{"id":191330,"date":"2025-04-18T18:39:35","date_gmt":"2025-04-18T18:39:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/recipes\/category-a-b\/beer\/threes-not-a-crowd-the-growler-b-c\/"},"modified":"2025-04-18T18:39:35","modified_gmt":"2025-04-18T18:39:35","slug":"threes-not-a-crowd-the-growler-b-c","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=191330","title":{"rendered":"Three’s not a crowd – The Growler B.C."},"content":{"rendered":"


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Meet Threefold, Vancouver\u2019s first collective brewery<\/h3>\n
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Three\u2019s not a crowd at Threefold.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A<\/span>ccording to a Kenyan proverb, sticks in a bundle are unbreakable. The Biblical book of Ecclesiastes advises that a cord of three strands is not easily broken. And American author John C. Maxwell coined the famous phrase \u201cTeamwork makes the dream work\u201d to describe the importance of collaboration.<\/span><\/p>\n

These words of wisdom came to mind when I heard of the new craft brewery Threefold<\/a>. In a time of economic hardship for B.C. craft beer, three breweries working together can be stronger and more sustainable than three working separately. Threefold, comprised of Boombox Brewing, Temporal Artisan Ales, and Slow Hand Beer Company, has found an innovative way to survive a painful time for the B.C. craft beer industry.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Tristan Stewart of Temporal, Jessica Sharpe of Slow Hand, and Phil Spurgeon and Matt Kump of Boombox have combined forces to create Threefold Brewery Collective. No\u00eblle Phillips photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Why a collective brewery, and why now?<\/h3>\n

Skyrocketing costs for rent, supplies, and ingredients have combined with market inflation to make small businesses scramble for survival. Consumers are reducing spending across the board. There\u2019s also the overall trend toward drinking less alcohol. <\/span>These issues all pose significant challenges to craft breweries.<\/p>\n

History shows us that during rough times, struggling breweries will either be acquired by larger corporations or consolidate with other breweries in order to survive. In the early 1900s, Vancouver Breweries joined with other breweries under the larger company, BC Breweries. In the 1990s, Granville Island Brewing was acquired by International Potter\u2019s Distilling because they didn\u2019t have enough capital to be profitable. Last year, Container Brewing consolidated with Fuggles Beer Co. under a larger parent company to save costs while maintaining their brand. Brewers who can\u2019t afford to open a physical space often brew under the license (and use the equipment) of an established brewery. This was how Callister helped so many brewers get a foothold in the industry. There are many more examples of brewery survival strategies from over the years.<\/p>\n

But Threefold is doing something new, as I discovered when I met up with Tristan Stewart of Temporal, Phil Spurgeon and Matt Kump of Boombox, and Jessica Sharpe of Slow Hand, to hear about their plans for a collective brewery. Unlike other acquisitions and consolidations, there\u2019s no hierarchy involved and no big parent company \u2013 the breweries are all on equal footing. And unlike the Callister model of collaborative or shared brewing, none of the breweries own the license or the space themselves. So, what, exactly, is Threefold?<\/p>\n

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Each of the three brands makes a distinct style of beer, so they can share the space in the brewery and in the tasting room without stepping on toes. No\u00eblle Phillips photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Defining Threefold<\/h3>\n

Threefold is a collective of three breweries, all of which are co-owners of the business and will brew under the Threefold brewing license. Threefold owns the license as well as the taproom and brewhouse at 1507 Powell Street, the facility that housed Andina Brewing. As co-owners of Threefold, the owners of Boombox, Temporal, and Slow Hand all have equal control over the company.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, Threefold isn\u2019t a mash-up of these three breweries. Instead, it\u2019s a model that allows all three to build their individual brands and brew the beer they love. \u201cWe all have different areas of expertise,\u201d says Matt of Boombox. \u201cWe all complement each other. Slow Hand makes these great crisp, easy-drinking beers that you don\u2019t have to think too hard about. Boombox loves making really hop-forward beers. Temporal is about long-term beers and barrel-aging.\u201d<\/p>\n

Temporal\u2019s Tristan adds, \u201cLots of breweries make every kind of beer. That\u2019s what people want when they go to a tasting room. But there\u2019s value in being very specialized, and all three of our breweries are specialized. We come together to form one complete brewery but we keep our own brands. There\u2019s no stepping on toes.\u201d<\/p>\n

The mutual respect among these three breweries made the prospect of a collaboration even more attractive. Boombox\u2019s Spurgeon recalls how he and his colleagues had long admired the unusual historical styles that Tristan produced under the Temporal brand. Meanwhile, Tristan was also brewing Slow Hand\u2019s beer and had a positive relationship with owners Chris Carron and Jessica Sharpe. As our group sat in Slow Hand\u2019s small tasting room, sipping on their pilsner and chatting, Jessica explained why Slow Hand \u2013 the only one in the trio with a physical location \u2013 needed a change. She gestured back to the brewhouse: \u201cWe\u2019ve already crammed as many tanks in back as possible. We need more brewing space so we can make more beer. Going in with others on the cost seemed that the best option.\u201d<\/p>\n

A new way of doing business: the Threefold taproom<\/h3>\n

The cost of building a brewhouse and tasting room is prohibitive to each brewery individually, but feasible if the three pooled their resources. At 1507 Powell, there\u2019s plenty of room for all the tanks plus a spacious tasting lounge. Tanks as well as taps will be allocated at an approximate 40\/40\/20 ratio among the three breweries. A kitchen is already on-site, so food will be available once renovations are complete. Phil, Tristan, and Matt took me through the half-dismantled and half-rebuilt tasting room and then the brewhouse, where tanks were already bubbling away and stacks of barrels were conditioning beer, waiting for their time to shine. We sampled Boombox\u2019s newest double IPA straight from the tank\u2014it provided a beautiful explosion of tropical hop flavours like pineapple, coconut, and mango.<\/p>\n

Having their own taps in the tasting room means each brewery can keep their own profits\u2014no need to give a cut to another owner. Having a space to call their own is also a huge benefit, Matt emphasizes: \u201cIt\u2019s a great space for us to interact with customers. Customers want to see the people behind the brand, especially in craft brewing. We don\u2019t want to be mixed up with shadow brands.\u201d Tristan adds that being able to direct customers to a specific place to buy their beer will no-doubt boost sales and help all three grow their brands. \u201cThere have been periods of time where I can\u2019t sell any beer because people don\u2019t know where to find it,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Threefold is aiming for a soft-launch opening in early March 2025. When you visit the tasting room, decide what beer mood you are in, because there will be options for everyone! When I asked Threefold\u2019s owners to describe their respective beers\u2019 essence in a few words, they quickly obliged.<\/p>\n

Boombox<\/b> is hop forward, juicy and hoppy<\/p>\n

Slow Hand<\/b> is crisp and refreshing, easy drinking, and balanced \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Temporal<\/b> is deep and complex, funky, and intense<\/p>\n

Which of the three will you want to try when you walk through Threefold\u2019s doors this spring? <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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No\u00eblle Phillips<\/h4>\n

\n\t\t\t\tNo\u00eblle Phillips’ book Craft Beer Culture and Modern Medievalism is now available in paperback from Arc Humanities Press and Amsterdam University Press.\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n