Very open…
Lit by a bright June light coming from a nearby window in the dining area, I spoke with Braden MaCrae, co-owner of Kingston Brewing Company, and asked him whether he could define a craft beer lifestyle.
“The lifestyle is fun,” he began, after a moment to collect his thoughts. “Anyone you talk to in the craft beer industry – there’s a few non-conformists – but typically it is such an open community of people. Everyone is happy to share tips and suggestions and ideas for growth – and collaboration.
“It’s a really cool industry to be a part of because, although there’s a sense of competition, there’s also a sense of betterment for the entire industry, where I think the passion lies…
“Some don’t play by those rules, but a blanket stereotype is just the opposite of them: it’s is very open, and very free.”
…very free
Opening in April of 1986, the Kingston Brewing Company is the oldest brewpub in Ontario, serving both their own brews and a along list of craft beer from around the province and beyond. Having their products finally in the can format means there’s a recently added to-go fridge. A full kitchen offering up traditional pub fare completes the operations.
With both beer and food, it’s traditional, English influence at KBC. Owned by a group of 6 (Braden MaCrae, Peter Snell, Coling Burtch, Casey Grant, Jeannine Prentiss, and Honey Lee Pratt), the brewery is home to around 45 employees from the local neighbourhood.
A telegraph office
Approaching the 19th Centruy building, a former telegraph office, with it’s peachy-pink-orange and cream brick and stone exterior, is enough to get you excited for what might be inside. A large patio with a massive awning crosses the front of the building. Today, it is mostly full.
Through a smallish, wooden framed door you are greeted to an interior that resembles a British pub. Various levels for seating are sectioned off by old, wooden railings. Steps are found all over the room: this is classic, quaint, and fantastic.
Rays of sunlight shine through windows at one end of the space; the bar sits comfortably on the other side. Old beer memorabilia cover the walls. A polar bear peers down from above the front entrance.
That might sound odd, or even scary, but I assure you the polar bear comes across more as a Teddy bear than anything else.
Head upstairs to find a banquet room KBC calls the “Lair;” head around the back to a second patio – larger than the first! – in a secluded, little oasis in a back courtyard. A sign above the entrance to an arched tunnel to the road reads, “New Orleans – French Quarter.” It’s almost a maze.
(See the full Kingston Brewing Company photo gallery here.)
Practically an institution
Kingston Brewing Company has been a part of its community for a while now. During the time I visited Kingston (over a 5 day period), I met more people that either worked at KBC or had worked there than I had beers to try while I was on the trip – and that’s a lot, let me tell you. I quickly found out that the locals simply refer to it as “Brewpub.”
The brewpub’s strong roots in the community means that it has been involved in many local events and charities throughout the years. From hosting the King’s Town Players theatre group for rehearsals and post-show celebrations to participating in the United Way‘s “Fare for Friends” festival, the brewpub is happy to engage its community it any way possible.
Partnerships
A significant event, certainly to Braden, was the beer pairing dinner that they hosted in collaboration with Dominion City Brewing last November. Proceeds from the 4 course dinner went to the Gord Downie Fund for Brain Cancer, and the collab dinner incredibly managed to raise $5,000 for the fund. Brayden recently lost his mother-in-law to brain cancer, so this was a project he was particularly proud to be a part of.
While Dominion City is one other brewery they’ve worked with recently, Kingston Brewing Company also just released a second collab brew with Riverhead Brewing: their first was a juicy NEIPA, and the recent one is a milkshake IPA. Daft Brewing, opening in downtown Kingston later this summer, has already worked out a collab brew with KBC, and there is a possible collab coming with the local home-brewers club, the Kingston Area Brewers of Beer.
The people of Kingston Brewing Company
While it was busy on the patio and in the bar area, I had a brief chance to chat with Suzanne Ladan and Brie Munn. Suzanne’s a server who’s been with the KBC team now for 9 years, while Brie is a recently hired bartender.
They both had a favourite Kingston Brewing Company beer. Suzanne’s was the “Dragon’s Breath Real Ale.” I asked her what movie she might pair that beer with, and she immediately said, “Last Orders – because of Michael Caine.”
An apt response for an ESB, I think. Michael Caine is dope, that I know.
