Storm Brewing has the makings of a terrible microbrewery experience: - No seating - No windows - Saw-like location But as Tina Turner once said, it's simply the BEST! It's an instant flashback to your young'en days when standing around holding plastic cups with strangers in a less than comfortable environment was "the thing" to do. But @ Storm Brewing, it really is! And just like your young'en times, their beer goes down by the gallons. Yes, gallons. And there isn't a weird pee smell lingering around - hurray to adult fun! They have a few staples but change up some of their "experiment" beers, which are also freakin delicious. Don't believe me? Their super friendly and all-knowing staff will give you a hearty taster. Unlike some snooty snooterson establishments, their staff are always happy to give you a "by-donation" taster or offer a recommendation. And they don't look at you with rolling eyes when you want to try every beer before making a decision. Sometimes a gal likes to shop around before picking something....which of course ended up being the cinnamon bun ale. AKA. all kinds of yummers! On your next visit to the Strathcona area, don't forget about this tiny lil' brewery! They're easy to miss but once you find it....ohhhhhhh it'll be burned into your retina. read more

Best beer in Vancouver! Great place to get kegs for parties, they'll usually give you cups and a tap to use. read more

This place is weird, but they have embraced the weird without any intention on changing what they do, so kudos to that. As the reviews mention, this place is a sketchy garage where instead of flights and pints they serve plastic cup samples based on a donation. They have a few mainstays and a variety of one off brews, and while I will give them credit for brewing "outside the box" beers, I wasn't really jiving on any of them. The mainstays like their Hurricane IPA and the Sour Ale were unmemorable, and then most of the others seemed rather novelty. Things like the Cream Soda Pilsner and Pineapple Pilsner seemed cool in idea but fell short in flavour. I will say that the Turkey Dinner IPA gets credit for being one of the weirdest beers I had during my travels. It actually tasted like stuffing! Mind you I couldn't imagine trying to drink more than a samples worth, but it was if nothing else, gets credit for being very unique! In the end, this place is cool enough to warrant a stop by as a novelty (my Vancouver local friends who I brought got a kick out of it), but if looking for well designed recipes and more traditional stylings there are better options. read more

Storm is a very 'unique' brewery, but man do they make some good beers! Don't be scared away by the mad-scientist's lab environment when you walk n or the fact that it kind of looks like an industrial shop that happens to hawk beer. They offer free samples (up to six tastes) to make your selection and they always have something interesting to offer. On our last visit we were really pleased with the Gin & Tonic Pilsner and Basil IPA, as well as the Sour Ale, which we tend to get a fill of every time we're there. Keep an eye out for the owner James, who can often be spotted in and around the brewery. He's super friendly and usually happy to chat a bit about his beers and his facility/history. Always worth the stop! read more

No one will ever accuse Storm of not being all about the beer. Storm Brewing is a classic. They don't brew your run of the mill beer. Infact, they often brew what I'd only describe as unique beer. Apple Pie? Bourbon Barrel aged? Sour ales? Yea, all here. The tasters are plentiful, the growlers are being filled. The folks at Storm are so friendly, with a clear love for their craft. The ambience still makes it feel like you're in someone's garage, because you kind of are. It's not super crowded, and your fellow patrons are welcoming. If you're into craft beer, this is one of the must visits for the local scene. read more

Storm, where to start? The fact that James has been at the front of the Vancouver craft brew scene for almost 20 years, is awesome. His sour ales are unparalleled(pardon the p49 reference), and have a depth of flavor that only can be created over time. I have recently been to the brewery to get my growlers filled, and the service was great. There is tastings and James will talk you through what is happening in the brewery at the time, you go in. Or at least when i went, he had tons of time for me and my super curious 4 yr old daughter. The hours are usually 10-6, Wed-Sunday. I went on a Thursday, no line up and great service. With all of the new breweries starting up in Vancouver, Storm may not be the most polished and there are no french made chairs in the tasting lounge,but it is 100% real and provides awesome beer. read more

