Meet Your Neighbour: Black Bellows
Forge ahead on an adventure of beer, food, and art right in the heart of Collingwood’s historic downtown. Opened in 2020, Black Bellows is a cutting-edge craft brewery and artfully designed restaurant located in a restored heritage building in downtown Collingwood.
This spacious beerhall-meets-arthouse is owned and operated by partners Scott Brown, Peter Braul and Bryn Davies who have complementary skill-sets and personalities. “Scott and I grew up together in Kincardine and we’ve been friends since Grade 9. We connected with Bryn and found that the three of us really had a shared vision for the type of holistic beer and food vibe we wanted to present at Black Bellows,” recalls Peter. “I’m the Head Brewer, Bryn is the Director of Operations and has really given Black Bellows our sense of direction and Scott is our Creative Director in charge of marketing. He’s the one that gives soul to what we do and does a great job of conveying our quirky aesthetic. When you’re in the world of craft brewing you are really guided a lot by the court of public opinion. We listen to the feedback and suggestions we get from our customers and our staff,” explains Peter. “We like to make people happy, keep things fun and not get too complicated.”
Black Bellows has crafted dozens of different brews over time and they currently have twelve on tap to choose from. One of the best ways to introduce yourself to Black Bellows is to order one of their tasting flights. You can check out the tasting notes on their drink menu www.blackbellows.com/drinks/ and all the servers are well versed on the different nuances of each house-made beer if you need a little help. They also have a tasty small fare menu to enjoy offering a yummy selection of snacks, shareables, handhelds, salads & bowls, plus some seasonal features. www.blackbellows.com/kitchen/.
“Being in the heart of Collingwood Downtown has allowed us at Black Bellows to collaborate with other small businesses and partner with events like Collingwood Fashion Week. We’ve been the venue for Corianders’ SAXX Fashion Show twice now and our venue really lends itself well for special events. We also have a large private room available for booking and it’s been used for anything from AGM’s to anniversaries or birthday parties,” says Peter. “We’re always looking for ways to collaborate and partner with other small businesses and craft beverage producers here in Collingwood. We can all learn a lot from each other and inspire one another.”
So, the next time you’re looking to whet your whistle, check out Black Bellows Brewing Company at 40 Simcoe St. in Collingwood Downtown. If you’re in town, their bottle shop has a great selection, and if you’re not you can find them on-line at https://www.blackbellows.com/. You can order on-line and they offer Ontario-wide shipping for free on purchases over $100, or a flat fee of $10 for anything less. Shipments are two-day delivery and direct to your door. Follow Black Bellows Brewing Company on social to stay tapped into what’s on tap. www.facebook.com/blackbellows/ www.instagram.com/blackbellowsbeer/