Tag: hamilton

Max’s Big Beer

Posted on by Ben

There’s obviously never a bad time to buy some local beer, but some times are better than others.

In two days, thanks to a fundraising collaboration between Hamilton brewery, Grain & Grit and Max’s Big Ride, a charity ride to benefit Duchenne muscular dystrophy, it will be one of those better times.

The charity is named after seven year-old Max Sedmihradsky, this happy guy.

From the organization’s website: Max rarely stops talking and one of his favorite topics is all of the things he’s going to do when he’s older, like learn to skateboard, ski and play hockey and soccer with his friends. The problem is that Max has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a terrible disease which doesn’t allow his muscles to develop like other kids, so unless we find a cure, he will never get a chance to do the things he dreams about doing in his future.

For the past three summers, Max and his dad, Andrew, have ridden a cargobike 600 km between Hamilton and Ottawa to raise money to help find a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Continue reading “Max’s Big Beer” →

Remembering the closure of Lakeport Brewing

Posted on by Ben

In February of 2007 Labatt Brewery, owned by AB InBev, purchased Hamilton’s Lakeport Brewery for $201 million. In March of 2010 they announced that they would be closing the Hamilton facility and shifting production of all Lakeport brands to the London, Ontario Labatt’s facility.

This is, obviously, pretty old news but I had occasion to revisit it recently for a forthcoming article and thought it was worth sharing again for a couple reasons. First, there is probably many a craft beer fan who hasn’t actually been following beer news since 2010 and might not know the tale and second, it’s pretty remarkable to consider that 2010 moment in Hamilton’s beer scene given how far it has come since.

As Hamiltonians will remember, there was some uncertainty about what might happen at the Lakeport facility when its closure was announced, and Labatt did offer some incentives to future lessees of the brewery with one important caveat: Whoever took over the building next could not be a brewer. And so, when companies like Calgary-based Minhas Creek Brewing Company announced interest in the space, Labatt declined, allegedly shooting down a total of three beer company offers, including one from Rochester-based North American Breweries that would have saved all the jobs at the facility and likely even created more. Instead, Labatt opted to shutter the doors on the facility until the lease expired and they fired 143 people. Continue reading “Remembering the closure of Lakeport Brewing” →

Hamilton welcomes MERIT Brewing

Posted on by Ben

MERIT Brewing Tej Jesse and Aaron

Hamilton is cool.

It feels weird to say that, but it is becoming increasingly harder to deny. The place has some great craft beer bars like Brux House, a good festival scene with great events like the Because Beer festival and a growing selection of breweries in the surrounding area. While it’s not saying all that much, it’s enough to make a thirsty writer in London a little jealous.

And now I have one more reason to be jealous. Yesterday it was announced that MERIT Brewing Company  would be opening its doors at 107 James St. North. Continue reading “Hamilton welcomes MERIT Brewing” →