July 9, 2020
Plenty of people make home brewed beer, but how many build and engineer their own brewing equipment to get it just right, or solder their own circuit boards? That’s the kind of attention to detail you can expect from Jochen Fahr, owner and brewmaster of Turner Valley’s Fahr brewery.
“My set up then, it was a big engineering mess—kind of overbuilt,” laughs Fahr as he recalls his early days.
Fahr grew up in Germany and came to Canada at age 24 for an exchange during his undergraduate degree in biochemical engineering and says he’s had a lifelong obsession with yeast and fermentation.
“I was using microorganisms and I had to do an honors thesis in which I had to genetically transform yeast to produce a skin cream ingredient.”
After graduating in Germany in 2008, he returned to Canada to study biomedical engineering. During that time, he started home brewing and winning awards at home brewing competitions. That included one that came with the chance to have the home brew recipe he’d created brewed and bottled by a large B.C. brewery.
“Russell brewing brewed it and it was bottled in Champagne bottles,” Fahr recalls proudly. “I entered it as my wedding beer because it was the year I got married.”
With great beer and public success under his belt, Fahr started thinking he could open his own brewery. He started raising funds and in October 2017 he opened Fahr brewery in Turner Valley southwest of Calgary.
“The prices for leases were much less than in Calgary. Plus, I felt like in Turner Valley I could do more. I didn’t want to be just another Calgary brewery, I wanted to go to a place where we could be a bigger part of the community. Turner Valley also looks a bit like back home, which is nice.”
Indeed, Fahr says his brewery eschews trends and crazy flavours for “beer-flavoured beer” and he abides by traditional and rigorous German purity laws to create beer that’s pure, drinkable, and European in style. Fahr’s Hefe, Fahr Pils, Fahr Munich, Fahr Hoppy Hefe, Fahr Radler and Fahr Copper as well as the brand-new Alkoholfrei (non-alcolic beer)are all available at Co-op Wine Spirits Beer stores.
For folks new to the Fahr brand, Fahr himself recommends his Hefeweizen for folks who might be drawn to something like a Belgian Moon or Erdinger.
“If you’re more of a lager person or a pilsner person, our Pilsner is perfect for you. We also have a hopped-up version of our Hefeweizen called Hoppy Hefe.”
Fahr’s journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Initially available in bottles, the bottling line broke down earlier this year, “I believe the correct military term is FUBAR’ed,” laughs Fahr.
It was so completely beyond repair, Fahr had to think fast and find an alternative to get his beer to market.
“Serendipity had it that just a few kilometres away from the brewery in Black Diamond, one of the best millwrights around is located there and they had just finished a new prototype for a new kind of counter-pressure can filler. So a week after we had that bottling line breakdown we had a canning line secured. It was an incredible coincidence and overnight has allowed us to significantly increase our production.”
Find Fahr beer including Fahr’s Hefe, Fahr Pils, Fahr Copper, Fahr Munich, Fahr Radler and Fahr Hoppe Hefe as well as Alkoholfrei at Co-op Wine Spirits Beer stores.
Everyone’s in search of the perfect cold, crushable summer patio beer. This year, you’ll find it only at Co-op Wine Spirits Beer!
Anyone who’s ever tried to name someone or something knows the decision can be fraught with challenges.
Canmore's Grizzly Paw Brewing Company is one of the original breweries in the Alberta Rockies.
Normally at this time of year, we’d all be shaking out our western duds and getting ready for that great annual outdoor show where we...
Throwing a western-style BBQ to make up for the cancellation of the greatest outdoor show in Calgary? You need just the right cold drinks to...
Spring is a time for rebirth, regeneration and of course for kicking back and enjoying the outdoors.
What would make someone give up a reliable career, steady paycheck, and predictable routine, for a mountain of hard work, years of planning, and some...
Sampler or mixed packs are a great way to try different beer, without the commitment of buying a full case.
Many of us are wondering if our favourite places like restaurants and cafes will still be around once the COVID-19 pandemic finally releases its grip...
Wild Rose Brewery is a Calgary institution, established in 1996 and occupying space in an old Air Force hangar on the site of the former...
The Irish know how to celebrate! While Canadians do pour a few drinks on Canada Day, our national occasion pales in comparison to the worldwide...
It was back in 2002 that Mill Street Brewery opened in Toronto’s historic Distillery District, an aging but rebounding neighbourhood that used to house all...
