FOOD & DRINK
A well-crafted SUCCESS
By Donna Morgan Photos: Upstreet Craft Brewing
Not many businesses on Prince Edward Island have had overnight success quite like local craft beer producers, Upstreet Craft Brewing.
Their 90-person taproom has become a welcoming community hub that attracts hundreds of visitors daily, while their massively popular beers are sold in liquor stores, pubs and restaurants across PEI and throughout the Maritime provinces. Co-founders Mitch Cobb and Mike Hogan still find the success a bit hard to believe. "It was only two years ago that we were wondering if we’d be able to keep the lights on, but the community showed us such an outpouring of support right from the very start and we knew we might be onto something," says Cobb. The two friends both grew up in PEI, but only met back in 2012 and bonded over their love for craft beer. It wasn’t long before they were dreaming big and building a business plan for something that would soon take the Island by storm. In June of 2015, after leaving their successful teaching and engineering careers, they filled the tanks, opened the doors, and gave people the first taste of Upstreet beer.
Mitch and Mike launched with only three products available on tap: a strawberry
that Chef Manuel has crafted his meals with the same careful attention to flavour, freshness and quality that goes into Upstreet's beer. He also strives to find unique ways to use beer in the recipes and includes personally selected beer- pairing suggestions on the menu. All of this hard work to create a truly one- of-a-kind culinary experience has not gone unnoticed. In just two short years, the company has grown from eight employees to 34, beer production has nearly tripled, and the taproom has become a bustling neighbourhood watering hole that is enjoyed by people of all ages. In addition to growing their successful business, Mitch and Mike also aim to make a positive impact in their community. “We decided very early on that we would try to do more than just make great beer. This community is important to us, and we want help make it stronger in any way we can,” says Mitch.
rhubarb wheat beer known as Rhuby Social, an American pale ale named Do-Gooder, and the company’s most popular beer: Commons, a crisp and refreshing Czech pilsner that has helped to turn many Islanders onto craft beer for the first time. They’ve since been busy brewing, creating more than a dozen unique and accessible beers that have helped the company become a household name. When you visit their taproom at 41 Allen Street in Charlottetown, you can now find five flagship beers, as well as a handful of seasonal releases and experimental small- batch beers rotating regularly. Beer isn’t the only thing they have perfected; the brewery also works hard to create a delicious culinary menu that features locally-sourced ingredients. Whether you are looking for plates that are good for sharing such as charcuterie and nachos, or hearty comfort foods such as their daily mac & cheese creations, you can trust
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pei-living.ca Summer 2017
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