In the summer of 2019, while back home from university and between working in New York City, the Wandering Gnome found himself daydreaming about finding the perfect beer. Upon discovering the lackluster offerings available on the market, he persevered in his quest and found a local homebrew business. With just an idea in hand and a few hours of Google research under his belt, he eagerly set off in his new adventure to brew the perfect beer.

 

No protagonist is complete without his trusted mentor – so the Wandering Gnome courageously approached his noble Papa Gnome for assistance. With an exasperated sigh, Papa Gnome cautiously advised: “But you’ve only done a couple hours of research! Do you have concrete reasons for why this isn’t totally bonkers? Also - you’re not hijacking our garage to make beer!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Wandering Gnome and Papa Gnome bottling their first batch of beer

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The Wandering Gnome did not cower in the face of adversity. Instead, he hopped up on his little gnome stool and began to regale Papa Gnome with a vision of the perfect beer. After careful consideration, Papa Gnome knew that quest was worthy of their efforts. After a quick stop at their local homebrew shop, the two gnomes left with brew gear in tow. The quest had begun!

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The Wandering Gnome’s first year of brewing comprised of learning the basics, and the simple method of extract brewing. Subsequently, he moved on to the traditional method of all-grain brewing.

 

To keep the wheels of progress turning, upon returning to University the Wandering Gnome found a job as a brewer’s apprentice at a Toronto brewery - Radical Road Brewing Co. While studying under a brew master, the Gnome learnt the fundamentals to commercial brewing- such as the utilization of an electric brewery, proper sanitation methods, and beer packaging logistics.

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Three batches of beer in different stages of the all-grain brewing process: mashing, boiling, and oxygenating

 

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In the throes of the 2020 Covid pandemic, and with a border closure imminent, the Gnome was forced to abandon his apprenticeship at Radical Road. He packed his knapsack with all he could carry, and trudged South - back to the States.

 

With newfound knowledge from the brewery, the Wandering Gnome sequestered himself in his garage brewery and began to make headway. As the days passed, he picked up momentum with four new beer taps, a canning line, and the unveiling of the first piece of logowear. Fast-forward to today, Wandering Gnome Brewery has seven original beers, with many more in development! Find out more about each of our brews and their stories – Our Beers.