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.

About Us: About

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:

Purchasing some beer to take home! Your business helps us provide more hours and higher wages to our employees!
Donating to charities chosen by our staff! Ask your server for details.
Posting about your experience or our beer on social media and tag @twbcoop
Recommending TWB to a friend!

MEET OUR TEAM

ALEKSANDRA (ALEX)

ALEX RECOMMENDS: ALE-X JUNIPER RYE ESB

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: AMERICAN BROWN

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.

AMANDA

AMANDA RECOMMENDS: ORDER OF THE SLEEPING CAR PORTER

Amanda joined the TWB team in August 2021 and is now our Media, Marketing & Communicatioins Manager and one of our Worker-Owners. "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.."

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.

PETE

PETE RECOMMENDS: BITTER HARVEST WET HOP IPA

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 and recently became a Worker-Owner.

TIERNAN

TIERNAN RECOMMENDS: IF IT FLIES IT SPIES HAZY IPA

Tiernan has been a fixture at TWB for a while (with a brief hiatus to go off on a West Coast Adventure) and we always appreciate his welcoming, easy-going energy in our taproom, as well as his sweet music selections! Tiernan is our newest Worker-Owner!

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.

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.

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.

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."