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.

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. Hear how early inspiration from those that came before him, a nano-brew setup inside Toronto’s Get Well bar, and countless award-winning batches helped shape Brad’s precise, style-driven brewing philosophy.

In this episode:

• The homebrewing roots and early Toronto craft beer days that sparked Brad’s brewing career
• How a tiny two-hectolitre system at Get Well became a launchpad for Clifford Brewing
• The origin story of the now-iconic Clifford Porter
• Finding and transforming a massive East Hamilton industrial space into a thriving taproom
• Why community, consistency, and classic styles are at the heart of Clifford Brewing
• The challenges and realities of running a small, independent brewery today
• The moment Clifford Brewing became Canadian Brewery of the Year

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 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 craft beer world - from her early days at Silversmith Brewery to helping build Fairweather from the ground up (literally, with her handprints in the concrete). She and Troy chat about the Hamilton beer scene, the art of creating memorable beer experiences, and the people behind Fairweather’s signature beers like High Grade, Donna, and Wishing Well.

Expect laughs, behind-the-scenes stories, and plenty of craft beer love as they dive into what makes Fairweather Brewing one of Hamilton's most beloved breweries.

Highlights include:

• How Emma found her way into the beer industry
• The origin and evolution of Fairweather Brewing
• Building a strong brewery culture and community in Hamilton
• Insights on beer education, design, and storytelling in craft brewing
• A sneak peek at Fairweather’s latest releases and what’s next for the team

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 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.