Canada, BC: The Forbidden Brewing Company to become the third craft brewery to open in Comox Valley

It's been a long haul for Michael Vincent and his four business partners, but they are now close to becoming the latest craft brewery to open in the Comox Valley, Comox Valley Echo reported on June 13.

The Forbidden Brewing Company is targeted to welcome its first customers in July.

The independent business venture follows in the footsteps of two other micro-breweries that have recently launched to acclaim in the Comox Valley - Cumberland and Gladstone Breweries.

Forbidden Brewing hadn't actually intended to follow anyone, but getting all the paperwork and licensing agreements in place has taken longer than originally expected, as has the conversion of premises that were never designed to be a brewery.

When it finally launches, it will be what chief executive Michael Vincent calls a 'nano' rather than 'micro' brewery.

"We'll start small and build up," he told the Echo. "We'll begin by brewing 900-litre batches, starting with a Pale Ale and an India Pale Ale."

The project began nearly 12 months ago, but most of the major work is now complete, including building a walk-in cooler, creating washrooms, and installing the majority of the all-important brewing equipment.

17 June, 2015