Tickets: $55

Spartan Sprint – 3+ MILES / 15+ OBSTACLES. The challenging sprint obstacle trail races are a great way to get off your couch and start living. From beginner trail racers and mud run participants to hardcore warriors, tough guys and marathon runners, they all come out to test themselves on the insane obstacle races! 99.9% of all people who try this event will finish, and 100% will have their thirst for mud & trail racing fully satisfied!

Click HERE for more information.

The renovations are finally finished and the Limited Release brewery is back in production! Our first brew of the year is a Cascadian Dark Ale and will be available at the end of May. It’s also a first for me and I can’t wait to try it. It will be a dark malty beast with a good amount of bitterness and hop flavour, think IPA with dark roasted malts. The hops we are using are also a first for us. A blend of PNW hops called Falconer’s Flight will give this beer plenty of citrus and pine flavours.

Try it on its own or pair with something braised like a lamb shank with Morrocan spices.

Vancouver, BC – Don’t be surprised if you see a leprechaun skulking about on Granville Island this month. Even the wee folk won’t be able to resist taking a trip to GIB just in time for the arrival of the Limited Release Irish Red Ale. One taste of this copper-hued malt and hop brew and you’ll be making the riverdance your new happy dance.

“It may be inspired by the Emerald Isle, but this Irish Red Ale is very West Coast,” says Vern Lambourne, Granville Island Brewing brewmaster. “Our Irish Red is a delicious craft brew with a mild caramel taste, and the unmistakable aroma of Pacific Northwest hops. It has a medium body with above average bitterness that goes great with a hearty meal or a St. Patrick’s Day celebration.”

At your next dinner party, why not give your guests the gift of gab and serve Irish Red as part of cocktail hour? When you move into the dining room, pair more Irish Red Ale with a feast of braised duck, creamy mashed potatoes and sautéed asparagus to take things up a notch. The caramel malt and hop flavours in this brew also bring out the sweetness in a perfectly grilled venison or roasted lamb. For a truly Irish experience on St. Patty’s Day, pour yourself a pint of Irish Red Ale as you tuck into a savoury mutton stew.

Granville Island Brewing’s limited release Irish Red Ale is available at its Retail Store on Granville Island – 1441 Cartwright Street – in 650ml bottles, for $5.50.

For more information on the GIB, visit www.gib.ca or www.facebook.com/granvilleislandbrewing or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/itsgoodtobehere

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About Granville Island Brewing (GIB)
Established is 1984, Granville Island Brewing (GIB) is Canada’s first microbrewery offering a variety of West Coast inspired and award-winning beers. Our Limited Release beers combine innovative brewing with all-natural ingredients. Each of these brews is created locally at our small-batch brewery on Granville Island for all those who appreciate unique, extraordinary beer. For more information, visit www.gib.ca

Click HERE for more information.

Vancouver, BC – Granville Island Brewing is calling all hopheads with the release of its big, bold and flavourful Imperial IPA.

In this highly-anticipated beer’s debut last year, the online and in-store response was so strong that GIB decided to make it available on a larger scale in 2012. “Imperial IPA is packed with lots of flavour,” says Granville Island Brewing brewmaster Vern Lambourne. “We use 4 varieties of Pacific Northwest hops for bittering, flavour and aroma with notes of marmalade, citrus peel and pine. This brew has an assertive 100 BUs of bitterness that Imperial IPA enthusiasts will love.”

With so much flavour, Imperial IPA is best enjoyed on its own or paired with bold-flavoured foods such as a rich Indian butter chicken or spicy Thai beef curry. This brew also balances out the heat in slow-cooked barbecued ribs with a peppercorn rub or other strongly smoked meats with lots of spices and pepper. The bitterness of Imperial IPA’s citrus peel layers cut through aged, sharp cheddar or the pungent tang of a Stilton with delicious results. You can even have Imperial IPA with dairy-based, rich desserts. Try it with a creamy white chocolate cheesecake topped with raspberry compote.

Expect to see the big, bold Imperial IPA on display at the GIB retail store and BC Liquor Stores during its limited release starting January 23. 650ml bottles are available for $5.90 as well as in kegs in selected pubs and restaurants throughout Vancouver. Try it while it lasts!

