Howe Sound Brewing to open Devil's Elbow Ale & Whiskey House in former Chambar space

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      As the popular Chambar restaurant gets ready to move to a new space at 568 Beatty Street, a craft beer-focused restaurant is gearing up to take over Chambar's current location just down the block at 562 Beatty Street.

      Trevor Magee, vice president and general manager of Howe Sound Brewing Co., told the Straight in a phone interview that the Squamish brewery, which opened in 1996, is putting down roots in Vancouver.

      "We're a successful craft brewery up in Squamish, but not everybody gets up to Squamish to see us," he explained. "We've been looking for a location for a while and we've leased the space that Chambar is vacating."

      Howe Sound Brewing will take over the 562 Beatty Street location in mid-August and aims to open the new restaurant October 1. It will be called Devil's Elbow Ale & Whiskey House, after Howe Sound's popular Devil's Elbow India Pale Ale.

      The IPA takes its name from the grade 4 Devil's Elbow rapid on the Elaho River north of Squamish.

      "It's going to be a pretty basic, rustic ale house," said Magee. The restaurant will not brew beer on-site, but it will serve a wide range of Howe Sound Brewing's brands. It will also offer more than just Howe Sound beer on tap. 

      "We're going to showcase emerging craft breweries in the city," Magee said, and that includes local nanobreweries. The restaurant will carry whiskey products from local craft distilleries.

      Magee said that a change in the B.C. Liquor Control and Licensing Act several years ago opened up the opportunity for breweries to have an ownership interest in up to three licensed establishments in B.C. Prior to that, he explained, a brewery could own other restaurants, but it couldn't serve its own beer at those restaurants.

      The menu at Devil's Elbow Ale & Whiskey House will be different than that of the brewery's restaurant in Squamish. It will focus on smoked meat sandwiches--with meat smoked on-site--and other hearty fare that pairs well with beer.

      Comments

      5 Comments

      Jay

      Jul 31, 2014 at 2:38pm

      Was up in Squamish last Sunday and was sad to discover their kitchen has seriously declined. Service unfortunately was a joke as well.

      K

      Aug 4, 2014 at 9:44pm

      Do tell. Why was it such a joke?

      t

      Aug 14, 2014 at 9:45am

      I've been regularly stopping by the Howe Sound pub for a number of years after skiing, climbing or hiking in the area; the food and service have always been great. And by great I also mean consistent.
      Even this weekend with an influx of unwashed festival revellers we still got great grub and awesome service.

      Can't wait for Howe Sound to open a location closer to home.

      gus

      Nov 3, 2014 at 6:12pm

      I think the end result is better than the artists rendition by far who painted the place

      Hammerson Peters

      Jan 6, 2015 at 5:12pm

      Love the Brew Pub! Good food, better beer, and live music with an interior that's rustic as hell.