The Vancouver Craft Beer Week Festival is back for its eighth edition this Saturday and Sunday (June 3 and 4) at the PNE Fairgrounds. More than 100 breweries and cideries will be pouring 300-plus different delicious adult beverages. Whether you’re a festival veteran or a total rookie, make sure you’re prepared for the gloriousness that is VCBW with these handy hints.
DO!
Drink water! Lots of it! It’s going to be a long day and you don’t want to end up dehydrated. For every glass of beer you have, try to have an equal amount of water. Your liver will thank you.
DON’T!
Wear pretzels around your neck. Seriously? Is this what we have been reduced to? Are we so incapable of behaving like civilized human beings that we need to tie food to our necks so we can find it later. Leave the pretzel necklace at home, and if you get hungry, there are tons of food trucks that will take care of you.
DO!
Wear sunscreen! Lots of it! It’s summer, it’s going to be hot, and melanoma sucks.
DON’T!
Attempt to try every brewery. There are more than 100 breweries pouring and if you think you can hit them all, you’re going to be heading home in handcuffs or an ambulance. Don’t be that guy/girl/person.
DO!
Make a plan. Grab a map of the festival grounds (we even included one for you on this page!) and pick your favourite breweries you want to try. Don’t bite off more than you can chew (or drink, anyways).
DON’T!
Jump the queue. If you think you can bypass the lineup by sneaking up the side of the booth, you’re not a genius; you’re an asshole.
DO!
Bring cash. You don’t want to spend half your day lining up at the one ATM.
DON’T!
Drive or bike to the festival. Walk, take transit, a taxi, or the shuttle bus. We’re going to file this one under “Duh.”
DO!
Dress appropriately. It’s going to be hot (probably), so a hat is a good idea. The whole lederhosen and dirndl thing is cool, but in the middle of July at an outdoor festival, it might be a bit much (I assume, I’ve never actually worn a dirndl).
DON’T!
Pour out a beer in front of a brewer. If you don’t like a beer, fine, no one is forcing you to drink it. Go around the corner and dispose of it discreetly. But don’t be a jerk and make a big deal about it.
DO!
Have a good time and make sure to come by The Growler booth for free high fives!
• For festival tickets and info, visit VancouverCraftBeerWeek.com.
