Dageraad Brewing to be B.C.’s first microbrewery dedicated exclusively to Belgian-style ales
Dageraad Brewing to be B.C.’s first microbrewery dedicated exclusively to Belgian-style ales
Niche brewery set to open in Burnaby in mid-May signals maturation of the B.C. craft beer market
News Release: March 6, 2014
Burnaby, B.C. − British Columbia’s first niche microbrewery dedicated exclusively to Belgian-style beers is set to open in Burnaby mid-May. Dageraad Brewing, which means “daybreak” in Flemish, will release a small line of authentic Belgian-style beers, signaling a new dawn in the growth of the B.C. craft beer market.
“I’ve been visiting friends in Belgium for years, and when I come home, I always miss Belgian beer at its freshest,” said head brewer and owner Ben Coli. “I began to wonder if we could have that beer here, not just occasionally as an expensive, imported bottle, but as a standard beer from the other side of the city instead of the other side of the world.”
An award-winning home-brewer, Coli began brewing Belgian-inspired beers at home then formalized his knowledge during two beer sabbaticals in Belgium and at Brewlab in the United Kingdom, where he earned a certificate from the Institute of Brewing and Distilling. He then founded Dageraad Brewing, named after the Dageraadplaats, a public square in Antwerp, Belgium where Coli first fell in love with Belgian beers.
Coli’s journeys through Belgium in search of the secrets of that country’s legendary brews (which he chronicles in the nine-part Dageraad Story launched today on dageraadbrewing.com) will be reflected in the brewery’s initial line-up of two year-round beers and four seasonals. Using Belgian yeast, European hops and a good deal of care and patience, Dageraad will produce small batches of balanced, complex beers designed to pair with food.
Coli believes that the time is right to launch a niche brewery in B.C.’s fast-growing craft beer market. “British Columbia’s beer culture is changing, and I’m betting B.C. drinkers are ready for this,” he said.
The 1000 hl brewery located near the Production Skytrain station in Burnaby will distribute its first beers in May, just in time for Vancouver Craft Beer Week. A small tasting room will open this summer.
Visit Dageraad Brewing on their website or follow them on facebook and twitter.