History of Beer in Kitsilano
The long history of brewing in Kitsilano parallels the growth of the neighbourhood itself. So much so you could say Kits was built on beer!
Kitsilano Brewing History
Brewing in Kitsilano spans over a century and mirrors the evolution of the neighborhood. From early industrial roots to small-batch craft, beer has always had a place here.
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1909 – Vancouver Breweries built its new headquarters at 11th and Vine. It was acquired by Carling O’Keefe in 1957 and later sold to Molson in 1990. In 1995, the site was redeveloped into what is now Arbutus Walk.
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1953 – Sicks Capilano Brewery (later Molson) opened on Burrard Street. Molson took it over in 1958 and sold the site to a developer in 2016 for $158 million. At its peak, the facility produced 2.2 million hectolitres of beer per year. Kits Beach Beer’s first batch? Just 40 hectolitres.
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1984 – Granville Island Brewery opened and played a key role in Vancouver’s early craft beer movement. It was sold to Molson/Coors in 2009, which still operates it today.
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2021 – Kits Beach Beer launched, starting a new generation of brewing in the heart of the community.
Kitsilano’s brewing history is long and layered—but it’s still being written.
Kits Was Built-On Beer!
Brewing and the Growth of Kits
In 1910, the Vancouver Breweries site—bordered by Yew, Vine, 11th, and 12th—was part of a muddy outpost. The area included sawmills, a dairy, and many empty lots. It was connected to downtown only by train. The Burrard Bridge wasn’t built until 1932.
As brewery operations grew through the 1920s and 1930s, so did Kitsilano. The brewery functioned like a company town. Businesses opened on Broadway and West 4th Avenue to serve workers and their families. A swamp beside the brewery became Connaught Park, a spot for picnics. Kits Beach remained the community’s focal point.
Why Kits Feels Different
Kitsilano stands out because of its setting and its people. Located in the heart of Vancouver, it attracts a wide range of residents. Many came from somewhere else. Once they arrived, they stayed. Kits feels like home.
The neighborhood blends small-town values with city energy. It has been home to hippies, counterculture, environmentalists, and the yoga movement. It has welcomed yuppies, hipsters, and creatives. It’s built around lifestyle, shaped by nature, and driven by community.
Kits Beach Beer wants to contribute to that. The company was created to reflect the neighborhood and support its growth—just like the brewers who came before.
Honoring What Came Before
The red brick tower at Arbutus Walk is a reconstruction of the Carling O’Keefe Brewery that stood on that site from 1909 to 1980. A plaque through the archway marks Kitsilano’s brewing history. It honors the brewmasters and workers who helped build the neighborhood. Kits Beach Beer pays tribute to their legacy.
In the mid century, Reifel’s brewing plant became Carling O’Keefe
Craft Beer and the Sunset Grill
On May 20, 1989, Gary Reilly and Fred Wilson opened The Sunset Grill Neighbourhood Pub at York and Yew. At the time, Vancouver’s craft beer scene was just getting started. But the Sunset had a dedicated tap for Shaftesbury Brewing, a small local brewery. For 28 years, the Sunset Grill promoted local beer. It closed in 2017.
Gary and Fred continue to support the craft scene today at Brewery Creek Cold Beer & Wine Store at 15th and Main. The store features over 1,000 beer options, with a focus on craft microbrews. Find them on Instagram @brewerycreek.
They also shared a letter with Kits Beach Beer that looks back on the early days of local craft beer. It’s more than a beer story—it’s a piece of neighborhood history.
A Final Connection
At the corner of Cornwall and Burrard, the 16-foot cedar log sign that reads “Welcome to Kitsilano” sits on boulders from the old Carling O’Keefe Brewery site at 12th and Arbutus. It stands as another reminder of the strong connection between Kits and beer.
