Crafted in the Capital

If you live in the city of Ottawa, you probably don’t have to travel far to find a great craft brewery. But if you live outside the city, like in the Ottawa Valley for example, the trip might be a little longer.

Well Valley residents, you’re in luck! Cartwright Springs Brewery recently opened up just outside the small village of Pakenham, Ontario (about 40 minutes west of Ottawa).

Although they have been brewing and selling beer to a handful of local restaurants for a few months, they recently opened their taproom for tasting and beer sales.

You may have even seen their Kickstarter campaign, raising funds for the taproom. It’s now open and it’s wonderful.

As you enter the gravel driveway, you’re greeted by a steel building, but inside you see a room made from solid wood. The beautiful wooden bar is made from trees taken directly from the land on which the brewery was built. That’s what Cartwright Springs is all about, minimizing their carbon footprint.

The brewery draws all of their water from the spring running through their property (hence the name Cartwright Springs). They also don’t use any chemicals or detergents in their cleaning process. All of their equipment is cleaned using oxygen.

Brewmaster Andre is a trained engineer. Needless to say, he knows what he’s talking about when it comes to the brewing process and the chemicals involved in cleaning the equipment. Me on the other hand, I do not. So, I trust him when he says that the ozone they create cleans the equipment effectively, without use of hard chemicals.

In addition to this, the brewery also implemented an innovative system for their waste water treatment. Basically it involves the water they use being efficiently recycled with minimal harm on the environment. They are the only brewery in Ontario to use this system, but needless to say, others are taking note.

Now, let’s get to the important stuff: Beer. Cartwright Springs currently brews five beers.

• Kolsh – German-style ale from the Koln region
• Smash – Single malt and single hop ale
• Northern IPA – Traditional pale ale
• Maple Porter – Infused with coffee and dark chocolate
• Bitter CC Cocoa-Caramel – Bitter chocolate and roasted caramel

Obviously, there is a wide range of beer for a wide range of tastes. Whether you prefer light beers, porters or IPAs, there is something for you to try.

If you’d like to try a Cartwright Springs beer, you can visit their recently constructed tap room just outside of Pakenham. But if you can’t make the trip, you can also find their beer at Fiazza, The Belmont or The Cheshire Cat Pub, among other locations.

So whether you live in the Ottawa Valley, or feel like making a day trip outside of the city, Cartwright Springs Brewery is worth a pit stop. Not only can you try some new beer, but you can also learn more about a business doing something truly new and unique.