One of Vancouver's first microbreweries has been named the 'Best Brewery Experience' in the province.
Following the tallying of more than 4,200 votes, took first place in the fourth annual awarding of the accolade, which is given out by the . It's the first time a brewery in Vancouver, or even the Lower Mainland, received the award.
"This award means a lot to us," says R&B co-founder Barry Benson in a press release. "Now I get to do what I really like, which is going out, selling beer, meeting new people. The brew crew we have is the most amazing brew crew ever. The front-of-house staff is great."
, located at 54 East 4 Ave., was created in 1997 by Benson and Rick Dellow. In 2015 it was bought by Squamish's Howe Sound Brewing, which helped revive the front-of-house space.
"It’s an honour and a privilege to give this award to one of the OGs in craft brewing in BC,” says Ken Beattie, Executive Director of the BC Craft Brewers Guild. “This award gives folks all across B.C. a chance to single out breweries that work hard to create amazing consumer experiences."
The award takes into account a variety of factors, from the quality of beer to the atmosphere in the restaurant. Past winners were Townsite in Powell River, Land & Sea in Comox, and Twin City in Port Alberni.
