Howefamily

oh yes and broccoli salad, not had it before we moved here. Love it

Londonuck

I get the worst hangovers here from beer and that's not from being legless either.

Chuckanut Brewery in Bellingham, Washington has wonderful beers brewed on premise. Their British IPA is lovely. (no hangover either)

Turtle

Now, I've tried Barking Squirrel and liked it. Normally I'll pick up some London Pride, ESB, Speckled Hen etc but our LCBO has been having a push on micro-breweries recently. Top of the pile for me is the Muskoka Brewery Mad Tom IPA and their Cream Ale, and then Barking Squirrel (actually a lager, though dark). The Mad Tom is extremely hoppy with a lot of body. Haven't tried the Wellington yet.

Some of the others (e.g. Hops & Bolts) were just a bit thin for my taste.

bats

Yes, that is good. Salads can be done very well indeed but sometimes....have you seen the carrot one? It appears to be sliced carrots in tomato juice, I say appears as I was so grossed out by the look of it that I could not bear to try it.

Dips can be very tasty, but usually involve a few hundred calories before you even get to the main event.

Oh, and baked cheese with jam on top. Good but again as an incidental to the meal, means more calories.

Lychee

There is a large microbrew scene in BC ("craft beer" here), which I haven't seen elsewhere in Canada, having recently visited Toronto and Winnipeg - it simply doesn't exist to the same extent. As a result, I imagine the beer scene in Canada varies dramatically from region to region.

Some of my personal favourites:

Howe Sound Brewing
Phillips
Tree Brewing
Parallel 49
Coal Harbour
Powell Street Brewery
33 Acres
Townsite Brewing

Here is a list: http://www.bcbeer.ca/brewery.aspx - is anyone outside of BC familiar with any of them?

Vancouver/Victoria seem to have adopted the similar west coast IPA style as their contemporaries in Washington and Oregon state. If hoppy, citrusy IPAs are of your fancy, BC is a good place to be. Some interesting porters, saisons, and lagers, and stouts too.

dbd33

Blimey, how much do you drink?!

Lychee

A lot.


Mind you, I'm a member of this: http://camravancouver.ca/ - a dangerous social group, no doubt!

JonboyE

If you are venturing down to Bellingham I enjoy this one. http://www.bbaybrewery.com/

Simon Legree

The only one of these that I have tried is Howe Sound. It also has a half decent hotel attached. The brews, and there are many, are pretty good. I make a point of going there when I'm in BC, well Squamish that is .

Hucards

The craft beer scene is the US is years ahead of Canada (and the rest of the world really) but BC has some really good brewers and are making strides. The east coast is also gaining ground. If you are near the border and can get to Buffalo for a beer run try The Village Beer Merchant.

MillieF

I'ts not...but...I really felt when I came here that it was the 'end' of fun alcoholic experiences...but it hasn't been....it's been good to try new tastes that are not 'too' alcoholic. I really wish I could set up something like that here myself. I think that the chances for diversity of taste are super and everybody seems willing to try!

bats

There is a craft brewery near us, here is the owner and some of the locals

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RKq03qoZzM...ng+Revival.jpg

I can't comment on the beer as neither of us drink beer.

MillieF

What do you drink bats?

bats

Gin, wine, martinis, mojitos. I get by. Other half drinks tea in industrial quantities.

Hucards

That's mainly why the US breweries exploded. Generic tasting mass produced beer left so many people wanting more. The main thing hampering Canada (especially Ontario) is the stupid liquor laws. I'm not a beer snob or anything but I do want to try new things and appreciate the quality of craft beer versus Molson Canadian.