Callister Brewing is one of the new breweries on the block in Vancouver.  The breweries name has a story and so does the brewery itself.

 

Callister Brewing gets its name from the Callister Park Stadium located across the street from today’s Pacific Coliseum in the PNE grounds.  Owner Chris Lay’s was the onsite caretaker and lived in a suite beneath the stands (info found here).  The stadium is long gone but Callister Park is still there.  The next thing to know about Callister Brewing is that it is actually a co-op brewery.  Not only is Callister Brewing brewed here but also Real Cask, Brewery Creek Brewing and Machine.  \

In great BC tradition the tasting lounge has great wood finishes.  The different breweries are all displayed on the chalk board above the bar so you know exactly who to thank for the beer you are enjoying!  From my understanding (correct me if I am wrong) three of the breweries all brew and keg their products with only Real Cask doing all of their beer out of casks.

The brew house is located in behind the bar and is conveniently visible on the way to the washrooms as the back of the space.  The brew house includes both a full blown system as well as a test batch system.  Neither system is big so the brewers here will be busy filling and emptying the tanks and then repeating.  The brew house is small enough to be considered a Nano Brewery.

I had 4oz samples of all 7 beer on tap and I am quite excited to see what they have in store for use at this brewery.  The beer were all quite good with some excellent choices to be had!  I would recommend a walk, ride, transit or if you have to drive down to the brewery so you can check out the beer and the space.

full sized photos here.

Callister Brewing Co
http://www.callisterbrewing.com/
1338 Franklin Street
Vancouver, BC, Canada
info@callisterbrewing.com