Victoria Beer Week Review: Taco Tuesday

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Move over, beer! Tacos shared the spotlight at Victoria Beer Week’s Taco Tuesday.

The evening began with the Czechmate Pilsner (5.2%) from Off the Rail Brewing. Crisp, clear, and mild, it doesn’t forge any new paths, but would be perfect for a day at the beach.

Very Good Butchers are a completely vegan operation that, as they put it, “butchers beans.” Their jackfruit-roasted corn taco with pickled red onions had a strange texture, but its sweet-spicy chipotle mayo and fresh corn tortilla made for a tasty, satisfying nosh.

Crowds enjoying Victoria Beer Week’s Taco Tuesday (photo by Lane Chevrier/Nexus).

From Hoyne Brewing came the Down Easy Pale Ale (5%). Less hoppy than most pales, and mildly fragrant, this refreshing beer lives up to its name.

Next up was a vegetarian braised mushroom soft taco from Taco Stand #2. The mushrooms were juicy and spicy, the apple slaw was crisp but could have used a bit of fresh lemon juice, and the crumbled queso fresca on top was a nice touch.

Canoe Brewpub’s Charred Pineapple and Mango IPA’s (6%) fruit flavours synergized surprisingly well with its hops. These flavours were added separately, however, rather than being an integral result of the brewing process, resulting in it tasting somewhat like a beer punch. Still, it was my favourite of the night for its unique flavour.

Roast Meat and Sandwich Shop dished up a taco consisting of two chicken nuggets on a tortilla, a squirt of Sriracha aioli, and a spoonful of salsa. Meagre and sloppy, it lacked any sense of care in both design and presentation. At least the salsa was fresh.

The Escape Artist Mango Guava Sour (6.4%) from Twin City Brewing tastes literally like sour worm candies, and if I were an alcoholic as a small child, this would have been my go-to. Slightly sweet with hints of grapefruit.

Taco Stand #1 provided the best snack of the night with their tantalizing popcorn shrimp taco with avocado crema and salsa fresca. The deep-fried shrimp had the perfect crispiness, and it was definitely gone too soon.

Victoria Beer Week runs until March 14; visit victoriabeerweek.com for details.