Between Two Fermenters

In this episode of Between Two Fermenters, host Troy Burtch is joined by the dynamic Catherine Oppedisano, VP of Marketing at Steam Whistle Brewing . From a memorable one-night shift with Great Lakes Brewery in 2012 to spearheading major brand revivals across Ontario’s craft beer landscape, Catherine shares her inspiring journey through the industry.  Catherine reflects on her early beer days, her...

In this 40th episode of Between Two Fermenters, host Troy Burtch sits down with longtime friend, former Great Lakes Brewery legend, and mixed-fermentation evangelist Rob ‘Bobo’ Hern, founder of Short Finger Brewing Co. in Kitchener-Waterloo. From sorting empties at the Beer Store to forging his own DIY path in Ontario's craft beer scene in homebrewing, Rob’s journey is packed with perseverance...

Host Troy Burtch of Great Lakes Brewery is joined by Sam Corbeil, the mustachioed brewmaster and co-founder of Sawdust City Brewing Co. in Gravenhurst, Ontario. Known for his big ideas and even bigger beers, Sam opens up about his journey from the world of advertising to becoming one of Ontario’s most recognized people in craft brewing.   The conversation traces his early days at Magnotta, Robert...

On this episode of Between Two Fermenters, we're welcoming back a familiar voice in Scott Simmons, President of the Ontario Craft Brewers Association (OCB) . If there’s anyone who knows how to navigate the ever-changing intersection of beer and policy, it’s Scott. He joins Troy to unpack what many are calling a game-changing and historic moment for Ontario’s craft beer industry: the recent 2025 pr...

On this episode of Between Two Fermenters, Troy Burtch is joined by someone who’s had a profound impact on his life - a mentor, pioneer, and dear friend: Ron Keefe, founder of Toronto’s family-owned Granite Brewery. If you heard Episode 15 with his daughter Mary-Beth, you’ll know how much the Keefe family means to Troy. Ron welcomed him into the world of Ontario craft beer back in 2007, answering...

Kangaroo Wants to Fight... Troy is joined by Craig Thorn and Nathan Lefebvre from Beer and Other Shit - or BAOS, as most know it as - a multimedia craft beer platform that’s been serving up content since 2015. Alongside co-host Tiffany Alexis Davey (Thorn's better half), the BAOS crew produces one of the longest-running beer podcasts around, featuring in-depth conversations with brewers, owner...

On this episode of Between Two Fermenters , host Troy Burtch welcomes Troy Baxter, Co-Founder and Brewer at Badlands Brewery from Caledon, Ontario, a small-but-mighty ‘farm’ brewery turning heads (and hops) across the province. From a 1-barrel system in a retrofitted calf barn (2017) to a 15-barrel “IPA factory,” Badlands has built a loyal following for their hazy, hop-forward beers, all brewed on...

In this episode of Between Two Fermenters, Troy cracks a cold one with Kristin MacDonald, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Muskoka Brewery, to hear her incredible journey from Summer Brand Rep in 2010 to executive leadership. They dive into the history of Muskoka Brewery, from its humble beginnings in a Bracebridge granary in 1996 to becoming a cornerstone of Ontario craft beer and a commu...

You know the name. You’ve heard about the beer. Big Rock Brewery has been a pillar of Canadian craft brewing since 1985, founded by Ed McNally, a Calgary-based lawyer, farmer, and visionary who was fed up with boring mass-produced lagers and decided to do something about it (attaboy, Ed). From just three original beers Traditional Ale (TRAD), Porter, and Bitter to trailblazing brews like Grasshopp...

We’ve got a special episode for you today - shorter, but packed with flavour, just like the beer we’re celebrating. We’re taking you lakeside, where sunshine, hops, and good vibes come together in a can of pure refreshment. This one’s all about Sunnyside Session IPA and our province-wide celebration, SUNNY DAY.  We’ll take you behind the scenes, diving into the history of Sunnyside, its rise to fa...

In this episode of Between Two Fermenters , Troy sits down with one of Canada’s most serious, passionate, and proud brewers - Matt Tweedy, co-owner and Brewing Director at Ottawa’s Tooth and Nail Brewery.  Matt’s dedication to the craft is second to none. From honing his skills at legendary breweries like Cantillon in Belgium, Lost Abbey in the US, and Fullers in the UK, to flourishing in Ontario’...

If you’ve ever browsed the beer section at your local bookstore, chances are you’ve seen the name Stephen Beaumont. Stephen is the author of an astounding 15 beer books, and his work has graced the pages of The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, Whisky Advocate, Esquire, Wine Enthusiast, and even Playboy. He’s also contributed to legendary beer publications like All About Beer , The Celebrator , Ale St...

Ever had a flat, foamy, or off-tasting pint? Chances are that the problem wasn’t the beer... it was the draught system. On this episode of Between Two Fermenters, we’re pulling back the tap handle and diving deep into the world of draught quality with Paddy Treacy, Founder of Northern Lines , a Toronto-based company specializing in draught line cleaning, repair, and installation.  Paddy has been e...

The guest on this episode is nothing short of a legend. Some call him the Godfather of beer in Ontario, while others simply call him Ralph. Ralph Morana is the visionary behind Bar Volo, Cask Days, Birreria Volo, and so much more—a man who has shaped craft beer culture in Toronto, across Ontario, and beyond.  From transforming an Italian café on a corner of Yonge Street into one of North America's...

Welcome to Between Two Fermenters, the podcast where we dive deep into the stories shaping the craft beer industry. In this episode, Troy sits down with Natasha Fritzley, President of Cowbell Brewery , to explore her incredible journey through various leadership roles since joining the company before its doors opened in August 2017.  We’ll discuss the story of Cowbell, often referred to as Canada’...

"I loved brewing when I first started doing it in my early 20s" - In this episode, we sit down with Michael Lackey—better known as Lackey—a legendary figure at Great Lakes Brewery (GLB) and the brewery’s Brewing Operations Manager. You might recognize him from the very first episode of Between Two Fermenters: The Stories We Could Tell, where he joined Peter Bulut, GLB’s Owner and President, to cel...

In this episode, we sit down with Christine Comeau, the Executive Director of the Canadian Craft Brewers Association (CCBA) - the voice of Canadian craft beer. Representing nearly 1,200 small and independent craft breweries, brewpubs, and supplier partners across the country, the CCBA plays a pivotal role behind the scenes here in the country.  Join us as we delve into Christine's insights on some...

Welcome to another episode of Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto’s Great Lakes Brewery, where we dive deep into the world of craft beer and the passionate people behind it. Today, it’s our pleasure to welcome one of our own, Nick Perry, to the show for the first time!  Nick is the Production Supervisor at GLB and has been part of the team since 2016. Over the past eight ye...

"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 V...

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...

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 apprenticesh...

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 an...

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...

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 thr...

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,...