So far in this research blog series we have explored stations and railway buildings that live a second life as either a brewery or a restaurant that produces and/or serves craft beer. Part three showcases breweries that make reference to Ontario railway history. These references are found in either a brewery’s name, by being in a building that formerly received railway service, or in the names or on the labels of the beer they produce.

Do you have your opener ready? Let’s begin round three!

Junction 56 Distillery & Jobsite Brewing Company, Stratford, ON

The name “Junction 56” is a reference to the junction formed when the rails of the Grand Trunk Railway met those of the Buffalo & Lake Huron Railway in Stratford in 1856.  The junction formed by these two railways, despite some alterations, remains today through the connection of the Guelph and Goderich Subdivisions.  

Junction 56 and the neighbouring Jobsite Brewing Company both sit in close proximity to the junction at a point along the Guelph Subdivision (formerly known as the Thorndale Subdivision). So close in fact that drivers backing out of the parking lot need to be mindful of slowly approaching CN and VIA Rail trains! Both occupy the former Pounder Bros hardware store, and the aforementioned parking lot used to occupy a siding allowing trains to service the building (Wilson, p. 161).

Junction 56 is known for producing high quality spirits including whisky, gin, vodka, moonshine, and everything in between. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they also began making hand sanitizer. Jobsite has a wide variety of beer styles packaged within their distinct orange cans and growlers. Both are experts at their craft and extremely friendly and knowledgeable.  I have had an excellent experience whenever I have visited each site, often catching a glimpse of a passing train. My personal favourite product at each establishment is the Fireshine Cinnamon Moonshine and 2×4 Cream Ale respectively.

To learn more about Junction 56 please click here

To learn more about Jobsite Brewing Company please click here

Signal Brewery, Corbyville, ON

Located just north of Belleville, Signal Brewery occupies part of the former Corbyville Distillery, a massive complex that created distilled spirits for over a century. After partnering with J.P. Wisers, it became one of the more prominent distilleries in North America. It continued to operate until 1989 when all operations were amalgamated with a sister facility in Windsor.

The facility is believed to have received rail service for most of its existence. The Grand Junction Railway built its line along the east side of the complex’s location in 1877. It was later completed to Campbellford and Hastings in 1879, and Peterborough in 1880. It amalgamated with other Central Ontario branch lines to become part of the Midland Railway of Canada in 1881. The Midland Railway later built a connecting link between Peterborough and Omemee in 1883 allowing the Grand Junction rails to serve as part of a direct route for grain trains operating between Midland and Belleville  It was later owned by the Grand Trunk Railway and the Canadian National Railway, who provided service until the rails were abandoned in 1987.

One of the remaining Corbyville buildings was preserved and purchased by Signal in order to make it into a  brewery. Since then it has been converted into a picturesque taproom, brewery, restaurant, and event space. Patrons can sit on their large riverside patio and watch the Moira River flow south while enjoying a crispy pint.

Many of Signal’s beers make reference to various mechanical components that were present at the distillery. Their tap room also contains numerous artifacts from its days as a distillery. Their “RadioTube” pilsner comes highly recommended as it’s my favourite Ontario craft pilsner!

To learn more about Signal please click here

Junction Craft Brewery, Toronto, ON

Our next brewery makes reference to Toronto’s railway history. Junction gets its name from “The Junction” neighbourhood in Toronto. This neighbourhood gets its name from the multiple mainline railways that cross it. The main junction in question is the former “West Toronto Diamond”, now a flyover, where the Canadian Pacific’s Galt, MacTier, and North Toronto Subdivisions meet the CNR Guelph Subdivision and the Union Pearson Express. It is also where the CPR’s North Toronto Subdivision meets the CNR Newmarket Subdivision at a point to the east. While all of the above railways have gone by other names in the past such as Toronto Grey & Bruce and Ontario, Simcoe, and Huron, they have all met at the spot known today as “The Junction”.

