The shovel is in the ground at brewery

Posted February 28, 2013

Nearly five years after first planning to enlarge its facility, Creemore Springs Brewery is finally going ahead with its expansion.

Last Friday saw Clearview Township Mayor Ken Ferguson turn the ceremonial first piece of sod, as Creemore Springs General Manager Dave Clarke, Cowden Woods Design Builders President Anita Stacey, Clearview Township Councillor Thom Paterson, Creemore Springs Maintenance Electrician John Stephenson, Creemore Springs Vice President of Production and Brewmaster Gordon Fuller, Creemore Springs Maintenance Manager Gary Melenhorst, Clearview Township Deputy Mayor Alicia Savage and Six Pints Specialty Beer Company President Ian Freedman looked on.

After the sod was turned at Creemore Springs Brewery last Friday, the company hosted a get-together inside the brewery’s warehouse. Fuller took the microphone first, thanking the members of Clearview Council, Township staff, the Ministry of the Environment, Creemore Springs project manager Geoff Davies (who came onboard last year), and the brewery’s neighbours, including Paul Vorstermans and Austin and Christine Boake, who appealed the brewery’s original application to the Ontario Municipal Board.

“What you’re going to see develop here over the next three years or so wouldn’t be as aesthetically pleasing or as functional without the constructive criticism we got from the people in the community,” said Fuller.

Also speaking was Six Pints Specialty Beer Company president Freedman and Mayor Ferguson, who said he’d been excited throughout the whole process. “I never wanted to see this place leave Creemore’s main street, because if you did, I don’t think you’d be able to sell the beer,” he said.