Bill White, an award-winning educator and owner of Better With Beer will speak about the “Renaissance of Brewing in the 21st Century” as part of a special evening on the exploding micro-brewing phenomenon.
The event gets under way on February 25 at 7:00 p.m. at the Sydenham Public Library,4418 Wheatley Street, Sydenham. Space is limited and those wanting to attend are asked to register in advance at a cost of $20, available on-line at: http://bit.ly/1c04Q3G. The event is organized by Ontario’s Food and Beverage (FAB) region, a unique economic development partnership between the Counties of Hastings, Lennox & Addington, Prince Edward and the Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation, with the aim of helping entrepreneurs who want to establish an artisanal food or beverage business in the region.
“Craft brewing is exploding around the world and there are tremendous opportunities if you’ve ever dreamed of starting your own brewery, particularly in the Food and Beverage region of Ontario,” said Anne Prichard, Executive Director, Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation. “Bill has a wealth of knowledge about this industry and just how big it can become.”
White will discuss the scope of the craft brewing phenomenon and the continued demand for artisanal beer. In 2012, 6.7-million hectolitres of beer were sold in Ontario, making the province the largest market for beer in Canada. With continued growth, as well as an increased interest in artisan products, the “100 mile diet” and other “buy-local” movements, Prichard said “there certainly is a market opportunity to open a craft brewery within the FAB region.”
To make that step easier for aspiring brewers, FAB will introduce to those in attendance their newly created “iCraft Brew” app on starting a brewery in Eastern Ontario. The app, which is available for both Android and Apple devices at www.FabRegion.ca is an easy-to-follow how-to guide for starting a craft brewery.
The interactive iCraft Brew app is a must-have for any aspiring brewer, providing the research you need to start, all in one place – from market analysis, to how-to information on brewing and the industry, guides to navigating though various levels of red-tape, outlines for preparing a business plan for long-term success, incorporating, finding a building, developing partnerships with local growers for produce, and how to sell your beer.
“Starting any business can be daunting, so this app is like having a coach walk you through what you would need to start a craft brewing business,” said Prichard. “And having a chance to ‘pick Bill’s brain’ at the Renaissance of Brewing event is really a great opportunity for a budding entrepreneur and beer lover.”
Bill White has over 37 years experience in the brewing industry, having obtained multiple accreditations, including his Belgian Service of Beers from the Confederation of Belgian Brewers, and was the first recipient of the Canadian Brewery Awards “Educator of the Year” designation in 2011. With his company “Better With Beer,” Bill develops the palate for beer appreciation. He has been featured on TV shows, including The Thirsty Traveller, and has acted as a judge for various brewing awards, including the Canadian Brewing Awards, the Great American Beer Festival, the Mondial de la Biere, and the World Beer Cup. He has taught brewing at Niagara College and co-authored the MBAA Beer Steward Handbook .
For more information, please contact: Anne Prichard, Executive Director, Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation anne@frontenaccfdc.com 613-372-1414
