United Nations of Beer

Hopscotch 2006

by Sebastian Lipsett
(Beer Delegate, BC, Canada)

Hopscotch 2006

That Friday evening in late November started out like most others in Vancouver (meaning it was raining). That night however, there was the tangible tingly-jitteriness that only precedes the best of nights. The Hopscotch festival had come to town and my brother and I had tickets!

We had stumbled on the advertisement at the 39th and Cambie Liquor Store a week prior and had immediately signed up. I had not believed that there could be an event centered around two of my best friends: Beer and Scotch.

An added bonus was a door-prize of an all-inclusive trip to Prague to tour the Pilsner Urquell Brewery and see the sights of a beautiful eastern Europe city. How could one say no to that?

We arrived on time and were relieved to see the presence of other blue jean- generation people sprinkled amongst Vancouver's elite. A number of micro-breweries were represented, including Dead Frog, Red Truck, Grandville Island and The Yukon Brewing Company. There was of course the strong presence from Molson, Corona and Pilsner Urquell as well.

The one beer that stood out the most for me was the Dead Frog Pale Ale from the Dead Frog Brewery, of Chilliwack, BC. Click to read my full review.

We were careful to be diligent in our sampling methods in the beginning, but as the night wore on the lines blurred a bit. The old saying comes to mind again... "Liquor be before beer, you're in the clear. But beer before liquor makes you sicker."

Although neither of us reached the magical state that night, there was indeed a bit of stunken drumbliness on our exit of the building. To cap off an otherwise wicked-awesome evening, my brother ended up winning the door prize and is heading to Prague in three weeks' time. The limey bastard.