My homebrewing journey began in 2012 with a simple ad in a random flyer. Despite being a beer lover, making it myself had never occurred to me. I went to Dan’s Homebrewing Supplies to get started, and it was a visit that unexpectedly altered the course of my life. By the end of that year, I had secured two business loans and a three-year lease. Barley’s opened on January 16th, 2013.
The timing was perfect, and business was good. We grew quickly in the beginning alongside the craft beer scene. More than a hundred new breweries opened in BC from 2013 to 2019, and I would bet that the majority of them can trace their origins back to homebrew. We held brewing demonstrations, competitions, workshops, we did farmers markets, and hosted panels of industry leaders. It was fun. It was great. Craft beer and brewing was a hobby that became a career that practically became my identity.
Now, in 2026, the landscape has changed. Craft beer is no longer booming; the industry of homebrewing supplies is, sadly, in decline, and my personal goals and values have shifted. While homebrewing will endure as it has for millennia, the story of Barley’s ends here. February will be our final month.
This business has been my pride and joy for a full third of my life, and I’m grateful for it. I’m thankful for the support of the homebrewing community, near and far, that allowed me to continue doing what I love. To my customers: Thank you for choosing to spend your dollars here, for sharing your passion, for your tricky questions, and for sharing your homebrew with me—the great and the bad alike. Thank you for the moments that went beyond transactional business into meaningful interactions and lasting friendships.
Specifically, I want to thank:
– My Aunt and Uncle, Lorridawn and Tim, who have helped me with the store in more ways than I can list.
– My amazing staff over the years: Jaromir, Jean-Marc, Eric, Michael, Julian, Alex. I’m so thankful for you all.
– Sarah, for your significant contribution in the early years.
– The Brew Westminster Crew for all the good times, and for reminding me that this has always been more than just a job.
– And, of course, my wife, Jasmine, for all the ways you help out. For brewing beer when I wasn’t, for working shifts when I was short-staffed, and for the countless little things.
Just remember that Barley’s will remain open until the end of February, so if you want to stock up, now is the time! Equipment sales have already begun, and ingredient sales will begin in February.
Slideshow of some highlights 2013 to 2026
Feats
13 years is a long time. Here are some tallies just for fun!
| Product | Amount Sold | Perspective |
|---|---|---|
| Pale Malt | 111,200 kg | A fully loaded Boeing 757-200. |
| 23 L Glass Carboys | 1,203 | 27,670 L = A backyard swimming pool. |
| Safale US-05 | 13,450 | 80,700 Gallons of beer. |
| Cascade Hops | 23,811 oz (1,490 lb) | The weight of a polar bear. |
| Total Hop Pellets | 130,621 oz (8,164lb.) | The weight of an Asian elephant. |
| One Step Cleanser | 2,100 kg | The weight of a pickup truck. |
| Liquid Malt Extract | 27,238 kg | 7,566 standard (23 L) batches of beer. |
| Dry Malt Extract | 14,770 kg | 4,924 batches of standard (23 L) batches of beer or 147,700 one-liter starters |
| Airlocks | 10,610 | That’s just a lot of airlocks. |
| Loose Crown Caps | 149,415 | 149,415 bottles of beer on the wall. |
| Hose | 78,055 ft (23.79 km) | That’s enough hose to get from Barley’s to any of these destinations: Langley, North Van, Richmond, Delta, or Maple Ridge. |
| Used Ball Lock Corny Kegs | 1,405 | 7,025 Gallons of beer. |
| Copper Coils | 215 | 215 times I coiled 25 ft of copper around a corny keg to make a wort chiller. |
| Dextrose | 6,901 kg | Enough to prime about 37,505 batches (23L) of beer. |
| Lalvin EC-1118 | 5,840 | 134,320 L of wine/cider. |
| Hydrometers | 3,041 | That’s a lot of gravity readings. |
| Kombucha Made | 1,843 L | 97 batches from 2019-2024. |
| CO2 Exchanges | 3440 | Keeping the beer and soda flowing in kegerators across the Lower Mainland. |
| Fermenter Pail Lids | 2870 | 2870 holes that we drilled for airlocks. |
Graph showing monthly customer counts from 2013 to 2025.
Does anyone care to guess what that peak in early 2020 is from? 😉
OMG I’m so sad. Even though I haven’t brewed in a year or so I smile every time I drive by your shop. I always say I’m gonna brew soon but the me thing or another… Any thanks soooooooo much for being awesome.
Thanks so much, Ron! It was always a pleasure! I appreciate your patronage and all the conversations over the years.
No stats on the number of kilometres biked on the old bike mill? 😂
You’re going to be sorely missed. Thanks for all your support over the years for VanBrewers, for having an amazing selection of ingredients and equipment, and for being an all-around great person.
Thanks for the kind words, Graham! I’m very thankful for everything that Vanbrewers has done for homebrewing in this city/province/country! Thanks for your support these many years. If only I had put an odometer on that bike! What a missed opportunity…
I’m heartbroken! Always loved your shop for the layout, selection and approachability. It was a blessing to me when I moved into the area in 2021 and Barley’s went from a major detour to being a stop on the way home from work. A huge reason that inspired me to get back into the hobby after a several year hiatus. Your decision is totally understandable. All the best to you and your family Curtis, and the best of luck on your next adventure 🙂
Thanks so much, Eric!
Well the stars aligned in 2013 with Barley’s opening and Brewwestminster just getting started. Personally it was so convenient (dangerous) having the shop within walking distance of my place. So many good memories shared with you and many other homebrewers. Love ya Curtis!
I wish you and your family good health and much success in your future endeavors. Thank you for your great brewing support over the last couple years, and for your sympathetic ear for my brewing disasters. 🙂
“Who cares how time advances? I am drinking ale today.”
Edgar Allan Poe
I bought my first brewing kit here in 2017. Still brewing all these years later. I’m sorry to lose you, especially after losing Centennial. It’s going to get harder to find supplies. But unlike other goods that have been overtaken by online sales, brewing stores really rely on the camaraderie and pointers.
Thank-you for the years of being my go-to place to pick up supplies over the years of my mead making fumbles. It’s always been nice to see Barleys on my drives home after work. You’ll be missed. Best of luck with your future endeavours!
I’m broken it was so easy to walk the 5 minutes up hill with my empty 20lb bottle. Even easier getting home as the full bottle dragged me home. Going to miss the convenience. Thanks you guys were always so easy to deal will
Thanks for your years of service, Curtis. I enjoyed coming to your store and talking to you. It will be missed, but new opportunities await. Good luck in your future endeavors.