I then asked Suzanne what she thought a ‘craft beer lifestyle’ is: “Free, easy, and close to nature.” In comparing answers here, I am sure Suzanne and Braden work well together.
Brie offered up Kingston Brewing Company’s “Framboise Royale,” a raspberry wheat beer, as her KBC favourite. Summer dresses were the type of clothing Brie suggested as being excellent to pair with the beer: “They’re nice and flowy, just like the beer!”
I myself have never worn a summer dress, but I’ll certainly take Brie’s word for this one… Wheat beers do make me think of “flowy,” actually. I know she had a raspberry-pink colour in mind as well. On point, Brie!
From bus boy to owner
I had a more in depth conversation with Braden MaCrae. Braden began his career at Kingston Brewing Company as a bus boy. Braden was (and is!) one of those employees who is hard-working and dedicated, smart and loyal. He basically grew with the brewery and brand.
I asked him what his first craft beer was, and besides him eventually coming up with “Sgt. Major’s IPA” (an English-style IPA from Scotch Irish Brewing, now brewed by Kichesippi Beer Co.), Braden’s first response was not what I was expecting from the ‘bus boy:’ “Actually, quite possibly my own!”
As Braden grew with the brewery, not only did his interest in beer grow, but so did the craft beer culture around him, which only pushed him towards learning more. He took up home-brewing. He learnt much from Kingston Brewing Company’s brew master, Peter Snell, and now is often lending his hand with the brewing process.
A brewery with some age and history seems rare these days, but Kingston Brewing Company wears it well. The history the brewpub has also plays well with the history of the city of Kingston, and I couldn’t wait to take off with some of KBC’s beers to find pairings for them.
Pairingwith… Kingston Brewing Company – DDH IPA
The “Double Dry-Hopped IPA” from Kingston Brewing Company is a refreshing west coast meets English-style IPA that is a year round offering from the brewery. It’s a wonderful pairing with Kingston’s City Hall, and especially in celebration of Canada Day.
This clean, well-balanced IPA is fantastic for the day or for this evenings fireworks displays. The pine-forward beer is balanced by subtle notes of pineapple and citrus, which are happily featured more heavily on the nose. An earthy bitterness complements the pine and provides a mild lingering effect. If you aren’t ready for the fireworks with this, then I ain’t sure what to tell you…
The Double Dry-Hopped IPA comes from Ontario’s oldest brewpub, Kingston Brewing Company, and features a beautiful silhouette of Kingston’s City Hall on its label. Built in 1844, prior to Canada’s own independence, Kingston’s City Hall was built to reflect Kingston’s role as the capital of the Province of Canada.
Enjoying a delicious Double Dry-Hopped IPA from Kingston Brewing Company while yelling happy birthday to the greatest country in the world on the property of Kingston’s City Hall is one excellent way to show your love of Canada.
Wherever and whatever your celebration plans are today and tonight, be safe, enjoy yourselves, and wear your red and white proudly. HBD CANADA!!
Kingston’s City Hall
Kingston’s City Hall stands just off the water in the Kingston Harbour in the centre of the historic city of Kingston, Ontario. Constructed between 1843 and 1844, the building houses the current seat of the local government, but the property stretches across a much larger area that includes post office, theatre, clock tower, and outdoor marketplace.
Originally built after the centre of Kingston was burned down by a fire, Kingston’s City Hall was erected to replace what was once municipal offices and a market square. George Brown, from Quebec, was the architect behind the Neoclassical design, which was used to emphasize Kingston’s role as the capital of the Province of Canada. The building was constructed using the popular, locally-sourced material that gave Kingston its nickname: “Limestone City.”
Kingston resides on the mouth of the St. Lawrence River to Lake Ontario, and holds a deep history because of this location. Fort Henry is a testament to a small portion of that history. City Hall itself is where, upon his death, in 1891, Canada’s first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, lay in state. Indeed, the proclamation of Canadian Confederation happened in the market on the north-west end of the City Hall building.
In 1961, Kingston’s City Hall was made into a National Historic Site of Canada, with its incredible ties to the country’s past and origins. Kingston’s City hall, today, is a symbol of Canadian history and culture, remaining tall, mighty, and gorgeous in the downtown Kingston core.
The Kingston Public Market remains to this day. Currently open Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, from the beginning of April to the end of November.
