Craft Beer Breweries By Jay Cooper
I had the pleasure of sitting down with owner Travis Smith and Brewmaster Aaron O’Neill at their wildly successful Olde Stone Brewery on George Street in Peterborough. This is the perfect spot to enjoy the delicious food, atmosphere and of course their hand craft ale. Established in 1996 by Scott Wood, it was one of the first craft breweries in Ontario. Travis came on board in 2000 and eventually purchased the business. The five staple beers they create are; their Red Fife Wheat Ale (a blonde ale), Pickwick’s Best Bitter (based on a traditional English bitter ale), Wild Old Ale (nice dark English ale), Dubh Stout and Cask Ale. The beer is hand pumped through a beer engine so there’s no carbonation through gas, just a slight carbonation in the cask itself and is hand pumped out with a tap. It has different flavours depending on the demand. In addition, they have at least two seasonal beers which change throughout the year. Their beer can only be purchased on site as they are a brew pub, but as Travis points out, “If we make it, they do come,” he laughs. To sell off site they would need to expand the brewery and bring in bottling and canning capabilities. But what they can create on site keeps the business running perfectly. Brewmaster Aaron gained his expertise as an apprentice under Brewmaster Doug Ward. He expanded his skills by brewing at Church Key in Campbellford and Publican House and then found his home at The Olde Stone twelve years ago. The quality of his brew is top notch. As Aaron explains, “The more you move beer, the more it slowly leachs flavour from the beer; they call it stripping. Every time the beer is moved it is agitated and loses a bit of flavour; for instance when you put it in kegs or cans. Ours goes right from the serving tank to the tap”, says Aaron. Travis expanded by saying, “The big companies mass produce to people for a monetary value and that’s not what we are doing here. We are passionate about the beer.” Hot Belly Momma’s, which is located next door to The Olde Stone Brewing Co., also serves Olde Stone brew. As a proud member of the craft brewing community they only have other craft beers on site. As Travis says, “We only Page 12
Owner Travis Smith (L) & Brewmaster Aaron O’Neill (R)
support other craft brews here. “I started here in 2000. I love The Olde Stone, it’s my home, it’s my family and it’s part of downtown Peterborough.” Do yourself a flavour and stop in at The Olde Stone Brewery. For a full list of brands, go to http://www.oldestone.ca/#!/our-beer Instagram - @oldstonebrewingco Twitter @OldeStoneBrew
