A new brewing company calling Dauphin home will be opening soon.

Obsolete Brewing Co., will operate out of the former Acklands building at 26 2nd Ave. NW.

The idea sprang from the minds of Ryan Vanderheyden, Steven Sobering and Kevin Steinbachs.

“Really, we just talked about it over the course of having beers, really,” said Vanderheyden. “We just talked about how it would be nice if Dauphin had a brewery. And then, at that time, we weren’t thinking about creating one. Then a couple of months down the road, we saw a building available. We went into the building, said, ‘this would be a great place for our brewery,’ and then we started it from there.”

According to Sobering, Vanderheyden is passionate about micro-brewing and beer making in general and already has ties to some micro-breweries in the province.

Sobering has an eye towards tourism and feels a brewery would help attract tourists to the area.

The group found a small batch brewing system and brewed a lot of beer in case they had to brew their product themselves.

“We brewed a lot of beer. It was pretty good. During COVID time, we weren’t able to get together with a lot of people, so we had some small tastings and they went over really well,” Vanderheyden said. “And then we just went through all the steps of finding the right equipment that would fit our size of company that we were going for. And finding everybody to be part of the team that we would need to hire to fit out the building.”

Advertising through the Internet, the group hired Marco Bardelli, a brewer from Brazil, who moved to Dauphin with his wife and two children not long ago.

“He’s replaced us for the brewing, which is probably beneficial to everybody involved. He’s a great brewer that has 12 years of craft brewing experience that will help us out starting up,” Vanderheyden said, adding Bardelli was able to correct some of the things the ownership group was doing. “We didn’t even know what we were doing wrong,” Sobering said.

“Even the equipment fit out, after ordering all our equipment, he did confirm we made the right choices in the size of equipment. But after going through the initial set up, he produced a massive list, like, ‘okay, now you also need this.’ I don’t even think we knew enough to know what we needed. It would have been a real trial and error, whereas now, we can hit the ground running, which is going to be a big benefit.”

The group purchased the lot right next door where Kelleher Ford used to be located and they plan to use that for parking, as well as a patio area, where patrons can sit.

The group, Vanderheyden said, envisions their area of the city as a craft district. The brewery is across the street from a bakery and meat shop, it is within walking distance of the Watson Art Centre and Vermillion Park.

“So people can walk in this area. So we hope we can encourage people to park in our area, come in, have a beer, go shopping at Prairie Supply Co., get some baking goods, a steak for the weekend and they can go home,” he said. “So we’re hoping to create a walking culture in the downtown here, where people can shop and see all the things that we have down here.”

Planning for the brewery began in 2020.

“We incorporated in November 2020,” Vanderheyden said.

Using their small brewing system, Bardelli has already manufactured more than 20 beer recipes. Because it is a small system, the beer does not last because of the tastings the group does.

“I think we have five or six at any given time for tastings. We’ve been touring people through here constantly, just different groups,” Sobering said.

The plan is to have a core line of six to eight different beer recipes, with as many as 20 available for tastings.

“We shifted the business model to be a tourist brewery. We can have a multitude of beers, so that everytime you come here, there will be something new to experience,” Sobering said, adding this will allow them to source local ingredients. There are also plans to produce non-alcoholic beers. “Our brewer makes kombucha, home-made lemonades, gingerale, the list actually goes on,” Vanderheyden said.

“We want the space not to feel like a lounge for people just to come to drink. We want it to be like a family friendly space, so kids can come and get that craft soda. They actually get to experience the new sodas, as well. And their parents can have a beer.”

They also plan to serve coffee.

Currently, the group is waiting for an electrical panel to be constructed. Once they receive that, there will be a bit of a process to get licensed at the provincial level.

“But we do hope to be manufacturing by April or May and maybe a grand opening by June,” Vanderheyden said.

Sobering said the production side of the business will be completed fast, so they can make beer in cans and kegs.

“So we can supply the liquor stores to sell over the counter or kegs in restaurants. But the tasting room will take a little longer, because it’s a different type of occupancy,” he said.

While there will be a learning curve when it comes to distribution, the plan is to provide their product in as many liquor stores as they can, while providing kegs to restaurants.

