Thousands of flavour ideas poured in when Innis and Gunn challenged Canadians to come up with a new limited-edition beer, but a Saint John man’sidea has taken the top spot.
Don Guimond says brewing beer has always been a hobby. When he stumbled upon the Innis and Gunn competition on Facebook, Guimond says he thought it could be a chance to share some of his expertise.
“I got maybe a good idea or two,” he says. “I put one down and sent it off, the rest is sort of history I guess.”
Guimond says his recipe for the black IPA with coconut and rhubarb is simple and will hit shelves next fall across Canada. The label for his winning brew is called ‘Don’s Choice.’
In addition to having his beer sold across the country, he will also get a free trip to Scotland with all expenses paid for. Guimond says he’ll even get a chance to brew his beer with the master brewer and maybe get a taste.
He was one of thousands of entries and eight were shortlisted in an online vote. Guimond also has his own YouTube channel where hundreds of comical beer reviews are posted.
His nieghbour and fellow brewing buddy, Richard Degrace, says he can’t believe someone on his street won a nationwide competition. Degrace says the two work well together, but they have their own different tastes in beer.
“I’m more of the technical guy, but he’s pretty creative,” Degrace says. “He has a lot of experience with tasting multiple beer.”
Guimond says he hopes to one day make his hobby of brewing into a full time career.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Mary Cranston.
