we could get some direction from him. We all got really excited as we discussed the visions and layout, and Stefan told us he had actually put in his notice at his job and was moving into Sales and consulting for a well known Brewing Equipment provider Prospero, so it was the final part of the puzzle to make it all happen. Stefan discussed with us that a good beer is one that you want to have more than one of. We wanted a beer that wasn’t focused on the next new and experimental recipe. We wanted to develop a following by creating beers you will love throughout all your stages of life and we’ve done that.” And what’s not to love? Marten Brewing Co. uses only four ingredients, adds no preservatives, and sources its hops – the flavour-kick in beer – from local farmers. “Our malt only have a 10 minute commute to work here, actually,” Stefan told me with a chuckle. Not all patrons of Marten Brewpub & Grill will be able to sit on a corner bar stool where every- body knows their name, but they’ll always be able to ask just where the ingredients of any in-house beer comes from, including the Jefe Hefe: “It’s cloudy with a golden hue. It has banana and clove-like flavours and it’s brewed with authen- tic German yeast,” Stefan told me. When the answers are as honest as the brewing process, it’s not surprising that people want more. “We’ve given ourselves ample space to expand with the future in mind,
starting with canning and bottling products – it’s what people want,” he said.
“We’ve given ourselves ample space to expand with the future in mind, starting with canning andbottling products – it’s what people want.” “The Naked Pig BBQ is just under 4,000 square feet, the pub is approximately 5,000 square feet, the convention area is roughly 1,000 square feet, and the brewery is about 1,500 square feet with about 10,000 square feet below to expand. We have a whole garage down below and it’s the same foot length as the building. We store tanks and kegs of beer downstairs but we have more than enough space for canning and bottling our beer.” If it already seemed like the Marten Brewing Co. team was a powerhouse presence in downtown Vernon, there’s more: “When we started, the city of Vernon didn’t allow patios. We applied for the first ever permit, which was all new territory for councillors, and got it. We seat up to 30 people on the patio and it’s brought new energy to the whole area.”
‘Zum Wohl’ (‘To your health’), Marten Brewing Co.!
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DECEMBER 2016 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS
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