Craft Beer Lifestyle Blog

Tag: craft brewery

Define Your Craft: Craft Beer Collaborations are Bringing “Craft” into Higher Relief

Craft beer collaborations: the "All Together IPA" initiative from Weathered Souls Brewing and the "Black Is Beautiful Stout" initiative from Weathered Souls Brewing are making craft breweries define their Craft by action.
The “All Together IPA” initiative from Weathered Souls Brewing and the “Black Is Beautiful Stout” initiative from Weathered Souls Brewing are asking craft breweries to define their Craft by action.

The ‘Surplus’ of Collaboration Brews

As a craft beer aficionado, whenever a pair of breweries get together to collaborate on creating a beer, it’s always an extra-special, sought-after release. These beers, in the eyes of the beer-holder, contain an ‘extra;’ a surplus of enjoyment beyond that of the (non-collab) beer beside it on the shelf. Craft beer collaborations are seen in a slightly different way, as if you’re getting a two-for-one; an additional greatness from the combined forces of the respective breweries.

Of course, the experience, in the end, never really lives up to the hype you created in your head (although that is true for everything, I believe). And of course, just because two breweries work together, does not necessitate they’ll do so well or successfully. But there’s clearly that special sort of allure with a brewery collaboration beer release.

Continue reading

Common Good Brewing Company

The large sign that hangs over the entrance to Common Good Brewing Company.
The large sign that hangs over the entrance to Common Good Brewing Company.

“It’s a conduit or mechanism…

It was different sort of interview with Ajeet Grover, VP of business development and community relations at Common Good Brewing Company, when we sat down only days after the NBA had shut down its season, triggering the shutdown of much of North America due to the COVID-19 outbreak. While we could not avoid speaking about the pandemic (which we will get to below), I was still also interested to hear his response to my favourite question: Is there such a thing as a craft beer lifestyle, and, if so, how would you define it?

Ajeet was quick to respond: “Ya, I definitely think there is such a thing as a craft beer lifestyle. I think it really centres around the notion of ‘community’… About using craft beer as a conduit or a mechanism to bring people together.

“To us, craft beer is about people, about our relationships – which makes this current crisis so frustrating and challenging, because, you know, craft beer is something to be shared and enjoyed with others. It’s not the same when you’re drinking a beer by yourself at home – it’s ok, but…

“To us it’s all about community – and that’s also what Common Good is about: we’re a partnership-driven business, we’re about working with everyone – other businesses, charities, other breweries… Our unique business model [Common Good produces its own beer, as well as other beer for contract brewers] puts us central into the craft beer community because we’re on the ground working with so many other people in our industry.

“And that’s a big part of what the craft beer community is, is other people who are working in it and doing their best to make great products and get it out there to share it with all the great beer lovers in Scarborough, Toronto, and beyond.”

Continue reading

Granite Brewery

Welcome to Granite Brewery, established in 1991, making it one of Toronto's original craft breweries.
Welcome to Granite Brewery, established in 1991, making it one of Toronto’s original craft breweries.

From one family’s love…

When I sat down with Mary Beth Keefe, head brewer at Granite Brewery, I asked her whether she believed there was a ‘craft beer lifestyle,’ and, if so, what that might mean to her. Being a part of a family business with a history, like Granite Brewery, means that she’s been on payroll since she was 11 years old. If anyone might have a hint at what a craft beer lifestyle is then, it’s got to be Mary.

“The way that I’m interpreting that question is – well, I pretty much only exclusively drink Ontario craft beer. I just love the idea of supporting local and the people in my local industry.

“And that’s something that I’m blown away by on a daily basis almost: if you need help from another brewery, like Amsterdam for instance, I’ve gone to them many times, because I’m known for being last minute,” which we chuckle together about before she continues, “And, so – I’m going to brew a beer tomorrow, and I’m like, ‘Oh my God, I don’t have any of this grain!’ There’s no way of getting it in time, so I’ll ask Ian at Amsterdam if he happens to have any. He’s always like, ‘Oh ya, for sure – just take it.’ And he’ll just give me the grain.

“Or hops – that’s happened before – I couldn’t find Azacca hops, and Great Lakes just gave me the hops. It’s always like this. Just everyone always willing to help; if you have any questions, they’re always willing to give you the answers or give you their advice or whatever. So just being like that, as well, being helpful and doing what you can for the people – that’s the craft beer industry…

“I don’t know – just, I love my job… I don’t know, it’s just such a great industry to be a part of.”

Continue reading

© 2024 PairingwithBeer

Theme by Anders NorenUp ↑