The next time you sit down to enjoy a cold beer on a hot summer day – you can thank hops growers, like the ones in Grey County, for the beverage.
At first glance it’s easy to see that Nicholas Schaut is growing something different on his farm near Walters Falls.
Schaut grows hops which is essential ingredients for flavouring beer. The resin rich cones grow on perennial vines more than five metres high and crops are ready for harvest. Schaut says this is a specialty crop with a bright future.
“We see great success, it’s not without its challenges but down the line we do see great success.”
Growing hops commercially in Ontario was almost unheard of five years ago but there is a growing demand because the craft brewing industry is growing by leaps and bounds. In Collingwood, three new breweries have opened this summer almost 40 will open this year province wide.
At the LCBO, sales of craft beers increased 575% since 2006.
Collingwood breweries opened in May and just got its first cans of beer on liquor store shelves this week. Chris Freeman says making beer in small batches is fun and a special brew with fresh hops is in the works.
“The most significant part, he will pick the cones put them in his car and drive them down here that very day and soon as he gets here they will go right into the beer to make the fresh hops beer.”
Down the road at Northwinds Brewery there are seven craft beers on tap and they are keeping it local.
“It's not about distributing beer across the nation it’s about keeping things in a small community, with more local ingredients we can bring the farmers and the whole economic value of craft beer close to home,” says Andrew with Northland Brewery.
Andrew Woodley is exploring all of the breweries between Collingwood and South Hampton on the shores of Lake Huron
“There is Beaver Valley Cider, between ciders and brewery there has to be about a dozen.”
The LCBO carries a selection of craft brews but many of beers are also available by glass, the bottle and even by the keg right at the brewery.
