Welcome to the CBN round-up of beer festivals and events for the coming week (Friday through Thursday), listed here with a bit more detail than what is featured on our popular Beer Festival Calendar page. Watch for a new installment every Thursday – assuming there are any events scheduled for the week ahead, of course.
Fri, May 29, 2015 – Sun, June 07, 2015
VANCOUVER CRAFT BEER WEEK 2015
Vancouver, BC
It’s the closing weekend of VCBW 2015, but there are still a few events to check out – most notably the VCBW Festival at the PNE Centre Grounds, featuring more than 100 breweries and 400 beers to sample.
Thu, June 04, 2015 – Sat, June 06, 2015
CANADIAN BREWING AWARDS & CRAFT BREWERS CONFERENCE
Crowne Plaza Fallsview – Niagara Falls, ON
It’s more of an industry gathering than a beer festival, but the annual Canadian Brewing Awards and companion Canadian Craft Brewers Conference is one of the most notable events in the country’s beer and brewing scene. Expect to see plenty of tweets, Facebook posts and newsletter announcements this weekend from the breweries that snag medals in this year’s competition.
Thu, June 04, 2015 – Fri, June 05, 2015
FLATLANDERS BEER FESTIVAL
MTS Centre – Winnipeg, MB
The 13th annual edition of the Flatlanders fest will feature more than 160 beers and ciders from Canada and around the world, with proceeds to support the Winnipeg Jets True North Foundation, an organization that “focuses its efforts on providing support to the children of the community so they may lead quality lives and develop into contributing members of society.”
Fri, June 05, 2015 – Sat, June 06, 2015
EDMONTON CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL
Expo Center, Northlands Park – Edmonton, AB
While the name is a slight misnomer due to the inclusion of several decidedly non-craft macrobreweries, this still promises to be an impressive event, with more than 400 beers to try, along with food vendors, seminars and more. See the website for a venue map and exhibitor list.
Fri, June 05, 2015 – Sat, June 06, 2015
NLC BEER EXPO 2015
Delta St. John’s – St. John’s, NL
Touted by the Newfoundland Labrador Liquor Corporation (NLC) as being the most popular event on its annual calendar, the Beer Expo has an exhibitor list that skews pretty heavily to the big breweries, but a couple of local producers – including Yellowbelly and Quidi Vidi – and a few importers of more distinctive beers will ensure that some craft ales and lagers are also available.
Fri, June 05, 2015 – Sat, June 06, 2015
THE SARNIA BEER SHOW
Bayside Centre, 150 N. Christina St. – Sarnia, ON
Promising “beer, food, music, games, friends”, the Sarnia Beer Show will feature beer from around 10 breweries, along with a special cask beer session presented by Beau’s for those who buy a pass for both days.
Fri, June 05, 2015 – Sun, June 07, 2015
FESTIBIÈRE DE ROUYN-NORANDA
Presqu’île du lac Osisko – Rouyn-Noranda, QC
A spin-off of the popular Festibière de Gatineau, this smaller and more northerly event will offer up to 300 beers from around 20 breweries, most of them craft brewers from Quebec. Food vendors and live entertainment round out the family friendly event, with those under 18 admitted for free – but not allowed to drink, obviously.
Sat, June 06, 2015
TORONTO CRAFT BREW CRUISE
The River Gambler, Pier 31, 333 Lakeshore Blvd E. – Toronto, ON
The second annual edition of this three-hour beer tour around Lake Ontario has moved up from fall to summer, and will feature pouring stations from 13 local breweries and two cideries – see the website for the full list of participants.
Wed, June 10, 2015 – Sun, June 14, 2015
MONDIAL DE LA BIÈRE 2015
Palais des Congrès, 201 avenue Viger W. – Montreal, QC
Anyone who knows about good beer in Canada has either been to Mondial de la Bière, or hopes to go some year. For this year’s 22nd edition, over 500 beers, ciders and meads will be available from more than 85 breweries, with 226 beers being new to the festival this year. There will also be satellite events happening and bars and establishments throughout the city starting on June 8th. See the website for more details.