After ski

Vancouver was good place to go out and Henry was the right person to do it with. Most important thing was that this guy likes good beer (G.I. Hefeweizen) and bad beer (Mickey's) and on top of that he was able to find couple good and kind of good parties.

90s party was quite challenging with music like Vengaboys - Boom Boom Boom. However it helped to meet lot's of fun folks there and I even found Home Improvement Tim & Al lookalikes (fits nicely to 90s theme).

Between the parties I managed to do bit of sightseeing as well and visited Whistler and saw some breathtaking views (at least it could have been if it wasn't so darn foggy).

After Whistler I headed for a night out that was much better music wise than previous one. Starting out at The Venue with The Globes and The Two Door Cinema Club. I tell you, The Globes drummer was insanely good! And the the main act, they were excellent just like you could imagine. After gig we headed to some student party close by. After ski theme with old neon ski outfits and, of course, beer pong table. We need a new rule: Every pub should have a beer pong table!

Oh yes, something about beer also.

260. Russel - Cream Ale
261. Alexander Keith - IPA
262. Brewhouse - Big Wold Bitter
263. Vancouver Island - Piper's Pale Ale
264. Lighthouse - Beacon IPA
265. Driftwood - Ale

I headed also to Victoria, sleepy city after Vancouver but home of one excellent brew pub: Spinnakers. While sitting at bar, the bartender noticed that we had some prestigious company. Head of Sierra Nevada Brewing Company was sitting at the other side of the bar.

Spinnakers
266. Kolsch with Lemon Zest (cask)
267. ESB
268. North West Ale
269. Original Pale Ale
270. India Pale Ale
271. Nut Brown Ale
272. Blue Bridge Double Ale
273. Hopworks - Stout

Visited also Canoe for couple before heading back to Vancouver
274. Canoe - River Rock Bitter
275. Yukon Brewing - Yukon Red

Cozy way to finish North American tour was by watching some play off hockey at dear friend Derek's place. Your girl is a great cook! Thank you Elisa, Henry and Derek for great times! Love you all!

Gambie

While visiting Canada you must see at least one hockey game live. I had bought couple tickets to Vancouver vs. Minnesota game for me and my dear friends Elisa and Derek. Season ending game and Canucks got the Presidents Trophy at the beginning. Good to be there witnessing history.

Before the game Derek took me to the Gambie, place with cheap drinks, lousy music and greasy food so everything you wish from a quality bar. And this all was just couple blocks from the Rogers Arena. I fell in love with this place instantly. I could imagine spending lot's of time here if I was living in Vancouver. Place that has hand dryer with message about drying your soul can't be bad. During my short stay I actually made couple more stops here after this one. House beers are made by Granville Island brewery so you can actually enjoy decent beer there also.

248. Sleeman - Sleeman Honey Brown Lager
249. Granville Island - Gambie Lager
250. Granville Island - Cypress Honey Lager
251. Granville Island - Brockton IPA

After getting rid of my hangover I decided to visit Granville Island brewery also. Island itself is beautiful, bit touristic though, small island very close downtown Vancouver. Brewery has small tasting room where I was lucky enough to meet guy who used to be brewer at GI.

Granville Island
252. Irish Red (seasonal)
253. Imperial IPA (seasonal)
254. Winter Ale (seasonal)
255. Hefeweizen

While sipping and talking about beer travels he mentioned that there is also another brewery on the same island. Not so special beers but something that you can try only there as their license allows then to sell only at their own restaurant.

Dockside Brewing
256. Catwright Pale Ale
257. Jonston Street Pilsner
258. Old Bridge Lager
259. Pelican Bay Brown

Bartender at Dockside seemed to be very interested about party ferries between Finland and Sweden. And he was talking lot's about blond girls...

Oh Canada

Good start at Vancouver. I was thinking that I was tired and being on the road was not exiting or fun anymore. Seattle could be nice place but I did not have too much energy left to enjoy it. Now, one night at Vancouver, meeting one old friend, making some new ones and I am full of energy! On the first night I actually ended up spending night in whole different place that the plan was. Movie night, chatting, enjoying beer and enjoying on journey again. I feel alive again!

