The Beer Brief is Scout’s round-up of all the local beer-related news and events we think you should know about. Got news brewing? Send it to thalia [at] scoutmagazine.ca and we’ll do our best to include it!

FIELDHOUSE + FROESE | For their second collaboration with Tom Froese, Field House Brewing enlisted the Yarrow, BC-based artist and designer to produce original drawings for several 1.5L Magnums of a special Lemon Coriander Barrel-Aged Saison, featuring coriander harvested from Field House Farms. Plans are in the works to raffle off these super limited bottles, with funds raised going towards “adopting” families for Christmas through the Abbotsford Food Bank. Stay tuned for more details…

ADVENT BEERS | It’s advent calendar time! Looking to switch it up from the usual options? Fills for Storm Brewing’s “12 Fills of Christmas” kicked off on Saturday, December 1st and, even if you didn’t sign up for the entire package, you can still get your fill (har har) of holiday growler fills. Here’s how it works: every Saturday the brewery is releasing a special new mystery beer on tap that will be available for one week. The exact beer is not disclosed to the public and each fill comes with a sealed envelop revealing what’s inside…that’s our kind of surprise!

EAST VANNIVERSARY | This Saturday is East Van Brewing’s first year anniversary! Head over to the Venables St. tasting room for cheap beers, pinball, music, food and festive vibes. They’ll also be releasing a special new beer for the event that’s a barrel-aged ‘Sustenance Imperial Stout’. At 9.8%, this birthday beer is sure to inspire some memorable moments (before erasing them completely). Let’s party! Find out more.

KRAMPUSMARKT | Beer plus shopping is one of our favourite combos. If you agree, then we’ll see you at Strange Fellows Brewing some time this Thursday or Friday evening, and/or all day Saturday for their holiday ‘Krampusmarkt’. Expect more than 20 artists and makers that will help you check off the more discerning oddball friends and family on your holiday gift list…plus lots of great beer to enjoy and inspire your spending, of course. Pro tip: Before you get too beery, prepare yourself by reading up on our five most anticipated vendors included in the roster over here.

RICHMOND | Love music and beer? You might be interested to learn that local online record retailer 3DawgsVinyl have been popping up at breweries around the city, offering sippers some serious crate-digging. Last weekend it was Callister Brewing, and this upcoming Saturday they’ll be at Fuggles & Warlock Craftworks in Richmond. Bonus: while you’re slinging back some tasty daytime pints, this is also a chill opportunity to find something special for the vinyl addict on your holiday gift list. Find out more.

TAP TAKEOVER | We could all use a little help to get through these dark and stressful pre-holiday weeks. On Wednesday, December 12th there’s a Dageraad tap takeover happening at the Cascade Room on Main Street that could provide just the boost. For the event there will be six Belgian-inspired taps from the Burnaby brewery, including their annual ‘Anno 2018’ and two undisclosed special beers flowing from opening until the beer runs out. Find out more.

NYE DRINK & DANCE | If you can untangle your thoughts from Christmastime then it’s not too early to start making New Year’s plans, since events tend to sell out fast. Tickets for CRAFT Beer Market’s ‘NYE Drink & Dance’ are on sale now and the regular option includes a couple of drink tickets, live action food stations, late night appies, sparkling wine at midnight and musical entertainment. Plus, there’s nothing like over 100 available taps of beer to inspire some dance moves! Find out more.

BRASSNECK | Brassneck has just released a couple of exciting seasonal brews, now available in the brewery. First up is a special one: the Inertia III, a Woodinville Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout that’s named after the Washington State distillery. This one is a personal favourite of co-owner Nigel Springthorpe, and is known by some for its “magical ability to turn mumbling, reserved Brits into raving loonies.” Also new for the holidays is the annual homage to the old Beatty Street pub, DIX BBQ, called ‘Spirit of DIXmas’ Old School IPA. This one was brewed in collaboration with Tony Dewald (Trading Post) and Derrick Franche (Whistler Brew House), a couple of OG brewers from Vancouver’s early brewery days. Neat fact: the foundation of the Brassneck brew house is the old DIX system and the DIX IPA was actually one of the first mega hoppy IPAs produced in BC.

THE SNUG | Have you checked out The Snug yet? Tucked in next to Save On Meats, this Irish pub-inspired tasting room is operated by the Sunshine Coast’s Persephone Brewing. Besides having nine taps (including one dry-hopped cider) from the Gibson’s brewery, they also have an entirely plant-based menu of bar snacks featuring a Blue Heron cheese platter and a pulled jackfruit sandwich. The new Gastown spot is just the place to get cozy with vegan food and local beer this winter!

HIGH POINT | This time of year we can get kind of lazy…which is why it’s perfect timing for hitting up High Point’s brand new online shop! The East Van liquor store’s beer selection alone includes hundreds of brews available to purchase from the cozy nest of your bed or living room. Peruse the new site here.