Cheers to manitoba breweries

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This article was published 07/07/2022 (900 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

If you’re a true zythophile, or a beer-lover, you don’t have to search far to discover great local brews.

Brazen Hall Kitchen and Brewery flowed from the vision of president Kristján Kristjánsson, along with managing partner Kris Kopansky and head brewer Jeremy Wells.

In 2017, the bustling business launched on Pembina Highway at the former site of the iconic Round Table Restaurant, which Kristjánsson’s father Thrainn had opened and operated. Two years later, the brewery expanded and Brazen Brewing Co. was born. Assistant brewer Joshua Hodges joined the team in 2020.

With a focus on a small portfolio of core products, Brazen Hall strives to use high-quality local ingredients, including prairie hops and grains. They’ve added a canning line, and their products are now available in local restaurants, vendors and Liquor Marts.

Popular picks include a standard ale called Steel Cut Blonde, as well as an Amber Ale with its slightly roasted nutty chocolate character.

They also recently teamed up with Chris Hiebert from Quality Inn Craft Beer Store to create Berry Berzerker, an imperial sour ale augmented with saskatoons and blackberries. As well, a fresh hop ale called Dragon’s Bane features hops picked locally by the brewers.

Another top choice is Haze Bomb!, a pale ale introduced at IG Field at the Blue Bombers’ home opener on Aug. 5 and now available at many Liquor Marts and select beer vendors.

“We are huge Bomber fans. We have season tickets, we host the players regularly, we fly the flag and we play the games inside. When we heard that the Bombers were negotiating a new beer contract with Molson, we reached out to the Bomber group and asked to be a part of any potential local brewery discussion. There was a lot of back and forth and deep conversations, but we are very happy to have won the contract alongside Trans Canada Brewing,” Kristjánsson says.

“In Manitoba, we have over 13 local breweries pumping out some great brews.”
– Brazen Hall president Kristján Kristjánsson

“It was beyond time for Manitoba to have local craft beer available at large sporting events. Hopefully it can only get bigger. In Manitoba, we have over 13 local breweries pumping out some great brews. The Bomber crew also loved our burgers so much they asked us to create one called the Brazen Butter Burger for the stadium, which is a massive hit.”

Offering another option at Bombers’ games, Trans Canada Brewing Company beer is now also available for purchase.

“It has been a lot of fun being a part of people’s experience at IG Field this season,” says marketing lead Anya Nazeravich.

“Nothing goes better with football than a nice cold beer. This has been an awesome experience for us and it’s great to see that the fans are able to enjoy local craft beer at a great local event.”

Located in the heart of Winnipeg’s southwest corner, the company’s brewery, taproom and store are 100 per cent independent and Manitoba-owned.

“We offer a wide array of beer styles with the goal to appeal to both casual beer drinkers and seasoned connoisseurs alike,” Nazeravich says.

“All Trans Canada Brewing Company beers are developed, brewed and packaged in-house with a quality-first approach. We have just celebrated our fourth anniversary and look forward to continuing to create more exciting and tasty beers for you to enjoy in the years to come.”

Some of TCB’s popular products include the best-selling Bluebeary Ale, as well as Portager Bohemian Pilsner, Lamp Lighter Amber Ale and Arrow IPA. For a different taste, County Sours are a little more tart and fruity but not overpowering.

“We just launched our newest brand, Limited Edition, a reinvention of our previously named Small Batch Series. It represents a variety of traditional beers and holds a space for our team to use our research and development system and thoroughly test our beers in our lab to work on innovation and perfect recipes,” Nazeravich says.

“A key feature is that these brews are not guaranteed to come back. In fact, many times they are only one-offs. With the Limited Edition Series, we are not reinventing the wheel, just improving it.”

“All Trans Canada Brewing Company beers are developed, brewed and packaged in-house with a quality-first approach.”
– Anya Nazeravich, marketing lead
Trans Canada Brewing Company

Looking ahead, the TCB team looks forward to starting its buyouts in the taproom for larger events as well as brewery tours. In the meantime, the revamped function room, known as The Mezzanine, has started filling up with various events for guests.

Besides beer, Trans Canada Brewing Company remains well-known for its mouth-watering stone-oven pizzas.

“In addition to our pizzas, we also have a variety of shareables like sliders, tacos and polenta fries, as well as salads,” Nazeravich says.

“We handpick the highest quality ingredients and choose the freshest produce to craft delicious dishes. Our team strives to source local ingredients when seasonally available.”

Likewise, Brazen Hall boasts award-winning dishes to tempt the tastebuds.

“In our short history we have won Le Burger Week three times, are in the Top 50 best burger places in Canada, and have won over 30 food and beer awards since opening in March 2017,” Kristjánsson says.

“Our 16-hour slow-smoked brisket is a huge favourite among our customers. We offer a full menu of globally inspired foods including salads, sandwiches, world-class burgers, slow-smoked meats, fish, bowls and more. We also have a great selection of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free items on our menu. Our flavours and service reflects ‘living brazenly.’”