02 Jan Tracing Our Path: Recap of 2019 at Muskoka Brewery

HERE, THERE, AND EVERYWHERE January 5th, 2020 – As we enter a fresh new year, we’re also revelling in the great strides of 2019. We’re all about setting goals and innovating, and we think celebrating our past accomplishments is a big part of setting the stage for the future. This story is dedicated to our team, our partners, and our outstanding customers that made it all possible.

JANUARY

The 2019 Moonlight Kettle lineup gets underway! Every month we brew a new beer uniquely crafted by staff trios, company-wide.

Lunar Haze DIPA with Lupulin Powder · My Heart Beets for You Pomegranate and Beet American Pale Ale · Rosé Cheeks Brut IPA · Honey, I’m Bock! Maibock with Honey · You Had Me At Aloha Pineapple Kettle Sour · Yum in the Sun Sour IPA with Yumberries · An Ale Formerly Known as Sangria Sangria Inspired Barrel Aged Golden Ale · Practice What You Peach Witbier with Peach Lactose and Vanilla · Window of Hopportunity India Pale Lager · GhoSt out White Stout · Full Bean Half Foam Mocha Grande Mocha Porter · Yule Be Home for Christmas Juleol

Congrats to our Southwestern Ontario Territory Manager, Andy Marshall, on his new baby girl, Kinley!

FEBRUARY

Canadians love few things more than cracking open a fresh beer. One of those things? A creamy, delicious ice cream cone. Instead of making thirsty fans choose, Muskoka Brewery and Kawartha Dairy continue their collaboration series with Black Raspberry Thunder Milkshake IPA.

Big thank you to all who participated in Muskoka Cup at Deerhurst Resort. Through pledges, donations, and a match by the brewery, we raised over $4800 towards a Canadian Music Therapy Program for mental health in Muskoka.

MARCH

Some of the fruit we use in our brews comes to us in metal drums. We begin sending these to All Ontario Recycling to be upcycled as scrap metal.

Inspired by International Women’s Day, we acknowledge the passionate women that are a driving force behind Muskoka Brewery. In an industry perceived as male-dominated, we shine a light on the female 42% of our team.

Congrats to our Operator, Jake MacDonald, on his new baby boy, Levi!

Six more taps, six more reasons to visit our taproom. Venturers now have sixteen taps to choose from.

APRIL

After one year in recyclable shrinks wraps, we’re making the switch. Our short can 4pks are now boxed in fully recyclable cardboard made with 3-12% pre-consumer waste and 7-14% post-consumer waste.

We replace plastic jug water stations with a hard-piped system that uses carbon filtration for our team members to enjoy rain fresh water in their reusable Muskoka Brewery water bottles (made from recycled aluminum!).

A sen-saisonal collab hits the shelf. We partner with our friends from Vancouver Island Brewing to create a Dry Saison with Sauvignon Blanc Wine Must – part of our Venture Collaboration Series. $1 from each bottle sold is donated to support worthy causes in our community.

The votes pour in at Queen’s Park as MPPs gather for another annual Speakers’ Tasting. Give it up for Shinnicked Stout, which now has a spot in the Legislative Dining Room as the top choice in the Stout & Porter category.

Congrats to our Brewmaster, Curtis Bentley, on his first child, Donovan!

With special guest Patty Hajdu, we welcome our friends and neighbours to the brewery for the announcement of FedNor’s investment in 13 local projects to support job creation and economic growth in Northern Ontario. We also taught the Minister how to pour!

Hiya Denver! Our team visits the Red Rocks to catch the Craft Brewers Conference and check out some local craft breweries on the side.

MAY

Adding a whole new layer of flavour to the taproom as we introduce a local snack menu in partnership with Fresh Kutz of Bracebridge.

Ready for takeoff. We’re so excited to welcome Porter airlines for regularly chartered flights to Muskoka. Shuttle service makes stops at your favourite destinations, including the brewery.

We like getting our hands dirty when it means carving new trails to venture off the beaten path with Muskoka Conservancy at UpJohn Nature Reserve, three years running.

Congrats to our Director of Finance, Matt Firth, on his baby boy, Noah!

JUNE

Hopping into summer gardening, brewery style. We install a hop garden in our front yard. Thanks to Highland Hop Yard for hooking us up with hop rhizomes!

All Eyes On Yuzu is back in view. Made with the herbaceous citrus from Japan and Korea, this American Pale Ale makes its way to LCBO.

Despite the downpour at Venture Fest, we party among the bright tanks and canning line for our 23^rd anniversary at the brewery! The place is packed and we raise $2330 towards worthy causes in our community.

