^ From left to right, Ken Snyder of RBC, Mayor Paul Ives, Bob Surgenor, and John Watson, Executive Director of the Comox Economic Development Society toast the opening of Surgenor Brewing.
Seven years and $2 million dollars later, Bob Surgenor’s dream has come true. On March 21, family, friends, and local dignitaries gathered at Surgenor Brewing in Comox for a ceremony to mark the launch of BC’s latest craft brewery. The town’s mayor, the Executive Director of the Comox Economic Development Society, and the project’s banker showed up to provide the obligatory speeches. Afterword, the brewery was opened to tour, its beer poured to sample, and food served to satiate.
Surgenor was inspired to start up a brewery when his industrial electrical contracting business began to decline with the slump in the coastal forest industry, his primary source of revenue. Rather than lay off his workers, he was resolved to keep them employed. Fortunately, his plan meshed with the Economic Development Society’s priority to develop the food and beverage sector in the Comox Valley. Along with Beaufort Vineyard & Estate Winery, Carbrea Vineyard & Winery, Shelter Point Distillery, and numerous food producers, the region is developing into a culinary tourism destination.
^ Brewing consultant Mark Simpson, left, and Surgenor Brewing brewmaster, Douglas Rae.
Not a brewer himself, Surgenor has hired Douglas Rae as brewmaster. Rae started his brewing career at Granville Island Brewing in 1984, then went on to work for Labatt and Molson. Brewer consultant, Mark Simpson, was brought in to help with design, setup, and recipe formulation. Simpson’s brewing experience also includes Granville Island and Molson.
The brewery is state-of-the-art with automated process controls that are operated from one of two graphic terminals. This allows Surgenor to achieve a consistency in the final product equal to an industrial brewery. An Irish red ale and a Czech pilsener are the first beers being produced. A wheat ale and a stout are being contemplated as future additions to their lineup. Those visiting the brewery will be able to sample the beer in their tap room.
^ Surgenor’s bottling line.
Current sales are limited to kegs. However, they expect to be shipping six-packs of aluminum bottles in a matter of weeks. Surgenor will be the first brewery in the province to use this innovative packaging which is lightweight, easily recyclable, unbreakable, chills quickly, and prevents spoilage from light.
Those interested in wholesale orders should contact:
Bob Jeffery
Sales Representative
bob.jeffery[at]surgenorbrewing[dot]ca
Tel: (250) 339-9947
Cell: (250) 898-7862
861 Shamrock Place
Comox, BC V9M 4G4
See Flickr for more photos…
~ RG
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Why aluminum bottles rather than cans?
Cans have the advantage of taking up less room, so they are a more efficient form of packaging. However, they want to stand out by being different.