In this episode of Between Two Fermenters, Troy Burtch sits down with Cam Fryer, co-founder of Royal City Brewing, a passionate beer industry veteran whose story has seldom been told. From early days hauling kegs at Great Lakes Brewery to studying German history and falling head-over-heels for classic European beer culture, Cam’s path into brewing feels both intentional and serendipitous. 

The conversation traces Cam’s journey through Germany and the UK, the formative beers that changed how he thought about brewing, and the vision behind building Royal City as “Guelph’s brewery”. Along the way, Cam reflects on partnerships, their place in the industry, the Guelph community, and what it really takes to open, and sustain, an independent brewery in today’s beer landscape.  In this episode: 

• Cam’s early beer industry roots at Great Lakes Brewery 
• The serendipitous moments that shaped his brewing philosophy 
• How the German beer culture influenced Royal City Brewery 
• Building a brewery grounded in place, partnership, and community 
• Lessons learned and advice for aspiring brewery founders 

Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good! 

Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery where craft beer and conversation collide - straight from the tanks to your ears. 

This week on Between Two Fermenters, we’re joined by two longtime friends, collaborators, and absolute heavyweights of Ontario craft beer: Steve “Bebo” Pilotto and Chris Steininger from Third Moon Brewing.  

Before Third Moon became one of the most talked-about breweries in the province, Bebo was a homebrewer turning heads with hazy IPAs, and Chris was a GLB superfan lining up for releases, hauling cases home, and chasing the beers he loved. Their shared obsession eventually turned into a partnership, and in May 2020, right in the middle of a global pandemic, Third Moon Brewing was born.  

In this episode, Bebo and Chris get candid about the road that led them here, the pressure of turning passion into a livelihood, and what it really takes to build something meaningful in craft beer. 

We dig into: 

• How two beer nerds met, bonded, and realized they were “the maniacs” in the room 
• Bebo’s homebrewing roots and the Unfazed by Haze collab that helped shape GLB’s hazy IPAs 
• Opening a brewery during COVID and why those early, chaotic days were both terrifying and magical 
• Friendship vs. Partnership – how that changes when beer stops being a hobby and becomes your life 
• Building Third Moon’s culture, team, and ethos (and why “everyone pushing the car” matters) 
• Why they brew the beers they want to drink, trends be damned 

 Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good! 

Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery where craft beer and conversation collide - straight from the tanks to your ears. 

On this episode of Between Two Fermenters, we welcome a strong voice in global beer education - Mirella Amato. 

Mirella is a trailblazing beer educator, sensory expert, author, and judge who has shaped beer appreciation worldwide, making history as the first and only Canadian to hold both the Master Cicerone and Grand Master BJCP Judge titles.  

Reconnecting after nearly a decade, Troy and Mirella trace her journey from the early days of Canadian craft beer media and podcasting, to founding her own company (Beerology), covering and showcasing the early days of Quebec craft beer, helping co-found CASK! Toronto and the Toronto chapters of Barley’s Angels and Pink Boots Society, to shaping beer qualifications at WSET, and mentoring many devoted beer drinkers across the country. 

Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good! 

Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery where craft beer and conversation collide - straight from the tanks to your ears. 

2025 was a year of sharp turns and constant adjustment in the beer industry and early signs suggest 2026 isn’t here to slow things down.

In this short kickoff episode, we reflect on the past year, the uncertainty ahead, and what it means to keep showing up in an industry that never stops changing. No buzzwords, no hype, just an honest check-in on beer, brewing, and the people behind it.

Whether this year brings growth, rebuilding, or simply holding steady, we’re here for the conversation.

This week on Between Two Fermenters, Troy is joined by Dr. Dan Malleck, Professor and Chair of Health Sciences at Brock University, author, and one of Canada’s leading experts on alcohol policy and regulation. 

With decades of research into the history of booze, prohibition, and temperance movements, Dan brings crucial context to today’s debates around alcohol regulation. From the lingering legacy of prohibition to the power and persistence of modern temperance narratives, this conversation dives deep into how policy shapes drinking culture... and how it continues to impact brewers, consumers, and communities across Canada. 

The episode explores: 

• The historical roots of Canada’s alcohol laws and the creation of the LCBO 
• Why prohibition-era thinking still influences modern policy 
• The role of beer in shaping Canadian identity 
• Dan’s testimony before the Canadian Senate and his critique of the CCSA’s low-risk drinking guidelines 
• Why pubs, breweries, and third places matter more than ever in an age of social isolation 

Equal parts academic insight and taproom conversation, this episode is essential listening for anyone who cares about craft beer, public policy, and the cultural role alcohol plays in our lives. 

Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good! 

Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery where craft beer and conversation collide - straight from the tanks to your ears. 

Raise a pint - Between Two Fermenters hits episode 50! To mark the milestone, Peter Bulut, Owner and President of Great Lakes Brewery, joined the show. 

Peter first appeared on Episode 1, helping set the tone for this show dedicated to preserving the stories, voices, struggles, and triumphs of the Canadian craft beer industry. Now he’s back for a deep, unscripted conversation about nearly four decades in beer, leadership, family legacy, hard lessons, and the relentless spirit that built GLB into Ontario’s fiercely independent local brewery. 

