What drew you into this beer tourismoriented venture? Jayden Grundy: I personally love people, travel and beer, so it was a no brainer. Who wouldn’t want to be part of a community supporting farmers, creating more local jobs and bringing a sustainable product to market. The industry as a whole is so inviting! What’s not to love? Elton Walker: A love for all things local & craft combined with some of the nicest people on the planet. Brandon Moscrip: People want to spend time with friends, drink and not have to worry about the driving. Ryan Mackey: It really started from a passion for craft beer. After doing a self-guided brewery tour in 2012, I asked myself, “if I enjoyed a brewery tour this much, maybe others would too?”. The idea for Vancouver Brewery Tours was born, and I launched the company a few months later in 2013, so I could share this experience with others.
Which existing beer tour companies did you look to for inspiration at the time? JG: Definitely Brewvana in Portland. Ashley and her team have been doing it very well for a long time. EW: Brewvana out of Portland, Road Dogs out of Seattle and BC’s own Vancouver Brewery Tours.
Dessert at the Guild Freehouse, with West Coast Brewery Tours RM: I didn’t even know brewery tour companies existed back when I had the idea! After a quick search I realized no one was doing this in BC, so I looked around the world for inspiration. Our friends at Brewvana Portland Brewery Tours were a big inspiration. Road Dogs Seattle Brewery Tours and a few others scattered around the US helped shape my understanding of this emerging industry.
Which are your busiest routes? EW: Our “Definitive Craft Brewery Tour” which tours 3 breweries in 3 hours is the most popular to date. However, our newest tour, “Craft Beer Food Pair”, has really hit the ground running