Grand Opening | Gananoque Brewing Company

Mission

In 2008 Gananaoque Brewing Company founder Bruce Davis spent too much time in a Gananoque bar, listening to tourists ask for a "local" beer. And there wasn't one. So he did something about it.


And now, that GBC has been steadily growing in popularity since it was started three years ago, this past Friday, June 27, 2014 was the grand reveal of its new home in Gananoque on King Street with free tours and beer tastings at $5, including their signature brew Naughty Otter as well as three seasonal blends. Though having brewed most of the beer production in Niagara Falls, it is a proud moment to open the doors of the building that has been in the works for the past few years. Brewing the first batch of beer will be quite excitement, achievement and start of a new chapter in mid July.

Motto
Aspire to be eastern Ontario's best local brewer, brewing quality beers in small batches using only the finest natural ingredients. With the aim of building a profitable and sustainable company, using local ingredients where possible, managing our business in a fair, professional and environmentally responsible way.


With a three year journey under their belt, GBC has come home and I was delighted to visit on opening day. Met by Eric Ross - fearless beer taster and assistant brewmaster, he spoke of his start in the Niagara region, how his passion for beer grew, the story of the brewery’s founding and history of the building GBC occupies. While I sipped on the Rhubarb Witbier in hand - I learnt how all natural ingredients and years of traditions combine to make a good batch of beer.

The presence of a local craft brewery in Gananoque will surely stimulate local businesses, strengthen tourism and make a solid contribution to the growth and sustainability of the area. With strong community ties, GBC has been graciously welcomed by the town and restaurants carrying their product.

Now Available GBC Beers:

Naughty Otter Lager

Their biggest seller. Naughty Otter Lager is fun, refreshing, crisp -- their premium lager for any time of the year. Made with organic barley from the US Midwest and organic German hops, Naughty Otter is about relaxing, forgetting the stress of work, recovering from cutting the grass or just unwinding. This beer is partially filtered so it has a craft beer look and feel, it has an IBU of 24 which means it is hoppier than most domestic beers.

Bell Ringer IPA

Bell Ringer IPA is a west coast-style IPA: hoppy, unfiltered, unpasteurized and raw.  Made with Cascade, Chinook and Centennial hops, and with an IBU in the low 60s, this beer replaces the successful Train Wreck Strong Ale which was discontinued in 2013.

Rhubarb Witbier

This beautiful cloudy white Belgian-style witbier is refreshing and light, with a summer tartness. They have used local unmalted wheat, oats and rhubarb from the Gananoque area to produce a perfect summer beer.

Shiver Eisbock 

Opaque ruby/brown beer with a distinctive (strange) malty taste. Eisbocks are made by freezing the beer in the conditioning stage and removing the ice, making this a higher alcohol beer.

All images were taken with a Nikon D3100.

Enjoy!