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 Ontario Craft Brewers.

In this episode, Hilary sits down with host Troy Burtch to talk about the evolution of her career, the challenges and opportunities facing Canadian breweries, and what it takes to organize one of the country’s most ambitious beer competitions. She also provides an overview of the growing craft beer culture in Thunder Bay and reflects on the community that continues to inspire her work. They also discuss:

• The work that the CCBA and OCB are doing for independent breweries
• Elevating Canadian brewing on a global stage through the Canada Beer Cup
• Offers a behind the scenes tour of Thunder Bay’s beer scene
• Life, family, and finding balance in a passion-driven industry

Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good!

Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery where craft beer and conversation collide - straight from the tanks to your ears.

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 chat about:

• What makes this brewery-run beer festival truly equitable and community-driven
• Two epic music sessions: 80s cover band Born in the 80s and 90s legends Discmen
• Festival food lineup featuring smash burgers, momos, BBQ, and more
• A sneak peek at the exclusive Brewed For You festival beer
• How to get there (hint: free shuttles from TTC & GO)
• Why $30 gets you way more than just entry
• Brewed for you Festival - sponsored by Zenan Glassware

Whether you attended last year or are a curious newcomer for BFY Fest, this episode will get you hyped for one of Ontario’s most anticipated craft beer events. Grab your tickets, rally your buds, and get ready to “drink beer from here”! Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good!

Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery where craft beer and conversation collide - straight from the tanks to your ears.

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 pivotal introductory role in beer at Flying Monkeys, educational years at Mill Street, the huge growth experienced at Collective Arts, and now the fun she’s having at Steam Whistle. She dives into lessons learned while navigating takeovers, driving innovation, creating memorable campaigns, and leading one of the country's most recognizable beer brands back to its roots.

Get ready for a fun, fast-paced conversation full of branding gold, beer nostalgia, and candid insights from one of Ontario’s most respected marketing minds.

Some highlights in this episode:

• Getting her start at Great Lakes and learning to “figure it out” on the go
• The influence of creative mentors and DIY design roots
• Reinventing Steam Whistle’s brand while respecting its legacy
• Why brand consistency is more powerful than perfection
• Navigating the intersection of marketing, creativity, and strategy

Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good!

Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery where craft beer and conversation collide - straight from the tanks to your ears.