Asheville, North Carolina. Portland, Oregon. Portland, Maine. In the past decade or so, those cities (along with Seattle, Washington, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) have become something of craft beer meccas, where aficionados descend to sample the best in local, small-batch brews. But recently, a certain Canadian city has been quietly catching up.

Vancouver’s craft beer scene is hopping thanks to adventurous entrepreneurs who have ventured past the city’s downtown core to open their own breweries. What were once warehouses, bike shops, or industrial facilities in edgy neighborhoods are now occupied by brew houses with chic tasting rooms and driven by an independent spirit and true love of beer. Nowhere is this more evident than in the historic Brewery Creek area along Main Street and in East Vancouver, or Yeast Van in local parlance. Here, a guide to the must-visit places—plus a look at what to order—should you want to experience the Canadian city’s burgeoning beer scene.

Brassneck Photo: Courtesy of Brassneck Brewery

Brassneck

The neighborhood: Mount Pleasant

The vibe: Set on trendy Main Street, Brassneck is one of the liveliest breweries in town. You can see the action through a wall of glass as you drive or walk by. Step inside and you find the growler shop—for the uninitiated, a growler is a jug used to transport beer—and a tasting room that accommodates just 50 lucky drinkers at a time. The décor mixes raw concrete with lots of reclaimed wood planks through which you can peep into the brew house and cellar. This is the type of place where you might end up sharing a communal table with a local and getting tips on where to walk off your hangover in the woods the next day.

The beers: Since opening in 2013, Brasshneck has brewed more than 75 different beers—from barrel-aged imperial stouts to corn lagers, sour beers, and traditional saisons. The beers are handwritten on the chalkboard every day.