Episodios
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"My beers are the portfolio of my life.” In this episode, we’re thrilled to welcome Luc ‘Bim’ Lafontaine, the mastermind behind Godspeed Brewery, a "neighbourhood brewpub with an international reputation”, located at 242 Coxwell Avenue in Toronto. Bim’s reputation as a world-renowned brewer precedes him, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with industry icons like Garrett Oliver, Yvan De Baets, Jan Van Roy, Sam Calagione, and others who define brewing excellence.
From his humble beginnings as a teenage homebrewer to his transformative years at Montreal’s famed Dieu Du Ciel, Bim’s journey has taken him across the globe—from perfecting his craft in Japan to building Godspeed into a showcase of Czech brewing in Ontario. Known for his meticulous approach, unwavering commitment for perfection, and innovative yet traditional styles, Bim’s influence resonates throughout the beer industry, inspiring brewers and captivating beer lovers alike.
Cole Raiskums is back with his Cole’s Notes, educating us all on what’s really GROWING in our beer... Interesting! Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to followGreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good!
Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery, is your go-to deep dive for all things craft beer from an insider perspective.
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In this episode, we sit down with Michael Hancock himself, a legend in Canadian brewing with four decades of stories, innovations, and inspirations.
Step back to 1976, when a young Hancock arrived in Canada for what he thought would be a brief engineering role at Molson’s. But a decade later, Michael’s passion for the craft of brewing sparked a new path. After studying at the prestigious Siebel Institute and an inspiring encounter with Bavarian royalty, Michael pivoted from engineering to brewing—a decision that would change Ontario’s beer scene for good.
In 1989, Denison’s Brewpub at 75 Victoria Avenue in Toronto was born with a focus on German style beers in a predominately English Ale era in Ontario. Denison’s quickly became an institution, a place where Hancock’s beers set the stage for a new generation of brewers. Though Denison’s closed in 2003, his passion didn’t waver. Through collaborations and contract brewing, he kept Denison’s flavors alive until he found his new home at Side Launch Brewing in 2014, bringing new vigor to his iconic brands and earning Side Launch the title of Canadian Brewery of the Year in 2016. We discuss it all and more in this in-depth interview.
Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good!Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery, is your go-to deep dive for all things craft beer from an insider perspective.
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In this episode, we dive deep into the 38-year brewing journey of one of the provinces beer pioneers, Mr. Paul Dickey, Ontario’s Iron Brewer. Since starting in 1986, Paul has made an enduring mark on the craft beer scene, from co-founding the Canadian Amateur Brewers Association (CABA), serving as a Grand Master Level I Beer Judge, and creating the Iron Brewer competitions.
From his apprenticeship at Denison’s Brewing in the '80s to brewing iconic beers at Pepperwood Bistro in Burlington, Black Oak Brewing Co., and founding Cheshire Valley Brewing Co., Paul has created, and crafted, some of Ontario’s most beloved beers. Whether it's Black Oak Saison or Nutcracker Porter, Mill Street Coffee Porter, Kensignton’s Augusta Ale or Trailer Park Boys' Freedom 35, Paul's recipes have been enjoyed throughout Ontario and beyond.
Tune in to hear about his illustrious career, his contributions to the Beer Judge Certification Program, and his latest projects. Paul's passion for brewing is unmatched, and this episode will take you on a journey to Ontario’s vast beer history with one of its legends.
Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good!
Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery, is your go-to deep dive for all things craft beer from an insider perspective.
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On October 15, news broke about two Ontario breweries joining forces. That information garnered a lot of attention, and the industry was a buzz with the news, so like a one-off beer, we had to record a special episode to get all the juicy details. Yes, Lake of Bays Brewing Co and Merit Brewing shared the news that they were merging their two breweries, eliciting a lot of congratulatory messages and questions like “what does this mean” - a brewery in Hamilton... and a brewery in Baysville (that’s up north folks)... merging? Was it a sale? What will happen next?
To learn more about it, Darren Smith (President and CEO, Lake of Bays Brewing) and Tej Sandhu (President and Co-Founder, Merit Brewing) joined Troy on the pod to spill the beans, to walk him through the details and what it all means for Ontario craft beer drinkers.
Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good!
Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto'sGreat Lakes Brewery, is your go-to deep dive for all things craft beer from an insider perspective.
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Aaron Protho, the Founder and CEO of Mascot Brewery, joins the show for the first of what will likely be multiple appearances on the pod. He’s as passionate as they come in this industry, from both a brewing and entrepreneurial perspective, and he’s created something very special with his company.
Through Aaron, Mascot was Canada’s first Black owned and operated brewery when he opened the doors back in 2015, something that he is extremely proud of and uses for good. Through his “Black Owned Collab” series he aspires to empower other black entrepreneurs to build a better world, knocking down barriers to entry for everyday people who just want to drink a delicious beer. He tells Troy all about that and more, like how he got his start in beer, what is important to him, and how he’s the Chill Master.
