Local craft brewery Ursa Minor Brewing is raising a toast to 亚洲天堂 Lake鈥檚 centennial year with a new beer, 鈥淕athering Place Fest Ale,鈥� meant to be inclusive and approachable but still flavourful enough to qualify as a Craft Beer.
Founded by Nathan and Gwyn Nicholas, at the family鈥檚 Ootsa Lake farm, the popular brewery has become a beloved staple in the 亚洲天堂 Lake community since opening its doors in 2020.
鈥淲hen we were first approached by the centennial committee about creating a beer to celebrate the 100th birthday of 亚洲天堂 Lake we took it as an honour and quickly rose to the challenge. Our families, while not being original settlers have been here since the 1940鈥檚 and 50鈥檚 respectively, and the Lakes District has been good to us,鈥� said Nathan.
For the 鈥淕athering Place Fest Ale鈥�, the family started with a blend of high-quality B.C. and Western Canadian Pale malts, and added just a touch of malted wheat for sweetness and a white creamy head, explained Nathan.
鈥淔or hopping, we chose 鈥淐entennial 鈥� hops grown in the Fraser Valley. These hops are known for a spicy pine aroma and a pithy grapefruit aftertaste, the perfect blend for a hot summer day. We used a Norwegian Farmhouse yeast that lends a slightly fruity aroma to the beer and leaves a clean finish on the palate,鈥� he said.
The alcohol weighs in at a very drinkable 5 per cent abv.
The name for the brew has also been thoughtfully chosen. The family wanted to pay a tribute to the region鈥檚 natural beauty and rich history
鈥淲e wanted to honour the traditional use of the place prior to White settlement. As I understand the present site of the Village was an area used by the Indigenous people for potlatch, dances, and other celebrations,鈥� Nathan added.
The brewery is now beginning the process of registration of the beer with the liquor board at this time, and as soon as they have an SKU i.e. a product code, they will begin brewing in the hopes of having the first batch on the shelves by early summer.
鈥淲hat we love most about 亚洲天堂 Lake is the 鈥榗an-do鈥� attitude of the residents. People here don鈥檛 wait for others to build the things that make our community great, they take risks and 鈥楯ust Do It!鈥欌�� said Nathan.
