性视界传媒 is known for many things, just not craft breweries. , but smaller-scale brewers aren鈥檛 really on the radar like in some neighbouring cities.

That could change, however, now that 性视界传媒 has made changes to address some barriers that brewers and distillers face when looking to open here.

A zoning bylaw amendment made in May 2022 allows for liquor tasting lounges in highway commercial industrial and light industrial zones.

鈥淭hese changes mean 性视界传媒 has some of the most flexible allowances in Metro Vancouver for breweries and distilleries,鈥� trumpets .

Operators of were first to jump in with a new brewery and tasting room in the Panorama area, in a warehouse area on 54A Avenue, kitty-corner from Excellent Ice.

鈥淲e built it from scratch, and we are ground-breakers here in 性视界传媒,鈥� owner said of the tap room, opened in early December.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been 32 months in the making, start to finish, nearly three years,鈥� he added. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a huge breakthrough at city hall that a true craft brewery is open in 性视界传媒 and survived all the red tape. 性视界传媒 is now understanding what many other municipalities have known for years. This is big news.鈥�

Woodall, a sports-loving South 性视界传媒ite involved in the speciality-insurance business, has partnered in Wayback with Chris Meyer, who helped run some of Vancouver鈥檚 finest dining establishments. Together they also operate in East Van.

The Wayback name was originally something else.

鈥淲e had it registered as Ballpark Brewing, that was going to be our way,鈥� Woodall recalled. 鈥淎nd then we brought in Chris and talked about not wanting a testosterone-filled sports bar. One of the great things about this place will be our patio in the summertime. We wanted to be in a position where two ladies could come on a Saturday afternoon or a Saturday evening, have a beer or a glass of wine and not feel intimidated. Wayback was just a better name.鈥�

The tap room includes 50 seats in a nostalgia-themed space and, when the weather is right, another 50 on a south-facing plaza, where a trailer/kitchen will cook speciality pizza.

So far, are Lager, Lite, IPA, Citrus Wheat and Baja Dark. Cocktails on tap are Negroni and Old Fashioned, both made with Resurrection spirits.

Meyer said Panorama is a great area for a craft brewery.

鈥淭here is a lot of residential here, and it鈥檚 growing with that, down the street and across the highway,鈥� he noted. 鈥淧eople are also willing to travel if it鈥檚 something new.

鈥淭he number-one comment this week from people who鈥檝e come through our doors is, we鈥檙e excited for you to be here,鈥� Meyer added. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e willing to walk, bike, roller-skate or Uber here. We have our store here and people will come have a beer, visit, then grab a six-pack on their way out. We鈥檒l have our kitchen set up soon, too, focused on pizza and some other offerings. We鈥檒l start small and go from there.鈥�

City hall鈥檚 zoning bylaw amendments mean 性视界传媒 has opened up more than 4,000 acres of land previously inaccessible to breweries who want to do business.

Woodall applauds the changes, but also laments how long it took to open Wayback and delays in getting approvals.

鈥淚t was a long, expensive haul,鈥� he said. 鈥淥ne of the main things that I see is that the (city) council and the city staff aren鈥檛 on the same wavelength. The council has an idea of what they want to see for the City of 性视界传媒, how they want the City of 性视界传媒 to develop and promote, and the staff have more of a conservative approach and don鈥檛 always follow the direction that they get from council. With a (bylaw) amendment like this, there鈥檚 still a lot of interpretation into the application of the amendment.

鈥淚t was a long process,鈥� he added, 鈥渂ut I can say now, absolutely worth it.鈥