came to Storm Brewing at the recommendation of our Vancouver Brewery Tour guide since this wasn't a scheduled stop on our particular tour date. im so glad that we made the 30 minute bus ride from downtown to check this place out though! Storm Brewing may have been the most informal tasting/tour that i've ever experienced, but it was probably one of the most fun and friendly at the same time. you walk into Storm and it's literally just their brewing space. its not a fancy tasting room and there really is no seating either. and because of their license, they wont sell you flights or actually sell you tasters at all. 6 tasters are charged "by donation" only. the beers are really just so innovative and creative and good! they have their mainstay beers which they brew on a regular basis and are always available...but what sets them apart is their Brainstorm brews. these are the beers where they get to experiment with different flavors and ingredients. on our visit, we got to the a basil IPA (really refreshing), gin & tonic pilsner (totally tastes like a real gin& tonic alcoholic drink but without any actual gin in it haha), vanilla whiskey stout (usually not a fan of stouts but really liked this one), and a cinna-cran whiskey sour (not really my favorite but kudos for the creativity). my favorite beer that i tried was their imperial flanders sour ale. im becoming a big fan of sour beers and this one was really tasty. what made the experience here even better was the staff was super friendly. they were chatting with us like we were old friends. it was nice to get a local's perspective on things in Vancouver and to get their recommendations on where else we should visit. overall it was a pretty awesome experience here. please dont be stingy when you are 'donating' for the tasters. i think its a pretty cool thing that they're doing at Storm and it should be supported! read more

This is a place where you walk in and you think you are going to lose your life but then you drink the beer and gain nine lives. Classic alleyway look, it gives the impression of drinking outside while being in a fine tuned brewery read more

Super supper duuuuper friendly staff. It looks like you walking in a bad neighborhood on the outside, but it's not. Great brainstorm beers they're different from other breweries in the area. read more

Storm Brewing is a joy. Having visited every brewery in the city (except for the Steel Toad) I can say that Storm is hands down my favourite. The inside of the brewery looks as though the staff were told that they only had 10 minutes to turn the place into a ~tasting room. It is a breathe of fresh air. You will definitely find yourself talking to someone in hosing something or brewing. The beer is delightful, inspired, and as wacky as the building. Their "Brainstorms" (how they title their class of zany beers) are definitely worth a go. The Apple Pie Beer is inspired. read more

Ack! So much fun. Why has it taken me so long to go there? So here is the deal. It is like drinking beer in someone's garage. For samples they give you a plastic cup and you can try up to 6 of their beers -- samples are all by donation. They have so many really interesting beers. I tried one infused with devils claw, one with chai and one with mango. They were all AWESOME and I'm very picky about beer. These are all special infusions that change moment to moment-- they do post a listing on their facebook and tumblr but if they run out, they'll put something new up. There are no seats to prepare to stand if you're there to taste several of their beers. The ONLY downside is that they close early, at 6. We were there at around 4:30 to 5:30 on a Saturday and they were quit busy with people sampling and filling growlers. Staff is super friendly and willing to explain their beers. Joseph. H. pretty much summed it up -- sketchy but great beer. read more

I've been drinking for over 15 Years. This was my first beer boner... Someone told me that the best coffee bean is pooped out of an animal and then made into the most cherished coffee in the world. This is a metaphor for the Storm Brewery experience. Place looks like crap... but is delectable. read more

Be prepared for your new favourite brewery to smell like a bottle depot. Everything is experimental and awesome. Want weird shit? They have weirdly shit. And it all tastes great somehow. Bring cash. These guys don't do flights or pints, only samples paid for directly to the tip jar. Awesome. read more

Mad scientist dude in ghetto joint. This guy's been around forever. I had to finally check it out. With no real tasting room, you walk right into the brewing shop and tasting is by donation. He's got a long list of random concoctions like chai tea. Staff give you a plastic cup and are very generous with the samples. I got buzzed quick. It feels like going to an uncle's basement with his own brewing contraptions. I don't remember which beer I liked, I just remember a lot of intriguing, wild ideas. Worth going for entertainment value. read more

Don't let the "sketchiness" scare you. The beer is inventive and amazing. I even bought a shirt to support them. Such a cool operation with lots of tinctures to flavor the beer with. read more

I love this place. - Variety of flavours from tradition to kooky. - Staff is so friendly. Feels like you are being welcomes into someones home. - Free (aka by donation) samples. You need to bring cash for a tip. Best Brewery. read more

