Saint John Ale House celebrating two decades in business

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The Saint John Ale House is marking 20 years in business with a year-long celebration kicking off next week.

Owner Jesse Vergen said in a release that the business’s plans are to host special events and content that will reflect the restaurant’s “rich history and enduring success.” Festivities will begin on May 9 at 6 p.m., which Vergen called “an exciting evening of specials, music and more.”

The Ale House was founded in 2004 by Peter Stoddart and Trevor Pierce and has become one of the best-known establishments in the city. Vergen took it over in 2020 and proceeded to expand its operations and reputation for promoting local and provincial beer brands and cuisine.

“Twenty years ago, there was nowhere in the province elevating local beers. The Saint John Ale House was at the forefront of fostering the New Brunswick craft beer scene. Things like collaborating on brews with Moosehead and putting new, local breweries on tap – nobody else was doing that,” Vergen said in the release. “When we combined that with our passion for elevating local and pub food, we knew we were about to do something special. We’re so excited to celebrate 20 years of business with our customers and community.”

He added that central to the Ale House’s success is his “unwavering dedication to sourcing fresh, local ingredients, creating an unforgettable culinary experience that has captivated diners and critics alike.”

Vergen was a finalist on the reality television series Top Chef Canada, and the Ale House was featured on the Food Network program “You Gotta Eat Here.” It has also been spotlighted nationally and internationally in the Globe and Mail, Maclean’s and Reader’s Digest.