Best craft breweries Vancouver include 33 Acres Brewing (Mt. Pleasant), Brassneck Brewery (Mt. Pleasant), R&B Brewing (Mt. Pleasant), Faculty Brewing (Mt. Pleasant), Powell Brewery (East Van), Strange Fellows Brewing (East Van), Steamworks Brewing (Gastown), Granville Island Brewing (Granville Island), Parallel 49 (East Van), Storm Brewing (East Van), and 50+ smaller operations across the metro region. Vancouver and BC’s Lower Mainland have one of North America’s strongest craft beer scenes — over 100 breweries, with new openings each year. Tasting flights run C$8-15 (4-6 small pours); pints are C$7-10 at most breweries.
This guide ranks the top Vancouver craft breweries by neighborhood — Mt. Pleasant, East Van, Gastown, Granville Island — with tasting room hours, food truck partnerships, and specifically what to order at each.
Table of Contents
Best Craft Breweries Vancouver Quick Overview
- Best overall: 33 Acres Brewing (Mt. Pleasant)
- Best food + beer combo: Faculty Brewing
- Most beloved local: Brassneck Brewery
- Best East Van pick: Powell Brewery
- Best Gastown: Steamworks Brewing
- Best central: Granville Island Brewing
- Tasting flight: C$8-15 (4-6 pours)
- Pint price: C$7-10
Mt. Pleasant Brewery District
Mt. Pleasant has Vancouver’s densest concentration of craft breweries.
Key Mt. Pleasant breweries:
- 33 Acres Brewing
- Brassneck Brewery
- R&B Brewing
- Faculty Brewing
- Main Street Brewing
- Postmark Brewing
- 33 Acres Brewing & Cidery
Best brewery walk: Start at Main Street SkyTrain (King Edward Station), walk south on Main Street and east on Quebec Street. Most breweries within 15-min walking radius.
33 Acres Brewing
33 Acres is consistently ranked Vancouver’s top craft brewery.
What to expect:
- Tasting room with industrial-cool design
- 10+ rotating beers on tap
- Famous “33 Acres of Sunshine” Belgian-style ale
- “33 Acres of Life” pale ale
- “33 Acres of Ocean” pilsner
- Coffee shop attached
- Casual, hip atmosphere
- Beer C$7-10
Address: 15 W 8th Avenue.
Best for: Beer beginners and connoisseurs.
Brassneck Brewery
Brassneck is the most beloved local Vancouver brewery — known for excellent beers and tasting room hospitality.
What to expect:
- Tasting room only (no food)
- 10+ rotating beers
- Famous “No Brainer” pale ale
- “Riley” lager
- Casual, neighborhood vibe
- Beer C$7-10
- Tasting flights C$10
- Bring food from outside (bring food trucks parked outside)
Address: 2148 Main Street.
Best for: Tasting flights, casual neighborhood drinks.
R&B Brewing
R&B Brewing is one of Vancouver’s older craft breweries (since 1997) with a substantial food menu.
What to expect:
- Tasting room + restaurant
- 15+ beers on tap
- Famous “Sun God” wheat ale
- “Hop Tropic” hazy IPA
- Pizza, sandwiches, share plates
- Beer C$7-10
- Pizza C$15-20
- Family-friendly during day
Address: 54 E 4th Avenue.
Best for: Beer + dinner combo; family-friendly afternoons.
Faculty Brewing
Faculty Brewing is Mt. Pleasant’s beer + science-themed brewery.
What to expect:
- Education-themed beer names (“Lecture,” “Honor Roll”)
- 10+ beers on tap
- Substantial food menu
- Modern, hip atmosphere
- Beer C$7-10
- Food C$15-22
- Brewery tours (occasional)
Address: 1812 Quebec Street.
Best for: Casual evenings, beer flights, dinner crowd.
East Van Brewery District
East Van (Yeast Vancouver) has Vancouver’s second brewery district.
Key East Van breweries:
- Powell Brewery
- Strange Fellows Brewing
- Storm Brewing
- Parallel 49 Brewing
- Bomber Brewing
- Off the Rail Brewing
- Doan’s Craft Brewing
- Andina Brewing
Best brewery walk: Start near Hastings Sunrise SkyTrain; walk through Powell Street, Hastings, and Commercial Drive.
Powell Brewery
Powell is one of Vancouver’s longest-running craft breweries.
What to expect:
- Industrial loading-dock atmosphere
- 15+ beers on tap
- Famous “Old Jalopy” pale ale
- “Pumpkineater” pumpkin ale (seasonal)
- Tasting flights
- Limited food (food trucks outside)
- Beer C$7-10
Address: 1830 Powell Street.
Best for: Pale ale lovers, neighborhood crawls.
Strange Fellows Brewing
Strange Fellows is known for experimental and Belgian-style beers.
What to expect:
- Belgian-style focus
- Experimental sours and barrel-aged beers
- Modern industrial taproom
- Beer flights popular
- Beer C$8-12
- Limited food
Address: 1345 Clark Drive.
Best for: Adventurous palates, sour beer fans.
Parallel 49 Brewing
Parallel 49 is one of Vancouver’s largest craft breweries with a substantial taproom.
