We don’t need to tell you that Greater Vancouver is overflowing with really good craft beer made by passionate folks with good taste. But because we think that excellent beer deserves an equally satisfying accompaniment to do it justice, we’ve honed in on the city’s breweries that also take special care to whip up and/or serve up proper eats to pair with what’s flowing from their taps. Here are over a dozen Vancouver breweries with food offerings beyond the obligatory, that will do way more than simply soak up the suds:

BEYOND BASIC BAR SNACKS | A predominantly Belgian-focused brewery with extensive sour and barrel programs (thanks to co-owner and head brewer Iain Hill’s expertise), Strange Fellows has carved out a key spot in the local craft beer scene with their folklore-inspired line-up of craft brews. In-line with their inclination for the unconventional, the East Van brewery’s current food menu features bar foods with a modern Chinese flavour profile “twist” that begs for a cold beer, thanks to Chef Doug Lee. Standouts, big and small, on the regular All Day menu include Milk Buns (with red wine lemonade butter), Gai Lan Ohitashi (with beer hot sauce and hoisin), and a Chinese Donutwich (cold cuts, arugula, wisped mozzarella). Big bonus: If you know how to navigate the proper (labyrinthine) channels to find him, he can also set you up with an order-in-advance omakase-style feast (Chef Lee likes to keep a low profile, but according to those who have done the work to score this tasting menu, he is one of the more interesting chefs cooking in Vancouver right now). DETAILS

GO ‘BURDY’ | For Container Brewing, first timers Dan Webster and Terry Brown brought in Tim Juul to help bring their dream to 1216 Franklin Avenue in late 2019. Designed by Simcic + Uhrich Architects, the two-level, 67 seat brewery and tasting facility quickly found an eager customer base for its 12 taps and second-storey views of BC Sugar and the North Shore peaks. Tucked in the lot overlooking Container’s patio area, and tasked with levelling up the brewery’s food offerings, is a little food truck called Burdy – and we can’t say enough nice things about them! Their Chicken Parm sandwich is legit AND these guys make phenomenal hand-cut double-fried fries dusted with Italian spices and parmesan cheese (somehow made even better with the addition of house-made basil or spicy mayo). DETAILS

WORTH THE LINE-UP | Arguably the most tightly wrought establishment of Vancouver’s craft brewing renaissance, 33 Acres was founded in March 2013 by art director turned brewery owner, Joshua Michnik, and was immediately well received on account of its solid branding, good-looking tasting room, and Brewmaster Dave Varga’s excellent beers. Add to that: really good food, especially during weekend brunch from 10am-2pm (one out of a super small number of Vancouver breweries we know of offering this option). This popular Mount Pleasant brewery also checks the typical snack boxes – soft pretzels with mustard, chips & dip, popcorn, and meat sticks are all available in the tasting room everyday, all day long – plus the team knows how to build one helluva sandwich (like the Italian Deli with Ham, Finocchiona, Capocollo, Provolone, Tomato, Shaved Onion, Banana Peppers, Mayo, Red Wine Vinaigrette, available weekdays from 11am-9pm, and weekends from 2-9pm), and their cheese and charcuterie boards offer a more sophisticated snacking option. DETAILS

MEXICAN | Located in the Shipyards Brewery District of North Van, La Cerveceria Astilleros has been putting out Mexican-inspired brews since September 2020, a few months before the launch of their East Esplanade-facing taproom, which embodies the feeling of an airy and charming Mexican oasis. For a full-on tropical transportive gustatory experience, enjoy tacos, burritos, burrito bowls, nachos, quesadillas and churros, alongside a cerveza menu primarily focussed on Mexican styles and flavours (with the occasional curveball). Their Sunday brunch service (hello Chilaquiles!) seems legit too! DETAILS

A WINNING COMBO | Opened in 2017 by Steve Jennings and Andy Agnesini, with James Labbe on as Brewmaster (formerly of Steamworks and Deep Cove Brewers and Distillers), the 6,000sqft operation includes a 66 seat tasting room and bar fitted with 12 taps. Although East Van Brewing’s partnership with Salty’s Lobster Shack was legendary in the Commercial Drive neighbourhood, the Venables Street brewery’s newly launched (Spring 2024) in-house ‘East Van Sandos Shop’ outfit seems pretty sweet too – especially if you can swing a weekday lunch break to take advantage of their Sando & Beer Combo (12-3pm, Monday to Friday) where you can add a 16oz beer of your choice to your sandwich order for only $3. Score! Sando flavours range from roast beef dip and schnitzel to battered cod and an especially “massive” muffalata meant for sharing. Regular Sando Shop hours are 12-9pm Sunday to Thursday and 12-10pm Fridays and Saturdays. DETAILS

BURGER-SPLOSION | Opened in the Spring of 2018, the fun and irreverent Electric Bicycle Brewing was two years in the making by young owners Elliot McKerr, Matt Ryan, and Leigh Matkovich. As of December 2023, the Mount Pleasant brewery’s small and colourful 47-seat tasting room received an extra injection of flavour when the KAPOW! Burger food truck installed itself in front of 20 East 4th Avenue for the indefinite future. Count on six burger flavour options ranging from classic to creative (plus two more specially designed menu items just for kids and canine companions). Burgers can be ordered directly from the truck, or while sitting pretty sipping beer inside the tasting room/on the Electric Bicycle patio. DETAILS

