Between Two Fermenters

Great Lakes Brewery
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Ever wondered what life is really like in the craft beer industry? Whether you're a seasoned connoisseur, a homebrewing enthusiast, into Ontario beer history, or just someone who enjoys some good ol' breezy beer banter, Between Two Fermenters is your go-to deep dive for all things beer from an insider perspective. So, grab a #FreshGLB, kick back, and join us as we share stories, spill the beans on new releases and brewery updates, and chat with other industry folk about the world of making (and drinking) beer.

  1. Matt Tompkins & Adam Shier, True History Brewing

    5d ago

    Matt Tompkins & Adam Shier, True History Brewing

    Some places earn their reputation one pint at a time, and True History Brewing on St. Clair West (Toronto) is exactly that kind of place. Co-founders Matt Tompkins and Adam Shier have quietly built one of the most singular brewery experiences in the city - rooted in German and Czech lager tradition, housed in a soaring former 1920s cinema and designed around one simple idea: make you want to stay for the “whole shift.” No gimmicks, no province-wide retail push. Just beautifully made pilsners, Helles, and lagers, and a space worth settling into.  In this one, Troy sits down with Matt and Adam for their first in-person meeting and gets into the full story - from high school friends to contract brewing at Junction Brewery, to building a taproom they designed themselves, wallpaper and all. They cover their lager philosophy, the glassware obsession, the evolution of their kitchen, and their honest take on what it actually takes to build something genuinely special in this city.  What's in this episode:  How Matt went from film to beer via a Belgian brewing documentary, and how Adam quit private equity to home brew "Breaking Bad style" The contract brewing years at Junction Craft — what worked, what didn't, and why they eventually had to find their own space Finding the St. Clair West location, the hidden 20-foot ceiling discovery, and designing the space themselves Why Germany changed everything for Adam and how that shaped True History's identity Their lager philosophy — the diversity of styles, the obsession with quality, and why they think there's more variation in lager than IPA The glassware program and why they're not changing it anytime soon Handing off the kitchen and what Beisel's Viennese bistro food program has become Their candid take on the LCBO, expansion, and what's next for True History  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.

    1h 41m
  2. Tash Sundup, Bryden’s on Bloor

    May 26

    Tash Sundup, Bryden’s on Bloor

    Tash Sundup has been quietly running one of Toronto's best craft beer pubs for over 25 years, and nobody's ever really told his story. The visor-wearing, sandal-loving, pug-admiring owner of Bryden's on Bloor sits down with Troy to talk about how a philosophy major from York University accidentally became one of the most respected licensees in Ontario's craft beer community.   From macro taps and Moosehead-loyal regulars to 17 taps of rotating Ontario craft, Tash walks us through what it takes to build a true neighbourhood third place. They dig into managing beer reps, the craft beer transition from the licensee side, the infamous Saloon League road rash incident, the decor and vibe at the pub, and why GLB Premium Lager will always be "Horseshoe" at Bryden's.  What's in this episode:  How a retired fireman convinced Tash to take over the pub The craft pivot: from Keith's, Coors, and Stella to 17 taps of local Ontario craft Tap selection philosophy, rep management, and why Guinness had to go What a couch meant to some regulars The importance of regulars and creating a place where people want to go Shared history with GLB: Lackey, industry holiday parties, and a lot of Sunnyside  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.

