This past weekend was a milestone for Beau’s Brewery in Vankleek Hill, Ontario as they celebrated their 12th birthday. What started out as a small organic craft brewery, nestled between Ottawa and Montreal, has transformed into one of the leaders in not only the Ontario craft brew scene but also nationally. It wasn’t just a celebration of the company’s 12th anniversary but also of their flagship beer: Lug Tread – the first “lagered ale.”

To mark the occasion Beau’s hosted a party at the brewery called the Summer of Lug, a 90’s themed celebration that saw hundreds of people turn out to toast Beau’s and Lug Tread. “We are really happy and proud to celebrate the 12th year of our flagship beer,” said Beau’s Marketing Manager Melissa Loomans-Beaudoin. “Lug Tread has won 20 awards and we really wanted to hone in that it was the original lagered ale.”

The story of Lug Tread goes back to the brewery’s origins. When they first began brewing Lug Tread it was a Kölsch style. However, since it wasn’t from Cologne, Germany, the brewery didn’t like the idea of calling it a Kölsch, which lead to the creation of the term “Lagered Ale.” Now, close to 20 breweries across the country use the term.

Lug Tread’s popularity over the years has skyrocketed and now the beer can be found all across Canada (the only Beau’s beer available coast-to-coast) as well as in New York State. “I think the thing about Lug Tread is that it is the perfect year-round beer. It is very approachable for people, it pairs well with anything and is just a true to style beer,” added Loomans-Beaudoin.

Even with the boom, Lug Tread’s recipe has remained the same since day one. From growlers, to 600ml bottles, and now to cans, Lug Tread has evolved with the brewery and is now found virtually anywhere. “Lug Tread is synonymous with Beau’s. When people order a Beau’s beer they are usually asking for Lug Tread. People know what to expect and that has really helped it grow,” said Loomans-Beaudoin.

The success of Lug Tread has also helped in the popularity of the brewery itself. During the Summer of Lug festivities, the staff also took time to celebrate some of the accomplishments of the past dozen years. “We are two years of being an employee-owned company. In addition, we have been able to expand across Canada and not only be an Eastern Ontario brewery. Being able to sell in Quebec was huge because it meant people didn’t need to drive into Ontario to get our beer. Even with the changes over the years we still stick to our roots. Everything is still a DIY company – employee-owned, family run and sticking to our values launched on day one,” said Loomans-Beaudoin.

Many Beau’s fans turned up to celebrate the Summer of Lug. The brewery was expecting a few hundred people throughout the day including bus tours from both Ottawa and Montreal. Those who did attend got to enjoy retro-inspired patio dishes, throwback tunes, activities and prizes. And don’t forget beer, definitely lots of beer! “We love to celebrate our birthday and to invite people outside of the Beau’s family to celebrate with us. The whole retro theme today, along with the retro Lug Tread cans were our way of driving home that Lug Tread was the original lagered ale,” added Loomans-Beaudoin.

It is amazing to see just how far Beau’s has come over the years. They have brewed more styles than one can count and a visit to the taproom will always offer beer lovers something new, along with old favourites. Not only do they offer great beer, but also put on some really fun events. While the Summer of Lug celebration is in the books, Beau’s now turns their attention to their 10th annual Oktoberfest (Sept. 21-22). Looks like we’ll be heading back to Vankleek Hill in no time at all.

Cheers!

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