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Pacific Western Brewing pairs beer, salmon enhancement

The brewery may be small, but owner Kazuko Komatsu's heart is big when it comes to salmon enhancement on the west coast.

Pacific Western Brewing Co. is hosting a beer tasting and salmon pairing at Creekers Pub on Saturday, Aug. 31 from 3–5 p.m., where representatives will make an announcement about a new salmon enhancement program.

Pacific Western owner Kazuko Komatsu has a long-standing program of helping non-profit organizations with land, water and salmon conservation; this program will be a first for Vancouver Island, spokesperson Brian Kieran said.

“These funds will be available to [groups] like streamkeepers and people that put more salmon smolts in community rivers—volunteer-driven associations and societies.”

The decision to kick off this new program in Port Alberni was easy, Kieran said: “Consumers in Port Alberni have been very good to the brewery.”

They also have a good sales rep in Rob Ivezich, and retired sales rep in Peter Rueschmann, who put Pacific Western Brewing in touch with salmon enhancement organizations in the Alberni Valley.

Details of the program will be revaled on Saturday at the event. Groups will be able to apply for funding in the fall.

Brewmaster Henryk Orlik will also be on hand to discuss the trio of beers chosen for the pairing.

Admission to the beer tasting is free and open to the public.

Creekers Pub is located in the Howard Johnson Hotel at 4850 Beaver Creek Rd., behind the Petro-Canada gas station.

editor@albernivalleynews.com