Listen to our interviews in our special feature, Brasserie Dunham Celebrates 15 Years (FRENCH), presented by Innomalt
Hugues Turcotte
Co-owner & Brewer, L’Octant Microbrasserie
Your first Brasserie Dunham beer
It’s hard to say exactly which Brasserie Dunham beer I had first. What I do know is that the first time I drank one was around 2012. Back then, in Rimouski, they weren’t easy to find. I remember going to Dépanneur Jessop (Au Paradis de la Bière) and asking them to bring some in.
What followed became a long love affair with their beers. I especially remember LaPatt Robust Porter, L’Orange de Dunham, and Gouden Meyer.
A memorable story
Here’s a funny story—even the person involved doesn’t know it—but it literally changed my life.
In 2013, although I was already a big fan of craft beer, I was still a long way from realizing that I would one day dedicate my life to it, let alone become a brewery owner. I was studying Biology at CEGEP, passionate about hunting, and serving as a young moderator on an online migratory bird hunting forum.
Another moderator on the forum happened to be none other than Pat Roy (formerly a brewer at Brasserie Dunham and now brewer/co-owner of Auberge Sutton Brouërie). As moderators, we had a private section of the forum where we could chat away from the regular users.
One day, Pat shared a link to the TV show Ça va Brasser!, which was airing on V Télé at the time. He wrote something like:
“I know this isn’t about hunting, but here’s a show about the brewery where I work and what I do for a living, if you’re interested.”
From that moment on, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life: become a brewer.
The years went by. I started homebrewing in 2013, launched my professional brewing career at Le Naufrageur and Les Fous Brassant (from 2014 to 2017), and today I’ve been the co-owner and brewer at L’Octant Microbrasserie in Rimouski for more than eight years (since 2018).
I’ve never actually met Pat in person, and he has no idea this story exists, but that simple post he shared back in 2013 literally changed my life.
Thank you to Pat, and thank you to Brasserie Dunham, for 15 years of exceptional beer.
To fans of Brasserie Dunham and craft beer: we’d love to hear about your experiences with Brasserie Dunham—your first beer, your favorite memories and stories, collaborations, and anything else you’d like to share. You can also reach me by email at [email protected]. Thank you!
