The Canadian Brewing Awards recently named Smithers Brewing Company the Brewery of the Year.
The award is given to the brewery that receives the most medals at the awards – they walked away with five in total.
“We haven’t entered a whole bunch of beer awards in the past and we’ve been met with moderate success, but the results of this one still haven’t quite sunk in,” said Head Brewer Cam McKeigan.
He added what went well with the beers submitted is something he’s still working out.
“Many people brewed beer and are still brewing that got me into craft beer in the first place, and many people brew beer where I think I know a fair bit and then I drink one of theirs and I’ve got so much to learn still,” said McKeigan.
Word of the brewery’s win spread quickly with many in town expressing their support after the announcement was made.
McKeigan said part of their success was from the local support, especially through the COVID pandemic.
Globally, craft beer has started to see a downturn from people drinking less in general along with being squeezed by inflation.
This is something he feels the brewery has been insulated from because of the town’s continued support.
“We have always put the quality of our beer above everything else, and we’re going to continue to do that,” McKeigan said.
The full effects from winning the award are still unknown, but he expects to know better in the near future.
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