{"id":1271,"date":"2024-04-03T13:06:58","date_gmt":"2024-04-03T13:06:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cbdcambitions.ca\/?page_id=1271"},"modified":"2024-04-10T15:14:18","modified_gmt":"2024-04-10T15:14:18","slug":"schoolhouse-brewery","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cbdcambitions.ca\/schoolhouse-brewery\/","title":{"rendered":"Schoolhouse Brewery"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Located on Water Street in Windsor, Schoolhouse Brewery<\/a><\/strong> is both a tourist destination and a popular gathering place for locals.<\/p>

With a staff of 14 and Head Brewer, Leigh Davison, who\u2019s been there since the start, they currently produce five core beers, a few rotating seasonals as well as a gluten-free hard seltzer. You can sample the beverages on site in their taproom and restaurant \u2013 or visit their brewtique to bring brews home.<\/p>

Schoolhouse had humble beginnings, starting with Cam Hartley, a tech ed teacher who loved to brew beer on the weekends. While the business name was registered back in 2008, it officially launched in April of 2014. By the end of 2016, Cam found himself at a crossroads.<\/p>

\u201cWe were the smallest production brewery in Nova Scotia for three years \u2013 kind of a ridiculous handle to hang onto \u2013 that just means you have a totally unsustainable size!\u201d Cam laughs.<\/p>

\u201cI was working full-time as a teacher, brewing on weekends,\u201d he recalls. \u201cThe concept was good but to take it to a sustainable business level \u2026 that would require me letting go of a very secure, pensionable government job. I had to make the call \u2013 do I take all this risk? So that\u2019s what I did.\u201d<\/p>

The gamble paid off \u2013 Schoolhouse is fast approaching 10 years in business. Their beers are winning national awards and their aptly named Vice Principal IPA is available on the shelves of almost 50 NSLC outlets across the province. They are constantly tweaking their core offerings to make their beers even better.<\/p>

\u201cWe sell double the amount of beer here than we do in 40+ NSLC stores,\u201d Cam says. \u201cIt\u2019s a testament to the community support we have here.\u201d<\/p>

Originally a production brewery because Cam had no prior experience in the food and beverage industry, Schoolhouse now runs a successful restaurant on site as well. \u201cI never thought I\u2019d be running a taproom or restaurants,\u201d Cam muses.<\/p>

In the early days of brewing beer, Cam connected with CBDC \u2013 for financial support and business consulting.<\/p>

\u201cI got a CBDC loan early on, which helped me purchase the mini beer bus,\u201d he explains. \u201cI\u2018ve got it still, it\u2019s in the garage.<\/p>

CBDC also helped with consulting – standardizing front of house procedures. I took business and accounting courses, too.\u201d<\/p>

Today, Cam does what is required to keep the business running smoothly, including deliveries in the van, plumbing, miscellaneous repair work and supervising the team of managers.<\/p>

\u201cMy role is making sure they have everything they need to do a great job,\u201d he says. \u201cI love the people \u2013 I\u2019ve got amazing managers.\u201d<\/p>

Cam is currently looking into a second location for Schoolhouse, but is playing his cards close to the chest when it comes to details. But as someone who was a paramedic for 10 years and a full-time tech ed teacher for six, Cam is confident he has found his calling.<\/p>

\u201cI thought I\u2019d be working with beer but the reality is that I\u2019m working with people,\u201d Cam muses.<\/p>

\u201cThat\u2019s the magic of it \u2013 I\u2019m working with the community \u2013 in the town I live in.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\"We sell double the\namount of beer here than\nwe do in 40+ NSLC stores\n... It\u2019s a testament to the\ncommunity support\nwe have here.\u201d\u00a0<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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CAM HARTLEY, OWNER,
SCHOOLHOUSE BREWER<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\"\"<\/figure>

Ambitions is a publication of the Atlantic Association of CBDCs intended to promote and celebrate small business and entrepreneurial success in the communities we serve.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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We let our clients tell our story.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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