A Brewery With a View
Grizzly Paw Brewing Company began brewing and restaurant operations in Canmore Alberta in 1996. Since then, it has attained microbrewery status as well as growth and demand for product and restaurant space. The increasing popularity in Alberta for Grizzly Paw products resulted in the expansion of a second building that would house brewing operations, a tasting room, restaurant and eventually host tours and private events.
In 2013, Allweather Builders Ltd. were hired to construct the Russell and Russell designed steel building. However, an increase in steel costs before construction resulted in the project becoming gravely over budget. An alternative concept of exposed heavy timber was proposed and the new Grizzly Paw Brewing Company building was essentially born. This new design saved money, used locally harvested wood (Golden B.C.) and was a better suited for the Rocky Mountains aesthetic. Timber frame building styles were already quite common in the Bow Valley, the new building complimented the architectural design motif present in Canmore and the rest of the Bow Valley.
“The building was a positive experience. There were no surprises. The wood construction was 10% more economical than the steel options priced. The assembly of the pre-manufactured members and connections went smoothly. In those rare cases where small adjustments were required on site, they were easy to do. The project could have been completed ahead of schedule but there was a delay in acquiring some of the brewing equipment.” – Troy Weatherhog, Owner of Allweather Builders Ltd.