Pairingwith… Kingston Brewing Company – “Whitetail” Cream Ale
The “Whitetail” cream ale from Kingston Brewing Company is the brewery’s flagship offering, available year round. The beer is a comfortable pairing with this whitetail deer floaty, complemented nicely by a guest appearance by Gus, who we can call my hunting dog here.
Perfect for floating on the water in the sun, the cream ale from Kingston Brewing Company is a refreshing, easy-drinking delight. Pouring a light golden colour with a quickly dissipating head, biscuit, grass, and pale malt flavours lead the charge with subtle citrus and earthy hop accents. The sweet, light-bodied cream ale delivers a brew ready for the sun, water, and, well, whitetail deers.
To be sure, the quickly dissipating head is just like the quickly dissipating white on the base of such a deer’s tail and front chest, while the mix of grassiness in the beer’s flavour alludes to a deer’s appetite (it would only be even more accurate if there was more of a floral aroma here – if you didn’t know, deers love to eat the head’s off flowers!).
Floating on the lake in the sun, Whitetail cream ale in hand, Gus splashing in the water around me, I can only wish for time to stand still so I can continue this moment ad infinitum. Crack the can; blow up the deer floaty; toss it in the water and hop on top: this Whitetail is going to help turn my white “tail” into something with colour.
Pairingwith… Kingston Brewing Company – “Dragoon Pale Ale”
The “Dragoon’s” English pale ale from Kingston Brewing Company is a staple in the brewery’s arsenal. The name, style, and origin of the beer lend itself perfectly to a pairing with Kingston’s Fort Henry.
A “dragoon,” not “dragon,” despite the brewery’s dragon logo – they have another beer called “Dragon’s Breath,” so don’t get confused! – a “dragoon” was a class of mounted infantry associated with the British army. Their moniker was derived from a firearm, called a “dragon,” which was a handgun version of a blunderbuss.
The English-style pale ale refers directly to the heritage of the beer’s name, and follows through in its rendition of the style. An excellently balanced beer, the Dragoon pours a lovely copper colour and emits a subtle biscuit and floral aroma. Earthy bitterness, sweet toffee, and honey lead the flavour towards a mildly lingering finish, which begs for another sip.
Enjoying this brew while looking over the St. Lawrence River across to Wolfe Island complements the sights that Fort Henry supplies the visitor: lookout towers and rows of cannons that line the circumference of the massive 19th Century British fort. The only next best thing would be to learn how to fire a “dragon,” pretending to be a “dragoon,” and Fort Henry does offer rifle firing lessons (but not with a dragon) – so I almost had a complete experience with this Dragoon’s.
Load up your hands with a glass and a can, we’re dragons out for some Dragoon’s at Fort Henry, and we’re making history, I tells ya!
Fort Henry
Fort Henry is a National Historic Site built during the War of 1812. Located on Point Henry in Kingston, Ontario, the fort was erected to protect the Kingston Royal Naval Dockyard and monitor traffic on the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario.
Sitting high above the water, the fort, which was rebuilt and upgraded in 1836, defended a Canadian battleship from attacking American ships on November 10th, 1812. The use of the fort, with its strategic position, remained in operations until 1891.
Named after the former Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Quebec, Henry Hamilton, the fort itself was never attacked, and at one point was dubbed the “Citadel of Upper Canada.” It remained out of use between 1891 and 1930, when Ronald L. Way led a restoration project that was completed in 1938. It was then used as a camp for prisoners of war during WWII.
Today, Fort Henry stands as a tourist attraction and “living museum,” offering visitors a true 19th Century experience, complete with 1867 trained British soldiers offering demonstrations of British military life, soldiers’ wives and school teachers representing 19th Century civilian life, musical performances, parades, and the opportunity to learn how to fire a Snider Enfield Rifle. Cannons line the circumference of the fort, presenting the visitor with a clear view as to what the true purpose of this site was for.
If you’re in Kingston, this place is certainly a must-see.
See you next time when I’m Pairingwith… Spearhead Brewing Company!!
Quick Links
- FULL KINGSTON BREWING COMPANY PHOTO GALLEY
- PAIRING OUTTAKES
- Kingston Brewing Company WEBSITE
- Kingston City Hall
- Fort Henry
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