Moose Jaw’s first microbrewery will operate out of a west-end warehouse, but the idea to brew suds initially began as a hobby in the garage of the company’s founders.
Terry Zwarich began brewing his own beer about 15 years ago using kits. When he made the switch to brewing with actual grains, brothers Cody and Cory Schulze came on board. Cody knew Zwarich through mutual friends, while Cory met him through work.
They all came to enjoy the experience and kept boasting about how good they were at making the delectable ambrosia. The three eventually realized they should brew their own beer full-time. They also realized making beer on a larger scale would not be feasible in the garage and they would need a bigger location.
“We’re both pretty enthusiastic (about this) … . We really enjoy consuming it and making it (while) Terry enjoys inventing new recipes and is extremely well-versed with the chemistry behind it,” Cory, 29, explained recently.
Zwarich is an environmental technician with an area potash mine, while Cory is an electrician and Cody is a carpenter.
The three entrepreneurs started the ball rolling two years ago to find a space to make and sell their beer. Last year they found a suite to lease in a warehouse on Stadacona Street West and began to make renovations. While Zwarich looked after the paperwork, procedures and legal policies, the Schulze brothers began to build the space.
“It saved us a lot of money doing it ourselves, but there were a lot of long days,” said Cody, 35.
The trio initially wanted to start small, but as more equipment became available and more space was required, the project snowballed into a bigger start-up, added Cory. They were lucky to find warehouse space and to make it their own.
Once Zwarich returns from overseas, the trio expects to open the Moose Jaw Brewing Company in the spring. The brothers say they could shoot for a soft opening first to determine what demand is like compared to how much they can initially supply.
“The original (opening) date was six months ago,” chuckled Cody.
They don’t intend to use their brewing location as a place to drink — customers can purchase a growler there, though — but instead would create the suds there and then sell it in kegs to businesses. So far Bobby’s Place and Bugsy’s Irish Pub have said they would sell the microbrewery’s barley-based beer.
“We want to (first) get the flavours and the brand out there to everybody,” said Cory. This includes four mainstay beers — a double IPA, a lager, a brown and a red — and a seasonal choice.
The business has its manufacturer’s permit, while the brothers are 90-per-cent confident they have met all the municipal and provincial requirements. They are waiting for the final okay from the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) before they begin brewing since they don’t want to break any rules.
Cory joked that they could be charged with bootlegging offences if they don’t have the official green light.
They are excited to open a microbrewery and think it’s a big deal, Cory said. With a laugh, he noted that while they have nothing against their jobs, if making beer became their permanent jobs, it would be great since they would also be able to work for themselves.
While the Moose Jaw Brewing Company will be the first microbrewery in town, there have been quiet — but unconfirmed — rumblings of similar businesses opening, said Cory. The brothers have spoken with similar business owners in Regina and Saskatoon and found the microbrewing community to be helpful.
The brothers say they are thrilled with the space they have, especially since everything can be washed with a pressure hose. While they have no social media presence yet, that will occur around their opening. They also have big plans for future renovations to their building — a patio on the front for patrons to drink, perhaps — but for now, they will continue to work toward their launch date.
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