Buy These Guys a Pint Today

Greg Nash, the colourful brewer with the Hart and Thistle Gastropub & Brewery in Halifax, NS, is celebrating a birthday today. Nash, who I met for the first time when he drove through snow storms and freezing rain from Halifax to Vaughan in 2007 to accept the beer of the year award during his time with Garrison, is one of the most passionate craft brewers I've had the pleasure of getting to know personally.

Although he needs no introductions here, Nash is well known for his extreme, yet nicely balanced hop bombs and he continues to experiment at the Hart & Thistle after stints with Garrison Brewing and Pump House. He is also working towards opening his own brewery, which, for us hopheads, is wonderful news.



Also celebrating a birthday today is Ceili Cottage owner and oyster shucker extrordinare, Patrick McMurray. I remember meeting McMurray for the first time back in March as construction was taking place in what would become a terrific, authentic, Irish local in Leslieville. We stood in the middle of a shell of an old garage and I listened as McMurray outlined the future of the local. Months after that encounter the Cottage was erect and looked exactly as I pictured it would (based on our conversation) and it has become a busy destination in the months its been open.

Please join me in wishing these two men, a talented brewer and passionate publican, a happy birthday.