Brewery Creek Vancouver Ale Trail
Vancouver’s earliest breweries set up along a creek that paralleled present-day Main Street, and although the creek itself is long gone you can still find it echoed in a progressive and exciting brewing scene there today. As Scout Magazine puts it, “Known as much for its cool factor as for its diversity and down-to-earth accessibility, Main Street is as honest a cross-sectioned representation of Vancouver’s cultural promise as you’ll find.”
In addition, you can explore the always-bubbling brewpub culture in downtown Vancouver or travel along False Creek over to Kitsilano on the city’s west side. Most of these breweries serve delicious food along with their beer, too. The only question is: where to begin?
Exploring from Gastown to Granville Island and Kitsilano.
375 Water St, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V67 1B8
steamworks.com/brew-pub|604-689-2739
One of Vancouver’s original brewpubs, Steamworks’ historic location next to Waterfront station and overlooking the beautiful North Shore Mountains makes this a must-stop on your travels. The brewpub spreads through several rooms on two levels, allowing you to enjoy a full range of award-winning beers brewed onsite, using traditional steam-powered brewing methods. Make sure to grab a bite while you’re there as the restaurant boasts a kitchen that is sure to impress. After operating this location for nearly two decades, Steamworks opened its Burnaby Brewery and Taproom, complete with whirls and twirls that would not be out of place in a Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory. You can also visit the Steamworks Mount Pleasant Kitchen & Taphouse, which is nestled among a few of the breweries in the Brewery Creek area near Main and Broadway.
76-1055 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6C 0C3
Located in the Vancouver Convention Centre’s West Building in Jack Poole Plaza, you’ll enjoy unobstructed views of the Burrard Inlet and North Vancouver. This location offers 36 taps dedicated to some of BC’s best craft beers along with local wine, handcrafted cocktails, and next-level comfort food.
1111 Mainland St, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6B 2T9
Dating back to 1994, Yaletown Brewing was the first brewpub to open in Vancouver. This pioneer of the city’s craft beer scene also helped lead the revitalization of the Yaletown warehouse district. Today, this neighbourhood at the south end of the downtown peninsula is filled with fancy boutiques, fine restaurants and expensive stores, but back in the early 1990s it was a very different story. The original red-brick warehouse housing the brewpub was extensively and beautifully renovated. You can sit outside on the original loading docks, or choose either the restaurant or brewpub inside — the same great beer is available in each section.
1696 Duranleau Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6H 3S4
Located on the western tip of Granville Island, just steps away from the Public Market, you’ll enjoy waterfront dining and breathtaking views of False Creek and downtown Vancouver. This location offers 32 taps dedicated to some of BC’s best craft beers along with local wine, handcrafted cocktails, and next-level comfort food. The upper and lower areas provide great views of the False Creek area and downtown Vancouver.
1614 W. 3rd Ave, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6J 1K2
Before Brewing August had a name, the founders knew they wanted to build their craft beer brand around the feeling of community. Good people, good places, and good times inspired the brewery’s sun-drenched name, its picnic table logo, and the beautiful packaging. After establishing the brand in Vancouver, the brewery itself opened in the summer of 2022, becoming the first craft brewery on the west side of Vancouver. Its location in Kitsilano close to Granville Island makes it the perfect stop on an afternoon walk or bike ride, and its two levels of seating offer some great views.
Book now1830 Ontario St, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V5T 2W6
Faculty Brewing was founded by a husband-and-wife team: Maurico, a Food Engineer, and Alicia, an architect who designed the brewery. Mauricio moved to Vancouver in 2008 to complete his Master’s in Food Science at UBC, and later worked as a post-secondary instructor. It was that experience that led to the name and concept behind Faculty: the brewery is designed to educate and empower people with craft beer knowledge; Faculty shares information about the brewing process and even publishes all its beer recipes. Like a university or college, the brewery is meant to be a place of idea-sharing and collaboration — they work with other breweries and local home brewers to test new recipes and experiment with innovative ideas. Appropriately, Faculty’s Head Brewer, Jacquie Loehndorf, is a graduate of the Brewing & Brewery Operations program at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Langley. Faculty’s beer names include a number system similar to how universities and colleges number courses by their level of complexity and expertise. Lower numbers indicate a more entry-level beer, while higher numbers are reserved for more experimental and boldly flavoured beers. The brewery has a partnership with Oddity Kombucha, and the two businesses share a small tasting room and patio.
