The focal point of this month was Mrs. Sip’s birthday, which we managed to celebrate in a couple different ways, despite ongoing pandemic restrictions. Here’s what we got up to in the first month of 2021:

Part one of celebrating Mrs. Sip’s birthday was attending a cooking course at Dirty Apron in Downtown Vancouver. We arrived early, so dropped into the neighbouring Devil’s Elbow for a couple happy hour pints first, including the Townsite Savary Beaches Witbier and Faculty Centennial Red Ale. Both 20oz beers were ordered under the restaurant’s $6 happy hour and Mrs. Sip also got the Mac N’ Cheese Cornbread for a snack.

As for our dinner, our cooking course featured a four-course meal, each paired with a B.C. wine selection. While it would have been more relaxing to not have to cook the meal ourselves, we learned a few new tricks and enjoyed the experience. Our courses included Prawn Gyoza with Wild Goose Riesling, Salmon and Potato Cake with Arrowleaf Pinot Noir, Duck Breast with Hester Creek Character Red and Apple Almond Tart with Clos de Soleil Saturn for dessert.

Later that weekend, we went to Moody Ales in Port Moody, enjoying pints of their Intrepid Matcha Saison and Chocolate Mint Stout. We also took home bombers of the Saison and Sublime Pineapple Hefeweizen and the putting provided an opportunity to take Toddler Sip to the park nearby.

Leading into the following weekend, Mrs. Sip and I took Baby Sip out for brunch (or as I prefer to call it, Blunch, since I only order lunch menu items) at Angelina’s Dutch Corner, where I had a great Clubhouse Sandwich and Mrs. Sip enjoyed an Eggs Benny. Following our meal, we walked along the New West boardwalk to Steel & Oak Brewing. There, we tried a few new releases, including the Roggenweizen Rye Wheat Ale and the sister brews S&O ♡ Dageraad Imperial Stout with Cacao and Almond and Dageraad ♡ S&O Imperial Stout with Cacao and Miso.

Later that day, after picking up Toddler Sip from playschool, we ventured out to Pitt Meadows to visit Foamers’ Folly. Unfortunately, the brewery had a long lineup to get inside, so after another playground stop for the kids, we settled for a growler fill of their Golden Ears Golden Stout.

Afforded a date night by Ma and Pa Sip, we enjoyed a very good meal at Hart House in Burnaby. Over the evening, I had a pair of Strange Fellows Guardian IPAs, while Mrs. Sip enjoyed wine. To start the dinner, we shared a serving of their Stuffed Meatballs and Crispy Pork Belly BLT Salad, with our mains being the AAA Blue Goose Beef Burger with Rosemary Parmesan Fries for me and Seared Trout for Mrs. Sip. Our dessert was a slice of Mascarpone Cheesecake, paired with some Tawny Port.

This past weekend, after a visit to Science World, we walked over the Craft Beer Market for lunch. Our beers included the Wildeye Into the Trees IPA and Coronado Pineapple Farm Hazy IPA, while I had the Classic Burger with Fries and Mrs. Sip had another brunch combo. Even Toddler Sip got in on the action with some Mini Burgers, making for a good meal for the whole family.

That wraps the month, but I should mention, while some were experimenting with a “dry” January, my own version was vowing to not buy anything from liquor stores over the month. Instead, I opted to work my way through some of our large collection. A true “dry” month is simply unrealistic in the Sip Family!