewery brew master, were en route to a beer festival at Powell River.
“We were in the van chatting and I said, ‘Harley, man, do you think we could do a collaboration beer? That’d be so cool,’ and he said, ‘Yeah, we’ll do that,’ and that was where it began,” reminisces Setch. “A year and a bit later, this is actually the official unveiling. No one has ever seen this before.”
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Sean Enns, society director, said the beer’s name was inspired by its flavours. Chocolate, coffee and vanilla, along with the green, red and gold of the bottle, struck members as being very South American, he said.
Enns and Setch describe it as beautiful, with beer head so thick a bottle cap can rest atop it for about 10 seconds.
Events during the week-long celebration are ticketed or free. The free official kick-off event takes place all day Saturday, Feb. 15 at Cliffside Brewing. The Ale-archy in the U.K. event, taking place at Wolf Brewing Company, Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 5 p.m.; Casks in Hand at White Sails Brewing Friday, Feb. 21 at 5 p.m.; and It’s Getting Hop in Here at Craft Fare Saturday, Feb. 22 at 2 p.m. are also free.
Tickets for Barrel Bash 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19 at Axe & Grind, where the El Presidente stout will be unveiled, are $25, while Bruges Brothers Belgian beer event, 6:30 p.m Thursday, Feb. 20. at Lucky’s Liquor Store sees $20 tickets and Cider Sips by the Sea at Lighthouse Pub at 6:30 p.m, also Feb. 20, $55 tickets.
A5. The Nanaimo Craft Beer Society (@NanaimoBeers) presents the Nanaimo Craft Beer Week in February! 🍻It's one of the coolest events around, providing a great opportunity to taste local. To learn more and purchase your tickets, visit: https://t.co/MPJSGb2hNx#CanadaChat pic.twitter.com/sO0dN1RA6S
— Tourism Nanaimo (@TourismNanaimo) January 15, 2020
A Brewed Awakenings event at Nanaimo Museum Wednesday, Feb. 19 and Crafternoon at Longwood Brew Pub on Sunday, Feb. 23 are both sold out and Setch said the week will end with a free event at Longwood Brew Pub on Feb. 23 beginning at 4 p.m.
“All of the leftover cask beers, we’re going to sell them out that night and we’re calling it Night of the Living Dregs and that’s going to be basically an open event to the public,” said Setch. “Anyone who wasn’t able to get Crafternoon tickets, you’re welcome come in. There’s no charge for entry and you can try all of the cask beers that we didn’t go through that day.”
For more information, or to purchase tickets, go to www.nanaimocraftbeer.com.
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Sidebar: Events
Over the Cliffside
Official Nanaimo Craft Beer Week 2020 launch party
Cliffside Brewing
Saturday, Feb. 15
All day - Free
Ale-archy in the UK
Thirsty Like the Wolf for UK-inspired Ales
Wolf Brewing
Tuesday, Feb. 18
5 p.m. - Free
Brewed Awakenings
Ancient ales and Nanaimo’s brewing history
Nanaimo Museum
Wednesday, Feb. 19
5 p.m. - Sold out
Barrel Bash
Axe throwing, arcade challenges, and barrel-aged beer
Axe & Grind
Wednesday, Feb. 19
7:30 p.m. - $25
Bruges Brothers
Discover Belgian beer with Cedric Dauchot and Joe Wiebe
Lucky’s Liquor Store
Thursday, Feb. 20
6:30 p.m. - $20
Cider Sips by the Sea
An evening of craft cider and gourmet small bites
Lighthouse Pub
Thursday, Feb. 20
6:30 p.m. - $55
Casks in Hand
Go Ahead, Cask Me Anything: Homegrown and guest cask beers
White Sails Brewing
Friday, Feb. 21
5 p.m. - Free
It’s Getting Hop in Here
IPA Tap Takeover and IPA-Inspired Food Menu
Craft Fare
Saturday, Feb. 22
2 p.m. - Free
Crafternoon
A Day with 15+ of B.C.’s best breweries and creative appetizers
Longwood Brew Pub
Sunday, Feb. 23
12 p.m. - Sold Out
Night of the Living Dregs
Last chance for Crafternoon casks
Longwood Brew Pub
Sunday, Feb. 23
4 p.m. - Free