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ABOUT TOGETHER WE'RE BITTER
CO-OPERATIVE BREWING
Our Story
Our story begins with a vision: to create a business rooted firmly in our local community. And what better way to create community than with craft beer!
We envisioned making the craft beer scene more approachable and accessible for everyone to enjoy. That also extends to our business model: as a worker-owned co-operative, business ownership becomes more accessible as well.
From academics to welders, community advocates to graphic designers, our six founding members came together over this vision. They spent every ounce of their spare time building our scrappy little
brewery from scratch: from developing the business plan, to learning how to brew on the German-made all-in-one brewhouse rescued from a storage locker, to building our bar top out of an old bowling alley - everything was DIY.
Opened in 2016, TWB focuses on maintaining a well rounded lineup of high quality, approachable beers in order to invite more people to share in what we love.
True to our original vision, we continue to focus on building strong relationships with community partners, using our resources and platforms to make our community a better place.
Today, we continue to grow to include new worker-owners who each add their own unique skills and passions to the mix.
TWB is a living, growing, and changing embodiment of how craft beer and community can support each other.
TWB is proud to be a Certified Living Wage Employer
It is a key goal of our business to continue to grow and provide better employment for our employees, and current and future worker-owners.
As a direct result we have chosen to include labour costs in the price of our product, and to focus on regularly raising wages rather than accepting tips.
This creates predictability and stability for our staff, eliminates problematic competition for tips, and helps create a positive workspace.
Want to show your appreciation for great service?
Please consider:
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Purchasing some beer to take home! Your business helps us provide more hours and higher wages to our employees!
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Donating to charities chosen by our staff! Ask your server for details.
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Posting about your experience or our beer on social media and tag @twbcoop
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Recommending TWB to a friend!
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MEET OUR TEAM
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ALEKSANDRA (ALEX)
ALEX RECOMMENDS: OATY MCOATFACE OATMEAL STOUT
Alex is one of TWB's original founding members. She's also part of Hold the Line, a local organization that celebrates the countryside line in Waterloo Region; and a founding member of Union, a sustainable development co-op that aims to democratize city-building through community-managed property. She's happy to talk your ear off about co-ops, conservation, or just about anything over a pint.
JAMES
JAMES RECOMMENDS: PULLMAN PORTER
James caught the craft beer bug while teaching in England, and the rest is history.
"So many pubs had their own house ale, specifically the cask beers, that showed me there was so much more to the world than macro lagers!"
James began home brewing and decided to pursue a career in the beer industry. He joined TWB in 2017 and became a worker-owner in 2019.
PETE
PETE RECOMMENDS: HOPPY TIGER COFFEE PALE ALE
Pete took a course from Short Finger Brewing hosted at TWB on a lark. Now he helps brew our beer at TWB.
"This community engagement intrigued me, and I started noticing a trend of breweries being friendly and helping each other. Eventually this turned into me looking for part time work at a brewery."
After a couple of stints at other craft breweries, Pete came to TWB in 2017 and is now a worker-owner.
"At TWB your voice can be heard, and no worker is insignificant to our business. We all have our different strengths to lend to the team, and it's helped us weather tough times, and excel in the good."
When he's not at TWB, Pete runs a gaming convention and his own small company.
GREG
GREG RECOMMENDS: VOLKSSOMMER KOTBUSSER
Greg came on board in 2013 as a homebrewer and is one of the original worker-owners who founded TWB.
"I have always admired the craft beer industry as a pioneer industry willing to force change, and make the crazy sterile world we live in a little more colorful!"
Greg's a welder, a Phishhead, and a fan of the great outdoors.
DAN
DAN RECOMMENDS: WOBBLY WHEEL IPA
Dan realized he spent a lot of his money at TWB, so figured he might as well get paid to be there.
"I had no interest in craft beer until going to TWB and having the great and knowledgeable staff help me find what I might like and teaching me about the process, then I was hooked!"
Dan likes country music, camo, and helping other people discover craft beer for the first time. He joined TWB in 2018.