OCBWeek turns 9 years old, and we’re running around Ontario to celebrate local craft beer at over 20 unique events.

JULY

Ditch the data and disconnect with a Detour. We challenge our followers to lose the phones for a little off-grid time alongside Sarah Hanlon, Olympian Dara Howell, beer bloggers Tiffany Alexis, Craig Thorn and Scott Croxall, Modest Marce, and Gillian Mandich.

The Great Glamping Adventure contest begins! Our 4pks and 12pks are decked out with stickers for the chance to win one of two hundred instant prizes, a Muskoka Brewery Kegerator, and grand prize adventure for four. The grand prize features access to an exclusive glamping site, complete with gourmet local food delivery, wake surfing, paddle boarding, and VIP brewery experience.

The rubber hits Muskoka Beach Road as over 100 cyclists join us for a ride around Lake Muskoka with an après spin beer at the brewery.

Special Delivery! Dockside Draught pours at 107 homes around Muskoka.

AUGUST

Spread your wings and dig your claws into a new creation from Muskoka Spirits: Butterfly Effect Pink Peppercorn Gin.

Harvest season is upon us! It’s our Harvest Ale’s 10^th Anniversary and third consecutive year being produced with 100% Ontario ingredients from Barn Owl Malt, Canadian Malting’s Thunder Bay facility, Pleasant Valley Hops, VQH Farms, and yeast from Escarpment Labs.

Detour, Cream Ale, Mad Tom IPA, and Craft Lager tall cans are now available in six packs produced with fully recyclable cardboard made from 3-12% pre-consumer waste and 7-14% post-consumer waste.

We bring home five big wins in the 2019 World Beer Awards.

English Style IPA – Country Winner, Hazed & Confused
Experimental – Canada: Silver Medal, Ebb & Flow
Flavoured Fruit & Vegetable – Canada: Bronze Medal, Summerweiss Tropical Wheat
Session IPA – Canada: Silver Medal, Detour
Flavoured Fruit & Vegetable – Canada: Silver Medal, All Eyes on Yuzu

SEPTEMBER

Six top hop hits come together in one exciting IPA Mixer Pack. Enter Hopsonic: this six pack includes Mad Tom IPA, Twice as Mad Imperial IPA, Hazed & Confused Juicy IPA, Berry Springer Milkshake IPA, Rosé Cheeks Brut IPA, Lunar Haze IIPA with Lupulin Powder.

Muskoka Equinox, a throwback Moonlight Kettle from 2016, re-enters the fold with its balanced body of black cherry and vanilla. You can still find it at select LCBO.

Running the gambit at Tough Mudder as Toronto’s official beer sponsor. Many pints of Craft Lager are poured as a post-race reward.

RunTOBeer checks out the famous Muskoka fall leaves as ninety-five runners tour scenic Bracebridge.

OCTOBER

We cast our line East to partner up with Quidi Vidi Brewery of St John’s, NL to create a dark Kveik with Chocolate & Orange. With notes of roasted marshmallow and bittersweet chocolate, the perfect glass to raise to friendship with $1 per bottle sold donated to local causes. Only limited quantities left at the LCBO.

Hop to Health Month engages our team in a series of wellness initiatives that cover mental, physical, financial, and environmental health.

Supporting our rural hospitals with a $5000 donation to the South Muskoka Hospital Foundation.

By popular demand, we make it into KW’s Oktoberfest. As thanks to the community for voting us in, we donate 10% of the proceeds earned in beer sales to the local food bank.

NOVEMBER

Congrats to our Hamilton/Niagara Territory Manager, Mike Beaupre, on his baby boy, Holden!

Congrats to our Events & Community Manager, Kristin Moore, on her first child, Dash!

Nothing like getting lost in the Middle of Noir when it comes to our Blackcurrant Berlinerweisse. This Moonlight Kettle graduate returns from the 2018 series and hits LCBO.

DECEMBER

Big thanks to the team that makes it all happen. We donate $1500 from our Christmas staff party to Holiday Hampers at Family Connexions to spread the joy in our community.

We know Muskoka’s got talent, that’s why we’ve started our very own Sunday Open Mic Series in the taproom. Sign up, hit the stage, and grab the mic to soak up some fame along with a fresh pint.

We partner with U-PAK to begin our Zero Waste to Landfill initiative, more on that soon!

The taste for Muskoka is on the rise. Now, you can find our beer and spirits at over 85 more bars and restaurants across Ontario. Use our beer locator to enjoy our creations at your next outing.

Thanks for supporting our truly independent brewery!