Yes beer is the world’s most widely consumed alcoholic beverage; and the third-most popular drink overall across the globe. Join us for our Sensational Surrey Craft Beer Tour where we explore 3 local pubs, including a brewpub and micro-brewery, all of them specializes in unique craft beers. Learn about the difference between ale and lager; What is malt? Why use yeast & hops? Answers to all these questions, an opportunity to sample from 25 different local craft beers plus a delicious assortment of appetizers, finger food and pizza. This experience is geared to small groups of patrons, a maximum of 14 participants per tour. Join South Fraser Tours and spend a relaxed and hassle-free afternoon tasting 80 ounces (5 pints) of Surrey’s exceptional craft beer! We are commercially licensed, insured and fully air conditioned.
Our Sensational Surrey Craft Beer Tour includes the following 3 establishments:
The Big Ridge Brewing Co. was opened in late 1999 at their first location across the street. In spring 2010 they moved to their present location at 5580 152nd Street. Big Ridge is Surrey’s original brewpub, brewing beer solely for consumption on the premises. Each week, the finest lagers and ales are produced in a time honored, handcrafted tradition and served fresh to you. In addition to their flagship brews, they take pride in brewing a variety of fine seasonal and specialty beers. Beer is always an excellent compliment to food. The menu features a fine selection of comfort food and wok prepared dishes chosen to go with their selection of beers. As with the beer- only the best and freshest ingredients are used. They are dedicated to fostering the tradition of the neighbourhood pub, a place where friends and family can meet, make new acquaintances and just escape the daily grind for awhile.
Microbreweries vs. Brewpubs?
Let’s start by clarifying the confusion which often exists between the terms microbrewery and brewpub. A microbrewery is a small brewery with an annual brewing capacity of less than 17,600 Hectolitres (100 litres). It has the ability to sell its products in bottles at beer and wine stores, and through provincial liquor distribution outlets. (Beer production is generally measured in Hectolitres.) A brewpub, however, must operate in concert with a “pub” and must sell 100% of its production on site. The bottom line is that the fresh, hand-crafted beers that you enjoy at Mark James Brewery Restaurants cannot be obtained anywhere else.
Lagers and Ales
There are typically two families of beer: ales and lagers, and the difference between the two is all in the yeast. Beer type is determined by the type of yeast used, ale or lager yeast and has nothing do with colour, alcohol content or hops. There are thousands of variants of ales and lagers which all depend upon the type of hops and malt and aging used in the recipe. Beer is a fermented drink, and yeast is used in the fermentation process. Ale yeast is a “top fermenting” yeast, meaning that most of the yeast tends to group near the top part of the beer. Lager yeast is bottom fermenting. The different yeasts necessitate fermenting at different temperatures and for different lengths of time. Big Ridge beer is always made with nothing but the four basic ingredients of beer making: water, hops, malted barley and yeast, in addition it is never pasteurized, nor do they use modifiers.
THE CENTRAL CITY BREWING COMPANY
Central City Brewing Co. started brewing for its Brew Pub in 2003 in Surrey, BC. After receiving great response to its beers, Central City began packaging its beer for sale to retailers in 2005. Since that time, Central City has increased its beer sales to 100% capacity at its brewery, and is now planning expansion. Central City Brewing Co. has always believed that a brewpub should be held to the highest standards in the quality of their food, beverage, and service. They reflect that by having their entire award winning brews made with only the finest ingredients available, with no artificial preservatives or flavour-robbing pasteurization. The result? Central City Brewing Co. was named the Best Brewery in Canada at the 2010 Canadian Brewing Awards, one of our numerous awards won in the last seven years. Their kitchen retains the same high standards as the brew house, with a distinctive take on comfort food, containing only the freshest local ingredients whenever possible. Join them for one of their daily specials, signature events, or a family dining experience you won’t soon forget.
Canadian Brewery of the Year 2012!
On Saturday June 9th, the tenth annual Canadian Brewing Awards Gala, sponsored by TAPS Magazine, took place at the Mondial de la bière festival in Montreal, Quebec. This year’s awards featured 559 beers from 96 breweries across Canada vying for medals in 37 different categories, the largest brewing competition in Canada. Judging was completed over a three-day period by certified beer judges who consider aroma, appearance, flavour, mouth-feel, and overall impression when scoring the beer through a blind tasting.
Surrey’s own Central City Brewing Co. beat out a strong field of competitors vying to take home the prestigious Brewery Of The Year award. In addition to this award, three gold medals were presented to Central City Brewing’s President Darryll Frost, and Brewmaster Gary Lohin for the Red Racer ESB, Imperial IPA and Thor’s Hammer Bourbon Barrel Aged Barley Wine. The awards will be added to the (expanding) Central City Brewing Co. trophy case, which also includes a recent gold medal from the World Beer Cup for Red Racer ESB. All of the award winning beers are available as either a regularly offered product, or limited release product in various locations across the country.
This Pub has been rebranded in recent years, “Amber Jacks Tap House” and is located within the Compass Point Inn Hotel, an historic landmark in Surrey for almost 40 years. Conveniently adjacent to the eastbound terminus of the Expo Line, King George Station, Amber Jack’s features an extraordinary and arguably the best selection of local craft draft beer.
Front and centre is Surrey’s own Russell Brewing Company small batch craft beers that are committed to brewing real beer meaning 100% natural, no shortcuts, no preservatives and no pasteurization. They brew high quality small batch beers to exacting standards using the finest Canadian grain, pure Canadian water, imported hops and their own special yeast strain. Russell Cream Ale, Angry Scotch Ale, Blood Alley Extra Bitter Special Bitter, Black Death Porter are all available for you to taste. As is the remarkable Dead Frog Brewery’s Pale Ale, the awesome Howe Sound Whitecap Ale, the amazing Phillips Brewing Company’s Phoenix Gold Lager, the astonishing Driftwood’s Farmhand Ale, the incredible Granville Island’s Lions Winter Ale and much more.
This new and improved establishment blends the best of a traditional Public House and an innovative Sports Bar offering 4 Pool Tables, 22 Flat Screen TVs, Dart Boards, Karaoke, Satellite Service, Live bands, Seasonal Patio, plenty of seating for groups of all sizes and fabulous kitchen with great food!
Our Sensational Surrey Craft Beer Tour is offered 7 days each week (Monday thru Sunday), May 1st to October 1st and includes beer, food, pick-up & return to any one location in Surrey, all Tasting and Tour fees, GST, Gratuity and unlimited fun!
The Tour starts at Noon and ends at 4pm, travel time will vary on pick-up & return location.
$75 per person, minimum 8 maximum 14 guests.
RESERVATIONS ARE MANDATORY – Call Dan Direct at 604-839-2879 or write to us at info@southfrasertours.ca
South Fraser Shuttles and Tours is locally owned and operated by the husband and wife team of Dan and Lisa Goy who have lived in Surrey since 1988.
