Brews of the highlands: South River brewery increasing capacity at new facility.

• Author: Kelly, Lindsay
• Position: NORTH BAY

A year after opening their expanded brewery in South River, the owners at Highlander Brew Co. are slowly gaining a greater share in the craft beer market and are eagerly anticipating the launch of their new training program.

Oct. 1 will mark the one-year anniversary of the opening of the new facility, which includes a community event space, and allows Highlander to brew 10 times its previous capacity.

"We are blessed over almost anybody else in the industry inasmuch as we got to design the building from the very basics, whereas most people bought a building and then had to renovate," said Dwayne | Wanner, co-owner at Highlander Brew Co.

"So, it works out for us. We're quite happy with it."

The initiative is a unique association between Highlander and the Village of South River. The community provided the site, and $2 million from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. and FedNor helped pay for the construction of the building. The community owns the facility, and Highlander leases the space from the village.

It includes the brewing room, an event space, which is available to use free of charge, and a shop where visitors can pick up brewery-related souvenirs and local craftworks.

A symbiotic relationship between village and brewery has emerged: the brewery creates much-needed economic development and awareness for the village, while community members help promote the beer and fill the facility with patrons.

"We need the community to help us promote our beer, and they need a space, so it's kind of a tradeoff," Wanner said.

Since it launched, the facility has been abuzz with activity. The first dinner--a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity--raised $10,000 for charity.

Other events have included dinner theatre put on by a local troupe, jazz concerts, business meetings, private parties, art shows, training seminars, and even a performance by a string quartet comprised of members of the North Bay Symphony Orchestra.

The facility is currently working on amending its liquor licence so that it can serve wine in addition to beer, which will allow event organizers to appeal to an even broader audience.

Because Highlander is only brewing at 30 per cent capacity, it's also helping out fellow brewery New Ontario Brewing meet demand.

The main brewing operation has been designed to run with just three people per shift, but it currently employs 10, an increase of eight employees from the former location.

Distribution remains a challenge for the brewery...