Beyond the Delivery at Bandstra: Breweries of the North
May 22, 2026
Beyond the Delivery: Breweries of the North
Across Northwest British Columbia, independent breweries have become more than places to grab a drink. They’ve evolved into gathering spaces, community hubs, and examples of local entrepreneurship thriving in remote regions.
In the latest Beyond the Delivery series, Bandstra Transportation visited breweries in Prince Rupert, Terrace, Kitimat, and Smithers to learn how these businesses grew — and what it takes to keep them operating far from major supply centres. From ingredients and equipment to cans, glassware, and expansion projects, every brewery shares one challenge: logistics.
And yet, each is thriving.
Wheelhouse Brewing
Located in Prince Rupert’s historic former CN train station, Wheelhouse Brewing began with a simple observation.
“There’s no brewery in Prince Rupert,” founder Craig recalls telling a business partner years ago. “Why don’t we start one?” The result is now a popular gathering place known for wood-fired pizza and locally inspired beers including the Scurvy Dog Spruce Ale and Gillnetter Golden Ale.
Operating in a remote coastal city means nearly every ingredient arrives by truck. “Almost everything we need comes in by road,” Craig explains. “Bandstra helps with a lot of that — ingredients in and beer out.” And for Wheelhouse, supporting local matters. “There’s no big conglomerates,” he says. “We’re all just helping each other get through the day.”
Sherwood Mountain Brewhouse
What started in 2014 with three people has expanded into one of Terrace’s well-known community gathering spaces. Sherwood Mountain Brewhouse recently celebrated more than a decade in business and has increased production capacity more than ten times since opening. “When we started, we had 90 barrels of fermentation,” says founder Darryl Tucker. “Now we’re at 300 barrels.”
Supporting local businesses has been part of the philosophy from the beginning. “We bought Canadian-made equipment and recognize that when you shop local, people support you back,” Tucker explains. As production increased, reliable freight became essential.
“You’re basically my go-to,” Tucker says regarding Bandstra’s role in moving ingredients and equipment. “If I’m looking to get something here, I start with you because it’s easy and it happens.” When supply issues arise, flexibility matters even more.
Two Peaks Brewing
In Kitimat, Two Peaks Brewing began after years of homebrewing and a conversation between friends. “We had this great idea to start a brewery,” says co-owner Brandon.
Years later, the brewery has grown into a destination designed to reflect both Kitimat’s industrial identity and local landscape, incorporating regional materials and creating a welcoming environment for families, friends, and visitors alike. Growth has extended beyond beer.
“We’ve expanded our kitchen significantly,” Brandon says. “Everything’s made in-house and we’re very proud of it.” Like other breweries in the region, dependable deliveries remain critical.
“Whether it’s grain, bottles, or supplies — Bandstra helps support us,” he explains.
Smithers Brewing
Built on what was once a vacant lot, the brewery was recently named Canada’s Brewery of the Year at the Canadian Brewing Awards. “It still feels pretty unreal,” says co-founder Cam. “The town has been behind us from the beginning,” he says.
The brewery credits strong community support and partnerships with helping fuel growth.
Award-winning beer depends on consistency — both in production and delivery. “It isn’t that hard to brew a good beer,” Cam explains. “What’s harder is brewing the same beer over and over again.” He says dependable transportation is part of maintaining that consistency. “We order grain from Richmond and it’s often here by the middle of the next day,” he says. “For Northern BC, that’s pretty impressive.”
Having operated in remote communities, long waits are often expected. “With Bandstra, it’s different,” he says. “It happens quickly. It happens efficiently.”
Watch the full Beyond the Delivery episode on YouTube to tour Northwest BC breweries and hear directly from the entrepreneurs behind these growing local businesses on our Youtube channel.
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