For more information on the GIB, visit www.gib.ca or www.facebook.com/granvilleislandbrewing or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/itsgoodtobehere.

About Granville Island Brewing (GIB)Established is 1984, Granville Island Brewing (GIB) is Canada’s first microbrewery offering a variety of West Coast inspired and award-winning beers. Our Limited Release beers combine innovative brewing with all-natural ingredients. Each of these brews is created locally at our small-batch brewery on Granville Island for all those who appreciate unique, extraordinary beer. For more information, visit www.gib.ca

Thanks for a great year! 2011 was a great year for us and we hope yours was great as well. Here are a few of our highlights.

We won a few awards we are very proud of! Thanks for your votes and support, we couldn’t have done it without you!

Movember 2011 was an overwhelming success! Thanks to everyone who supported us and sent in your Mo-Photos. Be sure to check out all the amazing photos on our Facebook page.

We travelled! Thanks to your love of our beer, GIB brought our beer to the East Coast for the winter! You never know where GIB will travel to next!

Renovations are under way at our Taproom and Brewery on Granville Island! We will be closed until April renovating our space to bring you more of the Limited Releases you have asked for and a new tasting experience in the Taproom.

While Vern is away from the blog, he will be researching new beer styles and hopefully working on a few collaboration projects…
Keep following us on Twitter and Facebook to find out what we’re up to.

Imperial Chocolate Stout Warms Up the Winter
Granville Island Brewing’s Imperial Chocolate stout is a delicious winter treat

Vancouver, BC – Snowcapped Mountains and cold winter days are here again and this winter, there is no better way to warm up your winter nights than with Granville Island Brewing’s Imperial Chocolate Stout. This craft favorite, available for a limited time starting November 28, will definitely liven up your holiday season. Imperial Chocolate Stout is created in partnership with one of BC’s most popular chocolatiers – Rogers’ Chocolates.

“We’re excited to be working again with Granville Island Brewing to bring back this rich stout,” says Steve Parkhill, president of Rogers’ Chocolates. “Imperial Chocolate Stout is definitely an example of how great ideas can come together over a few beers”.

“Our Chocolate Stout adds some holiday cheer and warmth to our chilly winters,” adds Vern Lambourne, GIB’s brewmaster. “When you crack open a bottle, you’re immediately hit by the aroma of bittersweet cocoa, which really puts you in the holiday spirit.”

The richness of Imperial Chocolate Stout is the perfect complement to holiday desserts like gingerbread and fruitcake (it may even make you like fruitcake). Pairs exceptionally well with a creamy and mild blue cheese or on its own as dessert. Chocolate Stout is a memorable Christmas treat thanks to its unforgettable roasted malt, cocoa and coffee aromas.

Imperial Chocolate Stout won Gold at the 2010 World Beer Championships and is sure to be a welcome change from old-fashioned eggnog and mulled wines. Get a bottle or two of this winter warmer at the GIB retail store, taproom and select liquor stores throughout Vancouver – each 650ml bottle is $5.90, and available until quantities last.

For more information on GIB, visit www.gib.ca or www.facebook.com/granvilleislandbrewing or follow us on Twitter at @itsgoodtobehere

About Granville Island Brewing (GIB)
Established is 1984, Granville Island Brewing (GIB) is Canada’s first microbrewery offering a variety of West Coast inspired and award-winning beers. Our Limited Release beers combine innovative brewing with all-natural ingredients. Each of these brews is created locally at our small-batch brewery on Granville Island for all those who appreciate unique, extraordinary beer. For more information, visit www.gib.ca

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Media contact:
Almira Bardai
Jive Communications
604.561.7516
almira@jivecommunications.ca

It has been a great Movember but it does feel nice to shave the Mo. I want to thank everyone who has pitched in and made this the best Movember to date! Canada came is as the top country for donations. I am also proud to say that with your help we not only beat our initial goal of $50,000 but we beat our secondary goal of $75,000. We ended up shattering our expectations and raised an amazing $94,218!!!

This year we had 69 teams and 545 members as part of our network. We received over 1500 Mo Photos which is 4 times more than last year! We could not have achieved any of this without our partners and everyone who purchased a Lions Winter Ale and sent in their Mo Photos.

From all of us here at GIB – Thank You for Your Support