This week, we continue our new series of interviews with organizations who support CAMRA and the craft beer heroes behind them. Steel & Oak Brewing Co. are the soon-to-be newest addition to Vancouver’s craft beer scene. Jorden Foss and co. are toiling away to get their brand new brewery off the ground and bring the people of New Westminster their own craft suds. He chats with CAMRA about the magic and slight level of insanity needed to start up a brewery.
What was the inspiration or story behind why you decided to start up a brewery?I’ve always been a lover of different types of food and drinks. I love the aroma, the taste, how everything can be layered perfectly to create an experience. So when I first realized that macro beer wasn’t all that was out there I immediately became obsessed with craft beer.
My business partner James and I had always discussed going into business together as we thought our personalities and traits would balance nicely. We both really enjoyed craft beer and would always joke about starting a brewery of our own and how great it would be. However when you say out loud “we should start a brewery” it sounds insane. Thankfully James is a magician with numbers… and a tiny bit insane… and when he started to look more into it we realized that it could be something that would work if we did it properly. When we started to put our business plan together last year other breweries began to pop up in Vancouver which calmed my nerves a bit as there was some validation that this might not be a bad idea. Either that or everyone who starts a brewery is a little bit crazy… which I think is partially true…
What size brew set up do you have?
15 BBL Brewhouse and we will start with 4 fermentation vessels that are 30 BBL each. We also have a pilot system with 100 L brewing capacity for special “tasting room only” beers.
Why New West?
The community. My wife and I were both born and raised in New West, James lives here now with his wife and son, and the one thing that we’ve always loved about this city is that it has a small town feel to it. We take care of each other and support local businesses feverishly. New West is also enjoying a resurgence. 30 somethings have been moving from Vancouver to New West in large numbers recently to start families because of it’s reasonable cost, central location and easy access to public transit. Because of this the downtown is booming with new construction, eateries like Re-Up and Longtail are setting up shop here, and many other local businesses are thriving. So for us we always knew that New West would be the city that Steel & Oak called home.
What beers do you have planned to begin with?
We are going to keep the beers a secret until launch. However our Brewmaster Peter Schulz has been in Germany and the UK for the past 6 years so without giving too much away you can definitely expect a mixture of German, English, and North American brewing styles, techniques and ingredients. Peter will be exploring some new beer styles and will also be constantly refining and perfecting the classics. It’s also tough to have a name like Steel & Oak without a barrel program so you can look forward to that as well!
What has been the most rewarding and the most challenging aspect of starting up a brewery?
The most challenging aspect is definitely paperwork and approvals. No matter what you try and do there is always a mountain of paperwork that goes along with it. Once you submit that paperwork there is normally more that follows and then a long period of time passes before anything actually get’s approved. It’s time consuming and stressful. You’re spending money just waiting.
The most rewarding aspect (until we start pouring beer of course) is when those approvals come through! I went to a meeting at City Hall the other night in regards to the Lounge License approval process for the City of New West. Well it was voted through! So when paperwork comes through approved it’s like opening a present on Christmas Day! It’s definitely those little victories that keep you going.
What is your favourite beer at the moment?
Even though the season is over for it my favourite beer of the summer was Driftwood’s Naughty Hildegard ESB. Right now just like everyone else in the city I’m hoarding their Sartori Harvest IPA. Oh and I really loved Sour in the Rye from The Bruery which I had for the first time the other day… honestly this list could go on and on… with the great beers being produced locally my favourite beer is normally what I’ve had most recently.
Will you be doing growler fills and tours?
We will definitely be doing growler fills and tours.
When are you opening your doors?
The million dollar question. Let’s call it Spring 2014 and cross our fingers that there isn’t that much more paperwork or approvals.
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You can follow Steel & Oak’s progress through via their website and we’ll be sure to have an announcement in the newsletter in early 2014 when their opening date is announced.
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