Back to Birchtown Brew
The Brew
Back to Birchtown is an Old Stock Ale, amber in colour and 6.4% ABV. A modern take on this historic style, Back to Birchtown is a winter warmer that would have been casked in the days of the Black Loyalists. It is smooth and drinkable now but has been designed and brewed to improve over time and the flavours will mellow and round out over the months and years, just like the best of us.
The Collaboration
During African Heritage Month 2021, the Change is Brewing Collective collaborated with Boxing Rock Brewing Company in Shelburne to brew a beer focused on the story of Black Loyalists and Birchtown.
Boxing Rock Brewing Company, based in Shelburne, has been part of the Nova Scotia craft beer scene since 2013. Several months ago, Boxing Rock approached the Black Loyalist Heritage Society to explore opportunities to partner and support the organization. “I’ve always felt that the story of Birchtown and the Black Loyalists is one that more people need to know about and experience”, said Emily Tipton, co-founder of Boxing Rock, “I felt like we could help get the story out using craft beer as the medium, and maybe inspire people to visit Birchtown and learn more about the Black Loyalists and this important piece of Canadian and Nova Scotian history.” When the Change is Brewing Collective approached Boxing Rock about a collaboration it seemed like the perfect fit to bring the two projects together.
Change is Brewing
Change Is Brewing Collective was formed in June 2020 in response to the lack of racial diversity and inclusion in the craft food & beverage industry. Together with local partners, they offer access to these industries through information, education, scholarship opportunities, and the creation of pathways to employment for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour) communities. Shekara Grant, Co-Founder of Change Is Brewing Collective explains, “Brewing has very deep roots in the BIPOC community, yet there isn’t a single BIPOC-owned brewery in Nova Scotia. There are barely any BIPOC people working in these spaces. If the brewing industry is all about bringing people together, we have to work to make sure that everyone feels safe and comfortable in these spaces.”
The Story
Over 3,000 Black Loyalists came to this province at the end of the American Revolution in 1783. They had served with the British during the Revolution, in exchange for the promise of freedom and land. Upon their arrival here, they were met with hardships and struggle – including landlessness, famine, and indentured servitude.
Most of our Black Loyalist ancestors lived in makeshift shelters called pit houses. These shelters were built to get them through their first winter, but due to a lack of land and provisions, many lived upwards of ten years in these rudimentary structures. The pit house is a symbol of the challenges the Black Loyalists faced. It is a fitting image to be showcased on the label of the Back to Birchtown brew, as a reminder of the perseverance they had to survive.
