Blues and brews — it’s a beautiful thing. Parallel 49 Brewing Company celebrated the release of their collaboration pack with 12 different B.C.-based breweries on Monday evening at St. Augustines’s Craft Brew House and Kitchen with a party of a slightly different sort.

Craft beer enthusiasts of all sorts sampled paddles of beer from the mixer, made by well-known local businesses like Steel & Oak, Bomber, Dageraad and Yellow Dog, with each beer being named after classic blues songs like “The Thrill is Gone” (B.B. King) and “Boom Boom Boom” (John Lee Hooker).

“Collaborating with multiple breweries allowed us to take our creativity to the next level and develop a fresh spin on the regular 12-pack,” says Parallel 49 head brewer Graham With.

The host establishment also served up appropriately matching bites of corn bread, fried chicken, mashed potatoes and coleslaw while guests mingled, many of whom work in the industry.

The 12 beers will be available in participating bars across the province starting March 31, as well as at Parallel 49’s own tasting room in East Vancouver (1950 Triumph St.)

Visit www.parallel49brewing.com for more info.