Family. History. Local.

These three words are synonymous to Mackinnon Brothers Brewery Company nestled on acres of ancestral land in the quaint village of Bath, Ontario. Here you will find over 200 years of farming heritage full of rural character and where two charming brothers Dan and Ivan MacKinnon came together and turned an inclination into fruition by adding a little something extra and added value to their family farm. The keen idea of a brewery was born.


Filled with passion and dedication to get the ball rolling, Dan obtained a master's degree in brewing and distilling from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburg, Scotland. And now with pride and quite the humble spirit, is the official brewmaster, while his brother Ivan employs his extensive skills of engineering and manufacturing on the farm. With knowledge in hand, support from friends and family and a strong desire to thrive, century old barns on site were transformed, farmland was being cultivated and an exciting future was being built. The local surroundings graciously opened their arms and accepted Mackinnon Brothers and the new industry into the community and the rest has been history.



Mackinnon Brothers has been fruitful in their labour that their brews can now be found on tap at a number of local Kingston restaurants including my favourites Tango Neuvo, Dianne's, The Red House and Olivea.

The family affair has taken their unique commitment of staying local to heart by striving to serve quality products. With farm-grown ingredients of hops, wheat and barley, the taste and tradition of their brews certainly resonate with their farm and the region. Keeping the entire operation local has successfully allowed Mackinnon Brothers to set themselves apart from others in the craft beer industry. Though as each day goes by, they excel with new aspirations of increasing production, efficiency and being more environmentally friendly.


As for their brews, each is inspired in their own way and quite different from one another. The Crosscut is a traditional Canadian ale, darker and more complex than commercial lagers, but still suitable for easy drinking. The 8 Man is an English Pale Ale reminiscent of the malt rich brews shared after many a tough rugby match in the UK. The Red Fox Ale is more of an light drinking ale with a distinct colour and flavours from the addition of beets giving it a vibrant red colour. Origins is a wheat beer that was created following the traditions of a German Hefeweizen. Lastly the Wild Peppermint Stout is a quite different - it is a traditional Irish stout with hints of hand-picked wild peppermint.

With quite an array of brews,  Mackinnon Brothers has certainly built a name and reputation for itself. They truly deserves a round of applause for staying local and true to its roots. 

This brewery is a destination that needs to be added to your bucket list. Be sure to keep an eye out for their Back to the Farm Festival in the summer where they thank the community by hosting a beer and food festival with live music!

Where: 1915 County Rd 22, Bath, Ontario

For more information visit: www.mackinnonbrewing.com

-xoxo

As one of Canada’s most respected art galleries and a significant player in the national scene, the  Agnes Etherington Art Centre situated in the vibrant historic campus of Queen’s University is starting the season with the unveiling of a new crowning acquisition.


{Media gather at the unveiling of a Rembrandt masterpiece - a great moment for the Agnes Etherington Art Centre}

The community is now home to Rembrandt’s Portrait of a Man with Arms Akimbo for the first time since its arrival at the Agnes last fall. The masterpiece was donated late last year by two of Queen’s most generous benefactors Alfred and Isabel Bader and is now the third painting by Rembrandt included in the art centre’s Bader Collection. The addition of this piece plays quite the significant role in terms of recognition, pride and attracting more visitors to the city. The collection distinguishes the Agnes amongst others as it allows for analysis of evolution of painting style and as a master of conveying human character, Rembrandt allows for a sense of closeness between the observer.

So whether you are a student, an art lover or simply appreciate great talent - the Agnes is a place to unplug for the afternoon and relish in your surroundings. Thanks to the Agnes they have now eliminated admission costs to allow you a wonderful opportunity to experience and enjoy world renowned art work.

{The new addition joins two other works by Rembrandt, Head of an Old Man in a Cap, 1630 featured above and Head of a Man in a Turban, 1661 in the gallery’s permanent collection}

But let's just take a moment of silence to appreciate this quintessential French-Canadian dish.

