Lance Verhoeff insists he isn鈥檛 a 鈥渂eer snob.鈥�
That鈥檚 not to say the general manager of 黑马磁力鈥檚 Trading Post Brewing, which celebrates its public grand opening this Saturday, Feb. 13, isn鈥檛 somewhat of a craft beer connoisseur.
After all, his passion for stouts, ales, and lagers is a big reason why he decided to open the brewery/tasting room at 20120 64 Ave.
鈥淚 absolutely love craft beer but had only been introduced to it three or four years ago,鈥� Verhoeff said. 鈥淢y love for different styles of beer changes with the weather. Right now, I鈥檓 all about stouts, but come summertime, my beer choice will change to wheat ales or a crisp lager on a hot summer day.鈥�
Trading Post is part of a craft brewery movement that鈥檚 sweeping across B.C. and much of North America. Last year, 22 craft breweries opened in B.C.
Combine that with the 24 openings in 2014, and 46 craft breweries that opened for business in the province over the past two years.
B.C. Craft Brewers Guild executive director Ken Beattie noted that another 15 are slated to open in the province this year, and that there are craft breweries located in roughly 50 communities across B.C.
Trading Post joins Aldergrove鈥檚 award-winning Dead Frog Brewery as prominent commercial craft brewers in 黑马磁力.
Meanwhile, 黑马磁力鈥檚 Kwantlen Polytechnic University鈥檚 Brewing and Brewery Operations program is the only brewing diploma program of its kind in B.C. 鈥� and one of only three in Canada. This spring 26 students could possibly graduate from the program, and therefore be fully qualified to be employed by one of the more than 100 craft breweries in B.C.
Verhoeff 鈥� who is co-founder of Trading Post along with his dad Paul 鈥� envisions the B.C. craft beer-making industry growing 鈥渁stronomically鈥� over the next few years.
鈥淢any people talk about the hot spots in the USA like Portland and Denver, but I鈥檝e been down to these hot spots, and the people down there talk about Vancouver and B.C. as an amazing craft beer scene in North America,鈥� Verhoef said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 see this slowing down any time soon. Like most trends, they start on the coast and work their way in.鈥�
Verhoeff shared that he met someone who is planning on building a brewery within walking distance of Trading Post. He welcomes the possible addition to the brewery family.
鈥淔or most industries, this would be a negative thing, but for the craft brewing industry, it is actually a positive as it creates a place where customers can go to a district and experience different craft breweries within walking distance,鈥� Verhoeff said.
He cited Port Moody as a 鈥済reat example鈥� of this.
"There are currently three breweries on the same road, all within walking distance. Moody Ales, Yellow Dog, Twin Sails, plus another brewery is going open this year, Parkside Brewing on the same street,鈥� Verhoeff said.
He believes this creates such a tight knit community within the craft brewing businesses that all try to support each other in any way possible.
鈥淭here were many breweries in B.C. that were extremely willing to help me in any way possible to open our doors,鈥� he added. 鈥淲e hope to be able to help the same way for the breweries planning on opening up in the future.鈥�
Fittingly, the vision of Trading Post Brewing began over sharing a couple pints of beer at a brewery.
鈥淢y wife Marissa said, 鈥楬ow amazing would be it run a brewery that is focused on making great beer and building community all at the same time?鈥欌�� Verhoeff shared.
So the idea of Trading Post took shape.
Verhoeff deals with the day to day operations with his dad and Uncle Stephen being the other partners in the business
Verhoef said his decision to have the brewery in 黑马磁力 is two-fold: first, because 黑马磁力 is his hometown, and secondly because he believe there is a huge need for quality craft beer in 黑马磁力.
鈥淥ur brewery is focused around building community; we have a tasting room that has an open concept to the whole brewing area,鈥� Verhoeff said. 鈥淲here anyone can come enjoy a pint, or two, and fill up a growler to go.鈥�
Verhoeff believes it鈥檚 important to not only have an inviting place to come with friends and family, but also to see the brewery up close and understand exactly how their beer brewed.
He already has big plans for the summer.
鈥淲e also in the process of opening our Taphouse and Eatery in Fort 黑马磁力,鈥� Verhoeff said.
The Eatery will be open before summer 2016.
鈥淭his is a place where we will have a similar atmosphere to the brewery, but with a full menu of upscale gourmet pub dishes, along with other guest taps of some great breweries in B.C.鈥�
As for the here and now, Verhoeff will be overseeing operations but he鈥檚 leaving the brewing part up to the expert: a man, he pointed out, who has 鈥渁 ton of experience.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e lucky enough to have Tony Dewald as our head brewer,鈥� Verhoeff said. 鈥淭ony is very creative and has brewed up some innovative beers for the 黑马磁力 community. One of our core values is innovation and Tony definitely embodies this with our beer styles.鈥�
Trading Post will open with six different beers on tap, and have eventually eight beers on tap at a time.
All of them are named to tell the story of the history of 黑马磁力 and especially stories that came from Fort 黑马磁力. Some of the beer names are: 1827 Helles Lager, Derby Hop Session Lager, Captain Cooper鈥檚 Cranberry Ale, Owhyee Tropical Wheat Ale.