It’s hard to please everyone, but when it comes to beer, it doesn’t have to be difficult.
If you or anyone in your family is a die-hard football fan, you’re likely already planning for the biggest game of the year.
Light beer has a bad reputation. For many years it was known as a watery, largely tasteless pseudo-beverage, for those worried about their weight.
We’ve probably all heard of fondue, but how many of us have actually tried to make it, or even wondered where it came from? The...
Let’s admit it—for many of us, one of the exciting things about the holidays is the opportunity to share fun and festive drinks with friends.
As you’re working away at your holiday shopping list, there’s always a few folks who are hard to buy for.
There is something so festive and satisfying about enjoying cheese and wine at parties.
If you’re tasked with making a dish for a holiday potluck, you might be wondering if you should bring the same old tired spinach dip.
Are you the planner in your family or at the office? If you’re just not up for being the host or the organizer again this...
The holidays are just around the corner and in today’s globetrotting society, so many of us live far away from our families and friends.
If you’re the type of person who throws awesome holiday parties you’ll want to make sure your supplies are in order.
Looking for a little something different? Want a beverage that feels a little festive this holiday season? Fallentimber Meadery has some extra special offerings that...
Harvest is that time of year when we reap the rewards of what we’ve sown over the past season.
It’s one of the flavours of fall: fresh-off-the-vine, sun-ripened pumpkin, baked into pies, stirred into soups, added to lattes and yes, even brewed into beer.
Many of us enjoy a cold beer now and again. But if pressed, do you think you could name a handful of beers in a...
Canmore's Grizzly Paw Brewing Company is one of the original breweries that sprung up in the heart of Alberta.
Everyone assumes the bright lights and allure of Hollywood would be a major draw and an enticing career.
It’s not unusual for home brewing to become a gateway into owning and operating a brewery.
What's a dandy, exactly? If you looked it up in the dictionary, you'd see this:
A caravel is a sailing ship common in the 15th to 17th centuries in Europe.
You know you’re in for something different when the conversation turns from beer to something called a ‘reverse mullet’.
If you were in Calgary in 1988, you’ll no doubt remember the spirit of the Olympics and how it brought the city together.
It’s the image many Canadians have when it comes to imagining the Rockies; tall, snow-capped peaks, lush, steep-sided valleys, and icy streams trickling the freshest...
When your day to day job involves working in one of the world’s most dangerous countries, dodging bullets and insurgents while riding around in armoured...
A beer label is a lot like a book cover; you can’t prejudge what’s inside, but a great front can definitely entice you to pick...
There's probably many a beer lover that has dreamed of having their own brewery.
Some folks make Sunday dinner. For Adam Nachbaur, his weekend tradition has been making Sunday beer.
It’s kind of hard to imagine today, with a computer in every pocket, but back when Canada was still a baby, the railroad was Canada’s lifeline.
When Uncommon Cider set out to make an Alberta-centric cider they knew they wanted to be unique, and keep their focus on western Canadian ingredients.
The TV is tuned, the snacks are set out and those Superbowl commercials are just about to hit their stride.
Calgary’s economy has created some unique challenges over the last few years.
There are dedicated craft beer types who speak in hops, and judge their beer in IBUs.
On the side of a brewery, you fully expect to see the word ‘brewers’, but entering Calgary’s Legend 7 Brewing, you can tell it’s going...
Sometimes there's too much choice. If you're popping into Co-op Wine Spirits Beer on your way home, maybe it happens that you want to try...
They may be best known for their 11 brewpub restaurants across Alberta, but Brewsters is also a longstanding brewery, turning out numerous local craft beers.
It’s cup season and what goes better with football, than beer? If you’re gathering friends for the game, why not take advantage of the power...
It may seem odd for a family to take on a business where the workers could kill you.
Since we skipped fall and went straight to winter, nesting has become a priority for many of us.
Thanksgiving is the perfect time to get together with family and friends, and while there’s always lots of catching up to do, once that’s over,...
It's no secret Calgary's craft brewing scene is growing. New breweries and distilleries are opening all the time, and in the quest for better beer,...
When you come across a beer called Hijacked IPA, you might assume it gets its name from market research, or the future ability to craft...
The Calgary Stampede is many things; officially it's a chance to take in the rodeo and celebrate community spirit through shows, rides, events, and pancake breakfasts.
