Joining the family…
While sharing a pint on the Blood Brothers Brewing patio with co-owner Brayden Jones, he gave me a piece of what he thought a ‘craft beer lifestyle’ might be. “I mean, I think for us it kind of goes with our whole motto of ‘joining the family,’ and craft beer lifestyle is very hyper-local for us,” he began.
“It is a community in the way that like if it goes beyond the borders of our city, like when we get invited to festivals out of town, which is a part of that community and their lifestyle, I think that’s pretty cool because we don’t need to be some big company that’s distributed everywhere. We can still be small and be recognized in that community which is on the other side of our country.
“But ya – huge on community, I think – you know, without our neighbours coming and supporting us, then we’d only be busy on the weekends when out-of-towners come to see what’s it’s all about. And then they wouldn’t be coming if it wasn’t for our community first supporting us, so that’s the lifestyle in itself: it’s the local camaraderie with our neighbours and our city.”
…and the local camaraderie
Opening on the same day that Brayden’s daughter was born, on October 2, 2015, Blood Brothers Brewing is a brewery that puts family first – and they invite you to join theirs.
Owned by two brothers, Brayden and Dustin Jones, the name their brewery wears is one that alludes to partnerships and friendships that develop into family: family doesn’t simply mean being born of the same kin – it means going through experiences and growing together; becoming family by shared experiences. Or, by putting one’s blood into a common project.
Always building
This common project, Blood Brothers Brewing, is one that is in constant build. “We try to always push the envelope – nothing’s ever perfect,” Brayden told me. They are constantly developing and improving their brews, mastering their systems and how best to utilize them, and then they are always expanding the project itself.
Indeed, Blood Brothers is at the tail end of another revolution: they have just added a kitchen and expanded the guest area to at least twice the size the area was only a few months ago. More neighbours and out-of-towners can enjoy the space now, and more growth is in the works (but that remains hush-hush for the present time).
The new space
Across from a park sits the patio, with 4 large picnic tables ready for guests to drink in the sun. I skipped by the front door, as their large garage door separating the patio from inside was wide open. White walls with mostly black and gold decor provide an atmosphere that matches the Blood Brothers branding.
It’s casually spooky. Their beer names and label designs typically allude to religious or cult motifs, which is part of their ‘join the family’ philosophy: they’re like the friendly cult that praises good beer and invites you to drink it with them. Tap handles are made from tree branches, and a couple of branches are actually used to decorate, giving the space a slight Blair Witch Project-esque feel – but this is hardly a scary place.
Not with the smell of freshly baked bread it isn’t! Having just expanded their space and now offering a limited food menu, the space is easy to hang out and enjoy multiple pints in. It’s almost like drinking in your garage, but with a proper bar, more seating, more friends, and lacking gardening tools and any nods to sports.
With a second garage door opening on the other side of the bar, lots of natural light fills the space during the day. Additional picnic tables on the south end of the bar complete the guest area as the production area fills the south side of the brewery. (See the full Blood Brothers photo gallery here.)
The People of Blood Brothers Brewing
Upon my arrival, I was met by Chris Bell. Chris is an incredibly friendly guy who lives nearby in the neighbourhood. He found the brewery in its early days, and thought the brews were “fucking amazing.” He wanted to be a part of the Blood project, and had what he called “the easiest interview ever with those two (Brayden and Dustin).” Chris now runs the sales side of things, often found running around town, visiting licensees. If he’s coming to your local pub, then you’re pub is officially a good pub, I’d say.
Chris introduced me to Peter Mahoney, a bartender at Blood Brothers. Peter poured me a pint of the “Narcosatanicos,” a farmhouse ale aged in tequila barrels and refermented with brettanomyces (yes, it was an excellent beer). I then asked Peter some of my typical ‘pairing’ questions.
Peter’s favourite Blood Brothers brew is the “Unify or Die,” a spiced stout made with coffee, cinnamon and vanilla. “I think I’d pair this with the movie, House of the Devil, because it’s very dark, but totally enjoyable.
“I’d also pair it with Toronto, because Toronto is a city that needs to find its centre, or collapse.”
Even more enjoyable was his response to my question of what a ‘craft beer lifestyle’ might be: “Sounds like I’ll need some Tylenol,” he quipped.
The blood brothers
I had an extended conversation with Brayden Jones, while his brother Dustin was in was a meeting. Dustin joined us near the end of the conversation so that Brayden could put all the “tough” questions he couldn’t answer onto his brother’s plate. Needless to say, neither would tell me who their favourite brewery is today: “That probably changes daily, if not from moment to moment.”
They could let me know though how they had access to some more interesting craft beer early on. The brothers grew up in Windsor, and with the close contact to Detroit and the Michigan beer scene, the brothers were trying craft beer from places like Founders Brewing Company and Bell’s Brewery before many of us in other parts of Canada were aware of the new scene occurring south of the border.
