📸: @lindseyblane

Imagine this: you put on your Birkenstocks because your Blundstones got stolen at a house party, you take your bicycle and park it with the downtown bike valet, and then after a few blocks in the sunshine, you enter the backyard for the mecca of craft beer.

There’s a bunch of dudes in dad hats and fedoras listening to some of the best music the city has, and after a few IPAs you start debating with someone in line for a pint whether the guy in Ocie Elliot is the same guy from Jon and Roy.

Well, you won’t have to go far for all of that, because it’s the second weekend of Phillips Backyarder.

And in honour of Reverb and the musicians playing it, we figured we’d do something no one’s done before (maybe): tell you which Phillips beers match which band.

Let’s go.

Jesse Roper—Blue Buck

This one just makes sense, right?

Blue Buck—a robust, malt-forward body underpinned with crisp northwest hops, inspired by the wild neighing of a deer, and Jesse Roper—a sun-drenched Pacific blues rocker with a crisp, raspy rock ‘n’ roll voice who lives in the wild southwest of Metchosin.

If Blue Buck is the flagship Phillips beer, then Jesse Roper is the flagship Victoria musician. Plus, I’m sure I’ve seen him shotgun one of these before.

Check Jesse Roper headlining tonight.

Peach Pit—Solaris

Yeah, we get it, this one’s a bit on-the-nose. Peach Pit, white peach ale, yes.

But Solaris is like the refreshing beer you cry into at sunset on Dallas Road, and these Vancouver sad boy rockers have been the soundtrack to many of those melancholic moments.

Check out Peach Pit headlining on Saturday night.

Fleet Foxes—Glitterbomb

It’s impossible to be cheeky about this one—we love Fleet Foxes and are grateful for their presence. Which is kind of like when you get Glitterbomb in an Octobox, no?

It’s the first one people grab out of the pack—it’s the headliner—and it’s great in the winter and the summer. Just like Fleet Foxes.

Check out Fleet Foxes headlining on Sunday night.

Allen Stone—Tiger Shark

Allen Stone is laid back, but has a bit of bite—much like Tiger Shark, Phillips most tropical and citrus-forward pale ale. The soul and R&B singer can at once make you marvel at the beauty of the world, and cry in shame about how tough it is.

Tiger Shark can do the same—but the shameover is usually the next day.

Check out Allen Stone on Saturday evening before Peach Pit.

Ruby Waters—Electric Unicorn

Waters is a gift to Canada.

So yeah, she’s the Electric Unicorn—a white IPA with a floral bitter finish. Best to be enjoyed with caution: you never know when it will hit and make you a total emotional puddle of joy.

Check out Ruby Waters on Saturday afternoon before Stone.

Bankes Brothers—Tilt Lager

Approachable, easy, and it goes to all the best recesses of your mind. Am I talking about Tilt or the Bankes Brothers? It doesn’t matter, they’re indistinguishable.

This Victoria band likely knows these beers intimately, so let’s hope they don’t look too deeply into this (very legit) ranking system.

Check out the Bankes Brothers on Saturday afternoon.

Jon and Roy—IOTA

Consensus is in, and yes, Jon from Jon and Roy is the same guy from the Victoria band Ocie Elliot. Phew!

These acoustic-folk rockers are best represented by the non-alcoholic IOTA beers. They’re sobering because their songs consistently remind listeners of the swelling waves, towering trees, and crisp coastlines of Vancouver Island. That’s why we love them.

Check out Jon and Roy on Sunday evening.

Well, we’ve done it, we’ve successfully ranked these musicians to their exact beer twin. This is cause for celebration.

So, head to the Phillips Backyarder to drink in the artists (and beers) above, as well as a handful of other incredible musicians from Friday, Aug. 11 to Sunday, Aug. 13.