Nonsuch Brewing Co. was established in Winnipeg’s historic Exchange District in 2018. The name, Nonsuch, makes reference to the first trading ship (Nonsuch) that crossed the Atlantic from London to the Hudson Bay in the 17th century, establishing contact between European settlers and the Cree and setting up historical Manitoba trade. The Métis-majority owned brewery makes reference to the significance of the encounter which led to a mixing of European and Indigenous cultures. Among the goods brought over by the explorers in the first expedition was low alcohol beer. In terms of the building itself, originally constructed as a machine shop, its tenure as a popular indoor skatepark created strong connections to place for the city’s youth subculture (there is an entire book published on the 18-year history of the skate parkii). The building remained vacant after that for over a decade until Nonsuch Brewing filled the space.
This content was written by Vanessa Matthews, an Associate Professor of Geography & Environmental Studies at the University of Regina. Her research explores the role of craft breweries in processes of adaptive reuse and placemaking. This listing was uploaded by Audrey Gray, Project Officer at the National Trust for Canada, July 8, 2024.
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