By the August long weekend, London will have two new local craft beers.

The first commercial batches of Anderson Craft Ales are now fermenting at a new brewery on Elias Street.

The family-run business is headed by Gavin Anderson. Over the last few months he has been supervising the installation of nine stainless steel brewing vessels and a canning line.

Anderson plans to have a grand opening on Aug. 6 but hopes to be selling suds by July 23.

The brewery has a retail counter that will sell cans and growlers as well as a lounge that will serve the Anderson beers by the glass. The brewery is also producing kegs that will be sold in about a dozen pubs and restaurants around the city.

The first two brews from Anderson Craft Ales will be an India pale ale (IPA) and an amber.

“The IPA will have a hop character for people who are into craft beers. The amber will be less hoppy with malt, toast and caramel flavours, and will be more easy-drinking,” said Anderson.

A native of Guelph, Anderson got into brewing craft beer about 10 years ago and became a brewmaster at the Brasseurs due Petit Sault craft brewery in Edmunston, N.B.

He has a biology degree from the University of Toronto and PhD in microbiology from the University of Kentucky.

The brewery has three staff so far but will be hiring more as production gets into full swing.

Located on the edge of Old East Village, Anderson is looking to community support to boost the new brewery.

“People love local stuff. We are pretty active on social media and we we want to have local events at the brewery,” he said.

Anderson Craft Ales is the latest local entry in the rapidly expanding craft beer industry.

The Ontario Craft Brewers Association says there are now more than 150 craft beer makers scattered in 100 communities across Ontario ranging from big cities to small villages. Another 77 breweries are in the works.

While craft beer is the fast-growing segment of the beer market, most are small and so far make up only six per cent of premium beer sales.

The industry is hoping to get a boost from the gradual introduction of beer sales in grocery stores. The provincial government requires the stores to reserve 20 per cent of shelf space for Ontario craft beer, but some retailers are exceeding the minimum requirement.

Craft breweries

London: Forked River, Toboggan, London Brewing Co-operative.

St. Thomas: Railway City

Strathroy: Strathroy Brewing

Stratford: Black Swan, Stratford Brewing

Sarnia: Refined Fool Brewing

Seaforth: Half Hours on Earth Brewery

Simcoe: Blue Elephant

Blyth: Cowbell Brewing

Varna: Stonehouse Brewing

Woodstock: Upper Thames Brewing (opening soon)

hdaniszewski@postmedia.com

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