New brew pays tribute to pioneer of Nova Scotia craft beer industry
Craft brewers in Nova Scotia are paying tribute to the man who helped kick-start the industry in the province with a new beer made in his honour.
Kevin Keefe, who died in 2024, was the founder of Halifax's Granite Brewery, which was the first craft brewery in Nova Scotia when it opened inside Ginger's Tavern in 1985.
The 2025 Together We Brew beer, a nod to the beers Keefe made at the Granite Brewery, is an English-style bitter that is "bready and full-bodied with a balanced bitterness," says the Craft Brewers Association of Nova Scotia.
Joshua Council, a co-founder of Good Robot Brewing, which produced the beer in collaboration with dozens of other breweries that are members of the association, says it's nice to pay tribute to a man who had all the time in the world for him when he was starting out in the industry.
"We wouldn't be here in this province if it weren't for the initial strides he made. So at a time when the [industry] is getting hit with some turbulence, economic conditions and so on and so forth, it felt right to pay homage to the person who made it happen in the beginning," said Council in an interview with CBC News on Saturday.
He said Keefe had a lot to do with how Nova Scotians became open to the complexities of craft beer, drawing many people away from the traditional beer that was the norm and pushing them to develop more colourful palates.
Kevin Keefe is shown in a CBC News story from the early 2000s. (CBC)
"He was serving to downtown Halifax in the gritty and grimy days of the late '80s and early '90s," said Council.
"He brought this bold, strange English style with these weird techniques and this exotic open fermentation that very few breweries practise today or then and put it in front of people who were domestic drinkers who drank something familiar and somehow managed to convert them."
Council said 6,000 litres of the limited-edition beer have been produced and the brewery is already down to the final 1,000 litres just a few weeks into the release.
Debbi MacDonald, the executive director of the craft brewers association, said a small percentage of each sale will help fund scholarships and bursaries offered by the organization, including one that aims to get underrepresented populations involved in the industry.
The beer is now available in liquor stores and taprooms across the province.
MORE TOP STORIES
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Developer: Asian market, food hall at Burnsville Center nearing finish line
Developer: Asian market, food hall at Burnsville Center nearing finish line originally appeared on Bring Me The News. The Asian supermarket and food hall designed to transform Burnsville Center remains in the pipeline, three years after the plans were unveiled. The Windfall Group initially said the the development, known as Pacifica of Burnsville, could open as soon as January 22, 2023, in celebration of Lunar New Year – a date that came and went while the project was beginning to move through the city's formal planning process. In December 2023, the Windfall Group said the destination was on track to open at the end of the first quarter in 2024. A March 2024 press release advertised the food hall would indeed open very soon - before summer. Now, over one year later, the project remains under construction and no opening date is set. "The community is very antsy for this project," Burnsville City Council Member Vince Workman told developers last week. "We're almost to the finish line," Christina Le, one of the project's developers, reassured city officials. The Burnsville City Council voted unanimously June 3 to once again amend the city's $1.1 million grant tied to the redevelopment to allow more time for construction. The extension sets a Jan. 31, 2026 deadline for exterior renovations, with interior work on the project set to wrap up this month. "Yes, we have had our delays and so forth but we did not take any shortcuts," Le told the City Council. "We did not diminish any quality in the work that we've done. We've kept the quality high." The Windfall Group, an international developer, is also behind Pacifica Square in Aurora, Illinois, which is billed as one of the largest "one-stop" Asian lifestyle centers in the country. The development in Burnsville is planned to be anchored by the upscale Asian supermarket chain, Enson Market, and a feature a nine-vendor food hall, called Ate Ate Ate. In a letter to the City Council dated March 5, Eddie Ni, with the Windfall Group, indicated plans to construct a two-story addition to incorporate patio dining and a landscaped plaza have been nixed. "Instead of constructing a 15,000-square-foot addition, we aim to create affordable and inviting spaces for tenants while preserving parking," the letter reads. "The two restaurants originally planned for the addition will now occupy vacant mall units." Ni also noted progress on Enson Market have been impacted by shipment delays from overseas. Ate Ate Ate is designed to emulate Asia's atmospheric street markets, with a stroll through the food hall taking guests from morning cafes, to lunchtime spots and, finally, the evening-inspired segment, which will be complete with vibrant lights and live music. Hospitality HQ, the food hall's operator, will oversee the curation of vendors. The current vendor line-up includes Soga Mochi Donuts, which became Minnesota's first mochi donut business when it brought its Japanese-style treats to St. Paul in 2021. Bulgogi, bibimbap and other Korean favorites will be served at Hang Sang Korean Cuisine and Nepal-style dumplings filled with seasoned meat and veggies will be the focus at Amazing Momo. Other vendors include Asian-inspired ice cream shop ODAY Creamery, Niko Niko Boba, Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls and spots serving ramen, hand-crafted sushi rolls and sashimi and Mediterranean fare, according to Le. A central bar, called Urban Oasis, will offer self-serve beer and wine, she added. "This really means a lot to us that you've been patient and waited this long," she told the City Council. "We're almost there." According to Le, a grand opening is expected before the end of the story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Princess Catharina-Amalia Hospitalized After Horseback-Riding Incident
