An international award-winning craft beer brewed in Chemainus is one of more than 20 cottage industry type beer products people can sample at this year’s second annual Rotary Craft Beer and Spirits Festival on June 29 in Qualicum Beach.
“The award-winning Chemainus beer is produced by Riot Brewing Company and is known as ‘The Working Man’s Beer,’” said Rotarian and festival organizer Jim Grant.
“They were at our first festival last year,” Grant said. “Hardly anyone had heard of them and I think this particular product was just being launched back then. Now it has international recognition so we are very excited.”
Riot Brewing claimed gold and bronze awards at the 2018 World Beer Cup, considered the Olympics of Beer in Nashville, Tennessee, May 3.
Riot Brewing took top honours for its Working Class Hero Dark Mild in the English-Style Dark Mild Ale category. Winners were selected from an international panel of 295 judges from 33 countries.
Another Vancouver Island award-winning product will be available from Gladstone Brewing Company from Courtenay that produces an ‘IPA’, a Pilsner, and a Belgium Single.
“Other local breweries we’re pleased to see back this year are LoveShack Libations from Dashwood; Twin City Brewery from Alberni, Wolf Brewery and White Sails Brewery both from Nanaimo, and Parksville’s Mt. Arrowsmith Brewery with some of their new products,” Grant said.
“A number of these craft brewers can claim awards for their products including Mount Arrowsmith Brewing for their 2017 British Columbia Beer Award; first place win for their Arrowsmith Blonde Ale,” added Grant. “These brewers are all doing great work in this relatively new industry on Vancouver Island and we’re delighted to host them again this year.”
In total, 17 craft brewers will attend this year’s festival at the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre with tasting taking place from 7-9 p.m. included in the price of the ticket. Food inside the hall is included and there will be live music performed by Big Daddy for dancing from 9-11 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased online at EventBrite or from Mulberry Bush, Ladies Mantle and Island Cleaning Supplies in Parksville or Raymond James, ReMax, Medicine Supplies, Shady Rest Liquor Store or Mulberry Bush Bookstore in Qualicum Beach.
For more info, go to qualicumbeerfest.ca.
— Rotary Club of Qualicum Beach submission