Craft brewers across Nova Scotia are raising a glass to the man who helped ignite the province’s craft beer movement, releasing a special brew in his memory.
Kevin Keefe, founder of Halifax’s Granite Brewery, is being honoured with a new English-style bitter crafted by members of the Craft Brewers Association of Nova Scotia. Keefe, who passed away in 2024, opened the Granite Brewery inside Ginger’s Tavern in 1985, establishing Nova Scotia’s first craft brewery.
The tribute beer, named Together We Brew 2025, is described by the association as “bready and full-bodied with a balanced bitterness,” paying homage to the distinctive styles Keefe introduced decades ago.
Joshua Counsil, co-founder of Good Robot Brewing, which collaborated with dozens of other local breweries to produce the beer, said honouring Keefe felt especially meaningful during challenging times for the industry.
“We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the strides he made,” Counsil told CBC News on Saturday. “At a time when the industry is facing economic turbulence, it felt right to recognize the person who paved the way.”
Counsil emphasized Keefe’s influence on Nova Scotia’s beer culture, crediting him with expanding the province’s taste beyond traditional domestic brews.
Serving bold, English-style beers in downtown Halifax during the gritty late 1980s and early 1990s, Keefe introduced open fermentation techniques and exotic flavours that were virtually unknown to local drinkers at the time.
“He somehow managed to convert people who were used to familiar, domestic beers,” Counsil said.
A total of 6,000 litres of the limited-edition beer were brewed, and demand has been strong, with only about 1,000 litres remaining just a few weeks after its release.
Debbi MacDonald, executive director of the Craft Brewers Association of Nova Scotia, noted that a portion of the proceeds from each sale will go toward funding scholarships and bursaries, including initiatives aimed at supporting underrepresented communities in the brewing industry.
Together We Brew is now available at liquor stores and taprooms throughout Nova Scotia.
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