BREWERY & THE BEAST IN VICTORIA, VANCOUVER

Tickets to All-Inclusive Events at Victoria’s Starlight Stadium (September 12),
Vancouver’s Concord Pacific Place (September 26) go on Sale July 7 and 14

After a one-year pause during the pandemic, one of Western Canada’s most popular and perennially sold-out food, drink and entertainment festivals will make its triumphant return when Brewery & The Beast hosts a pair of more intimate and elevated events in Victoria on Sunday, September 12 and Vancouver on Sunday, September 26.Providing a focus on ethical, sustainable and natural farming practices and showcasing talented chefs, renowned restaurants and the very best of BC’s food and beverage scene, Brewery & The Beast provides guests with an all-you-can-enjoy, food-and-drink feast for the senses featuring a variety of dishes and preparations, from barbecue and smoked to grilled and slow-cooked, along with beer, wine, cider and spirits.

Partial proceeds from ticket sales for both of this year’s events will be donated to the Chefs’ Table Society of BC, which — in keeping with the core goal of Brewery & The Beast itself — aims to inspire, nurture and showcase chefs, producers and the local food industry in BC. Major sponsors of Brewery & The Beast include Two Rivers Specialty Meats, Phillips Brewing & Malting Co., and Victoria’s Presenting Sponsor, Viking Properties, among others.

New features have also been added for both all-inclusive grazing events, including reduced guest capacities for a more boutique, less crowded experience; upgraded washroom facilities; and new beverage partners like Island Life Hard Sparkling Water, Tito’s Vodka, Muddlers Craft Cocktails, Discovery Coffee and Sparkmouth Non-Alcoholic Beverages. 

“At its core, Brewery & The Beast is an interactive experience our guests can feel good about while having a great time and we’re thrilled to be bringing it back for its ninth year in Victoria and eighth year in Vancouver,” says Scott Gurney, Director of the 17 Black Events team that organizes the Brewery & The Beast events. “We’ve got a great roster of newcomers and fan favourites lined up and are working hard to make sure this year’s return is an extra special one that continues to highlight the amazing food, drink, farms and purveyors we have access to here in BC.”

Returning Vancouver restaurants and purveyors to date include popular fixtures such as Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar, Fable Diner, Juke Fried Chicken, Nightingale, PiDGiN Restaurant, Torafuku, Two Rivers Specialty Meats, La Mezcaleria, Paella Guys and Whole Foods Market, while new additions include: giovane bacaro, Miantiao, Honey Salt, Fanny Bay Oysters, Straight & Marrow, Cibo Trattoria, Bread & Butter Cafe, Osteria Savio Volpe and Saha Eatery.

In Victoria, returning restaurants and purveyors to date include fan favourites like Aura Waterfront Restaurant + Patio, Bin 4 Burger Lounge, Dumpling Drop, Lil’ Ronnie’s Beachside BBQ, Nowhere *A Restaurant, Oak Bay Beach Hotel, The Ainslie, The Whole Beast, Two Rivers Specialty Meats, Whole Foods Market, Wind Cries Mary and Wolf In The Fog, while new participants include: Bartholomew’s, Farm’s Gate Foods + Catering, Finest at Sea, Justos Craft Dips, Refire Kitchen, RockCoast Confections, The Lakehouse at Shawnigan and Wildflower Bakeshop and Cafe.

A full list of participants can be viewed at breweryandthebeast.com, with new additions being made as event dates approach.

Brewery & The Beast’s music program has also always been a key accompaniment for the meat-centric celebration. Gurney remains committed to providing a showcase for the live arts at both events, with The Electric Timber Company — which has been a fixture at Brewery & The Beast since 2012 providing beats to pair with the beasts and brews, along with special guest performers from both cities.

Since its inception in 2012, Brewery & The Beast has donated more than $130,000 to organizations that work to grow the Canadian culinary industry such as the Chefs’ Table Society of BC; the BC Hospitality Foundation; Southern Alberta Institute of Technology; Hawksworth Young Chef Scholarship; Women Chefs & Restaurateurs; and the Island Chefs Collaborative.

HOW TO PURCHASE TICKETS
Tickets for the Victoria event held at Starlight Stadium (1089 Langford Pkwy) will be available for $145.95 beginning July 7 and at Vancouver’s Concord Pacific Lot (180 Pacific Boulevard) for $165.95 on July 14 and can be purchased online at breweryandthebeast.com/buy-tickets/. Partial proceeds will be donated to the Chefs Table Society of BC.

Victoria
Date: Sunday, September 12, 2021
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location: Starlight Stadium (1089 Langford Pkwy)
Tickets: $145.95 plus tax and service fees, available through the website starting July 7, 2021 at 9:00am PST

Vancouver       
Date: Sunday, September 26, 2021
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location: Concord Pacific Lot (180 Pacific Boulevard)
Tickets: $165.95 plus tax and service fees, available through the website starting July 14, 2021 at 9:00am PST

Website: breweryandthebeast.com
Facebook: /BreweryandtheBeast | Twitter: @BreweryTheBeast | Instagram: @BreweryTheBeast | #MeatFestYVR

Valley Commons in District Wine Village

Valley Commons, a new BC winery, launches at the new District Wine Village in the south Okanagan this August. New to the wine scene, but no strangers to the world of hospitality, winery owners Kyla Richey and Rudy Verhoeff have chosen the District Wine Village in Oliver, BC, to be the first brick and mortar location of Valley Commons. The winery will start welcoming guests to gather and taste its 2020 vintages in-person at District Wine Village in early August 2021 and online at the end of August.

Family owned and operated

The names Kyla Richey and Rudy Verhoeff may sound familiar to you – that’s because for the past decade they have competed internationally as part of Canadas Men’s and Women’s National Volleyball teams.  The couple have always dreamed of owning a business together – something that involved bringing people together, coming as you are, enjoying delicious food and drink. Perhaps it would be a café or a restaurant or a winery. On their return to Canada in 2020, an opportunity arose to purchase land in the Fraser Valley and they decided to plant a vineyard and create a winery. In September 2020, Valley Commons Winery was born.  Part of the foundation work in setting up the Fraser Valley vineyard involved trips to the Okanagan to gain insight and learn from others in the industry. It was during these trips that the couple decided it was essential to be part of the Okanagan wine community. The decision was made to base the new winery out of the soon-to-open District Wine Village just outside of Oliver, BC in the south Okanagan.

The Verhoeff family wanted Valley Commons to be a place to gather, where friendships and family ties are strengthened, community is created, and where people enjoy a glass of wine and good food. In their search to find its first physical location, District Wine Village seemed to be the perfect fit – as a village IS a community. The District Wine Village, complete with wineries, an eatery, a brewery, event spaces, and a beautiful open plaza, also aligned with Valley Commons core values of community, connection and conviviality. It was a perfect pairing.


 In August 2021, District Wine Village visitors will be welcomed into the Valley Commons tasting room to sample a lineup of delicious wines. With its inaugural vintage crafted by Mark Simpson of BC Wine Studio, the winery introduces its first releases: Garden Society, a premium red blend; Harvest Table, a white table blend; a Cabernet Franc, a Pinot Gris, and a Rosé. These wines will also be available for purchase online at www.valleycommons.ca as of the end of August.