CALGARY, AB – Last September, Alberta’s Big Rock Brewery announced plans to open a brewing facility in British Columbia. Those plans are now coming closer to reality with the confirmation that a location and a Brewmaster have been secured for the BC operation.
According to the latest press release from the company, Brewmaster Jody Hammel – formerly of Whistler Brewing and several other BC breweries – will be overseeing brewing in Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant area. Situated at the corner of Alberta Street and 4th Avenue West, the location will put Big Rock in close proximity to other Vancouver craft breweries including 33 Acres and Brassneck.
Originally estimated to be a $1.5 to $2 million project, the new facility has an increased budget of $3 to $3.5 million, and will include a restaurant, tasting lounge and other elements which were not in the original plan.
“We’ll be opening rather more than just a brewery in Mount Pleasant this year,” says Bob Sartor, CEO of Big Rock. “We’ll be opening a hub that, in addition to fresh new brews, will include live entertainment, locally sourced food, educational tours and tastings – in other words, a place we hope craft beer lovers will want to call home.”