“And then selling out of the taproom. The best way to get the beer will be to come to the taproom. It will be the freshest. It will be the most variety,” Vanderheyden said.

Short-term there will not be many staff working at the brewery, but as the company grows, so too, will the number of staff needed.

Sobering noted all three partners in the brewery are community-minded.

“We’re all very invested in Dauphin’s prosperity and want to make Dauphin and great place to live. We want to attract some of those visitors, just that little extra step to come to Dauphin,” he said. “If we can sell our beer throughout the province and bring those revenues back here, we can just keep putting it back into the business and back into the community and keep adding more amenities. I think that was one thing all three of us are very committed to.”

Sobering has not heard any negativity around the project, adding people are positive about it.

“People are really excited about it,” he said. “I definitely think it’s going to be a real asset. It might mark a point in time where it’s before-and-after. We kind of want to see ourselves as what we do for Dauphin and this part of the city is what Lakehouse did for Clear Lake when they upgraded. Sometimes it just takes that catalyst, that first step to create that snowball effect. And we’re really hopeful that it’s going to be a hit.”

These are uniquely challenging times when it comes to agricultural markets, says Mike Jubinville.

Jubinville, a senior market analyst with MarketsFarms, provided some of his insight to those attending Dauphin Agricultural Society’s Farm Outlook 2023, Mar. 9.

Cheaper choices, the weather and the needs of China as it emerges from it’s “draconian” COVID restrictions are just a few of the things producers will have to keep in mind when marketing their crops this year, he said.

“I do find it’s a really unusual time right now where central bank policy around the world is creating a scenario of high inflation and we’re combating it with rising interest rates and other economic influences,” Jubinville said. “But this has all happened at the same time where actually the supply of our grains and oil seeds are relatively tight.”

We should also expect to see a lower Canadian dollar value in the coming year as we head into a recession of unknown depth or duration, he said.

Still influencing markets, he added, is the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

“Obviously this conflict with Russia is ongoing and it continues to grind along and I suspect it probably gets worse before it gets better,” Jubinville said. “This is creating an anxiety in the world for food users globally recognizing how significant this Black Sea region, which is responsible for 30 per cent of all the wheat exports in the world transversing through Black Sea, is and there is an anxiety of securing food supply.”

Get the full story in this week's Total Market Coverage Dauphin Herald!

There was no defending champion in the first event in the 2023 version of Roblin’s annual Men’s Bonspiel.

The spiel returned after its Covid induced hiatus March 9 to 11 with 14 rinks taking to the ice at the curling rink with Werner Troxler running Greg Clark out of rocks to take the first event.

More details and pics of the winning rinks in this issue.

Retirement is something many look forward to, as a chance to do those things a person just doesn’t have time for when working full-time.

Len Addis, his last day of work was March 11, has hung his hat up at the Roblin Liquor Mart after 30 years of service. Addis was a natural when it came to working in the public, so the job was suited to his skill set.

Read all about it in this week’s issue.

The family of a Roblin woman who worked tirelessly to raise funds for the hospital and personal care home is absolutely mortified that mom can’t get a room in Crocus Court.

“We just can’t believe it,” said son-in-law John Titanich. “Especially after all that she’s done for this community.”

Read the rest of the story in this week’s Review.

After an exciting round of Chase the Ace that saw the pot grow and the cards shrink, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 19 The Pas executive has taken a moment to reflect on another fantastic round. “We definitely want to thank the volunteers, members, non-members, staff and of course our patrons that have been with us from the beginning of this current CTA,” Legion President Angie Nikolychuk commented, adding a congratulations to the latest winner Monica Ross. This round of Chase began back in 2020 with a pot of approximately $17, 000 and grew to the $245,878 that Ross’ won March 4th.
Reflecting back on the event, Nikolychuk said the first Chase the Ace was different than the current one. At the beginning patrons had to buy a drink on a Saturday night to receive a ticket. “It was a very slow growing pot, but we also saw that it was not a great way to promote the event. So once that was given away, we relooked at our options and worked with Lotteries Manitoba to hold the event as it is now done,” she explained.

