MOUNTAIN LIFE - Blue Mountains | Winter 2018

WINTER 2018 ML BLUE 101 words :: Nelson Phillips Many of Canada’s ski resorts have storied relationships and histories with beer. Whistler Village has hosted a beer festival for years—and was defined in 2010 by skeleton Olympic champion Jon Montgomery’s post- victory pitcher-chug. Mont Tremblant and the entire province of Quebec love their après scene so much they straight-up ignored that whole Prohibition thing. Our backyard hill, Blue Mountain, caught up last season when they launched Smart Alec Ale taps at the Bullwheel and Jozo’s to celebrate their 75 th season. But après in the Blue Mountain Village is going to get even tastier now that Northwinds Brewhouse has expanded to occupy a piece of millpond-side property at the base of the hill. The crew at Northwinds are renowned for their relentless creation of multiple flagship and seasonal brews. They’re an inventive lot who have launched over 50 styles of beer from their location on the Golden Mile in Collingwood over the last four and a half years. The new Village location is a 16 hectolitre (1600 litre) system versus the 24 hectolitre setup downtown, but what it lacks in overall size, it makes up for in supporting the Northwinds mantra of “more beer, all the time.” “The brewing system at the Village is designed to allow for step-mashing, unlike the Collingwood location,” says Geoff Conway, founder of Northwinds and a graduate of the Institute of Brewing and Distilling in London, UK. “This will enable us to be more creative with some new recipes and have more control over existing recipes. It’ll also allow for more flexibility in brewing styles and reduces labour, due to automated upgrades.” The Village location means a smaller footprint to maximize resources, but what the new digs will lack in footprint, they make up for in elevation. The new brewing system spans three floors in a nearly stacked format, allowing the team to also maximize the basement and mezzanine space for some vessels, equipment, and working areas. Patrons can expect the same transparent Northwinds approach to both brewing and cooking— with their primary brewing and fermenting tanks, and an open centralized kitchen, in plain view. The après culture of Collingwood runs deep with Northwinds, and only stands to increase and mature with their inclusion at the Village. Getting an après seat at the Collingwood location has been a gamble since day one, thanks in part to live entertainment and killer local grub. The attraction to the new location will be the extended mountain experience that’s put Collingwood and Blue on the map. “Additional perks,” as Geoff calls them, will also boost the experience. “We love our skiing and snow culture in this area,” he concludes. “We have strived to create a space and menu that compliment the Village and its well established restaurants, while incorporating many attributes that Northwinds in Collingwood has become known for. We hope the expected consistencies and unique differences between the two locations will be welcomed.” FOOD DRINK NORTHWINDS LAUNCHES NEW VILLAGE LOCATION “The new step-mashing system will enable us to be more creative with some new recipes and have more control over existing recipes.” Northwinds' new brewing system in the Village location spans three floors. (L-R) Founder Geoff Conway, Head Brewer Bryan Egan, Co-owner Jason Mirlocca. MARK O'GRADY