Educating consumers about the prized local barley is an intentional effort for the brewery. “Our local barley is the best in the world, but we have to work harder to tell that story. Everyone understands that you can go to the farmer’s market and grab a tomato and that’s a local product. It’s not as obvious when you grab a pint glass.” Buying local barley and using other local resources means sales benefit local farmers and the dollars stay in the community. “There are all kinds of economic reasons to keep it local. And it’s fresh. It just fits with what we’re trying to do,” said Gron. The brewery works with Origin Malting in Strath- more and Country Malt in Calgary. “Logistically, it works. If we’re brewing tomorrow, we just run and grab that product today. From a lean man- ufacturing perspective, it makes more sense than shipping product halfway around the world, stockpiling it here in the warehouse and paying to do that.”
“The craft brew industry is a tight knit group. We did a coop brew with High River Brewing and we’re looking to do one with Origin out of Strath- more this year.” Beer festivals, where people who love beer can sample different styles and interact with the brewers behind the beer, are also important events for the brewery. “It’s important for the industry and for the city. It gets people excited about beer for a weekend,” said Gron. Township 24 participates in the well-attended beer festivals in Calgary and Edmonton, as well as smaller festivals. “We can get in front of more people in a weekend than we could all year in our taproom. It’s a big spectacular event and it’s fun to be part of. We also head up to Banff Craft Beer Festival for our wrap up for the year. It’s a smaller, more intimate affair. We can sit down for a beer with the other brewers and talk about the year you have had.”
“Craft maltsters have some unique offerings as well. It gives us more flexibility in what we can produce with it,” said Gron. Those unique offerings have paid off for the brewery. After only two years, the brewery has picked up impressive awards. In 2019, Township 24 Brewery received a bronze medal for the Meridian Black Lager brew in the Amber or Dark Lager at the Canadian International Beer Awards. Also, in 2019, both the Meridian Black Lager and the Range 28 Vienna Blonde won Judges Selection for the Alberta Beverage Awards. Recently, the Chestermere Chamber of Commerce awarded the brewery the Retail Excellence Award for 2019. The collaborative spirit and camaraderie of the craft brew industry is part of what Gron was looking for.
Community involvement is a commitment for Township 24. Chestermere is largely a commuter town, but locals have built a sense of community around the brewery. During the winter, the brewery clien - tele is mostly local. In the summer, a cycling path from Calgary brings people on bikes in from the city. Giving back also connects the brewery to the community. Township 24 provides silent auction items for youth sports and other groups. The brewery participates in Canada Day and other local festivities and will be running a beer garden for an outdoor boxing event in June. “We do music nights, often by donations for the local or veteran’s food banks or the veteran’s housing program. It’s about giving back and being part of the community,” said Gron. Township 24 beers can be found in provincial Sobey’s grocery stores as well as co-ops and the Liquor Depot in the Calgary area and are available through the government warehouse system anywhere in the province. The brewery also has a direct delivery network in the southern Alberta area.
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JUNE 2020 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE
SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • JUNE 2020
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