In less than a week, Vancouver Craft Beer Week will descend on the region. What does this mean? It means that all your favorite local breweries (as well as tons more from the region, the U.S., and even Europe) will be in town from May 18-26, 2012 to provide us (the public) with a sample some of their scrumptious brews. For a schedule of events, click here. Some events have already sold out, so don’t delay too long.

My husband and I will definitely take part in the festivities, and we may even create our own event with friends: a potluck beer and food tasting in the sun!

Here are a few of our favorite brews and brew/gastropubs in the region:

BEER

Boundary Bay | Tripel

Strong, pale golden, medium bodied ale with mild spice and fruit aroma. (9.3% abv / on-tap only / Washington)

Driftwood Brewery | Crooked Coast Amber Ale

Alt-style beer of Dusseldorf, with aromas of German hops and Munich malt. (5.1% abv / 650ml / British Columbia)

Driftwood Brewery | Farmhand Ale

Belgian farmhouse saison ale with subtle notes of spice. (5.5% abv / 650ml / British Columbia)

Howe Sound Brewing | Heffy Imperial Hefeweizen

German-styled wheat beer with banana and clove aroma; made with barley, wheat, hops, water and hefe yeast. (7.7% abv / 1 L / British Columbia)

Howe Sound Brewing | Pumpkineater

Pumpkin ale brewed with barley, fresh roasted pumpkin, hops, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, star anise, water and yeast. (8% abv / 1 L / British Columbia)

Lighthouse Brewing Co. | Belgian Black

Fermented with a Belgian Ardennes yeast strain with rich malty flavor and notes of plum and dark cherries; label artwork by Victoria, BC artist Michelle Landry. (9% abv / 650 ml / British Columbia)

Lighthouse Brewing Co. | Deckhand Belgian Saison

Rich, golden, Belgian farmhouse style beer made with Pilsner and Vienna malts and flaked wheat, soft malt flavor, and subtle notes of spice, pepper and fruit; label artwork by Victoria, BC artists Ryan Tree. (8% abv / 650 ml / British Columbia)

BREW/GASTROPUBS

Alibi Room

50 taps of local and imported craft beer and great, inexpensive food. Need I say more?

Bitter Tasting Room

A perfect place for a cold beer after a long day in downtown Vancouver. The space is small, so visit early or call ahead. Rotating draft of 8 craft beers featuring regional varieties, large selection of bottled beers, and small plates.

Chambar

Upscale restaurant featured in foodie magazines across North America. Extensive Belgian beer menu, plus their own speciality – Chambar Ale.

The Whip Restaurant and Gallery

8 regional craft beers on tap, with 1 rotating tap, and several rotating casks.

—-others we haven’t yet tried but are on our list—-

BierCraft Tap and Tapas and BierCraft Bistro

Features Belgian-style craft beer from around the world. Includes many North American and regional varieties.

Ensemble Tap

15 craft beers on tap plus 30 bottled, featuring many local varieties. Daily and weekly food and tap pairings.