What to expect:
- Large taproom + restaurant
- 20+ beers on tap
- Famous “Hoparazzi” IPA
- “Jerkface” milk stout
- Substantial food menu (pizzas, sandwiches)
- Brewery tours
- Beer C$7-10
- Food C$15-25
- Family-friendly during day
Address: 1950 Triumph Street.
Best for: Group dinners, brewery tours, family afternoons.
Gastown Breweries
Gastown has fewer breweries but quality matters.
Top Gastown brewery:
- Steamworks Brewing: 375 Water Street; brewpub since 1995; 10+ beers on tap; substantial pub menu; tours available
Adjacent brewery:
- The Alibi Room (Gastown): Not a brewery, but rotates 30+ BC craft beers — best variety in Gastown
Granville Island
Granville Island has one of Vancouver’s most iconic breweries.
Granville Island Brewing:
- One of Canada’s oldest craft breweries (since 1984)
- Free 30-min tour (or paid tasting)
- Famous “Cypress Honey” lager
- “English Bay Pale Ale”
- “False Creek” raspberry ale
- Tasting room + retail shop
- Beer C$7-10
Address: 1441 Cartwright Street, Granville Island.
Best for: Tourists, paired with Granville Island lunch.
Brewery Tour Tips
Strategies for visiting Vancouver breweries.
How many breweries in one day?
- 2-3 breweries: solid afternoon
- 4-5 breweries: full day brewery crawl
- 6+ breweries: bachelor/ette party territory
Walking strategy:
- Mt. Pleasant: 5 breweries walkable in 30-min radius
- East Van: 4-5 breweries walkable
- Gastown to Mt. Pleasant: 25-min walk or 5-min Uber
Pacing:
- One beer per brewery is plenty
- Tasting flights better than full pints for crawls
- Hydrate between stops
- Eat at brewery stops with food
- Plan transit/Uber home in advance
BC Craft Beer Styles
BC has its own beer style identity.
Common BC craft styles:
- West Coast IPA: Hoppy, citrusy, classic Pacific Northwest
- Hazy IPA: Cloudy, juicy, less bitter
- Belgian wheat: Many BC breweries do these
- Pacific Northwest pilsner: Crisp, clean
- Sour ales: Increasingly popular
- Barrel-aged stouts: Strong, complex
- Fruit-forward beers: BC fruit (raspberry, blackberry)
Local craft beer culture:
- Many breweries collaborate (rotating beers)
- Annual BC Beer Awards recognize top breweries
- “BC’s Top 50 Beers” lists curated annually
Related Vancouver guides
Keep planning with these guides:
Best Craft Breweries Vancouver FAQs
What’s the best craft brewery in Vancouver?
33 Acres Brewing (Mt. Pleasant) is consistently ranked Vancouver’s top craft brewery — 10+ rotating beers, industrial-cool design, beloved by locals. Brassneck Brewery is similarly beloved for its tasting flights.
Where are the most craft breweries in Vancouver?
Mt. Pleasant (5+ breweries within 15-min walk) and East Van (4-5 breweries) are the two main brewery districts. Both walkable from SkyTrain stations.
How much do Vancouver craft beers cost?
Pints C$7-10; tasting flights C$8-15 (4-6 small pours). Cheaper than US craft brewery prices. Most breweries don’t have cover charges.
Are Vancouver breweries family-friendly?
Many breweries are kid-friendly during daytime hours. R&B Brewing, Faculty Brewing, and Parallel 49 have substantial food menus and welcome families. Most Mt. Pleasant breweries are casual neighborhood spots.
Do Vancouver breweries do tours?
Yes — Granville Island Brewing offers a free 30-min tour. Steamworks Brewing offers tours. Faculty Brewing has occasional tours. Powell Brewery and Parallel 49 sometimes offer tours by appointment.
What’s a typical Vancouver brewery flight cost?
Tasting flights run C$8-15 for 4-6 small pours — saves money over individual pints if you want to try multiple beers. Most breweries offer custom flight selection.
Where do locals drink craft beer in Vancouver?
Locals favor 33 Acres, Brassneck, Powell Brewery, and Parallel 49. The Alibi Room (Gastown) rotates 30+ BC craft beers. Most locals stick to neighborhood brewery taprooms.
Are Vancouver craft breweries open every day?
Most Vancouver breweries are open daily (typically 11 AM-11 PM weekdays, 11 AM-12 AM weekends). Some smaller breweries close early on Sundays. Check brewery websites.
What’s the best Vancouver brewery for IPAs?
33 Acres Brewing’s “Sunshine” series, Powell Brewery’s “Old Jalopy” pale ale, Parallel 49’s “Hoparazzi” IPA, and R&B Brewing’s “Hop Tropic” hazy IPA are local favorites.
Can I bring food to Vancouver breweries?
Many breweries (Brassneck, Powell) don’t serve food but allow outside food. Food trucks often parked outside. R&B Brewing, Parallel 49, and Faculty Brewing have substantial in-house menus.
Related reading: Pair this with our Vancouver nightlife pillar, East Van brewery crawl, and Gastown bars.
