Field House Brewing

Abbotsford hasn't always been on people's radar. For years it was more likely in their rearview, merely a jumping off point to exciting destinations out of Abbotsford. But thanks in part to startups like Field House Brewing Co., founder and owner Josh Vanderheide is helping make Abby its own exciting destination.

"I recently moved from Vancouver back to Abbotsford, where I grew up, and saw a town with great people and so much potential, but not a lot of really unique experiences," he recalls. "I opened Field House in January 2016 to bring something new, fresh and inspiring. We started this business to address some key needs of the community, which meant being a place for everybody: where kids felt welcome, for guys after work and for couples on dates. We created different ways for different people to experience the business."

Josh became passionate about the industry while running a design studio in Vancouver that worked with craft brewery clients. He was exposed to an industry based on camaraderie, creativity and community, and was strongly influenced by the collaboration between the breweries. "I saw people helping each other out; I really loved that about the industry."