Published by Leonardo Calcagno
Who are you and your current job?
Own the place
What was the inspiration behind your brewery?
I’ve always been a food guy which naturally led to home brewing. I noticed how brewing at home became such a community event. Friends would come over, we’d share some beers and collaborate together. It got me thinking that I wanted to create something where friends could get together and share a beer and chat. Whether that be in a physical tasting room or with a beer at home. Thus, Steel & Oak was born. We started the brewery in my hometown of New Westminster because I couldn’t imagine starting it anywhere else. Behind each beer is a German philosophy of patience and natural ingredients. We do a lot of step-mashing, natural carbonation, and our beers are unfiltered. Steel & Oak is not only a brewery but a community hub and a place for conversation.
Can you give us a tour of your beer scene?
New Westminster is about 20 minutes outside of Vancouver. Metro Vancouver itself has an insane beer scene. New West on the other hand… well, it’s just us. We like to think we were the first place to bring craft beer to our community and now we can see it grow. Which is a great feeling.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to start a brewery?
Know that when all is said and done it’s still a business. A romantic one, but a business with regular issues that any company goes through. Also, get twice as much money as you think you’re going to need.
