Your humble narrator pens this column with a heavy heart, as this month marks the end of an era in Calgary’s beer history. After a few close calls and brushes with bankruptcy, Brew Brothers has finally closed up shop, supposedly for good this time.
For those in the audience who do not keep track of the comings and goings of Alberta craft breweries, Brew Brothers began operations back in 1995, when boy-bands still roamed the earth.
While they operated as a virtual brewery for several years, contracting out the brewing operations to other facilities, they took control of their own destiny in 2002, by opening up a restaurant and tap room in the defunct Fox & Firkin space on Calgary’s legendary Electric Avenue.
While your humble narrator remembers many live music shows accompanied by great craft beer near the start of the millennium, alas, it was not to be, and the restaurant went belly-up after a few years.
Luckily, the brewing facility remained in the basement, and remained operational while other drinking establishments came and went on the main floor, with Brew Brothers providing the house beer right upstairs, as well as kegs to a few progressive beer pubs around Calgary.
Your humble narrator would often drop into the basement brewing operations at Brew Brothers for cheap growler refills, which allowed me to enjoy their golden nectars in the comfort of home.
Brew Brothers certainly looked healthy to outside observers, even providing contract brewing for the newly opened Vagabond Brewery near the Stampede Grounds in Calgary.
Your humble narrator was especially hopeful when Brew Brothres brought in legendary Calgary brewer Alan Yule to run the brewing operations. Yule was a co-founder of Calgary’s successful Wild Rose Brewery, and also teaches Big Rock’s brewing course at Heritage Park, as well as consulting for several other crafter brewers and brew pubs.
Faithful readers may recall your humble narrator waxing poetic about the Brew Brothers Tumblewheat, a lager twist on the more common Wheat Ale style, giving it a crisp and refreshing finish.
The Prairie Steamer Cream Ale was another hit among the beer congoscenti, with subtle nutty flavours and mild hoppiness making it a fine session beer.
Saving the best for last, your intrepid liquor reporter’s perennial favourite was the Brew Brothers Black Pilsner, made with Saaz hops from the Czech Republic, and dark roast malts for a full and robust flavour.
Luckily, the brewing equipment has gone to a good home, and will continue to make fine Alberta craft beer. The lucky recipient of the brewing equipment is Bear Hill Brewing Company, the company behind Banff Avenue Brewing, Jasper Brewing, and Wood Buffalo Brewing in Fort McMurray.
The beer nerds in the audience may remember when the Wildwood Brew Pub in Calgary’s hip Mission District shuttered their doors several years back to make way for the Wurst Restaurant and Beer Hall.
The brewing equipment from Wildwood made its way west to open Banff Avenue Brewing, and rumours on the street indicate that Bear Hill Brewing is planning a craft beer operation in Calgary, so the tanks and fermenters that have provided your humble narrator with countless pints of liquid joy may have more life in them still.
So, while the bell may have run for last call at Brew Brothers, your intrepid liquor reporter is confident that a new craft brewer will respond to the siren call of opening another addition to Alberta’s burgeoning brewing scene, particularly with the provincial government relaxing much of the red tape that must be endured to obtain a brewery license in our fair province.
So, please raise your pint glass and salute the efforts of one of Alberta’s craft beer pioneers, and wish them well in their future endeavours. It was through the dedication of Brew Brothers, and many fine craft brewers before them, that Alberta is now on a rising tide of craft beer, with more varieties available today than any time in our history.
By understanding the lessons of the past, the craft brewers of the future can stand on the shoulders of giants, bringing pints of liquid goodness to all of us for years to come. Show your support by picking up a case of craft beer at your local booze merchant to salute the brewers of today and tomorrow!