236. Central City Red Racer India Pale Ale
237. Central City Red Racer ESB
238. Mickeys Fine Malt Liquor (got bit contrast to previous ones with this...)

Steamworks Brewery, beautiful view, ok beers but bit hollow feeling. Bonus is that I met the brewmaster.

Steamworks
239. Hefeweizen (seasonal)
240. Signature Pale Ale
241. Nirvana Nut Brown Ale
242. Heroica Oatmeal Stout
243. Empress India Pale Ale

At Yaletown brewery I learned that most brewpubs here are owned by same company. That explains similar bit cold feeling in downtown pubs.

Yaletown
244. Rocket to Russia (nice!)
245. Downtown Brown
246. Briek & Beem IPA
247. Warehouse Stout

Ps. Vancouver seems to be freezing cold, that god I got to borrow my friends jacket. Thanks James!

Sleeping in Seattle

Arriving to Seattle tired and wrecked. I walk through the rain to hotel, I thought that I need real hotel at this point as I was dead tired. I saw legendary Hurricane Cafe outside hotel but that must wait. Only fast food and sleep.

On morning I notice something unusual. Sky is bright and it seems to be nice day coming. Didn't expect to see this in Seattle. Great start for day to have breakfast at the Pike Place Market and chatting with locals that what there is to see in this town. I got advice that ferry ride to Bainbridge could be nice so off I go. you can pretty much always trust on tips from locals, beautiful ferry ride to nice small town. Signpost tells me that there is a pub with craft brew taps on the island, easy choice for me. The Harbour Public House offers nice fisherman village atmosphere with ocean view and really nice terrace and of course nice selection of local rotating taps. Hope to see you again Erin, you made to my top bartenders in seconds.

209. Hales - Bavarian Hefeweizen
210. Fish Tale - Mudshark Porter (cask)
211. Georgetown - Mannys Pale Ale

212. Rogue - Mocha Porter
213. Maritime - Pacific Nightwatch
214. Two Beers - Immersion Amber Ale

At Portland I happened to meet Jen, Oregon sales manager of the Pike Brewing. With the note Jen gave to me I went to the Pike Brewing at Pike Market. I got same warm welcome with the note that I got from Jen when meeting her. Throughout introduction to Pike brews.

Pike Brewing
215. Weisse
216. XXXXX
217. XXXXX (cask)
218. Naughty Nelle
219. Pale Ale
220. IPA
221. Kilt Lifter
222. Monk's Uncle
223. Tandem
224. Double Pale Ale

Good meeting you Amanda and Colin. Try to manage there!

225. McMenamins - IPA
226. McMenamins - Ruby

Hurricane cafe, place that used to be the place for rockers to hang out, at least so I heard. Now it still seems to have it's charm, rock is not played here now but way the place looks like is still what it used to be in old days. I would think everything is just the way it was when they opened the place. People here make this place. Next to me is a guy singing "I still wanna be with you". On the other side some dude is having a burger and talking to ketchup. He seems to be telling to ketchup that he is upset about Tabasco. I can feel his pain...
Henrik, this is for you:
227. Pabst - Blue Ribbon

Elysian Brewing Company
228. Pandora's Box
229. Cerise Amour
230. Prometeus IPA
231. Bête Blanche
232. Saison Poivre
233. The Wise ESB

Taproom in Seattle is bit like Yardhouse in San Diego. Helluva amount of taps, 160 in this case, but no heart. It tells something that guy next to me wanted Coors Light and when they didn't have it, he wanted to have tomato juice in his Bud Light to sure it does not taste too strong. 2 fast pints and I'm outta here...

234. Avery - Ellies Brown Ale
235. Mac and Jacks - African Amber Ale (this was excellent!)

Ps. Russian Bakery at Pike Market, Piroshky, Piroshky is freaking good.