Two brothers from a Maple Ridge pioneer family are breaking new ground in the craft brewing business.
Jeff and Doug Laity were surrounded by Mayor Dan Ruimy, members of council, business leaders, family, and employees from the Patch Brewery as they cut a ribbon for their new family venture on Sept. 12.
The Patch looks like a big red agricultural building when you see it from 128th Avenue, at the street that bears their family name. Their ancestor John Laity arrived in Maple Ridge in 1879, and the seventh generation of his family is working at the new business on the family farm.
The official opening was on Thursday, although they had a soft start on Aug. 22. Customers have been curious, and the business with a capacity of 400 customers has been packed from Day One.
The Laitys are bringing a lot of local flavour, and craft beer fans will find brews named for Hot Rocks, the Fat Tractor, and the popular Laity Lager. With October coming they have a pumpkin spice offering being brewed. There is also a pumpkin pesto pizza as another nod to the site's history. The brewery sits in a pumpkin patch where families have flocked to pick out a good-looking future Jack-o'-lantern, drink some apple cider, and enjoy a farm experience. The Laity family has been selling pumpkins since the brothers were little.
Jeff's wife Rebecca and Doug's spouse Kate are partners in the new venture, and Kate said customers have picked up on that community "vibe," with people meeting friends at The Patch, and running into people they know. With minors allowed, patrons bring the whole family.
"It kind of feels like a backyard barbecue," she said.
They've planted a new idea in the family's historic farm. Jeff took a course in craft beer business at SFU in 2019, and was thirsty for a new venture. The brothers watched whether breweries would be allowed in the strictly controlled Agricultural Land Reserve. Proponents of so-called "seed to sip" operations argued they should be allowed to grow barley and hops, and brew their own beer on farm land – just as vineyards grow grapes and produce wine in the ALR. It was an argument that went in favour of the brewers, and the Laity brothers are among the first in the province to turn a family farm into a brewery.
"We knew Maple Ridge had a really strong feeling for family and community, with mom and dad's pumpkin patch customers, and we were like 'Let's bring the same thing to a family brewery," said Doug. "So we built this happy, farm-feel brewery."
They built to the maximum size allowable, but what they brew will be mostly drank on-site, with plans for some off-sales cans. They have no plans to sell Patch beers in liquor stores.
"There's a lot of pressure on these larger breweries to brew it, can it, keg it, and ship it out to stores as fast as possible," explained Doug. "We want to put the craft back in craft beer here."
"We want to invite as many people as possible here, to the property."
They have hired 81 employees so far, and most are locals. They had about 500 resumes, and Kate said the Maple Ridge people were moved to the top of the pile.
"We wanted people who are excited about the community, and want to be part of it," said Kate.
The business has drawn rave reviews.
"It's phenomenal, it's a great community space," said city economic development director Tyler Westover. "We have generational business owners that are here, and they are ushering in a new era for themselves and the community. I love it."
He said the stores finish, the food, beer, and family atmosphere is "second to none."
"Having members like you that bring these fantastic businesses into our community is so valuable to us, and so valuable to the community," said Chamber of Commerce president Jerry Kok. "I want to thank you for that."
"The best part about it is, you open up the doors and you're an instant success," said Mayor Ruimy, who praised their pizza and beer. "People have been lining up here for the last two weeks, because everybody loves what you have here."
