Dageraad Brewing

Crafted in the Belgian tradition. Brewed in British Columbia.

In his younger days, Ben Coli spent a lot of time travelling the world on a budget, and during his travels he befriended some Belgians. In the ensuing years he often visited them in Antwerp, Belgium, where they would sit at one of many cafés in the local square, which was called the Dageraadplaats (“sunrise square” in Flemish), and sip Belgian beers. Each time he returned home to Vancouver, Ben would miss his friends, of course, but he also lamented the many styles of Belgian beer he could not enjoy here.

After one such trip, he decided to try his luck brewing a Belgian-style beer at home. He was convinced it would be a failure, but instead, his first attempt was incredible – fruity, spicy, complex, but light and drinkable. He was hooked. Interest grew into obsession, and he began a period of intensive study, including brewing school and two beer sabbaticals in Belgium where he picked Belgian brewers’ brains to discover what made their beer so amazing. And he returned to the Dageraadplaats again and again.

When Dageraad Brewing finally opened in Burnaby, it was initially a small affair focused on two beers to start, Dageraad Amber and Blonde. Since then, the brewery has expanded considerably, and now features a gorgeous tasting room with a design that matches the branding’s fin de siècle elegance. And although the Amber and Blonde are still the anchors, Dageraad’s beer lineup is diverse, extensive, and delicious.

Dageraad was named Canadian Brewery of the Year in 2018.