So, you can be forgiven if you’re a Torontonian but you have never heard of Granville Island Brewing. Granville is actually known as Canada’s first micro-brewery (and of course, we’re talking one started after prohibition and EP Taylor conspired to homogenize all beer in the Country). From Vancouver BC, Granville Island has been making great beers since 1984. In 2004 the company was sold to Andrew Peller wines, and they opened a second, larger brewing space in Kelowna, BC. In 2009, Granville was purchased by Creemore Springs (who were, in turn, owned by Molson-Coors), and their distribution grew nationally. For those of you who don’t read here often, you won’t hear the tired old song from me, about big bad brewery buying the honest innocent little guy; quite the contrary, I’m happy for both Granville Island and Molson-Coors. For their part, Molson-Coors had demonstrated through their handling of Creemore, that they were actually interested in supporting a medium sized brewery. Not changing them; providing them with the capital and infrastructure to take their products to a wider market.
My first experience with Granville Island actually came in violation of ridiculous inter-provincial laws, when I shipped 24 Steam Whistle Pilsners to a friend in BC via the courier service of a popular bus line. In return, Shawn sent me a mixed box of 24 beers from BC. It was amazing. Stuff I’d never heard of before (this was a few years ago, before I had really geeked-out). Included in the box were a few bottles from Granville Island, and they were all excellent. So in addition to feeling good for Granville, seeing them getting their product further afield, I also get to enjoy a bit of nostalgia. Okay, okay, enough typing, more drinking.
Robson Street Hefeweizen - Granville Island Brewery
I regularly describe myself as an "ardent supporter of beer", which pretty well sums it up. While I'm not working or busy being a husband and dad (okay, honestly, sometimes while I'm doing those things), I am drinking beer, attending events, visiting pubs, and thinking about beer. I work at Castro's Lounge, my local bar in the Beach, where I host beer events and take part in most things beer-related.
