Today, (June 15) the now-former owner of Vancouver Island Brewery, Barry Fisher, issued a statement to fans of the brewery and the Canadian craft beer community saying that after more than thirty years, he's passing the torch.

Maker of such brews as the winter favourite, Hermann's Dark Lager, as well as the crushable Seadog Amber Ale, Vancouver Island Brewing was the island's first craft brewery. It opened in 1984.

In the letter, Barry Fisher announces that he's found a successor to "carry on the quality beer legacy that Vancouver Island Brewery has accomplished". Bob MacDonald, an investor and partner of Muskoka Brewery in Bracebridge, Ontario, has been named the lucky trustee. Fisher also states in the letter that the company would henceforth be led by Tim Barnes, the new president of the brewery.

Read Fisher's open letter below:

To Vancouver Island Brewery fans and Canada’s local beer community, 

As you all know, I love Vancouver Island Brewery and we have been proud to serve premium quality craft brewed beers to the loyal communities of British Columbia for more than thirty years. Well, now, after all these years it is time to move on and pass the torch to a successor who will carry on the quality beer legacy that Vancouver Island Brewery has accomplished.

My old friend Gary McMullen, CEO and founder of Muskoka Brewery, introduced me to his partner and co-owner, Bob MacDonald. I first met Bob in January of 2015 and as I got to know him better I realized that Bob was passionate about the beer industry and his and my values were very similar.

Over the years, I have followed the growth of Muskoka Brewery with great interest as one does when he knows the founder. Like many craft brewers, Gary started Muskoka to live out his passion for beer; however, as the business grew, so did the need for financial resources for expansion. Gary was introduced to Bob as a potential investor. Seeing that Bob was committed to a long term vision, the two became partners in building Muskoka into the successful brewery that it is today.

Effective today, I formally entrust the ownership of Vancouver Island Brewery to Bob MacDonald. True to Bob’s ownership and management style, all operations and decision-making will remain on Vancouver Island and the brewery will continue to operate independently. I am certain that Bob’s long-term vision and orientation to investing for growth in the business will be welcome news to our long time loyal employees, many who have been with the brewery for twenty to thirty years – these are the people who built Vancouver Island Brewery.

To ensure the future growth and success of the brewery, Bob felt it was important to find a strong leader with a demonstrated track record, someone with similar values and roots in the beer community. I am pleased to announce that Tim Barnes will be the new President of Vancouver Island Brewery.

I have a great deal of respect for Tim and I believe he has the vision and experience necessary to lead Vancouver Island Brewery through this next chapter. Most importantly, I know that Tim shares Vancouver Island’s values and will uphold our commitment to our employees and our community.

In Bob and Tim’s hands, the brewery will now have the strong leadership it needs to go to the next level of producing award winning craft brewed beers.

Sincerely,

Barry Fisher