While the short days this time of year might give plenty of reasons for complaint, there’s at least one compelling argument for embracing the season’s overwhelming darkness: The new ‘Dark Enough to See the Stars’ dark beer festival happening at Luppolo Brewing Company this December.

For the first time ever, Luppolo is tapping into their “dark side” to host a brand new three-day-long beer festival devoted to (you guessed it) stouts, porters and other brews the likes of which you can’t see through…The event kicks off at the Strathcona neighbourhood brewery on Friday, December 6th and lasts through the weekend, until Sunday the 8th. Guests can enjoy no less than seven dark beers brewed by Luppolo, including: variously flavoured (think biscotti and affogato) one-off kegs of Imperial Stout; a ‘Bat to Black’ Dark IPA on nitro; two 2018 vintage bottles unearthed and available btg (‘Prima Forza’ Barrel Aged Imperial Stout and ‘Evoluta II’ Bourbon Barrel Aged Dubbel); and their new seasonal ‘Mare Oscuro’ Baltic Porter (brewed with Haida Gwaii wild kelp courtesy of North Pacific Kelp and available as an old-style gravity keg pour).

The fest will also act as the launch of Luppolo’s new ‘Dark Room Series’ of spirit-aged stouts and barrel-aged brews, beginning with a Whisky Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout blend (available in 355mL cans). Oh, and for the food part of the equation, there will be plenty of good, on-theme stuff made by in-house pizza aficionados, Local Pizzaiolo, of course. Think: a feature kelp porter braised meat pizza, and an Imperial Stout Affogato tasting flight (among other Italian desserts made with the event’s celebratory beers) for dessert.

There are no tickets, age requirements or entry fees to get in on this dark and delicious fun; however, if you plan on rolling up to the event with five or more of your beer-loving crew in tow, then do the good folks at Luppolo a favour (and eliminate any potential disappointment) by emailing [email protected] in advance to make sure that they can squeeze you in. ‘Dark Enough to See the Stars’ runs Friday, Dec. 6th and Saturday, Dec. 7th from Noon to 11pm; Sunday, Dec. 8th from Noon until 9pm. DETAILS.

Luppolo Brewing Company

Neighbourhood: Strathcona

1123 Venables St.

604-255-4997

WEBSITE