HAMILTON, ON – Burlington’s Nickel Brook Brewing and Toronto’s Collective Arts Brewing have announced the launch of a partnership that will see the companies join forces to revive an iconic brewing facility in Hamilton, Ontario.
Dubbed Arts & Science Brewing, the new company will be setting up shop in the former Lakeport Brewery at 201 Burlington St. E., a space that has been empty since Labatt purchased and shuttered the Lakeport operation in 2010.
At a press conference yesterday, the owners of both breweries appeared along with Hamilton mayor Bob Batina and representatives of the Hamilton Port Authority to announce details of a the new initiative.
The 40,000 square foot brewhouse will soon be outfitted with equipment purchased from the former Sleeman plant in Dartmouth, NS that was closed last year, and new facility is expected to be up and running by the fall, producing both Collective Arts and Nickel Brook brands. The remaining 10,000 square feet of the building will be used for a retail space and hospitality area that will include a gallery and a live music venue to support Hamilton’s arts and music community.
Nickel Brook’s original facility in Burlington – where Collective Arts brands are currently brewed under contract – is expected to stay open, and may act as a testing ground for new and experimental beers from brewer Ryan Morrow and his team.