Published by Leonardo Calcagno
Presented x Mondial de la Bière [June 14-18, 2017 – Montréal]
Who are you:
Charles MacLean
Your current job:
Brewermaster / Co – Founder
In which city are you located?
Hanover Ontario
A word to define what kind of worker you are:
Focused
What tools are essential to your life (app, software, etc..)
Hydrometers, Thermometer and Ph meter
What does your office space look like?
Cluttered
How large is the brewery?
5000 Square feet, we can produce 4000 Hl per annum
The reason you started brewing?
I like beer and became passionate about great beer while living and working in England. I then trained as a brewer in London, England.
What was the inspiration behind your brewery?
Brewing great beer and building the company into a successful business.
What are the biggest challenges for you as a brewer in Ontario?
Sales are the biggest challenge with over 200 craft breweries in Ontario there is a lot of competition for a limited amount of taps and shelf space in the LCBO.
What kind of music do you listen to when you are working?
I mostly listen to music after work when I am relaxing with a beer. Our president and VP of sales both collect vinyl and vintage turntables. Two of our offices currently have turntables in them so there is no lack of music being played.
Do you have a way to organize your days to optimize your work?
Prioritize.
What tips would you give to improve productivity?
Have a weekly meeting to get everyone on the team on the same page.
What is the best advice anyone has given you?
There is no such word as can’t.
What is your routine start and end of the day?
Coffee. Work. Beer.
Aside from your computer and your phone, what gadget can you not you go without?
I am not really a gadget person.
3 Ontario craft beers that we must try?
Collingwood ESB, StoneHammer Baltic Porter and Second Wedge IPA
What advice would you give to someone who wants to start a brewery?
Have a solid business plan, a team that can handle brewing, packaging, sales and marketing distribution and the business side as well as a ton of money.
