{"id":43476,"date":"2023-06-21T12:30:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-21T19:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bcaletrail.ca\/?p=43476"},"modified":"2023-06-23T09:26:03","modified_gmt":"2023-06-23T16:26:03","slug":"the-beginning-of-a-new-era-in-prince-rupert","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bcaletrail.ca\/the-beginning-of-a-new-era-in-prince-rupert\/","title":{"rendered":"The Beginning of a New Era in Prince Rupert"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Wheelhouse moves into a renovated heritage railway station by the sea.<\/b><\/p>\n

What initially started as a hobby among three men became the westernmost craft brewery in Canada and a community gathering place, all within a space affectionately called \u201cthe bunker\u201d by the head brewer.<\/h4>\n
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Wheelhouse Brewing’s grand opening. L to R: Craig Outhet, Kent Orton, James Witzke (photo: Wheelhouse Brewing)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Over 10 years ago, James Witzke, Kent Orton, and Craig Outhet (the brewer) transformed a former neglected construction shop in the Cow Bay district into a tasting room with an ocean view. That is, when you finally emerge from the dark, windowless space, you\u2019re immediately swallowed by a blinding sun melting into the North Pacific Ocean \u2014 or, more likely, an onslaught of rain. Their little \u201cbunker\u201d was an immediate hit. The Wheelhouse Brewing Company opened the night before Christmas Eve 2013, serving bottles and growlers of Gillnetter Golden Ale, only to run dry two hours later. The city was thirsty, and it wasn\u2019t just for the beer.<\/p>\n

Since then, the Wheelhouse has become so much more than just a brewery. Ask anyone who moved to Prince Rupert on their own without knowing a soul how they met new friends, or a life partner, or learned about which trails to hike, or what local events they must check out. Each year, the business grew within its tight space. It added rotating taps of new beers, a wider bar, floor-to-ceiling art, more nautical knickknacks, a spot for bands to play, and eventually, a deck to enjoy those coastal sunsets that resemble scenes from a Roy Henry Vickers gallery. With each visit, community members and visitors formed enough memories to inspire a multi-season sitcom.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n