Brewery & The Beast: A Culinary Celebration of Community, Craft, and Fire
Brewery & The Beast has become more than just a food festival. Each summer it’s a bona fide pilgrimage. Born from an resonant tweet, the story behind this annual food festival of cultural gravity has humble origins. Now, in three major cities in Western Canada, producer, Scott Gurney, has transformed an American barbecue concept into one of Canada's premier foodie events, celebrating community, craft beer, and mouthwatering cuisine cooked over open flames.
Since its debut in Victoria in the summer of 2012, Brewery & The Beast has grown into an iconic annual celebration, subsequently launching in Vancouver in 2013 and then Calgary in 2015. This year, the festival sold out swiftly in all three cities, reflecting its established reputation as one of Western Canada’s most anticipated events.
So where did it all start? The inspiration behind Brewery & The Beast was delightfully simple. Scott recalls scrolling through Twitter one day and seeing an intriguing barbecue festival down in the United States; this was before Twitter had grown into a political cesspool, Scott reflects. The tweet highlighted a casual gathering revolving around country music, meat, beer, and whiskey. It struck a resonant chord with Scott and, inspired, he envisioned something broader: an inclusive festival showcasing the richness of the Pacific Northwest’s culinary landscape, reflecting global influences and celebrating open-fire cooking. “Up here on the West Coast, we've got craft beer, incredible local spirits, awesome wines, and a beautiful global influence in our food,” Scott remarks. “Why limit ourselves to American-style barbecue when we can highlight Thai cooking, French techniques, Italian traditions, Argentinian grilling, and more?”
From 36 chefs at its first Vancouver event to over 65 at the upcoming iteration this weekend, Brewery & The Beast has experienced impressive growth. Each of the three city brings unique culinary flair, drawing acclaimed chefs and enthusiastic food lovers. Scott is quick to highlight the diversity and creativity of participating chefs: “It’s about celebrating the best local chefs, ingredients, and cooking traditions. We want chefs to showcase their passion on every plate.”
In Vancouver alone, the festival attracts approximately 2,000 guests, who collectively consume around 6,500 pounds of meat in just one afternoon. The festival's expansion to Calgary in 2015 broadened its influence, pulling chefs from Edmonton, Banff, and Canmore, creating a true Alberta culinary showcase. Victoria remains close to Scott’s heart, not just as the festival’s birthplace, but for its tight-knit community spirit that makes the event unique.
Brewery & The Beast transcends the typical food festival. With live music, craft beer and cocktails, exclusive wines, and even non-alcoholic options, it has evolved into an immersive sensory experience. “We’re food-first, but the drinks complement the dishes perfectly. Everything is curated,” Scott notes.
Logistically, the event resembles building a village, especially at Vancouver's Concord Place. The setup takes over three days, during which the team constructs 65 kitchens, plumbing systems, stages, and lounge spaces. It’s meticulous and demanding, but as Scott admits, “This is primal stuff, cooking with open fire in the open air. That’s what it’s all about.”
What makes Brewery & The Beast distinctive is its emphasis on high-quality ingredients, sourced primarily from trusted local suppliers such as Two Rivers Specialty Meats in British Columbia. Scott insists that authenticity and quality remain foundational: “The chefs commit deeply to sourcing good food, respecting their ingredients, and sharing that with guests.”
This ethos has cemented the festival as a cornerstone of culinary culture, bringing together top-tier chefs from establishments like Savio Volpe, Published on Main, Bar Bravo, Anh & Chi, and many more. Each chef brings their signature flair, from elaborate overnight smoked meats to finely plated tartares and ceviches.
One of Brewery & The Beast’s unique charms is the camaraderie it fosters. As Gurney points out, “Sure, there are lineups at popular stalls, but Vancouver loves a lineup. You meet great people while waiting, beer in hand, anticipating amazing food.” Veteran attendees even have their own strategies, from arriving early and doing a reconnaissance lap, to sampling dishes from lesser-known restaurants first.
Even Chef’s Favorite’s founder James Grass, who has attended frequently, has his own tactic: embrace the unknown. “Go explore restaurants you’ve never heard of and dishes you’ve never tried. Sure, get your ribeye, but also try the lamb tongue or beef heart from chefs passionate about what they’re cooking.”
The upcoming 2025 event in Vancouver sold out rapidly. Scheduled for this weekend, July 27th, at Concord Place, guests with VIP tickets can expect exclusive early access, luxury amenities, and dedicated chefs preparing special dishes available nowhere else in the festival.
Following Vancouver, the festival heads to Calgary’s Confluence Historic Site on August 24, where tickets are also gone, and then wraps up in Victoria. Home again, Brewery and the Beast takes over Langford’s Starlight Stadium on September 21, offering a unique setting atop a professional soccer pitch. Never one to shy away from a challenge or spectacle, what makes this venue even more remarkable are the logistics involved. In order to protect the field, Scott’s team are required to create specialized airflow systems in a stunning logistical feat that belies their conviction in the gathering.
The story doesn’t just end on September 21st though. Excitingly, we can reveal that Scott has announced a major expansion: Brewery & The Beast East will launch in Toronto in 2026. After nearly a decade of searching, Gurney finally secured Henderson Brewing Company as the venue. The Toronto edition promises the same vibrant atmosphere, outstanding culinary talent, and craft beverages, introducing Ontario audiences to the magic that has captivated the West Coast for many, many years.
To say that Brewery & The Beast is just a food event doesn’t do it justice. More than that it’s truly a cultural institution reflecting Canada’s dynamic culinary scene and the community’s love for quality, creativity, and connection. Over the years, it has evolved into a beloved tradition, a celebration of open-fire cooking, local ingredients, and communal enjoyment.
Scott succinctly puts it, “It's hospitality at its finest. We create an environment where everyone feels welcome, everyone eats well, and everyone leaves happy.”
And as the festival continues to grow, welcoming Toronto and perhaps more cities in the future, Brewery & The Beast remains anchored in the original vision: celebrating exceptional chefs, community spirit, and the transformative power of sharing incredible food cooked over fire.
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