The craft beer industry in Halifax has continued to grow exponentially over the past few years, with breweries popping up all over the province. Oldies but goodies Propeller and Garrison cease to go out of style, and the more recent Good Robot and Unfiltered have come in with a bang, not to mention the plethora of breweries showing up outside of the city, such as Tatamagouche Brewing Co. and Big Spruce in Cape Breton. So what’s it like to be the new kids on the block in this booming, seemingly competitive industry?
It’s been one month since 2 Crows Brewing Co. opened its doors in downtown Halifax. Co-founders Mark Huizink and brewer Jeremy Taylor say the growing craft beer industry in Nova Scotia has been overwhelmingly welcoming, and for them it’s about contributing to a community of beer lovers.
“I think you’d be hard pressed to find a brewer in Nova Scotia that doesn’t have the same outlook on the future of the craft beer industry here,” says Huizink. “It’s great to be a part of, and it’s nice to be in such a collaborative industry. We’re not trying to screw each other; everyone’s doing their own different styles, and so there’s room for everyone to just do their thing.”
Taylor says Nova Scotia is ripe for ‘beer pilgrimages’ that many craft beer enthusiasts do across the United States, and he wants to see that grow in Nova Scotia.
In addition to their own craft brews, such as a Northeast IPA, an easy drinking Liesse table beer, an Oat Pilsner, and a Rustic Farmhouse Saison, 2 Crows rotates a bunch of local brews through their taps, such as Spindrift’s Abyss, Tatamagouche Brewing’s Deception Bay IPA, Bulwark Cider, Bad Apple Russian Imperial Stout, Big Spruce Cereal Killer, and North Brewing’s Ask & Embla.
In the classic you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours style, 2 Crows’ beers are served on tap at places like Good Robot, the Stubborn Goat, and Battery Park. Their cans are sold at Bishop Cellars and Harvest Wines, and, if everything goes accordingly, will be sold at the NSLC in April.
Huizink says aside from the enjoyment of good quality beer, the craft beer industry is giving back to the province in other ways. “Its employing a lot of people, and it’s keeping the money local.” Huizink says he too wants to see local breweries bringing more people to the province solely because of their love for beer.
Huizink and Taylor are excited to see what the summer season will bring, with sales already growing and their tasty new brews beginning to make waves in Halifax. “I’m not in this for the money,” say Taylor, “I’m in it because I love beer, and I love making beer, and I try to make the best quality product possible.”
With collaborations with the beer community already in the works, 2 Crows will undoubtedly bolster Halifax and Nova Scotia’s reputation as a beer aficionado’s paradise.