Toronto’s Festival of Beer is committed to amplifying the voices of those in the brewing industry creating positive change. We are proud to present The Changemakers. This is our chance to shine the spotlight on brewers impacting their communities. The Changemakers was a collaboration with Ren Navarro of Beer Diversity Ren searched the country for our star lineup of brewers that we are proud to share with you below. Read on… to find out what and who to expect at TFOB 2022 including who is performing on The Changemakers Stage…
Charlotteville Brewing of Simcoe, ON – a husband and wife team classically trained in France, now committed to sustainable brewing and farming on their land and pledged to paying employees a living wage. We swear you can taste the history in their beer. It’s made with hops grown on their family farm in Simcoe and then brewed in a turn-of-the-century barn.
Xhale Brewing of Calgary, Alberta – makes Provocative beer for conscious thinkers & drinkers. XhAle is 🌈 & ♀️ owned. Across AB & SK – YYC based and is built on the foundations of community thriving, sharing ideas, challenging boundaries and imbibing passion. They connect through craft, and we’re excited for you to connect with them at this year’s festival!
Little Beasts Brewing Co of Whitby. This brewery is working towards equity, one beer at a time. Erin and the crew at Little Beasts Brewing Co are trailblazers in blending interesting and tasty brews with purpose; specifically human rights and creating safe spaces and support within the LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities.
Grey Matter Beer Company in Kincardine, Ontario – Mike & Meag quit their jobs and opened Grey Matter in 2018 on Lake Huron. In their taprooms, they serve craft beers, create a unique sense of community, and build experiences that last longer than each pint.
Shillow Brewing in Ottawa, Ontario – Meet Shillow Beer Co! A microbrewery in the unceded Algonquin Anishnaabe territory commonly known as Ottawa. Shillow Beer is a small, independent company committed to crafting interesting and delicious brews.
Red Tape Brewery in Toronto, ON. Bespoke beers are what Red Tape is known for. Yes they brew their own super tasty beer, but there’s more. An idea that blossomed with the birth of the co-founders own son, grew into a concept not commonly found in the industry. Bespoke beers for clients to celebrate any and all milestones. Truly unique.
TWB in Kitchener -TWB is a worker-owned and democratically-run brewery celebrating the intersection between craft beer and community! From academics to welders, community advocates to graphic designers, @twbcoop’s six founding members came together over this vision. They spent every ounce of their spare time building a scrappy little brewery from scratch. Everything was DIY, from developing the business plan to learning how to brew on the German-made all-in-one brewhouse rescued from a storage locker to making the bar top out of an old bowling alley. Today they continue to grow to include new worker-owners who each add their unique skills and passions to the mix. TWB is a living, growing, and changing embodiment of how craft beer and the community can support each other. We’re pumped to have them be a part of this year’s Changemakers area!
Good Neighbour in Winnipeg, Manitoba is actively working to create safer working and gathering spaces for community members. Founders Morgan and Amber have spent over 25+ years combined exploring their passion for beer and tasting brews from all over the world to help craft their own unique suds.Their dream is to have fun creating an inviting and inclusive brewery that fosters a sense of community!
Good Lot Farmstead Brewing from Alton, Ontario who will pour their hyper-local farm-raised beer at our Changemakers area this year! GoodLot Farmstead Brewing Co uses ingredients from their own farm and local farmers in Ontario, then brews it on-site in Caledon. We love that this brewer has embraced “regenerative carbon farming.” This means they focus their farming practices on sequestering more carbon in our soil than is emitted annually. Every decision they make is based on this guiding principle.
The Second Wedge in Uxbridge, Ontario,.Say hello to The Second Wedge Brewing Co, a craft brewery, tasting room, bottle shop & beer garden in Uxbridge.Their gorgeous taproom is a community meeting place and a strong supporter of local music, art and small business collabs.