In this episode, we dive deep into the 38-year brewing journey of one of the provinces beer pioneers, Mr. Paul Dickey, Ontario’s Iron Brewer. Since starting in 1986, Paul has made an enduring mark on the craft beer scene, from co-founding the Canadian Amateur Brewers Association (CABA), serving as a Grand Master Level I Beer Judge, and creating the Iron Brewer competitions.

From his apprenticeship at Denison’s Brewing in the '80s to brewing iconic beers at Pepperwood Bistro in Burlington, Black Oak Brewing Co., and founding Cheshire Valley Brewing Co., Paul has created, and crafted, some of Ontario’s most beloved beers. Whether it's Black Oak Saison or Nutcracker Porter, Mill Street Coffee Porter, Kensignton’s Augusta Ale or Trailer Park Boys' Freedom 35, Paul's recipes have been enjoyed throughout Ontario and beyond.

Tune in to hear about his illustrious career, his contributions to the Beer Judge Certification Program, and his latest projects. Paul's passion for brewing is unmatched, and this episode will take you on a journey to Ontario’s vast beer history with one of its legends.

Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good!

Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery, is your go-to deep dive for all things craft beer from an insider perspective. 

On October 15, news broke about two Ontario breweries joining forces. That information garnered a lot of attention, and the industry was a buzz with the news, so like a one-off beer, we had to record a special episode to get all the juicy details. Yes, Lakes of Bays Brewing Co and Merit Brewing shared the news that they were merging their two breweries, eliciting a lot of congratulatory messages and questions like “what does this mean” - a brewery in Hamilton... and a brewery in Baysville (that’s up north folks)... merging? Was it a sale? What will happen next?

To learn more about it, Darren Smith (President and CEO, Lake of Bays Brewing) and Tej Sandhu (President and Co-Founder, Merit Brewing) joined Troy on the pod to spill the beans, to walk him through the details and what it all means for Ontario craft beer drinkers.

Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good!

Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto'sGreat Lakes Brewery, is your go-to deep dive for all things craft beer from an insider perspective. 

Aaron Protho, the Founder and CEO of Mascot Brewery, joins the show for the first of what will likely be multiple appearances on the pod. He’s as passionate as they come in this industry, from both a brewing and entrepreneurial perspective, and he’s created something very special with his company.

Through Aaron, Mascot was Canada’s first Black owned and operated brewery when he opened the doors back in 2015, something that he is extremely proud of and uses for good. Through his “Black Owned Collab” series he aspires to empower other black entrepreneurs to build a better world, knocking down barriers to entry for everyday people who just want to drink a delicious beer. He tells Troy all about that and more, like how he got his start in beer, what is important to him, and how he’s the Chill Master.

The Cole’s Notes segment has Cole talking about the multiple antimicrobials layers of beer which make it safe to drink. It’s an interesting one.

Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good!

Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto'sGreat Lakes Brewery, is your go-to deep dive for all things craft beer from an insider perspective. 

In this episode, Troy sits down with Jen Reinhardt, the Senior Sales Manager with Great Lakes Brewery and one of the driving forces behind the brand, to discuss her journey in the craft beer industry.

Jen has been with GLB for almost six years, but her journey with us started way back in 2014. After getting her feet wet in the beer industry while still working in publishing, Jen realized how thrilling this world was and moved on to Muskoka Brewery before returning to her true home at GLB in 2019. Since then, she’s reshaped our sales team and brought incredible energy to the brewery, leading teams with kindness.

But there’s so much more to Jen’s story. From co-founding the Society of Beer Drinking Ladies to her past life as a DJ, Jen has worn many hats, and today we’re diving into it all. The Cole’s Notes segment has us diving into what the mash is and why it’s important in the brewing process. The mash is the very first step when you brew a beer, and it all happens inside a large vessel called the mash tun.

Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good!

Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery, is your go-to deep dive for all things craft beer from an insider perspective. 

Jeff Talmey, one of the founders of Town Brewery in Whitby, ON, made his way to Etobicoke to tell us about the history of the seven-year-old brewery, how he got into the beer industry, discusses social media and their recent rebrand, his work with the Ontario Craft Brewers Conference, and much more.

Town was founded with a simple goal in mind; to make better beer and build a stronger community, something that Jeff and co have worked extremely hard one since opening their doors. A strong voice in beer, Jeff weaves together the startup story of the brewery with today’s current landscape and how Town fits into in. A fun and lively conversation with the Town Mayor!

Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good!

Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery, is your go-to deep dive for all things craft beer from an insider perspective. 

Steve Hukari, one of the founders of Southern Ontario Beer Boys, a group of Beer lovin' buddies from, you guessed it, Southern Ontario, joins the pod for the first time. Steve, and the SO Beer Boys, as they are frequently referred to, are said to be “ready and willing to conquer all beers while doing their part to make the world a better place,” and indeed they do.

What started out as an Instagram account, documenting what they were drinking and where they were drinking it, has morphed into something much larger with the crew organizing and running some amazing events like "Kans 4 Kids (Can/Bottle drives)" and the Brewers Ball (Brewery baseball tournament), raising thousands and thousands of dollars in the process. A force for good, Steve discusses the importance of community, why the Ontario craft beer industry means so much to him, and has a fresh Canuck Pale Ale or two in the process.

Cole Raiskums answers listeners questions in his beloved Cole’s Notes segment, including a weird one from his assistant?? If you’re interested in sour beers, you’ll enjoy this one.

Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good!

Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery, is your go-to deep dive for all things craft beer from an insider perspective. 

Milos Kral joins the pod all the way from his perch above Milos’ Craft Beer Emporium. It would be hard to argue that no one person has done more for the London, ON beer scene, since the days of John Labatt himself, than Milos has. He’s created a place for beer lovers to enjoy from all parts of the province – a place people add to their “beer bucket list” to visit. Why? Because he curates a dynamic beer menu, supports local, and puts the customer first and foremost. He’s propped up and supported start up breweries and has done so while continuing to work with the old guard of craft and does so with one goal in mind – to be the best at what he does day in and day out while having a fun time doing it. A colourful storyteller, Kral will have you captivated with his views on hospitality, craft beers, and how much he loves hearing chatter in his pub. Milos Kral - King of the Beer Emporium

Cole Raiskums, the Quality Assurance Lab Supervisor at GLB is back with his Cole’s Notes, and he spills the beans on what really goes on in the lab, and why it is important for a brewery to have a lab. It’s riveting!

Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good!

Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery, is your go-to deep dive for all things craft beer from an insider perspective. 

Mary-Beth Keefe, the Head Brewer of Toronto’s family-owned Granite Brewery joins the pod for her first time in the hot seat. The Alpha Female Mom and Lifter of heavy things, as she describes herself on her Instagram account, takes us through the history of the Granite, shares how she got her start in brewing and why she chose to pursue a career in the family business. She’ll also discuss what it’s like being one of only a handful of female brewmasters in Ontario and why she loves Ringwood yeast.

The Granite Brewery, and its Toronto founder, Ron Keefe (MB’s Father), hold a special place in the beer industry here in Ontario. Ron, a friend and mentor to many, has passed down his wisdom to Mary-Beth as she leads the second generation of Keefe’s in the operation of the brewhouse. A long-time friend, Mary-Beth and Troy tell some fun stories never told before.

Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good!