You don't have to remember Bob and Doug Mackenzie to know that beer is Canada's drink.
Mark MacDonald was working as a mechanical engineer in Alberta's oil patch when he and his brother rather randomly decided to get each other home...
In a nondescript industrial area in southwest Calgary is a brewery you could call experimental.
There are beers, and then there are summer beers. You know them; a bit lighter, crisper, cooler and more refreshing than average.
Now that the mercury seems like it’s finally climbed over the freezing mark for the season (famous last words) it’s time to start thinking about...
Baseball season is officially underway, having just transitioned from spring training to the regular season.
For many Canadians, St Patrick’s Day is an excuse to wear green, while kids cut shamrocks from paper and fashion cardboard leprechaun hats.
Co-op Wine Spirits Beer is more than just a store. It’s an experience. Shop here and you’ll get education, assistance, and great customer service.
It's the sporting event that outdoes all other sporting events — with the possible exception of the World Cup of soccer, some might say.
It's resolution time! And if yours is to make smarter choices and maybe cut back on some vices, we've got some ideas when it comes...
The food is picked out, your place is all set up, you even have a sweet playlist ready.
‘Tis the season of seasonal beer! Traditionally, winter brings with it darker, more bitter, and a bit sweeter beers, similar to the rich foods we...
What does a gift card, a rare bottle of scotch, and a taster pack of beer all have in common? They all make great gifts,...
Handling all the drinks for your holiday party can be daunting.
It’s a local brewery that has brought international attention to Alberta’s craft beer market.
Blindman Brewing was born out of a shared vision to brew the best beer in Alberta, while at the same time, introducing local beer drinkers...
Serendipity. That’s how Village Brewery’s co-founder, Jim Button describes how the local craft brewery came to be.
Hard apple ciders aren’t just for the British anymore, they’re steadily gaining popularity right here in Canada.
Oktoberfest or the “Volksfest” is a beer festival that dates back to 1810 and starts around mid-September through the first weekend in October and draws...
It’s been about a year since Half Hitch Brewing Company sold its very first batch of beer.
We all know that certain types of wine complement certain types of food – but what about beer?
This week, Canadians will celebrate the 150th anniversary of our dominion formation, when the country established its confederation in 1867.
It's known as Canada's left coast and if you've spent any time out there you'll know B.C. has a whole different vibe.
Canadians will be celebrating our great nation’s sesquicentennial as we mark 150 years of Confederation.
We’ve got the rolling prairies, the towering Rockies and a reputation for being the friendliest province in the country.
150 years ago Canada had about 150 breweries, which meant Canada’s 3.5 million people had lots of options to celebrate the birth of our nation.
When we think of the Prairies, we think rolling hills, miles upon miles of wheat, soybeans or corn blowing in the wind and a horizon...
It’s a story of determination, camaraderie, and a serious love of brewing beer.
For some, it's the de facto centre of the universe for Canada, but others cast a more wary eye on Ontario, which can often be...
It's fair to say that the craft beer industry in North America has exploded over the past decade.
Canadians have a great reputation both at home and abroad, as a peaceful nation, with a polite population (“sorry” for everything), hockey crazy, and beer loving.
Quebec plays a starring role in Canada’s history (some of Canada’s earliest settlements were Quebec City in 1608, and Montreal in 1642).
Some of the most famous 'Canadian' foods have their origins in La Belle Province.
In 1867, Canada became a country with four provinces; New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec.
When the world’s largest ice cubes float past your door each day, you might have a different outlook on life, and cocktails.
There is a long-standing tradition on Canada's East Coast. When there's a celebration to be had, Maritimers throw a kitchen party or ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee).
On July 1st Canada marks the 150th Anniversary of Confederation, where the British Colonies, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia joined in one Dominion.
There’s no denying that craft beer has exploded in popularity over the past five years.
Did you know that brewing beer was at one time a woman’s job, not a mans? In fact, in ancient Egypt beer was traditionally brewed...
It's time to break out the bubbly at Co-op. Mike Roberts, Co-op's Sommelier Manager was the overall winner at the city's annual Iron Sommelier Competition,...
Gluten free has typically meant that beer was no longer an option.
Confused about all the different types of beer? This is an easy guide to a couple of the common types.
Learn a little bit more about how to cook and pair different foods with beer.
Comments