Certain things are made to be paired together. Bonfires and s’mores; grilled cheese and tomato soup; bare feet on a warm beach. But nothing has quite the combo power of tacos and beer. Victoria Beer Week’s Taco Tuesday at the Victoria Public Market made sure we were all aware of this fact.
The market was bustling yet again, this time with 12 brand-new craft beers on tap from BC’s best breweries, and six vendors dishing out delicious taco interpretations. Tacos are a production, but the longer the line the better the taco, so I filled my glass with Vancouver’s Red Truck Expressway Northwest Coffee IPA and hopped in the queue.
The bronze-hued brew had crisp scents of hops and a tantalizing sweetness. I smiled upon first sip; I love coffee, and Red Truck nailed its essence without overpowering the beer like many other coffee-style beers do. I left a few last sips for my first taco of the night: WaffleBeast’s Sweet Taco with fruit salsa. Eating this waffle taco was like having breakfast for dinner… at the pub. Sweet, savoury, deep, and rich—my belly was suddenly very happy.
Topping my last combo wasn’t going to be easy. Sticking to the sweeter side, I reached for a glass of Phillips’ Tiger Shark Citra Pale Ale and the super indulgent chili dog taco with jalapeño cheese from Roast Meat and Sandwich Shop. The ale was juicy and ripe like a fresh mandarin, perfect with the strange but appetizing cheesy concoction. More napkins, please!
Keeping the sweet theme going, Canoe Brewpub’s Choco-Wit was next up. Walnut-tinted with a foamy head, this one was a total treat. The chocolate notes were sophisticated, and the weightier body made every sip one to savour. I grabbed two of Taco Stand’s Baja-style fish tacos and noshed in the line for the one brew I had my eye on all night: Twin City Brewing’s Vanishing Act Pineapple Coconut Sour. Lightly sweet with toasty warm coconut notes, this sour beer is not to be missed. Coincidentally, it was the first keg to blow. Always a good indication.
Victoria Beer Week
Various times, Friday, March 1 to Saturday, March 9
Various prices and venues
victoriabeerweek.com