The excitement of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 19’s Chase the Ace has come to end with Monica Ross taking home almost a quarter of a million dollars. Ross’ ticket was pulled and because it was the last card in the 54 card deck this round, she was a guaranteed winner. Despite not having to “guess” where the ace was, a smiling Ross nevertheless placed the free drink chip on the face down ace, more as a matter of ceremony than requirment.
“Before I even went up, I had like five other peoples (tickets) that each had sent me $20. I wrote their names, took the pictures, here’s your tickets, wrote my name on mine and when they called the number, I looked and I could see I think its in this one. Then I showed someone at my table is this the number they called, they were like ya that’s it,” Ross explained.

The Swan Valley Cheetahs Gymnastics Club displayed the skills of the gymnasts across all ages with a showcase on Sunday afternoon (March 12), the first time it’s been hosted inside their new building.

Swan River had an extra ice skating surface this season, located on the south side of the Swan River Centennial Arena, intended for easy-going family skating sessions.

After a five-game losing streak put their playoff hopes in jeopardy, a five-game winning streak has turned the tide for the Dauphin Kings.

After a 7-4 victory in Niverville, Mar. 5, the Kings skated into Waywayseecappo, Mar. 7, with a one-point lead over the Wolverines. A 4-0 victory extended that lead to three points and that is where they sit entering the week after both teams won two games over the weekend.

While the Wolverines swept a two-game set with the Winnipeg Blues, the Kings were completing a season series sweep over the Portage Terriers, scoring a 7-5 win, Friday in Portage, followed by a 4-3 shootout victory, Saturday in Dauphin. Then on Monday Dauphin took down the Freeze in Winnipeg 6-2.

Kings head coach and general manager Doug Hedley said the biggest difference between the losing streak and winning streak is the players buying in and believing in each other.

“I think the trust in their teammates is a long time over due. And the work ethic and just little things that wins hockey games that we weren’t doing before,” he said. “We were playing hope hockey in that stretch. We were on the wrong side of pucks, the wrong side of battles, thinking offence instead of thinking creating offence from the back end. Our defence has been so solid and Sheffield got hot. The guys realize now we have a special group here.”

The Kings were missing six players from the lineup on Saturday, including defenceman Anthony Bax who was handed a three-game suspension for a cross checking major on Friday.

The other five players are all out with injuries.

“We’re a MASH unit. We need Radar, Hawkeye and BJ down here,” Hedley said.

Blake Boudreau is out with a shoulder injury, Jamie Valentino sprained an ankle while running during warmups before Friday’s game. He tried to play, but only lasted three shifts.

Mathew Gough is also injured and Jayden Harris is still on the injured list, as well, and Sheffield left Friday’s game with an injury.

To fill the gap, the Kings called up APs Madden Murray and Havryil Simchuk, who scored the only goal in Saturday’s shootout, while Murray was stopped in his attempt, which would have won the game for Dauphin.

“Madden Murray and Simchuk didn’t look out of place at all,” Hedley said.

Simchuk has been practicing with the Kings all year, so Hedley was aware of the talent he brings to the ice.

“We knew he’s got some skill and he’s patience,” he said.

The Kings conclude their regular season on Saturday in Winkler against the Flyers.

Hedley feels the league needs to change its playoff format and return to one division. There is a possibility the Wolverines could finish the season with 30 wins and still miss the playoffs.

“Wayway should be in the playoffs. They’re 11 points ahead of Niverville. It’s terrible. It’s not a good look on the league, at all,” he said. “I just think the playoff format needs to be looked at.”

Kings court:

Defenceman Owen Wareham was named to the league’s first all-star team along with Winkler defenceman Trent Sambrook. The forwards are Lucas Brennan of Selkirk, Briley Wood of Neepawa and Ryan Botterill of Portage, while the goaltender is Kobe Grant of Swan Valley. Named to the second all-star team were goaltender Tresor Wotton of Waywayseecappo, defencemen Brandon McCartney of Portage and Adam Rajsigl of Swan Valley and forwards Tyson Smith of Selkirk, Travis Hensrud of Steinbach and Carson Baptiste of Waywayseecappo. Selected to the rookie all-star team were goaltender Adam Comeau of Winkler, defencemen Carson Reed of Niverville and Warren Clark of Steinbach and forwards Carter Cormier of Selkirk, Nolan Chastko of Virden and Luke Janus of the Winnipeg Blues.