In the early rush of craft breweries to hit the New Brunswick market, Off Grid Ales quickly made a name for themselves, partly due to their flavourful and hoppy as heck double IPA and the charm of its two owners, Denise and Randy Rowe. As the brewery’s name implies, they were also about to distinguish themselves as the province’s only off-grid craft brewery.
Now, six years into running their successful business, the Rowes have announced their impending retirement. Off Grid Ales is in the market for new owners.
Located in the wilderness on the north side of Harvey Lake, several kilometres from any hydro poles, the Rowe’s lakeside home is idyllic – provided you’re not in a hurry to get anywhere. It’s a little out of the way, as far as breweries go, but it meant that the couple could build the quiet retreat they had long dreamed of. The environmentally friendly nature of their brand also resonated with craft beer drinkers.
“We already had the life we wanted in ‘the bubble’, the brewery was a great addition,” says Denise. “We were just trying to have fun while making good beer. Our business model was different from others. We didn’t require a huge payback from our investments and time.
“It was always about making great beer.”
After a couple of upgrades over the years, expanding their solar panel array brewing facility and equipment, Off Grid Ales now produces 20 kilowatts a day (powering both the brewery and their home), and turning out 15 barrels of beer each week on their 10 bbl brewing system.
Rowe says that the business has been doing well and that the brewery is ready to expand again. It just isn’t going to happen next to their home.
“It’s just time. We’re not prepared to do more work than what we are doing now. And it’s ready to grow,” says Denise.
“A couple of health/family issues made us think it was time to not work all of the time. Plus the ‘fun’ has been sucked out by COVID. It was the building and the beerfests that were the fun, right?!”
Naturally, any new owners will be faced with some unique challenges. While the Off Grid Ales brand is for sale, the solar infrastructure that currently powers the brewery will remain a part of the Rowe’s home. The brewery itself will have to be housed elsewhere, but the Rowes says that they’re hoping that the new owners will continue to use a sustainable power system.
After running their business from their little slice of paradise for the last six years, they say they’re looking forward to enjoying the luxury of time, along with some genuine peace and quiet, in their retirement.