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Craft Beer Week’s Gastown Crawl Reminds why Pub Crawls Will Never go out of Style

Shebeen Whiskey House, Irish Heather and Salt Tasting Room are a classy trio for a pub crawl.

By Jennifer Laidlaw /

Credit: Simon Kear

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The Irish Heather GastroPub, located on Carrall Street in Gastown, makes a mean Old Fashioned.



Credit: Simon Kear

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A spring sky lights up the terrace around the Shebeen Whiskey House, tucked in behind the Irish Heather in Gastown.



Credit: Simon Kear

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Brooklyn Brewery neon inside the Shebeen—Brooklyn was the sponsor of a recent craft beer crawl that popped in on the Shebeen, Irish Heather and Salt Tasting Room.



Credit: Simon Kear

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The long table at the Irish Heather is the perfect place to bump elbows with the person next to you.



Credit: Simon Kear

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Dinner is served at the Irish Heather—pork shoulder with potato and mustard tarrine, braised savoy cabbage and drippings.



Credit: Simon Kear

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Hungry revellers politely wait for dinner to be served to the entire table before digging in.



Credit: Simon Kear

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Guests sit side-by-side at the 40-foot long communal table that hosts the Irish Heather’s Long Table Series on select nights throughout the year.



Credit: Simon Kear

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View of the Shebeen Whiskey House from inside the Irish Heather.



Credit: Simon Kear

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Nothing keeps a beer crawl in order like a bell to call the crowd to attention.



Credit: Simon Kear

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View from above. The cozy atmosphere makes it impossible not to mingle and meet those seated next to you.



Credit: Simon Kear

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Walk down Blood Alley in Gastown and you will be greeted by this view into the Salt Tasting Room.



Credit: Simon Kear

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The Salt Tasting Room offers artisanal cheese, small-batch cured meats, and a dynamic array of wines, beers and sherries.



Credit: Simon Kear

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Brooklyn Brewery’s Brown Ale and Black Chocolate Stout served at Vancouver Craft Beer Week’s Brooklyn Crawl held recently at the Salt Tasting Room.



Credit: Simon Kear

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On Friday and Saturday nights Salt’s cellar doubles the capacity of the space, while on week nights it is available for private functions.



Credit: Simon Kear

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Salt offers a diverse selection of local and imported cheeses from as close as Salt Spring Island and Agassiz to as far away as London.



Credit: Simon Kear

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Assemble a tasting plate from the chalkboard’s selection of 10 cheeses, 10 meats, and 10 condiments.



Credit: Simon Kear

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Guests wander home down Blood Alley in Gastown after a night full of delicious drinks and nibbles.


Gastown’s Shebeen Whiskey House, Irish Heather and Salt Tasting Room—a classy trio of venues for a pub crawl

 

During Vancouver Craft Beer Week (May 6-14, 2011) I had the opportunity to join craft beer lovers on the Brooklyn Crawl, an event that was held twice that week by organizers. Not unlike most pub crawls, it was thirst-quenching, social and stumble-worthy.

 

We started the evening with a social mixer in the private Shebeen Whiskey House, dined at a long table in the Irish Heather (really in the attached neighbouring establishment