Vancouver Island Brewing (VIB) has signed a co-pack agreement with Phillips Brewing & Malting Company (Phillips) to produce and package its craft beers. The agreement, effective November 1st, 2024, ensures that VIB’s high-quality, all-natural beers, including Islander Lager, Mystic Haze, and Broken Islands Hazy IPA, will continue to be locally made. 

VIB’s General Manager, Thom Riley, who received his brewery education in the United Kingdom and was Brewmaster at Stanley Park Brewing for five years prior to joining VIB in 2023, will oversee production and will also be responsible for building new brand recipes in its small-batch brewing facility. VIB will produce test batches for new products and one-off small-batch specialty products that will appear on-tap at partner establishments around the province.

“After 40 years of serving the craft beer community on Vancouver Island and beyond, it was important for us to find a craft brewery whose operators also have deep, local roots and whose commitment to excellence and quality matches our own,” said Riley. “Phillips Brewing is a recognized and respected leader in the Vancouver Island and B.C. craft beer sector. Their operations team consistently maintains high-quality standards, and we look forward to ensuring a seamless transition of our production in the coming months.”

The relocation process will see VIB’s taproom close on September 14th and operations at the main brewery cease effective November 1st. 

“This announcement of the strategic restructuring of our business model is in response to the combined impacts of Covid, rising inflation, supply chain challenges and rising costs of taxes and rents. VIB has successfully navigated four decades of economic ebbs and flows, and our decision to change our business model speaks to our resilience and our commitment to the community.

It guarantees the continued production of VIB’s quality craft products for our consumer and retail markets, and creates a stable platform for future planning,” explained Riley. “While the positions we have in sales, marketing, finance and administration will continue to support the business, the outsourcing of production to Phillips will result in the most unwanted and difficult part of this transition, and that is, that the positions we have in operations will unfortunately be eliminated effective November 1st.”

“Without question, the enduring popularity of our brands and the quality of our beers are a testament to the hard work, expertise, and dedication of our talented Brew Crew. We can’t thank these individuals enough for everything they have contributed, and our immediate priority is ensuring that each impacted person is treated with the highest level of respect, empathy and support. We will be hands-on in supporting transition plans and opening doors for future employment opportunities within the craft brewery sector for those wishing to continue.”

VIB will re-launch one of its legacy beers, Sea Dog Amber Ale, at Rib Fest on September 6th, and continue to produce Hermannator Ice Bock, the last release for the Government Street operation. The highly coveted recipe and all VIB products will be brewed by Phillips.

SOURCE: Vancouver Island Brewing
PHOTO CREDIT: Vancouver Island Brewing