    1h 14m
  3. Dan Silva, The Glassman

    May 12

    Dan Silva, The Glassman

    Most people never think twice about the glass in their hand, or the one they're "taking" from their local pub. Dan Silva does - and then he shows up unannounced with 24 custom ones to prove it. In this episode of B2F, Troy sits down with Dan Silva, Co-Owner and VP of Sales & Procurement at Zenan Glass - Canada's largest glassware and ceramics decorator for the beverage and food service industry. Dan came up through nearly 11 years at PepsiCo before landing at Zenan in 2021, and the CPG discipline he brought with him shows. But what's really driven Zenan's growth under his watch isn't systems or scale - it's showing up. At trade shows, at taprooms, at anniversary parties and beer launches - just because - building relationships one pint at a time. Turning a supplier relationship into something breweries actually enjoy. It's the kind of unreasonable hospitality that sticks with you. Just ask Troy and the GLB team. What's in this episode: How Dan and his partner Luke transformed Zenan from a simple transactional vendor to true industry partnerWhy showing up - literally - has been their biggest growth driverThe full ordering experience: what happens when a brewery calls, from first conversation to finished glassServing everyone from multinational brewers to a two-person startup - and why small accounts are more funWhat breweries get wrong about glassware (and what the good ones get very right)Glassware as a brand touchpoint: why the glass in a customer's hand is part of your marketing budgetThank 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.

    1h 11m
  4. Mike Laba & Chris Goddard, The Long Game

    Apr 28

    Mike Laba & Chris Goddard, The Long Game

    In this episode, Troy sits down with Mike Laba and Chris Goddard - co-founders of Craft Brand Co., and the new owners of Blackburn Beer Company in Niagara Falls. Two of Ontario craft beer's most restless minds, Mike and Chris have spent the better part of two decades putting together two of the more interesting careers in the Canadian beer industry.  They get into their origin stories on opposite ends of the Ontario craft scene, the back-of-napkin business plan that became Craft Brand Co., the legendary Michigan road trip that made it real, and the Brunswick Bierworks chapter that helped reshape what co-production could look like in this province. And they talk about what's next - Blackburn Beer Company in Niagara Falls, and a vision that goes well beyond just making great beer.  What's in this episode:  Mike and Chris's origin stories - from the taproom at Brick Brewery (Mike) and the Prince of Wales Theatre (Chris) to the forefront of Ontario craft How Craft Brand Co. was born, and the Michigan road trip that made it real The brands that worked, the ones that didn't, and what they learned from both Brunswick Bierworks - how it grew and why they moved on The leap to Blackburn Beer Company and the vision behind it What nearly 20 years of partnership actually looks like in practice

    1h 16m
  5. Chris Conway, From Here to There

    Apr 14

    Chris Conway, From Here to There

    In this episode, Troy sits down with Chris Conway, General Manager of Old Credit Brewing Co. in Port Credit, a guy who traded in a PhD for a one-barrel brew system in a gastropub kitchen and never looked back. With stints co-founding Folly Brewpub in Toronto and building Landwash Brewery into one of Newfoundland’s fastest growing craft breweries, Chris is a builder and an operator. Someone who understands the romanticism of craft beer but also the hard math of making it work. And he's landed at exactly the kind of place where that blend of skills is needed most.  They get into Chris's unconventional path from St. John's to U of T to the tap handles of Port Credit, what it actually looked like to build a brewery from scratch in Newfoundland before the craft wave hit, and what drew him to a 32-year-old brewery that was quietly doing the craft thing before craft was cool.   What's in this episode:  Chris's origin story - from St. John's homebrew obsession to Toronto's emerging craft scene The Folly Brewpub chapter and everything farmhouse-style Why he left Toronto to co-found Landwash Brewery in Newfoundland - and how he saw the craft explosion coming Building Landwash into one of Atlantic Canada's most respected independent operations What he walked into at Old Credit, and the philosophy behind "thoughtful modernization" The history of Old Credit — 30+ years, one family, and a lot of 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.