From one creative outlet to the next
While they grew fond of the more interesting beer flavours coming from the U.S., beer was not their thing – yet. Brayden and Dustin were operating a contracting company to “pay the bills” while they tried to focus on their real passion: music. Their move from Windsor to Toronto 12 years ago was an effort to try to kick start their music careers, but things did not go according to plan.
Instead, they found themselves needing to spend more time working than they could produce music, eventually putting that dream to rest. But they still needed a creative outlet.
They ended up attending a home-brewing competition almost a decade ago. There they found beers that were “incredibly experimental,” and this “shook” their interest immediately. Unaware that beer could be made to taste in the way these home-brewers were making them was something the brothers found exciting.
Within 48 hours of that home-brewing competition, the brothers went out and collected the gear necessary to start home-brewing themselves. With an eye for a true culinary experience, they were intent on focusing on beer pairings when it came to their recipes: “What flavours would we pair with tacos? Sushi? How about a curry dish?” These were the sorts of questions they asked themselves when coming up with their beer recipes.
Fast-forward to today and Blood Brothers Brewing has established themselves as one of the most exciting breweries in Toronto to watch.
Fast-forward to today, and, as well, now here I am on the other end: Brayden and Dustin were hooking me up with 3 of their beers so that I could run off and pair them in my own, non-food-focused sort of way… I’m certainly hoping they’ll approve.
Pairingwith… Blood Brothers Brewing – “Shumei” IPA
The “Shumei” IPA from Blood Brothers Brewing is an east coast meets west coast hybrid that is available year round from the brewery. Pairing this beer with blooming Sakura cherry blossoms in High Park, Toronto, is more astute than one might initially think.
Being a year round offering from the brewery, the Shumei is a nice contrast to the incredibly brief blooming of the cherry blossoms (typically lasting only a week or so). Arrive NOW to High Park, as these blossoms are not going to be out much longer (especially with today’s rain!).
With west coast piney-ness meeting east coast juiciness, the Shumei is a vibrant IPA that provides a wonderful citrus and floral aroma. While not quite smelling like a cherry blossom, the beer does have a wonderful spring quality to its overall flavour and aroma. Deliciously hazy and medium-bodied, the beer disguises its 7% ABV beneath a wonderful mix of grapefruit, mango, and pine resin that comes to a clean, dry finish.
The name of the beer speaks directly to the Japanese origin of the Sakura tree: Shumei is a new Japanese religion, which puts a emphasis on an appreciation of nature, and, more specifically, an insistence on natural agriculture. Pairing the beer with these blossoms, therefore, brings the beer into the space its name suggests it should be – in the beauty of the natural world.
Take out your camera; arrive early to High Park; bring a few Shumei IPAs; and enjoy the splendour of spring around you and in your glass.
Sakura Trees in High Park
If beauty is to be found in the temporary, then Sakura trees may be the paradigm of this notion. Known as “Sakura Hanami” in Japan, meaning “cherry blossom viewing,” it is a spring tradition for masses of Japanese to flock to Sakura trees to view the flower’s brief bloom of utter beauty.
High Park’s Sakura trees typically have their peak bloom from anywhere between 4 to 10 days, which is of course very dependant on the weather: rain and wind are certainly no good. With this year’s bloom happening on May 8th, we are today, on the 17th, at the end of their bloom period (head today or tomorrow – or wait until next year!).
The Sakura trees in High Park were in fact a gift from the Japanese ambassador to Canada in 1959, delivered as a thank you to Toronto for its support of Japanese-Canadian refugees of WWII. The gesture of friendship between the two nations has continued with the “Sakura Project:” a collaborative effort between the city of Toronto and the Consulate General of Japan to continue to plant Sakura trees throughout the city.
The national flower of Japan, Sakura trees symbolize rebirth and the transient nature of life. With such a short bloom, their significance is to emphasize the relationships we have with others and how to appreciate the fleeting moments we share with each other.
It’s only beautiful because it’s temporary. That’s the beauty of life: it’s lack of permanence. The message here, in other words, is to get out and enjoy life now, while we have it.
Pairingwith… Blood Brothers Brewing – “Blood Light” Pale Ale
**DISCLAMER**
It is very dangerous to combine alcohol with donating blood. I did not consume any alcohol 24 hours before my appointment, nor 24 hours after. The photo on the right was taken the day after my appointment on the left. DO NOT CONSUME ALCOHOL BEFORE OR AFTER DONATING BLOOD.
The “Blood Light” pale ale from Blood Brothers Brewing was at one point known as the “Toad of Light.” Supplanting a wild ale the brewery previously brewed under the “Blood Light” moniker, the updated brew is a now year round offering. Made to be sessionable, the beer is in fact a great pairing as a reward for going a bit ‘blood light’ yourself – enjoying it the day after donating blood at Canadian Blood Services.
A low ABV of 4.5% is perfect for relaxing and taking it easy. A tropical aroma arises from the yellow haze, and is followed by a soft mouthfeel and a balanced with light grain bitterness that finishes with little lingering effect. Flavours of orange, melon and pineapple – some wonderful juice. Excellently easy to enjoy, the Blood Light is like the friend you always want over to the house.
And when your friend is in need, you lend them a hand – or donate your blood, as the case may be. Similar to the brand of beer, 20 years ago, Canadian Blood Services supplanted the Canadian Red Cross Society. With approximately 5 million people receiving blood transfusions with zero cases of blood-borne infections in the not-for-profit’s history, Canadian Blood Services deserve serious credit for doing a very important job very well. In other words, they deserve a beer, and the Blood Light is a perfect reward.
They also can use some help. Donating blood is a significant gesture, one that gives back to one’s national community and helps link us together as a people. This was my first donation, but it will certainly not be my last. Daily is the need for blood, and I encourage all who can give blood to schedule an appointment with Canadian Blood Services to donate as soon as you are able.
So head to blood.ca or call 1-888-2-DONATE; become a link in the Canadian Blood Services chain; and then reward yourself for a job well done with a Blood Light from Blood Brothers the next day (and maybe the day after that as well).
Canadian Blood Services
In 1998, Canada was in a blood crisis, with almost 50% of Canadians believing that blood was too contaminated to be received safely. It was at the height of this crisis that Canadian Blood Services was created, supplanting the Canadian Red Cross Society.
Not-for-profit and regulated by Health Canada, Canadian Blood Services holds a unique place in Canada’s healthcare system: they are funded at the provincial/territorial level, yet work on the national level. They are a special link, connecting Canadians to help keep them alive.
The role of Canadian Blood Services is divided into four main areas.
The first is blood. Collecting, testing, and manufacturing blood and blood products, Canadian Blood Services distributes this across the country to patients in need.
Second, they collect plasma for patients in need of transfusions, and for creating plasma protein products for potentially lifesaving drugs.
Thirdly, the CBS is in charge of a stem cell program that manufactures stem cells to be used to treat patients in need of stem cell transplants.
Finally, the organization controls a national transplant registry for interprovincial organ donation and transplantation.
Creating a collaborative network of donors, recipients, employees, volunteers, researchers, medical professionals and healthcare partners across the country, Canadian Blood Services acts as a link that binds us all.
As of September 28, 2018, 85% of Canadians believe that receiving blood is safe.
Donating blood is something that many of us can do. Blood is also something that we can never have too much of. My donation is probably not enough to save any one life by itself: we typically need a number of us to donate before one life is saved.
Don’t wait for tomorrow. Join the link. Give blood today.
(Information above cited from Canadian Blood Services.)
Pairingwith… Blood Brothers Brewing – “Paradise Lost” Guava Sour
At one point, the “Paradise Lost: Guava” sour was one-off. Then it became a seasonal. Now, it’s popularity has demanded Blood Brothers Brewing to offer the fantastic refermented golden sour all year round, and we couldn’t be happier: if a ‘fall from grace’ tastes this good, then sign me up for a bite of the apple, please, Eve!
Indeed, this beer pairs hilariously well with apples – and apples of all sorts. With most of us fixated on our screens, whether it be laptop, tablet or phone, it’s Apple I’d like to blame for this particular fall from grace and disconnect from our actual surroundings, including, most often, the people around us.
Apples, of all sorts, taste good though, and the Paradise Lost: Guava fits right in. A light golden colour with a slight haze, the beer’s aroma is tropical fruit forward with a tinge of a sour yeasty-ness. Wonderful flavours follow the nose, bringing guava and passionfruit with hints of lemon and citrus. Mildly carbonated, the sour finishes dry and with a slight puckering effect. In other words, it tastes like something worth falling from grace for.
Nietzsche’s Beyond Good and Evil plays the saviour’s role here, requesting all of us to go beyond the traditional understanding of morality to a place that affirms life – and a fall from grace. Yes, the ‘mistake’ Eve makes when she bites the forbidden fruit may not in fact be such a mistake. Thank (not) god for the human condition; say “Yes” to life.
Say “Yes” to the Paradise Lost: Guava sour from Blood Brothers Brewing as a total compliment to the human condition… And don’t text or DM that: tell yourself in the damn mirror, and make sure everyone you know hears. Say “Yes” to losing paradise, and deal with it by pouring one of these pints… In no time, you’ll be thinking you found it.
Nice photos! Solid read! Love this brewery!!
Thank you, thank you! Fantastic brewery, for sure – great people! Pop by for a visit asap!