Kiana Brambleby, Front of House Manager at Taylight Brewing, is passionate about the customer service industry and the craft beer community. Starting as a server in 2023, she quickly rose to management, driven by her love for the brewery’s unique offerings and welcoming atmosphere. Taylight Brewing, based in Port Coquitlam, BC, is known for its bold beer flavours and strong community ties. With a new location in Vancouver and plans to expand across Canada, Taylight is committed to providing more than just beer, focusing on creating inclusive, community-driven spaces. Kiana, who is of Indigenous and Asian descent, embraces her role in shaping the company’s future while overcoming challenges in building customer connections.
What is your business called and what does it do?
Taylight Brewing is a Brewery in Port Coquitlam, BC. Our tasting room at the Port Coquitlam location includes a food truck we run ourselves. We have just opened our new location in Vancouver, the Taylight Kitchen.
What made you want to do this work?
I love the customer service industry and providing great beer and food to the community. I started as just a server in the Summer of 2023, and in the new year of 2024, I got promoted to the front-of-house manager. I grew up around Port Coquitlam, and ever since 2018 when we opened up, my family and I have come to Taylight. My love for the beer and community-based friendly atmosphere made me fall in love with being here. Since being part of the team here, I have fallen even more in love with the Taylight family! It’s always a great time and experience here, and we are happy that we are expanding our brand further in the lower mainland and across Canada (in Alberta currently and next up in Saskatchewan)!
What problem did you want to solve with the business?
We are showing people there is more to the Taylight name than just brewing beer. Not to be too biased, but we make exceptional, unique beer (and non-alcoholic beer) and hard lemonade with wild, outside-the-box flavours that are delicious. On top of that, we are very community-orientated, with this year and future years looking for more ways to provide services other than quenching people’s thirst and more ways to be more included with the community.
Who are your clientele/demographics?
Ideally, we would love to see all sorts of people here enjoying our products of all ages. However, since we were initially located in the industrial area, we serve many working-class people.
How does your business make money? How does it work?
We mainly do off-sales at the brewery and a few liquor stores around B.C., in addition to our expansions in Canada. We also provide to many restaurants around the Lower Mainland.
Where in the city can we find your profession?
Our original tasting room is in Port Coquitlam, B.C., and our newest location is in Vancouver, the Taylight Local Craft Beer & Kitchen at 990 Smithe St.
What is the best question a prospective customer could ask a member of your profession when comparing services? Give the answer as well.
What makes Taylight the place to go to compared to other Breweries in the area?
Given that Port Coquitlam has had its boom with a handful of brewers popping up, I would say what makes us stand out is how we have fun with not trying to be “perfect.” We test our limits with the taste and flavour of our beers. Specifically, our Fresh Batch Fridays release a fresh pilot batch (small brew), and our brewers can release their creativity. We aren’t afraid to stand out in our appearance or flavours. We aren’t the most aesthetic place to be in the era of influencers and picture-perfect places to go to. We’re very corky and find that we are more of a place to relax, unwind, and not care too much about looking “picture perfect.”
What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?
The best part about what I do is being a part of something bigger. I’ve always been the worker bee, working for others and having little say in how a business will be run. But here at Taylight, our owner and my bosses allow me to give my input into our company’s day-to-day and future direction. And I appreciate that with a workplace. Along with being able to be more of a change to the community, I’m excited to continue and expand with helping others around us.
The worst is needing more time or more resources. As many individuals and businesses would say, I could say that being a female of Indigenous/Asian descent makes it sometimes difficult to connect with customers or potential partnerships. So, overall, being understood and taken seriously as an individual and as part of the Taylight business would be the overall challenge (but not necessarily the worst part). Still, it’s a challenge the Taylight family is ready to take on!
What is your favourite joke about your own profession?
I get remarks about how “nice and a dream it must be working at a brewery” because, at times, it can resemble more of a nightmare than a dream!
And for Taylight specifically, we are a little rough around the edges but just great on the inside
Where can we follow you?
PAY IT FORWARD: What is another local business that you love?
Cassandra Cake Co.
