Strathcona Beer Company is probably Vancouver's most anticipated opening of 2016. Welcoming the public later this month, the 12,000 square foot brewery will feature a 67 seat tasting room, gourmet pizza kitchen (with chef Alex Carswell, formerly of Pizzeria Barbarella at the helm), a shop, and, of course, a brewery.

Founded by a group of friends who share a strong interest for the local brewing scene and a deep-rooted connection to the Strathcona neighbourhood, the brewery is as much a passion project as it is a business endeavour. In fitting with the unique aesthetic of the neighbourhood, the tasting room will have a modern-industrial feel with board form concrete, white fir bar and tabletops, and plenty of neon.

With Brewmaster, Michael “Fezz” Nazarec cooking up original recipes, you can count on it tasting as good as it looks. To start, the be focus will be on classic, international brews like Pilsners, Belgian Golden Ales and British IPAs, and later adding in seasonal brews like a Radler for summer and a Smoked Porter for autumn. Plans for the tasting room are to have over a dozen options on tap, and in addition to a selection of bottled brews in the shop, there will be a growler fill station.

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