Regional beer and cider makers form Bay of Quinte Craft

Bay of Quinte Craft members Nicolle Bailey, Barley Days, 401 Cider, and Clafeld Cider House, Kori Cembal, Mackinnon Brothers Brewery, Devin and Amelia Huffman, Barn Owl Malt, Vicki Samaras, County Road Brewery, John Graham, Church Key Brewery, Zack Card, Wild Card Brewery, Richard Courneyea, Signal Brewery.

Local craft brewers and cider makers from all over the region have are serving themselves up collectively as Bay of Quinte Craft.

Calling itself the largest rural craft beer and cider region in the nation, the new association includes about two dozen operations from Prince Edward County, Quinte West, Brighton, Napanee, Tyendinaga, Cambellford and Bath. It featues 10 established breweries, eight in development and four established cider makers, two in development.

“It is a million dollar industry for the region, employing a few hundred people,” said Ryan Williams, of QuinteVation, which has hosted events and collaborated with Bay of Quinte Craft in the launch of its new website and association. He notes craft beer accounts for nine per cent of beer sales in Ontario and continues to grow.

“This is a great growing area,” said Vicki Samaras, owner of County Road Brewery in Prince Edward County. “We are one of the newer brewers but have seen the benefits already of working with the entire industry to be the best rural example in Canada.”

Not only is the craft beer and cider made in the region, but many ingredients, incluidng hops, barley and grains are also grown here

The association hopes to host another Bay of Quinte Craft Beer Festival in the fall, in Belleville.