Despite declining an offer to do a keg stand, Mayor Steve Black was handing out beers left and right on Thursday afternoon in celebration of Full Beard Brewing's 100th batch of 2017.
Black, along with Councillor Pat Bamford and Timmins-James Bay MPP Gilles Bisson mingled with those in attendance for the craft brewer's official grand opening of their facility on the corner of Rae Street South and Wilson Avenue.
"I know it's been a long time that you guys all had to wait for it, especially the City of Timmins," brewery founder Jonathan St. Pierre told the sizeable crowd.
"It's been a fun ride, ups and downs, and you have seen what we can produce," he added.
The 100th brew was the Beard Prospector Cream Ale, which all three of Black, Bamford, and Bisson seperately said was their favourite variety.
Bisson, who has his own trademark beard, gave a brief, yet impassioned speech about his fondness for the new brew.
"Listen, this is exciting, it's fun. You know why? I spend all my money in this place. It's at the point where I don't keep any other beer at the cottage, or in the house. The only thing I serve is Full Beard, and I think I've grown your business by I don't know how much, because people come and drink my beer for free, and then they come and buy yours," he said to a chorus of chuckles.
The veteran MPP said it has been an encouraging couple of years in the Northeast for new businesses.
"It's always exciting to see products made closer to home. It's always exciting that we're not drinking stuff that's a cookie-cutter kind of approach to making beer, or making other things. We're seeing this type of expansion in our region."
Bisson said he was also present on behalf of Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus who was no longer in the city.
"He's kind of busy these days. I don't know what's going on, something about a federal leadership," before presenting St. Pierre with a framed certificate.
Full Beard Brewery owner Jonathan St. Pierre is presented with a certificate of recognition from the City of Timmins by Mayor Steve Black. Andrew Autio for TimminsTodaySt. Pierre then introduced the Mayor.
"We asked Mayor Black to do a keg stand, but unfortunately he declined on that," he told the crowd.
Black replied that it had been 15 years since his last keg stand, and said he was impressed with the significant impact the startup brewer has had on the area in a short time.
"It's been a tremendous addition to the community. You don't go to too many events in the community anymore without seeing them at the event, serving a few drinks. Even events that didn't normally have drinks, are now seeing the Full Beard team show up. It has really provided that community pride. Sometimes after council meetings, we need a drink or two, we went out yesterday and had a Full Beard," said Black.
He acknowledged the hard work the team had in overcoming obstacles such as finding a suitable location and the piles of bureaucracy required.
"The guys stuck with it, they kept pushing, they wanted to see this dream become a reality, and I think today, celebrating their 100th brew really brings that to fruition."
The keg was then tapped and Black had to work quickly to avoid spillage as glass after glass was given to him to serve to the next awaiting hand.
It was one year ago that Full Beard was given the approval at council to begin brewing operations in the 7,700 square foot building which has previously housed a mobility device store and an electronics store in its history. The brewery has made its way into a dozen food and beverage establishments in the city, and received plenty of exposure from locals and out-of-towners alike during this summer's Stars and Thunder festival.
St. Pierre said there have been few surprises in the popularity of the nine steady varieties.
"Timmins is still a 'lighter' beer drinking town, so obviously we have beers for the masses. But there are some people who have enjoyed some of our darker beers, which I didn't think they would. The variety, people are enjoying it. We're making beers that are suited for people of Timmins and area. Even Sudbury and North Bay. We're in the North, and people want some good tasting beers. We've changed up some of our ideas that we've had. We don't have any beer sitting around and getting stale. It's going constantly, it's crazy."
