E-Malt.com News article: Canada, ON: Four Degrees Brewing Company launches its first beer, own facility to follow by the end of the year

Two guys met up for round of golf and by the end a brewing company was born, Inside Ottawa Valley reported on April 15.

Four Degrees Brewing Company was established in 2012 but instead of rushing their work, they took the time to find the perfect beer recipe.

It wasn’t until early March 2016 that they officially released the beer to the public – but not without a few trial runs beforehand, of course.

Those two golf guys are Nick Ritchie and Andrew Howard, both of Smiths Falls. They call themselves co-founders of the company. Joe Adams and Chris Haines also local guys eventually joined them as owners.

The first thought could be four guys equals four degrees but that’s not it at all.

“It’s the temperature,” said Howard. “Five degrees is too warm and three degrees is too cold. Four degrees is typically good for having beer in the fridge.”

Studies have shown that a colder temperature would actually kill the person’s taste buds, in terms of drinking beer.

“Four degrees is refreshing and unlocks the flavours.”

There is no doubt the guys are willing to have laughs along the way and bring their unique skillsets to the company. Trying to describe what the skills were, went something like - Howard can follow the legalities, Ritchie on finances, Adams with building development and Haines offers his sharp negotiation abilities and crawl space expertise.

“This is really half the team,” said Haines, as all four of them are married. “It’s quite something for four families to come together and brainstorm ideas.”

The company presently has two beers to offer – True North of 7 and True South of 7.

“We were trying different recipes and it’s been a lot of fun that way,” said Ritchie. “We had made three different batches before we settled on True North of 7.”

True North of 7 is coined a ‘Hell-us’ style, otherwise known as a Helles Lager. The number seven represents the highway and the north of it is to suit the slogan, ‘Live the Northern Lifestyle.’

Which is exactly that. “We wanted a beer that was easy drinking,” said Ritchie. “We wanted a beer for people to take to the hunt camp, cottage and they would want to drink outside.”

True South 7 is red ale, which is focused on the urban experience that is south on the highway. The amber ale also has a smooth caramel flavour.

“This [process] has for sure made me think differently about beer,” said Ritchie. “I’m thinking what could it be paired with…something like steak? It’s all meant to be an experience and evoke an emotion.”

Currently, Four Degrees Brewing Company is what is known as a virtual brewery. The beer recipe is an original creation but everything is brewed at a production facility stationed at Niagara Falls. Chris Jeffries of Taps brewing company does the work, so the company rents the tank time.

The plan, said Adams, is to have a production facility in Smiths Falls by the end of 2016. The idea is to start small scale that they could at least start making a portion of beer instead of all of it in Niagara Falls.

Opening day would make them the first brewery in town.

“We want to hire 30 people here in Smiths Falls, that is our goal,” said Adams. “It may take to next year, five years or even 10. But that is what we want to do.”

The guys give much credit to owner Daniel Cyr of Rob Roy’s Pub and Restaurant as being their first, which is showing a willingness to support them. He put both True North of 7 and True South of 7 on tap.

“I’ve been excited by it by day one,” said Cyr, adding that he did indeed, like the beer. “It’s great to give them more of a push.”

The demand for the beer has been so big - that on the day of the conversation - the location had no True South of 7.

It’s taken a lot of community support and beyond to make things work. The group also appreciates others in the local community from Terry Wills of Wills Transfer to help with logistics and Dan Andress of Andress' Your Independent Grocer to help with loading dock space and encouragement.

Jay Cooke of District Brewing Company in Saskatchewan had originally helped with brewing. Pete Shippen of Hogtown brewers had offered advice.

The guys of Four Degrees Brewing Company are not sitting idle with T-shirts, glasses and hats for the sale.

They also invested in a ‘Bottom’s Up’ portable cart. It has already been used for a variety of events from weddings, golf tournaments, curling, charity events and even backyard barbecues.

The concept is the use of special cups with a magnet and the cups are placed on the dispenser and filled from the bottom.

Ritchie could only name a few other places that use the technology like TD Place in Ottawa and the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

They have about six beers planned that are currently in the concept stage from seasonal offerings like Paddy O’Furniture, Jackie O’Lantern Pumpkin Ale and Winter Bush.

The others are Rosedale Prohibition, 69 Street and Old Sly’s for a local beer collection.


17 April, 2016