Town Brewery has made a name for themselves as a top-tier craft brewery across Ontario, but regular patrons of the Whitby-based brewery know the company for something equally important: a local brewery with a commitment to activism, community, and inclusivity.

Since its inception in 2017, Town Brewery’s goal has been to make better beer and build a stronger community. In the five years since Town Brewery opened, they’ve built a reputation for serving fantastic craft beer while fostering a safe and inclusive space at their brewery and taproom, located at 1632 Charles Street in Port Whitby. The brewery’s code of conduct, which is shared both on their website and at the brewery, states:

Town Brewery is a safe and inclusive space for all. We recognize our responsibility to make all members of our staff and community feel equally respected and protected from mistreatment. There is no place for hate speech, gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, racism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, or any form of discrimination within our space.

Town Brewery Code of Conduct

Not only has Town Brewery strengthened Whitby’s community by committing to inclusivity, but their commitment to social action is also abundantly clear. Town Brewery launched the Community Brews initiative, a program where they donate a percentage of profits from their special craft beer releases to a staff member’s charity of choice.

Past Community Brew collaborations have included partnerships with prominent Canadian companies, most notably clothing brand, Frank and Oak, as well as Canadian artists, such as indie pop band, Dizzy and JUNO Award-winning trio, The Dirty Nil. These collaborations have allowed Town Brewery to donate to charities of all sizes, from water security projects in local Indigenous communities to larger charitable organizations, such as the David Suzuki Foundation, which works towards keeping our oceans clean and sustainable.

Jeff Talmey, Town Brewery’s General Manager and one of the company’s co-founders, notes that the Town Brewery team is small but passionate. The team’s favourite beers to brew are modern pale ales and IPAs, but that doesn’t stop them from putting together more traditional lagers or experimenting with sours. Town Brewery’s beers represent their passion for quality, their desire to be creative, and their openness to explore and experiment with brewing methods and recipes to bring beer drinkers a unique and unforgettable experience.

Jeff notes that the company’s early success can be attributed to the positivity and support received from Whitby’s residents. Previously working in sales, Jeff took a risk by quitting his job in sales to become his own boss and open Town Brewery with his two partners, James Hobbs and Keith Jackson. Looking back, Jeff wouldn’t do things any differently:

One thing that I can tell you is that I never for a moment doubted quitting my job and starting Town Brewery. The support we’ve felt from the community since day one has been overwhelmingly positive. That support is what has allowed us to continue to grow and take on new projects, which helps us to further contribute to the community that supports us so passionately.

Jeff Tamley, General Manager & Co-Founder, Town Brewery 

As Town Brewery grows, the company plans to stay true to their roots and ensure that they continue to strengthen Whitby’s community through good work, good times, and of course, good beer.

Shop Town Brewery beer and merch online. 

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