The Vancouver region has more than 25,000 guest rooms, with about 13,000 alone downtown, so from economical to boutique, Vancouver accommodations are sure to suit any traveller's budget and tastes.
Continue your journey in Mount Pleasant
75 Athletes Way, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V5Y 0B1
tapandbarrel.com/locations|604-685-2223
Located in the heart of Olympic Village and serving honest, regional food with local craft beer and premium BC wine on tap.
A casual fun-dining restaurant serving regional food, local craft beer, and premium BC wine on tap. We source local ingredients and commit to using organic and Ocean Wise products whenever possible. Our beer and wine program is the most innovative of its kind, offering 24 craft beers and 14 premium BC wines, many of which are exclusive.
Located on the False Creek Seawall, our restaurant offers indoor and outdoor seating with breathtaking views of the Science World, Rogers Arena, and BC Place.
97 East 2nd Ave, Vancouver , BC, Canada, V5T 1B3
Reminiscent of a giant German beer hall, this facility located in Vancouver’s Olympic Village was renovated as part of the heritage “resurrection” of the Opsal Steel Building, built in 1918. It was a very complicated construction project, but the results are impressive indeed. The two-level space has plenty of options for customers to explore: the central bar offers eight taps of beer served directly from the tanks in the brewery, which occupies the east end of the building; wine and cocktails on tap; and nostalgic comfort food, including burgers, pizza, and build-your-own bowls. On top of the eight pipeline taps, they also have 14 guest taps that are filled with cool craft brews and ciders from around BC, with the occasional specialty from outside of the province. There is an assortment of fun arcade games and pinball machines, and a big screen where you can watch the big game. Upstairs on the mezzanine, the DRINKLAB space offers whisky and fine spirits flights along with handcrafted cocktails. The vibe is casual and fun — everyone is welcome from solo diners to couples out for a date and groups of friends looking for fun. The indoor space is large enough to accommodate lots of people, and there are two patios for those who want to stay outside. Collaborating with other breweries has been the focus of the beer program here from the start. BREWHALL does two or three collaborative brews each month, and this results in a creative and ever-changing beer menu.
Book now15 W 8th Ave, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V5Y 1M8
33acresbrewing.com|604 620 4589
It was always the aim of 33 Acres owner Josh Michnik to create a community brewery in the heart of the city’s Mount Pleasant area, and the extended opening hours here reflect that. You can pop in for an espresso first thing, sit in for some lunch later on, then enjoy a post-shift pint and some snacks or pizza. The weekend brunch waffles, meanwhile, have become something of a minor sensation. The lounge is certainly a place worth lingering. Simply but impeccably designed, its clean, whitewashed interior remains welcoming and comfortable, with strategically placed greenery and tall windows offering lots of natural light. The beer lineup follows and riffs on classic European and West Coast styles and is, without exception, excellent. A long list of beer awards from the Beer World Cup, the Canadian Beer Awards as well as the BC Beer Awards (including BC Brewery of the Year in 2018). illustrate this brewery’s high quality. (Also award worthy: the brewery’s gorgeous Instagram feed.) And right next door you can find 33 Experiment, the original’s little sibling that opened in 2018.
Book now25 W 8th Ave, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V5Y 1M8
The experimental offshoot brewery of 33 Acres Brewing is located next door, this is the place to go to try something ultra-fresh and extra special. As brewery founder Josh Michnik explained it to Montecristo magazine, “33 Acres is our core. It’s where we started. It’s the six-pack that you pick up on your way home. That was always our vision: to be very drinkable. We’ll remain very focused there. But at 33B we want to let people in and experiment. We wanted to build a place to pull the curtain back on our world.”
