Saturday, October 14th was a busy day in Renfrew with the 2nd Annual Frewtober Craft Beer & Food Truck Festival. Downtown Renfrew was the place to be to sample locally brewed beer (and kombucha!) and eat delicious food while listening to live music.

This year featured even more options with a total of 12 breweries, 3 food trucks, a coffee truck, and a mobile bar and lounge. The weather cooperated with the rain holding off and a balmy temperature for mid-October and attendance was remarkably increased in comparison to last year's rainy day and near freezing temperature. Fireworks ended the night with an exciting display from the rooftop of the Town Hall. 

Festival goers enjoyed an assortment of beer brewed from Whitewater Brewing Co, Beau's All Natural Brewing Co, Perth Brewery, Cartwright Springs Brewery, Broadhead Brewing Co, Square Timber Brewing Co, Dominion City Brewing Co, Tuque de Broue Brewing, Calabogie Brewing Co, Kichesippi Beer Co, and Old Boys Beer. New to the line up this year, Cellar 82 covered all other alcoholic beverages with their spiffy Mobile Bar & Lounge truck. For the second year in a row, Laurentian Brew and Caffeine Fix had you covered for non-alcoholic drinks. Foodies united and dined out with food from Big D's Dog House & Poutine Emporium, Tracie's Hollywood Diner, and Mr. Churritos all of which just about sold out of everything!

Another year reacquainting with fellow brewer friends, catching up with amazing fans and supporters, and meeting new faces, the 2nd Annual Renfrew Craft Beer & Food Truck Festival was a successful event and we are already looking forward to next year. A big thanks to all who made it possible including Jennifer Charkavi, her family, and all the volunteers!

There's a new business in town. Actually two! Bodhi Wellness Centre and Blendz Smoothie Shop have opened their doors and we couldn't be more excited. Located in the same plaza as our brewery, we've taken our friendships to a whole new level and become neighbours as well. Owner of Bodhi Holistic Physiotherapy and Bodhi Yoga, Kara Foley has collaborated with friend and fellow entrepreneur, Dale Luckey to create a one-of-a-kind Wellness Centre and plant-based restaurant combination. 

Celebrating the completion of an 8 week renovation, the yoga studio and smoothie bar welcomed customers into their gorgeous new home at 33373 Hwy 17 West following the Thanksgiving long weekend. A Grand Opening is scheduled for Saturday, October 14 from 2-6pm with food, music, prizes and promotions. 

We couldn't wait to check out the business, and popped in first thing this morning for a tour and a smoothie (Matcha Chai was delicious!). Blendz will undoubtedly become our go-to place for healthy drinks, snacks, and lunches including smoothies, energy balls, soups, and salads, which are all plant-based with no animal byproducts. The smoothie shop will also offer grab-and-go frozen meals and select gourmet teas and (dairy-free) cheeses. But wait, there's more! Blendz has our kombucha on tap! With an awesome custom-painted fridge, Dale now offers cups of Laurentian Brew Kombucha. 

Dale Luckey, originally from North Bay, is the owner and operator of Blendz Smoothie Shop. With culinary school under her belt and years of restaurant service, Dale is bringing her culinary flare and friendly personality to Deep River. With immense talent and creativity, Dale also does woodwork and creative pieces for her side project, Mix and Mash Art. You will see her work at the shop with shelving, a beautiful bar area and artwork. 

Kara Foley, a Deep River original who moved back to the area in recent years, is the brains and beauty behind Bodhi Wellness Centre. A health guru, Kara has always been an active individual with a thirst for expanding her knowledge in all things body, mind and spirit. A graduate of the Kinesiology Program at McMaster University, and Physical Therapy Masters Program at the University of Toronto, Kara is well-versed in the realm of human anatomy and biology. Kara offers numerous treatment options including Traditional Physiotherapy, Craniosacral Therapy, Neural Manipulation, Medical Acupuncture, and Yoga for Scoliosis. Taking a more holistic route for treatment, Kara recently completed the Teacher Training Program at White Pine Yoga and began offering yoga classes earlier this year.

With the support and dedication of her husband and best friend, Martin Jacobson, Kara will see the success of her education flourish. Martin offers positive energy and has been behind the scenes creating a beautiful website and social media posts for the business. A dynamic duo, the two will make Deep River a healthier place for years to come.  For a full list of services, yoga class schedule, or to book an appointment, visit the studio or go online at www.physiobodhi.com. 

A huge congratulations to our friends at Bodhi Wellness Centre and Blendz Smoothie Shop! 

Pumpkin Spice and everything nice. Well, we weren't going to jump on the bandwagon, but we had a lot of pumpkin spice kickin' around... so Pumpkin Spice lovers; this one's for you!

Introducing our latest Fall Seasonal Flavour...

Pumpkin Spiced Apple

On tap at The Olive Tree in Deep River and LEAP Health Hub in Pembroke for the month of October. 

It was a brisk start to a beautiful day as participants in the Kitchissippi Run set out on the course in Chalk River. Spirits were high and competition was friendly with several distances including full marathon, half marathon, 10km, 5km, a family 2km, and a bike race new this year. 

This marked the 6th annual Kitchissippi Run, a fundraising event for the Deep River and District Hospital. Last year participants raised $15,000 for improvements in the health care facility. The race is run by dedicated volunteers who donate their time and efforts for a worthy cause that draws athletes in to compete in the town and around the beautiful Petawawa Research Forest. 

This year, the event was open to vendors and we attended with kombucha for pre and post-race energy and hydration. We had fun cheering on the athletes, dancing to music, chatting with friends and locals, and of course serving up kombucha on tap. Congratulations to all participants and a big thank you to volunteers and sponsors who made this years Kitchissippi Run a success.