Mount Pleasant—After a few short months open and many delays before that, R&B Ale & Pizza House has quickly become a charming, neighbourhood fixture in its once predominantly industrial surroundings. After their acquisition by Howe Sound Brewing last year, R&B Brewing Co. (est. 1997) looks primed for a resurgence after being the "East Van Original" of the local craft beer scene it help start.
As for the "pizza" part of the ale house, their corned beef pizza (with pickled roasted red peppers) was a satisfyingly tasty and greasy Italian pie best enjoyed with an assortments of beers. Very cheesy.
So far, I'm most enamoured by R&B's special seasonal and cask offerings of their beers including an addictive vanilla version of their well-known Raven cream ale as well as a Cuckoo Cocoa variety with (with cocoa nibs). The Deep into Darkness (with bourbon rooibos tea) was another fun twist on the reliably solid ale.
My new go to lately has been the Vienna lager (above), a smooth, European style amber lager, with a nice malt finish to it. Their Sun God wheat ale is another staple as a traditional Bavarian kristallweizen wheat beer with the Golden Goddess version (with Enigma hops, apricot, and coriander) being particularly refreshing. The newly launched Dude Chillin' pale ale is also a fine American style pale ale.
The amusingly named Sippin' on Gin & Juice IPA (with gin-soaked juniper berries and Vic Secret Hops) was easy-drinking while the Enigma kettle sour was a nice dry-hopped sour beer with light tropical hints. Their Nitro Dark Star stout was a smooth, rich oatmeal stout with a tinge of chocolate. Other favourites like the Stolen Bike lager, Vancouver Special IPA, and East Side bitter are good entry points into craft beer standards.
Every week on Thursdays, R&B offers a Rib Thursday special featuring a half-rack of barbecue back ribs (with baked potato and arugula salad) for good value. The ribs were quite delectable and fall off-the-bone tender and complemented with a fine ale.
R&B's renovated digs offer a lot of charm with its homey, relaxed vibe. It's welcoming and a fine place to enjoy multiples beers (in twenty-ounce full pints, no less) with a setting reminiscent of your buddy's garage or basement suite.
More | YVArcade / 2014 / Dennis the Foodie / Scout / Van Mag
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