When it’s cold, nasty, wet and dark outside, there’s no more beautiful feeling than coming inside where it’s warm, friendly and light. And still all wet, of course.
One of Clark County’s boasting points is that it’s bursting with local libation celebrations, and here comes the latest. It’s the Vancouver Winter Brewfest, set for today and Saturday inside a huge heated tent in Esther Short Park.
Dark, bold, winter-weight beers are the emphasis, but there will be plenty of other craft beers, ciders and even soft drinks on tap, as well. The Winter Brewfest aims to straddle that fine line between unique craft beers you fall in love with but can’t find again, and those that can be procured at your neighborhood tavern or even the supermarket.
“We want to provide great, locally produced winter beers that attendees can find at their local stores or pub,” said consultant Tim Ahaus.
If You Go
• What: Vancouver Winter Brewfest.
• When: 3 to 10 p.m. Dec. 9; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Dec. 10.
• Where: Esther Short Park, West Eighth and Columbia streets, Vancouver.
• Admission: $12 gets you a plastic mug and five tokens; additional tokens are $5 for five. Tokens are good for 2-ounce tastes.
• Designated drivers: $5 admission for unlimited soft drinks.
• Information: www.vancouverwinterbrewfest.com
In addition to creations by lots of local and regional breweries, organizers shine a historical light each year on one of the great beer-brewing nations of the world. Belgium was the guest of honor when the Winter Brewfest began this tradition in 2014 and Germany stepped up in 2015.
This year is England’s turn. Five great British beers will keep things especially jolly. Everybody knows that Brexit actually stands for “Beer exit — to Vancouver, USA,” right?
Merry old brews
Despite Britain’s recent radical vote — which seems to have caught voters themselves by surprise– everybody also knows that England is the home of deathless respect for grand traditions. Like royal families, driving on the left and powdered wigs that apparently help legal minds work better in court. Why else would they wear those things?
Grand British traditions extend to beer, too. When industrial-scale production hit England in the early 1970s, the backlash was swift and stiff: the launch of a grass-roots group called the Campaign for Real Ale. Now boasting hundreds of thousands of members, its aim is to preserve and bolster small breweries and local pubs as they keep on creating classics — while also experimenting in small batches.
Doesn’t that sound exactly like the craft brew fervor that’s hit the Pacific Northwest?
The key to traditional British brewing is what’s known as top fermentation, which simply means fermentation at a relatively high temperature, with the yeast rising to the top and forming a thick, rich head. No artificial carbonation is added, and a secondary fermentation stage takes place not at the brewery but right in the cask, at the pub itself.
Classic British beer styles include bitter (a dark, strong, hoppy ale), mild (nutty and flavorful but not so strong), brown ale (medium strength, a touch of sweetness) and “old ale” (dark, malty and sweet). Stout, porter and India pale ale also hail from England.
Now, repeat the following to your server to sound really authentic: “I’m peckish for a bevvy, bloke. A pint o’ wallop, luv, and Bob’s your uncle!”
