CAA Manitoba Winter 2016 | Page 58

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Crafting a Beer Boom New winnipeg microbrewers hope to soak the city in artisan ales by Joe Wiebe

Winnipeg beer lovers have anxiously watched as the craft beer industry has expanded across North America . Over the past decade Ontario , Quebec and B . C . have grown to host more than 100 breweries each , Alberta has added close to 40 , and even Saskatchewan has welcomed seven new breweries since 2013 . But Winnipeg — and Manitoba — has long offered just two choices for local suds .
The wait seems to be over : Five new breweries have opened in Winnipeg this year with several more in the works . The floodgates opened in 2014 when changes to provincial liquor legislation made it possible for breweries and liquor stores to fill growlers and allowed breweries to open taprooms . This was incentive enough for brewers ( and investors ) to look for locations and order brewing equipment .
Many of these new brewers were inspired by two Manitoba pioneers : Fort Garry Brewing and Half Pints
Brewing . The former opened in 1995 , endured a mini boom-and-bust stretch , and was bought by Surrey , B . C .’ s Russell Brewing in 2007 , though it ’ s still managed locally .
Half Pints opened in 2006 and has led Winnipeg ’ s craft beer scene ever since . Brewmaster David Rudge ’ s mission is to educate by example : He produces a range of beers , including some complex , seasonal offerings — such as Old Red Barn , a sour Belgian red ale that was barrel-aged for two years prior to its release this past spring .
The brewery ’ s name even speaks to the idea of drinking smaller glasses in order to enjoy more variety , rather than chugging pints of one bland beer . Half Pints recently spruced up its digs by adding a taproom with pinball machines and comfy seating — as well as delicious beer , naturally .
Ten years on from Half Pints ’ debut , its former CEO , Nicole Barry , opened the first of Winnipeg ’ s new wave of breweries , Peg Beer Co . The Exchange District brewery and
A Fort Garry porter
restaurant launched this spring , but delays in completing the brew house prevented them from serving their own suds right off the bat . But the taps are now working overtime to pour
BARN HAMMER : SyMoN PtASHNick / PtASH FilM & PHotogRAPHy
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