For the uninitiated, poutine is a dish born out of rural Quebec that consists of three ingredients: fries, gravy, and of course cheese curds. It's simple enough, but as with anything seemingly simple, everything is in the details. This Smoked Sausage Poutine poutines wins with the right balance of textures and flavours starting off with a layer of fries that had crisp exteriors and soft interiors. On top a generous portion of bite-size softened cheese curds that had the distinct squeak to them (essential!). And most importantly, it was doused in a dark and satisfying gravy that brought all of the toppings together and simply melted in your mouth. The addition of sliced debrezini sausage and caramelized onions gave this poutine that extra oomph.

Mac n cheese fritters with bacon bourbon jam - that's right. Are you drooling yet? Oh so crunchy, creamy, and of course...cheesy. Available on the kitchen menu, these bad boys are panko crusted, crispy deep fried and served with a side of spicy ketchup or garlic aioli. Three Red Aprons is sure to fill your bellies with goodness and certainly did mine when I stopped by. Pure perfection and the right amount of goodness to satisfy your cravings. 

So if you are looking to satisfy you cheesy craving, swing by Three Red Aprons!

It's officially spring and I couldn't be any happier. This past weekend Kingston was treated to gorgeous weather and it has continued into the week. So I kid you not that I am one happy camper. I feel as though I am finally coming out of the winter shell I was in and with a new season here, it has been a true blessing as the sunshine is drawing out the creative side of me once again.

Recently I have been working from home as I left my full-time day job - with windows wide open, frequent coffee breaks outside at my favourite shops and getting to reconnect with my passion has done wonders for myself. I've had the chance to explore the city I live in a lot more, yes I love being a tourist in my own town i.e. The Staycationer and sharing my favourite spots with my readers.

One spot that truly resonates with me since my time in Kingston is the serene waterfront. I have lived here for a good eight years since I was a student and the calming affect of the waterfront has allowed me to task risks, push through barriers and embrace fear. I return to my roots of blogging this spring with the city of Kingston as my backdrop with a fresh view of the world and growing my creative outlet.

This is why I love Kingston: #waterfrontgoals


Oh hey that's me...

Last week started out as every week would but then, there was a change - an unexpected change. A change that meant a new beginning and closing the door on another.


For quite some time, I fought an inner battle and realized that taking care of myself was a priority. One year ago I started a new 9-5 job wide-eyed with youthful enthusiasm and passionate for growth. It was a chance to use my skills and talents but soon enough I realized the toxicity outweighed the good. Work was taking over my life and long before it dawned on me that the place where I was making my so-called living was hurting my life, my creative abilities and my mental well-being.

I was in denial.

The sole item that was used as a creative outlet i.e. this blog was slowly being tucked away as each day went by. This change in my life is for the better - as this past week of reflection has taught me that some doors just need to be shut as the world is filled with other opportunities that will allow you to shine even brighter in your own unique way.

With that said, hope has been restored. It may take a while, but with enough heart, visualization, and networking, anything and everything can be possible.

Don't forget to put YOU first!

-xoxo

Today's post is all about negativity brought on by other people in your niche. For one reason or another, someone will find a reason to project their insecurities, their negativity, and their fears onto you, your life and your creative work, and you’ll have to deal with it. And I am!


Don't let negativity bring you down. You don't deserve to shed a tear or second guess the content you put out to the world. Rather use it to fuel your passion and go that extra mile.  As a blogger who started her journey five years ago in Kington as a creative outlet, I am so proud of what I have achieved, the connections I've made and how my creativity has blossomed. Though this has come with struggles of burnouts, criticism and most recently negativity on a local level.

Being part of Food Blogger of Canada has taught me that I have the support of fellow bloggers all across Canada. They have taught me to be a stronger individual and focus on the positive things in life. We are a community of like-minded individuals who should build relationships, collaborate and create beautiful things. But most importantly lift each other up. SO be your own person, create your own happiness and don't let others bring you down.