North Vancouver’s (Soon to be) Newest Brewery – Getting to Know Wildeye Brewing
Who is Wildeye Brewing?
An enthusiastic group of friends and family that love the beer (and food) industry are genuine about creating a space that’s comfortable with a lively vibe, different but for the right reasons, welcoming to everyone and most of all, somewhere you’re going to get awesome beer and food each and every time.
When is your expected open date?
We are working hard to finalize all of our permits. We have plans to start construction in December and open in the late spring or early summer 2018.
What is the story behind the name Wildeye Brewing?
The name is really a year long process in which we were searching for a name that fits who we are and what we are looking to portray. We tossed around literally hundreds of names, took votes, sent them to marketing teams, friends, family and general public and eventually rested on Wildeye Brewing. There was also a vision for a logo to go along with the name. Together, we wanted something that was different, something nobody had ever seen before, unique almost unrecognizable. This way, once you’ve seen it for the first time, there’s no doubt left as to where you now know it from. Both the name and our logo needed to have a bit of ‘edge’ a bit of risk and just plain cool factor. At the end of the day, we are very happy with our branding, and look forward to having some fun with the name and the one-eyed creature.
Why did you choose North Vancouver as a home for Wildeye Brewing, and where is the brewery located?
The process by all means was not easy. It took us over year to find the perfect location. We were looking for a space that would check as many boxes on our list as possible. The space needed to be sized right first and foremost. One that would allow us to have all aspects of a brewery in one place. A tasting lounge, large inviting bar area, some functional private and entertainment space, ample space to house our equipment and all the supplies. We also wanted somewhere we could grow into as volume increases and features of the brewery begin to take shape like our plans for a full service kitchen and games area. Lastly, we wanted high traffic and high visibility. By getting the 1389 Main St location in North Vancouver, we accomplished everything we were looking for.
Does Wildeye Brewing have a head brewer?
We do. We’ve hired a rock star who really knows his stuff. He took us on a small journey of his portfolio and wow were we impressed. We’re not quite ready to let the cat out of the bag yet on just who this guy is, but we’re more than excited to get him in his lab whipping up some amazing pints.
What beer styles will you be focusing on initially and what would you like to do in the future?
We are starting with the core beers- IPA, Pilsner, Ales, and Stout. We will start with 5-6 core beers but will also have a variety of ‘tasting room only’ and ‘seasonal’ beers. Our final tap will be named ‘tap 51’ which will always be rotating. This will be a very fun and adventurous tap to really let the head brewer play around with recipes, have some fun and show everyone his skills. It may be a secret tap where by we let the consumer try and guess whats in it.
How will we be able to get Wildeye Beer?
When we first open we will only be packaging the core beers. You will be able to find us on tap and in private liquor stores, and of course in our tasting room.
Do you have plans for a tasting room, packaged product, growler fills, etc?
We have plans for a large tasting room that has a rustic industrial feel to it. Our plans include comfortable seating and couches and hopefully a games room. We are also including a growler system that purges oxygen from the growler and replaces it with CO2. This results in a growler that can last up to a month unopened. You will also be able to purchase off sales from our tasting room. Our longer term plans are to include a kitchen along with a unique menu that ties into the west coast food styles.
How can people follow your progress?
Follow us on Instagram @wildeyebrewing or check us out on our website wildeyebrewing.ca to follow along with updates. Twitter and Facebook handles to follow soon.
What else would you like people to know about Wildeye Brewing?
For us, its all about the experience, the service, the details of what makes something different, exciting, energetic but comfortable and inviting all at the same time. Our team is hungry, we’re business people, but most of all were passionate beer folks who want to have a great time growing a brewery and tasting room for everyone to come to, feel like they’ve just had an experience for the first time, shared it with their best friends or family and if all goes according to plan, its somewhere you can say you’ve never been before, every time you come
