The original copper kettle, where the magic began for Creemore Springs, will be incorporated into the brewery expansion.
It will be the focal piece of a new retail store and tasting bar, where people will be able to order beer by the glass or in a flight – a sampler of Creemore Springs’ brews served in small glasses on a wooden tray.
The copper kettle has been restored and will be placed in the window, half in the store and half in a new licensed patio. There will be 17 seats inside and 24 on the patio.
“The concept is to enhance the tourism experience for people coming to the brewery and Creemore,” said Creemore Springs Brewery operations manager Geoff Davies. “To diversify the experience and get them to stay longer.”
The brewery is currently allowed to serve small samples of beer but with a new manufacturer’s limited liquor sales licence it will be allowed to sell 12-ounce servings.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, the agency that issues the licences, says licensees under a Manufacturer’s Limited Liquor Sales Licence are not required to serve food because of the limited intent and nature of “by-the-glass” licensing.
Although exempt from this requirement, licensees are still encouraged to provide snacks and other food to guests whenever possible and in appropriate circumstances.
Davies has been speaking with Creemore’s restaurateurs to see if any of them wish to provide food to tour groups and other visitors when requested.
“We don’t want to compete with people in town,” said Davies. “We have no interest in making money from serving food.”
Inspired by beer gardens in Germany, people will be allowed to bring a picnic or take-out food to the brewery if they wish.
Outside of the licensed area, there will also be three landscaped public spaces where people can hang out. Davies said there will also be a bike repair stand for those cycling in to the village.
The existing retail store will eventually be adapted as a museum stop on the brewery tour.
The brewery is also moving ahead with the new cellar on Elizabeth Street, with work beginning in June to install five new tanks. For a time, traffic will access the brewery off Edward Street. That will be the end of the work until another five tanks are added in 2017.
“Throughout the expansion, we have done our best to do what we said we were going to do,” said Davies.
As a result of the expansion, including the distribution centre in Stayner, the brewery has added more than a dozen full-time permanent jobs in the past two years. Some senior positions but mostly good paying entry level jobs that seem to appeal to young people who are new to the full-time workforce and looking to stay in the community, negating the need to leave town to find good jobs.
The expansion has also resulted in the addition of part-time and seasonal staff, creating jobs for students who are home for the summer and others.