Microbreweries and Brewpubs: The latest craze has hit Windsor.

Microbreweries and Brew-pubs are becoming more and more popular.  People are searching for beer and ales of a different flavour and unique to the region.  Something different and often more flavourable compared to beer that is mass produced.  They prefer beer that is fresh and hasn't sat around in bottles, for who knows how long.  Even with expiry dates, it is not as fresh!

A Microbrewery or a Craft Brewery produce smaller amounts of beer.  They are independently owned and operated and very small compared to corporate breweries.  They are known for their quality, unique flavours and brewing techniques.  Each owner puts a lot of effort in their processing to make themselves stand out from the rest.

Micro-brewing began in the United Kingdom in the 1970's.  Artisan brewing had existed in European countries for centuries and eventually spread to other countries.  When the breweries began to expand production and distribution, they made deals with pubs, restaurants and other establishments that sold alcohol to showcase their local beer and ales.  The number of brewpubs, restaurants and pub houses that brew and sell there products on their own premises has been rising rapidly.

The popular Walkerville Brewery was founded by Hiram Walker in 1890.  In 2012, it became what it is today.  This brewery was one of the first to start the trend of brew-pubs.  Motor Burger was the first restaurant in Windsor to stop the sales of domestic beer and sell only their product under the name of Motor Craft Ales.  A couple of other breweries in the area are Midian Brewing and Jack's Gastropub in Kingsville.  All of which are more like small, cozy, Mom and Pop businesses with all focus on creating a quality beer for the people.

Owners believe in adding more breweries in the region to keep up the "keep it local" movement. Properties in Windsor are fairly cheap and breweries that are already in operation encourage other business people to become part of the trend.  The more there are, the larger the variety of beer and ales there is.  It's job creation, adds to the economy and gives Windsor something fresh and unique to be known for, even though, microbreweries are becoming a thing everywhere.

In 2013, the Windsor Craft Beer Festival was founded.  Something that beer lovers in Windsor-Essex can call their own and enjoy.  The festival, in it's first year, attracted many that live outside of the Windsor-Essex region.  This year, organizers are hopeful that the number of attendees will be higher.  New breweries have been developed and are operating throughout the city since last year.  More people have come to like the idea of having something a bit different to do.  Each brewery will have it's own signature beer and will be more than happy to serve it to you!  You will find some of Ontario's best craft brews and great food from some of the regions best restaurants and pubs.

This year's Windsor Craft Beer Festival will be held in Historic Olde Walkerville. For two days, October 17 (5:00pm to 10:30pm) and Saturday October 18 (3:00pm-10:30pm).  Times subject to change.

More information can be found at windsorbeerfestival.com

Written By:  Mike Crawford

Windsor Ontario and the Prohibition

You've heard of the Prohibition in the United States but, do you know about Windsor's role in it?  It took effect in January of 1920.  This Act was to ban the sales, consumption and maufacturing of alcohol.  Federal, state and local authorities were to enforce the prohibition of alcohol.  In Michigan, churches, businesses and community leaders had been working to ban alcohol since 1852.  This ban was put in place with the hopes of reducing crime, improve family life and increase employee productivity.  With all of this, came the introduction of smuggling rings.  When the ban spread nationally across the United States, they turned to Canada.

Windsor became a major route for smuggling bootlegged alcohol. These smugglers coined the name, Rum Runners.  They would cross the Canadian Border through the waterways between Ontario and Michigan.  These waterways became known as the "Windsor-Detroit Funnel."  When the waterways were frozen, alcohol was simply driven across or, skated across with smugglers pulling sleds full of alcohol.

Gangs began to capitalize on the smuggling trade.  The Purple Gang dominated Detroit, a group of killers and thugs.  They became a major supplier to Al Capone and his Chicago Empire.  The Purple Gang fell in 1929.  This is when Al Capone came into contact with Blaise Diesbourg, also known as "King Canada."  Blaise was a major figure in the smuggling and bootlegging business around Windsor and, became very successful.  Capone arranged with Blaise to have regular shipment delivered by plane to the U.S.

Harry Low became one of Windsor's very prominent rum runner.  He opened his own pool hall on Sandwich Street, now known as Riverside Drive in Windsor.  As prohibition came to a peak in the 20's, Low set up a bootlegging business for his pool hall customers.  Profits from this operation allowed him to move on to a bigger business.  He started running liquor from Windsor, across the river, to Detroit.  His success lead to him building one of Windsor's most treasured Historic sites, the Harry Low mansion, formally known as Devonshire Lodge, located in Walkerville.  The house is famous for housing Prime Minister Paul Martin.

The Devonshire Lodge has been recently restored and can be found at
2021 Ontario St in Windsor, ON

Hiram Walker played a big role in the prohibition.  Being born in the United States and, being an entrepreneur, he was looking to expand business into Canada.  He established a distillery in what was to become Walkerville and branded the name, Hiram Walker's Club Whiskey.  Walker had started out working as a clerk in a dry good store.  Eventually, he started his own grocery store and a vinegar distillery.  He was also involed in the grain business and had his hand in real estate.  He had an interest in distilling his own liquor but, with the prohibition laws, he was unable to do so. He did distill his first barrel of whiskey in 1854.  Hiram Walker was a major supplier of alcohol to the U.S. during the prohibition after the distillery was constructed in 1857.

Hiram Walker main office building, built in 1894

View of the Hiram Walker Distillery

Main office building after being restored in 1990.
2072 Riverside Drive East,  Windsor, ON

Speakeasies, blind pigs and saloons could be found underground or, hidden within store fronts and businesses across Canada and the U.S. Cocktail parties and elegant private clubs were very popular in the 1920's and, supplied with barrels of alcohol that came right from Windsor, ON.  The prohibition ended in December of 1933.

There are many more historical sites throughout the city that were involved in the prohibition.  You can learn nuch more online or, take the Rum Runners Tour along the river and learn the secrets of Windsor from the Roaring 20's.  www.rumrunnerstour.com

Written By:  Mike Crawford