Donnelly Group Blog
Wednesday, September 21
TK’s Top 5 of Summer & Fall
Like it or not, this heat won’t last forever. Summer has slowly creeped away with earlier darkness and cooler mornings. Before long we’ll all be moping around complaining about the rain (which is just as bad as complaining about the heat FYI).
Here are the top 5 things I did this summer, and the top 5 I’m looking forward to doing this fall.
Top 5 Things I Did This Summer
An amazing five days in one of America’s greatest cities. The main focus is the cocktail. But there’s no shortage of spirit seminars, tasting rooms, dinners and parties. Even if you don’t get into all the seminars you want, simply hang out in the lobby of the Hotel Monteleone and run elbows with the greatest cocktail personalities of our time.
Insider Tip: if someone is sipping on a flask of anything, stand close and act interested. You might get a taste.
2) Mondial de la Biere / F1
I don’t know if these two events run on the same weekend every year, but I think they should. 50+ breweries represented, 100+ beer styles, $40000 pop-up beer bars, fast cars, beautiful people. This weekend had it all. Some of Quebec’s most notable beers were there, St. Ambroise, Unibroue etc. But for me, it was the underdogs I was most impressed by. Did I mention that overr 80000 people tour the beer festival each year?
This is more of a year round activity, but I went this summer, and really just wanted to keep talking about it. 5 distilleries in 4 days. Meet the people who make and distill some of the world’s finest bourbons. Louisville is a great city, and there’s nothing like southern hospitality. If you don’t make the drive to Tennessee and have lunch (they call it dinner) at Miss Mary Bobo’s you are doing yourself a dis-service.
4) Lamplighter Summer Patio Series
A little company self-promotion here, but over the past two summers, these parties have become legendary. What started as an excuse to drink on a Sunday afternoon has taken form as one of the most creative series of parties Vancouver has ever seen. From an outdoor pigroast made with GIB’s hefeweizen, to hand chopping 200 coconuts the tacky-tiki party, the series really came to life at the labor day party. We teamed up with CAMRA and held a mini cask fest. Four casks were tapped (and drained) featuring Granville Island, Howe Sound, Central City and R&B brewing. La Chouffe and Driftwood both brought some specialty products and the sun didn’t disappoint all day long.
5) Beerlesque
The first (and hopefully annual) craft beer burlesque event was held at the Roundhouse in Yaletown localcraft brewers and great burlesque talent combined to put on a wonderful show. A great way to spend a friday night. Brought to you by Vancouver Craft Beer Week and the Yaletown Roundhouse Community Centre.
Top 5 Things for Fall
1) Great Canadian Beer Festival
September 9 & 10th marked the dates for this wonderful outdoor beer sampling event. Don’t let the Canadian part fool you. There were brewers from all over making it out for this one. Going on 18 years now with 55+breweries represented and over 8000 happy attendees.
Half fundraiser for Victoria filmfest, half cocktail festival. Art of the Cocktail has grown steadily over the past few years and has grown to rival other metropolitan cocktail gatherings. Not to be missed (especially the Bartender’s Breakfast) October 1-3.
Again, a gathering of cocktail minds and talent. More of an industry event, but easy to acquire tickets. Pop online and browse the website for hotel discounts and seminar information. This one takes place October 20-23.
4) Great American Beer Fest
Noticing a trend? The biggest beer gathering the united states has to offer. Colorado Convention Center: 4 Sessions, 2200 Festival Beers, 79 Beer Categories, Tens of thousands of attendies. The costumes are as bold as the beer styles. I’m going: Sept 29-Oct 1 – Denver.
Those of you that know me will know that I don’t necessarily need a reason to drink on Sundays. Mostly I’m looking forward to close games, blowouts, endzone passes, winning in fantasy. Also, who can resist Sunday Man-Brunch and breakfast beer cocktails at Lamplighter? Sept 9 – Feb 5.
About Trevor Kallies
Trevor spent the past 6 years responsible for Granville Room’s cocktail program, and has recently taken over the Bar program for the entire Donnelly Group. He has completed Pernod Ricard’s BarSmarts program and other spirit education courses. For Trevor, continuous learning is extremely important. His passion for cocktails has taken him to Kentucky, Tokyo, San Francisco, New York and New Orleans and many other cities exploring cocktail culture.
Follow Trevor Kallies on Twitter
- Posted by donnellyAdmin
- Posted in Food & Drink