Selkirk is excited to announce the launch of Tower Tap Lager, a city brew created in collaboration with Torque Brewing. The beer is the first Selkirk-developed craft beer available on the market, expertly capturing the spirit and pride of the community in a light, refreshing lager.
A Beer Brewed with Local Pride
In a first-of-its-kind partnership, the City of Selkirk and Torque Brewing have come together to produce a beer that represents the essence of Selkirk. With no microbrewery in Selkirk (yet), this collaboration not only brings a unique product to our local market but also has the potential to spark new business ideas and ventures within the community.
“The water tower is an icon in Selkirk, and that’s why we chose it to represent Tower Tap Lager,” said Vanessa Figus, Manager of Citizen Engagement.
Perry Joval, Head Brewer & Operations Manager at Torque, said celebrating the city’s water quality while brewing a beer is a first for him.
“This is the first time we’ve been approached about doing this kind of thing. We’ve made beer for all kinds of different people, if someone wants their own beer made for a party or a wedding or something, we’ve done that before,” Joval said.
“And we’ve worked with a lot of different barley growers across the prairies…but I would say this one, where the water is the focus, this is a first for me in my 13 years or so. It’s unique to me, I’m sure it’s been done by someone somewhere in a similar capacity, but this is our first time taking this approach.”
Joval said starting with RO – reverse osmosis – water is a common approach to beer making simply because you start with almost a blank slate and add mineral compounds to create different styles. But Selkirk’s water was great to work with.
“It’s very versatile, very easy to adapt to different style profiles,” he said.
Tower Tap Lager is “light and easy-going,” Joval said, noting he added a little bit of hops to give the beer a sweet, pineapple-like characteristic. The beer will be 4.8% alcohol.
Figus says celebrating Selkirk’s award-winning water during World Water Week brought the city’s team together to create a fun handle and a beverage that residents could enjoy and take pride in.
“Tower Tap came out of a discussion on things in the city that are iconic, and Selkirk Water Tower is definitely an icon that is recognized near and far. It’s featured as the backdrop in countless social media posts,” Figus said.
“It’s going to be exciting to see the first beer poured out of the water tower tap at the Legion when we launch the beer. It will be a celebration of our water, our water tower and Selkirk’s legendary sense of community.”
Join Us for the Official Launch Party
To celebrate this exciting launch, we invite all citizens of Selkirk to join us for the official launch party at the Selkirk Legion on Saturday, September 7, from 6-8 PM. Come and experience the iconic taste and quality of Tower Tap Lager firsthand.
The event will feature:
- Pints of the Tower Tap Lager available for purchase
- Meet and greet with the brewers from Torque Brewing
- Special giveaways and merchandise
- The cool and unique tap handle design that you’ll want to see for yourself!
“We’re thrilled to bring something new and special to Selkirk,” said Selkirk Mayor Larry Johannson.
“This collaboration with Torque Brewing is a fantastic opportunity to showcase what our city has to offer. We hope this will be the start of many more exciting initiatives.”
About the Collaboration
This partnership highlights Selkirk’s commitment to fostering innovation and supporting local and Manitoba businesses. By using Selkirk’s water, Tower Tap Lager offers a distinctive taste that can’t be found anywhere else.
“We believe this could be the beginning of a brewing culture in Selkirk,” said Figus. “We’re eager to see where this collaboration takes us and how it might inspire others in the community. Selkirk would be a great place to open a craft brewery.”
Experience the Difference
Don’t miss out on the chance to be part of this groundbreaking event. Mark your calendars and join us at the Selkirk Legion to toast to a new era of local brewing.
