It’s hard to believe that a little over a year ago Parallel 49 was still just a concept. In such a short time period the brewery has managed to become a household name among Vancouver beer drinkers, and consistently surprises customers with new flavour combinations each season.
One look at the regular and seasonal line up and it’s obvious that these guys know their beer. And they should; having started in the industry with the venerable beer mecca on commercial drive also known as St. Augustine’s. With 40+ tap beers on rotation, you’re eventually going to pick up a thing or two about what makes a good beer.
That experience and passion has really been brought out in the beers released through Parallel 49. They have three styles that are available year round: the Gypsy Tears Ruby Ale, with rich caramel and malt; Hoparazzi, loaded with hops and a hint of citrus; and the Old Boy, an ale with caramel, toffee and chocolate. A good, simple line-up of year round suds, but it’s the seasonal beers that really get the attention and the creativity of the team.
Take, for example, their Belgian Witbier aptly named Seedspitter, which strays from the conventional orange flavours and instead opts for a watermelon finish. Or how about the Salty Scot, a Scottish ale that is heavy on the caramel but adds a hint of salt to give it a kick. And then there’s the Lost Souls, which combines chocolate and pumpkin to create a unique tasting porter.
They also recently partnered with Portland’s Gigantic Brewing Company to launch From East Van With Love, a Bourbon aged Imperial Maple Stout; a heavy beer consisting of chocolate, roasted barley and Canadian maple syrup. Coming in at around $12 a bottle, this release is for the true beer advocate.
It’s always exciting to see a new craft beer maker pop up in Vancouver; it’s even more exciting to see a brewery push boundaries, take risks and create new and interesting flavour combinations. Expect to see bold choices coming from Parallel 49 in the future.
Address:
1950 Triumph Street
Vancouver, B.C.
Phone Number:
604-558-2739
Hours:
Everyday from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Website: www.parallel49brewing.com
Twitter: @parallel49beer
Written and researched by Ryan Tessier, a food and drink contributor to Vancity Buzz. Connect with Ryan on Twitter @wanderguides.
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