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| L to R: Jed Corbeil (Griffin) & Jason Ellesmere (Cameron's Brewery) |
A great 'local' pub that focuses on beers from small Ontario breweries, Corbeil, along Curt Dunlop (profiled yesterday) opened the Griffin in 2008 and took the macro beers immediately off the lines. The duo then introduced Bracebridge residents and cottagers alike to monthly brewery features, brought Muskoka their first beer festival and hosted the first Session Festival during the Ontario Craft Beer Week in June - a lot in 2 1/2 years!
How long have you operated your establishment?
Aug 5, 2008 - present
How did you get into the hospitality industry?
Saw a local pub/building for sale, wanted to settle down in my hometown. I had been a business owner before and liked owing my own business. I knew that for a good business to work, I wanted to partner with my long time friend, Curt, who is an extremely good business person. We both had a love for beer, music, entertaining. We work well together and felt that we could bring some good times to our little town.
What is the best part of operating a pub?
I love meeting new people with like interests. The music is always top notch, and the craft beer industry has proven to be full of great people. I have made so many amazing friends through beer... who knew? It is about being happy when you go into work and feeling like what you are doing makes people happy including yourself.
What is the worst?
It is hard to sometimes to please everyone... Running a pub means sometimes having to make hard decisions about staffing, and we have been so lucky to have such amazing people working for us. In a seasonal town, sometimes you have to make hard decisions that effect employment.... that is when the industry hurts.
How do you go about selecting the beer for your establishment?
First of all, I should say that we serve only ontario craft beer. We occasionally bring in a one-off - for special events, but the regulars are local. We try not to double up on style, but we like to give every hard working brewery a shot on our taps. It is our goal to have every craft brewery in ontario on tap at our pub at some point. Usually, we go out and try new beers, talk to people in the industry, talk to brewers and put beer on that we like. Otherwise, we try and rotate our taps monthly.
Where did the name of your establishment come from?
It was the Griffin when we bought it - we added Gastropub to let people know we were uping the anti with good food and local craft beer
What has been the biggest change in the beer industry since you started your business?
Seasonals, casks, bigger beers - love it! keep up the good work fellas.
If you could change one thing about the industry, what would it be?
I think that I would like to see more bars supporting their local breweries. It is sad when you go into a nice place and see 2 taps and they are both shite. I was in a bar a few nights ago - great food, great tunes, shit beer. WTF? Whats the point? I wish that people would wake up and realize that good beer and make or break a night out.What do you get up to when your not at your establishment?
Spend time with my family. Try to sleep..... but try and spend as much time with my wife/daughter as possible.
If you're not drinking at your own bar, where do you head to for a beer?
I like to go to brewpubs, craft bars. Had a great time with some fellas at the rhino last night. I like to go out and try new beer, listen to music if I can, and definatley eat some good food.
Name the last beer you consumed?
Flossmoor station IPA - a brewpub brew from ill. really nice and full... JonGraham... You never let me down.
Think globally, eat locally, drink at The Griffin Gastropub.
The Griffin Gastropub
9 Chancery Lane
Bracebridge, ON P1L 2E3
705-646-0438
Muskoka Beer Festival
(Bracebridge, last Saturday in August - August 27 2011)
SESSION - A Craft Beer Festival
(Toronto, Saturday after Father's day - June 25 2011)
705-646-0706
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