Welcome to the first of three Official Lower Mainland Brewery Reviews, focusing on some of the lesser talked about establishments to grab a drink. I’m going to start with Wildeye Brewing, a North Vancouver brewery that has become more and more popular over the last year.
Nuts and Bolts
Established in 2019, Wildeye joined the long list of breweries that call North Vancouver home. Located away from Lower Lonsdale’s brewers row, Wildeye has a unique location on Main Street close to the highway. This can also lead to quite a bit of traffic in front of the brewery, making it sometimes difficult to pop in.
Shortly after opening, Covid-19 led to some immediate changes. The parking lot, previously parallel to Main Street, was changed to a patio so that the brewery could operate during the lockdown.
The Beers
The brewery has gone through quite a change in their beers in recent years. Brewmaster Michael Friesen has evolved in the beers he’s come up with, relying on his experience with Belgian style beers and experimenting with different flavours.
The brewery is typically a bit light on IPA’s, but their Neon Nector Hazy IPA is absolutely lethal. This is a beer that’s a perfect blend of hops and fruit flavours. The Neon Nector was the final product of an experimental IPA series that involved over 10 different variations.
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Wildeye makes their name for their, well, wild concoctions of beers. They currently have a blood orange sour on tap, with hints of almond. Its the kind of beer that you may never see anywhere else.
If you’re not a craft beer nerd and just want something that’s easy to drink, they’ve got a couple of great options. Wildeye’s Czech Pilsner won the best international pale lager award at the 2022 BC Beer Awards, and is a smooth and easy drinking option. If you’re looking for something with a bit more of a flavour profile, the Kolsch is another favourite.
The Taproom
Wildeye’s venue lends itself well to bigger groups and even some buy-outs. Over the summer, they even had a wedding in the taproom. They also run a trivia night, open-mic night, and random other events like drag brunches. The space is pretty big, with a sizable patio if you want to bring your dogs. Unlike most breweries where you order at the bar, Wildeye operates with table service. This gives it a bit more of a restaurant feel compared to a brewery.
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This brewery has quite a bit of food, and the selection may surprise you a little bit. They don’t have anything fried, but still have a pretty huge menu. They’re most known for their signature nachos, pulled pork sandwiches, and Sheppard’s pie. Their tacos were just okay, especially considering they’re charging $6 a pop for a singular taco.
Final Word
I was pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere, quality and range of beers, and food that was offered here. Seems like the perfect place for a party or to stop in for trivia. The location has some pros and cons, but luckily traffic wasn’t so bad when I got there.
The final verdict?
I’m giving Wildeye 9 fermented sodas out of 10.