Craft brewers are thirsty for an opportunity now that the traditional beer tent has deflated at the Royal St. John’s Regatta.
News reports that the St. John’s East Kinsmen had pulled out after 37 years on the pond due to a disagreement with the Regatta committee, has some brewers frothing over the potential.
Justin Fong of Quidi Vidi Breweryreached out to the committee today (Wednesday).
UPDATE: The Regatta Committee met Wednesday night and will issue a requests for proposals for the beer tent. Numerous groups of various types had reached out to the committee Wednesday with pitches.
Quidi Vidi has been looking to get into the Regatta for a couple of years but has been busy with other ventures, It has thrown a packed annual Regatta Day party at Quidi Vidi Gut Brewery.
When news broke Wednesday of the beer tent’s uncertain future, Quidi Vidi and others got serious about pitching a new idea.
“It could be a lot of fun,” Fong said of the potential of operating a beer tent Regatta Day. “We can walk there. That makes it easy.”
Port Rexton Brew Co. co-owner Sonja Mills told The Telegram via email that they’re also very interested in being at the Regatta.
And Chris Conway of Landwash Brewery in Mount Pearl was also all over it Wednesday morning.
“We would love to participate in the Regatta. It would be awesome,” Conway said.
Up to the time the spat between the Kinsmen and the Regatta committee hit local broadcast news, including CBC NL, over an increase in fees, Conway said he didn’t think a craft brewery like his would have a chance in tapping the Regatta.
He suggested that a bunch of craft breweries get together with their booths in the tent, alongside Molsons or Labatt’s if need be and donate profits to charity.
The Kinsmen supported the Janeway Children’s Hospital Foundation. Conway said each craft brewery could pick a charity to partner with.
“It would be huge exposure. It’s one of the biggest events in the province,” Conway said.
Conway said the brewery was already thinking of doing a Regatta Day beer — Mount Pearl is popular for shopping destination on the August holiday, as stores are closed in St. John’s.
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