Google Earth image of former Chalky’s Billiards at 185 Davie Street in Quesnel

Prince George, BC – In one location, or another, the Barkerville Brewing Company has plans to set up shop in Quesnel…

A contract to purchase the former Chalky’s Billiards on Davie Street is set to expire today with outstanding subjects, but the proponent behind a proposed microbrewery for the community says his plans will move forward. (logo at right used with permission)

"I’m still planning to put the brewery in Quesnel, it makes all the sense in the world," says Barkerville Brewing Co. proprieter, Russell Ovans.  "There are other properties available, but this was our first choice."

Ovans and brewmaster, Troy Rudolph, feel the Davie Street location has great visibility, making it ideal for brewery tours and catering to train passengers stopping in on the overnight Rocky Mountaineer tour.  Quesnel City Council approved third reading of a rezoning application on the property after a public hearing earlier this month, but has delayed final reading until the end of July in hopes of giving Ovans time to complete the purchase.

The big, triangular lot in downtown Quesnel was originally a gas station in the 1940s thru 60s, and therein lies the problem.  Ovans says he did a Phase One environmental assessment as part of his due diligence, but his purchase offer to current owner, Seneca Enterprises of Prince George, is conditional upon that company carrying out a Phase Two assessment and covering the cost of any required remediation.  "They haven’t really gotten back to me on that," says Ovans.  "So I’m sort of stuck waiting for that to happen." 

Opening a microbrewery has been a long-held dream for Ovans.  After visiting the region numerous times for the annual Artswells Festival in nearby Wells, he originally had his sights set on Barkerville, which had four breweries back in its heyday, the 1860s.  But Ovans says, logistically, Quesnel just made a lot more sense.  "Our intention was always to call it the Barkerville Brewing Company and have our beers tell the story of the Cariboo gold rush."

"I just think there’s fantastic opportunity being the first in the Cariboo and really to serve the whole market from 100 Mile House to Prince George, which I find a really beautiful part of the province."  He adds, with a laugh, "The people certainly like their beer and they should have a local authentic choice – you guys have Pacific Western, but it’s more of a commercial, bigger player."

That doesn’t mean the soon-to-be open microbrewery doesn’t have big dreams, too.  "We believe the brand will have ‘legs’ outside of the Cariboo.  This is not just a product we’re making to sell beer to Williams Lake, Prince George, and Quesnel – it’s to sell beer all over the province, the country, and the world, eventually."

The brewing equipment is set to be shipped to Quesnel in the next week or two and will go into storage until a permanent stake is claimed, in terms of location.  "I’ve always been saying if we’re brewing and selling beer by the end of this year that would be fantastic," says Ovans.  "If we’re not at least licensed to sell it, then at least we’ll be doing taste trials – we hope – in the fall."