EAT SOME DIM SUM | Opened by Darren and Jody Hollett in the Spring of 2019 on the Esplanade in the heart of North Vancouver’s burgeoning Shipyards Brewery District, House of Funk is more than just a brewery and a tasting room – it’s also a coffee roastery and daytime cafe. HoF’s pseudo-religious (or sacrilegious) devotion to beer extends from the goblet branding and stained glass-inspired can art to their interior decor (witness the candelabra centrepieces) and their monkish dedication to making small batch, experimental and barrel-aged beers. Equally exciting: according to HoF doctrine, beer-drinking calls for dim sum! At least it does as of late 2023, when the brewery launched their new food menu in collaboration with Chinatown’s Kam Wai Dim Sum. Bring on the dumplings, potstickers and bao buns! DETAILS

PIZZA PALS | Opened by Federico Stucchi, Anique Ross, Ryan Parfitt and Eleanor Stewart in 2016 in the heart of Strathcona, Italian-accented Luppolo Brewing Company’s 67-seat tasting room is an asset to the community, with eight taps of always interesting Italian-inspired craft beers (Luppolo means “hops” in Italian) and, you guessed it: pizza! The brewery’s partnership with Local Pizzaiolo enhances its on-tap offerings, providing customers with authentic ‘zas – organized by red or white sauce base, plus specials – baked in proper pizza ovens. Plus, a variety of dips for your crust (if you’re into that). A special weekday lunch panini menu, aperitivi, salads and desserts are also available. DETAILS

STREET FOOD | Launched in 2012, Parallel 49 is a true product of East Van, with its three founders having grown up in the neighbourhood and within a short stroll of the brewery. Their Triumph Street location is packed daily with sippers who appreciate the broad diversity of beers brewed on site, plus the tasty food from their unique ‘Street Kitchen’ setup. Although teaming up with food trucks is par for the course among many local breweries, having your very own one parked inside the tasting room is purely a P49 thing. Expect street food inspired dishes including tacos and beer battered and fried shishito peppers, as well as burgers, sandwiches and sides aplenty. DETAILS

MORE PIZZA | A local brewery OG, R & B Brewing Co. opened in 1997 on Ontario Street, long before ‘Brewery Creek’ became the revitalized core of Vancouver’s beer scene. As of 2015, R & B expanded its operations by opening its popular Mount Pleasant ‘Ale & Pizza House’, where you can sort out your hunger as well as your thirst with handmade pizza pies (as well as sandwiches, soups, wings, tots, and a very nice burger – but the pizzas are the real food menu stars). Scope their Instagram feed for announcements about weekly rotating feature toppings. Plus: daily food specials and a “10 Buck Brunch” (Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays, from 10am-2pm only)! DETAILS

GET STEAMY | The first of its kind in Canada, and a true Vancouver brewery anomaly, Steamworks’ Gastown brewpub has been literally functioning off of steam since 1995, when the owners repurposed the historic building’s steam-powered heating system to fuel their brewing process, with delicious and award-winning results. Steamworks has since expanded into canning and off-sales, and now has three locations across Greater Vancouver, two with full-blown restaurant-style food menus. Hit their prime Gastown location or newest Mt. Pleasant spot for West-Coast-meets-classic-pub inspired creations that run the gamut, from pizza, handhelds and salads, to poutine, bowls, bao buns, and much much more; plus plant-based options aplenty. Bonus: both locations also put out proper weekend brunches! DETAILS

EVEN MORE PIZZA! | Located on East Hastings Street in Strathcona (natch), Strathcona Beer Company is one tasty and good-looking, 12,000sqft operation, thanks to Adrian McInnes managing the brand (rather superbly) and Michael “Fezz” Nazarec brewing the beer. We’ve been declaring our love for the pizza coming out of the kitchen at Strathcona Beer Co (specifically, the Hawaiian pie) pretty much since they opened doors in the summer of 2016. These days, their menu also includes a variety of tasty “beer foods” (think poutine, wings, sliders and meatballs), plus charcuterie boards and pizza-esque flatbread sandos…but their pizza menu still hold place of prominence in our hearts/stomachs. DETAILS

HOTDOG! | Superflux Beer Company began as the cultish, headquarters-less operation (formerly known as Machine Ales) of Adam Henderson and Matt Kohlen, until they eventually put down roots in their current swanky Strathcona digs circa 2020. The food program has been a big part of the identity at their 505 Clark Drive location since Day One; namely, their hotdogs (see the image above). We’re not talking about your average wieners, either: think Two Rivers all-natural dry-aged beef dogs or European Style Pork Sausages, loaded with inspired toppings like grilled onions, kewpie mayo, teriyaki sauce and furikake (the Taiyo Dog). Of note: hit Superflux’s Hot Dog Happy Hour (weekdays from Noon to 3pm) and pay just $15 for a beer and hotdog (including chips). DETAILS

COMFORT FOOD | Owned by Samantha Lindeman, Wildeye Brewing established itself on the North Shore in May 2019, after drumming up interest and quenching thirsts while brewing out of Factory Brewing’s Mount Pleasant operation for several years. Wild ferment beers are the main inspiration here; so it’s only natural that Wildeye also has a ‘crazy good’ Bistro menu that checks off pretty much all the comfort food boxes, including nachos, sandwiches, hot dogs, tacos, pizzas and more. Happy Hour and Sunday brunch specials too! Go wild! DETAILS

Did we miss your favourite? Let us know in the comments below.

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