Largest-ever Hopscotch Festival coming to Vancouver with 400-plus varieties of booze on deck

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      The Hopscotch Festival, an event celebrating the wonderful world of beer, cocktails, and spirits, will return to the PNE Forum for its 22nd annual iteration on November 24 and 25, where Vancouverites will have the chance to sample more than 400 varieties of alcoholic bevs in one place.

      Billed as the West Coast’s longest running scotch, whisky, and beer fete, the event will feature 130-plus vendors—including Odd Society Spirits, Yellow Dog Brewing, and Glenfiddich—who will be offering tastings of a large assortment of wines, gins, tequilas, rums, and more, as well as mixed drinks and food.

      For the first time, the booths will be categorized into sections at the two-day Grand Tasting Hall finale, so that imbibers may find their libation of choice more easily. The Whisky Corner, for example, will boast over 120 whiskies—from single-malt and rye to Japanese and Irish—while the B.C. Craft Beer Pavilion pour suds from 25 different B.C. breweries.

      B.C. Craft Spirits will spotlight small-bath liquors crafted in B.C.; the Wine Garden, a new addition, promises bottles from at home and abroad; and the Craft Cocktail Showcase will have some of Vancouver’s top mixologists shaking up drinks as well as a special installation that will attempt to create the world’s best-tasting negroni.

      Hopscotch Festival

      Spirits of the World and Beers of the World will look beyond B.C.’s borders to highlight a selection of internationally produced bevvies, while Restaurant Row will serve up grub from local restaurants like La Pentola and Dixie’s BBQ. Local chef Juno Kim will also be hosting a hot-dog throwdown.

      A designated music lounge will feature tunes from a yet-to-be-announced lineup of local musicians. An onsite liquor store will allow attendees to take some of their favourite sips home, too.

      In addition to the Grand Tasting Hall event on November 24 and 25, Hopstoch will hold a series of ticketed functions around town from November 20 to 26. These include exclusive whisky tastings, brewery tours, and dinners that will school neophytes and experienced imbibers alike on libations hailing from Scotland, Japan, and more.

      Tickets for Hopscotch’s two-day Grand Tasting Hall start at $37.35 online, while admission to offsite events and masterclasses starts at $30. (Some have already sold out.)

      The Hopscotch Festival takes place at various spots around Vancouver from November 20 to 26. The event culminates with the Grand Tasting Hall event at the PNE Forum on November 24 and 25 from 6 to 10:30 p.m. on each day.

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      Follow Lucy Lau on Twitter @lucylau.

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