New brew headed into former Peg Beer location Nonsuch is the latest label to open in Winnipeg's ebb-and-flow micro-brewery marketplace By: Ben MacPhee-Sigurdson and Nick Martin Posted: 12:51 PM CDT Tuesday, Jun. 5, 2018 Last Modified: 4:34 PM CDT Wednesday, Jun. 6, 2018 Updates

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A local micro-brewery with a name that tips its hat to the replica 17th-century fur-trading ship located at the Manitoba Museum has announced it’s dropping anchor in the Exchange District.

Nonsuch Brewing Co. announced in a blog post Tuesday it will be taking over the space at 125 Pacific Ave. formerly occupied by brewpub Peg Beer Co.

It’s another small triumph for a craft brewing industry that’s slowly grown, fallen back, and grown again to 13 breweries from two since 2015, said John Heim, president of the Manitoba Brewers Association.

“We’re all entrepreneurs,” said Heim, also the president of Torque Brewing Co., adding, with a laugh, they all get up each morning with a feeling of fear in the pits of their stomachs.

“The movement is here — it’s not going to happen overnight.”

Heim said eyes lit up and some small brewers drew up their business plans when the then-NDP government promised $5 million in low-interest loans, late in 2015.

“I don’t know if it was a Hail Mary,” said Heim. However, the brewery/brew pub loans were among hundreds of millions of dollars the NDP promised before the 2016 Manitoba election that disappeared when the Conservatives led by Premier Brian Pallister took office.

“That program came and went when the government transitioned. We were told it was unceremoniously cancelled,” Heim said, noting, though, that the provincial government did extend the hours and allow expanded seating capacity in tap rooms.

In the years since, there’s been no government financial assistance for small brewers, who make up $15 million of a $350-million Manitoba market.

“None whatsoever — radio silence from the government,” Heim said.

David von Meyenfeldt (press secretary to Growth, Enterprise and Trade Minister Blaine Pedersen) begged to differ.

“While we are prohibited from sharing individual taxpayer information, since May 2016, three companies in the craft brewing industry (including brew pubs and craft brewers with a tap room) have accessed the Small Business Venture Capital Tax Credit, helping them raise $1.5 million in equity,” von Meyenfeldt said.

He said the provincial government is raising the income limit on the small-business tax rate to $500,000 from $450,000, and has tax credits small business can use, including green energy equipment and paid work experience. There is also a working group reporting July 1 on how to enhance free trade in alcohol within Canada, von Meyenfeldt said.

Nevertheless, NDP sport, culture and heritage critic Flor Marcelino took a shot Tuesday.

“Craft beer is becoming increasingly popular in Manitoba. New breweries were popping up regularly, thanks in part to our former NDP government’s move to license taprooms and establish a loan program for new producers,” she said. “We were disappointed to see the Pallister government cancel that loan program without warning or consultation after taking office.

“Cuts like these discourage craft brewers from investing in Manitoba, which means less jobs and opportunities. Manitobans deserve a government that invests in local beer and commits to growing our province instead of forcing taps to run dry.”

Nonsuch has been brewing its Belgian-style beer at Barn Hammer Brewing Co. (595 Wall St.) since 2017, while searching for a space of its own.

“This summer is dedicated to developing the space… we’ll begin by configuring our brewing equipment and increasing production. With the additional capacity, we’ll be able to craft significantly more of our flagship beers and develop new products,” the company’s blog post says.

A tap room at the micro-brewery’s new site is slated to open in the fall.

Nonsuch picked up a pair of silver medals at the Canadian Brewing Awards last month in Halifax — one for its Belgian Strong, as well as for the Lune Noire black saison, a collaboration with Barn Hammer. The brewery is the project of president Matthew Sabourin, vice-president Ben Myers, head brewer Mark Borowski and brand manager Tyler Johnston.

After opening in April 2016, as part of the first wave of local craft breweries and brew pubs, Peg Beer Co. abruptly closed its doors in February. Kilter Brewing, currently brewing at One Great City Brewing Co. on Ness Avenue, last month saw its lease fall through on a Sherbrook Street space.

ben.macphee-sigurdson@freepress.mb.ca

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca