Beer enthusiasts, take note: the second annual Burnaby Beer Festival is just around the corner.
The Nov. 12 fundraiser, which supports Burnaby Community Services, will once again be held at Spacekraft, near Metrotown. There will be three tasting sessions – one more than last year – with nine participating breweries, including Steam Whistle Brewing, Whistler Brewing Company, Doan's Craft, Dogwood Brewery, Strange Fellows Brewery, Lighthouse Brewing Company, Phillips Brewery and Burnaby’s very own Dageraad Brewing and Steamworks Brewing Co.
Stephen D’Souza, executive director of Burnaby Community Services, anticipates another sell out year.
“Last year, our two tastings were tight. They were sold out, both of them, 24 hours before the event, so a lot of people came to the door looking to buy tickets but were sadly disappointed. We had to shut off sales because we ran out of beer, we ran out of space. It was elbow-to-elbow room only,” he told the NOW.
D’Souza credited the beer festival’s popularity to Burnaby’s booming craft beer industry. In October, Dageraad and Steamworks took home a total of 10 awards at the B.C. Beer Awards.
“We were looking for a way to engage the community with something different than we’ve done in the past. We’ve always done galas and fundraisers, and we’ll continue to do those, but we wanted to do something a little different that would really show the changes that are happening in our community. Right now, there’s a real explosion around the foodie culture, the beer culture and the music culture,” D’Souza said.
The goal is to raise $12,000 for Burnaby Community Services, which provides support to low income families through initiatives like the Christmas Bureau. The non-profit also helps seniors maintain a healthy and independent lifestyle.
There will be plenty of entertainment during the six-hour festival, with a different band scheduled to play each tasting session. The first session, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., will see jazz musician Karla Sax take the stage. The Happy Hour session, from 5 to 7 p.m., will feature Freedom 95, with The Sean Michael Trio closing out the evening, playing between 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.
General admission for one session costs $35 and includes three beer samples and appetizers; additional tastings can be purchased for $2. VIP tickets ($55) include five beer samples and a Johnnie Walker tasting.
Attendees are encouraged to take transit or a taxi to the festival. Spacekraft is located less than a 10 minute walk from Metrotown, at 201-4501 Kingsway. For more information and tickets, go to Eventbrite and search Burnaby Beer Fest.
