Eatdrink #42 July/August 2013

Cans ready for filling at the new facility
Corriveau, who handles
marketing and sales for
the company, attributes
consumer enthusiasm in
spurring this huge growth.
“Interest in craft beer has
skyrocketed. Consumers
want something different,
a unique taste and different
styles. People are looking for
something that’s not bland
or mainstream, something
that’s new and fresh made
from local ingredients.”
Using local ingredients,
such as hops grown in Elgin
County, is one of Railway’s
secrets to success. Seasonal
produce spurs new brews, like
the Blueberry-Ginseng that was
produced a few summers ago.
Ginseng is a tobacco replacement
crop, so Corriveau expects it to
appear in more recipes.
But growing the number of
offerings isn’t the end game;
ensuring their products are worthy
of their fan base is. “We want to
produce award-winning beers
and attract people to the facility to
promote tourism in this area. Craft
www.eatdrink.ca 29
beer is like wine in that way. People want
to see, taste and smell.”
So far this mission has been successful,
as Railway has consistently picked up
multiple medals at the Speaker’s Craft Beer
Challenge (Ontario Legislative Assembly)
and the Ontario Brewing Awards.
Craft beer aficionados can enjoy
Railway products in 100 restaurants in
Ontario, from Sarnia to Ottawa, (20 are
within the eatdrink readership area), and
pick them up in 200 LCBO stores. There is even one store
in Saskatchewan that has them shipped in. You can
also taste Railway beers at several events this summer,
including The Ontario Renaissance Festival, London
Beer and BBQ Show and the Great Lakes International
Air Show. Or you can tour the plant. It is open seven days
a week, but Corriveau advises that you call ahead to
ensure enough staff are on hand to help you.
Railway is beginning to offer more of their suds in
cans for easy transport to picnics, cottages and boats.
Dead Elephant and Iron Spike Blonde are
already available in cans, soon to be joined
by Canada Southern Draft. The canning
process was previously outsourced but will
now be done onsite.
So it’s a good news day
all around: craft beers
are on the rise; a local
company is growing and
there are more places
to enjoy their great
products.
Railway City Brewing Co.
130 Edward St., St.Thomas
519-631-1881
railwaycitybrewing.com
retail store hours
mon–wed: 10 am–8 pm
thurs & fri: 10 am–10 pm
saturday: 10 am–8 pm
sunday: 11 am–6 pm
JILL ELLIS-WORTHINGTON
is a freelance writer and chief
communicator for Write.On Communication
Services International.
www.writedoton.com