Beer lovers and history enthusiasts alike will have a unique opportunity to come together at the historic village of Neubergthal for a special beer-tasting event next week Thursday, March 6.
Hosted by the Neubergthal Heritage Foundation (NHF), the event will take place at the Neubergthal Commons Barn starting at 7 p.m. Admission is $20.
The evening will feature presenters from Trans Canada Brewery (TCB) in Winnipeg, including head brewer Scott Sawatzky and certified beer server Dustin McCaughan. They will guide guests through a tasting experience of four different beer varieties and offer insight into the brewing process.
“We’ll be there to speak to people, and they’ll get a chance to taste some of our beer,” said Sawatzky. “We’ll explain what we do, how we do it, and why we do what we do.”
Trans Canada Brewery is known for its locally crafted beers. Its upcoming expansion into Brandon will allow the company to create small-batch brews unique to that region.
Sawatzky emphasized the importance of using high-quality ingredients, particularly malt barley, much of which is sourced from Manitoba farmers.
“Sourcing malt barley is tricky,” he explained. “There’s not a lot of it growing in Manitoba, and it all needs to be purchased by a malting facility. Most of our malt barley comes out of Calgary, but it’s originally grown in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.”
Guests next week will be able to sample several different beers, and Sawatzky and McCaughan will discuss the beer-making process, ingredient selection, and the connection between brewing and local agriculture. Attendees will also learn about which foods best complement each beer variety. There will be a few raffle prizes up for grabs as well.
Sawatzky believes in educating consumers about the brewing process and the importance of choosing locally crafted beers.
“We are a proudly independent company,” he said. “If we expect people to choose our product over multinational brands, it’s important they understand how we produce our beer and why we take so much care in crafting each recipe.”
He added, “I think people will be impressed with how well-balanced and well-crafted our beers are. We take pride in the time and effort spent developing each recipe, sometimes over a year, before it ever makes it into a can.”
NHF events coordinator Kimberley Sawatzky is excited to bring this gathering to the historic Mennonite village.
While beer may not be the first thing that comes to mind in a Mennonite village, the connection between brewing and the region’s roots runs deeper than one might expect.
“Prior to relocating to Manitoba, Mennonites were known for their beer and mead-making skills in Russia,” Kimberley says. “And the infamous Brommtopp tradition often included a shot of liquid courage for mummers while they whooped it up in costume, singing their songs on New Year’s Eve.”
The Neubergthal Commons Barn is located at 5013 Road 1 West in Neubergthal.
For more information, search Trans Canada Brewing or contact the Neubergthal Heritage Foundation.
