Fredericton beer shuttles benefit from surge in microbreweries

With its neon-lit couches, sound system and laser light show, the Fredericton Party Bus markets itself as a lively way for beer drinkers to travel between the city's microbreweries.

It's one of several shuttle and bus services that recently popped up across the capital city, following an upswing in local craft beer breweries.

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They cater to those looking to hop from brewery to brewery.

"It can be a pretty wild," said Vince MacDonald, Fredericton Party Bus driver. 

MacDonald said there are now quite a few bus stops, which is "great for us, great for everyone."

He added that the bus is able to transport more than 44 people around the city at a time.

But the job can also be a little more demanding, as most of his clients drink.

"As a professional driver, you have to keep it calm, cool, and collective," he said. 

Microbreweries on the rise

Al Sturgeon, co–founder of BrewHopper, a smartphone app that maps out exactly where each shuttle is at any given time within the city, is also benefiting from the influx in microbreweries.

Sturgeon estimates there are now up to half a dozen companies, catering directly to beer lovers looking for a safe way to get to the next microbrewery.

Some of them had wait lists and he's heard about requests for a private bus.

"We've seen the emergence of craft beer in the city of Fredericton skyrocket," he said.

"It's building its own economy around it.

"So already we're dealing with how we are going to satisfy each of these different groups of 'Brew Hoppers.'"

He now hopes to license the software to other shuttle services to create a connected network.

"We'll really push this out during the summer time for tourism season," he said. 

A local limo service is also capitalizing on the influx of microbreweries a few times a month.

Montgomery Paul of Silver's Limousine Service said the business was mostly serving bachelor, bachelorette and birthday parties.

But now they get people who want to go on a brewery tour, he said.

"It just allows us to expand our business," he said