Section 6 brewery pouring soon

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This article was published 17/11/2022 (1133 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In only a few short weeks, Brandon’s newest brewery, Section 6, will open its doors to the public, offering four new brews to Manitoba’s already impressive array of beers, in its unique and eclectic taproom on Princess Avenue.

As part of the ambiance of the new operation, business partners Ben Loewen and Sid Stevenson have made the brewing process part of the attraction, with the towering German-made stainless steel fermentors of the company brewhouse visible from the shiny wooden bar in the tap room that divides them.

For Loewen, who has spent the better part of five years perfecting his brewing techniques, the whole point is to make the process part of the conversation with the public.

“I think any creative process needs to be invited into and participated with as well,” Loewen said. “If you’re gonna do something creative, it’s worth sharing, and inviting other people into either viewing it or tasting it or having a conversation about what it’s actually like.”

The creation of Section 6, which is slated to open its doors to the public on Dec. 3, was a two-year process, which began in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Only a couple of months into the start of the pandemic in May 2020, Loewen and Stevenson decided to incorporate. At that point, they didn’t have a location confirmed, but the dream of creating something based out of Brandon with a western Manitoba focus kept them motivated.

Both products of rural Manitoba — Loewen grew up in Carberry and Stevenson hails from Kenton — the two farm boys had been looking for an opportunity to do something creative and interesting.

“I farmed for 15 years,” Stevenson said, “and then I hung up my boots. And … then I was just doing odd jobs around Brandon for a while and then COVID hit. And Ben and I sat down about a week into COVID. And it was just like, let’s try and make this happen.”

Loewen has tried to move forward with a brewery project for a while, and was part of an unsuccessful attempt to build one on Pacific Avenue a few years ago. But in reality, his eye had always been on the building at 1126 Princess Ave.

“Initially this building I’d looked at years before,” Loewen said. “It’s like, a short jog to the university. We have The Dock [on Princess] here, which people have association with some safety of being downtown. I like the buildings around here.”

Loewen’s drive has always been clear. “I thought Brandon needed a brewery, and I was willing to do whatever it took for it to show up here.”

It’s the creativity of the process that seems to pull Loewen to the brewing process the most, and he considered breweries among the “coolest” community gathering spaces available.

“I like getting people together and scratch an itch on the creativity side, because beer is quite creative. But it’s also very regimented. And it’s like, if you don’t do certain things, it doesn’t work out, and I liked the structure of that. But I also liked that there’s a creative nature to that.”

The German-made brewing equipment is top of the line, and Loewen said to his knowledge, the Section 6 brewhouse is among the most automated in the province.

Though the grand opening is only a few weeks away, Loewen is still in the process of brewing the four beers that will be on tap opening day. They include PUB, an English ale; a Belgian ale called Honey; a hoppy pale ale, and a cervesa beer that was inspired in a conversation with one of Loewen’s neighbours, who’s a Bud Light drinker.

Over the years, he has spoken with many people in town, trying to understand what kind of beer would be most welcome in the city by potential customers.

“If I just made what I like, then … only a certain amount of people may have enjoyed it,” Loewen said. “Whereas if I asked, and I’m willing to accept feedback, and if I’m willing to make something for somebody, then I get twice the joy of it, because they enjoy it, and I get to enjoy the fact they enjoy it.”

“It goes back to what we stand for,” Stevenson added, “exploration in connection with our community, and we just want to be approachable, welcoming, and we can do that through we we produce for beer.”

On the second floor, the duo have created an overflow room that can hold up to 25 patrons and can also be rented for private parties. And when summer returns to Manitoba, Section 6 will have a patio set up for sunny weather enjoyment.

The brick on the outside of the building comes from the old Kullberg’s warehouse that was torn down to make way for the expansion of the Daly Overpass — something that Stevenson and Loewen believe ties Brandon’s past with something new and innovative.

Section 6 will offer snacks to customers, but the pair have made an agreement with The Dock to provide menus to Section 6 customers so that food can be delivered across the street. At the same time, The Dock has agreed to sell Section 6 beer.

“I think they’re getting our first keg,” Loewen said. “There is excitement, and on both of our sides, where they’re excited to have our beer, and we’re excited to have their food here.”

Stevenson said opening Brandon’s second brewery is something special, and with the Black Wheat Brewery just a few blocks away, and The Dock so close, he believes the area will be able to draw more people.

“I think we’ll be able to have a wider outreach to bring more people in to have Brandon beer, and I think there’s a lot of people who love, enjoy drinking beer, and we hope to help fill that gap between beer produced elsewhere, and that made in a large production facility.

The opening of Brandon’s second tap room has also been hailed by the local business community as a positive sign at a time when retail business and the food industry are still suffering from the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I absolutely think it is,” Brandon Chamber of Commerce president Tanya LaBuick told the Sun on Wednesday. “Quite honestly, it takes a lot of guts to start any business, never mind starting one in these kind of business conditions.

“We’re appreciative of anyone who does something to help revitalize the downtown. It’s a very positive sign, and hopefully indicative of more to come.”

» mgoerzen@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @MattGoerzen