Red Truck Beer Co is the first brewery tap I visited in the Brewery Creek area of Vancouver on the evening of Monday 3 October.
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| Mobi bikes and Trans Am Totem - Biennale sculpture |
Earlier, I had spent the day cycling around Vancouver on multiple short trips with Mobi, the bike sharing scheme.
After parking my latest shared bike, I would find my way on foot to Red Truck Beer Co, which is only about half a mile from Pacific Central Terminal and the Main Street / Science World Skytrain station.
Walking uphill along East 1st Avenue, it was interesting to find art galleries who may have chosen to locate in this part of the city as an alternative to the traditional art gallery locations where rents have risen in recent years.
Red Truck Beer Co occupies a large sloping site and the main brewery building is set well back from the street. Unusual details include the kegs forming part of the entrance posts, the cartoon covered silos and the collection of red trucks, of various vintages, on-site.
Approaching closer, you will notice the water tower, something of a local landmark, standing proudly above the customer entrance.
Even closer, the white wording under the black Truck Stop sign can be read: 'Beer Burgers Dogs Salads Fries Beer'.
Entering the Truck Stop, you notice two big downward pointing arrows above the bar counter, left for beer orders and right for food orders chosen from the large menu on the side wall. The stainless steel brewing vessels are visible through the windows behind the bar. Three TVs evenly suspended above the bar show different sports events. Padded bar stools are provided for seating at the bar or at the high tables with wood surfaces.
Approaching the bar, the beer list is displayed overhead and I ordered a Craftmaster 4 Taster for Can$8. The chunky paddle has a metal top plate in keeping with the industrial style of the building.
My choices were White ISA (4.2% ABV), Red Truck ISA (4.2%), Golden Ale (4.0%) and Red Truck IPA (6.3%). My favourites were the White ISA, a refreshing beer to start with and the amber coloured American style IPA. Four other Red Truck beers were available including a lager, a red Pilsner and a blackberry Bourbon ale..
Looking outside, a group of runners had gathered in the car park area and from the cycle parking it seems the Truck Stop is also popular with cyclists.
Also visible is the area with chairs and tables, covered by parasols, that is not fully enclosed, for customers who prefer to be outside.
A visit to the well signed washrooms revealed another aspect of industrial design.
These basins and taps are a memorable feature influenced by the Truck Stop theme!
Also in keeping with the theme, a collection of classic truck stop photos is displayed near the passage leading to the washroom.
Just outside the main bar / diner area is a merchandise and growler store. While I was looking at these items, Anthony offered his assistance. Asking about the bike D locks he explained that these were provided on loan for visiting cyclists arriving without a suitable lock.
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| Cheers Anthony! |
Once again, I took the opportunity to pass on a copy of the West Berkshire CAMRA quarterly magazine
Ullage and take a photo as a record.
In retrospect, it would have been a good idea to go on one of the brewery tours offered by Red Truck Beer Co.. The brewery website shows that groups of 10-12 can enjoy a 45 minute tour, ending in the tasting room with four beer samples and a bonus Red Truck glass, for Can$12 per head. Public tours are scheduled on Fridays (5pm), Saturdays and Sundays (2pm & 4pm) and can be booked online.
Alternatively, there are live music events at the Truck Stop on Friday and Saturday evenings from 7pm.
Red Truck Beer Co
295 E 1st Ave,
Vancouver,
B.C., Canada
www.redtruckbeer.com
Opening hours with the All Day Menu available (November 2016):
Sun - Wed: 11am - 10pm
Thur: 11am - 11pm
Fri: 11am - Midnight
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