Unbottle the curiosity
Something in the Water Brewing Co. is an Ontario-based brewery that offers a diverse range of local beers, making it an ideal destination for those looking for unique and flavorful beer options.
Co-founded by Steve Waugh, Rick Tanton and Mike Lee, somethingbrewing.ca is the result of Steve’s chance encounter with a sour beer that blew his mind.
“I was very passionate about beer, but it wasn’t my life by any means. Then I tried a sour beer and it kind of blew my mind. I started doing some research and saw that there was potential, so why not?”
Leveraging his branding & design acumen, Steve presented his idea to a retailer and clinched a listing, transforming his side hustle into a full-fledged endeavor.
“I knew how to put pitch decks together, so I pitched it to the LCBO with this really snazzy pitch deck from my advertising days. That LCBO listing turned a side hustle into a full hustle.“
With an unrelenting focus on keeping the adventurous spirit on tap, Something in the Water Brewing Co. has become the ideal destination for beer enthusiasts looking for a unique and unforgettable experience.
A thirst for success
Something in the Water Brewing Co. is proof that when life gives you lemons, you make beer!
Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the company forged ahead and built their flagship prototype brewery in Toronto’s Liberty Village in late 2021.
“[The pandemic] was a crisis but we realized there was an opportunity. We financed it almost entirely with cheap debt, and everything was closed anyway whilst we were setting up.”
Six months after launching in May 2022, the team launched a second brewery in Kingston, taking over the brewing world one sip at a time. And it’s not just beer they’re brewing—they’ve expanded into non-alcoholic hopped waters and sparkling iced teas.
“Now that we have our own brewery, it’s almost limitless—we can develop a new product really in a matter of weeks.”
With a constant drive to innovate and pour-sue new adventures in the brewing world, this Canadian gem is sure to satisfy the most discerning of beer palates.
Tapping into the digital age
When it comes to building a business online, first impressions are everything. That’s why Something in the Water Brewing Co. knew that securing the perfect domain name was crucial to their success.
“We knew that first impressions are online, especially if you’re a virtual company like how we started. So, once we had a name for the company, we started talking about the domain name very quickly.”
As Steve rightly notes, a domain name is more than just a web address—it’s a valuable asset that can help to build trust and credibility with customers.
Something in the Water Brewing Co. takes pride in being a Canadian brewery, ensuring that their beer flavors are not only distinctive and unforgettable, but also fresh and of the highest quality as a local beer. The brewery’s .CA domain adds an extra touch of maple-flavored class to their already unique and refreshing brand.
“There’s an authenticity to it,” says Steve. “It tells people we’re a Canadian company. All the products that we carry that aren’t ours are from local entrepreneurs—Canadian entrepreneurs. We believe in supporting local.”
Brewing up a storm
As an entrepreneur, Steve understands that success is a collaborative effort, and he has a deep appreciation for the talents and knowledge of those who have played a vital role in building this hop-tastic brewery from the ground up.
“If Something in the Water’s network wasn’t there, this wouldn’t be a business at all.”
It’s no secret that setting up a small business can be a daunting task, but Steve’s got some sage advice up his sleeve.
“One of my mentors always says to me, ‘don’t let a good crisis go to waste.’ And that’s exactly what we did.”
With some curious brewmasters at the helm, Something in the Water Brewing Co. is making waves and brewing up success.