The Cole’s Notes segment has Cole talking about the multiple antimicrobials layers of beer which make it safe to drink. It’s an interesting one.
Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good!
Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto'sGreat Lakes Brewery, is your go-to deep dive for all things craft beer from an insider perspective.
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In this episode, Troy sits down with Jen Reinhardt, the Senior Sales Manager with Great Lakes Brewery and one of the driving forces behind the brand, to discuss her journey in the craft beer industry.
Jen has been with GLB for almost six years, but her journey with us started way back in 2014. After getting her feet wet in the beer industry while still working in publishing, Jen realized how thrilling this world was and moved on to Muskoka Brewery before returning to her true home at GLB in 2019. Since then, she’s reshaped our sales team and brought incredible energy to the brewery, leading teams with kindness.
But there’s so much more to Jen’s story. From co-founding the Society of Beer Drinking Ladies to her past life as a DJ, Jen has worn many hats, and today we’re diving into it all. The Cole’s Notes segment has us diving into what the mash is and why it’s important in the brewing process. The mash is the very first step when you brew a beer, and it all happens inside a large vessel called the mash tun.
Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good!
Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery, is your go-to deep dive for all things craft beer from an insider perspective.
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Jeff Talmey, one of the founders of Town Brewery in Whitby, ON, made his way to Etobicoke to tell us about the history of the seven-year-old brewery, how he got into the beer industry, discusses social media and their recent rebrand, his work with the Ontario Craft Brewers Conference, and much more.
Town was founded with a simple goal in mind; to make better beer and build a stronger community, something that Jeff and co have worked extremely hard one since opening their doors. A strong voice in beer, Jeff weaves together the startup story of the brewery with today’s current landscape and how Town fits into in. A fun and lively conversation with the Town Mayor!
Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good!
Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery, is your go-to deep dive for all things craft beer from an insider perspective.
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Steve Hukari, one of the founders of Southern Ontario Beer Boys, a group of Beer lovin' buddies from, you guessed it, Southern Ontario, joins the pod for the first time. Steve, and the SO Beer Boys, as they are frequently referred to, are said to be “ready and willing to conquer all beers while doing their part to make the world a better place,” and indeed they do.
What started out as an Instagram account, documenting what they were drinking and where they were drinking it, has morphed into something much larger with the crew organizing and running some amazing events like "Kans 4 Kids (Can/Bottle drives)" and the Brewers Ball (Brewery baseball tournament), raising thousands and thousands of dollars in the process. A force for good, Steve discusses the importance of community, why the Ontario craft beer industry means so much to him, and has a fresh Canuck Pale Ale or two in the process.
Cole Raiskums answers listeners questions in his beloved Cole’s Notes segment, including a weird one from his assistant?? If you’re interested in sour beers, you’ll enjoy this one.
Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good!
Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery, is your go-to deep dive for all things craft beer from an insider perspective.
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Milos Kral joins the pod all the way from his perch above Milos’ Craft Beer Emporium. It would be hard to argue that no one person has done more for the London, ON beer scene, since the days of John Labatt himself, than Milos has. He’s created a place for beer lovers to enjoy from all parts of the province – a place people add to their “beer bucket list” to visit. Why? Because he curates a dynamic beer menu, supports local, and puts the customer first and foremost. He’s propped up and supported start up breweries and has done so while continuing to work with the old guard of craft and does so with one goal in mind – to be the best at what he does day in and day out while having a fun time doing it. A colourful storyteller, Kral will have you captivated with his views on hospitality, craft beers, and how much he loves hearing chatter in his pub. Milos Kral - King of the Beer Emporium
Cole Raiskums, the Quality Assurance Lab Supervisor at GLB is back with his Cole’s Notes, and he spills the beans on what really goes on in the lab, and why it is important for a brewery to have a lab. It’s riveting!
Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good!
Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery, is your go-to deep dive for all things craft beer from an insider perspective.
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Mary-Beth Keefe, the Head Brewer of Toronto’s family-owned Granite Brewery joins the pod for her first time in the hot seat. The Alpha Female Mom and Lifter of heavy things, as she describes herself on her Instagram account, takes us through the history of the Granite, shares how she got her start in brewing and why she chose to pursue a career in the family business. She’ll also discuss what it’s like being one of only a handful of female brewmasters in Ontario and why she loves Ringwood yeast.
The Granite Brewery, and its Toronto founder, Ron Keefe (MB’s Father), hold a special place in the beer industry here in Ontario. Ron, a friend and mentor to many, has passed down his wisdom to Mary-Beth as she leads the second generation of Keefe’s in the operation of the brewhouse. A long-time friend, Mary-Beth and Troy tell some fun stories never told before.
Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good!
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Dan Grant, the co-founder/owner of Toronto’s Bossanova Wine and Beer Shop, joins the pod to discuss the wonderfully curated wine and beer shop, or boutique if you want to get fancy, at 103 Roncesvalles Ave in Toronto.
But, Dan was in the beer industry long before he opened the doors to Bossanova in 2021, and Troy and Dan cover that in great detail. From his beer writing days with NOW Magazine, his own blog BrewScout, to the founding of the very popular RUNTOBEER run club, teaching Prud’homme, hosting Toronto Brewery Tours, and more, Dan has been a fixture in the Ontario beer scene since 2012 and it was a pleasure to sit down with him to discuss it all, and more - like the time he attempted to run a marathon dressed as Gordie Levesque (Lumberjack on Canuck Pale Ale can), or when he got his head shaved at GLB for charity, or all the collaboration beers we’ve done together to support local causes. Buckle up for some fun stories.
Our Cole’s Notes segment has our man in the lab, Cole Raiskums, talk about seltzers and how they are different than beer, which is ironic as we just released a new Seltzer – Electric Spritz with Hibiscus & Lime Seltzer
Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good! Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery, is your go-to deep dive for all things craft beer from an insider perspective. -
Cass Enright, the founder of bartowel.com, amongst many other things, joins the pod to discuss his longtime role as “Ontario’s Craft Beer Promoter”.
Cass has made a significant impact on the beer scene here in Ontario over two decades, in many many ways. From his “Free Our Beer” campaign to the Golden Tap Awards, importing beer from other Canadian provinces to Toronto Beer Week, Bar Towel Radio, Brewers Backyard events, Ontario Beer Delivery Index, A Quick Beer, and the old Saloon League days, Cass deserves a big slap on the back and some proper acknowledgement for being such a great ambassador for beer here in the province. Cass and Troy get into it all in this jam-packed episode.
Our Cole’s Notes segment has our man in the lab, Cole Raiskums, sharing his extremely detailed insights on beer clarification. Lots of big fancy words, but Cole makes everything easy to understand.Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good!
Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery, is your go-to deep dive for all things craft beer from an insider perspective.
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This is a special one-off conversation with the newest member of the GLB team – Rob Morra.
Morra, the new On-Premise Sales Manager with GLB, brings a wealth of industry experience and knowledge to the brewery, with more than 15 years of sales success in the beer biz. He joins the podcast to introduce himself to listeners and spills the beans on his first ever experience with a craft beer. We cover his history with GLB, his love of travel, talk about what makes a great beer rep, and drink a couple of Summer Ale beers in the process.
Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery, is your go-to deep dive for all things craft beer from an insider perspective.
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Jennifer Tamse, the Director of Beer and Beverage with the Charcoal Group of Restaurants, which includes 10 Beertown locations across Ontario, joins Troy Burtch to discuss a variety of topics that span hospitality, Belgian beer, creating memorable experiences and more.
During the lively conversation, we find out how Jenn discovered beer at an early age, what it really means to her, and how she became known as “The Beer Czar”. We discuss her leadership role with Beertown, hear about how Beertown plays a vital role in the Ontario craft beer industry, understand her thoughts on Beertown’s vision as “The leaders in the craft beer dining revolution”, and find out what’s it’s like to be “Knighted”.
Cole Raiskums is back with his Cole’s Notes segment. On this episode, Coles talks about how we taste our beer, and he gives you some tips on how to sound really smart (and potentially pretentious) when telling your friends about your favourite brew.
Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good!
Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery, is your go-to deep dive for all things craft beer from an insider perspective.
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Scott Simmons, the President of the Ontario Craft Brewers Association (OCB), joins Troy Burtch to dissect the recent news about the Ontario government expediting the sale of beer in convenience and big box stores across the province. The Premier of Ontario, alongside the Minister of Finance, made a stunning announcement on May 24th that beer was coming to convenience stores much earlier than first anticipated – September 5, 2024, not 2026 like first thought.
Simmons, who has been steering the ship for Ontario’s small brewers for seven years, covers every aspect of the development(s), sharing ‘behind the scenes’ information and insights, highlighting the pros and cons of the retail system we currently have and where it’s going. He also gets into why joining the OCB is smart for all breweries, clears up some misconceptions about the OCB, and identifies his celebrity doppelganger.
If you work in the beer industry, and/or want to learn more about beer going to convenience stores, big box stores, and what getting rid of the Master Framework Agreement a year and a half early really means, this episode is for you. Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good!
Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery, is your go-to deep dive for all things craft beer from an insider perspective.
