Saltbox Brewery Announces $25,000 Research Grant

(Mahone Bay, NS) - Acadia University and Saltbox Brewery are continuing their partnership on a project to develop indigenous yeast strains suitable for making truly local beer. The amount of the research grant made by Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI) is $25,000 to carry forward and further the work already done by the Saltbox/Acadia partnership.

Dr. Russell Easy and Dr. Allison Walker, Associate Professors of Biology at Acadia are leading the project for the University. Patrick Jardine, Director of Operations for Saltbox, is leading the collaboration for the Mahone Bay Brewery.

Mr. Jardine said, “We have made substantial progress in establishing ourselves as a serious craft brewery and research of this kind where we are the corporate sponsor adds to our growing expertise. We already make Blue Nose 1850, a beer made entirely with Lunenburg County hops. Now we can add local yeast strains to our brews to come up with products more rooted in the Lunenburg agricultural community” 

Dr. Easy of Acadia said “This is exciting news for us and we are very happy to continue this work with Saltbox. Research with a distinctly local focus reinforces the ties between the University and the community. It is very encouraging to have NSBI support for this work.”

For more information contact: Dr. Russell Easy Dept. of Biology Acadia University russell.easy@acadiau.ca, 902-585-1156

Saltbox Brewery Announces Joint Research with Acadia University

Photo from Saltbox Brewery 

(Mahone Bay, NS) - Saltbox Brewery announced a joint research project with Acadia University. The brewery and the Department of Biology at Acadia University have received a research and innovation grant from Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI) to investigate the creation of specialized yeast strains to make unique Nova Scotia craft beers.
Patrick Jardine, Director of Operations at the Brewery, said “ Research and development projects of this kind are an important part of the ‘craft’ in craft beer making . We feel honoured to have been selected to partner with Acadia University in work which could lead to unique yeast strains to make special Nova Scotia branded craft beers. It is an important step in our journey to be among the leaders in specialized beer production in our province”. Jardine also said that the Brewery intends to share this research with other Nova Scotia breweries through the Craft Brewers Association of Nova Scotia.
They will be looking for wild yeast on the South Shore collecting in Blue Rocks, Stonehurst, Ross Farm, Ovens, Peggy's Cove and more. 

Saltbox Brewing Releases Limited Edition Three Churches Cans

(Mahone Bay, NS) - On Friday, November 10th at 6 PM Saltbox Brewing will be releasing their limited edition Three Churches can. Saltbox says it is "Filled with Holy Mackerel [Pale Ale] of course. A portion of all proceeds will be given to the Three Churches Foundation, that helps keep the iconic three churches on the Mahone Bay waterfront picturesque as well as the streetscape.

Fog Bank rolls in to Saltbox Brewing

(Mahone Bay, NS) - Fog Bank barrel-aged stout will be released this week at Saltbox Brewing. Their Old Foundry Stout was nurtured for five months in Ironworks Distillery rum barrels to impart notes from the wood like vanilla and dark fruit, with a slightly higher alcohol content (9.0% ABV) to provide a smooth, mellow finish.  

Saltbox Brewing to open in Mahone Bay NS

(Mahone Bay, NS) - The sleepy seaside town of Mahone Bay, famous for its three churches, festivals and beautiful scenery, will be welcoming Saltbox Brewing Company later this year.

Lunenburg County residents and 'founders' Patrick Jardine, Jane McLoughlin, George Anderson and Andrew Tanner had the desire to open a brewery for some time now, but the stars never aligned. Andrew Tanner says " We met each other in the fall and decided to go for it. We wanted the brewery to be community based and a place where people could drop in and feel at home. Mahone Bay seemed like a natural fit and the site is perfect". 

They are building a 10 BBL brewhouse and intend to sell kegs, growlers, grunters and bottles. Building at a former service station at 363 Main Street, they are splitting the two bays with one side being the brewhouse and the other a taproom for people to socialize. The front corner will have a retail space where they will sell growlers and merchandise, including kegs for parties.

The brewery have been actively meeting with pubs and restaurants in Lunenburg County and say the support from them to put Saltbox's beers on their menus is phenomenal. Although still finalizing their first releases they will probably start with an IPA, a pale ale and a wheat beer. Look for seasonals coming and they intend to try their hand at cider using burgandy apples.

Saltbox is extremely thankful for all of the community support they have received. They also add that the guys at Good Robot Brewing are their heroes and have been a tremendous resource. Mr Tanner said they have also had support from Boxing Rock Brewing, Hell Bay Brewing and Tatamagouche Brewing. Nova Scotia craft brewers have been so willing to share and assist.

Mr. Tanner added  that "We just want to product great beer and offer a great experience that the community is proud of. We want tourists to feel like they have experienced Lunenburg County hospitality at its' best and to want to come back soon." 

The planned opening is summer 2016 but so much depends on renovations and equipment delivery a firm date is impossible to nail down. Follow the Maritime Beer Report and I will make sure you get all the details