The story of Shawn & Ed Brewing Co.

“Once upon a time” may be a fine start for a fairytale. But the stories that begin with “It all started more than 25 years ago” are the stories that hook me. What dream has been brewing for more than 25 years? Could it be a dream to open a beer garden? Well, close. In the case of Shawn and Ed it was “two friend’s dream to one day open up a brewery.”

So when an ideal building becomes available some 20 years later, the two friends were ready to execute their dream and Shawn & Ed Brewing Co. came to fruition. Like an old friendship, the historical building in Dundas was filled with its own tales. Restoring the building was like travelling back in time. This excellent adventure took Shawn and Ed back 150 years to the building’s original purpose, a skating and curling rink.

Instead of an ice rink, it’s now filled with ice cold beer.

The building’s history lesson revealed other artifacts, which have been carefully preserved. Paying homage to the Highway King Bus Line that occupied the space in the 1920s and 30s, the original print screens used for labelling the bus lines are displayed in large black frames. A photo from 2001 tells the tale of when a dump truck, brakes failing, smashed through the building. The original red bricks are repurposed for a beautiful feature wall.

My husband and I were greeted by Ted, who came out from behind the bar to greet us we arrived. He shared these stories with us as we walked into the space. Clearly the history of the building is an integral part of what makes this brewery special. His enthusiasm got us excited about the building.

“I came over from Flat Rock four years ago. It’s Ed’s winery.” Ted says.

I recall my tour of Flat Rock Cellars in the fall, and the delicious wines like Twisted, so I am now even more curious about the beer. The unique Barrelshed beer is aged gently in oak barrels from Flat Rock Cellars. A striking arrangement of oak barrels line the red brick wall at the back.

Ted has nice stories to share about Shawn too. Shawn loves cars. An old Studebaker purchased from a hops farm in Saskatoon is displayed at the back of the building. It was one of the few vehicles to be manufactured in nearby Hamilton. The two friends are adding their own stories to the building’s narrative.

The key feature, however, that caught my attention stepping into the arena is the grouping of elegant shiny stainless steel tanks from Italy. It is a brewery after all. I really enjoyed the open concept design; tasting my flight of beer side by side the brewery operations.

The beer is an excellent adventure for the taste buds.

There are 4 classic brews on tap and 4 seasonal brews so you won’t get bored on return visits. We sampled a tasting paddle of 4 beers, sticking mainly to the classic brews as it was our first visit. We enjoyed all the classics: the original Lagershed, Lagershed darker and the Barrelshed. Ted told us the brewmaster, Rob, has been making beer for 40 years (mostly in the craft beer industry) so it’s fair to say he’s pretty good at his craft. The beer is really good.

Seasonal offerings are unique. The Blue Lion smoke beer follows the traditional approach from Bamberg Germany. This adds a distinct campfire note to the dark beer. For something lighter, the tropical inspired Staycation is mixed with Guava juice.

We really enjoyed our visit. It’s a great story. Two friend’s dream to open a brewery 25 years ago. A historic building filled with character. A convivial space. All contributing to some tasty beer “forged in friendship”.