The Beer Brief is a round-up of all the local beer 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!

FREE BEER! | This past weekend marked the annual BC Beer Awards and, although it was a big one for a lot of amazing breweries, one Burnaby-based establishment in particular has decided to share some of their well-earned wealth with local beer lovers. Among the honours, Dageraad Brewing took home three 1st places in the Belgian Strong Ale, Belgian Ale and Saison categories. Now, they’re giving away one stellar prize bundle, including one of almost every 2019 award-winning Dageraad beer, plus a bunch of schwag. The contest closes this at MIDNIGHT TONIGHT, so get your entries in now! For the full contest rules and complete list of prizes, head over here.

HALLOWEEN | It’s almost Halloween, and there are plenty of reasons to scare up a costume and go trick-or-treat-ing to some of your favourite local breweries over the next week…

Getting a head start on the spooky beer action is Darby’s Gastown, with a Halloween-inspired sour beer event this Thursday. The Witching Sour will feature brews from local breweries Lightheart Brewing, House of Funk and Field House, plus internationally acclaimed sour breweries Bellwoods (Toronto), Cascade (Portland) and Mikkeller HQ (Denmark). Bonus: dress up in costume for a discount off of your beer.

If you find yourself in Abbotsford this Friday, feeling thirsty for beer and some bloody entertainment, then swing by Ravens Brewing for their Cult & Craft Night. On the docket for the night is a screening of John Carpenter’s Halloween, starting at 7pm. The $10 entry includes your first pint with additional beers available for only $5 each all night long. Show up early if your appetite also includes some pizza; the slices will be served up starting at 6pm. Find out more.

Optimize your treats by doing the rounds in Yeast Van on Saturday. Start early by heading over to the Dundas Eat + Drink where Storm Brewing will be taking over the taps. They’ll be pouring five specially concocted Halloween-themed “Brainstorms” — what gory, creepy and/or supernatural flavours are brewing for this event, we can only imagine! The Stranger Things-inspired night also includes prizes for costumes. Circle back later for a live DJ set, beginning at 8pm. For more info check out Storm’s Instagram feed.

A mere five minute walk away, Parallel 49 Brewing is also hosting a Halloween party in their warehouse on Saturday. There will be more beer (seven taps), another DJ, and a food truck on hand. Those in masquerade will get to face off to win best costume honours. Bonus: if you’re still searching for a costume, consider your beer can for inspiration because there will be a prize for best P49 character — a garbage-eating raccoon or maybe a metalhead bat? More info.

The good people of Strange Fellows have a trio of All Hallows Eve things planned over the next week. The spirited events start on Friday with an evening of beer, games and a costume contest. It’s followed by a day of jack-o-lantern carving on Sunday (show up early because there are limited quantities of pumpkins available). They’re wrapping up with a free scary movie showing on Halloween night. Find out more.

DRINK N’ INK | Speaking of Strange Fellows, their next Strange Art Session is taking place on Monday. For this edition, participants will be drawing from still life, using ink as your medium. Materials, guidance and a pint of inspiration (aka beer) are all included in the cost of admission. Find out more.

BEER BEER BEER! Luppolo Brewing is celebrating their third anniversary on November 2nd with a party that goes from noon to midnight. They’ll be filling up the hours with live music performances by Timmy P and The Pumps, a tap list that will see a bunch of one-off beers and special releases, and free apertivos. Also, if you’re curious of what the inner workings of a three-year-old brewery looks like, you’ll have the chance to find out because they’re opening up their production space to the public for the event.

A BEER FOR THE BEES | Attention taco- and beer-loving humanitarians: Tacofino involved in a sweet new three-way collaboration with East Van Brewing and Hives for Humanity. Until the end of October if you head to any Tacofino location for one of their special honey-smoked pulled pork taco (made with honey gathered from the brewery’s very own rooftop hives) and beer combos, $2 from your meal will be donated directly to the local bee-loving association. “Bee” a good human being and get eating ASAP!

TACO-LLAB | Proving that the taco-and-beer relationship isn’t just a fling, Tacofino has also teamed up with their long-time collaborators, Strathcona Beer Company, to create a special ‘Dark Lager’ collaboration beer. To taste the results of their delicious bond, head over to one – or both! – of the launch parties at Strathcona the evening of November 8th and the following night at Tacofino’s Gastown Taco Bar location.

