Canada, ON: Focal Brewing launches in Hastings with an aim to source many ingredients locally

A new brewery with an aim to source many of its ingredients locally is now open in Hastings, a village approximately 40 km east of Peterborough in Ontario’s Northumberland County, the Canadian Beer News reported.

Focal Brewing has been founded by friends and veteran homebrewers Matt Filion and Brandon Bickle, and is located in a converted pole barn on a property owned by Bickle and his wife.

Focal opened its doors this past weekend, and has launched with four core brands – Welcome to Ontario Pale Ale (5.5% abv), Fieldcrest Blonde Ale (5% abv), Pole Barn IPA (6% abv), and Faster Than Trouble Session IPA (4.5% abv) – plus a Coffee Chocolate Porter as the first in the rotating Explorer Series of seasonal beers. The label for each beer indicates the percentage of local ingredients used in its production.

The business is currently limited to retail sales of cans to go and small tasting samples in the taproom, but full by-the-glass service will follow soon, with plans to add an outdoor seating area this summer in a hopyard that Bickle is planting on the property.

Focal Brewing is located at 98 County Rd 35 just outside of Hastings, and will be open from Thursday to Sunday.

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