BIGGER BREW Arrowhead’s new vats are going to allow the brewery to almost double its production. Photo submitted
By Steve Hubrecht
Pioneer Staff
Invermeres Arrowhead Brewery continues to expand at a fast rate, having recently set up four of its five new vats at the brewery and growing its distribution across B.C. and into Alberta.
(The new vats) will almost double our capacity for fermenting and storage of beer, said Arrowhead co-owner Shawn Tegart.
Arrowheads four new vats, which were custom-built to fit into the brewery, are already installed and the fifth will likely be arriving sometime in the spring. The five vats will be in addition to the 10 the brewery already has and will help increase its ever-expanding distribution.
Were looking to double our business again this year, said Mr. Tegart, adding the brewery came close to doing so last year.
The increase in production will likely delight local craft beer drinkers, who can expect some new Arrowhead flavours in a few months time.
Were going to add a few beers in the spring and then well see how many brands we can keep running through the summer. Id like to keep as many as possible, said Mr. Tegart.
The brewerys distribution has increased to the point where Arrowhead now has both a B.C. and an Alberta representative and is distributing cans and 650 millilitre bottles to private and government-run liquor stores in the Okanagan, the West Kootenay region, the East Kootenay region and parts of Alberta.
Its awesome. Its been a goal since we began the brewery to be able to distribute across our own province and Alberta, said Arrowhead co-owner Leanne Tegart. Were slowly and surely working our way to the Lower Mainland and the island, but we arent there quite yet.
The list of stores were Arrowhead cans and bottles are sold changes on a regular basis, and the brewery updates its Facebook page (Arrowhead Brewing Company) with the latest information.
The Tegarts and Jess de Groot (Arrowhead Design and Media) will be heading to the annual Craft Beer Conference and Beer Expo in Portland, Oregon this spring.
The conference is a major event in the craft beer industry and is held in a different city each year. This is the first time its being held in a location that makes it feasible for Arrowhead to attend, and the brewery team is excited.
Its close enough to home that this time were going to go down, learn a lot and enjoy some great craft beer. It should be really fun, said Mrs. Tegart. Its a whole bunch of seminars on secrets of the trade combined with a buying show. Its about making contacts and networking. Pretty much everybody in the (craft beer) industry does attend.
The conference runs from April 14th through to April 17th.
