E-Malt.com News article: Canada, AB & BC: Big Rock announces craft brewery location in Vancouver

Further to the September 5, 2013 announcement of its intention to establish a brewery in British Columbia, Big Rock is pleased to announce that it has signed a lease on a vacant warehouse facility in Vancouver. Later this year, Big Rock will open the doors of a brand new brewery and craft beer destination in the Mount Pleasant area, in the heart of the city's burgeoning craft beer district, Wall Street Journal reported on March 3.

"BC is where smaller, innovative, more nimble breweries and brew pubs are most appreciated. As a result, British Columbia is quickly becoming the Craft Beer Capital of Canada", says Jody Hammel, Big Rock's newly appointed BC Brewmaster. "West Coast craft beer drinkers are thirsty for fresh, natural, local brews - and that's what Big Rock is all about."

Jody brings over 20 years of brewing experience to his new role, including six years in BC spent with the Whistler Brewing Company, Bear Brewing and the Kamloops brewery. "I look forward to creating new, innovative and deliberately different beers in a brewery with a footprint and mission that I believe is the future of brewing - small batches of unique brews. Natural, unpasteurized and fresh - the way beers should be."

"We have high hopes for the Vancouver brewery, and not least because of Jody's no- compromise ideas of what constitutes truly great craft beer; his brewing background, particularly in BC, and his deeply held belief that brewing great beer is the most important thing he could be doing with his life", says Bob Sartor, CEO of Big Rock.

Total cash outlay required for the new BC facility is expected to be in the range of C$3 to C$3.5 million. This exceeds Big Rock's initial estimate of C$1.5 to C$2.0 million due to the nature and size of the facility and the expansion of the scope of the project to incorporate restaurant and lounge operations.

About Big Rock Brewery Inc.

Big Rock Brewery Inc. produces premium, all-natural craft beers. Big Rock offers a family of exceptional ales and lagers, Rock Creek Cider(R), an ongoing selection of seasonal beers released through the Brewmaster's Limited Edition and cutting-edge, small-batch brews released through the Alchemist Edition.


05 March, 2014