All images copyright Granite Brewery. Used with permission.

brewing the perfect pint

In 1984, brewpubs were unheard of in North America. Kevin Keefe, owner and operator of Ginger’s Tavern in Halifax, instinctively felt the timing was right to open one. Inspired, he took a crash course in brewing at Peter Austin’s legendary Ringwood Brewery, an open-fermentation system, where the “real ale” revolution had begun in England.

Keefe’s first batch was served in April, 1985 to mixed reactions. Ginger’s regulars were unfamiliar with something as un-Canadian as “real ale”. Gradually, the brews began to gain acceptance and the brewpub concept slowly became more popular. This was the very beginning of the craft brewery renaissance in Canada.

Kevin’s brother Ron trained as a brewer with Alan Pugsley, who had recently emigrated to the United States from England.

In 1991, the Keefe brothers opened in Toronto, a market that was dominated by mega-breweries. Beer selection from bar to bar was predictable and uninspired. Ron wanted to bring his passion for crafting unique, English ales to the community. When the doors finally opened in August 1991, a customer bet Ron $1 that the business wouldn’t last six months. Now, almost 30 years later, that same $1 bill hangs proudly in the brewpub.

The Granite is, and will remain, an independent brewery run by the Keefe family. In 2011, Ron passed the Brewmaster title to his daughter, Mary Beth. She has continued to brew the same quality brands while adding an impressive list of her own originals, including Galactic Pale Ale and Darkside Black IPA. In 2019, the brewery added a closed fermenter, allowing Mary Beth and her team to innovate and create.