The HI in Vancouver is very much unlike any HI you've come across and is about 7 minutes walk from the arena if not a bit closer. Book soon as rates are already high and will probably go up.

If you want to split a stay, I'd recommend the HI in Bellingham for the Friday night (cross into Canada before noon on Saturday to avoid traffic) and the Vancouver HI on Saturday.

As for brew pubs on the way up/down, I like the Boundary Bay brewery in downtown Bellingham (south/west end of town). It's by the new farmer's market building.