by Andrew Morrison | The next cool thing is the beer selection at The Alibi Room on Alexander Street on the eastern edge of Gastown. To compliment the delicious, pairing-ready food by chef Greg Armstrong and his crew, proprietors Nigel Springthorpe and Raya Audet offer a mind-boggling, pant-wetting 50 curated taps of local and domestic craft beer. Go in on any given evening and you’ll likely come across at least a dozen beers that you’ve never heard of before, with all of them tasting great (we don’t recommend a dozen beers at a time, however). The Alibi has acted as the de facto schwerpunkt for Vancouver’s craft beer renaissance over the last seven years, with beer wonks making plans for home brews on the backs of countless napkins and finding inspiration in every other sip. Considering the recent explosion of new craft breweries across the Lower Mainland, I reckon that one day – when our old liquor laws and affections for Bud Lime are both retired – the gem will be seen as one of the most historically significant establishments in the province.

THE NEXT COOL THING