WAYFARERS’ ALE SOCIETY CRAFTING A BRIGHT FUTURE IN PORT WILLIAMS
Wayfarers’ Ale Society aims to support local economy through its own growth
The Wayfarers’ Ale Society is putting its money where its mouth is when it comes to supporting local and crafting good beer.
Wayfarers’ Ale Society chairman Chris Killacky of Wolfville said they built their Port Williams-based facility from scratch and pretty much all the equipment and furnishings, down to the tables and chairs, were purchased in the Maritimes or from elsewhere in Canada. The society was established in 2012 and the brewery was built in 2015 and 2016.
The society has purchased the Port Williams wharf. They’ve constructed a patio and had two large pontoons built that will be attached to the wharf. Eventually, these will give people travelling the Cornwallis River by kayak a safe place to land. He said the Cornwallis River has an amazing heritage and there would be further investment in the wharf to come.
Killacky said Port Williams is a great destination with housing developments and an eclectic grouping of several high quality businesses, including other breweries such as Sea Level Brewing, the Port Pub Bistro, Barrelling Tide Distillery, The Noodle Guy and many more.
“For us, it made sense to invest in the area and one of the things I was keen on doing as the largest shareholder was to ensure that it wasn’t just about making beer, it was actually putting something back into the infrastructure of the local society,” Killacky said.
He said they purchase as many Valley hops as possible, recognizing the region as a superb place for growing hops. They purchase specialty malts from the Horton Ridge Malt and Grain Company, or malt from other Maritime producers.
Rooted in tradition
Killacky said enjoying beer is a social experience, creating community by bringing people together. Wayfarers views craft beer production as a means to reestablish the “noble art of conversation” in an increasingly virtual world.
In years gone by, churches would provide horns of ale and pieces of bread to weary travelers or wayfarers. Killacky said the notion of being a wayfarer is one of understanding rural life’s path and realizing that we have to show hospitality and generosity to our fellow wayfarers. Beer is a food, something to be shared with friends.
He said their beers aren’t “super hoppy” and, in some ways, are more representative of traditional styles. They produce some unique beers, including special stouts. Their Sassy Ginger beer and the Hellene is doing very well.
Killacky said one advantage they have is a steam system that allows a great deal of flexibility in making a variety of beers. They’re producing 12 different types and are collaborating with Hennigar’s Farm Market to make a special cider. A second brewery site recently opened at Hennigar’s for this purpose.
Challenges facing craft breweries
Killacky said Wayfarers has been doing well but being involved in the craft brewery business isn’t a license to print money. There is a positive future ahead but there are some headwinds and business challenges to overcome. The craft beer industry in Nova Scotia hasn’t seen the investment on the part of government that the wine industry has. This is something that those involved in the craft beer industry hope to see.
He said Nova Scotia and the Maritimes are behind the rest of the country in terms of our promotion of craft beers. Killacky estimates that our province is 10 years behind Ontario in this regard. There are problems with the supply of aluminum cans, the business environment in Nova Scotia is very tax heavy and there are interprovincial trade barriers to overcome.
He said the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation has been slow to embrace craft beer although this is changing.
He said many beer consumers don’t realize that several longstanding brands including Keith’s, Molson and Oland are now all owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev, a large multinational corporation. People think these beers are Canadian but, in fact, they’re international brands owned principally by overseas investors.
“The craft beer movement is very much about recovering really good quality beer. For us, we just use hops, water, malt and yeast,” Killacky said. “It’s also about employing local people and supporting, in a very real sense, the Nova Scotian economy.”
He said it’s also about educating people that if we want to create jobs and enterprise in Nova Scotia, we have to recognize that we have to support and invest in local businesses.