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If you brew it, they will come and probably drink you dry.

That’s the lesson Ottawans have been teaching would-be craft brewers. And they’ve been paying strict attention. It’s no coincidence that at least seven new microbreweries have either recently opened or are set to launch before the end of the year.

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Case in point is Bicycle Craft Brewery, which opened Sept. 20 on Industrial Avenue. Co-owners Fariborz and Laura Behzadi point to local “trailblazers” such as Beau’s All Natural Brewing Co. and Kichesippi Beer Co. as an inspiration for smaller brewers like themselves.

“They showed us the potential for a small brewery with a great product and good business plan,” Fariborz says. They also proved this city had an appetite for quality craft beer.

“There was this myth that you couldn’t sell craft beer in Ottawa,” says Steve Beauchesne, Beau’s co-founder and CEO. “We’ve proven that to be completely false. And this tidal wave of new breweries is a real testament to how supportive Ottawa has been of the craft scene…There are not a lot of cities in North America that are this supportive of their local breweries.”