The Second Wedge Brewing Co. Uxbridge resumed operations 13 months after the EF2 tornado that devastated Uxbridge on May 21, 2022 tore off their roof and seriously damaged the brewery.
Technically, the brewery itself resumed seven-day operation on June 23, but the beer garden only reopened last month in time to serve as the primary location for Uxbridge’s annual Springtide Festival.
An EF2 tornado destroyed Second Wedge Brewing Co. on May 21, 2022.
The last of Second Wedge’s brewing tanks arrived over the weekend from Market Brewing in Newmarket, who “opened their hearts and their space” to the Uxbridge brewery while the brewhouse was being rebuilt. Second Wedge is now putting the finishing touches on the re-opening.
“It’s a bittersweet celebration as we get back to full capacity at our home brewery,” Second Wedge reported as the tanks showed up. “We’ll miss working daily with the gang over there and we’ll always feel a special bond with them.”
Second Wedge applauded Carefoote Beverage Solutions for coming up with the concept and assisting in making it all work out and referred to the joint working arrangement over the last year as a “revolutionary solution to our extreme, unusual circumstance”.
The two businesses then continued to brew together for the majority of a year since Market had the additional room and Second Wedge brought over four fermentation containers and a brite tank that weren’t destroyed by the tornado last August. In Newmarket, Second Wedge was able to brew and bottle 35 batches of their own beer as well as a few joint ventures.
Head Brewer at Second Wedge Mike Lounds referred to the arrangement as an “incredible experience” that the two teams got to share. It is impossible to express my gratitude for all of your efforts, encouragement, and assistance in making this a reality. I’ll love you all forever, people.
The agreement required approval from the Canada Revenue Agency and a special licensing exemption from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission and was probably the first (and possibly last) time such a deal had been tried; the story was covered in the pages of brewing magazines Brewers Journal Canada and The Growler.
The approval of Second Wedge’s linked license, which allows them to offer beverages other than their own, was also announced during the previous week. This weekend, all of Second Wedge’s brews will be available on tap along with ciders from the adjacent Banjo Cider.
In a statement, Second Wedge Brewery stated, “It’s been a long, hard, dreadful year, but it’s now time to turn our grins around. Say, “Come hang!”
SOURCE: InSauga
PHOTO CREDIT: Supplied