A made-in-Chatham-Kent collaborative summer series is up for a tasty provincial award.
BrewFest CK is a finalist for the Culinary Tourism Event of the Year award, which is part of the Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence.
CK Tourism nominated BrewFest CK for the award.
BrewFest CK features events at all four Chatham-Kent craft breweries over the summer season, each with its own theme.
However, a commonality is every event features beer from all four breweries.
Denny Vervaet, co-owner of Red Barn Brewing north of Blenheim and a key initiator of BrewFest CK, said it makes sense to support one another.
“The first time we tried this concept out (BrewFest CK), many people questioned us why we were serving beer beside the ‘competitor.’ We didn’t see it that way, as we support each other in many facets of our individual brewing businesses,” he told The Chatham Voice. “Sometimes, we even share ingredients or supplies when we are short. Power in numbers.”
Collaboration is key and necessary for local businesses to prosper in a world of competitiveness, Vervaet said.
He added collaboration creates prosperity for all, especially with so many outside competitors in the market.
“We all have our own unique offerings at our breweries; we are all making a great product. Let’s celebrate that together,” he said.
Getting provincial recognition through the nomination is the proverbial icing on the cake.
BrewFest CK is now an important part of Chatham-Kent’s slate of summer events, according to C-K’s supervisor of tourism development. “This event is so unique due to the collaboration of our four breweries, bringing visitors to the area and elevating the local economy on four separate occasions. It’s incredible to see their efforts recognized.”
Along with Red Barn, which hosts FarmFest, Sons of Kent (MoonFest), Bayside (EauFest), and Glasstown (RiverFest) breweries are involved in BrewFest CK.
Winners are to be announced at the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario Tourism Summit this week in Hamilton.
