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Craft Beer, Ciders, Distilling, BeveragesTag Archives: Beer
The Food and Beverage (FAB) Region partners are pleased to announce a new video series showcasing four craft brewers in their region – 555 Brewing Co., Bancroft Brewing Co., The Napanee Beer Company and Wolfe Island Spring Craft Brewery. The videos may be viewed here. The goal of the video series is to raise awareness of the FAB Region through profiling some emerging craft breweries.
In late 2013, in anticipation of the craft brewery boom,the FAB team developed a downloadable handbook on “How to Start A Craft Brewery” as a way to offer supporting resources to aspiring craft brewers and to generate leads and interest in the region. The videos are yet another tool the team has created to support startups. In their interviews, the brewers provide advice to new brewers, discuss what they would do differently, the most difficult obstacles they faced when starting out and where they see the industry going.
Ontario’s Food and Beverage (FAB) Region is an investment marketing partnership structured to attract and grow small scale (artisanal) food and beverage businesses. The partners are the Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC) and the Counties of Hastings, Prince Edward, and Lennox and Addington. The partners strategically focused on craft brewing in 2013 based on both the region’s agricultural and tourism strengths and growth in the sector. Now today, with over 20 breweries and counting, the economic development offices have proved an excellent resource for new business inquiries and those looking to start a craft brewery. This initiative has been supported by the Frontenac CFDC, the Counties of Hastings, Prince Edward and Lennox and Addington and the Community Futures of North and Central Hastings and South Algonquin.
For more information contact
Trevor Crowe, Prince Edward County 613.476.2148 ext: 2504 TCrowe@pecounty.on.ca
Stephen Paul, County of Lennox and Addington 613-354-4883 ext 3234 or spaul@lennox-addington.on.ca
Andrew Redden, County of Hastings 613.966.6712 ext. 4011 reddena@hastingscounty.com
Anne Prichard, Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation 613-372-1414 Ext. 204 or anne@frontenaccfdc.com
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For more information contact
Anne Prichard
Executive Director
Frontenac CFDC
613-372-1414 Ext 204
While many people instinctively think of pairing chocolate and wine, we wanted to learn more about pairing craft beer with chocolate. Earlier this week we asked local chocolate specialist, Ludwig Ratzinger of Fine Chocolate By Ludwig, about pairing his chocolate with craft beer. Here’s what Ludwig had to say. Cheers!
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There are two varieties of my chocolate that would pair well with dark beer. Both of these chocolates pair nicely with Beau’s Tom Green Milk Stout or with Ashton Brewing Company’s Vanilla Stout.
1. Maracaibo Clasificado 65%
The Maracaibo Clasificado 65% couverture was named the best couverture by the Italian Pastry Academy. A pure Grand Cru Chocolate made of Criollo beans from Sur del Lago, Maracaibo, Venezuela. It has aromas of coffee and plum and notes of orange blossom, cinnamon and raisin. Read more!
2. Cru Sauvage 68%
Cru Sauvage made with 68% cocoa mass from wild cocoa beans come from the Amazon region of Beni, Bolivia. The substantial and harmonious cocoa flavors of the Cru Sauvage are well complemented with the freshness of the lemon and the fruitiness of the grapefruit. The traditional gentle processing method (60 hours conching) unfolds the intense dried prune bouquet and vanilla in its most exquisite way. The exceptionally pleasant fruit acidity and the long-lasting ending make the Cru Sauvage with its cocoa content of 68% a unique culinary experience. Read more!
MacKinnon Brothers Brewing opens
Another craft brewery has been added to this FAB Region of Ontario. MacKinnon Brothers Brewing is now open and operating on a family heritage farm near Bath, ON.
To learn more, watch this video. Would you too like to live the craft brewing dream? We can help. We have a great start-up handbook and you can find it here.
Entrepreneurs Devin and Leslie Huffman will soon be building what’s considered to be Ontario’s first micro malt house. To be situated in Hastings County, just North of Belleville, the business will be known as Barn Owl Malt.
According to a story by Jerome Lessard printed in the Belleville Intelligencer, the Huffmans say, “We aim to be in production with a one-tonne capacity by the mid, late summer”. The Intelligencer also notes that the business will use a three-step process of steeping (wetting), germinating (sprouting) and kilning (drying) to produce a base grain product used in the production of beer.
