Our Story: 25 Years of Community

Watch this short film by Keaton Urling-Ehinger to learn more about Boundary Bay Brewery’s story, and what it’s like to celebrate your 25th year of business in the middle of a pandemic.

When Boundary Bay Brewery arrived on the scene in Bellingham back in 1995, no one expected the business to be what it is 25 years later. It was a simple business idea, with plans to develop a local brewery and restaurant in the heart of the city’s vibrant downtown. This was the concept that allowed us to establish ourselves, but it was the Community of people who came onto the scene to offer a helping hand that really allowed the business to blossom into what it is now. The story is more grassroots than it is one of premeditation, but before we can make sense of this and see the whole picture, we need to take a step back in time.

After earning his MBA from the University of Washington, Ed went on to earn his CPA license followed by many years of business consulting. At some point in his career as a consultant he yearned for something different, and figured he might be able to make something of his 10 years in wine-making as a hobbyist. One thing led to another, and in 1986 he found himself earning his Masters degree in Wine Chemistry at the nationally renowned UC Davis. During this time, he deeply embedded himself in their craft-brewing program - which happened to be the only program of its kind in the country at the time. Following his graduation, he traveled up and down the West Coast, taking note of successful breweries as he searched for a location he could call his own. By the time he stumbled upon Bellingham, he was well-equipped to hit the ground running with his business plan. His journey was far from over - in fact you could argue it had only just begun when he registered himself as the brewery’s general contractor, having had no previous experience. We like to think that this moment is a great marker of Ed’s confidence and will to succeed, and it is this spirit of commitment that has helped carry us forward through time.

Steve's Body Gym Inc.

Pictured is an image of Boundary Bay Brewery’s restaurant building before we occupied it. At the time, the building was home to a weight lifting gym and a photography studio. The building itself was painted white and red on the exterior, with the original bricks exposed on the upper half.

Two Beers Ahead of Schedule

Pictured is an original crew member observing a chart, with a dialogue bubble taped to the printed photo that reads “Well, by 3 o’clock I was only two beers ahead of schedule.”

Ed on Skates

An image of Ed Bennett in his younger years, smiling at a roller rink. We really admire his use of denim jeans under his knee pads.

Building the brewery was not an easy task, but the community took interest early on. Key players in building the business were folks who decided to walk in the door and ask if they could be of assistance. In fact, this is how Ed met his wife Janet Lightner, who operates as our General Manager. This organic team development and community excitement demonstrated to Ed that he had chosen the perfect place to start his business.

Dynamic Duo

An image of Ed Bennett and Janet Lightner at Costco, proudly posing in front of a very large cart that is completely full of supplies. We love how closely their hands are placed on the handle of the cart, as it demonstrates their love for each other and the business.

Celebrating the Beer Garden

An image of Janet, Ed and friends holding beers and smiling in the newly developed beer garden.

That’s not to say that the process was all fun and games. At the time, Boundary Bay was competing with two other breweries to be the first brewery to open in the city. This put us in a unique place, as we were the first brewery to file our business and receive our permits from the city, yet the third brewery to open up our doors to the public. This was all just fuel for the fire in Ed’s eyes, and he was willing to delay the building process in order to make the space exactly how he imagined it. Of the many big decisions he had to make, most notable was his decision to carefully remove 45 tons of asphalt and concrete flooring in order to expose the building’s original wood flooring from 1922.

Breaking Ground

An image of the team “breaking ground” on the concrete flooring, in order to expose the original wood flooring from 1922. On the edge of the frame, you can see a bottle of champagne being used to toast this pinnacle moment.

Concrete Demolition

An image of a crew member breaking a slab of concrete that is being hoisted up by a forklift. The concrete slabs had to be broken into small pieces in order to be moved out of the brewery.

Handle With Care

An image of our original employee Bruce Kale working with the newly exposed wood flooring from 1922.

Attention to Detail

An image of our finish carpenter dialing in the right color of paint for a wood installation. We enjoy his liberal use of paint applied with his fingers. The use of carpentry at Boundary Bay was seen as integral to preserve the historic feel of the building.

Moment of Truth

An image of our crew installing pieces of equipment in our brewery. At the time, you had to have these tanks custom designed and built. Nowadays, you can buy them straight from the manufacturer.

Total Demolition

An image of the demolition process in what is now our family-friendly bistro. Debris is strewn about and almost poetically so, a porcelain toilet stands center frame, virtually untouched.

The Brewery's Foundation

An image of crew laying down a new foundation in what is now our brewery, which can be viewed through the windows located in our Tap Room. The absence of interior walls is a good reminder of just how much we had to strip the building before we could make it our own.

Coming Together

An image of the Tap Room where you can see things starting to come together, nearing completion.

As the TapTrails.com blog states, Boundary Bay is “..the first, the third, and the oldest craft brewery in Bellingham”. While we may have survived our original competitors, Bellingham’s craft beer scene began to take off back in 2008. We find it to be a unique challenge as PNW Craft Beer Pioneers to stay true to our roots while also learning to innovate as the industry continues to develop and diversify. While we are changing with the times, many of our core principles have remained the same. To learn more about our business philosophy, click “Philanthropic Philosophy” at the bottom right of this page.