Follow the world famous Sunrise Trail and you’ll run right through Tatamagouche (or Tatta as locals call it). The meeting of the waters is one way to describe the village on the edge of the ocean. Just a short drive from vineyards, year-round ski and biking trails, provincial parks and some of the best seafood on the planet.
Celebrating 10 years in the game, Tatamagouche Brewing Co. is fresh off a silver medal at the Canada Beer Cup. Owners Matt Kenny and Christiane Jost opened the renovated butcher shop in 2014, after finishing university. They’d travelled and visited small craft brew shops in the US and Europe before deciding to take a chance in Nova Scotia.
“It took a little bit of awareness and education,” Kenny said. “People were used to big brands.”
The couple started small, brewing a couple of batches to test the market. They offered a Hippie Dippy Pale Ale and a Butcher Block Red Ale and they sold really well. Tatamagouche – like a lot of small coastal towns in Nova Scotia, with a big population boost starting in the spring. Cottagers from around the area stopped in to try the new brew and started taking a few home to enjoy.
The crowds got bigger as the shoulder seasons expanded through the summer and into the fall. More locals were taking the scenic drive to see what Tatta Brewing was up to, so they expanded their beer offerings.
Next came an IPA, a lager, a strong porter and eventually sours. They learned by doing and hired some of the area’s best staff to make and ferment their tasty and popular beers. The shop expanded, so too did their client base and they now offer up to 42 different beers at any given time during the year.
This includes non-alcoholic varieties. Always experimenting, their master brewers are always looking forward with new ideas, trying new things that may or may not end up on the menu.
“Hiring great people made it easier for us to focus on the fundamentals,” Kenny said. “We were able to work on growing the business and not just working at the business.”
From a small packaging kit and a few cans they’re now looking to expand again. They need more space to store product and to lessen their supply chain issues from the pandemic. They’re trying to focus on buying as much local products as possible, not only to save money on freight but also to stimulate their local economies. They want to see more products available in Nova Scotia so they can keep their money in the province.
“We’re starting to get more locally produced products,” Kenny said. “The ones we can’t, we try to buy in bulk, so space is becoming an issue.”
Keeping It Local, Scaling with Heart
Covid put a lot of things on hold in tourist centres like Tatta but sales at the Brewing Co remained steady. With local pick up and delivery Kenny and his staff saw a growing interest in shopping at home and that included local beer, produce, meat and handcrafted products.
This was enough to sustain the shop and help them keep the momentum they had been building on for the first six years of business.
“Sales stayed pretty consistent during Covid,” Kenny said. “We were able to adapt, learn and reset. Nothing has really been the same since.”
The plan is to expand their patio in the spring and keep up with the growing competition of craft breweries opening all across the province. They have strong name recognition and a reputation to back it up.
The future looks bright for craft beer in Tatamagouche and all across the province. A new focus on local tourism and projects encouraged by the province will help make the area a go-to destination in the future.
With the new patio and over 42 beers readily available in house and at the local NSLC, Kenny is betting on another ten years.
“We’re super fortunate to be in an amazing area,” Kenny said. “With golf, the ski hill moving to year round, the beaches and more interest in growing tourism, we’re ready for what comes next.”
If you’re looking for a great day trip, long weekend adventure or need a couple of weeks to frolic along the North Shore of Nova Scotia, be sure to check out Tatamagouche Brewing Co. They work extremely hard to foster an inclusive atmosphere with exceptional product quality and attention to detail.
Their down to earth approach and comfortable environment will have you coming back after a swim, walk, round of golf or bike ride. You might even find yourself falling in love with a side of Nova Scotia you might not have experienced. Next thing you know, you’ll be a regular coming back every season to enjoy the beer, the people and the culture.
