STEAMWORKS BREWING AND TAPROOM
Contact:
3845 William Street, Burnaby, BC
V5C 3J1
604.620.7250
beer@steamworks.com
www.steamworks.com
* Opening Hours:
* Sun-Wed 12-10 pm
* Thurs-Sat 12-11pm
I stopped into the Steamworks Brewing and Taproom today. I have always liked the beer they create so I thought if I had the opportunity I could get into one of the employees head to see what their opinion on their work environment was like.
I discussed all things Steamworks Brewing with Craig who was serving clients in the Taproom as well as maintaining the room too.
Craig was well versed in the brewery's taproom. He does various jobs and seemed a very happy employee of the company. I could tell he has a passion for the golden elixir. He was going to school for criminology but came to the realization that it wasn't for him. He decided BEER was where he wanted to be so he got a job with Powell Street Craft Brewing (www.powellbeer.com) and moved on to Steamworks six months later. That was a year and a half ago. Craig is currently attending Simon Fraser University and taking the Craft Beer and Brewing Essentials Certificate Course.
The Burnaby plant brews beer for Taproom consumption, distribution and some for the Vancouver Brew Pub on Water Street (open since 1995). The Brew Pub itself is mostly self sufficient in brewing its own beer. Craig said they might deliver to them when they run short in the summer but in winter they are totally self sufficient.
The plant has been open since 2013 and the Taproom opened in 2014. Their first year of production created 5000 hectolitres of beer. In year 2 they produced 20,000. You can tell by this number, craft beer is so popular now.
They have created more opportunity to brew beer on site by a couple of moves. They have moved their fermenters outside to make room for more beer production inside and moved some of their finished product storage off site. He told me they have 10 more years in the building so the more they grow the more space they will need to brew.
Here is a list of the beers they brew: Pale Ale, Pilsner, Heroica Red Ale, Kolsch, Jasmine IPA, White Angel IPA, Kettle Sour, Killer Cucumber, Tropical Tart Ale, YVR ISA and Farmhouse Wheat Ale.
They are also brewing Raddlers which are blended in the traditional Beligian way, by adding fruit juice directly to the base beer. These are only available as in house beverages and growlers to go.
During my visit there was a table behind me which sat employees of the brewery. They all were "tasting" their work. They seemed to be happy to hang out and Craig gave me the impression they worked in a great environment. (They also get samples to go but was told it is too much per week to personally consume).
The atmosphere of the Tasting Room was good, and all we're passionate about beer and of course tasty product.
I will give this Brewery Five beers out of a six pack. Well worth the visit.