    1h 23m
  6. Dan "The Man" Johnston, Side Launch Brewery

    Mar 31

    Dan "The Man" Johnston, Side Launch Brewery

    In this episode, Troy sits down with Dan Johnston, VP of Sales at Equals and the man driving the bus at Collingwood's Side Launch Brewing Co. Known for his infectious energy, deep community roots, and a career that has taken him from the bars of Melbourne to the boardrooms of cannabis and back again to craft beer, Dan is one of Ontario's most recognizable faces in the industry - and one of its most enthusiastic advocates.   They get into Dan's winding road through hospitality in Australia, his formative years at Collective Arts, the highs and hard lessons of scaling a brand from 2,000 to 45,000 hectoliters, and what drew him north to Collingwood and Side Launch. It's a conversation about community, relationships, the grind of beer sales, and what it really means to wear a brand on your sleeve.  What's in this episode:  Dan's origin story - from Georgetown to Melbourne to craft beer sales His years at Collective Arts and what he took away from that chapter The cannabis detour, and why beer always called him back The history of Side Launch Brewing from founding to Equals ownership The "Built to Launch" rebrand and what it means for the brand's future What the day-to-day of leading beer sales actually looks like Industry headwinds, cautious optimism, and advice for anyone looking to break in  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.

    1h 20m
  7. Alex Diamandas, Hop Whisperer

    Mar 24

    Alex Diamandas, Hop Whisperer

    In this episode, Troy sits down with Alex Diamandas, Regional Sales Manager at Yakima Chief Hops (YCH), to explore the world behind one of beer’s most important ingredients: hops. From collaborations like Continental Rift and Karma Cryo IPA to experimental Flight Series releases, GLB has worked closely with YCH over the years and this conversation pulls back the curtain on how those hops go from field to glass.    Alex shares his journey from microbiology labs and homebrewing to the brewhouse and eventually into the global hop supply chain. They talk about what YCH actually does, how the hop industry operates at scale, and why hops have become such a defining force in modern craft beer. Along the way, they get into hop varieties, Cryo and extract products, and how brewers today approach building hop-forward beers with more intention than ever before.    What’s in this episode:  The role Yakima Chief Hops plays in the global beer industry How hops are grown, processed, and turned into pellets, Cryo, and extracts Alex’s path from science and homebrewing into brewing and hop sales A breakdown of popular hop varieties like Citra, Mosaic, and Simcoe What hop selection in Yakima looks like and why brewers travel there every year Insights into new hop development and the future of hop innovation 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.

    1h 19m
  8. Jim Brickman – Craft Beer Pioneer

    Mar 10

    Jim Brickman – Craft Beer Pioneer

    In this episode of Between Two Fermenters, Troy sits down with a true pioneer of Ontario craft beer: Jim Brickman, founder of Brick Brewing. Long before hazy IPAs, tall cans, and hundreds of Ontario breweries, Jim took a risk on a simple idea - that Canadians might want something different from the handful of macro lagers dominating the market. In 1984, he opened Ontario’s first modern post-Prohibition craft brewery, helping spark the movement that would eventually reshape Canadian beer.   Jim shares the story behind Brick Brewing’s early days, from traveling the world researching breweries to convincing skeptical bankers that a small independent brewery could survive in a market ruled by giants. We talk about building a brewery from scratch, the realities of launching a new beer category, how those early bets helped create the craft scene we know today, and what his chapter will read in the history books.   What’s in this episode:  The start of the craft beer movement How European beer culture inspired Jim to start a brewery in Canada Convincing banks to fund a brewery competing against the “Big Three” Opening Brick Brewing in 1984 and selling out the first batch Early Brick beers like Brick Premium Lager, Red Baron, and Amber Taking Brick Brewing public and raising money to grow Behind-the-scenes stories from the early days of Canadian craft brewing  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.

    2h 5m
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About

Ever wondered what life is really like in the craft beer industry? Whether you're a seasoned connoisseur, a homebrewing enthusiast, into Ontario beer history, or just someone who enjoys some good ol' breezy beer banter, Between Two Fermenters is your go-to deep dive for all things beer from an insider perspective. So, grab a #FreshGLB, kick back, and join us as we share stories, spill the beans on new releases and brewery updates, and chat with other industry folk about the world of making (and drinking) beer.

Information

  • Creator
    Great Lakes Brewery
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    66
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Great Lakes Brewery
  • Show Website
    Between Two Fermenters

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