A week-long celebration of beer is returning to Nanaimo.
Nanaimo Craft Beer Week begins Saturday, April 27, with numerous events throughout the city till May 5.
Leif Bogwald, Nanaimo Craft Beer Society president, said the week will be a combination of free and paid events. Vancouver Island University is hosting two ticketed events: the Witches Brew: Homebrewing 101 for Women on Saturday, April 27, and Raise Your Glass to the Past, examining ancient beers, on May 2.
For the second year, Nanaimo-area breweries – White Sails Brewing, Longwood Brewery, Longwood Brew Pub and Wolf Brewing Company – have teamed up for beer specially made for craft beer week.
Bogwald said details are being kept under wraps, but the limited edition brew that will be first revealed at the Firehouse Grill on Monday, April 29, has a “West Coast flavour to it” and cans will be officially available for purchase at a launch event on May 4 at White Sails.
He said the Harbour City’s beer scene has evolved over the years.
“It went from being this trendy new thing that was giving people extra flavours to taste outside of your very common macrobrew … different flavors like [India pale ale], hops, different malt backgrounds, fruit, all added into beers,” said Bogwald. “Now it’s evolved to where most restaurants will have some sort of craft beer and usually fairly local, usually Vancouver Island-based, so it’s gone from this niche thing that started out small and it spread.”
For a full schedule of events, or to purchase tickets, visit www.nanaimocraftbeersociety.com.
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