3 minute read
Engineers who brew
Emily Cowin, P.Eng., had been living in Shelburne, Nova Scotia, for about five years when she got the itch—what felt like a duty—to open a business.
It was 2011, and Cowin was working as a sustainability planner for the municipality.
“I spent a lot of time talking to the community, and economic development was a big issue in Shelburne,” says the engineer. “Over time, I kept concluding that we needed more people to move to Shelburne and start companies, and I thought: ‘What business could I start?’”
Cowin had recently met Henry Pedro, P.Eng., a fellow chemical engineer. Pedro visited Shelburne several times to sail, and his family was looking for a reason to move to Nova Scotia from Toronto.
“I knew that if I were going to start a business, I’d want to do it with Henry because his skills are very complimentary to mine,” says Cowin. “Our paths just kind of converged.”
In 2012, the pair founded Boxing Rock Brewery in Shelburne—which Cowin considers the “best place on earth to live”—and set out to create meaningful work not only for themselves but also for others in rural Nova Scotia.
Cowin and Pedro initially designed the business to distribute products to NSLC stores, but as the craft beer market grew, they soon realized how valuable it would be to create an in-person brewery experience. Boxing Rock has since expanded to two retail locations—a taproom and barrel aging facility in downtown Shelburne and another smaller location in Halifax.
Why beer, though?
Cowin wanted to create something that the community could be proud of— something that would put Shelburne on the map as a place worth visiting.
She also felt that her engineering skills paired well.
“For a chemical engineer, brewing is a process we understand, which is interesting,” she says. “Henry and I also love to cook, so beer is the perfect marriage between our interests. There is creativity in developing flavours and an opportunity for efficiency and problem-solving.”
It is Cowin and Pedro’s engineering backgrounds which have given them a unique advantage in the brewing industry, especially when it comes to quality control. With their deep understanding of batch processing, the pair have developed repeatable processes to improve continuously.
In the first few years of operations, Boxing Rock helped invent and patent a technology that carbonates beer, specifically designed for small craft brewers.
“We recognized the need for a product that would perfect the process, and that’s what engineers do—we’re good at uncovering problems and finding the right solutions.”
The Boxing Rock team upholds five fundamental values: quality, community, integrity, customer experience, and respect. They employ local talent and develop their technical skills in a fun and impactful way.
After over a decade in business, Cowin remains just as passionate about fostering a welcoming culture.
“I want to give people that smalltown Nova Scotia experience,” she says, “Showing them the care and attention and the feeling of community.”
