(This story is sponsored by The Brewery Creek Liquor Store.)

Vancouverites don’t need a reason to enjoy craft beer but at this time of year, any excuse to indulge in our favourite beverage is truly welcomed. And the fact that October has been named, officially, as B.C. Craft Beer Month, there surely couldn’t be a better time to expand our “beer-izons”.

True to its reputation of carrying the city’s finest selection of quality beers, Brewery Creek Liquor Store is getting right into the spirit—or rather beer—of the 31-day celebration. The cool 3,000 square-foot store, located at 3045 Main Street in “yeast Van”, might be small, but it is mighty.

With limited space, the team at Brewery Creek has to be extremely selective about what goes on the shelves. And it’s for that reason that the owners, Fred Wilson and Gary Reilly, have hired some of the best in the biz, to ensure that the store offers the crème de la crème of beer, cider, spirits, and wine.

Chester Carey, Brewery Creek’s General Manager, became Canada’s first Certified Cicerone shortly after the U.S.-based certification program began and went on to increase his certification level to Advanced Cicerone in 2017. In addition to leading the team, Carey is in charge of the premium, diverse, and sought-after selection.

He joined Brewery Creek in 2007, when the store was leading the charge in the industry as a pioneer in retail craft beer.

“It had started to get a bit of a reputation as being a craft beer leader,” Carey says. “It was already the first store really doing that in Vancouver and it was ahead of the scene in many ways. Most of the breweries that we have now—given how rapidly they’ve popped up—didn’t exist. So the store was bringing in products from outside of our markets in order to broaden the selection.”

But despite his years of experience and expertise, Carey is constantly looking to expand his knowledge and update the stock. He spends as much time as he can attending tasting events, going to beer festivals, and travelling the country to source the very best products on the market. Talk about a dream job.

The store also prides itself on supporting both local and international suppliers to best serve its customers.

“It’s a combination of long-standing relationships and setting up appointments to taste new things,” adds Carey.

Whether you’re a novice or an expert, you are sure to find a vast and high-quality choice to serve every taste at Brewery Creek. And even if you don’t love beer, the store boasts an extensive wine selection and an exclusive spirits collection. Plus, the hard working, personable, and knowledgeable team, many of whom  have their certified beer server, ISG, or WSET certification, are always on hand to provide the best customer service possible.

Brewery Creek is open every day from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. with free parking around the back, which means that taking part in this year’s B.C. Craft Beer Month couldn’t be easier. As if that’s not incentive enough, the team at Brewery Creek has also offered one lucky winner the chance to win a $200 gift certificate for the store, below. But if you’re looking for inspiration, Brewery Creek is also a proud sponsor of the 9th annual B.C. Beer Awards and Festival returning on Saturday, October 20 to the Croatian Cultural Centre in Vancouver. Learn more at www.brewcreek.ca or follow on social @brewerycreek.