Feds join in craft beer craze, plan to invest $436K in two Nova Scotia brewers
by Canadian Manufacturing.com Staff
Funds to support expansion projects at pair of Cape Breton craft purveyors
SYDNEY, N.S.—The government of Canada is investing close to half-a-million dollars in two beer makers on the far eastern reaches of Atlantic Canada.
As craft beer continues to boom on Cape Breton Island, the feds are directing $436,000 to Nyanza, N.S.’s Big Spruce Brewing and Sydney, N.S.’s Breton Brewing Co.
Made available through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, the funds will support construction and expansion projects at both breweries as they look to take advantage of the fast-growing craft scene.
“With an ever-growing customer base, microbreweries such as Big Spruce and Breton Brewing not only impact and support the local economy through the sale of their locally-crafted ales, but also contribute to the success of the agriculture and hospitality sectors through the use of locally-sourced ingredients,” Mark Eyking, MP for Sydney–Victoria, said.
With 23 small brewers having set up shop across the province, Nova Scotia’s craft business grew by 25 per cent last year.
Garnering a $350,000 investment, Big Spruce will receive the majority of the government funding. The brewer plans to add 5,000 square-feet to its facility, as well as buy new processing equipment with the investment.
Breton Brewing, meanwhile, will receive $86,000 from the federal development fund. The brewer plans to invest in two new fermenting tanks as well as a canning line to help scale up and send its suds farther afield.
