CORNWALL, Ontario – Cornwall’s return to the brewing scene has taken nearly a century, as a new local operation is just weeks away from producing its first batch.
Rurban Brewing, on Cumberland Street, is in the homestretch of an odyssey that has seen owner AJ Rorabeck turn a dream of brewing his own beer (and making a living at it) into a reality.
Well, almost.
City council Monday night gave Rurban Brewing the go-ahead for a limited liquor license that will allow “by-the-glass” sales of its product.
The big steps will come in the next few weeks as final construction of the brewing apparatus is completed at Rurban, and inspectors ensure that everything is up to code.
Rorabeck said if he isn’t brewing beer by the end of August, her certainly will be by September.
“It was a gradual progression to get to this point,” said Rorabeck, about as laid back a businessman as you will find. “I’d been kicking around this idea for a few years.”
Rurban will be the first Cornwall-based brewing company to operate since St. Lawrence Brewery closed its doors in 1920.
In the 95 years since then brewing in Ontario has undergone monumental changes, and now finds itself returning to its roots, as more and more craft-type breweries set up shop.
Rorabeck knows most of those new owners, including the ever-popular Beaus All-Natural Brewing in Vankleek Hill.
“They are the guys that proved the market existed,” said Rorbeck. “In fact, you could say they helped develop the market.”
Rorabeck plans to follow the German tradition of producing beers based on the seasons of the year. And with the capacity to brew four batches per season, Rorabeck has designs on as many as 16 varieties per year.
“Craft beer drinkers love variety,” he said. “And variety is what I am going to produce.”
It’s a fairly big change for Rorabeck, who was a teacher for years (along with his wife Karen) before hanging up the chalk in favour of hops and barley.
Rorabeck has amalgamated the rural (his ingredients) with the urban (his inner-city locale) to create Rurban.
His operation is located in a renovated industrial setting on Cumberland Street between Fourth and Fifth streets.
“The location seemed like the best fit,” he said. “The outside of it has a great look and the inside (is great) for brewing operations.”
More on Rurban can be found here.
