Patioexpansions brewingincity

LaurenVanderdeen lvanderdeen@burnabynow com

It’ll be patio heaven this summer in Burnaby, as two local breweries are getting the green light to expand their patios

The City of Burnaby recently approved Dageraad Brewing and Studio Brewing for increased capacity, which will permanently extend the life of the patios they opened during COVID

Dageraad Brewing’s “chief executive janitor” and brewer Ben Coli told the NOW his brewery has been talking about building a patio at their tasting room at 114-3191 Thunderbird Cres. (a short walk from Production Way SkyTrain station) for years, but pre-COVID it was tough to get the permits

But during COVID, cities and the province began allowing temporary outdoor patios: “Basically, to keep us alive during COVID, when we weren’t allowed to have guests indoors,” said Coli.

As the temporary patio program comes to an end, the breweries sought a way to make the patios permanent

Dageraad’s occupancy will go from 50 guests to 100, with the approval of a 619 square feet permanent outdoor patio with seats for 50 guests

Coli said the increased capacity will help during the brewery’s busy periods after work

“It’s doubling – it could make a really nice difference for our business in summertime,”

Coli said, though he added he doesn’t expect to hit the 100-person capacity

“We frequently have to have a lineup on a Friday after work, which is our busiest time, and this will just eliminate that.”

Dageraad is also planning to build a ”proper patio,” to upgrade the current setup which is made up of picnic tables in a parking lot under tents.

“We’re going to build a really nice patio, with a deck and with a wheelchair ramp, and just make a really nice, inviting outdoor space, and I’m really looking forward to that,” Coli said

He’s hoping the patio will be open in time for the brewery’s anniversary party in mid-May

Another local brewery is now celebrating its two-year anniversary and expanding its patio

Studio Brewing, at 5792 Beresford St , was approved to increase its occupancy from 48 patrons to 78 patrons, with seats for 30 guests on a 683 sq ft outdoor patio

Morgan Miller-Sutton, Studio’s taproom manager, described the patio as “well-loved” with a great community vibe.

“The community loves it,” she said

You can celebrate Studio’s two-year birthday bash on Saturday, Feb 25 with live music from 3 to 6 p.m.