20 East 4th Ave , Vancouver, BC, Canada, V5T1E8
electricbicyclebrewing.com|250 896 3774
”The Most Amazing” Electric Bicycle Brewing Co’s fun and colourful branding definitely helps set it apart in Vancouver’s busy beer scene — indeed, the building’s exterior is covered in a giant, psychedelic mural that makes it hard to miss! But it’s the brewery’s fresh and creative beer lineup that keeps customers returning. The name reflects the fact that the building previously housed a company that made electric bicycles, but the brewery has really made it its own. A lot of work went into the eclectic aesthetic of EBB’s tasting room, which won the top spot for Tasting Room Design at the 2019 BC Beer Awards. There is a mix of seating options inside, along with two patios outside. And to go along with the range of delicious beers you can enjoy a delicious smashburger from Kapow! Burger, which is open 7 days a week.
54 E 4th Ave, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V5T 1E8
Clearly proud of its roots, R&B has been a self-described “East Van Original” since 1997, when it was opened by Rick Dellow (R) and Barry Benson (B). The east side of the city was grittier and far less developed then, but Benson and Dellow found a loyal local following and later became granddaddies to the beer scene bubbling up around their Mount Pleasant location. R&B was bought by Howe Sound Brewing in 2015 and a consequent injection of funds has given it a fresh lease on life, including a cozy, retro-styled restaurant full of trinkets, ornate lighting, vintage speakers, and thirsty staff from Hootsuite’s nearby headquarters. The kitchen specializes in attractively priced personal pizzas and enticing bar snacks including pretzels, kettle chips, and olives. The brewery, meanwhile, holds fast to its heritage with classic, multiple-award-winning brews like Raven Cream Ale and Vancouver Special IPA, while branching out into more daring styles like their award-winning Dill Pickle Gose.
309 West Pender Street, Vancouver , BC, Canada, V6B 1T3
As you may or may not know, the Magnet is the younger sibling of one of Vancouver’s favourite brewery’s, BRASSNECK. And if you’re familiar with the brewery you will probably also know that they are a small neighbourhood outfit with very limited distribution, especially in cans. Going forward we’ll be operating as somewhat of an “Outpost” for Brassneck’s entire selection of canned beers. Everything will be available to go at the Magnet. We’re also planning to do some creatively curated mixed 4 packs featuring awesome beers from our incredible BC brewery friends & peers, as well as re-packaged natural wine, cider & cocktails to go.
The Vancouver region has more than 25,000 guest rooms, with about 13,000 alone downtown, so from economical to boutique, Vancouver accommodations are sure to suit any traveller's budget and tastes.
A final day in Mount Pleasant
2275 Main Street , Vancouver, BC, Canada
steamworks.com/mount-pleasant|604-394-2275
Located at the gateway to the historic Mount Pleasant neighbourhood, Steamworks Mount Pleasant Kitchen & Taphouse is your local taproom – re-imagined. With 20 Steamworks taps featuring their classic favourites and Mount Pleasant special brews, this taphouse also showcases the area’s lively craft beer scene with 10 ever-changing guest taps. Feed your soul and satisfy your hunger with a full kitchen bursting with modern pub favourites, new fusion creations, and plant-based delights. You can also visit the original Steamworks Brew Pub in downtown Vancouver and the Steamworks Burnaby Brewery & Taproom.
2148 Main St, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V5T 3C5
Brassneck opened in 2013 as part of a wave of new breweries that revitalized Vancouver’s previously slumbering craft beer community. For the first few years, its beers were only available on site, but while that has changed, many of the beers are still only available there, and anyway, you really need to visit in person to get the full Brassneck experience. Brewer Conrad Gmoser spent 17 years perfecting his craft at Steamworks Brewpub, and he loves variety so there is always something unique and special to try. Expect pitch-perfect versions of classic beer styles alongside boundary-pushing experimental brews and re-imagined hybrids. No beer lover’s visit to Vancouver is complete without a stop here. Brassneck is one of the best places, if not the best, to drink beer in British Columbia.
