CAMRA Vancouver’s Oktoberfest was combined this year with Harvestfest and held at Malone’s Urban Drinkery in downtown Vancouver. Just a stone’s throw away at the Vancouver Art Gallery was the start of Occupy Vancouver. Just as we rounded Pender Street to enter the sold-out event, we saw a protest march led by police motorcycles heading down Pender, then turning onto Granville Street.
Once inside Malones however, a whole other world greeted us. At check in, we were each handed a souvenir Oktoberfest 2011 glass and three drink tickets to get us started. Extra beer sample tickets were sold at the back of the restaurant for $1 each. The beer selection guide gave us a good overview of each brewery’s chosen selection(s).
The event was divided into Oktoberfest in the Main bar area, and Harvestfest in the upstairs side bar. Both were packed to the brim with craft beer lovers before too long.
My husband and I wound up tasting/sharing 10 beer samples, topping off the samplings with an Ayinger Dobblebock, a rich, dark fruity beer with roasted malt and whole hop flowers.
[Ayinger Dobblebock]
The Creaking Planks added to the merriment. Traditional German drinking songs were also played, while mid-afternoon a yodeling competition was held with sponsor gift baskets as prizes.
CAMRA Vancouver, an organization responsible for heightening the craft beer movement in Vancouver, was on hand to answer questions about membership and craft beers in general.
CAMRA members had the chance to sample a beer not available to regular attendees, Elysian Brewery’s Night Owl Pumpkin Beer. I really enjoyed Elysian’s other pour, the dry-hopped Immortal IPA.
[Elysian Dry-Hopped Immortal IPA]
[Tree Brewing Vertical Winter Ale]
[Ayinger Oktoberfest Marzen]
An Oktoberfest menu was on offer that included bratwurst, schnitzel, hand-made pretzels and pumpkin pie. On a giving note, 35% of all proceeds from drink tickets sold at Saturday’s event will be donated to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank.
More event photos can be found in my Flickr Oktoberfest set.
