Some people – including myself – grumble about the cold, but across the country, craft producers are leaning into it, finding opportunities where others see obstacles.
Take Manitoba’s Interlake Brewing in Gimli, for example. Graeme Maclean and Kristin MacCary don’t close shop when the temperature drops. Instead, they build a rooftop curling rink, sculpt snow into bars and deliver bait and fresh food to ice fishers on nearby Lake Winnipeg. See how this couple transformed a seasonal lull into a chance to connect with their community, keeping customers warm, fed, entertained and sipping local craft beer all winter long.
Innovation doesn’t stop at the Interlake brewpub. Across the country, classrooms are turning into incubators for the next generation of beverage-alcohol professionals. From Brock University’s hands-on grape-to-wine programs, to Kwantlen Polytechnic’s pilot brewery, Acadia University’s applied bioscience labs and Niagara College’s full-scale winery, brewery and distillery facilities, students are learning by doing.
Even the way beer gets from keg to glass is evolving. At Canada Life Centre, the Winnipeg Jets’ home arena, a cutting-edge system called Draught Guard is keeping over 300 taps cleaner, fresher and more sustainable. Distill the details.
Finally, Canada’s drinking culture is evolving faster than ever, and low- and no-alcohol beverages are leading the charge. From mocktail boutiques and functional drinks to RTDs, innovation is reshaping what it means to enjoy a drink, without compromise. Explore how producers across the country are meeting consumers where they are, crafting experiences, flavours and choices for everyone at the table.
As always, if you have any comments or questions about this issue, or any issue, send me a message. If you have a topic you would like to see included in an upcoming issue, Poured Canada’s editorial team would love to hear about it. Likewise, if you have an article you would like to contribute, we would be thrilled to review it for publication consideration. If you haven’t already, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram!
Cheers,
