Canada, ON: Caps Off Brewing Co. hoping to launch in St. Thomas in July

Fran and Rick Dunseith are taking their hobby and making it a business.

The couple is in the process of applying for their liquor license to open their own craft brewery called Caps Off Brewing Co. on Curtis Street in St. Thomas, the St. Thomas Times-Journal reported on January 22.

The idea stemmed from when Fran Dunseith’s started fermenting healthy food eight years ago. Rick Dunseith decided he wanted to try making his own home-brewed beer. And the rest is history.

“For a long time, many people went to Rick and said, ‘Can we buy your beer?’” Fran Dunseith said. “Opening the brewery was kind of a dream and things started falling into place. We just want to produce good quality beer.”

The Dunseiths are leasing a space at 168 Curtis Street and having it outfitted so they can brew their own craft beer with as many local ingredients as possible.

“We want a space where the community can gather and just have a place to hang out,” Fran Dunseith said.

Rick Dunseith said the goal for Caps Off Brewing Co. is to have low key, relaxing atmosphere.

“We want to produce really, really big beers. Very flavourful beers,” he said.

The brewery will have four staple beers; stout, cream ale, Scottish ale and wheat beer.

“Very small batches compared to a lot of the craft breweries that you would see out there. It’s not about mass quantity, it’s not about huge equipment. It’s about getting some really good quality beers out there,” Rick Dunseith said.

Caps Off will also have five seasonal beers in addition to the staples.

“We’re always experimenting and trying new things,” he said. “I’ve got my home brew still set up so I can keep practicing and keep trying things out.”

The couple is hoping to have the licenses they need by March so they can start retailing and selling by the glass. The grand opening is expected to happen in July.

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