Junction’s facility is located just a few blocks north of Canadian Pacific’s busy Lambton Yard. Its building is not railway related, but it is historic. Long before it was a brewery, it was owned by the City of Toronto as a massive waste incinerator, and stands as a great example of Art Deco architecture. It was restored and made into a brewery in 2018, when Junction Craft Brewery moved there after seven years of existence. They were previously located on Cawthra Avenue just across the tracks from where the CNR West Toronto Station once stood. The former brewery site is now in use by another craft brewery, People’s Pint Brewing Company.

Some of Junction’s beers pay homage to the railway. Examples include “Conductor Craft Ale”, and “Trainspotter Craft Lager”. A wonderful facility with a cool vibe, I quite enjoyed my visit there in the summer of 2019.

For more information please click here

Railway City Brewing Co, St Thomas, ON

A fitting name for a brewery located in a community with such a strong connection to the railway. Railway City Brewery adopts the nickname for St Thomas, ON, a former divisional point for the Michigan Central Railway. Located about halfway between Buffalo and Detroit, St Thomas saw the construction of the Michigan Central through its core as a quicker option than building south of Lake Erie. It was also here where a large engine repair shop and roundhouse was built to service and store engines that arrived into town. While the roundhouse is long gone, the former shop building still remains as the location of the Elgin County Railway Museum.

Over the years, St Thomas has seen trains come and go from the city in all directions from numerous American and Canadian railway companies including the New York Central, Penn Central, Conrail, Credit Valley Railway (later Canadian Pacific), London & Lake Erie, London & Port Stanley Railway, Grand Trunk Railway (later Canadian National), Chesapeake and Ohio, and Norfolk & Southern Railway. Freight trains operated by the Canadian National Railway and the Ontario Southland Railway continue to ship vehicle frames, propane, and other commodities along the former L&PS and Credit Valley routes respectively. The Port Stanley Terminal Railway makes the occasional excursion north from Port Stanley to the Elgin County Railway Museum along the southern portion of the L&PS route. The former Michigan Central shop and striking Italianate station both stand trackside, but are unfortunately cut off from all major rail connections in the area. 

Railway City Brewing Company works to reflect St Thomas’ railway history into its product. The majority of their “mainline series” beers contain railway related names and imagery including “Black Coal Stout”, “Iron Spike Copper Ale”, “Juice Caboose”, and “Dead Elephant IPA”. The latter makes reference to Jumbo the elephant, who was tragically struck and killed by a GTR train in 1885 while returning to its carriage. “Dead Elephant” pours a darkish yellow-brown hue with a decent head.  Its flavour is well balanced, and is more malty and less hoppy then other similar IPAs. Located two blocks from the diamond and interchange yard between CNR and OSR, I have enjoyed stopping at this facility during my trips to St Thomas.

To learn more about Railway City please click here

Trestle Brewing Company, Parry Sound, ON

This brewery is named for the large Canadian Pacific Railway trestle that dominates the Parry Sound waterfront.  This bridge, built in 1907, carries the MacTier Subdivision across the harbour.  Thanks to a directional running agreement between CPR and CNR, patrons of the facility can watch massive freight trains from both railways rumble north across the trestle heading for Winnipeg and points west.  One might also catch VIA Rail’s “The Canadian” heading west on its transcontinental journey.

Trestle has many types of beers that can be taken home, or enjoyed on site in their taproom which is open yearly.  While they have no known beers named after the railway, each can is adorned with a drawing of Parry Sound’s trestle.  Their flagship “Golden Ale” is a light, easy drinking beer with fruity, sweet, and malty flavour notes.  True to its style it has a brilliant golden orange hue.

To learn more about Trestle please click here

Microbrasserie Cassel Brewery, Casselman, ON

Casselman is located partway between Ottawa and Montreal on VIA Rail’s Alexandria Subdivision (formerly owned by the Canadian National Railway).  Six VIA Rail passenger per day provide service to the town’s historic 1939 station. While freight service is a shadow of what it used to be, local freight trains operated by CNR still make occasional appearances on the line travelling between Ottawa and Couteau Junction.

