Hi there, my name is Graham Kendall and I’m the Brew Master here at the Alexander Keith’s Nova Scotia Brewery.
Thanks for visiting my blog - this is a first for me and I’m excited about it!
You may have heard that we’re expanding our brewing beyond Nova Scotia. As Brew Master, I am honoured to have been entrusted with the Alexander Keith’s legacy, passed down from a long line of Brew Masters before me. Now, I’ll be passing this knowledge on to Scott Stokes, the Columbia Brewing Company’s Brew Master in Creston, British Columbia.
Brewing a beer in a new location is never easy. For a beer like Alexander Keith’s, it requires a specific accreditation process to ensure that the process is followed exactly. You have my word that not one drop of Keith’s fine ale will be released until it meets my standards.
The Internet will be a great place for me to show how we will complete this undertaking. Hence my blog The Brew Master’s Journal has come to life! I hope to involve as many Keith’s lovers as possible to share my journey while I demonstrate the strict requirements we will follow to cross this hurdle. So I invite you to watch and participate in the excitement.
Of course, I’ll also take the opportunity to talk on my blog about my life’s work - beer.
It’s amazing that so many people are enjoying Keith’s. It is now considered the top specialty beer brand in the country. This is a point of pride for me, and I like to think Mr. Alexander Keith himself would have been content with his brew’s success.
Other than this blog, I’ll talk about my journey on Twitter, through videos on YouTube, photos on Flickr, and on the popular Alexander Keith’s Sociable page on Facebook. I encourage you to get in contact with me in those places and let me know what you think!
In my next post, I’ll talk a bit more about what’s involved in the brewing of Keith’s.
Hi, two things, first, the new premium white is very good. It will be great during the warm summer months. Second, I did try the new lager sold in the mix pack. When can we expect to buy it 12 or 24 pack of that product???
Keep the great work
Pete
Hi Pete,
The lager sold in the mix pack is only available in Nova Scotia in 12 & 6 packs. Keep on enjoying this fine beer in our Mix pack - available in Quebec only.
Is the Stout going to make into bottles? I really like it but I’d enjoy it more if it were in bottles.
Scott
I agree, it’s one of my favourites. To date, we only plan on offering Stag’s Head Stout on draught at select locations in Ontario, Quebec & Halifax. If we get more feedback like yours, we may have to consider it.
Hi. I have been enjoying Keith’s beer since the early 80’s while on business trips to the east coast, and now happy that it is available country wide. You make a good beer but I have one pet peave that I am sure you must have heard before. You have named your Canadian lager an India Pale Ale which it is certainly not, and anyone with any basic knowledge of beer is confused as to why you would call it that. It would be sort of like Budweiser light being referred to as a stout. This incorrect labeling for some sort of marketing reason, causes a lot of confusion with those that are newly on the path of learning about interesting beers and many of us believe that this tarnishes the credibility of your otherwise honorable company.
Regards Tom Moul
Yes I have heard this before. Let’s keep in mind that Alexander Keith developed his IPA in the 1800’s, more than a century before most other brewers in North America started to create their own IPA’s. Over time, other brewers have put their own mark on the IPA,(many of which I have tried and enjoyed) but we continue to brew ours in the same fashion that Alexander Keith did. For us, being true to our roots is the important thing. I respect that differences in view exist however my goal is that I go to work everyday to make the same great IPA and that I feel is what our Keith’s beer drinkers expect.
I still need to try the white … and am so excited that BCis the choice of location to expand to. Keith’s is the ONLY beer!!! Thanks
Thanks this is a great opportunity for us. Once the Columbia Brewery completes accreditation process we will have succeeded.
just want to say thanks for coming to bc, i look forward to the white, and hopefully the stag head stout. my daughter is in halifax and has done the brewery tour and has sent me a copy of the life and times book. enoyed it very much. can’t say enough about keith’s except don’t change a thing.
thanks to my daughter for starting a keiths tradition at our home. regards
steve
Steve - glad to hear that you are as motivated and loyal follower as I am. Keith’s is a a real point of pride out here and it is great to share it’s intent with so many Canadians “Coast to Coast!”
When can Ontario have Keith Tradional?
Dan
Hi Dan, the only way you can get it is to come to Nova Scotia and visit!
Pleased to see that the move West is being taken so seriously!! No Keith’s lover in Western Canada wants to end up buying a pint of pish!!
I for one am not to pleased with the idea of having another brewery make our beer. I have lived in Nova Scotia all my life, and there is a certain pride to know it is only made here as it should be.
I am also a Nova Scotian and understand how important it is that Keith’s IPA drinkers get the same Keith’s we have made here. The success of Keith’s across the country is signaling that people are demanding it. The beer won’t change. I personally guarantee that the accreditation process will not permit any variation. Please check out the details as it really preserves the beer to its truest form.
Is Keith’s Lager still available for sale in Nova Scotia? I tried it in November 2008 while on vacation, and upon return in October 2009, I can not find it anywhere.
Thanks for your question. The lager has been discontinued.