The Columbia Brewery in Creston released their first batch of Goose Island IPA.
The Chicago based Goose Island Beer Company was acquired by Anheuser-Busch in 2011, but the partnership between the small brewery and the giant began in 2008 in order to get more of their product to market.
Brewery Manager Matt Little says Columbia Brewery is the first facility to make Goose Island in western Canada and it required new equipment to accommodate the hoppier brewing process.
“What we’ve done now is set ourselves up for the future to brew a lot of different beers that we couldn’t do before. So we’re hoping that this takes off, it does really well in the local community and all over BC, and that we can start brewing lots of different beers and make sure that we’re taking our fair share of the crafty beer market in the Kootenays.”
Little says the popular India Pale Ale is produced for kegs and the facility will move onto 355 ml cans as well as 473 ml tallboys. He says there is no difference in quality and taste between the original recipe and the mass produced product in Creston.
“The Chicago brew-master flew to Creston twice to taste our beer, teach us how to make this beer. If you take this versus one of the other beers in Chicago you wont be able to tell the difference. I can guarantee you that.”
Five members of Council including Mayor Ron Toyota recently went on a brewery tour, according to Toyota’s council member report. Each received a growler, a refillable beer container which is commonly used for craft beer retail.