Canada, BC: CowDog Brew Company becomes Vancouver’s newest brewery

After having lost a couple of breweries over the last year, Vancouver has a new one, Vancouver Is Awesome reported on March 17.

The CowDog Brew Company has officially opened its doors this weekend, after taking over the former location of Callister, which left its East Vancouver home at the end of 2023.

CowDog opened at 1338 Franklin St. in East Vancouver on Friday, March 15, which seems a fitting weekend to start selling beer.

"I want to thank everyone who came out to support us," says Micheal Hodgson, the owner and head brewer of what is essentially a one man show (his wife helps as well), in an Instagram post.

The brewery, named after the Louis (Hodgson's dog, a rescue), leans into the canine theme with beers like Head Tilt Pale Ale, Big Teefs IPA and Two Loaves Wheat Beer (which will feature a corgi).

While CowDog's location is new, Hodgson has been brewing under the CowDog name for years. However, this is the first time he's had his own brick-and-mortar location to work out of.

The Canadian navy veteran told Vancouver Is Awesome previously he was excited, and a little terrified, about launching the new taproom, and finding out what people think.

"They will have a say in the following weeks and months what I make," he said of the patrons to his establishment. "They're the ones that are going to pay the mortgage."

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