Princess Catharina-Amalia sustained injuries after falling off her horse, the Dutch royal palace shared The princess will undergo surgery, the palace said Her mother, Queen Maxima, reportedly left an engagement at The Hague early because of her daughter's accidentPrincess Catharina-Amalia, the eldest daughter of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, has been hospitalized following a horseback-riding incident, the Dutch royal palace confirmed. In a statement posted to the palace's website on Tuesday, June 10, officials shared that the 21-year-old heir to the Dutch throne suffered a fall. "The Princess of Orange broke her upper arm today after falling from her horse. She will undergo surgery at the UMC Utrecht," an English translation of the statement read. "More information will follow as soon as it becomes clear what the possible consequences are for official obligations and other agreements." While the palace did not provide additional information, both Hello! and the Daily Express reported that Princess Amalia's mother Queen Maxima left early from her engagement with the MIND Us Foundation at the Noordeinde Palace in The Hague on Tuesday. The princess is a longtime equestrian, and the palace's official website features photos of Princess Amalia riding her horse Mojito, and notes that she "enjoys horse riding, tennis and singing" in her free time. Princess Amalia isn't the only high-profile royal to suffer a horse-related incident in recent years. Princess Anne was hospitalized in June 2024 with a concussion thought to be caused by impact with a horse on her Gatcombe Park estate. Anne, 74, said she could not remember "a single thing" about the incident one month after her hospitalization. While reflecting on her injuries during a trip to South Africa earlier this year, the Princess Royal told the Press Association that the experience taught her 'every day is a bonus," per the BBC. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! 'It just reminds you, shows you — you never quite know, something [happens] and you might not recover,' she said, adding, 'You're jolly lucky … if you can continue to be more or less compos mentis [of sound mind], and last summer I was very close to not being. Take each day as it comes, they say." She later made an emotional return to the hospital where she was treated after the incident, and thanked staffers who cared for her. When she and her family take part in Trooping the Colour on Saturday, June 14, the Princess Royal is expected to ride on horseback alongside Prince William and Prince Edward. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Atomic Capital Supports Strategic Sale of UFirst, a Top Russian Children's Education Network
Atomic Capital acted as exclusive financial adviser in the successful sale of 100% of UFirst, a prominent operator in the Russian children's education sector. Moscow, Russia, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Atomic Capital acted as exclusive financial adviser in the successful sale of 100% of UFirst, a prominent operator in the Russian children's education sector. UFirst, formerly part of the international education group English First (EF), was subsequently acquired and developed by its management team. Today, the network includes 15 learning centers located in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Novosibirsk, offering a diverse range of programs such as English and Chinese language courses, programming, exam readiness, and MBA pathways tailored for children and teenagers. The Russian market continues to show significant investment interest among international businesses. Despite the current global challenges, Russia remains one of the most attractive locations for foreign investors and strategic partners, offering distinctive opportunities for business expansion, new project development, and effective capital deployment. Atomic Capital possesses deep experience and expertise in supporting sophisticated deals with the involvement of international companies, representing both buyers and sellers. The company assists clients in entering or exiting the Russian market, helps refine entry and exit strategies, and provides end-to-end financial and legal advisory throughout every phase of the deal, ensuring transparency and operational efficiency. Atomic Capital frequently collaborates with international firms—those aiming to establish or grow their presence in Russia, as well as those evaluating the sale of Russian assets. The company offers dedicated support at every step and is committed to securing optimal results for all participants. 'We are convinced that the role of a professional financial adviser in M&A extends well beyond the deal itself—it is about delivering long-term value for every stakeholder. We appreciate all parties for their high level of cooperation and professionalism. This project reflects coordinated teamwork and mutual trust,' commented Alexander Zaitsev, CEO of Atomic Capital. Atomic Capital welcomes companies from across the globe to work together in the Russian market, guaranteeing an individualized approach, transparency, and a consistently high level of service for every engagement. Irina Ayatova, Atomic Capitalpress@ (495) 488 66 33
