Something’s brewing in the burbs

The suburbs: Once the idealistic 1950s dream of white picket fences, these days they’re often slighted as lacking the panache of their urban counterparts. Jordan Duff looks how local breweries are livening up the burbs

EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK, there’s a new brewery, beer bar, or beer event. In smaller communities, breweries have become community social hubs and local sources of pride: Carleton Place (Stalwart Brewing), Almonte (Crooked Mile Brewing), Pembroke (Square Timber Brewing) and Calabogie (Calabogie Brewing Company) are but a few examples. In a larger city like Ottawa, breweries represent their neighbourhoods, which includes the suburbs.

“There has never been a better time to live in Ottawa’s suburbs,” according to local realtor Chris Scott, sales representative with Keller Williams Integrity Realty. “There are so many great amenities now to service these growing populations. The breweries are a welcome addition that will help bring more of a hip factor to these neighbourhoods.”

Last year saw breweries open in Orleans and Barrhaven — neighbourhoods that seem to sprawl farther and farther each year. Conspiracy Theory Brewing Company popped up on Cheyenne Way (starting a rumour that the burb could be nicknamed Beerhaven) summer of 2017. Brewer and co-owner Darryl Owens is thrilled with the welcome so far. “Almost everyone that has come by to see us and chat has said the same thing — that Barrhaven has needed something like this for some time — so we’re really pleased with the reception to date.”

Setting up in that neighbourhood was no accident. A lack of suburban breweries is exactly why Conspiracy set up outside the urban core. “Barrhaven is a growing community, probably one of the fastestgrowing in the city of Ottawa, with a projected population of approximately 100,000 by 2020, so it made sense to us to become this community’s first brewery.”

Indeed, Barrhaven boasts huge numbers of people and hot tubs, which beget social events, which typically involve beer. Choosing to buy from the local brewery seems natural.

Over in the east end, there are two new breweries: Orléans Brewing Co. and Stray Dog Brewing.

Célia Lemieux of Orléans Brewing explains that after travelling and seeing the positive impact breweries had on communities, she and her husband, Yann, realized, “We were missing a brewery right here in our own backyard, in the suburb we chose to grow our family.”

And they are all in. “The Orleans community is a very fun and honest crowd, and other than some really cool restaurants, there just didn’t seem to be a place to go chill with the ambience that comes with the craft brewery experience,” says Lemieux. “We’re seeing lots of young professionals moving into Orleans, and we want to create the perfect place for them — as well as the established residents — to discover the tastes of the world through our beers.”

And much like its southwestern counterpart, the neighbourhood beyond The Split boasts plenty of people and homes but less in the way of destination amenities. Yet, seemingly overnight, the eastend neighbourhood is now home to two breweries.

Stray Dog Brewing set up in the Taylor Creek industrial park, near the Orleans Bowling Centre, and have turned an industrial area into an active and inviting social space.

Local city councillor and deputy mayor Bob Monette sees value in the local business setting up shop. “Orleans was quite proud to see the arrival of its first brewery to locate in our community,” says Monette. “Stray Dog Brewing is a new venture from local residents who believed in the community and wanted to provide a quality brewery that is locally owned and operated.”

The open-concept design of the tap room, with long wooden benches and tables, invites visitors to sit and enjoy their fantastic brews. A TV, regular comedy shows, and even a recent burlesque show have given people entertainment to enjoy with their finely crafted beer.

“We purpose-built our brewery to be more than just a production facility,” says Stray Dog co-owner and brewer Marc Plante. “We wanted it to be a destination, a gathering place in the community where everyone is welcome and part of