There are a lot of baby breweries in Vancouver and this one is the crazy old uncle of them all. Storm just celebrated their 20th anniversary of brewing super-creative craft brews and with fun names like "the fennel countdown" it's easy to see why. It's not a true tasting room, but they'll let you sample any of their beers "by donation" when you're filling a growler...and you don't really want to stick around too long. The place has got a Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome ascetic and it feels like a candidate for an episode of Hoarders, but the staff are friendly (if not a little scary.) The owner happily chatted with us about the current beer selection and I couldn't help picturing him in his brew laboratory during a lightning storm screaming "Its alive!" Whatever the inspiration for his creative genius, I'm thrilled that he does what he does. read more

looks like a place someone would steal my kidney, but I'll happily let them take it for their beer! Amazingly good and incredible flavours!

I don't usually write reviews but the Laphroaig of Vancouver craft beers is totally worth it.

Really great selection of experimental beers as well as the their staples. Their Highland Scottish Ale is amazing! The reason for the 4 stars and not 5 is the cleanliness. They really need to give it a good scrub down or a pressure wash and get rid of all the flies. Are the beers actually brewed at the front of the house with that filthy looking equipment? I can't imagine they are by the state of them, and try to not think about it because this is my favourite brewery to fill my growlers up at. read more

Be sure to keep you eye out for the sign, easy to miss as it is down an alley! Slide open the door and enter the warehouse. No seating, no food and beer by donation. Eat before you arrive as the favours are immense. Pineapple lager, espresso ale......line your stomach. Standing room only and constant traffic on the weekend. Even met a guy that had driven in from Squamish to fill up his growlers! A spot to try for sure during your craft brewery tour. read more

Raw, rough, experimental, friendly, and a fun experience. This place is NOT for beer traditionalists, but if you want some really interesting and well executed mixes of flavors with beer, this is worth checking out. No seating, standing only, and only single servings in plastic cups. Not a fancy place at all. Loved it. read more

This place is a Vancouver beer scene institution. But try as I might, I can't get on board with the weird flavours. Worth a stop though, just because it's so unique! read more

It's definitely an interesting concept how they give out free samples rather than having customers pay for flights/tasters. The beers are all interesting, unique flavor combos and many options to choose from. My favorite was the coffee stout. The only minor issue is it is really dirty inside, like you might get sick...maybe not. I'm sure the alcohol kills everything. I think it's funny how they embrace the dirtiness and made the brewery somewhat themed around it (e.g rat theme). It's worth checking out. read more

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Saw this reviewed on the front page of yelp on April 21st and book marked it. They have the most creative lists of flavors that I have ever seen. I tried a small bit of the pineapple and it was amazing. There isn't really a testing room, however, you can do a limit of 6 samples by donation. It is more or less a fill and go station. Staff were super friendly. I love the creativity in the flavors. read more

First of all, I kind of can't believe I haven't written a review of Storm yet! This place is AHH-mazing! You basically don't get much more Eeat Van than Storm Brewing. Now, there's no fancy tasting room nor can you get a pint, so if that's what you're used to be warned. What you get is a total lack of pretension, happy, friendly staff (shout out to the Heathers!), and some of the most creative beer I've had the pleasure of drinking. I mean Pineapple Upside-down Cake Ale? Chocolate Lavender Stout? Orange Creamcicle Ale? Come on! *drools* And as if the Brainstorms aren't enough, they also make a sour ale (the Imperial Flanders) that will blow your hair back, and a really good Pilsner (so says the boyfriend). Bonus points for being so dog friendly - snarfing down the grain free treats they provide sure makes Elvis more patient while mommy picks read more

If you like creative decor, you should go to Ikea. If you like creative beer, you should go to storm. read more

Storm Brewing - Rats on things. - Breweries Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

My fiancée and I wanted to explore breweries in Vancouver and were told this one had good beer but it was like drinking in someone's garage. Well, they undersold it on both accounts. First, the setting is more like a construction project that was started in 1985 and abandoned in 1989 and has been the home to squatters and horror movie sets ever sense. But the beer is amazing. We went to several breweries in the area and this was by far the best. A fun, interesting Vancouver experience that you shouldn't miss. read more