In this episode, Peter reflects on: 

• His unexpected start in beer: from construction school to walking into a tiny Brampton brewery brewing extract beer and selling it in 1-litre plastic bottles 
• Early GLB chaos: burnt batches, infected tanks, dumping beer, and the grind of rebuilding quality and trust 
• Surviving the dark years and the long road from near-collapse to national awards, modern craft innovation, and explosive growth 
• The move to Etobicoke, scaling up, and learning the business from the ground up, one bag of malt at a time 
• Leadership, culture, and caring for people: building a team that stays, grows, and believes in the Vision together 
• The beers that shaped GLB, from Devil’s Pale Ale and Pumpkin Ale to Canuck and beyond. 

Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good! 

Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery where craft beer and conversation collide - straight from the tanks to your ears.

In this packed episode of Between Two Fermenters, host Troy Burtch of Great Lakes Brewery sits down with one of Ontario’s most influential beer leaders: Todd Lewin, President and Partner at Muskoka Brewery. With nearly three decades spent in beer, Todd brings a wealth of insight, experience, and candor to the conversation. 

From his early days teaching ski lessons, to cutting his teeth at Molson during the industry’s heyday, to ultimately helping steer Muskoka Brewery through major expansion, operational transformation, taxation hurdles, retail reform, and the rise of non-alc, RTD drinks, and more, Todd walks us through the highs, lows, and defining moments of a life spent in beer. Highlights include:  

• Todd’s origins, like his unconventional route into beer 
• His years at Molson - the glory days of beer as some might say - cultural shifts, and a sudden downsizing that reset his path. 
• The Muskoka chapter - joining the brewery in 2011, transitioning from 8,000 to 80,000 sq ft, becoming a partner, and eventually taking on the role of president 
• Leadership lessons - building trust, staying close to the team, walking the floor, and leading with long-term vision 
• Muskoka Brewery’s roots in Bracebridge, local involvement, and the mission to reignite the fun that beer brings to people. 
• What’s next - the brewery’s upcoming 30th anniversary and the future of Ontario craft beer. 

Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good! 

Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery where craft beer and conversation collide - straight from the tanks to your ears. 

On this episode of Between Two Fermenters, Brad Clifford of Clifford Brewing in East Hamilton, one of Ontario’s most respected and quietly talented brewers, joins the show for the first time for a frank and honest discussion.  

From humble beginnings homebrewing in a 700-square-foot condo to building one of Ontario’s most award-winning, community-driven breweries, Brad shares the full journey. Hear how early inspiration from those that came before him, a nano-brew setup inside Toronto’s Get Well bar, and countless award-winning batches helped shape Brad’s precise, style-driven brewing philosophy. 

In this episode: 

• The homebrewing roots and early Toronto craft beer days that sparked Brad’s brewing career 
• How a tiny two-hectolitre system at Get Well became a launchpad for Clifford Brewing 
• The origin story of the now-iconic Clifford Porter 
• Finding and transforming a massive East Hamilton industrial space into a thriving taproom 
• Why community, consistency, and classic styles are at the heart of Clifford Brewing 
• The challenges and realities of running a small, independent brewery today 
• The moment Clifford Brewing became Canadian Brewery of the Year 

Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good! 

Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery where craft beer and conversation collide - straight from the tanks to your ears. 

Host Troy Burtch from Great Lakes Brewery sits down with Emma Hambrock, Inside Sales Representative and long-time team member at Fairweather Brewing in Hamilton, Ontario. Since Fairweather opened its doors in 2017, Emma has been at the heart of the brewery, helping shape its welcoming taproom, community-driven culture, and creative beer lineup. 

In this episode, Emma shares her journey into the craft beer world - from her early days at Silversmith Brewery to helping build Fairweather from the ground up (literally, with her handprints in the concrete). She and Troy chat about the Hamilton beer scene, the art of creating memorable beer experiences, and the people behind Fairweather’s signature beers like High Grade, Donna, and Wishing Well. 

Expect laughs, behind-the-scenes stories, and plenty of craft beer love as they dive into what makes Fairweather Brewing one of Hamilton's most beloved breweries. 

Highlights include: 

• How Emma found her way into the beer industry 
• The origin and evolution of Fairweather Brewing 
• Building a strong brewery culture and community in Hamilton 
• Insights on beer education, design, and storytelling in craft brewing 
• A sneak peek at Fairweather’s latest releases and what’s next for the team 

Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good! 

Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery where craft beer and conversation collide - straight from the tanks to your ears. 

In this episode of Between 2 Fermenters, host Troy Burtch of Great Lakes Brewery sits down with Tomas and Julian Morana, the brothers who have redefined Toronto’s beer scene. From the legendary Bar Volo and Birreria Volo, to Keep Six Imports, Cask Days, and their latest venture Bottega Volo, the Moranas have built an empire that shaped Ontario’s craft beer scene while putting Toronto on the global stage. 

Together, the Morana’s discuss their journey - growing up in the original Caffé Volo as young boys, balancing family life with entrepreneurship, their design-driven approach to hospitality, and how they’ve carried forward their father Ralph’s legacy while pushing the boundaries of what a beer bar can be. They get into all the ventures and projects that are tackling and share why and how they are intentional in all they do.  In this episode: 

• The evolution of Volo from their perspective - from Caffé Volo to Bar Volo, Birreria Volo, and beyond 
• How Keep Six Imports and Cask Days helped connect Ontario to the global beer community 
• Balancing family, fatherhood, and running multiple venues 
• The Moranas’ design and travel influences that shape the look and feel of their spaces 
• Carrying forward Ralph Morana’s legacy while making their own mark on Canadian beer culture 

Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good! 

Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery where craft beer and conversation collide - straight from the tanks to your ears.