Remembering Downie with beer

The beers were flowing freely and the bands were set up around the fermenters playing the songs most Canadians know well.

Last week, Boxing Rock Brewery in Shelburne released its new beer, Courage (For Gord Downie).

The beer was created in collaboration with the Garrison Brewing Company as a tribute to Canadian icon Gord Downie who died from brain cancer in October.

Yarmouth native and graphic artist Erin McGuire — also a musician and a Gord Downie fan — was part of the collaboration with his Tragically Hip-inspired artwork By the Numbers, which is being used for the craft beer label.

Emily Tipton, Boxing Rock coowner, said the beer launch was planned and they had hoped to release the beer before Downie’s death.

The event saw about 70 people attend the release. To kick it off in style there was a tribute show with local musicians on the brewery floor.

The Courage (For Gord Downie) brew sold out that night. There were 7,500 beers made and 250 were available at the Shelburne brewery for the launch.

While there are Boxing Rock enthusiasts throughout the province and Maritimes, Tipton says she’s had requests from all across the country.

“It’s not about the beer, it’s about Gord Downie,” said Tipton. “Anyone who is a Tragically Hip fan wants to get hold of this beer.”

As soon as the announcement was made earlier in the year about the planned beer, liquor stores in Newfoundland called to request orders and the phone hasn’t stopped ringing since.

While the beer has sold-out at both Boxing Rock and Garrison Breweries, the beer will hit the shelves at NSLC stores in Halifax on Monday.

For Tipton and co-owner Henry Pedro, they both grew up in the generation of Downie’s band the Tragically Hip.

“He was an amazing songwriter and Canadian and really special not just to us but Canadians,” said Tipton.

A dollar from each bottle of this collaboration brew will go directly to causes close to Gord Downie — $0.50 to brain tumour research and $0.50 to Indigenous Peoples Reconciliation.