Vancouver Craft Beer Week has released its full lineup of free and ticketed events for 2018, which includes a new—and slightly uncanventional—opening-night launch, a Vancouver Island tap takeover, and of course, the fete’s marquee festival at the PNE Fairgrounds.

Taking place from May 25 to June 3, VCBW will kick off at the Maritime Labour Centre (1880 Triumph Street) on May 25 with the East Van Crusher, which will see a wide array of canned beers available from B.C. brewers. This includes the VCBW 2018 Collaboration Beer: a double dry-hopped pilsner produced by sea-to-sky breweries Backcountry Brewing, Beere Brewing, and Coast Mountain Brewing.

The celebration will also boast Feats of Strength, a classic VCBW function that will pit industry pros and general suds enthusiasts against one another in strength- and beer-related challenges like keg-stacking, as well as live music from local talents Alex Maher and Hebegebe. Tickets are $25 online and include entry and two beers.

Over the next seven days, a slew of happenings will take place at various venues around Metro Vancouver. These include:

• Forbidden Fruit, which will see fruity and sour beers from 22 B.C. craft breweries on tap at Devil’s Elbow (562 Beatty Street) on May 31;
• New Kids on the Rock, a tap takeover at St. Augustine’s (2360 Commercial Drive) on May 31 that will spotlight five relatively new breweries from Vancouver Island: Riot Brewing, Gladstone Brewing, Mount Arrowsmith Brewing, Sooke Oceanside Brewery, and Axe & Barrel Brewing;
• Port Moody Brewmaster’s Dinner, the May edition of Craft Beer Market’s (85 West 1st Avenue) monthly craft beer–pairing dinner series that will see the brewpub working with Moody Ales, Twin Sails Brewing, Parkside Brewery, and Yellow Dog Brewing on May 29; and
• Gastown Pub Walks, a craft beer walking tour on May 31 that will guide attendees through an eating-and-drinking binge in historic Gastown, while offering informative tidbits about the ’hood.

Besides the St. Augustine’s event, the above functions require tickets, which can be purchased online. Other events with free admission include tap takeovers at Trading Post Brewing and Odd Society Spirits, a Clash sing-along with the Impromptu Rock Choir at Strange Fellows Brewing, and an aperitivo pairing night at Luppolo Brewing.

As usual, VCBW wraps up with the big VCBW Festival at the PNE Fairgrounds on June 2 and 3. The biggest craft beer and cider festival in Western Canada, this year’s iteration will once again feature 300-plus beverages from over 100 craft breweries and cideries, plus live music, food, art, games, and more. Single-day, weekend passes, and VIP tickets start at $39 online.

Vancouver Craft Beer Week takes place from May 25 to June 3 at various Metro Vancouver venues. For details, see event listing.