"Opened in 1984, this is—as the story goes—the first craft brewery in Canada, the granddaddy of them all. Since being acquired by a subsidiary of Canadian brewing giant Molson in 2009, Granville Island's craft status is arguable; however, nothing about the pseudo-Mission style warehouse and tap room screams “corporate.” Authentic to the Island’s industrial roots, with its exposed pipes, the cavernous high-ceilinged room is defined by its massive timber posts and beams. Long communal tables and a busy stand-up bar foster interaction among tipplers; the space is inviting and warm, and it can also get loud. This is definitely a tourist spot; out-of-towners play a role in the scene here. But it’s also a magnet for locals who stop in after shopping for fresh meats, fish, and produce at the fabulous Granville Island Public Market nearby. You can get a drink at many places on the Island, so the locals who gravitate here are in it for the beer, which is also sold to carry-out in an adjoining retail store." - Guy Saddy
