Something’s brewing in Langley, a community that’s quickly gaining a reputation as a mecca for craft beer connoisseurs.
The province’s craft beer industry has grown to the point where Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Langley campus offers the only brewing diploma of its kind in B.C.
It’s also the first brewing program in Canada to be recognized by the Master Brewers Association for “offering a high standard of brewing education.”
The two-year program is in its fourth year and 28 students registered this year.
“It’s definitely a growing industry, not just in B.C. and North America but in other parts of the world,” noted instructor and program co-ordinator Alek Egi. “There’s definitely a big demand for employment. Our rate is 90 per cent (employment). As soon as most of our students graduate there are job offers for full-time employment.”
According to the BC Craft Brewers Guild, the sales of B.C. craft beer have doubled in the past four years and continue to grow.
Notable Breweries in Langley
Trading Post Brewing Company
This brewery was founded by Lance Verhoeff in February 2016, currently has nine different types of beer on tap. Trading Post operates a Brewery & Tasting Room at #107-20120 64 Ave., and a Taphouse & Eatery 9143 Glover Rd., and its beer is sold at the Langley Events Centre during Vancouver Giants games.
Dead Frog Brewery
It has been a major player in B.C.’s craft brewing industry since 2007.
Dead Frog brewed its first beer 11 years ago in its original location, a small warehouse across from the Twilight Drive-In in Aldergrove. A year later owners Derrick and Donna Smith moved Dead Frog to its current brewery at 27272 Gloucester Way. The company produces a diverse portfolio of over 20 hand-crafted beers that are marketed to craft beer enthusiasts around the world.
Fraser Highway Brewmasters
This a long time ‘U-Brew’ company in Langley City. Founded by Terry Smith in 1992 and now owned by Ming Li, Fraser Highway Brewmasters has been operating at the same location in downtown Langley, helping customers make quality beer and wine products
Roots and Wings has Spirit(s)
For those who enjoy spirits, Roots and Wings Distillery opened in early 2017 and is the first micro-distillery to create craft spirits in Langley.
The family-owned business operates on a 30-acre farm in Fort Langley. It produces farm-to-table spirits including Vital Vodka (handcrafted in small batches from the distillery’s homegrown potatoes and corn), and coffee-infused Double Vice vodka, Rebel Whiskey (from sweet corn grown in the distillery), and Jackknife Gin (made from corn and potatoes grown on the farm).
Roots and Wings Distillery is open Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. and offers a tasting fee of $5 per person at its Tasting Room & Vintage Bar Shop, 7897 240 St. Call 604-371-2268 and visit www.rootsandwingsdistillery.ca.
For more information visit the Langley Advance Times or Aldergrove Star
Unique places to visit in Langley