After a quiet couple of weeks for the Boa Beer Blog, I have some catching up to do, starting with my recent trip to Vancouver.

It was my first trip to this beautiful Pacific Northwest city, and my pre-trip research uncovered several promising beer spots within walking distance of my home base at the Westin Bayshore. I was only a mile from the cobblestone streets of historic Gastown, home to two spots on my Vancouver beer to-do list.

I was in Vancouver on business, but I went out a day early so I had some time to explore the beer scene. Shortly after a long cross-country flight and checking in the hotel, I set out for Gastown with Todd, my trusty beer-drinking buddy and co-worker of 17 years.

Our first stop was Rogue Kitchen and Wet Bar, a modern gastropub with an amazing menu of local beer. I had a sampler rack of five different regional beers:

My favorite beer of the sampler was the Tricerahops Double IPA from Ninkasi Brewing Company in Eugene, OR. This one was memorable not just for the great name but also for the great flavor – “fiercely flavorful” according to Ninkasi. This beer clocks in at 100 IBUs and 8.8% ABV. Fiercely flavorful indeed!

I checked in one beer from the sampler on Untappd:

Driftwood Brewery is located in Victoria, British Columbia.

The sampler also featured:

• Sun God Wheat Ale (4.2%), a Kristal Weizen from R & B Brewing Company in Vancouver.
• Raven Cream Ale (4.8%), a drinkable Cream Ale also from R & B.
• Black Hops (6.5%), a Schwarzbier from Parallel 49 Brewing Company in Vancouver.

Todd and I enjoyed Rogue so much that we returned later in the trip when we brought our co-workers for a staff dinner. I think everyone enjoyed it — I know I enjoyed my chalices of Tricerahops!

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