This was my first time going to Brewery & the Beast post pandemic and it was such a blast. For those of you who don’t know, Brewery & the Beast is a spectacular celebration of food, drink, and music that happens every summer in Vancouver. If you miss the one in Vancouver there is a Fall version in September in Victoria, BC. You can always expect top-quality meat in various styles, from expertly grilled to slow-roasted, braised or smoked. Brewery & the Beast pairs the incredible number of dishes available with chilled beer, ciders, wine, cocktails and refreshing zero-proof options. And no celebration is complete without music, and the music vibes were immaculate this year. Although lines are going to happen (especially at the most popular restaurants), the lines do go quick! Also, there are plenty of water stations throughout Concord Pacific Place as well as shaded seating areas. This year in particular there was a bit of a breeze, so when you’re out of the direct sun the heat wasn’t too bad. Check out some of my top picks from Brewery & the Beast below!
Brewery & the Beast – 2023 Menu Round 1
The little board provided is good for 3-4 menu items + a drink. But it is a bit of a balancing act! For my first round I tried the following:
- Okini – Wagyu Beef Tsukune: yakiniku tare, yuzu, sansho pepper
- Homer St. Cafe & Bar – “Chorizo” Octopus, Green Romesco, Kennebec Potato Chip
- Mt. Pleasant Vintage & Provisions – Short Rib Teriyaki: Red cabbage slaw, Scallion/ginger topping, tobiko
- Supper Club YVR – Lamb Roast Nachos, Grilled Hearts, Spicy Queso Sauce, Tomatillo
- Basta Barbecue x Farmer’s Apprentice – BBQ Lamb Belly Burnt Ends, Rose Honey BBQ Sauce, Rose Harissa, Pistachio Dukkah, Lemon Labneh
The first round had so many interesting flavour combinations and unique items that I have never tried before. The Octopus from Homer St. Cafe & Bar really stood out for me – it was tender, slightly spicy and had a delicious grill flavour. Another favourite was the BBQ lamb belly burnt ends from Basta Barbecue x Farmer’s Apprentice. I have never had lamb belly before, and I love the charcoal flavour with the sweet honey BBQ sauce. I could eat an entire plate of this!
Brewery & the Beast – 2023 Menu Round 2
For our next round I went with:
- Cream Pony – Hot Nashville Chicken Glazer: OG spiced chicken, signature hot nash sauce, sweet pickle, garlic mayo, honey dipped donut
- Gastronomy Gastown – Notorious P.I.G. Pizza: braised pork, BBQ tomato sauce, roasted pineapple, smoked cheese, hot honey
- Alouette Bistro – Duck Leg Confit: Baguette, Mustard, Endive, Brie
- Berrymobile Fruit Distribution Inc. – Fresh local berries and Okanagan sweet cherries
I had the Hot Nashville Chicken Glazer from Cream Pony earlier this year at the media launch and I love the combo of sweet and spicy. Gastronomy Gastown is my favourite spot for pizza in Downtown Vancouver and the Notorious P.I.G. was delicious as always.
Brewery & the Beast – 2023 Menu Overall Recap
There were so many restaurants and chefs churning out some really delicious bites. I didn’t get a chance to try everything, but some highlights include restaurants like:
- Anh and Chi – Asian Spiced Hardwood Roasted Hog – fine rice vermicelli, chive oil, Mẹ’s Chili Fish Sauce
- Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar – Brant Lake Wagyu Pastrami, caraway sauerkraut, half sour pickle, Russian dressing
- Cask Whisky Vault – Kurobuta Pork Chashu Skewer: torched red miso motoyaki, chicharron, micro shiso
- Elisa – Beef Short rib hanging over fire, ancho and pasilla chili dry rub, three sauces – charred scallion, avocado salsa verde, tomatillo chermoula
- Osteria Savio Volpe – Pork Collar Spiedini: Cherry BBQ Sauce, Wild Fennel Pollen
- Sumibiyaki Arashi – Kashiwa: Charcoal grilled chicken thigh and breast with tare sauce
There were tons of drinks to choose from but the stand out for me was Farming Karma Fruit Co. They had non alcoholic sodas as well as sparkling vodka sodas. The Apple Soda was so light and refreshing and tasted like fresh apples. The Sparkling Pear was equally as delicious and it’s definitely one of those easy drinking cocktails that don’t taste alcoholic but really give you a great buzz.
Worth a Try?
Absolutely. Brewery & the Beast is always a highly anticipated event in Vancouver and for good reason. You get to enjoy the sun, the festivities and indulge in amazing food. Tickets for the Calgary event and the Vancouver Island (Victoria) are still available here.
Additionally, partial proceeds from Brewery & The Beast go to organizations that work to grow the culinary industry and support local culinary-focused initiatives, such as the Chefs’ Table Society of BC; the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology; Camosun College and Vancouver Island University.
