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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2016-11-03, Page 11THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016. PAGE 11. Cowbell expands to farm across London Road The start of something great The first load of timber arrived at the future site of Blyth Cowbell Brewing Company in the early morning hours of one day late last month. It has since been followed by a number of subsequent loads that will begin to make up the barn structure that will house the company's brewery, restaurant and event space when it officially opens next year. (Denny Scott photo) By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Blyth Cowbell Brewing Company has expanded its agricultural footprint with the purchase of the Watson farm on the west side of London Road. Vice -President and General Manager Grant Sparling told The Citizen that the company jumped at the chance to increase the land it can call its own — especially with a piece of land with so much history that fits perfectly with the company's model. The acquisition of the Watson farm across London Road from Cowbell's future home at the southeast corner of London and Blyth Roads — brings the company's total footprint to 111 acres on both sides of London Road in the south end of the village. Sparling said that Cowbell has yet to determine the use for the newly - acquired land, but says the farm is 100 per cent prime agricultural land and will serve the company well in its future goal of growing many of its ingredients on-site. The goal, Sparling said, is for the brewery to grow its own hops, as well as vegetables for the food served at the restaurant, and the purchase of the Watson farm brings them closer to that goal. The land purchase also fits with the company's commitment to preserving history and the agricultural legacy of Huron County, Sparling said. The Cowbell building is being constructed on a former beef farm and will now be connected to the former Watson farm — land which had been in the Watson family for over 100 years. It's a remarkable opportunity, Sparling said, which positions the company as one of the largest, if not the largest, destination craft breweries in North America. As far as other projects within the company are concerned, exterior walls are in the process of being constructed at the main Cowbell building and new shipments of timber are arriving regularly. Sparling also said that Cowbell hopes to have the company's second beer in the Founders' Series, Doc. Perdue's Bobcat, in LCBO stores by December. The beer had originally been slated for release at the beginning of October and, although it is in select restaurants and pubs throughout Huron and Bruce Counties, its canned release has been delayed by a North America -wide can shortage. Doc. Perdue's Bobcat was flowing last Saturday as the company was present at the event dubbed "Beer and Brats" in the Blyth main street parking lot. The event served as a kick-off for the Blyth 140th Anniversary event next year and featured Cowbell beer, Scrimgeour's sausage and a pub crawl throughout Blyth called Perdue's Path. #1 And We Still Try Harder Recent circulation figures show The Citizen has the highest circulation in the northern part of Huron County, #3 in the entire county. The Citizen Proudly Community -Owned Since 1985 11( • KYLEY McGREGOR Buyers - Green's Meat Market & Part H Bistro DRAYTON MacKENZIE Buyer - Kevin Dickson NATHAN MIDDLEKAMP Buyer - Millgrove Meat Packers TIM MIDDLEKAMP Buyer - Johnson Livestock Trucking NOLAN NEITZEL Buyer - Snobelen Farms JOLANDE OUDSHOORN Buyer - Dave Franken Concrete Forming JANETTE PLAETZER Buyer - Matt Robinson Trucking LAUREN TODD Buyer - Brussels Livestock resold and donated money to 4H IPM InvitationalShow purchased 2nd time by Max Fried Enterprise EVY VERSCHAEVE Buyer - Dave Franken Concrete Forming JEFF WALDEN Buyer - Dauphin Feed & Supply CONNOR & SINEAD GREENWOOD Buyer - Dave Franken Concrete Forming LIAM LOWRY Buyer - Brindley Auction JAY LENNOX Buyer - Ontario Plowman's Association JAMES GREENWOOD Buyer - Thur Transport ALEX MacDONALD Buyer - Vernla Livestock CURTIS LOTTON Buyer - Sam & Wanda Snobelen A Special Thank You to all the other buyers and bidders and our show sponsors Brussels Livestock, Howick Mutual Insurance, Sholdice Financial and Brussels Agri Services.