To badly paraphrase famed Canadian novelist W.P. Kinsella: If you brew it, they will come.
And that’s something that Jamie and Lesley Tripp are counting on.
The couple, who until two years ago ran a successful paint, decorating and one-of-a-king furniture shop in downtown Midland, are in the process of creating a new microbrewery and eatery that they hope to launch early this summer.
Called Test Batches Brewery, the operation will feature a regular turnaround of beers, meaning that there will always be something new to try.
“It’s been crazy, the amount of work that goes into this,” Jamie Tripp explains during a recent tour of the construction project now underway in the downtown building at the Hugel Avenue and Midland Avenue intersection.
While the main components of the microbrewery (the brew house and eight fermenters with five producing 2,000 litres and three capable of making 1,000 litres) are now in place, work continues on creating other aspects of the plan, including finishing the eatery and kitchen portions.
"The kitchen will be split into halves with a savoury side and a sweet side," Jamie Tripp says.
The Tripps, who met while both worked for National Sports Centre in the Toronto area, moved up to Midland in 1995 and purchased the paint business from the Lamers’ family. They raised their three children Sam, Tom and Alex here and quickly became active in their new hometown.
The couple purchased the building that once housed a car dealership and later an insurance agency in October 2021, getting the site-plan agreement the following October.
While Jamie Tripp wouldn't say how much the startup has cost so far, he jokes that it costs two-and-a-half times more than their original budget and encompasses "everything we have and everything we will ever have."
“The choice was to continue working in the paint store and retire or start this,” Tripp says, noting that many might have gone with the retirement option rather than jump with both feet firmly planted in a new venture.
“We have a tonne of friends who are willing to go down that road with me. It's a lot of fun.”
Some of those friends are taking active roles in Test Batches Brewery.
Robin Elliott has come on board to serve as tap-room lead with chef Carol Paznar, who also previously worked at the paint store and provided expert advice on furniture restoration along with creating gastropub favourites at Harbour House in Honey Harbour, overseeing the kitchen.
Elliott says she jumped at the opportunity to be involved with the Tripps.
“The chance to work with Jamie and Lesley is a dream. Anything front-of-house is my bailiwick,” Elliott says, noting she will also help coordinate entertainment. “We’ll go slow at the beginning, but want to have fun programming.”
Lori-Ann Clancy will handle entertainment and events while Alex Tripp, who has a business degree, is handling the operation’s business aspects.
“They’re all a really good fit for us and miraculously a professional brewer landed on our doorstep,” Tripp says, noting local tradesmen working on the project such as Rob Marchand Construction Inc., Fred Hook Ltd., MV Plumbing and Platinum Lighting and Electrical "have all been doing a fantastic job.
"All of the substantial work is already done."
All totalled, the brewery portion of the operation comes in at 5,800 square feet with the tap room/restaurant section being 2,500 square feet. There will also be five washrooms and an outdoor patio with a capacity for about 30 people during the warmer months.
Customers will be able enjoy a selection of pub grub and order both pints and flights, which allow them to sample four different beers with each fermenter producing about 1,200 canned and 1,200 tapped pints.
"We'll star with six to eight beers," Tripp says as he shows a visitor the refrigerated keg room, which will feature hookups to taps located at the 20-foot bar located on the other side of the keg room wall.
The canned pints will be available for sale at a small accompanying shop as will confections and other goodies created by Lesley Tripp.
"I make really, yummy stuff," Lesley Tripp says of her sweets' creations. "I'm really excited about our new venture."
As for the tap room, tipping will not be allowed since the Tripps plan to pay all of their employees a living wage. There also won’t be table service when ordering, but staff will bring dishes to patrons when they’re ready.
“The food will be simple, yet delicious. And you don’t have to drink beer to come here,” Jamie Tripp says, adding they hope the brewery becomes a favourite meeting place for area residents.
“We wanted to bring back some of what we lost during COVID.”
Creating a microbrewery has always held an interest for Jamie, who notes he has a small brewery in his basement. The concept really began brewing in his mind when he and a friend participated in a “brew camp” at Sawdust City Brewing Company five years ago.
“I saw that we could do this,” he says of the epiphany created by that trip to the Gravenhurst outfit.
“I’ve been brewing for two years and making test batches. I enjoy different beers in different seasons with light beers during the summer, but I really enjoy stouts and various IPAs. They're all good.
“I’m more of a flight person. I like to drink the rainbow.”
For updates and to learn more, check out Test Batches Brewery's website or follow them on Facebook.
