{"id":101362,"date":"2025-02-21T11:28:12","date_gmt":"2025-02-21T11:28:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/recipes\/category-a-b\/beer\/small-gods-brewing-releases-hyperlocal-lager-at-the-perfect-time-the-growler-b-c\/"},"modified":"2025-02-21T11:28:12","modified_gmt":"2025-02-21T11:28:12","slug":"small-gods-brewing-releases-hyperlocal-lager-at-the-perfect-time-the-growler-b-c","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=101362","title":{"rendered":"Small Gods Brewing releases hyperlocal lager at the perfect time – The Growler B.C."},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n
\"\"
Chris Bjerrisgaard pours a glass of Peninsula Lager. Monica Kwon photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sometimes a beer will appear at exactly the right time. It is a fascinating thing when a great idea, through unforeseen circumstances, quite quickly gathers the compulsive momentum of a historical necessity. In this case, the unforeseen circumstances are the looming threat of tariffs and a trade war and the beer is a hyperlocal lager produced and sold exclusively on Vancouver Island\u2019s Saanich Peninsula.<\/p>\n

Peninsula Lager<\/a> is being dubbed a hyperlocal beer by Sidney\u2019s Small Gods Brewing. The brewery is taking advantage of the extreme proximity of Field Five Farms, a small, locally owned farm and malting facility in nearby Saanichton, B.C. After brewing the beer the spent grains are then used as feed for Peninsula livestock, a common practice for breweries. To make it even more local, Small Gods has chosen to exclusively sell the beer at local establishments. \u201cWe saw an opportunity to not sell it beyond the Peninsula so to make a complete closed-cycle agricultural process. From grain to glass, the entire process stays within a basically 10 km radius,\u201d states Chris Bjerrisgaard, co-owner and founder of Small Gods. Bjerrisgaard recounts how the initial idea was to create a beer specifically for their neighbourhood supporters and to \u201cgive it a sense of Peninsula pride.\u201d At the beer launch, held at Field Five Farms, he stated that, \u201cI feel this truly does taste like the Saanich Peninsula and does taste of a very unique product.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"
Peninsula Lager is a hyperlocal beer, made with grains grown and malted at Field Five Farms, and is only available for sale on the Saanich Peninsula. Monica Kwan photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Producing and selling a hyperlocal beer isn\u2019t just about market penetration for Bjerrisgaard though. He hopes the beer can be used as a case study of the environmental and financial impacts of hyper localizing beer. These findings can be given to various levels of government to argue for a levelling out of the current tax structure placed on small craft breweries.<\/p>\n

Currently in B.C., taxes are applied in three overly broad categories that do not reflect the number and situation of very small producers. The hope is that flattening the tax structure for small breweries focusing on a local audience will provide much needed tax relief, thus preventing closures and protecting jobs, all while being revenue neutral. The BC Brewers Guild has already begun the process of trying to get markup changed.<\/p>\n

The presence of Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture and Food, at the beer launch is hopefully a good indication that, at least at the provincial level, decision makers are listening. The recent tariff scare might have something to do with it. \u201cWe have never seen a reaction from the public like we\u2019ve seen in the last week and a half,\u201d she said, referencing consumer choices since the tariff threat emerged. \u201cThis model of being hyper local is so exciting and I can\u2019t believe how well you\u2019ve timed it. It feels like this is the moment.\u201d For many small B.C. craft breweries this does feel like the moment.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n
\n

Ted Child<\/h4>\n

\n\t\t\t\tTed is a Recognized BJCP judge and an award winning homebrewer, cider and mead maker. Find his beer reviews at Beer Me BC.\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n