GO ANALOG | Steel & Oak Brewing’s Analog Vinyl Fair is back for its 6th edition next month. On November 9th the River Market will be the place for record-picking, body-moving, beer-drinking and noshing. For one night only, the Quayside market will be bumping with live musical entertainment and a pop-up vinyl shop featuring various record shops and private collections. As for the beer, S&O is bringing back their music inspired First Press Cold Brew Coffee Stout, made with Timbertrain coffee. Even better, they’re releasing a new second pressing: Second Press Imperial Cold brew Coffee Stout which is described as having “notes of molasses, licorice, dark chocolate, and coffee roastiness, finishing velvety smooth.” Sounds delicious! Tip: if you’re feeling impatient, the beer will also be available at S&O beginning on the Tuesday leading up to Analog. Find out more.

B-DAY FEST | For Twin Sails Brewing’s four year anniversary they aren’t just throwing a party, they’re having a “festival”. On November 9th the PoMo brewery will be hosting five BC breweries – Backcountry, Beere, Boombox, House of Funk and Luppolo – plus Calgary’s Dandy Brewing Company, to pour alongside them during two four-hour-long beer celebratory sessions. Twin Sails has more than ten new beer releases planned (sneak peak here), plus they’ll be breaking into their own cellar to serve up some of their best vintages. Ticket price includes all of your beers plus a snazzy commemorative glass BUT there are only 70 available per session, so hurry up and get your tickets here.

WILD NEWS | We first told you about it in a September edition of Scout’s Beer Briefs, but here’s a friendly reminder that there’s only little more than a month left before it’s time for Vancouver’s wildest beer event of the season, Wild Night Out. The latest delicious developments on the celebration of barrel-aged brews include a whole slew of newly announced additions to the line-up: Wild Ambition Brewing (Kelowna), Hill Farmstead Brewery (Vermont), Mirage Brewing Co. (Seattle), Dry River Brewing (LA), Three Magnets Brewing (Olympia), and Wildflower Brewing + Blending (Australia!); plus local cideries Twin Island Cider (Pender Island) and Creek & Gully Cider (Naramata). Other fermented goodies being proffered include all sorts of pickled things, O5 kombuchas and even some truly crazy sounding lactic fermented coffee from Arkansas’ Onyx Coffee Lab. Yowza! The day is split into two all-inclusive eating and drinking sessions, and limited tickets for both are still available! Find out more.

RAISE A CAN | One aspect of the beer industry that deserves a shout out are the invaluable and hardworking canning companies, like Mile 37 Craft Canning Company. This weekend you’ll have your chance to show your appreciation and raise a can to them in-person, because Mile 37 is celebrating two years of business with a party at Northpaw Brew Co. (Port Coquitlam). The day’s celebration includes live music, food and a truly intriguing sounding Tahitian inspired collaboration beer. Cheers! Find out more.

THE ISLANDS

BEER + BARBER | Ever knocked back a few pints and thought, ‘I could really use a new look…”? (Surely I can’t be the only one who’s made some, ahem, less than ideal spur-of-the-moment DIY decisions while under the influence of beer?) If you’re feeling the itch for a change – or just need a haircut – then consider making your way to Riot Brewing for one of their monthly barbershop pop-ups with Victory Barbers. For just $25 you’ll get hooked up with a beer and a professionally executed fresh new ‘do, with full proceeds being donated towards the Cowichan Women Against Violence Society. The brewery’s October pop-up is happening this Thursday. Fashion remorse be gone! Check out all of the remaining 2019 dates by heading over here.

GO SAUVAGE | One of my favourite Victoria breweries, Île Sauvage, is approaching its first anniversary in November – congrats, guys! For the event they’ve compiled their most extensive beer list to date – a whopping 19 beers – including four brand new ones and a selection from their cellar. They’ve also enlisted their pals at Dumpling Drop to provide some accompanying deliciousness, along with live music performed by Nanaimo hip hop duo DAGR//AP. Tickets here.

GET BEER-DUCATED | Feeling thirsty for some beer knowledge? Good news: beer night school at Moon Under Water Brewpub is almost in session. The first in the five part series is a tasting, Q&A and discussion of the basic beer styles, led by the brewery’s Brewmaster and Master Distiller, Clay Potter. This sounds like a great, laid back and tasty way to build your beer knowledge foundation. Sign up here.

BALL-O-WEEN | Seasoned brewers and party-throwers Phillips Brewing are throwing an epic Halloween event that sounds like the place to be if you’re looking to party in Victoria this holiday. The night is hosted by the Phillips’ very own music- and beer-loving personality, Dan Ball (in case you were curious about the origin of its name) and includes a live DJ, costume and limbo contests, and special spooky beer casks. More info.

BRANDING THE ISLAND | Over on our sister site, the Islandist, we recently spoke with Whistle Buoy Brewing’s Retail Manager and Co-Founder, Isaiah Archer, to get the goods behind the West Coast-inspired beer brand. Read the full story here.