Prince George's strange brew now has a stranger doing the brewing.
Pacific Western Brewery promises, though, that the community and new brewmaster Henryk Orlik will soon know each other well.
"We are absolutely delighted to welcome Henryk to the Pacific Western Brewery family," said President and CEO, Kazuko Komatsu. "We have a very passionate and dedicated team at our small brewery in Prince George and Henryk's skills, experience and collaborative approach will help us continue to take full advantage of the fresh water aquifer and other pure ingredients we use to brew outstanding local beers in the beautiful Cariboo region."
PWB is known most for its Canterbury brand, its line of five Cariboo flavours, their two organic Natureland flavours and the acclaimed new Pacific Schwarzbock dark brew.
According to Komatsu, the new brewmaster's formal craftsman's education began at age 16 in his native Germany. "After seven years of serious schooling and brewing, Henryk received his final master brewer degree from the world-recognized Doemens School of Brewers and Maltsters," she said. "He then threw himself into various roles and progressively senior positions to fully absorb and learn the art of fine brewing in the real world. With traditional German thoroughness and passion, his next pursuit was a Masters of Business Administration to round out his understanding of brewing great beer with equal business acumen."
He has been in North America for the past several years, mostly south of the border. He was active in the craft brewing movement, owning his own successful microbrewery in Louisiana before he heard the call of the great white north.
"Recently, I've been longing for a more German-style brewing opportunity and climate and Prince George-based Pacific Western Brewery fit the bill, and stein, perfectly," said Orlik. "I'm thrilled to be here and join this passionate and professional brewery team."
Cariboo Genuine Draft and Pacific Pilsner are his early favourites from PWB's own line of tastes. Komatsu said she expects him to get to know the whole community of Western Canadian beers to gain an understanding of the region's beer tastes, then use his recipe construction skills and attention to ingredient details to excite those local tastes in new directions.
