Eatdrink #63 January/February 2017

40 www.eatdrink.ca
№ 63 | January/February 2017
BEER MATTERS
beer matters
Brewing Magic in London
Anderson Craft Ales adds to the ambience in Old East Village
By WAYNE NEWTON
What happens when
a new brewery
moves into an old
neighbourhood?
Magic.
Anderson Craft Ales, which
brewed its first batch last
summer, has already become
another good reason to explore
London’s Old East Village.
Located in a former
industrial building on Elias
Street, Anderson was started
with two beer recipes and the
goal of helping to make the
neighbourhood a hip destination.“We would
love to help shape tourism in London by
encouraging people to spend time in the
OEV,” said Aynsley Anderson, who handles
special events and social media. “There are
already great places to eat, grab coffee and
shop. We can help round that out, with the
city’s help, to create an environment with
character and connectivity that people want
to hang out in.”
Aynsley’s brother, Gavin, is the brewmaster.
His brewing journey started more
than a decade ago when he was a 19-year-
old home brewer, and included stops at craft
breweries in Kentucky and the Maritimes.
He has a PhD in microbiology, meaning he’s
well equipped to understand the science
of brewing. Dad Jim is a director of the
company, and has been known to pitch in
with any task from bartending to, as Aynsley
says, “ideas man.”
The first two beers to be launched were
Anderson IPA and Anderson Amber.
Brewing an India Pale Ale is de rigueur in
the craft beer world, but Anderson choose
to go a less-hoppy, more accessible route
for its recipe, compared with many
other craft brewers. Recommended
pairings include big, bold spicy foods
like fajitas. Anderson Amber, with its
notes of caramel and toffee, has broad
appeal as a beer to pair with anything
from seafood to pizza or grilled cheese.
Having tips on which beer to pair
with what food comes in handy on
Friday nights, when Anderson hosts
food trucks at the brewery, featuring
COCOVille Caribbean and a different
guest truck each week.
Continued on page 42 ...
Brewmaster Gavin Anderson behind the bar, the
focus of Anderson Craft Ale’s retail operation.