Steel Toad Brewpub & Dining Hall has been brewing up a storm since late 2015 but with some changes they invited me out to try some of their brew beer and share the fact they have finally begun filling growlers! Located in Vancouver's Brewery Creek district and on the edge of the Olympic Village you do not have to venture far to check out this brewpub.
I still find it amazing that this building was saved after it lost its historical status back in 1997. Nothing usually sticks around when it is left to fall apart like this building was. Luckily the developer saw the value of the history and saved this building.
Photo from Vancouver Real Estate Direct.
I have enjoyed myself every time I have stopped in to Steel Toad Brewing. The bar area is located in the middle and is a wrap around style. On all sides you will find seating also. There are now two different patios with one located out front and one in the back. To the far left and up the stairs you will find a nice mezzanine seating area that can be used for private events. On the right side you get to see the brew house behind a glass wall. The beer here is very fresh as they pour directly off of serving tanks for their own brews. But if you are looking for something else they also have guest taps and other bar drinks.
Behind the glass wall you find the brewery. As far as I can tell they still use a mobile grain mill that they wheel outside to do all their milling. The brewery uses a 10 barrel brew house that consists of a two part vessel that is comprised of a mash tun and hot liquor tank. The other part of the two vessel brew house is their kettle. Once they have finished making the wort it is moved over to the fermenters on the far side. Once the beer is finished it is moved into one of 10 serving tanks. The brewery has a capacity of 1000 barrels a year. The photos below are a mix of old and new photos.
If you have never been here you are doing a disservice to yourself. If you have been its time to go back for a nice meal and to take home a growler of your favourite beer. The brewery does not purge their growlers with CO2 at this point so they recommend you drink it as soon as possible. This is a nice first step and hopefully in the future they can start purging the growlers with CO2 so that the beer will last longer.
