Canada, MB: Barn Hammer Brewing Company to open in Winnipeg on December 5

The co-owner of TNT Fenceworks, Tyler Birch, plans to open a microbrewery in Winnipeg on December 5. Birch is about to sign a lease on a building at 595 Wall St., Winnipeg, for his new venture, the Barn Hammer Brewing Company, Winnipeg Sun reported on May 31.

“I’ve always liked cooking and making stuff and I have been brewing my own beer. But I had no intention to become commercial with it, initially,” said Birch.

However, a recent visit to a microbrewery in Phoenix, Ariz., sparked interest in suds-making as a business.

“Compared to other cities, Winnipeg doesn’t have a lot of microbreweries,” said Birch. “Half Pints is really the only locally-owned brewery, so I’m not worried about competition.”

“They just changed the legislation allowing for tasting rooms and the building on Wall Street, Winnipeg, has a nice room in front where we can do that,” Birch said.

But there’s still a lot to do before December.

“The investment is substantial - heart-stopping substantial,” Birch said, estimating it at about C$750,000. “I’ve hired Brian Westcott who has commercial brewing experience. So, it’s just him and I, and my wife Sable. My wife is a graphic designer and she will be designing the labels and so on.”

“Now with the legislation changes that have come into effect (to allow brewpubs and tasting rooms), it’s a really great opportunity to move forward with this,” said Birch.

03 June, 2015