Aldergrove’s Dead Frog Brewery is rapidly becoming one of the signature craft breweries in the Lower Mainland, and with that recognition comes expansion.

President Derrick Smith said the company has been brewing under the Dead Frog name for two and a half years now, but their key breakthrough came when they moved from their original Fraser Highway location to a larger facility on Gloucester Way.

“We just moved into this location in February of 2008,” he said.

“We went from 2,000 square feet to 10,000 square feet.”

Smith said the move was necessary to increase their brewing capacity to meet rising demand, and it’s paid off significantly.

“We’ve expanded our sales by more than four times since we’ve moved,” he said.

“That takes a lot more square footage. ... We’ve gone from seven employees to 30.”

Dead Frog now has their beers offered on tap in around 100 bars and restaurants, and available in bottles in close to 400 more.

They’re earning industry recognition as well: their Nut Brown Ale took the gold medal in the brown ale category at the Canadian Brewing Awards this summer, and their Honey Brown Traditional Ale took home the bronze in the special honey/maple lager or ale category. They’re also offering a new beer, the “2 1/2 Year Anniversary Ale,” which joins their existing lineup of Nut Brown Ale, Honey Brown Traditional Ale, Pale Ale and Dead Frog Lager.

Despite their success, the brewery isn’t resting on their laurels.

They’re aggressively expanding into other markets across Canada, including Alberta and Ontario, and are even looking internationally.

“We’re getting phone calls all the time asking ‘When is your product going to be available in our area?’” Smith said.

“For some reason, Korea is very interested in our product.”

Smith said their rapid expansion over the last year and a half has been great, but he doesn’t see a plateau coming any time soon.

“In the next year, our business could quadruple again,” he said.

“It’s through the roof.”

Smith said one of the keys to the brewery’s success has been their unique name.

“It’s kind of irreverent, funny and sarcastic,” he said.

“We’ve always created great beer; the problem was getting it to market.”

Smith, an Aldergrove resident himself, said the community has been a great location for his brewery.

“I love Aldergrove,” he said.

“I live in Aldergrove, so it was very important for me to set up shop here; I hate to commute.”

Smith said the brewery has significant local ties.

“A big percentage of our staff lives in Aldergrove,” he said.

The brewery also works with Fort Langley’s Mountain View Conservation Society on several programs, including the preservation of the endangered Oregon Spotted Frog.

Dead Frog’s strong local ties have helped them achieve their present success, and Smith said the brewery’s future seems unlimited.

“I don’t want to say world domination, but what the heck,” he said.

“Everyone deserves an opportunity to try the best beer in the universe.”