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 stage.

Together, the Morana’s discuss their journey - growing up in the original Caffé Volo as young boys, balancing family life with entrepreneurship, their design-driven approach to hospitality, and how they’ve carried forward their father Ralph’s legacy while pushing the boundaries of what a beer bar can be. They get into all the ventures and projects that are tackling and share why and how they are intentional in all they do. In this episode:

• The evolution of Volo from their perspective - from Caffé Volo to Bar Volo, Birreria Volo, and beyond
• How Keep Six Imports and Cask Days helped connect Ontario to the global beer community
• Balancing family, fatherhood, and running multiple venues
• The Moranas’ design and travel influences that shape the look and feel of their spaces
• Carrying forward Ralph Morana’s legacy while making their own mark on Canadian beer culture

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.

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 with Jason to talk about the rise of FIL Delivery, the challenges of scaling from two vans to a fleet of 36 trucks, and how technology is reshaping beer distribution. They also dive into Jason’s other passion project, Burdock Brewery (Co-Founder), a Toronto staple known for its lagers, experimental wine-beer hybrids, thriving live music venue, and laying down roots in Toronto’s Kensington Market neighbourhood.

From turning lemons into lemonade during the pandemic, Jason shares candid insights on entrepreneurship, growth, and staying independent in a rapidly shifting industry.

• How FIL Delivery scaled from two vans to a province-wide fleet
• The role of technology in modern beer logistics
• Burdock Brewery’s origin story and its unique blend of beer, wine, and music
• How the Kensington Market neighbourhood has accepted Burdock
• Lessons Jason has learned about growth, risk, and staying focused

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.

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 Hamilton to leading Wellington’s marketing and sales, building a thriving taproom, and helping define Guelph’s beer culture through initiatives like the Guelph Beer Bus (named Ontario’s Culinary Tourism Event of the Year, 2023).

The fellas talk Wellington’s rich 40-year history, the challenges of balancing tradition with innovation, the return of cask ale, and what’s ahead for one of Ontario’s oldest independent breweries.
What’s Inside This Episode:

• Brad’s start on Wellington’s packaging line and rise to Marketing Director
• How booking punk shows shaped his approach to beer and community
• The story behind the award-winning Guelph Beer Bus
• Wellington Brewery’s 40-year legacy and upcoming anniversary celebrations
• Balancing tradition with innovation in 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.

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.

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, weirdness, and a whole lot of passion and hard work.

Troy and Rob reminisce about their GLB days, including the time a ping pong table took over the office, rooftop beers, the early years and the wild west attitude, and off-roading in questionable company vehicles. Rob reflects on how a love for homebrewing, a rogue furniture relocation incident, and support from his brilliant wife helped shape the vision for Short Finger, a brewery now known for its bold barrel-aged and mixed-fermentation offerings. Some highlights:

• The origins of the nickname "Bobo"
• Starting Short Finger from a homebrew shop in his basement
• Influences from Mike Lackey and the GLB crew
• Kitchener-Waterloo as the perfect place for Short Finger
• The legacy of homebrew competitions, pumpkin ale, and forgotten couches

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.

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 Simpson (now Flying Monkeys), and Mill Street, his brewing education in Berlin, and the birth of Sawdust City. Along the way, Sam reflects on the changing landscape of Ontario’s beer scene, the value of community and giving back to others (paying it forward), and what it takes to remain an independent brewery in an evolving industry. Troy and Sam discuss how they first met and how they worked together back in the day, dig into the recent “merger” between Sawdust City and Lake of Bays Brewing, and much more.

This is a rich, honest, and passionate conversation that blends storytelling, friendship, and a deep love for craft.

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.