Microbrasserie Cassel Brewery formerly stood just across the tracks from the station.  While they have moved to larger facilities on the edge of town, they continue to make reference to the town’s railway history.  Each can is adorned with an image of the steam locomotive present in the brewery’s logo.  Many of their beers make reference to the railway in either their name or label art.  This includes “Golden Rail” honey brown ale, “Caboose” American IPA, “White Fog” wheat beer, “Sour Tracks” sour, and “Layover” session IPA.  

For information about Microbrasserie Cassel Brewery please click here

Widder Station Golf, Grill, and Tap House, Thedford, ON

First opening in 1993, Widder Station’s main building is a train station.  Despite being a three wood away from the town of Thedford, a stop on the former CNR Forest Subdivision between Sarnia and Stratford, Widder Station never saw any trains or passengers.  Some of the features of interest are the grand gables around the sides, and the turret that stands on the southeast corner.

The facility was renovated to its current condition in 2018.  They also became a microbrewery around the same time when they created their house beer “Train Wreck” lager.  An ideal location to hit the links and have a cold pint afterwards! I have yet to make it to this location to golf or drink their beer, but am eager to make the trip down there some day soon!

For more information about Widder Station please click here. Sadly I have no photo to share of this location.

Update From The Author

I hope you have enjoyed reading these posts as much as I have enjoyed writing them! My next post, the fourth and final part of this series, will focus specifically on Ontario craft beers that are named after or make reference to a railway.

I have enjoyed hearing feedback from readers of this series. This has included recommendations about beers and breweries that I have not come across in my research, or included so far in this series. I have also discovered numerous beer examples that despite having a cool connection to the railway, did not quite make the cut for the criteria for each part of this series.

As a result of this, I have decided to include a bonus part five that will outline all of these examples. Look for this to be posted sometime after part four is posted in November. If you know of any examples I have not mentioned so far, please email me at danielallen.trombone@gmail.com. I’d love to learn more and feature your example in this research series. Cheers!

Historical Sources:

Churcher, C. (2009). Canada Atlantic Railway/Alexandria Sub. Colin Churcher’s Railway Pages. The Railways of Ottawa. Findings Of The Circle – Part 10. https://churcher.crcml.org/circle/findings10.html

Cooper, C. (2014). Buffalo & Lake Huron Railway. Charles Cooper’s Railway Pages.  https://railwaypages.com/buffalo-lake-huron-railway 

Hansen, K. (1997). Last Trains From Lindsay. Sandy Flats Publications. 

Jobsite Brewing Company. (n.d.). Our History. Retrieved Oct 27th, 2021 from https://www.jobsitebrewing.ca/our-history

Junction 56. (n.d.). Our Story. Retrieved on August 29th, 2021 from https://www.junction56.ca/our-story 

Junction Craft Brewery. (n.d.). About. Retrieved August 29th, 2021 from https://www.junctioncraft.com/about 

Kennedy, R.L. (n.d.). Canadian Pacific Railway Bruce Division MacTier Subsivision. Old Time Trains. http://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains/CPR_Bruce/MACTIER.htm 

Microbrasserie Cassel Brewery. (n.d.). Beer. Retrieved on August 29th, 2021 from https://casselbrewery.ca/product-category/beer/ 

Mika, N. & H., (1985). The Grand Junction Railway. Mika Publishing Company.

Railway City Brewing Co. (n.d.). Beers. Retrieved on August 29th, 2021 from https://www.railwaycitybrewing.com/beers/ 

Railway City Brewing Co. (n.d.). The Brewery. Retrieved on August 29th, 2021 from https://www.railwaycitybrewing.com/history/ 

Signal Brewery. (n.d.). Our History. Retrieved on August 29th, 2021 from https://signal.beer/pages/heritage2 

Trestle Brewing Company. (n.d.). About Us. Retrieved on August 29th, 2021 from https://trestlebrewing.com/pages/about-us 

Widder Station Golf, Grill, and Tap House. (n.d.). Tap House. Retrieved on August 29th, 2021 from https://www.widderstation.com/tap-house 

Wilson, D.M. (1984). The Ontario and Quebec Railway. Mika Publishing Company

Wilson, I. (2000). To Stratford Under Steam. Canadian Branchline Miniatures.