Meet Threefold, Vancouver’s first collective brewery
According 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 “Teamwork makes the dream work” to describe the importance of collaboration.
These words of wisdom came to mind when I heard of the new craft brewery Threefold. 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.
Why a collective brewery, and why now?
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’s also the overall trend toward drinking less alcohol. These issues all pose significant challenges to craft breweries.
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’s Distilling because they didn’t 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’t 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.
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’s no hierarchy involved and no big parent company – 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?
Defining Threefold
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.
However, Threefold isn’t a mash-up of these three breweries. Instead, it’s a model that allows all three to build their individual brands and brew the beer they love. “We all have different areas of expertise,” says Matt of Boombox. “We all complement each other. Slow Hand makes these great crisp, easy-drinking beers that you don’t have to think too hard about. Boombox loves making really hop-forward beers. Temporal is about long-term beers and barrel-aging.”
Temporal’s Tristan adds, “Lots of breweries make every kind of beer. That’s what people want when they go to a tasting room. But there’s 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’s no stepping on toes.”
The mutual respect among these three breweries made the prospect of a collaboration even more attractive. Boombox’s 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’s beer and had a positive relationship with owners Chris Carron and Jessica Sharpe. As our group sat in Slow Hand’s small tasting room, sipping on their pilsner and chatting, Jessica explained why Slow Hand – the only one in the trio with a physical location – needed a change. She gestured back to the brewhouse: “We’ve 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.”
A new way of doing business: the Threefold taproom
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’s 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’s newest double IPA straight from the tank—it provided a beautiful explosion of tropical hop flavours like pineapple, coconut, and mango.
Having their own taps in the tasting room means each brewery can keep their own profits—no need to give a cut to another owner. Having a space to call their own is also a huge benefit, Matt emphasizes: “It’s a great space for us to interact with customers. Customers want to see the people behind the brand, especially in craft brewing. We don’t want to be mixed up with shadow brands.” 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. “There have been periods of time where I can’t sell any beer because people don’t know where to find it,” he says.
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’s owners to describe their respective beers’ essence in a few words, they quickly obliged.
Boombox is hop forward, juicy and hoppy
Slow Hand is crisp and refreshing, easy drinking, and balanced
Temporal is deep and complex, funky, and intense
Which of the three will you want to try when you walk through Threefold’s doors this spring?
