In Toronto's west end, north of The Junction, Shacklands Brewing Company has been making and serving craft beer to Torontonians since it was founded in 2012. Recently, one of their creations called “Saison Davenport” has been chosen, for the first time, by the LCBO to be stocked on their shelves.
It just so happens that their Head Brewer, Kalev Nisbet, is Estonian-Canadian. He seemed like the perfect person to learn about what exactly goes into the making of a beer — and furthermore, what goes into the making of a brewer.
How long have you been brewing with Shacklands? Were you at other breweries before?
I actually started with Shacklands by volunteering in 2017, during a [faculty strike] while at Niagara College. I was enrolled in the Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program, and was also working for the college brewery and lab during my time there. Before that, I was an assistant brewer at the Mill Street Brew Pub in the Distillery District, and a home brewer prior to that.
What transformed beer from being an enjoyable beverage into a craft that you wanted to pursue each day?
Going back to the beginning, sometime in my early 20s, I became captivated by the diversity of styles and flavours that the still relatively new craft beer scene had to offer.
Next thing I knew, I was home brewing and reading about the history of beer and regional styles. A couple visits to Belgium sealed the deal. I ended up changing course from my career in architecture, finding the combination of science, technology, and creative artistry required in brewing to be both compelling and fulfilling.
What is the start of a work day like for you?
Being a small brewery, tasks and schedules vary quite a bit. With only a handful…..
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