More British Columbians turning to microbrews
Posted February 23, 2012 1:12 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Many of us are opting for local microbrews when we grab a cold one. The industry is booming with a 20 per cent year over year growth.
Statistics from the BC Liquor Distribution Branch show an increase of nearly 22 per cent for draft and 17 per cent for packaged microbrews; that’s far above the increases for the big beer makers of less than four per cent.
Leslie Fenn, co-owner of Howe Sound Brewing, expects the industry trend to continue to skyrocket. “Everybody seems to be growing and a lot of people are basically at capacity in what they brew. They just sell out constantly.”
Howe Sound Brewing was started in 1996, but it wasn’t until four years ago when things really took off. She says getting on with the Liquor Distribution Branch helped them, but there was also a shift in beer consumption. Since 2008, they have increased production by 20 times.
In addition to a stronger emphasis on pairing food and beer, she credits young drinkers for the boom. “It’s just growing exponentially right now. It’s about young people being really tuned into local, community foods and alcohol.”
Fenn says there is so much demand for unique and seasonal brews, we could see stores dedicated to craft beers in the next five years, much like what the wine industry has done.
Despite the new brands appearing each year, Fenn doesn’t think it’s a competitive industry, but rather a community. When brewers run into problems, they reach out to others in the Pacific Northwest who are always happy to lend a hand.
