PEI Brewing facility on Kensington Road is itself a state of the art facility that welcomes visitors to view how the all- natural and local ingredients are combined into the com- pany’s different varieties of Canada’s favourite alcoholic drink. “This beer is entirely new to me, and was quite the lovely introduction to this Maritime brewery. The malt profile and hop profiles are quite subtle, calling to mind traditional English ambers, and is made using what I assume are pale malt, Golding and/or Fuggles hops.” The awards have continued to rack up for PEI Brewing Company’s beers. In May of 2016, Jeff’s team took home four Golds at the Canadian Brewing Awards – for Rogue’s Roost IPA, Gahan Vic Park APA, Setting Day Saison and the classic Sir John A’s Honey Wheat Ale. Jeff is pleased to share credit with his VP of Operations, Bob Lawrence, and his brewmasters. Jeff Squires says, “These recognitions are certain to help elevate the stature and increase demand for all of the company’s products as it continues its strategy to produce outstanding beer, to program and promote a unique destination brewery in Charlottetown and to grow its presence at the retail level provincially, regionally in Atlantic Canada, and nationally.” Beer bloggers, another side effect of the growing pop- ularity of craft beer, have taken note of the company’s products. Chris MacDonald of acbeerblog.ca mentions Sir John A’s Honey Wheat in defense of his choice of Char- lottetown as a Canadian craft beer top 10 destination in an article in the Globe & Mail. PEIBeerGuy.com’s blogger reviewed the grand opening of the Kensington location in 2013. And “IAmTheBeerSnob.com” gave the Island Red a 9 /10 with these tasting notes: “This beer is entirely new to me, and was quite the lovely introduction to this Maritime brewery. The malt profile and hop profiles are quite subtle, calling to mind traditional English ambers, and is made using what I assume are pale malt, Golding and/or Fuggles hops.”
its popular brews which has proven to be a solid seller.
The Craft brewing industry continue to grow all across Canada and the U.S. producing strong sector numbers in both litres of consumption and revenue as beers drinkers start to look for more from their beer than just high test or watered down light version of their marco brews to wet their whistle. “Craft beer is over 20 percent of the beer category now on the West coast” concludes Jeff. “It’s just going to continue to grow.” Looking at the numbers this is very true, with the number of craft breweries in BC expected to reach at least 130 by the end of 2016. As British Columbia continues to grow its reputation as the craft beer capital of Canada, craft brewers in every corner of the province will now benefit from an additional $10 million a year in economic support thanks to a significant reduction in the mark-up rate for craft beer products. But something tells us that Jeff and his team at the PEI Brewing Company have a plan of their own brewing to tap into this and other growing markets and soon have cus- tomer’s hopping into local pubs, taverns and beers stores for a taste of what Prince Edward Island has to offer.
Jeff Squires neither confirms nor denies the presence of Fuggles hops, but encourages you to taste for yourself.
Gahan House opened a location in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 2014, providing a fresh local market for both its house- made beer and the PEI Brewing Company’s products. The nine beers listed now on the brewery’s website are almost all available through the provincial liquor stores as well. The brewery has a taster pack product containing four of
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OCTOBER 2016 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS
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