Mill Street Brewpub opens in Ottawa

OTTAWA—Toronto’s Mill Street Brewery has made a move into Ottawa.

Toronto based FAB Concepts opened The Mill Street Brewpub  in the nation’s capital on Tuesday, with an announcement that day on Facebook—three days earlier than had been publicly announced.

The complex, consisting of a brewery with planned production of about 100,000 litres a year,  and a full-service restaurant with 270 seats inside and another 120 on the patio, is located in a 165-year-old limestone mill near  LeBreton Flats.

Mill Street has a 10-year lease, with an option to renew, on the space  owned by the National Capital  Commission.

Previously it was occupied by the Mill Restaurant which closed in 2007.

The new complex also includes  a tasting area and a retail store where beer is sold alongside different types of merchandise.

There is also a reception area.

The executive chef is Shawn Jackson  a 20-year foodservice veteran who was previously executive chef at Café Dominion  in Montreal and worked at the Mill Street Brewpub in Toronto last year.

Adam Raider who left his post as head brewer in the Toronto brewpub, is one of two brewmasters onsite.

The general manager is Peter Chase, formerly general manager of guest expereience Cara Operations’  Montana’s Cookhouse

Chase told the Ottawa Citizen that there had been more than 95 requests for weddings and 17 were already booked for this year,  and also 4,600 on-hold bookings for parties of 20 to 150.

So far the Brewery has produced a Portage ale, and American IPA and a Valley Irish Ale.

The idea is to produce about  six beers onsite and bring in another six from Toronto. Those brewed in Ottawa will only be sold in the brewpub and at its store; three or four will be permanent and the others seasonal.

The new establishment is expected to bring new life to the LeBreton Flats area. It could lead to the opening of other night time attractions for which people now go downtown , Erin Kelly of the Ottaw Chamber of Commerce commented to the CBC last year.

The original Mill Street Brewery opened in Toronto’s Distillery District in December, 2002 and has since won many awards for its beers which are sold in every Canadian province except Quebec.

When demand exceeded production capacity,  the main brewery was moved to Scarborough in 2006 and the orginal location was turned into the Mill Street Brewpub.