Book now261 E 7th Ave, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V5T 0B4
Expanding the brewhouse has always been a nerve-shredding experience for the staff at Main St. Brewing. That’s because the only way to get new tanks into this heritage industrial building is lowering them by crane through one of the large skylights. Thankfully, visitors need only worry about what they’re going to sample from the extensive beer list here, which includes five core brands (pilsner, pale ale, IPA, saison and brown ale), several interesting seasonals, and up to four cask ales that are hand pumped in the old-fashioned way. Adding to this plethora of choice is the Garage Series, which is named after the building’s origins as the Vancouver Breweries’ Garage — an ongoing collection of wild-fermented and barrel-aged beer driven by brewmaster Azlan Graves’ curiousity. The lounge occupies one corner of the building but is very much part of the brewery as a whole, with the sounds of the brewhouse and the sweet smell of spent grain occasionally wafting through. It’s a beautiful space, featuring exposed brick, large murals, strings of bulbs stretched between sturdy beams and long tables ideal for sharing stories or swapping beer opinions. The food menu, which ranges from excellent tacos to a charcuterie board, is also well worth a try.
295 E 1st Ave, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V5T 1A7
redtruckbeer.com|(604) 682-4733
When Mark James set out to grow Red Truck Beer Company, he did it in style. Relocating from North Vancouver, he built a state-of-the-art brewery from the ground up at Vancouver’s iconic Brewery Creek district. Since opening its 34,000-square-foot facility in 2015, Red Truck has become a local favorite, with gleaming tanks, advanced canning lines, and a vintage red truck hanging from the ceiling.The Truck Stop Diner offers classic comfort food—burgers, hot dogs, tacos, and more—perfectly paired with house-made brews. Led by head brewer Justin Vickaryous, Red Truck has expanded beyond its signature lager and amber ale, crafting new beers with the same commitment to quality and simplicity.Every Red Truck beer reflects a love for the road, the outdoors, and honest craftsmanship. Whether it’s after an adventure or shared with friends, Red Truck Beer is all about keeping things simple, savouring the moment, and letting the good times roll.
2616 Main Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada
The Cascade Room features a cocktail and beer program by Karen Burton, steeped in tradition rather than a trend. “Whatever you desire, whether it’s a rickey, a daisy, a julep, a sling, a sour, a flip, a toddy or a nog…we’ll endeavour to make it”. Local craft beer and cocktails on tap round out this warm and fun atmosphere. Local design and branding firm Evoke International created an ambiance reminiscent of the British Pub, but with a modern twist. What’s the best thing about Sundays at The Cascade Room? Well, besides “lots of things”, it’s our Sunday Roast! Our roast is served from 4 pm, but we are open from 2 pm with Happy Hour from open to close, so come in, claim your seat, and get ready for a meal that might even be better than your Mom used to make (who are we kidding…we all know it’s better)!! Call ahead to book your seat to make sure you don’t miss out!!
3045 Main Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V5T3G6
The Brewery Creek Craft Beer & Wine Store offers a vast complement of premium and unique products beyond our extensive craft beer selection, including an impressive range of fine wine and a comprehensive array of ciders, meads, coolers, and craft spirits. Located at 14th and Main Street in the heart of Mount Pleasant, Brewery Creek was the first Craft Beer focused private store in British Columbia. It is locally owned and operated by longtime business partners Fred Wilson & Gary Reilly. The knowledgeable and friendly team is waiting to help you find exactly what you need for that special occasion or stock you up for the weekend! Open every day from 11 am to 11 pm with free parking around the back. Voted: “Best Craft Beer Selection” – The Growler/Growlies “Best Private Beer Store” – The Georgia Straight “Best Local Private Liquor Store” – CAMRA “Best Beer & Wine Store” – The Westender “Best Private Beer Store in the Pacific Northwest” – Northwest Brewing News
The Vancouver region has more than 25,000 guest rooms, with about 13,000 alone downtown, so from economical to boutique, Vancouver accommodations are sure to suit any traveller's budget and tastes.