The new brewing equipment for Banff Avenue Brewing
So, onbeer.org gets its first scoop! I just learned that Brett Ireland, the brains behind Canada’s first brewpub in a national park – Jasper Brewing – is on his way to opening a brewpub in Banff. Which means he will own the first TWO brewpubs in a national park. Quite the market to corner, eh?
The brewing equipment was just moved into location, and plans are running smoothly for a June 2010 opening. The pub will be called Banff Avenue Brewing, and will be located at 108 Banff Avenue, on the second floor of the Clock Tower Village Mall. The beers are still in development as they need to do some test batches using Banff water to see how recipes react. So I guess that means more news to come.
A few years ago, there was another attempt at a Banff microbrewery – Banff Brewing – but things didn’t go so well and they ended up merging with what ended up being Grizzly Paw in Canmore. Times are different now, and Brett has demonstrated that you can create traffic for a brewpub in a tourist town. If he follows the model he used for Jasper Brewing, I can’t see any reason why it wouldn’t be a success.
However, to help that along, prairie beer lovers will need to make a point of dropping in when we hit Banff. I know it will be one of my destinations next time I am there. And if that goes well, maybe Waterton is next?
May 31, 2010 at 1:33 PM
For the record – Banff Brewery was established in 1995. At the time, it was illegal to manufacture(brew)in a National Park and the town of Banff/National Parks would not grant a busines license for a brewery. Banff Brewery subsequently opened in Calgary after negotiations with Canmore town council for a suitable site dissolved. Banff eventually bought Bow Valley Brewery in Canmore and merged into Peak Brewery which in turn shut operations in Canmore; moved to Kelowna and eventually owned Tree Brewing. This company had nothing to do with Grizzly Paw Brewpub.
June 1, 2010 at 5:05 PM
Alan,
Thank you for that historical clarification. Some of the details around that era in Alberta brewing can be a bit fuzzy for such a young pup as myself (grin). I did know that there were mergers and closures, etc., but somehow thought Grizzly Paw was the final product. Sorry about that.
Jason
June 24, 2010 at 5:38 PM
Hi Guys;
I’m going to be in Banff the first week of July, really hoping the new brew pub will be open, any update?
Looking forward to a western brew.
Mike
June 25, 2010 at 11:52 AM
Michael,
Yes Banff Avenue Brewing is now open! The beer looks similar to what they offer in Jasper, with the names changed, but I can’t be sure. Feel free to report what you find.
Jason