Gladstone Brewing Company in downtown Courtenay is celebrating its third anniversary this Sunday, Jan. 14.
It all began as a dream out of co-owner Daniel Sharrat’s garage on Gladstone Avenue in Victoria, where he nurtured a passion for home brewing. Three years later, the award-winning brewery has just completed a major expansion to nearly double its original brewing capacity.
“The craft brewing industry has been so supportive of us as we’ve grown,” said Sharratt. “This past year, we’ve been able to collaborate with breweries that we’ve admired since we were home brewers.”
The collaborative nature of the craft brewing culture has resulted in many breweries working together on brewing and releasing beer. In 2017, Gladstone released collaboration beers with Townsite Brewing (Powell River), Doan’s Brewing (East Vancouver), Riot Brewing (Chemainus), and Vancouver Island Brewing (Victoria). Future collaborations are planned for 2018, including one this month in Vancouver.
“Sharing knowledge in this way has made us better brewers, and ultimately helps all breweries make better beer for the customer,” said Sharratt.
Visiting breweries and Gladstone 2017 collaborators Townsite Brewing, Riot Brewing and Vancouver Island Brewing will be bringing special casks and specialty beers exclusively for the event.
“This anniversary event is about celebrating the folks who got us here – from our staff and customers, to the friendly brewers we’ve been fortunate to work with,” said co-owner, Alexandra Stephanson. “It’s hard to remember what the Comox Valley area was like before Gladstone, Cumberland Brewing, Forbidden, and now Beachfire in Campbell River, but I know all of these breweries have contributed to an awesome cultural shift.”
In keeping with annual tradition, head brewer, Tak Guenette, has brewed a Belgian Tripel – the third spinoff of the brewery’s flagship Belgian Single. (Gladstone’s second anniversary saw the release of a Belgian Dubbel.)
The Gladstone third anniversary celebration takes place Jan. 14, 4-8 p.m. at Gladstone Brewery, 244 Fourth St., Courtenay.
