Cowbell Brewery to open centre in Blyth
For a small town, big things are happening in Blyth.
And, wouldn’t you know it, a truly destination, cutting-edge craft brewery is at the centre of it.
Cowbell Brewing Company will start brewing in its new brewhouse in June. In August, Cowbell’s bar and retail store will open, providing tourists with a fresh reason to visit the charming Huron County community.
Up until now, Blyth has been known for its Canadian-centric summer theatre and not one, but two fascinating leather and wool clothing outlets. Its restaurants help make it a mini-Stratford.
But mention Blyth to me now and I hear Cowbell.
Cowbell beer is already wellknown, with its introductory kolsch, Absent Landlord, widely distributed. It and other brands have been contract brewed in Hamilton while design and construction of Cowbell’s own brewhouse was taking place.
“We have launched two Founders’ Series beers so far — Absent Landlord, Country Kolsch and Doc Perdue’s Bobcat, West Coast Red Ale,” Cowbell vice-president Grant Sparling wrote in an email. “They have both proven to be very popular at the LCBO, Beer Store and licensees, but it is too early to tell which is the favourite — Absent Landlord has not had a full summer and Bobcat was only launched in mid December.”
In a noteworthy feat, Cowbell continues to develop new recipes and roll out new beers.
“Our third Founders’ Series beer is a New World Hefeweizen, blending traditional German characteristics of banana and bubblegum with subtle orange and melon from gentle dry hopping,” Grant wrote. “It splits the difference between traditional hefeweizen and hopfenweisse.”
New World is already on tap at several craft-friendly bars and will be distributed more broadly this summer.
In addition, Cowbell brewmaster Stephen Rich is experimenting with small batches of keg-only beers under the Renegade Series banner. An IPA christened Abbey Braggot has been the most popular in the series thus far.
Being built at the corner of Highway 4 (London Road) and Huron Road 25 at Blyth’s southern entrance, Cowbell will be a distinctive destination brewery.
Designed to look like a barn, the 20,000-square-foot complex will house a custom-built, four-vessel, 50 hectolitre brewhouse, event centre, store, and restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating.
The “barn” is built of stone and wood with a large window allowing passing motorists on Highway 4 to see inside and be suitably enticed. The overall design mimics a century-old barn on an Ontario family farm.
The site uses renewable energy and smart energy-efficient design.
The water for beer production comes from a well, with municipal water for the restaurant and on farmland surrounding the building, there will be crops planted to be used in beer production — hops, barley, fruit, berries, and vegetables, according to the North Huron Citizen, the local newspaper.
Spectacular, yes. And another well-deserved feather in the cap for Blyth.
Cowbell is one of 17 Ontario breweries who have been paired with New York State breweries to create one-of-a-kind collaboration beers for a new craft beer festival being held in Niagara Falls, N.Y., next year.
A random draw has Cowbell paired with Woodcock Brothers of Wilson, N.Y.
Among others, Railway City of St. Thomas is paired with Buffalo Brewing Company and coincidentally one of my favourite Ontario breweries, Beau’s, is paired with my favourite from Buffalo, Big Ditch.
Can-Am Craft Beer Festival is April 7, 2018.