Columbia Brewery
Encyclopedia
The Columbia Brewery, located in Creston
, British Columbia
, was once a part of the Fort Steele Brewery which opened in 1898 by brewmaster Albert Mutz. A reproduction of this brewery
has been re-constructed at the entrance of the Fort Steele Heritage town, located ten minutes north of nearby Cranbrook
.
In 1901 the Fort Steele brewery relocated to Fernie
where it later became known as the Fernie/Fort Steele brewery. This was one of four breweries operating in the Kootenay
area at this time. The other active breweries were Cranbrook
, Nelson
, and Trail
.
In the late 1950s, these breweries were combined under one name — Interior Breweries — and were later combined yet again to a central location of Creston. Creston became the ideal location because of its excellent water source and was in the heart of the geographical market at this time.
In 1959–60 Interior Breweries began producing their beer in the newly built brewery in Creston. Interior Breweries soon felt a name change would better reflect their broadening distribution of quality beers. In 1972, Interior Breweries became known as the Columbia Brewing Company and launched provincial distribution of its beer.
In 1974, Columbia Brewing Company was purchased by the Labatt Brewing Company
, a larger company with plans on expanding the Columbia market. The Columbia Brewing Company was renamed in 1993 to Columbia Brewery. Labatt was then bought by the Belgium brewing company, Interbrew
, which then merged with the Brazilian Brewing Company, Companhia de Bebidas das Américas, or Ambev
, to form InBev
. InBev purchased Anhauser Busch in 2008, to dominate as the world's largest beer producer, now known as AB-InBev.
5.0% alcohol v/v. The brewery also produces Kokanee Gold, an amber Lager
5.3% alcohol v/v, Kootenay True Ale, a lighter style ale 5.0% alcohol v/v, Kokanee Light, a light beer 4.0% alcohol v/v, and as of July 15 2009, Alexander Keith's
, an India Pale Ale
5.0% alcohol v/v. In the past, Kokanee that came in cans was canned near Vancouver
, British Columbia
. Having recently undergone a large expansion around 44000 square feet (4,087.7 m²), in 2005, the Columbia Brewery now produces and cans its own beer.
Creston, British Columbia
Creston is a town of 4,826 people in the Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia, Canada. The town is located just a few kilometers north of the Porthill, Idaho border crossing into the United States and about a three-hour drive north from Spokane, Washington. It is about a one-hour drive...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, was once a part of the Fort Steele Brewery which opened in 1898 by brewmaster Albert Mutz. A reproduction of this brewery
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
has been re-constructed at the entrance of the Fort Steele Heritage town, located ten minutes north of nearby Cranbrook
Cranbrook, British Columbia
Cranbrook, British Columbia is a city in southeast British Columbia, located on the west side of the Kootenay River at its confluence with the St. Mary's River, It is the largest urban centre in the region known as the East Kootenay. As of 2006, Cranbrook's population is 18,267, and the...
.
In 1901 the Fort Steele brewery relocated to Fernie
Fernie, British Columbia
Fernie is a city in the Elk Valley area of the East Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia, Canada, located on BC Highway 3 on the eastern approaches to the Crowsnest Pass through the Rocky Mountains...
where it later became known as the Fernie/Fort Steele brewery. This was one of four breweries operating in the Kootenay
Kootenays
The Kootenay Region comprises the southeastern portion of British Columbia. It takes its name from the Kootenay River, which in turn was named for the Ktunaxa First Nation first encountered by explorer David Thompson.-Boundaries:The Kootenays are more or less defined by the Kootenay Land...
area at this time. The other active breweries were Cranbrook
Cranbrook, British Columbia
Cranbrook, British Columbia is a city in southeast British Columbia, located on the west side of the Kootenay River at its confluence with the St. Mary's River, It is the largest urban centre in the region known as the East Kootenay. As of 2006, Cranbrook's population is 18,267, and the...
, Nelson
Nelson, British Columbia
Nelson is a city located in the Selkirk Mountains on the extreme West Arm of Kootenay Lake in the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Known as "The Queen City", and acknowledged for its impressive collection of restored heritage buildings from its glory days in a regional silver rush,...
, and Trail
Trail, British Columbia
Trail is a city in the West Kootenay region of the Interior of British Columbia, Canada.-Geography:Trail has an area of . The city is located on both banks of the Columbia River, approximately 10 km north of the United States border. This section of the Columbia River valley is located between the...
.
In the late 1950s, these breweries were combined under one name — Interior Breweries — and were later combined yet again to a central location of Creston. Creston became the ideal location because of its excellent water source and was in the heart of the geographical market at this time.
In 1959–60 Interior Breweries began producing their beer in the newly built brewery in Creston. Interior Breweries soon felt a name change would better reflect their broadening distribution of quality beers. In 1972, Interior Breweries became known as the Columbia Brewing Company and launched provincial distribution of its beer.
In 1974, Columbia Brewing Company was purchased by the Labatt Brewing Company
Labatt Brewing Company
Labatt Brewing Company Ltd. is a Canadian beer company founded by John Kinder Labatt in 1847 in London, Ontario. In 1995, it was purchased by Belgian brewer Interbrew; it is now part of Anheuser-Busch InBev...
, a larger company with plans on expanding the Columbia market. The Columbia Brewing Company was renamed in 1993 to Columbia Brewery. Labatt was then bought by the Belgium brewing company, Interbrew
Interbrew
Interbrew was a large Belgium-based brewing company which owned many internationally known beers, as well as some smaller local beers. In 2004 Interbrew merged with Brazilian brewer AmBev to form InBev, which is the now largest brewer in the world by volume, with a 13% global market share now...
, which then merged with the Brazilian Brewing Company, Companhia de Bebidas das Américas, or Ambev
AmBev
Ambev formally Companhia de Bebidas das Américas is a subsidiary of global brewing company Anheuser-Busch InBev and is the biggest brewery in South America and the fifth in the world...
, to form InBev
InBev
InBev is a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev. The company existed independently for several years - since the merger between Interbrew and AmBev and until the acquisition of Anheuser-Busch. InBev has operations in over 30 countries and sales in over 130 countries...
. InBev purchased Anhauser Busch in 2008, to dominate as the world's largest beer producer, now known as AB-InBev.
The Beers
The brewery is best-known for Kokanee, a light Pilsner-style beerBeer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
5.0% alcohol v/v. The brewery also produces Kokanee Gold, an amber Lager
Lager
Lager is a type of beer made from malted barley that is brewed and stored at low temperatures. There are many types of lager; pale lager is the most widely-consumed and commercially available style of beer in the world; Pilsner, Bock, Dortmunder Export and Märzen are all styles of lager...
5.3% alcohol v/v, Kootenay True Ale, a lighter style ale 5.0% alcohol v/v, Kokanee Light, a light beer 4.0% alcohol v/v, and as of July 15 2009, Alexander Keith's
Alexander Keith's
Alexander Keith's is a Canadian brewery founded in 1820 in Halifax, Nova Scotia making it one of the oldest commercial breweries in all of North America. It was founded by Alexander Keith who emigrated from Scotland in 1817. Today, the brewery is under the control of Labatt, a subsidiary of...
, an India Pale Ale
India Pale Ale
India Pale Ale or IPA is a style of beer within the broader category of pale ale. It was first brewed in England in the 19th century.The first known use of the expression "India pale ale" comes from an advertisement in the Liverpool Mercury newspaper published January 30, 1835...
5.0% alcohol v/v. In the past, Kokanee that came in cans was canned near Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. Having recently undergone a large expansion around 44000 square feet (4,087.7 m²), in 2005, the Columbia Brewery now produces and cans its own beer.