Brewing More Than Beer

Building Community from the Ground Up

Peace River Brewing | Peace River, AB

Medrey Bond and Tyrell Kehler

“Please come down,” said Tyrell Kehler. “We’re a family-friendly place, and a lot of people don’t realize that.”

Owners Tyrell Kehler and Medrey Bond of Peace River Brewing have been building their business from the ground up since 2018, transforming a homebrewing hobby into a full-scale brewery.

“It was just something I really enjoyed doing at home,” said Tyrell. “And it kind of grew from there.”

Before the business, Tyrell was brewing small batches during time off from a rotation job. What started as a hobby quickly demanded more time and, eventually, more space.

“The amount of effort between home brewing and commercial brewing is pretty similar,” said Tyrell. “So, it wasn’t as big of a leap as you’d think.”

But, the leap came without a roadmap.

“Tyrell wanted to rent a shop to do woodworking. The plan was to brew enough beer to cover the shop’s rent,” said Medrey. “He’s never done any woodworking.”

At the time, Medrey had already owned a salon for over a decade. However, she quickly became an essential part of the operation. They held their grand opening in 2018 in time to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

In the beginning, Peace River Brewing was a hip place on River Road to get a bottom-filled growler of craft brew fresh from the tap.

They had five taps, one rotating, and a retail sampling area with two small tables. Mainstays were Kehler’s Kolsch, Fox Tail Amber, Tastes Pink India Pale Ale and a Belgian-inspired beer. They also sold kegs and rented pouring equipment for weddings or other special events.

“We didn’t have a five-year plan. It was just natural growth,” said Medrey. “It’s hard to run a business. You need help.”

“You end up learning everything,” said Tyrell. “When we started, there weren’t other breweries around here, so we had to install equipment ourselves and figure out all the systems. Apparently, I’m handy.”

This hands-on approach became a reoccurring theme. From fixing the plumbing and electrical to troubleshooting draft systems, Tyrell was Mr. Fix It.

“You figure something out, and then someone calls you with the same problem,” said Tyrell.

With Tyrell handling much of the operations, Medrey took on the bookkeeping, marketing and day-to-day logistics.

“It’s always putting out a fire,” said Medrey. “You’re rushing from one thing to another.”

Just like any brand-new venture that doesn’t come with instructions, building their brewery wasn’t linear. And, as it turned out, it didn’t stay small for long.

Along the way, Tyrell and Medrey did what they could with their space, which was a converted commercial shop. In the summer, they opened the garage door to let the air in. They expanded their seating area and started bringing in entertainment. They offered snack platters. People packed in shoulder to shoulder.

“Originally, we weren’t going to have a taproom. We weren’t going to do events or sell food,” said Medrey. “Then, every six months we added something new.”

“We just kept building on it,” said Tyrell.

In 2021, they introduced Peace River Distilling. Today they sell an impressive line of vodkas, gins and liqueurs.

Constantly jumping at the chance to better serve their customers, Tyrell and Medrey eventually made another giant leap. In 2022, they purchased a massive, historic building in downtown Peace River.

“When the opportunity came up, we took it,” said Tyrell. “It probably sounded like a terrible idea at the time, but here we are.”

Owning their space marked a turning point. It has allowed them to expand operations and think long-term. Peace River Brewing’s new base of operations previously housed a giant discount retailer. In a past life, it was a government liquor store.

“It gives us the ability to keep building,” said Tyrell.

This is the mindset that continues to drive their business to this day.

“We don’t want to keep doing the same thing,” said Medrey. “We want to keep improving.”

This constant evolution shows itself in their daily reality.

“When I wake up, I’m working on the brewery,” said Medrey. “When I go to bed, I’m working on the brewery. It’s definitely not a nine-to-five. It’s a small business, so everyone helps with everything.”

Since its humble beginnings, Peace River Brewing has grown considerably.

“We’ve got a really wide range of people now,” said Tyrell. “From long-time regulars to families coming in with kids.”

“We’ve become more family-friendly over time because our customers grew with us,” said Medrey.

This shift speaks to Peace River Brewing’s transformation. Their role in the community has evolved. It has become so much more than a place to fill a growler.

“It’s a space for the community,” said Medrey. “The only reason Peace River Brewing exists is because of our community.”

With fundraisers, partnerships and an event calendar that’s truly packed—featuring live music, trivia, leagues, comedians, themed nights and more—Medrey and Tyrell have built a space designed to bring people together.

Today, Peace River Brewing is a community hangout with a warm, inviting dining room serving up crave-worthy dishes for the whole family.

“It’s all about getting people out,” said Tyrell. “And giving them a place to connect.”

Connections matter, especially in the North.

“We want to be a community hub,” said Medrey.

“When people move here, it can be overwhelming,” said Tyrell. “Having a place where people can meet, it makes a difference.”

From a homebrewing hobby to a full-scale operation, Tyrell and Medrey have built their business, brick by brick, learning and adapting as they’ve grown—alongside side the community that made it all possible.

“We’re doing this for the people,” said Tyrell.

To learn more visit peaceriverbrewing.ca or connect via social media.

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Words by Amanda Hunter