December 19, 2016, Golden B.C. The craft beer scene has found its way to Golden with the official opening of Whitetooth Brewing Co. on December 1, 2016.

Craft beers or microbrews now account for 20 percent of beer sales in British Columbia. According to the B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch June 2015 report, craft beer sales increased by 49.7 percent from 2014 to 2015.

Kent Donaldson, a Golden local and part owner of Whitetooth Brewing Co., looked to his passion for his hometown and province as inspiration. From opening the brewery in Golden right down to the equipment and beer names, Whitetooth Brewing Co. has embraced everything local.

"After a three-year process, it is very gratifying for Whitetooth Brewing Co. to open the doors to our tasting room just in time for the holiday season.” says Donaldson, “We are excited to be able to share our beer with the community and visitors.”

Along with his brewmaster Evan Cronshaw and business partner Mark Nagao, Donaldson has developed six distinct beers to launch the brewery. Each beer is named after a different attraction in Golden and has a West-Coast or Belgian flavour inspiration. The west-coast inspired beers are Blower Pow India Pale Ale, named after the incredible dry deep snow on the local mountains, Whitetooth Session Ale, named after Golden’s original ski hill and Speed Metal Foreign Extra Stout, named after Golden’s mountain biking trails. The Belgian-inspired beers are Icefields Pale Ale, named after the new wave of Belgian brewers experimenting with Pacific Northwest-Style hopping, Launch Pad Rye Ale, named after Golden’s infamous Mount Seven and Thread the Needle Witbier, named after the whitewater sports on the Kicking Horse River.

Donaldson wanted to buy premium locally made equipment for the new brewery which is why they chose to purchase from Newlands Systems in Abbotsford B.C. Newlands Systems has been designing and creating brewing systems since 1990 and has distinguished itself as a premiere North American brewing equipment manufacturer with over 500 breweries around the world running on its equipment. 

What makes Whitetooth Brewing Co. different from other micro-breweries is how it was started. Donaldson has been a home brewer for many years, starting simple and slowly upgrading to better and better systems. A few years ago he built a new garage and designed it around a top of the line custom home brewing system. He then decided to expand his passion for brewing by starting the commercial micro-brewery. Over the past year and a half Donaldson, Cronshaw and Nagao have used it as their laboratory to create and perfect the six beers they have launched.

With its authentic mountain town feel and world class outdoor activities, it’s no wonder Donaldson would find such inspiration in Golden. Located between the Canadian Rockies and the Columbia Mountain Range, Golden is surrounded by six of the most stunning national parks - Jasper, Glacier, Banff, Kootenay, Mount Revelstoke and Yoho.

This quaint little town has long been a popular winter destination. Winter enthusiasts can expect to enjoy Golden’s thrilling winter activities, including skiing or snowboarding at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, cross-country skiing, heli or cat skiing, and snowmobiling. After a long day of outdoor adventure, visitors can settle in at one of Golden’s many accommodations. With over 20 mountain lodges as well as hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts and more there is an abundance of options for the tired traveller.

Golden also boasts a number of exciting summer activities including hiking, biking and white water rafting, making it an ultimate year-round destination and an excellent place to open a brewery. Both locals and out-of-towners can enjoy a flavourful, locally brewed beer from Whitetooth Brewing Co. after a day filled with exciting adventures. 

Photo caption: Whitetooth Brewing Co.’s six foundational beers named after local Golden attractions
Photo credit: Whitetooth Brewing Co

For more information on Whitetooth Brewing visit, https://whitetoothbrewing.com/

For videos highlighting Golden Winter Adventures, click -here-
To access Tourism Golden’s media kit, click –here–

Media Contact:

Andy Brown                                                     
Communications & Social Media Coordinator                                                     
250 939-8076                                                        
media@tourismgolden.com                        

About Tourism Golden: tourismgolden.com

Tourism Golden is a non-profit, tourism industry-led Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) representing the Town of Golden and surrounding area known as Kicking Horse Country in British Columbia, Canada. Tourism Golden is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors representing accommodations, tourism operators, attractions and local businesses. 

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