This is exciting news for the brewing industry as the Huffman’s will provide brewers with malted grains made right here in Ontario’s Food and Beverage (FAB) Region.
If you would like to invest in this FAB Region as well, contact us today!
Corbyville (just North of Belleville in Hastings County) is infamous for the distillery that once operated there. A few historic structures remain and the new owner is interested in talking to someone who would like to locate a micro-brewery or micro-distillery there.
There are three buildings (see photos below), two of which have an area of about 4,000 sq feet each, while the other stone building is about 2,000 sq feet. What is amazing about these buildings is the character and heritage. They are also situated alongside the Moira River, they are adjacent to the populated urban areas of Belleville and the City of Quinte West, and it takes less than a 5 minute drive to get to the 401 highway.
The interior heights of the buildings are 18 feet. While possibilities are many, it’s been thought that one building may be used for staging product, one for production and another for storage.
To see a slideshow on what once took place in Corbyville, checkout this video on YouTube.
For more information about this exciting opportunity, please contact Richard Courneyea at 613.968.4440 or at his work email workingapparel@sympatico.ca
Hastings County Beer Fest a Success!
On October 13, 2012, our FAB Region played host to the 2nd Annual Hastings County Beer Festival. A larger crowd than last year enjoyed sampling craft beer from more than 20 Ontario brewers paired with food grown and prepared right here in our FAB Region.
Here are some photos taken at the event.
If you or anyone you know wants to get on board with the growing craft brewing momentum, get in touch with us today and we can help.
Craft Beer Festival Coming Soon!!!
Our FAB Region is pleased to be home to the Hastings County Beer Festival! Coming soon on October 13, your admission ticket will provide you with all the food, beer, wine, cheese, cider and more… …all the samples you can handle! There will also be expert brewing demonstrations and live entertainment from some Juno Award winning musicians. That’s a steal for only $40!!!
It’s held at the Farmtown Park again in Stirling (formerly the Agricultural Museum at the Fairgrounds). Those who attended last year were ecstatic and can’t wait for this year’s rendition.
Get your tickets now while they’re available and bring your friends! Join the event page on Facebook too.
For those who live in the Belleville area, shuttle buses will be available as per the poster at left (click poster to enlarge).
As always, visit www.hastingsbeerfestival.ca for the latest information and to purchase your tickets online.
The Ontario Government issued a news release today stating that the LCBO is enjoying the most successful year in its history, helping to create jobs through promoting Ontario’s wine and beer industries.
Through campaigns such as I Love Canada and goLOCAL sales of local beer and wine are increasing and customers are engaged by taking pride in supporting local producers. In 2011-12:
- Sales from Ontario Craft Brewers led all product segments with almost 45 per cent growth as more consumers chose to “go local” with Ontario craft beers because of their premium quality and distinctive styles.
- Sales of VQA table wines increased by nine per cent, reaching almost $106 million. Since 2006-07, sales of Ontario VQA wines have more than doubled, thanks to the craftsmanship of Ontario winemakers who produce high-quality, award-winning products.
- Interest in premium wine and spirits continues to grow as VINTAGES releases some 6,000 products a year (120 to 150 new products are released every two weeks).
The message from all of these stats is that local Ontario craft beer and wine sales are increasing. What a great opportunity to invest now and open your brewery or winery in our FAB Region! We can help… contact us today!
The Brewer’s Plate is coming up soon on April 18th! This year it’s taking place at Roy Thomson Hall in downtown Toronto and doors open at 6:30pm. We’ll be there with Barley Days Brewery distributing some of their delicious local brews, and we’re pairing it with Wilton Cheese Curd! Stop by and say hello and learn more about our FAB Region!
Here’s a video featuring last year’s event to wet your appetite!
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Living their dream
Limestone Organic Creamery - Frontenac County
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Living their dream
Seed to Sausage - County of Frontenac
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iPad app
Own an iPad? You should download our iPad app informing you how to start a cheesemaking business in Eastern Ontario
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FAB Region iPad App Wins Award