In a province obsessed with what's new, Erica McOustra has spent her career perfecting what already exists - and that's a much harder job than it sounds.

Troy sits down with Erica McOustra, Brewmaster at Steam Whistle Brewing - the first woman to hold that title in the brewery's history. A Danforth kid who left university after first year, fell into homebrewing to save money, and never looked back. From a brew-on-premise shop to Magnotta Brewery, VLB Berlin, Amsterdam Brewing, and finally Steam Whistle in 2010 - where she worked her way from shift brewer to Brewmaster over a decade. In 2022, when Steam Whistle acquired Beau's All Natural Brewing, her role grew again: she now oversees brewing for both iconic brands, two very different philosophies under one roof.

What's in this episode:

• How a homebrewer became one of Canada's most respected Brewmasters 
• The philosophy of doing one thing brilliantly, and why chasing 0.1% better every day is anything but boring
• Being the first female Brewmaster at Steam Whistle
• The Beau's acquisition: stewarding a beloved brand
• When data and your palate disagree - which one wins?
• Rapid Fire: Godspeed, New Glarus, and why one shortcut gives everyone else on the floor license to take one