CHEF ROB
CHEF ROB RECOMMENDS: WOBBLY WHEEL IPA
Chef Rob's passion for cooking began around the age of 12 while helping his mom in the family kitchen. After years of working in the corporate world of the food supply chain, he decided to pursue his true passion and became a classically trained culinary chef.
As a chef, it is important to Rob that both the food and drink he uses are sourced from within the local community. He loves finding delicious and creative ways to incorporate TWB's beer into his recipes.
Rob joined the TWB team in the autumn of 2021 and can often be found at TWB's Kitchener Market booth, hosting cooking classes or running the Chef in the Brew'ry food pop-ups at TWB.
PETER
PETER RECOMMENDS: MAGGIE"S FARM APA
Peter caught the craft beer bug at the start of the craft beer renaissance in the late '80s while studying bass trombone at McGill University. After more than 30 years as a professional musician, he began a second career as a brewer in 2008 and joined TWB as the Head Brewer in 2016. Peter became a worker-owner in February 2018.
AMANDA
AMANDA RECOMMENDS: CONKERS CHESTNUT BROWN ALE
Amanda was following TWB’s story on social media before they opened in February 2016, but her first visit to TWB wouldn’t be until June of that year - only 4 days after she gave birth to her daughter. Of course, the baby came along for the visit as well! Amanda joined the TWB staff in 2017 and officially became a worker-owner in September 2019. Amanda now works full-time at TWB, doing all the fun stuff like managing the taproom and planning cool events. She is a Prud’homme Certified Beer Expert, and continues to seek opportunities to learn more about beer, to share the things she loves about beer and the beer industry with others, and to help make the beer industry a welcoming and supportive place for everyone!.
BEN
BEN RECOMMENDS: BIRDS & BEES BLONDE ALE on a hot day, and any STOUT on a cool day or Sunday morning
You'll often find Ben covered in sawdust in one of TWB's two units, working hard building, creating, and helping our little brewery grow.
ANTHONY
ANTHONY RECOMMENDS: AJ & ZEUS LEMONGRASS PALE ALE
Anthony was looking for a job and the stars aligned when he joined TWB. For Anthony, it's the idea of making beer in small batches that piqued his interest in craft beer.
In his spare time, Anthony can be found playing video games.
MARTY
MARTY RECOMMENDS: MAGGIES FARM APA
Marty liked hanging out at TWB so much that he decided to join the team. You can usually find him behind the bar on Wednesday nights and he'd love it if you stopped in for a pint and to say hi!
One of Marty's favourite TWB beers is Maggie's Farm APA - in fact, he even named his dog Maggie.
AMANDA
AMANDA RECOMMENDS: BEE KIND KÖLSCH
Amanda joined the TWB team in August 2021 as our digital media coordinator.
"One of the things I like most about TWB is the commitment to community. It's not just a once-a-year photo op but a day-to-day consideration in our decision-making.."
Amanda is one of the founders of the Forest Heights Pollinator Patch - a volunteer-run community pollinator garden.
JILL
JILL RECOMMENDS: WEST COAST IPA
Jillian was stuck at home working by herself during the pandemic but is a very social person who needed to interact with people outside of her household. So, she applied to TWB and began working here in April 2022. When asked, "Why TWB?" - she said that she believes in TWB's business model and story, and stands behind their values as a business. Not to mention the fact that Jill is also a lover of craft beer who always likes to try new ones! Her go-to is Spring! White IPA, or any other IPA on tap.
"TWB is more than just a job to me, it's a family, a community that brings joy and comfort to me each week, it's a real pleasure getting to know the other workers and the customers."
JP
JP RECOMMENDS: WOBBLY WHEEL IPA
JP is passionate about community and good beer. Performing magic and making people smile makes him happy. Unfortunately, when when the world shut down in 2020 & all live entertainment was abruptly ended, JP had to look for alternate employment, So he got a job delivering flowers all across Ontario, and then one day, he hit a moose. That day, JP decided life is short. He quit his flower delivery job, applied to TWB and the rest is history.