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Jordan St. John is the guest on the podcast this week, The Percheron of the beer writing industry here in Ontario. Jordan writes about beer on his website (St. John’s Wort), covers the industry in his News and Notes column with The Growler magazine, appears on multiple news outlets to highlight the industry, is a past co-host of a beer podcast, teaches about beer and brewing, leads historic tours, and holds the key to the Ontario brewery directory. He joins Troy to discuss it all. Jordan and Troy also geek out on some beer history, talk about how Jordan now supports the Ontario Craft Brewers, muse about the current lack of “beer writers in the province, and they drink a few beers in the process.
Cole Raiskums is back with his "Coles Notes" segment. Raiskums, the Quality Assurance Lab Supervisor with GLB, discusses “pectins” and how they affect our beer. He uses a lot of big words that we can’t pronounce...
Burtch wraps up the episode with the "Around the Industry" segment of the pod, talking about the recent announcement of the Keynote Speakers for the Ontario Craft Brewers Conference (Ted Nolan and Ben Edmunds, Breakside Brewery). Other topics covered include the Steel and Oak tattoo blunder, the news of Brew Culture’s closing, new brewery openings, and job postings at GLB.
Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good!
Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery, is your go-to deep dive for all things craft beer from an insider perspective.
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Les Murray, the Owner and President of Beerlicious, parent company of the Toronto Festival of Beer (TFOB), is our guest on the podcast this week. Murray spills the beans on the history of TFOB, tells us about all the changes that have taken place over the years, discusses the highs and lows of organizing one of Canada’s largest beer events, shares what’s on the line-up for this year's festival, and how golden horseshoes follow him around. PLUS, win some tickets to TFOB 2024!
Cole Raiskums is back with his "Coles Notes" segment. Raiskums, the Quality Assurance Lab Supervisor with GLB, talks about how we harness natural processes to make our beer.
Burtch wraps up the episode with the "Around the Industry" segment of the pod, talking about the annual Ontario Craft Brewers Conference taking place this November in Hamilton. The names of the two keynote speakers are teased and registration info was shared. Burtch also shares information on the recent release of GLB’s OCTO Mix Pack and some Mexican lagers.
Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com.
Supporting local never tasted soooo good!
Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery, is your go-to deep dive for all things craft beer from an insider perspective.
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Josh McJannett, the Co-Founder/Owner of Dominion City Brewery is our guest on the podcast this week. Josh walks us through the history of Dominion, sheds some light on his past, discusses how the brewery and the industry has evolved over their 10 years, talks a little about the OCB, and tries to get Troy to pronounce “Gloucester” the proper way. Please note this episode was recorded after a long night of “sampling”.
Cole Raiskums is back with his "Coles Notes" segment. Raiskums, the Quality Assurance Lab Supervisor with GLB, dives (not literally) into the science behind what the sunny weather does to your beer.
Burtch wraps up the episode with the "Around the Industry" segment of the pod, talking about the passing of an Ontario beer legend, Brian Morin, co-founder of the famed beerbistro.
Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good!
Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery, is your go-to deep dive for all things craft beer from an insider perspective.
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HOLY MACKINAW! Like a special one-off beer, we’re back today with a bonus episode to tell you all about an exciting project that we’ve been working on. Host Troy Burtch is joined by Sean Bowen, son of Joe Bowen who is famously known as “The Voice of the Toronto Maple Leafs.” Sean shares the exciting details about HOLY MACKINAW First Line Lager! Yes, we’ve partnered with the Bowen’s on a beer just in time for the NHL Playoffs.
Bowen, who spins a good yarn, shares information about the beer, provides details about the upcoming launch of said beer, and talks at length about his family’s relationship with Sick Kids Hospital, where $1 from each can sold will be donated to their foundation. You’ll also hear about where the infamous HOLY MACKINAW call originated from, why supporting local is so important to the Bowen’s, and why Sean watched a playoff game from the bathroom. You might even hear from Joe himself.
Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery, is your go-to deep dive for all things craft beer from an insider perspective.
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On this episode, host Troy Burtch is joined by Zorah Freeman-McIntyre, co-owner and operator of the Island Cafe. Back on March 17th, a devastating fire broke out on the Toronto Islands, destroying the historic Wards Island Association’s Clubhouse, which housed the Island Cafe. Zorah paints a picture of the cafe in vivid detail throughout the show, talks about the importance of establishments like his for the greater community, discusses the fire, and shares what the future might hold. We also chat about Kale, gardens, and food bank donations. A longtime supporter of Great Lakes, Burtch and Zorah get into why supporting local craft beer just makes sense. Cole Raiskums is back with his "Coles Notes" segment. Raiskums, the Quality Assurance Lab Supervisor with GLB, gives us the low down on “Old World” vs “New World” hops. Burtch wraps up the episode with the "Around the Industry" segment of the pod, talking about Ontario beer, new beer releases at GLB and upcoming events. Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good! Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery, is your go-to deep dive for all things craft beer from an insider perspective.
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