This week on Between Two Fermenters, Troy is joined by Dr. Dan Malleck, Professor and Chair of Health Sciences at Brock University, author, and one of Canada’s leading experts on alcohol policy and regulation.

With decades of research into the history of booze, prohibition, and temperance movements, Dan brings crucial context to today’s debates around alcohol regulation. From the lingering legacy of prohibition to the power and persistence of modern temperance narratives, this conversation dives deep into how policy shapes drinking culture... and how it continues to impact brewers, consumers, and communities across Canada.

The episode explores:

• The historical roots of Canada’s alcohol laws and the creation of the LCBO
• Why prohibition-era thinking still influences modern policy
• The role of beer in shaping Canadian identity
• Dan’s testimony before the Canadian Senate and his critique of the CCSA’s low-risk drinking guidelines
• Why pubs, breweries, and third places matter more than ever in an age of social isolation

Equal parts academic insight and taproom conversation, this episode is essential listening for anyone who cares about craft beer, public policy, and the cultural role alcohol plays in our lives.

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.

Raise a pint - Between Two Fermenters hits episode 50! To mark the milestone, Peter Bulut, Owner and President of Great Lakes Brewery, joined the show.

Peter first appeared on Episode 1, helping set the tone for this show dedicated to preserving the stories, voices, struggles, and triumphs of the Canadian craft beer industry. Now he’s back for a deep, unscripted conversation about nearly four decades in beer, leadership, family legacy, hard lessons, and the relentless spirit that built GLB into Ontario’s fiercely independent local brewery.

In this episode, Peter reflects on:

• His unexpected start in beer: from construction school to walking into a tiny Brampton brewery brewing extract beer and selling it in 1-litre plastic bottles
• Early GLB chaos: burnt batches, infected tanks, dumping beer, and the grind of rebuilding quality and trust
• Surviving the dark years and the long road from near-collapse to national awards, modern craft innovation, and explosive growth
• The move to Etobicoke, scaling up, and learning the business from the ground up, one bag of malt at a time
• Leadership, culture, and caring for people: building a team that stays, grows, and believes in the Vision together
• The beers that shaped GLB, from Devil’s Pale Ale and Pumpkin Ale to Canuck and beyond.

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 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 during the industry’s heyday, to ultimately helping steer Muskoka Brewery through major expansion, operational transformation, taxation hurdles, retail reform, and the rise of non-alc, RTD drinks, and more, Todd walks us through the highs, lows, and defining moments of a life spent in beer. Highlights include:

• Todd’s origins, like his unconventional route into beer
• His years at Molson - the glory days of beer as some might say - cultural shifts, and a sudden downsizing that reset his path.
• The Muskoka chapter - joining the brewery in 2011, transitioning from 8,000 to 80,000 sq ft, becoming a partner, and eventually taking on the role of president
• Leadership lessons - building trust, staying close to the team, walking the floor, and leading with long-term vision
• Muskoka Brewery’s roots in Bracebridge, local involvement, and the mission to reignite the fun that beer brings to people.
• What’s next - the brewery’s upcoming 30th anniversary and the future of Ontario craft beer.

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.