It is official. After months of rumours, I have received confirmation that Granville Island is returning to Alberta. In fact three of their beer hit liquor store shelves last weekend or will sometime this week. This is actually pretty interesting news, even if you are not a fan of the beer.

Opened in 1984, Granville Island, generally promoted as Canada’s first microbrewery (there is some complexity to this question that muddify who earns the title, but I won’t go into it here), has an important historical place in Canada’s beer history. By the mid-1990s they had pushed into the prairie provinces, being some of the first craft-made beer available on the flatlands (along with Big Rock). They quickly developed a strong following among beer drinkers looking for something slightly different and original. I remember snagging six packs of the beer whenever I could find it in a liquor store because it beat most of the timid imports available at the time. However, in the early 2000s they retreated from the prairies due to growing demand in their home province and limits on production capacity.

The market in Alberta has changed markedly since their departure. There are now 10 B.C. craft brewers available in Alberta (all much smaller than Granville) plus dozens of other Canadian micros, so you have to imagine it miffs Granville like crazy to be missing out on the burgeoning market in Alberta.

Plus, last year they were bought out, officially by Creemore Springs in Ontario but ostensibly by Molson (who own Creemore). At the time on my CBC column (no link, sorry) I pontificated that the buy-out would lead to regional expansion, as the brewery gained distribution networks and access to production efficiencies. I predicted a return to the province in short order. Apparently I was right. Chock one up for me!

I am told three beer are in the first shipment: English Bay Pale Ale, Cypress Honey Lager and Maple Cream Ale. It does, I am told, seem to be a permanent re-entry, but I have not yet received confirmation on that fact. Also no word yet on when Saskatchewan and Manitoba might be on the list, or if other beer will be shipped as well.

I’ll admit it has been years since I drank Granville (save a trip to the Vancouver test brewery last year where I mostly consumed seasonals). I may have to try a couple six packs, just for nostalgia’s sake if nothing else.