Beer is such a trivial beverage. You either like it, or you don’t, and if you do like it, chances are you aren’t too picky. Sure, some beers are better than others, but for the most part, the taste of beer is overlooked in the name of a greater purpose: to get drunk. Of course, that is the primary marketing point of major beer companies like Molson or Budweiser. Because their focal point is partying, beer is relegated to the background. The degradation of the social role of beer has ultimately displaced the small time brewer and removed the artistry and craftsmanship from beer, leaving it’s identity to be constructed by corporations looking primarily for profit.It is the classic tale of modernist business strategies dwarfing the efforts of the independent tradesperson.

Enter: Vancouver Craft Beer Week, a celebration of the hardworking, local brewers that tirelessly perfect their recipes to create the best tasting beer possible. I recently talked to the Vancouver Craft Beer Week Marketing Director Christopher Bjerrisgaard to get a deeper understanding of the week and the purpose of holding the first ever Craft Beer Week in Canada. His insight highlighted the ever-developing Craft Beer Culture in Vancouver. At the moment, Bjerrisgaard explained, the Craft Beer Culture is centered on the hardcore connoisseurs of Craft Beer, but the local movement is starting to strengthen and expand. It appears as though the elitism is starting to dissolve, making way for a prophetic ‘beer-boom’ in Vancouver.

“People say they want a ‘blue collar beer’”, Bjerrisgaard says, “like a Pabst or a Budweiser. But there’s nothing ‘blue collar’ about a scientist making beer in a lab.”Rightfully so, the image of a ‘blue collar beer’ is derived from the brewing process. Bjerrisgaard calls these ‘blue collar brewers’ “salt of the earth people” that pump out beer everyday in their overalls, with a small team, and hit the pub afterward to celebrate a hard days work.Their work is more that simply geared toward creating a personalized product. It is an art form in which the artists invest their lives in perfecting. “The big breweries will spill more in a day than a small brewery will make in a year”, Bjerrisgaard points out, highlighting the difference in the standard of care.  In describing the essence of Craft Beer, Bjerrisgaard quoted Rain City Brands importer Adam Henderson by saying “Craft Beer is art, Macro Beer is dogs playing poker”.Vancouver Craft Beer Week sheds the spotlight on these otherwise unnoticed breweries, drawing public attention towards beer outside of the realm of getting trashed. This lens of sophistication is noted through the spectrum of events that take place during the week, as they display all aspects of Craft Beer Culture.For example, the Vancouver Homebrew Awards give local home-brewers the opportunity to compete with others in a judged event, with the winner given the opportunity to brew a batch of their winning beer at either the Yaletown Brewpub or DIX BBQ & Brewery. This event allows the opportunity for home brewers to gather and collaborate on personalized homebrew recipes.Another highly toted event is Women and Beer, taking place at the Refinery on Thursday May 13^th.  This event further encourages dissociation with the hyper-masculinity and chauvinism of macrobeer through celebration of women and femininity in the brewing industry. While showcasing the female Craft Brewing talent, their beer will be expertly paired with food, especially cheeses and chocolate.However, one of the most important events of the week takes place on Saturday May 15^th at the Four Beers and a Funeral Pub Crawl. In the style of a New Orleans funeral, Craft Beer enthusiasts will congregate to drink their way (alongside The Carnival Band, seven-foot tall priests, stilt walkers, and a ‘casket’ of beer) towards DIX BBQ & Brewery, who’s shut down in the coming months seems inevitable. The march takes drinkers from Steamworks, to DIX, Yaletown Brewing, and finishing at Dockside, each stop offering up a beer and food.

Even though the events are geared towards sampling the palate of local Craft Beer, Bjerrisgaard acknowledges a fundamental truth about the week: you’re probably going to get drunk at most of the events. That said, come prepared to party, but also with a safe way home, like a cab, or a friend with an iron will who will be the designated driver. Be warned though, if you do find someone to DD you’ll probably have to reciprocate for that friend sevenfold.

While there are many restaurant staffers, as well as some volunteers, working the multiple events, the week couldn’t have been orchestrated without the nine core organizers and planners including Chris Bjerrisgaard. Rick Green, Chester Carey, Andy Coppock, Lundy Dale, Gerry Erith, Rick Green, Leah Heneghan, Paul Kamon, and Daniel Knibbs. Starting in September, the team managed to get the ball rolling on this unique and exciting event and managed to work through hurdles created by the Olympics. Through their passion for the artistic, authentic ‘blue collar beer’, local brewers get a much deserved salute of recognition.For more information regarding Vancouver Craft Beer Week, the events, or just Craft Beer in general, check out www.vancouvercraftbeerweek.comWritten by: JAMIE CESSFORD