Storm Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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5 stars...Nuff said. But yelp wants to to Say more. WTF is there to say. You stand there drink beer out of a plastic cup. 5 stars read more

My dog Missy Elliott asks me to come here all of the time. She doesn't drink beer often, but when she does its Storm. We travel all the way from Tsawwassen to grab some samples (by donation) and socialize. All around a nifty place with tremendous character with great employees to boot. Worth the drive. read more

Yesterday my partner and I walked out of Storm Brewing with a 6 lb 13oz bundle of joy. Burping and bubbling, we could be more excited for the adventure ahead. Thank you for bringing joy into our world! We are so happy we have beer and not a baby. read more

I drink Storm Beer while riding the grouse grind tram, scaling Burnaby mountain on the proletariat chariot, cruising on the Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay yacht, cutting in to win the Tour de Gastown in the final minute, putting decals on my WRX, fly fishing in the Surrey Canal, paragliding from the top of Mount Pleasant, trading stocks on the NYSE, telling you I graduated from the University of British Columbia, and numerous other elite activities. read more

I've only been once but i sampled a few brews and everyone was a treat. This place strikes me as particularly unpretentious and not at all a bandwagon jumping kind of operation. Quietly making high quality and varied styles of beer. They have just recently, as i understand, wisely and modestly (they don't have anything like a contrived, trendy, faux-minimalist, hipster industrialist, retro claptrap showroom) taken advantage of the popularity of refillable bottles. However you will have to plan for it as their hours for refilling are not very 9to5 friendly. Still, very much worth some extra planning. read more

So yes, as others have said, not a sit-down and chill out tasting room. And not the prettiest of places either (like another said, it's almost like hanging out in someone's garage or basement), but the beer and staff make up for it! James is a blast to chat to and he's definitely passionate about his brews and the work he puts into it. The place is being worked on slowly appearance-wise, but again, that's not what matters to me. Samples are by donation and yes there is a limit, but they are generous samples. They always have fun and creative names for their "brainstorm" beers, which are different variations of their "mainstay" beers. During seasonal times (e.g. fall/Halloween), they do not always opt for the same as everyone else does. If you want pumpkin beer, look elsewhere, but if you are looking for a nice spiced brew that is full of flavour, Storm is where you go! Also, definitely give your feedback - I have tried certain flavours once and then again a month or more later, and have noticed changes. James or one of the others will tell you what they tried and what worked and did not work. They love what they do and are truly passionate about sharing it with you. read more

By far my favourite of all the Vancouver breweries. I love the strange and unique flavours they come up with- I know they aren't for everybody but I think it's fabulous! I also like how down to earth the staff are and that the atmosphere is the exact opposite of snobby. I also like being able to check the board before I head down. I think I'll have to get a growler filled today! read more

If Macklemore's Thrift Shop video was made into a brewery. The Ginger Lemonade Pilsner was amazing, I hope this makes the regular rotation. read more

Love this "dive"-brewery. You can try up to 5 beers on a donation basis (they can get pretty creative with some). Do not expect a clean atmosphere (people or the place), but it a pretty fun experience. read more

Personally, I loved Storm Brewing. We stopped by on a bicycle ride while visiting Vancouver. Super quirky, so not for everyone. Don't come here if you want food or a polished brewery experience. But, if you want to hang out with some cool down-to-earth folks and try some really unique brews (I really liked the Pineapple Upside Down Cake) then definitely drop in. read more

James the Brew master in a bit of a rock star in the local scene. He doesnt follow the beer rules. Recently Storm Brewing has started to do growler fills. If you are really adventurous then try the imperial sour Flanders red ale. It's a really strong beer! He also has great standard beers including an IPA, Stout and a Scottish Ale. The real star at the brewery though is their Brainstorms. They make special versions of their beers only available for growler fills. Do yourself a favour and check out this brewery! read more

Really cool spot. They charge you seven bucks for I think six tasters. Some beers were a miss for me but the pineapple one was really good. We were visiting from California and decided to check this place out. It's pretty small and it's an all standing area. read more