Written by Megan Wright

Kamloops is home to many good restaurants, with their fair share of options for food and drink. However, one local business, The Noble Pig Brewhouse, stands out from the rest with its great service, drinks, food and environment.

The Noble Pig Brewhouse is a locally owned and operated establishment downtown, with a goal of providing an above and beyond experience for all its guests.

While many restaurants in Kamloops are great establishments, not many have the same unique attributes that set The Noble Pig Brewhouse apart. With its locally sourced ingredients, an on-site micro-brewery, and scratch kitchen cuisine, this restaurant really stands out. Whether it’s a family dinner, a date night, or just a couple drinks with some friends, it’s a great atmosphere to be in.

The Micro-Brewery: An Inside Scoop

In an interview with Nick Murphy, the head brewer for The Noble Pig Brewhouse, he gave a comprehensive description of what the brewing process entails, how it is sustainable, and how it sets The Noble Pig apart.

“It all starts with the ingredients,” Murphy said. “Our main ingredient, malt barley, comes from Alberta, Canada.” Although he noted that it would be ideal to get the barley from British Columbia, barley grown in British Columbia is reserved for use by distillers. After acquiring the barley, the sugar and flavour from it is extracted. “It’s no different than making a pot of coffee,” Murphy pointed out. The sugar and flavour are turned into a sort of sugar-liquid, to which yeast is added.

The addition of yeast begins the fermentation process, which essentially creates alcohol and carbon dioxide, or as we know it, beer. Once that fermentation process is complete, the beer goes into a final phase known as conditioning. It stays in the conditioning phase for various lengths of time, depending on the type of beer that is being made. After the appropriate time passes, the beer is ready to be consumed.

“Brewing on its own is all about efficiency, and as brewers we take pride in this efficiency,” Murphy commented. “Luckily in our work, efficiency sort of equals sustainability.” Murphy thinks that the most notable sustainable part of this brewhouse is what they do with the spent grains. “It’s a really versatile waste, really, that’s what it is.” Murphy said. “On my end it’s just waste, but it gets reused in different ways outside of the brewery.” Spent grains are the husks of grain that remain after the sugar and flavour have been extracted.

The Noble Pig donates all their spent grains (at zero cost) to a local farmer in Pinantan, British Columbia, which is only 30 minutes away from Kamloops. The spent grains then get used on multiple hobby farms, specifically for animal feed. The previous farmer who picked up the spent grains used to use it as compost for soil. Regardless of what it used for, it doesn’t get simply tossed away, rather it is put back into the community for reuse.

Sustainability and Community Benefits

In an interview conducted with Jan Ramirez, a shift leader at The Noble Pig, he comments on some of the sustainable practices The Noble Pig has, and how the community benefits from these.

“Locally sourcing our ingredients helps our communities in several ways,” Ramirez notes. “For one, it reduces the carbon footprint we have.” As he explained, many of the ingredients don’t have to travel more than 80 kilometres. This reduces the emissions that occur from purchasing ingredients from areas that are far from local, where they would have to be transported great distances before reaching the kitchen.

“On top of this, there is a sense of community that is being fostered.” Ramirez explains. “The owners are long-time members of the community; they want to make sure that they are involved in it and that our actions benefit everyone.” This is an aspect of The Noble Pig that sets it apart, as according to Ramirez many of the customers visit because they appreciate the time and effort put in to source the ingredients in a sustainable way.

What’s the “Pig” Deal?

The Noble Pig Brewhouse was the first micro-brewery in Kamloops, starting back in 2010. Unlike other breweries that have popped up in the city that have more of a taproom environment, The Noble Pig offers a full restaurant experience. “Our identity is to have that full service, full menu, everything brought to your seat, super knowledgeable staff,” Murphy explained. “It’s a little less casual than going in and ordering a beer at a bar.”

Ramirez also expresses that the team at The Noble Pig is a large part of its unique appeal. “I get to work with a team of people who care about each other and the success of the business.” Ramirez comments. “Management takes the time to work with their team, develop their skills, and really treats them all as a part of one big family.” Everyone contributes to creating a nice, welcoming environment, and this not only promotes good teamwork, but also a restaurant where customers can feel comfortable.

The combination of good food, a comfortable atmosphere, and a great team makes The Noble Pig a destination spot for a night out. The brewhouse, in Murphy’s opinion, just adds to the appeal. “It’s a nice little added bonus,” Murphy finished. “People know that they will get a craft product when they come here.”