Between Two Fermenters

In this packed episode of Between Two Fermenters, host Troy Burtch of Great Lakes Brewery sits down with one of Ontario’s most influential beer leaders: Todd Lewin, President and Partner at Muskoka Brewery. With nearly three decades spent in beer, Todd brings a wealth of insight, experience, and candor to the conversation.  From his early days teaching ski lessons, to cutting his teeth at Molson d...

On this episode of Between Two Fermenters, Brad Clifford of Clifford Brewing in East Hamilton, one of Ontario’s most respected and quietly talented brewers, joins the show for the first time for a frank and honest discussion.   From humble beginnings homebrewing in a 700-square-foot condo to building one of Ontario’s most award-winning, community-driven breweries, Brad shares the full journey. Hea...

Host Troy Burtch from Great Lakes Brewery sits down with Emma Hambrock, Inside Sales Representative and long-time team member at Fairweather Brewing in Hamilton, Ontario. Since Fairweather opened its doors in 2017, Emma has been at the heart of the brewery, helping shape its welcoming taproom, community-driven culture, and creative beer lineup.  In this episode, Emma shares her journey into the cr...

In this episode of Between 2 Fermenters, host Troy Burtch of Great Lakes Brewery sits down with Tomas and Julian Morana, the brothers who have redefined Toronto’s beer scene. From the legendary Bar Volo and Birreria Volo, to Keep Six Imports, Cask Days, and their latest venture Bottega Volo, the Moranas have built an empire that shaped Ontario’s craft beer scene while putting Toronto on the global...

Ontario’s craft beer scene is changing fast, very fast, and nobody knows that better than Jason Stein. When a large distributor of craft beer announced it was shutting down their beer operation, breweries scrambled to find new ways to get their beer to market. Enter FIL Delivery Inc., the logistics company Jason founded in 2020. In this episode, host Troy Burtch of Great Lakes Brewery sits down wi...

This episode of Between Two Fermenters welcomes Brad McInerney, Marketing Director at Wellington Brewery, to the show. With nearly two decades under his belt at one of Canada’s original craft breweries, Brad’s journey started on the packaging line and grew into shaping the brand’s creative vision, events, and community impact.  Host Troy Burtch dives into Brad’s story - from booking punk shows in...

Hilary Hoogsteen’s path in craft beer has taken her from British Columbia to Northern Ontario and now onto the national stage. After time spent at Fernie Brewing (BC) and Sleeping Giant Brewing (Thunder Bay, ON), she has taken on the roles as Competition Director for the Canada Beer Cup alongside the contributions she has made through her work with both the Canadian Craft Brewers Association and O...

In this episode of Between Two Fermenters , host Troy Burtch sits down with Great Lakes Brewery’s Experiences Manager, Nick Densmore, to talk about the second annual Brewed For You Festival, taking place Saturday August 30th at GLB in glorious Etobicoke. The fellas also discuss the upcoming 25th anniversary of opening the GLB retail store and what they will be doing to celebrate it. Troy and Nick...

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...